Category Archives: spiritual formation

Make A Courageous Act Of Spiritual Warfare

Posted on September 22, 2012 by Steve Simms

The Salvation Army Flag is known as the Blood & Fire.  It’s not decor for a corps (a Salvation Army church); it’s for feet to walk a beat on the street praying and testifying to the glory of God. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible, Blood and Fire, blood of Jesus, burning heart, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christianity, church, church history, corps, courage, evangelism, faith, faith-based, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, flag, flag pole, followers of Christ, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, humility, invasion, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Lake Junaluska, ministry, moon, national flags, nonviolence, North Carolina, Olympic athletes, Olympic challenge, Olympic glory, Olympic heroes, Olympic medals, Olympics, prayer, prayer walking, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, repentance, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, sin, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, support group, surrender to God, The Salvation Flag, US Flag | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

From Hinduism to Jesus Christ

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Steve Simms

I recently helped Tapan Saha write his testimony about finding Christ.  Tap is a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville.  Here’s his story: I was born to a Hindu family in East Pakistan.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Albany, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, bell ringer, Bengali, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian values, church, comfort, compassion, disciple making, East Pakistan, evangelism, faith-based, Greek Orthodox Church, Hindu, Hinduism, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, makes change, ministry, move of God, Muslims, new birth, New York, salvation, Salvation Army Corps, selling books, share cropping, spiritual, spiritual formation, surrender to God, testimony, The Gideons International, The Southwestern Company, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

There’s A You In You

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Steve Simms

There’s more to life than meets the eye.  There’s more to see than Instagram, Netflicks, YouTube, and TV. So open your eyes.  Take a look in your heart.  You’ll see that there’s more than Intel inside — more than integrated … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, brain, brain chemistry, brain research, chipsets, choice, circuits, clear conscience, conscience, consciousness, conviction, decision-making, depths, experiment, free spirit, free will, hearing God, human body, human life, human nature, information processors, insight, inspiration, integrated electronics, intellect, invisible, judge, judgment, judgments, life, lifestyles, listening, making decisions, materialism, materialistic evolution, meaning, microscope, mind, mysticism, non-material reality, purpose, real world, recovery, relevation, robotron, self-control, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-help, self-image, self-will, selfish desires, soul, soul food, spirit, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, spiritual skills, spiritual walk, test tube, truth, TV, TV network, vision, voice activated, voice of God, voices | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

3N1 — A Great Time Saver

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

Here’s a powerful time management technique — 3N1:  Do 3 productive things at the same time.  That way you can triple you’re effectiveness.  Here’s an example: Would you like to exercise, pray, and witness to others — all at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian, Christian flag, Christian values, evangelicals, exercise, eyewitness, faith-based, faithfulness, flag, Holy Spirit, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, ministry, outreach ministry, outside the box, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, real world, religion, saving time, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual athletes, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, tebow, tebowing, The Salvation Flag, time saving, walking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Should We Settle For Sunday Morning Mediocrity?

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

For generations people in the Western world have settled for church as usual — Sunday morning mediocrity (SMM).  However, this has not always been the case. For the First Century believers, church was anything but mediocre.  Gathering with other followers … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, biblical, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, community, conviction of sin, East Nashville, ekklesia, evangelistic meetings, faith-based, filled with the Spirit, followers of Christ, gifts of the Spirit, house church, improv, improvisation, interactive, Jesus, Jesus Christ, joy, Nashville, non-church, normal Christianity, order of worship, participatory church, post-Christianity, religious ceremonies, service, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Have You Played The God Card (Or Is It Still In Your Hand)?

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

Some people have “made a decision for Christ” and they think that they have played the God card.   Others have repeated a prayer asking Jesus to come into their heart and now they believe that they have played the God … Continue reading →

Posted in altar call, Bible reading, cell phone, charger, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, church, church meetings, church programs, church roles, communion, Eucharist, evangelicals, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, evidence for God, God, God calling, God experiment, God-shaped vacuum, hearing God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyle Christianity, outreach ministry, recovery, rivers of living water, sacraments, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, still small voice, Sunday school, the God card, the Lord's supper | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Do Americans Only Have Two Choices (Romney Or Obama) For A Better Future?

Posted on August 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

It’s the season of presidential politics in the USA.  Political conventions are in process, speeches are being made, hopes are being raised, and excitement is in the air.  On the other hand, accusations are being made and attack ads are … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, alternative lifestyle, America, American, American church, American history, American media, Americans, attack ads, biblical, Biblical concept, challenges, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, conventions, Democrat, faith, First Great Awakening, followers of Christ, God, hearing God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Judeo-Christian, kingdom of God, Layman's Prayer Revival, laymen, lifestyles, meaning, missional, move of God, movement, mysticism, political ads, politics and religion, prayer, presence of God, repentance, Republican, revival, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, true Christian life, USA, voice of God, wake-up call, What would Jesus do?, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Should People Who Have Left Church Come Back? Or Try Something Different?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Steve Simms

American churches are in decline, losing members.  In an attempt to slow or stop this decline a group called, National Back to Church Sunday,  has set a day for church members to invite their friends to come back to church.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 2012, alternative lifestyle, American, American church, American history, Americans, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christianity, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, church structure, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, followers of Christ, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, move of God, movement, Music City, Nashville, non-church movement, non-traditional church, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, post-Christianity, salvation, Salvationists, Savior, show and tell, simple church, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, testimonies, The Salvation Army, We serve a risen Savior | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

The “Forgive Yourself” Myth

Posted on August 27, 2012 by Steve Simms

“Love yourself–accept yourself–forgive yourself–and be good to yourself.”  –a quote from popular American speaker and writer, Leo Buscaglia.  However, Jesus said:  “Deny yourself.”  Here’s why the popular idea of “forgiving yourself” is a myth: *  You are not the judge.  … Continue reading →

Posted in accept yourself, Against You only have I sinned, American, belief, Bible, boundaries, brokenhearted, brokenness, change, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, comfort, compassion, condemnation, confession, conscience, conversion, conviction of sin, corrupt culture, courtroom, deception, denial, deny yourself, devotion, disciple making, evil, false assurance, gift of God, God, God calling, God-shaped vacuum, godly sorrow, harmful habit, harmful thinking, hearing God, hearing Jesus, How do you plead?, Jesus, Jesus Christ, judge, judgment, justice, Les Brown, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, love yourself, moral principles, morality, morals, motivational speaker, myths, natural laws, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, repent, repentance, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, self-esteem, self-focus, self-forgiveness, self-image, self-will, shame, sin, spiritual formation, surrender, surrender to God, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Are Your Selfish Desires Evil?

Posted on August 26, 2012 by Steve Simms

Peter (who once was Jesus’ most impulsive disciple, but overcame it to become one of the most solid apostles) wrote that believers have “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” Have you? Or have you bought the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Peter, alternative lifestyle, Apostle Peter, apostles, brain, brainwashed, brainwashing, challenges, Christ, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, compulsion, conscience, conversion, corrupt culture, deliverance, depravity, disciple making, disciples, escaped the corruption in the world, faith, free will, freedom, harmful thinking, holiness, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Take The Wheel, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, makes change, moral principles, moral restraints, morality, morals, obedience, pull of evil, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, selfish desires, sin, Spirit-led, spiritual formation, the Word, thoughts, values, wages of sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments