How To Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day . . .

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

According to his own words, here’s the best way to celebrate Patrick, the mighty man of God who brought Christ to Ireland and transformed a nation:

1)  See your sins in the Light, experience godly sorrow for them, then go and sin no more.  Patrick said:  “The Lord opened the understanding of my unbelieving heart so that I so that I should recall my sins.”

2)  Totally surrender your life and your will to Christ and passionately follow and obey Him everyday.  Patrick also said:  “Christ beside me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ within me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me.”

God is alive and He speaks to human beings.  Patrick heard His voice in the 5th Century and you can hear Him speak to you in the 21st Century.

As a young boy Patrick was kidnapped from Britain and made a slave in Ireland.  After some time God spoke clearly to him and told Patrick to escape.  As Patrick obeyed God, everything fell into place for an amazing escape back to Britain.  Then some years later God spoke to Patrick and told him to go back to Ireland and share the love of Jesus with the people who had been so cruel to him.  As Patrick returned to love his enemies; multitudes of Irish people came to experience and follow the living, resurrected Jesus Christ.  It was a repeat of the book of Acts.

God talks to me (and you) when we listen.  Here’s an example that just happened a few moments ago.  I’ve been misunderstood most of my life because when I was nineteen I began to experience participatory, Spirit-led church (sometimes called organic church) in college, and ever since I have longed for that type of church but never could find it.  However, almost no one has understood my persist longing for something so out of the box.

Finally, 4 years ago, The Salvation Army asked my wife and me to start a non-traditional church in East Nashville.  We set it up to be participatory and to obey the Bible’s instructions on how to hold a church meeting (I Corinthians 14:26).  It has been awesome to see the power and Presence of Christ change lives.

Recently I discovered that our building is directly across the street from where a man’s home stood in the late 1800s  (John Berry McFerrin) who also believed in participatory church and prayed for it to begin to happen in churches.  Click this for a blog about him where he describes his longing for organic church.

Two days ago I was prompted to walk around the lot where McFerrin’s home once stood and pray.  As I observed that the lot was covered with clover it came to my mind that this is a sign that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is/are working to release life-giving, participatory church around the world.  In the center of the lot, I tebowed (knelt on one knee and prayed) as I wondered if that could be true.

A few minutes ago, as I was googling St. Patrick’s Day, I came across these words:  “Patrick used the three leaves of a shamrock to explain the Christian Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

So, if you really want to celebrate St. Paddy’s Day:  Bask in the love of God, get drunk on the new wine of the Holy Spirit, joyfully follow and obey Jesus!

Come and experience the Presence and power of the Holy Trinity working through various individuals as they show and tell what God has done on Sunday mornings @ 10:45 & Thursday nights @ 6:30; 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207.

Posted in Acts, Acts 5:29, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, ancient history, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, blessings, challenges, Christ, Christian, Christian community, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, college, courage, East Nashville, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, holy, Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity, house church, Ireland, lifestyles, miracles, multi-racial, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, organic church, participatory church, popular culture, prayer, proof of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, resurrection, salvation, Scriptures, shamrock, simple church, Spirit-led, St. Patrick's Day, tebow, tebowing, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Tim Tebow, Uncategorized, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Deal In Idealism (Asking “Why Not” Instead Of “Why”?)

Posted on March 16, 2012 by Steve Simms

I deal in idealism.  I guess this George Bernard Shaw quote (often mistakenly attributed to Robert Kennedy) says it best:

“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.”

When I ask “why” I want to cry or to deny; but when I ask “why not” I want to try — I want to aim high!

Idealism ignites the inspiration that dreams can be made to come true.  It creates the fire to defeat despair and pursue worthy desire.

The so called, “real world” doesn’t have a monopoly on reality.  The best that’s never been can yet be.

So why ask “why” when you can ask “why not”?  Wrong questions:  If there is a God why does He allow evil?  Or:  Since there is evil how can I use it for my benefit?  Better question:  Since there is evil both in the world and in me, why not strive to find a way to overcome it?

And here’s another great question to replace the “whys” in your life:  How?  How can I make things better?  How can I get through this?  How can I make a difference in the world?

Of course, many idealists burn out when their own efforts and dreams fail to achieve the results they want in the time frame they desire.  Delay defeats them.  Distractions destroy their desire for destiny.

To continually pursue the ideal requires more than motivation and method.  It requires clear vision that the ideal is the real — recognition that what we call “the real world” is transitory and temporary.

So called “realism” deals with situations and stuff that are here today and gone tomorrow.  Last year’s “realism” fades away in the light of today’s.

But idealism remains.  The same fire that burned in the hearts of the truly great women and men of the past burns yet today in the hearts of a few who refuse to do what they are told to — who refuse to conform the crowd and deny their desire for eternal, non-material realities such as;  justice, purity, peace, fairness, compassion, love, righteousness, honesty.

How can I avoid being overcome by the illusionary hype of the delusional denial of the ideal?  Here’s my answer to that question:

Log on to your heart’s inner site of hope.  Download destiny into your consciousness.  Follow, like, share, and repost the transcendent thoughts that take your breath away.  Continually cultivate a craving for the consummate.  Persistently pursue the purist and best that you can envision.

Posted in alternative lifestyle, compassion, conscience, consciousness, crying, deciision making, download, dream, feelings, George Bernard Shaw, guidance, hearing God, hope, human rights, ideal, idealism, meaning, moral principles, morality, morals, motivation, mystery, mysticism, non-material reality, nonviolence, peace, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, revelation, Robert Kennedy, self-help, sobriety, stuff, supernatural, thoughts, trust, values, vision | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Bud’s Boldly Chasing Manning, But As For Me . . .

Posted on March 15, 2012 by Steve Simms

Observing the media circus of Bud Adams & the Tennessee Titans in hot pursuit of Peyton Manning makes me wonder . . . What would it be like if a group of people in Nashville began to publicly pursue Jesus Christ with the same passion, commitment, money, effort & determination?

Bud Adams may say:  “I want Manning.  I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard.”  But as for me:  I want Jesus.  I am ready to do what it takes to get and maintain His Presence and power in my life!”

Boldly chasing Manning may win the Super Bowl for Bud (or it may backfire).  However, boldly chasing Jesus can do so much more — break every chain, set the captives free, and change the world.

Football’s fun, but faith is forever!

Experience the passionate pursuit of Jesus at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.  Come, chase Christ with a group of people who want Him like Bud Adams wants Manning:  Thursday nights @ 6:30 & Sunday mornings @ 10:45; 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207.

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bud Adams, Christ, Christianity, East Nashville, football, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, media circus, Nashville, National Football League, NFL, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, Peyton Manning, popular culture, presence of Christ, presence of God, religion, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, Super Bowl, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Meeting God’s Gathering (Ekklesia) Instead Of Religion’s Church

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Steve Simms

One night I wandered into a group gathered in a college dorm and heard regular people sincerely telling how Jesus had changed their lives.  Later the group joined hands in a large circle, pulled me in, and began to talk to Jesus one after the other.

This was my first encounter with the Kingdom of God, the presence of the actual reign (rule) of God.  Jesus had said that the Kingdom of God was at hand (close) but I had never before been aware of God’s government.  But I was that night — my heart shuddered.  I was so overcome with awe at what I was encountering that I did something I had never done before.  I began to talk to God out loud in front of people.  The word’s flowed from deep within me.

This was God’s gathering of “called out ones” — God’s active assembly, not man’s religious ritual.  Afterwards, I went back to my dorm room and wrote these lines:

Today I saw the Son

Rising From The Water,

Now wine,

And felt His warmth

Caressing me,

As I disrobed

And submerged.

I did see the Son that night (41 years ago) and I’ve never been the same.  He rose in front of my eyes from a gathering of ordinary people who seemed as common as water.  With His Presence, I saw warmth and felt it deeply — peace, love, compassion, sincerity, openness, reality, and meaning — wrapping around me, soothing my pain.

I was overcome.  My walls fell down.  My masks and coverings came off.  My problems, my obsessions, my fears, my self-focus; all began to melt as I sank into the loving reign of God.

For almost 4 years I gathered spontaneously with this group of called out ones.  They were called, not to be preachers or religious professionals.  No, they were called to passionately pursue the Presence and will of God — to seek first God’s reign and His right living.  (See New Testament verse:  Matthew 6:33.)

When I graduated and moved on, I went looking for God’s gathering of called out ones, for His ekklesia.  I went to many churches (sometimes staying for years in a particular church) but I could not find the present reign of God.  I couldn’t find anyplace where God, Himself, was allowed to be the One in control (to set up His kingdom).  There was always a strong element of human control — agendas, programs, strong human authority figures — a tightly regulated environment.

ekklesia 2

How I longed for so many years to see again God’s gathering, freely led by the Holy Spirit rather than by human domination.

Finally a call came from an unexpected place.  A Salvation Army major wanted to meet with my wife and me.  He told us that a Salvation Army corps (church) had been closed a few years before and he wanted to reopen it.  However, because traditional church hadn’t worked in that place, he wanted it to be different.  His word was “nontraditional.”  He asked if my wife and I could start something different.

My heart leapt.  Did I hear him correctly?

Yes.  We were given the freedom and support to begin a Spirit-led gathering of God’s people.  That was four years ago.  As you know, I can’t keep quiet about what God has done and is doing at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.  I written many blogs about it, such as:

A Nashville Dream Fulfilled After 121 Years

I’m Livin’ My Dream In Nashville

Be Part Of Changing Lives And Transforming A Neighborhood In Nashville

However, words can’t really show you what it is like.  Perhaps you should wander in and see for yourself (like I wandered into that gathering).  It might just be the very thing that you have been looking for all your life.

Sunday mornings @ 10:45 & Thursday nights @ 6:30.  225 Berry Street, Nashville, TN   37207.

Update . . .

After writing and posting this article this morning, I had a “stumble upon” experience, or what I prefer to call a God leading.  I saw copy of Time magazine in an office and picked it up.  It contained an article about Nones.

Nones are a growing percentage of America’s population — people who claim no religion.  However, the article said that most Nones consider themselves to be spiritual and open to God, just not religion.  The article said that denominations must decide whether to adapt to the Nones or loose them.

Thank God that The Salvation Army has chosen to be adaptable.  And our experience matches the Time article.  We have found that Nones are very open to participatory, non-religious gatherings for God.  (This is sometimes called “organic church.”)

Check out this book about ekklesia on Amazon!

beyond church cat

Posted in alternative lifestyle, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christianity, church, church history, church structure, compassion, conversion, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, ekklesia, evidence for God, freedom, gift of God, gifts of the Spirit, God's government, Greek, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, hope, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, improvisation, kingdom of God, life, lifestyles, meaning, movement, Music City, mystery, mysticism, Nashville, non-material reality, non-traditional church, nones, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, outreach ministry, participatory church, peace, praise and worship, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, recovery, religion, revelation, right conduct, salvation, simple church, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, stumble upon, testimonies, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, Time magazine, voice of God, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

Drenched With God / Soaked With HIs Presence

Posted on March 13, 2012 by Steve Simms

We need to be drenched with God's Presence.

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you . . .”  As I read those words yesterday morning, the picture of a man drenched with water popped into my mind.  I’ve always thought about the Holy Spirit being “in” me and that is a wonderful thing; however, the Holy Spirit also wants to be “on” me (and you).  He wants us to walk around looking like the guy in this picture — soaked with His Presence.

So how do you get and stay soaked with God?  You have to remain in constant contact with Him — to stay in the flow of His Spirit.

God has told me to read the New Testament Book Of Acts over and over this year.  Yesterday morning, in the ides of March, before I began my 6th time through it this year, I was wondering how long I need to keep reading it.  Then thought came to me to stay in Acts until I start living it and experiencing it everyday.

Later in the day, I came across an article by General Linda Bond, the international leader of The Salvation Army.  She was saying that The Salvation Army needs to be like the Book of Acts, filled with the power and Presence of God.  She said that we should stay in Acts until that happens.

I was amazed to get a confirmation of what I have been hearing in my spirit.  So I’ll keep reading Acts.

I was also amazed at the fresh revelation I was receiving while reading my 6th time through Acts in 2 1/2 months.  As I read Jesus’ words:  “It is not for you to know the dates and the times the Father has set,”  it dawned on me that Western Christianity is all about knowing, studying, and learning details about God.  Jesus said that we are not to know, yet we seem to ignore Him and instead focus on knowing and speculating about all kinds of spiritual things.

Instead of knowing, Jesus says at the beginning of Acts, that we will receive power.  Power is far superior to knowledge.  For example, we humans know all about the dangers of smoking, but untold millions of us lack the power to stop.

We need God’s power.  We need to be plugged into to God so that His current (the Holy Spirit) can flow through us.  We don’t need to know, we need to unblock God’s flow and get soaked with His Presence. Then we will be His witnesses as people see us dripping with God.

I want to walk around drenched with God — to live under the waterfall of God’s glory swept along by the flow of His Presence.  That’s power!  Anything less is mere religion.

Paul of Tarsus put it this way.  He said that many people will be “having a form or godliness, but denying (ignoring) the power thereof; from such turn away.”  Perhaps it is time to give up the pursuit of knowledge about God and to begin to seek to soak in His splendor, in His awesome Presence!

Come Holy Spirit, drown my will in Yours.

Posted in Acts, acts of God, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church history, early church, evidence for God, General Linda Bond, gifts of the Spirit, glory, God, having a form of godliness, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, kingdom of God, movement, mystery, mysticism, New Testament, normal Christianity, Oh my God, organic church, powerhouse, presence of Christ, presence of God, quench the Spirit, religion, revelation, sermons, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, supernatural, The Salvation Army, tradition, voice of God, What is church? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Christian Rap — We’ve Gotta Live In The Spirit

Posted on March 12, 2012 by Steve Simms

(An original Christian rap.)

Words are okay, but the Gospel’s a new way, of livin’.

It’s not enough just to hear it, we’ve gotta live in the Spirit.

We need to follow & obey the One who is the Way,

Everyday!  Everyday!  Everyday!

It’s not easy to live the Gospel.  For example, 2 people cannot be in control of the same thing at the same time.  (Instead of 2 pilots flying one airplane, airlines use a pilot and a copilot.)  If a someone is in control of a his/her life, then God isn’t.  We have to let God be our boss, not just our adviser.

We need help living the Gospel — we need Christian community.  If a human being is in control of a church meeting, then the Divine Being is left to copilot.  However, if the human lets go of his agenda (or program) and allows the meeting to flow in the Spirit, God will show up and show out.

So what is God’s agenda for a church meeting?  It is explained in the New Testament; I Corinthians 14:26.

Some people say that this verse is impractical — that it won’t work.  However, it is working every week in Nashville at The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center.  Come and see for yourself:  Sunday mornings @ 10:45 & Thursday nights @ 6:30, 225 Berry Street, Nashville, 37207.

Posted in Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian rap, Christianity, church, church structure, discipling, East Nashville, gifts of the Spirit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, lifestyles, Music City, mysticism, Nashville, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, quench the Spirit, recovery, religion, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, What is church?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

WWJDIYC? What would Jesus do in your church?

Posted on March 10, 2012 by Steve Simms

If Jesus visited the church you attend one Sunday morning, what would He do?

Preach or weep?

Congratulate everyone on the service or turn over tables and pews?

Cast out demons or be asked to quietly leave?

Sit down and talk with the most unwanted members or hang out with the preacher and the cool folks?

Sit quietly and approve of the way things are being done or stir things up?

Tell everyone “Job well done,” or cry out to everyone, “Repent!”?

What do you think Jesus would do in your church?

 

Posted in Christ, Christian, Christianity, hearing Jesus, house church, Jesus, Jesus Christ, non-traditional church, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, presence of Christ, religion, repent, Savior, sermon, simple church, tears, the way we do church, Uncategorized, values, Western religion, WWJD? | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

PP Church — A Power House & A Pillar Of Fire

Posted on March 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

Should church be more than people passively watching a program?  I found two quotations that say that church should be “a pillar of fire” and a “powerhouse.”

“The Christian Church should be a pillar of fire leading the peoples of the world, instead of an ambulance corps bring up the rear as it so often seems to be.”  –Helen Shoemaker

“A church should be a powerhouse where sluggish spirits can get recharged and animated.”  –Samuel A. Eliot

Dr. Luke, author of the New Testament book of Acts, quotes the early church as praying:  “Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.  Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”  Luke continues:  “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.  And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

Dr. Luke’s observations are not just history — they are still happening.  Regular people (who religion calls laymen) are speaking about Jesus with “great boldness.”  Come and hear them “speak the word of God boldly.”  It is happening in Nashville @ The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center, 225 Berry St., 37207.

Come and see.  Get fired up and help lead the way to victory at the frontlines of spiritual combat.

Posted in Acts, ambulance corps, American church, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christian, Christian history, Christianity, church, church history, early church, East Nashville, Helen Shoemaker, history, Holy Spirit, house church, lifestyles, miracles, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, normal Christianity, order of worship, organic church, powerhouse, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, Samuel A. Eliot, simple church, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, the way we do church, tradition, Uncategorized, What is church?, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pro Choice Or No Choice? Popular Culture’s Conflicting Concepts

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Steve Simms

The term pro choice and the phrase the right to choose are widely used in American society while at the same time popular culture preaches the concept that people have no choice but to obey certain cravings, compulsions, orientations, and/or genetic tendencies.  How confusing!

The truth is:  God has given us all the power of choice.  The great Israeli leader, Joshua, said:  “Choose this day who you will serve; as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”  We all have the right to choose who and/or what we will serve.

We can choose to serve our self and follow and obey our whims and desires.  We can choose to serve the crowd and like a programmed robot do and/or support whatever everybody else appears to be doing.

Or we can choose to serve and obey what is right, just, and moral.  We can choose, as Joshua did, to serve and follow the dictates of God — to hear and obey our conscience and to follow the moral law that is written on the heart of mankind and that is proclaimed by almost every culture in human history.  (For example, almost every human society says that stealing is morally wrong.)

No matter what you feel or how strongly you desire something, as a human being, you have the choice to surrender to it or to resist it.  Choose well.

Posted in addiction, adult language, adultery, American, choice, Christianity, conscience, free will, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Joshua, juddgment, judgments, lifestyles, making decisions, moral principles, morality, morals, pro choice, religion, right and wrong, right conduct, self-help, spiritual disciplines, Uncategorized, values | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Joy Of Judgment

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Steve Simms

Judgment has gotten a such bad rap.  It is almost universally portrayed as a bad thing.  Even Jesus’ words; “Judge not, lest you be judged,” are falsely used in an attempt to silence all judgment and to say that every attitude and behavior should be accepted.

However, judgment is not a bad thing.  True judgment is a joyous thing.  Now true judgment doesn’t come from people, because all human judgment is faulty.  Even the best judges and juries make mistakes.

There is One however, whose judgment is accurate.  And when we surrender to God’s judgment, the end effect is joy.  To quote Paul of Tarsus:  “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret.”

God’s judgment is like the railing around a high-rise balcony — it allows people to enjoy the outdoors, high above the city, without fear of falling to their death.  If you take away the railing, fear paralyzes people and they can’t enjoy their balcony.

That’s the joy of judgment.  God’s judgment sets boundaries that protect us from self-inflicted pain, misery, and destruction.  Take away the railing of God’s judgment and people don’t function very well — they royally mess themselves up.

Need proof?  Look around us at the mess and misery, the violence and evil of the 21st Century.  Look in your own heart.  Are you full of joy?  Or are you an emotional mess?

So how do you experience the joy of God’s judgment, the “godly sorrow” that brings freedom from wrongful behaviors and attitudes?  There are several things you can do to begin to enjoy the joy of judgment:

1) Ask God to show you where you are wrong.  Here is how King David opened up to the joy of judgment.  He prayed:  “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

2) Have the courage to listen to your conscience and then obey what it tells you.  If you do, your conscience will pull you back from the edge of your balcony and let you safely enjoy your life.  If not, I hope you survive your fall.

3)  Stop rationalizing and justifying your wrongful behaviors.  You can give many reasons to attempt to justify taking the railing off your balcony, but none of those reason will cushion your fall.

4)  Be willing to hear a word against yourself and your behaviors.  When someone criticizes or judges you, don’t dig in for defense.  Instead, openly examine yourself and see if there is any truth in what they say.

5)  Admit your wrongful thoughts and behaviors.  Denial may be in style, but after a while, denial will cut you like a sharp file.  Courageously confess your faults.

6)  Ask someone to hold you accountable, to regularly check on you and see if you are overcoming the sins in your life — to encourage you and motivate you to overcome.

7)  Don’t be a quitter.  The joy of judgment is like training for the Olympics.  It requires persistence and toughness.  Anybody can wimp out and surrender to wrongful behaviors in her/his life.  Only the bravest will overcome them.

8)  There is a great book that contains much joy of judgment.  When I read it my heart is exposed.  It is a railing that helps keep me in line.  It is the best book I’ve ever read and the best-selling book in world history — the Bible.  Before you reject it or trivialize it into a coffee table book, read it for yourself.  Start with the New Testament.

9)  Find an environment where you can feel the presence of God — the woods, a beach, the mountains, under the stars, in a church building, etc; and spend quiet time there.

A few quotations:

“If an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”  –Paul of Tarsus  (How joyous!  This has actually happened many times at a gathering in Nashville were everybody present is allowed to prophesy — to openly share what God tells them to.  Come and experience it for yourself:  Thursday nights @ 6:30 & Sunday mornings @ 10:45; 225 Berry St., Nashville, 37207.)

“When we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.” –Paul of Tarsus

‘Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom.” –James, the brother of Jesus Christ

“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.”  –John F. Kennedy

Posted in Bible, books, boundaries, challenges, disciple making, fear, feelings, God, godly sorrow, guidance, guilt, harmful habit, hearing God, hearing Jesus, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John F. Kennedy, joy, juddgment, judgments, King David, life, lifestyles, morality, morals, Music City, Nashville, New Testament, organic church, Paul of Tarsus, peace, popular culture, prayer, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, religion, right and wrong, right conduct, salvation, sobriety, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, thoughts, trust, Uncategorized, values, voice of God, wake-up call, words | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments