This man’s songs rang a bell in many people’s heart

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Steve Simms

This man and I have shared lots of kind, warm, supportive, heart-connecting laughter. He was a great delight to be around. I found out a few days ago that Curtis Littlepage has left this world.

Curtis encouraged multitudes as a “bell ringer” for The Salvation Army in Nashville. But he was more than a “ringer,” he was a singer. Curtis loudly and joyfully sang Christmas songs and spirituals in front of Kroger and Walmart stores for years. You could hear his love and joy all over the parking lot.

I would pick up his kettle at night and Curtis would still be enthusiastically singing after 8 or more hours. Frequently a customer or two or more would be gathered around him, singing with him, arm in arm. It was hard to get Curtis to stop singing; he loved blessing people so much. Sometimes I would have to get out of the van and go get his kettle to get him to stop.

Once a couple of guys were talking with Curtis when I drove up. I kept waving to him from the van that we needed to go, but he kept talking. Finally he got in the van and said that he was talking with a country music singer who wanted him to learn a song from a CD he gave him and then sing it for his wife tomorrow. We put the CD on and the song was “Ugly Christmas Sweater.” After listening to it a few times, we took the CD out and I noticed the artist was Garth Brooks.

Curtis was interviewed and sang on local TV several times. He always beamed with joy. One of his favorite songs to sing was “This Little Light of Mine.” We frequently asked him to sing it for us at The Salvation Army Berry Street Corps (church). You couldn’t fail to be uplifted by Curtis and his heart-felt singing and his joyful attitude. That’s why he almost always had more money in his kettle than anybody else.

I talked to Curtis on the phone about a month ago and we joyously laughed together like we always did. In this time of anger and insults, the world desperately needs more inspiring people like Curtis. I sure will miss him! Writing this is the only time that Curtis made me cry.

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End heart-stemic racism

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Steve Simms

Racism is heart-stemic. It stems from the heart and can make any system corrupt. Love God; love people. When the people in any system have the guts to obey “the two greatest commandments,” systemic racism will disappear. Let’s end heart-stemic racism.

Unless society trains people to obey their conscience and choose kindness instead of hate, systemic changes won’t eliminate injustice and heart-stemic racism will continue. That’s because systems function at the morality & justice level of the people who run and staff them.

Heart-stemic racism is especially dangerous because it convinces itself that its opinions about people are true and moral. It has a stealth effect because it often hides beyond our awareness. However, compassionately listening to people will expose any heart-stemic racism that is hiding within you.

As long as people in institutions and organizations have racial judgments in their heart, there will be systemic racism. Passive racism ignores people because of their skin color. While systems are run by and include people, they’ll be no better than those people.

When overt racism is illegal, heart-stemic racism operates in subtle ways. Heart-stemic racism usually finds a way around anti-racism, systemic changes. Systems are maintained by people. If people won’t change, systems won’t. Systemic changes can sometimes force outward compliance, but can’t change human hearts.

The lie that says that “black people are inferior” was created disguise both systemic and heart-stemic racism. The failure to expose racial tyranny in our history that was supported by that lie, distorts the way we see our past. Color-blindness has trouble seeing thru that disguise. It has trouble seeing either systemic or heart-stemic racism.

Systemic change without heart-change means that what’s in people’s heart will continue find ways to come out. Corruption stems from human hearts: No corrupt hearts means no corrupt systems. System changes won’t stop systemic injustice until habitual attitudes are changed.

We can’t change what’s heart-stemic in people’s heart, but the living Jesus can! He can fix hearts and replace heart-stemic hate and injustice with kindness and love. Jesus doesn’t say follow a system, follow your heart or follow a man. He says: “Follow Me“

A true walk with the living Jesus replaces heart-stemic racism with love for all. People who truly love God, want to be kind and to stand for fairness for all, regardless of systems, peer pressure, or tradition. Love’s not systemic and never will be. Systems can make people love. A new heart can.

Injustice always disturbs the peace–the peace of mind of those mistreated by it. Racial injustice and unrest is discouraging, but there is real hope for healing and justice, thru history, fresh insights, strategy, and even humor. For some fresh insights on how to overcome the stubborn persistence of American racial discord, search for: Off the RACE Track From-Color-Blind to Color-Kind.

Photo by RODNAE Productions on Pexels.com
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Bring back the Jesus Freaks: America needs more than political Christians

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Steve Simms

Over 50 years, somehow America went from Jesus Freaks to political Christians. Jesus Freaks made Christianity spontaneously contagious. People took off their masks and caught it from them. They didn’t hope in politics, a bag of tricks, or a religious quick fix.

I believe that churches gradually shut down the Jesus Movement of 1970s, by systematizing and structuring it and squeezing out the spontaneity of the Holy Spirit. As many Jesus Freaks became preachers and church leaders, they slowly switched their loyalty from freely expressing their love for Jesus, to staying in line with church order. I miss all the “fools for Christ” who used to roam around, expressively celebrating Jesus everywhere they went. Let’s bring back the Jesus Freaks!

Jesus Freaks wanted to submit to Jesus, even when it disturbed the status quo. They were amazing models of untamed Christianity, until they were tamed and housebroken by the prevailing church culture. From the Jesus Movement until now, I’ve seen ecclesiastical power stop moves of God.

Jesus Freaks were preoccupied with the living Jesus Christ–joyfully focused on Him. They expected God to act in unusual ways, and He did! Today too many Christians are focused on politics. Nowadays, many Christians are limping spiritually, when we should be leaping for Jesus. What many Christians call their “tribe” may actually be their cage.

Jesus Freaks embraced the invisible kingdom (government) of God, not a human leadership and human government. When they gathered around the living Jesus, they’re weren’t an audience for a human leader, but sheep responding to their invisible Shepard. They were acutely aware of their great, daily need for the living Jesus.

Jesus Freaks were taught and inspired by Jesus living inside them. They passionately read the Bible, and didn’t need professional preachers to teach them. The Jesus Freaks were experiencing the risen Jesus and couldn’t doubt His reality. For them, Jesus was reality — more dependable than either people or the physical world.

Most Jesus Freaks weren’t part of a Christian hierarchy. We saw ourselves as all equal, until churches gradually reimposed the clergy/laity concept on us. I’m a Jesus Freak who was “ruined.” I’ve never been willing to tone down my passion for Christ and my loyalty to Him above any human leaders, organization, or nation.

I was always amazed at how much love, kindness, and humility I saw in Jesus Freaks. People called Jesus Freaks “fanatics.” I wish we all could be such caring “fanatics.” When I remember hanging out with Jesus Freaks, I’m so moved that I cry.

The main desire of Jesus Freaks was for more and more of the living Jesus. They wanted to be up and doing, not just attending and listening. Thus, they weren’t good at fitting into religious roles.

Jesus Freaks encouraged people to follow the living Jesus, not religious programs. They preferred to follow Christ in the streets instead of sermons in a church. Jesus Freaks experienced exciting Christianity! Most church goers know what the typical preacher is going to say next; nobody knows what the living Jesus is going to do next! Jesus Freaks experienced many surprising, divine visitations.

For Jesus Freaks, praying was a conversation with their best Friend. They sought to deflect honor and recognition from themselves to Christ.

Old Jesus Freaks, humanity needs you to come out of hiding and to return to your first love for Christ. Jesus Freaks need to be a wake-up call for Christians in 2020. Old Jesus Freaks, before you die, get your passion back and pass it on far and wide!

Jesus Freaks have lived thru out the last 2,000 years. I love reading their stories. The Philokalia is an Orthodox book written by ancient Jesus Freaks. I love it!

Most Christian denominations were started by Jesus Freaks. (The Bible doesn’t use the term Jesus Freaks, but “fools for Christ.”) Many of the people Catholics call saints were Jesus Freaks. Thru out history, some people were “freaked out” by Jesus Freaks. (Can you imagine that?)

Need a handbook for living as a Jesus Freak? Read the Bible.

I’ve also written a guidebook for exciting Christian living. Search for: The Joy Of Early Christianity book. Thank you.

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How you see is as important as what you see (myth-perception & bias)

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Steve Simms

Bias often prevents eye-opening by us. It’s easier to see what we want to see than what’s really there. Let’s not let deception stand up bias by us.

It’s almost impossible to change your attitude, until you change your perspective. There are many points of view, but it’s hard to truly see any but our own.

All the details of a situation matter, not just the ones that support our view point. Myth-perception is to exchange uncomfortable reality for comfy fiction.

Because we humans evaluate information differently, we interpret situations differently. However, unevaluated information can give us common ground. For example, unevaluated information simply states what happened. People can usually agree on that. But then people begin to insert evaluated information (why and how it happened) and that’s where disagreement sets it. Perhaps we all need to remove our evaluations and focus on what (instead of why and how).

You can disagree with someone and still understand their point of view. Make an effort and see!

For example, skin color, rightly considered, leads to love; wrongly considered, to conflict.  When leftist and right wing ideas are causing confusion about race, it’s time for a broader approach. Search: Off the RACE Track book.

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Avoid being an angry “allegator”

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Steve Simms

Someone who continually makes false allegations is an angry allegator, trying to destroy whoever gets in his way. Listening to unproven accusations can cause you to hurt, attack, or reject people who are innocent of the claims against them. If you listen to a bully long enough, you’ll eventually find yourself using your own bullying tactics.

People aren’t either good or bad. All have done wrong. People are either repentant or unrepentant. Since no one is innocent and we are all guilty of various wrongs, the concept of good guys vs. bad guys is fake news.

People who can’t win a debate by the strength of their ideas, begin to insult and accuse their opponent. Before you accuse others of wrong doing, it’s good to let your own guilt lead you to humility, mercy, and kindness towards others.

We, humans, tend to accuse other people of bad behavior, while overlooking or denying our own bad behavior. People who thrive on accusing and insulting others, are usually in worse shape than those they unmercifully attack.

People who are quick to start accusing others are even quicker to start excusing themselves. To accuse without proof and/or direct knowledge of a person’s guilt, is to attack a person’s reputation with your speculation.

Accusations prove nothing; observed behavior does. People who frequently accuse other people, tend to react with hostility when they are accused.

Accusation and blame are the opposites of mercy and grace. People who try to go up in life by putting other people down are directionally challenged. Some words are so rude, crude, or cruel that it’s better not to use them or consume them.

Without God’s revelations (including the conscience He has put in our heart) we humans can easily get stuck in illusions and lies.

Before you choose to accuse, remember that the Bible calls Satan the accuser. Christians aren’t supposed to destroy or triumph over our opponents. We are called to demonstrate Christ’s love to them.

Tradition tends to shrink wrap Christianity into a plastic blob. The living Jesus wants to unwrap it and fill it with His life.

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Worship — the result of experiencing the living God

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Steve Simms

Facing the emptiness and desperation of life, often leads people to discover the reality of the awesome love and presence of God. True worship comes from experiencing the reality of God.

To worship is to pour your heart out in honest, humble, and passionate adoration of the living God. Worship, as described in the Bible, is a heart gripping, life transforming experience. It’s never boring.

Worship isn’t something passive, that a preacher can do for you. It’s active, passionate adoration of God that you, yourself do. Worship requires an enraptured heart that responds to the Holy Spirit, more than an intellectual mind that analyzes theology.

Worshipping God, is an activity. It’s something that we humans are called to actually do, not something we passively sit thru. Everywhere you go is a place of worship, if you maintain the awareness of God’s presence, everywhere you go.

Worship is heart-felt response to the living God, but how can we respond to Him if we are unaware of His presence? Without sensing God’s presence, it’s difficult to do more than merely go thru the motions of worship. When awe and adoration of God mix, worship comes pouring out of the heart.

Too often, religion stops the river of spontaneous worship and shows God the lakes and programs that we have created for Him. The ashes of tradition are a poor substitute for the living fire of God burning in your heart.

Humans are designed to be worshippers. If we don’t worship the living God, we’ll worship something or somebody else. However, to worship anything or anyone more than we do God, is called idolatry.

Observing the beauty and majesty of nature, releases a desire to worship (not nature, but its designer) in the human heart.

Jesus said that “true worshippers will worship the Father in the spirit (from the heart) and in truth (with total sincerity).” Christianity should be functional, not just ornamental. We should let it do what it does — connect people to the living Jesus.

When the fruit of the Spirit isn’t being clearly manifested, connection with the living Jesus is being shorted out. For more on worship, search for: Beyond Church Ekklesia.

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Seeing skin color like we see eye color (a blue-eyed guy’s thoughts)

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Steve Simms

I grew up with blue-eyed people. There’s no eye-colorism, but history sure made a racist, big deal about skin color (and we’re not over it yet).

Who’d have thought that 50 shades of brown skin (dark brown to very light brown) would have been used to stir up human hatred? It’s time to see skin color the way we see eye color–as a physical characteristic that says nothing about who a person is.

Skin color doesn’t matter (although history sure made it a big deal). Eye color doesn’t matter (history got that one right). Humans have never used eye color as an excuse to abuse and/or traffic people. (It’s sad we can’t say the same about skin color.)

Police are never accused of shooting people because of eye color. No one needs to say, “Blue-eyed lives matter.”

When people talk about eye color they aren’t accused of eye-color-baiting, but they are often accused of race-baiting at the mention of skin color. If people can be accused of “playing the race card,” why can’t they be accused of playing “the eye color card”?

I’m blue-eyed, but I’m nice to brown-eyed people. I even have brown-eyed friends. I’m blue-eyed, but I don’t have a problem with brown-eyed people. Not everything is about eye-color.

If someone said to me, “Steve, you’re not like the other blue-eyed people,” I’d wonder what they meant by that. If someone told you, “I have blue-eyed friends,” you’d wonder what’s making them make a big deal about that.

America has never used redlining or legal segregation to divide people into blue-eyed a d brown-eyed neighborhoods. We don’t need blue-eyed churches and brown-eyed churches. Christians aren’t supposed to be separated because of color.

Green and hazel,
Brown and blue,
We don’t boo
People by eye hue.

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Kindness grows respect

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Steve Simms

Love is about treating people with kindness and respect, regardless of how you feel about them. “Love your enemies.” I want to be an extremist at kindness — kind to one and all (even to the people who make it difficult to be kind to them).

Apology is powerful! I’ve found that apologizing, even when I feel I’m right, releases healing (and it hurts nothing but my pride). The more I bathe my mind in positive, uplifting thoughts, the better I feel and the kinder I am.

When all lives matter to all people, racism, suicide, abortion, and gun violence will all be gone. (We’ve still a long way to go.) If all lives matter, then all lives need to be respected and treated with kindness.

Kindness treats people well, even when they disagree with you. Kindness confounds unkind people. Go confound someone today. It’s unreasonable to expect people to be nicer to you than you are to yourself.

We can use words to try to get our way, or we can use words to actually communicate heart to heart. Speak kind words.

The best way to get respect is to give it — not demand it. When laws are enforced disrespectfully and/or unequally, it’s hard for people to respect those laws.

A fresh slant on Einstein’s famous formula: (E = mc² — Everyone equally matters, consistently and compassionately). Albert put it this way: “I speak to everyone in the same way, whether he is the garbage man or the president of the university.”

To live by
“This for that”
Falls far short of
Kindness for all.

Photo by Anna Tarazevich on Pexels.com
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Impoliteness — what’s it good for? Nonviolence matters.

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Steve Simms

Impoliteness — what’s it good for? Nonviolence matters. If you won’t “love your enemies,” you’ll probably provoke them into greater and greater hostility. However, if you feel justified in the use or threat of violence, you may silence your conscience when it tells you kindness is better.

Humans have been so influenced by violence that the idea of embracing nonviolence seems crazy (but it’s powerful). Kindness and joy have the power to deescalate violent situations

Nonviolence is a mighty weapon. It’s not a weakness, but a bold and courageous declaration of moral, emotional and spiritual strength.

Injustice is an ongoing state of conflict — of wrong overriding what’s right. It falls far short of genuine peace. To recognize injustice and refuse to cooperate with it, is a bold step toward justice. Nonviolent noncooperation is a great weapon against evil.

To confront violence with violence takes courage, but to confront violence with nonviolence requires even more courage. However, Christians who truly and completely trust their bodyguard, the living Jesus, wouldn’t feel the need to protect themselves.

Every country needs more monuments that celebrate nonviolence and more that honor peaceful heroes of equality. It’s easy to see injustice when it happens to you or to someone you love; difficult when it happens in neighborhoods you avoid.

Slavery was a state of perpetual cruelty maintained by the ongoing threat of violence that could be unleashed at any moment. The American Abolitionist movement boldly confronted it with nonviolent action. The dead can’t ask for justice, but those of us who are alive can at least acknowledge the injustice they suffered. All lives matter, including those lives that were enslaved and/or abused in history by racial injustice. Search for: Off the RACE Track book.

Jesus on nonviolence:

  • Take a punch without retaliation. (“Turn the other cheek.”)
  • Jesus on nonviolence: If somebody takes something from you, give them something extra.
  • If someone imposes on you, do more than they expect (“the second mile”).
  • Keep on forgiving a person over and over (70 X 7 times).
  • Be kind to those who plot against you (“love your enemies”).
  • Say good things about people who say bad things about you (“bless those who curse you”).
  • Ask God to bless people who attack you (“pray for those who spitefully use you”).

Instead of insulting or attacking someone’s opinion, why not lovingly offer them a better alternative? It creates delight to be polite, but being rude causes people to feud. Manners make a difference, especially in a society that has publicly accepted rude and crude behavior and words.

Opinions shared with kindness and humility are much more likely to be received than those presented with pride and anger.

Revival happens when Christians turn away from following religious programs and begin to listen to and obey the living Jesus.

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You many need to hold a forgivathon

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Steve Simms

Love without forgiveness, isn’t. One of life’s most important decisions is the choice between hate or forgiveness.

Hold your own forgivathon. Think of everyone who’s done you wrong and forgive them one-by-one, by asking God to bless each one.

It’s easy to forgive what you’ve forgotten. The important thing is to forgive what you remember. That’s true forgiveness.

We go to work when we don’t want to. We take medicine when we don’t want to. Why not forgive when we don’t want to? Forgive and be forgiven. That’s a powerful life lesson.

If you’re waiting for someone to ask you for your forgiveness, that may be a very long wait. Why delay? Forgive them today.

People who won’t forgive, give themselves gut-loads of pain, by refusing to give up the gripes and grievances that they’re carrying. If you focus on forgiving the people who have offended you, you won’t be stuck on trying to forgive yourself. Also, perhaps instead of forgiving yourself, you should humbly and sincerely ask the people you’ve hurt (and God) to forgive you.

Forgiveness isn’t the approval of wrong behavior that was done to you. It’s giving up your supposed right to be angry and/or resentful about it. People who have been truly cleansed by Christ’s forgiveness, are willing to fully forgive those who have done them wrong.

If you refuse admit what you’ve done wrong, you’ll be unaware of your need for forgiveness. (It’s not unloving to believe that some human behaviors are morally wrong.)

When people are rude, they’re publicly announcing that they are being controlled by unresolved issues bouncing around inside them. If you matter, everything you do matters. Nothing is meaningless. Your life is a serious endeavor, not to be trivialized.

The password to joy, peace, and forgiveness is Jesus. Search: The Joy Of Early Christianity book.

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