Category Archives: spiritual formation

Do You Know God?

Posted on June 9, 2012 by Steve Simms

Do you know God?  Not religion or church or the Bible or prayer or worship or doctrine or Footprints In The Sand; but is the Creator, Himself, real and alive in your heart? Are you captivated by God’s majesty and … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, beauty, belief, Bible, burning heart, Catholic mystics, Christian, Christianity, church, clear conscience, confession, contemplation, conversion, conviction of sin, Creator, dancing with God, devotion, evidence for God, faith, faith-based, gift of God, God, God-shaped vacuum, good question, good sermon, guidance, hearing God, hearing Jesus, inner rivers, insight, inward change, life, lifestyles, majesty, mystery, mysticism, Oh my God, peace, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, religious ceremonies, repent, revelation, self-denial, sermon, sermons, sin, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, still small voice, The Voice, words on fire | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why Be Prejudice Against Prayer (Or Against Praying People)?

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Even if you don’t believe in (and/or don’t like) prayer, there is no reason to be prejudice against prayer or against people who pray.  Why?  Because . . . 1)  The vast majority of people who tell you they are … Continue reading →

Posted in acts of God, adoration, alternative lifestyle, American, Americans, anthropologist, belief, Brandeis University, Christian, Christianity, church, faith, faith-based, feelings, interview, joy, lifestyles, love, mystery, non-material reality, Of Two Minds, popular culture, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, presence of Christ, presence of God, psychology, religion, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, supernatural, surrender to God, T.M. Luhrmann, tension, The Jesus Prayer, The Voice, tolerance | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

2 Ways Of Having Church (One Widespread & The Other Very Rare)

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Steve Simms

There are thousands of brands of Christianity (called denominations).  However, if you look closer at all the denominational and non-denominational churches in the world, there are really only two ways of having church:  1) Spectative church & 2) Interactive church. … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Biblical concept, brands, China, Chinese, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, church history, church roles, church structure, denominations, East Nashville, Holy Spirit, Music City, Nashville, organic church, relational church, religion, religious ceremonies, simple church, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

What You’re Looking For

Posted on June 3, 2012 by Steve Simms

What are you looking for in life? Some people say they are looking for fun, parties, good times, happiness; Others for power, position, prestige, success, fame. Some people think they are looking for financial wealth–stocks, bonds, bank accounts, cash; Others … Continue reading →

Posted in all the wrong places, alternative lifestyle, bank accounts, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, casual sex, Christianity, church, cosmic accident, cravings, evidence for God, faith-based, free spirit, God, God-shaped vacuum, materialism, meaning, meaninglessness, modern myths, music, Music City, myths, parties, popular culture, purpose, religion, searching for significance, sermon, sermons, show and tell, simple church, spiritual formation, stuff, testimonies, unhappiness, values, wealth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Meek Means “Mighty By Another Power”

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Steve Simms

Who is meek?  Not the milk toast nor the mouse nor the wimp.  They won’t inherit the earth. Meek does not mean “weak, fearful, or timid.”  It means “being mighty by yielding your life and will to another power.”  Because … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, alternative lifestyle, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, faith, faith-based, God, God's government, His story, history, humility, Ida B. Wells, ideal, idealism, inherit the earth, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John W. Miller, kindness, lifestyles, Quotations, quote, recovery, religion, revelation, revival, rivers of living water, self-denial, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, surfer, surrender to God, test pilot, the Grimke sisters, turned the world upsidedown, W.E.B. DuBois, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Insider Report — Tattoos

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Steve Simms

This is an insider report, not about tattoos on the skin, but about tattoos within — looking beyond body art to a transformed heart. According to a 2006 survey by the American Society of Dermatological Surgery, 1 in 4 Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in American, Christian, Christianity, compassion, dermatalogical, forgiveness, free spirit, freedom, heart-felt love, inward change, Jesus, Jesus Christ, love, mysticism, pain, popular culture, religion, self-control, self-image, spiritual formation, surgery, tattoo, tattoo artist, thoughts, words | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The World’s Most Unusual Ringtone

Posted on May 29, 2012 by Steve Simms

There is a sound, not measured in decibels, not carried by waves through the atmosphere; beyond music, words, or noise; sounding in human hearts.  This ringtone in the human heart is so familiar that it is often habitually ignored, hidden … Continue reading →

Posted in atmosphere, awe, Catholic mystics, Christian, customized, devotion, forgiveness, glory, God, guidance, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, hidden in plain sight, music, mysticism, ringtone, salvation, servece, service, smartheart, smartphone apps, smartphones, soul music, sound proof, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, still small voice, The Voice, voice activated, voice of God, voices, waves | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Does your heartphone drop calls from God?

Posted on May 28, 2012 by Steve Simms
Posted in Christian, Christianity, God, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, hearts unfold like flowers, lifestyles, listening, message, mysticism, non-material reality, normal Christianity, religion, revelation, smartphones, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, supernatural, Uncategorized, voice activated, voice of God, voices | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A Key To Spiritual Awakening . . .

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Steve Simms

A key to a Christian spiritual awakening (revival)  in the 21st Century: No lording over others. Christian leaders are servants, not bosses. Their job is to help release the living Word of God in and through other believers, and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, bosses, Christian, Christian community, Christianity, church, community, disciple making, East Nashville, equality, freedom, kingdom of God, leaders, lifestyles, Lord, Music City, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, relational church, religion, revival, servants, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, The Salvation Army, Western religion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

“The Four Points” Of The Great Welsh Revival

Posted on May 24, 2012 by Steve Simms

One of the greatest Christian spiritual awakenings in history began in Wales in 1904 and shook the world.  It was based on what became known as “The Four Points,” originally taught by Evan Roberts and became known as the Welsh … Continue reading →

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, brokenness, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, conscience, contemplation, conviction of sin, East Nashville, forgiveness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, life, Music City, mysticism, organic church, reformation, relational church, religion, revival, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, unforgiveness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments