Live Like Hell? Or March Into Hell For A Heavenly Cause?

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Steve Simms

Why live like Hell when you can have a life of peace, joy, love and contentment?

When the inner me runs wild, I become my enemy.  When I let Christ control me, I experience His glory.  Activism can sometimes change laws, but only the Spirit of God can convince people of their own injustice and wrong doing and release justice and righteousness in their heart.

When people become aware of and begin to talk about what Christ is doing in their life, they get excited about Him! Then they will want to march into Hell for a heavenly cause! Try it and see.

march into hell for a heavenly cause

There is no gag rule in the Bible. There is nothing that says that ordinary Christ-followers must sit quietly and listen to a professional in church meetings. In fact, the Bible says just the opposite. It says that if the Spirit gives you something to say, it is alright to interrupt the speaker. The Bible says “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” and “Shout it from the housetops.”

Business speakers and management consultants are advocating participatory meetings. Why shouldn’t the church use the most effective methods of communication?

The Bible presents God’s past Presence working through people in the past.  Spirit-led, participatory church presents God’s present-day Presence working through people in the present.  We need both!

Step into the world of participatory church, every Sunday morning @ 10:45 @ The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN 37207.

 

Posted in business speakers, Don Quixote, impossible dream lyrics, injustice, justice, management consultants, Nashville, open church, open mic, open mic church, participation, participatory church, right conduct, right living, righteousness, Salvation Army, self-destruction, self-hate, self-surrender, simple church, the impossible dream, we have seen the enemy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Fresh Ideas In The Salvation Army

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Steve Simms

israel gaither

Recently I heard retired Salvation Army leader, Commissioner Israel Gaither, speak. (He is the former International Chief of Staff & the former National Commander in the USA.) Commissioner Gaither confirmed several things that God has been speaking to me the past few years:

1) He confirmed participatory church. In some sessions, rather than just speaking to us, he asked us to listen to the God and allowed us to share what the Spirit is saying to us.  Those sessions were very powerful!  The Spirit moved so strongly that one meeting went overtime and we had to cancel the closing song.  (You can experience participatory church with us at The Salvation Army Berry Street in Nashville, Tennessee, where everyday people show and tell what God has done — Sunday mornings @ 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207.)

2) Commissioner Gaither confirmed prayer walking and claiming a neighborhood for Christ!  He said:  “”Take a walk in the neighborhood around your corps and claim it for God. I dare you! In fact, I double dare you!  Let Jesus reign where you are!”  (Check out this Facebook page:  Prayer Walking With The Salvation Army Flag . . . )

3) He confirmed that we all need to think big, to expect big things from God, to have a big vision for our lives.  He said: “When you begin to believe the lie of ‘I can’t,’ then you won’t.”

4) He confirmed that everyday people are eloquent and can speak for God.  Commissioner Gaither exhorted us:  “You can all speak prophetically!”

Several years ago I met Commissioner Gaither and told him the story of how John Berry McFerrin (who died in 1887) seemed to prophesy about our nontraditional corps in Nashville. Then I said to him: “That could have been a coincidence or it could have been God.”

Commissioner Gaither pointed his finger at me and prophetically said:  “That was no coincidence.  That was God!”  Since then, anytime I’ve started to doubt the vision that God has given me, I’ve remembered those words and been greatly encouraged!  This week when I reminded Commissioner Gaither about that, he said.  “I remember that conversation.  I still believe that!”

Posted in Chief of Staff, Commissioner, Henry Gariepy, John Berry McFerrin, man with a mission, National Commander USA, open church, open forum, open mic, organic church, prayer walking, prayer walking with The Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army Flag, Salvation Army officer, Salvationism, Salvationists, you can all prophesy | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Just Say No! (Is that enough?)

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Steve Simms

Just say go!  “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.”

Just say grow!  “You must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Just say lo!  “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the of the world.”

Just say flow!  “Out of your inner most being shall flow rivers of living water.”

Just say so!  “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”

Just say low!  “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Just say slow!  “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

Just say show!  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Just say glow!  “Let your light shine before men.”

Just say woe!  “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.”

Just say know!  “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”

Just say no!  “Say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.”

Posted in Bible concepts, Bible memory, Bible quotes, Bible study, Biblical concept, biblical language, Biblical principles, biblical studies, go into all the world and preach, humble, humility, let your light shine, lo I am with you always, New Testament, New Testament quote, out of your inner most being, proverbs, quotation, Quotations, quote, say no to drugs, that I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, ungodliness, Woe to you when | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

It is unreasonable to expect everybody to agree with what we believe, say, and do. However, life works better if we show love rather than hostility to those who disagree with us.

Posted on October 16, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in conflict, criticism, ethics, judging, judgment, people skills | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Life’s Most Important Bucket List

Posted on October 15, 2014 by Steve Simms

Bucket List?  Here is the No-Beatin’-Around-The-Bush-Bucket-List:
1)  Before you kick the bucket, get right with God!

God is an inner guide nudging, prompting, and urging humans toward a peaceful, joyous, loving, and morally excellent life. Yet we are often so obsessed with our own opinions and desires that we miss out on His best and settle for the feebleness of our own efforts.

What the world wants is self-fulfillment, without regard for the consequences.  Christ calls us to choose self-denial, regardless of the cost.  Which way are you living? (Matthew 16:24) Does God have your passionate love and obedience?

And don’t worry about what people think about you!  Daily follow and obey the living, resurrected Jesus Christ anyway!

It is unreasonable to expect everybody to agree with what we believe, say, and do. However, life works better if we show love rather than hostility to those who disagree with us.

 

 

Posted in beating around the bush, discipleship, get right with God, kick the bucket, Matthew 16, religion, sacrifice, what goes on a bucket list?, what people think about you | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Contemporary Quotes About Demons

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Are demons (invisible forces that mess with our minds) real? :
–Robin Williams said: “The demons are still there. The little voice saying, ‘You’re garbage, you’re nothing, you hear me, yeah’…he’s still there, believe me.”
–Nikki Sixx said: “If you don’t deal with your demons, they will deal with you, and it’s gonna hurt.”
–Stephen Baldwin said: “Demons manifest themselves in people in different ways. For instance, out of nowhere, somebody can become very angry for no reason. That’s not just an emotion. That’s a demon.”
–Glenn Beck said: “We all have our inner demons — I’m on the verge of moral collapse at any time.”
–Brenna Yovanoff said: “Let me tell you a little bit about demons. They love pain and other people’s misery. They lie when it suits them and don’t see anything wrong with it. They corrupt and kill and destroy, all without conscience.”
–So what should we do? Kinky Firedman said: “You struggle with your demons and you conquer them.”
–We are all in spiritual warfare. Don’t ever give up! You can win your war with demons through the power and presence of the living, resurrected Jesus Christ!

Posted in demon possession, evil, evil entities, evil in our society, evil spirits, Nikki Sixx, quotation, Quotations, quote, resist the devil, spiritual bondage, spiritual combat, spirituality, Stephen Baldwin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Christ-Connections Create Community

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Thank God for Christ-connections with other people!

As a child and teenager, I felt very distant and isolated from others. I really didn’t know how to connect with or relate to other people very well. I had one friend in high school and a lot of acquaintances, but I felt mostly alone.

Then at age 19, when I was in college, I went to an informal Christian meeting in my dorm and encountered the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. My inner-self was transformed and flooded with spiritual understanding.

I began to regularly attend that meeting which was based on open sharing and testimonies. I got to know those people and discovered that the Christ in me, connected automatically (and without effort) with the Christ in them. They quickly became my some of my best friends ever.

Since then, every time I meet someone who carries the living Christ in her/his heart, there is an instant connection — a spiritual witness. Spiritual kinship is such a beautiful thing. I am so thankful to be part of the living body of Christ and for my brothers and sisters in Him!

Of course, the greatest Christ-connection is with Jesus, Himself!  Connecting with Christ isn’t a feeling, an emotion, a religion, or a doctrine. It’s an encounter with fire burning in your heart! It’s the release of mighty rivers from deep within you! It’s a rush of peace and joy! It’s a lifetime of spiritual intimacy with the lover of your soul!

I believe that church is about making and nurturing Christ-connections — not just about hearing a Bible lesson.  I have been blessed to be a part of a group of believers where, rather than a one-man sermon, everyday people show and tell what God has done.  It is called The Salvation Army Berry Street.  Come and visit us sometime at 225 Berry St., Nashville, TN, 37207 on Sunday mornings @ 10:45.

Posted in Christ bearer, Christ followers, Christ in people, Christ in you, Christ's presence, Christ-centered, how to connect with people, lover of your soul, Music City, Nashville, networking, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Nashville, spiritual connections, spiritual relationships, spirituality, witness of the Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Man on a stage or the world’s greatest Sage?

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Beyond gathering to look at & listen to a man on a stage, perhaps church could come together to look at & listen to the world’s greatest sage–the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” –New Testament

Posted in author and finisher of our faith, Hebrews 12:2, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Looking unto Jesus, New Testament, New Testament church, New Testament quote | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Reality Church

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Steve Simms

Reality Church.

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Reality Church

Posted on October 12, 2014 by Steve Simms

Reality church!  Forget about reality TV: Experience reality church, where everyday people show and tell what God has done.

“Why watch reality TV when I can just open my blinds and look out my window to all the reality I can handle?”  –Jarod Kintz.  And why watch reality TV when we can meet with brothers and sisters in Christ and share our hearts and our lives with one another in real, unscripted testimonies and sharing, and genuine caring, sparked by the Holy Spirit

Reality TV is a show.  Reality church is a showcase for the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.

Reality TV is produced for an audience of human TV viewers.  In reality church, the audience is God.

Reality TV is edited.  Reality church is unedited.

Reality TV is planned, written, and programmed by human writers.  Reality church is unprogrammed and surrounds you in the direct actions and promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Some people say that reality TV stops people from thinking.  (“I think that reality TV is so bad. It is a tool by the media to not make people think.”  –Naveen Andrews)  However, reality church releases creativity, wonder, awe, and deep thinking.

Reality church meets in order to encounter the living, resurrected Jesus Christ working in and through our spiritual brothers & sisters.  Beyond gathering to look at & listen to one man on a stage, reality church comes together to look at & listen to the world’s greatest sage–the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.   (“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” –New Testament)

reality church

Experience reality church at The Salvation Army Berry Street, 225 Berry St., Nashville, Tennessee 37207 on Sundays @ 10:45 am.

 

Posted in Jarod Kintz, Looking unto Jesus, Naveen Andrews, open church, open mic church, organic church, quotation, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army, Salvation Army Berry Street, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Nashville, screenwriters, simple church, television | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments