Category Archives: Uncategorized

A picture that dropped into my mind 40 years ago comes roaring forth today

Posted on February 14, 2022 by Steve Simms

About 40 years ago an image came to my mind: It was an emaciated man in a jail cell. His hands were grasping the bars and his forehead was pressed against them. He had a desperate look in his eyes. … Continue reading →

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Some super, bowl statements

Posted on February 13, 2022 by Steve Simms

Life’s a salad bowl.Let usFill itWith the thingsThat make us whole. Before you begin to scrollThrough your problems,Count the blessingsIn your bowl! Make it your goalTo use self-controlAnd keep the bowlIn your heartFull of hope. When you feelLike your bowlIs … Continue reading →

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Be more than a Christian audience member

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Steve Simms

Audiences gather for passive observation–as assemblies of spectators. Jesus calls disciples, not audience members. In the Bible, Christians are portrayed as a family, as an army, as the body of Christ, but never as a passive audience. A group gathered … Continue reading →

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Desires & feelings vs. conscience . . .

Posted on February 12, 2022 by Steve Simms

Many people areAsleep to what’s real,So they missThe daily thrillOf being alive. Popular culture declares that our emotions and desires are real and definitive of who we are. The truth is: Human feelings are frequently false, and our desires are … Continue reading →

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I-examinations help us see more clearly

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Steve Simms

If the lensesIn our heartAren’t regularlyCleaned by us,We see the worldWith bias. The lensOf our heartIs often so dirtyThat we don’t knowIt needs to be cleansed. Some lenses make life look better. Look at life thru those lenses. If you’ll … Continue reading →

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Did churches stop the Jesus Movement of the 1970s?

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Steve Simms

I saw churches Gradually stop The Jesus Movement. Millions of young people Who were spontaneously thrilled By the living Jesus, Were wooed into formal church And are now old people Who seem satisfied with religion And appear to be More … Continue reading →

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4 practical suggestions to experience ekklesia

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Steve Simms

Every time you see the word church in the Bible, it’s a coverup/mistranslation of the Greek word ekklesia, which literally means called out ones. It was the proper name for the interactive, city council in ancient Greek city states, where … Continue reading →

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Reforming an institutional church doesn’t change human hearts–my take on church history (Part 2)

Posted on February 9, 2022 by Steve Simms

After many centuries of Christianity being dominated by two huge denominations (Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox), Martin Luther, a monk with a hammer and 95 criticisms of institutional church, split things wide open in 1517. That church split opened the … Continue reading →

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Spiritual internal combustion

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Steve Simms

I continually search the Bible (and other books) for words that ignite internal combustion within me. I find words like that almost every day and they help keep my soul aflame for God. The more I focus on Jesus and … Continue reading →

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Institutionalism or experiencing Jesus–my take on church history (Part 1)

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Steve Simms

The history of Christianity is about the struggle between religious institutionalism and experiencing Jesus. The persecution of the first three centuries kept institutionalism to a minimum. There were no church buildings because they would have put unnecessary targets on Christians’ … Continue reading →

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