Category Archives: spiritual formation

Own-mind security protects against mind-hackers

Posted on September 15, 2016 by Steve Simms

Use own-mind security. Protect yourself against head-hackers that strive to drain your brain of common sense, corrupt your conscience, and blow up your belief system. Here are 4 own-mind security techniques can give you the moral fiber to help you … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, attributes of mental health, fear, information technology, insanity, internet security, malware, mental illness, mental torment, online safety, overcoming fear, secular fundamentalism, security, security system, spiritual formation, technology, Uncategorized, worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SOS! — Society Overthrows Sanity!

Posted on August 4, 2016 by Steve Simms

SOS! — Society Overthrows Sanity (Where has sanity gone?) –When sanity seems scarce and you need some security, don’t splash in the stream of senselessness, but step into the soundness of sapience, the surety of sympathy, and the support of … Continue reading →

Posted in anxiety, chaos, compassion, false security, fear, if it feels good, mental torment, security, spiritual, spiritual adventure, spiritual atmosphere, spiritual awakening, spiritual discernment, spiritual disciplines, spiritual discovery, spiritual experience, spiritual fire, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual health, spiritual hearing, spiritual hunger, spiritual innovation, spiritual insight, spiritual intoxication, spiritual leadings, spiritual life, spiritual listening, spiritual maturity, spiritual passion, spiritual power, spiritual prompting, spiritual promptings, spirituality, Uncategorized, wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Row v. Flow (Religion or Holy Spirit)

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Steve Simms

Row v. Flow Should we dutifully row to a droning drumbeat in the galley ship of religion? Or freely flow in rushing rivers of living water released by the Holy Spirit? Put Jesus in the driver’s seat. Learn to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, different drummer, flow of the Spirit, flowing in the Spirit, flowing of the Holy Spirit, go with the flow, God's flow, Holy Spirit flow, Holy Spirit promptings, Holy Spirit take over, how to flow in the spirit, inner flow, listening, listening prayer, listening to God, Spirit's flow, spiritual adventure, spiritual atmosphere, spiritual awakening, spiritual church, spiritual disciplines, spiritual flow, spiritual flows, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual hunger, spiritual innovation, spiritual listening, spiritual maturity, spiritual movement, spiritual passion, spiritual transformation, spirituality, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Beyond shame & guilt (without depending on denial)

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Steve Simms

Without remorse, regret, and repentance for our wrongful thoughts, rhetoric, and actions; our self-righteousness retains us in resistance to and rebellion against God and His call to right living. Meanwhile we reach out for mindless diversion in entertainment and/or superficial … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, denial, entertainment, forgiveness, godly sorrow, guilt, how to overcome guilt, humility, overcome guilt, Presbyterian, rebellion, rebellion against God, religion, religious ceremonies, seek God's face, seek ye first, seeker model, seekers, seeking God, shame, spiritual formation, spirituality, tears, Uncategorized, wickedness, wrongful behavior | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy (a recipe for misery)

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Steve Simms

Self-fulfillment is a fantasy. Our self-desires are never fully fulfilled. Self always seeks something more. Even when self gets what it wants and the “rights” that it demands, it immediately cries out for more. Self is continually discontented and constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian spirituality, crucify yourself, deny yourself, desires, flesh, flowing in the Spirit, Follow Me, Galatians, Holy Spirit, human rights, I am crucified with Christ, in the Spirit, rights, Salvation Army, self, self-denial, self-destructive behaviors, self-discipline, self-focus, self-importance, self-indulgence, self-mastery, self-regulation, self-restraint, self-sacrifice, self-surrender, self-will, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, spiritual formation, spirituality, take up your cross, Train yourself unto godliness., Uncategorized, works of the flesh | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Laodicea or ekklesia?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Steve Simms

Do 21st Century Christians have amnesia? Have we forgotten that Jesus calls Christ-followers to be His ekklesia, not the church of Laodicea? Christ wants us to look to Him alone as our panacea! The church has amnesia and has forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in 7 churches, be hot or cold, Book of Revelation, facebook, laodicean, lukewarm, Middle Tennessee, organic church, revelation, Revelation 3:16, Salvation Army, simple church, social media, spew you out of my mouth, spiritual formation, spirituality, techlesia, Tennessee, texting, texting in church, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How many sermons does it take to make a person pure?

Posted on April 23, 2016 by Steve Simms

Christ-followers are called to be pure and holy! That’s not easy to do when seductive media is so readily accessible and overflowing with negativity, disrespect, vulgarity, adultery, nudity, profanity, and worse. Have all the sermons that we have heard (and … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church fathers, church government, city council meeting, early church, ekklesia, evangelism, God's government, government, on earth as it is in heaven, Origen, religion, spiritual formation, spiritual transformation, testimonies, Thom Schultz, transformation, Uncategorized, Walk by the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why put Jesus in a box?

Posted on March 28, 2016 by Steve Simms

  Jesus is no Jack-in-the-box, alive one day and in the tomb the next. He’s not supposed to be preached about on Sunday and then shut up in a box for the rest of the week. Religion tries to turn … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 14:26, Berry Street, ekklesia, Friends, He is risen, Jesus, living stones, prophecy, resurrection, resurrection of Jesus, revival, risen, spiritual formation, spirituality, timeline, Uncategorized, unfriend | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Loving Voice In Your Heart

Posted on December 13, 2015 by Steve Simms

–These words came into my mind during the night: “Every time you hear My voice you get a new perspective. That’s why people don’t want to listen to Me.” –We can’t hear God’s living word ringing in our heart and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Corinthians 2, 1 Peter, Alexander Maclaren, He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet, hearing God's voice, hearing voices, how to hear God's voice, inner voice, My sheep hear My voice, sound of His voice, spiritual formation, spiritual voices, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Books From Heaven?

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Steve Simms

As I think about worship and how Christians meet together, I continue to find books that back up what the Spirit is teaching me and how we meet at The Salvation Army Berry Street. I found these two books visiting … Continue reading →

Posted in Pecular People, performing the Bible, Rodney Clapp, Ronald Roheiser, sheet music, spiritual formation, The Holy Longing | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment