Tag Archives: history

Karaoke Spoken From The Heart (Lay Witness Missions)

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Steve Simms

Before people in the USA sang karaoke, they spoke it spontaneously, from the heart as they told how the living, resurrected Jesus Christ had changed their life.  It was called Lay Witness Missions.  This spoken karaoke began in United Methodist … Continue reading →

Posted in a shout out, Ben Johnson, can I get a witness, Christian history, church history, church meetings, church program, church programs, church services, evangelism, evangelistic meetings, Frank Billman, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lay evangelist, lay speakers, lay testimonies, lay witness coordinator, lay witness movement, lay witness team, layman, laymen, laywomen, Methodism, Methodist class meeting, Methodist revivalists, Methodists, Music City, Nashville, Nashville church, non-traditional church, open church, open forum, open mic, open mike, open sharing, religious karaoke, Salvation Army, Salvation Army church, sharing, sharing Christ, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, Spirit-led church, spiritual experiences, spiritual karaoke, spoken karaoke, team, testimonies, testimonies in church, testimony, witness, witnesses, witnessing, worship, worship service | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

To ignore belief in God is to choose to be ignorant of one of the most important factors of human history.

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Steve Simms
Posted in agnostic, agnosticism, atheism, belief, belief system, faith, faith in God, faith-based, God, spiritual, spiritual discovery, spirituality, study of God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Martin Luther King, Jr. On Liberalism (& Other Forgotten MLK Quotes)

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Steve Simms

“I began to question the liberal doctrine of man. The more I observed the tragedies of history and man’s shameful inclination to choose the low road, the more I came to see the depths and strength of sin. . . … Continue reading →

Posted in A.D., African American experience, African Americans, American history, B.C., black history, blacks, Caesar, faith, faith in God, faith-based, God, God's authority, God's presence, God's protection, God's voice, idealism, optimism, philosophical, philosophy, political views, politics, politics and religion, racism, reason, religion, religious beliefs, religious talks, sentimentalism, sin, thinking | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Top Ten Blog Posts For Black History Month

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Steve Simms

Would you like to know more about Black History.  Here are my Top Ten Blog Posts about African-American history: 10)  Negro Spirituals — A Message We Desperately Need 9) America’s Forgotten Freedom Fighters 8) Some Americans Suffered An Atrosity 7) … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 Years A Slave, abolitionism, abolitionists, African American experience, Americans, anti-slavery, atrocities, black is beautiful, blacks, freedom fighters, injustice, lashes, Martin Luther King Jr., negro spirituals, race, racial reconciliation, racism, Rosa Parks, runaway slaves, slave owners, slavery, slaves, Top Ten, whipping | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Teleconferencing (Prophetically) Predicted in 1881

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Steve Simms

An early Salvation Army leader appears to have predicted teleconferencing, webinars, live streaming, and social media links — George Scott Railton wrote this in The Salvation Army’s ” War Cry” of September of 1881: “Let us hope that the telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in church, church history, DNA, George Scott Railton, innovation, innovators, live streaming, predictions, quotation, quote, Quotes, social media, The History of The Salvation Army, War Cry, webinars | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“No Conformity To Any Church Forms Shall Hinders Us!”

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Steve Simms

Quotes from:  The History of The Salvation Army, Volume One, by Robert Sandall “We have been trying and, we thank God, with no little success, to break loose from all the trammels of custom and propriety which may in any degree … Continue reading →

Posted in Bramwell Booth, creativity, Elijah Cadman, quotation, quote, Quotes, Robert Sandall, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Two 19th Century Women Promoted Participatory Church

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

These two 19th Century women promoted participatory church: Florence Booth of The Salvation Army said:  “The greatest care is needed that a sense of the value of testimony should be preserved throughout The Army. Salvationism is neither comforting nor complete … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century, church history, converts, Ellen G. White, Florence Booth, gifts of the Spirit, Holy Spirit, organic church, participatory church, Salvation Army, Salvation Army women, Salvationism, sermon, sermons, Seventh Day Adventists, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Lights of the Round Table / Spirit-Prompted Church Meetings

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Steve Simms

King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table reveal a biblical way of holding church meetings. 1)  The knights set at a round table so that no one, not even the king, could be at the head of the table and … Continue reading →

Posted in Camelot, Christ, church format, church leadership, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Code of Chivalry, equality, Head, Head of the church, hiearchy, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King Arthur, knighthood, knights, Matthew 20, moral, moral foundations, moral judgment, moral laws, moral leaders, moral principles, moral reformer, moral restraints, morality, organic church, Round Table, simple church, values | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Your life is like a donut — there’s a big hole where God should be.

Posted on June 7, 2013 by Steve Simms

The first Friday in June is National Donut Day in the USA.  This holiday began in Chicago in 1938 when The Salvation Army began to sell donuts to raise money to help people suffering from the Great Depression and to … Continue reading →

Posted in American, American history, Chicago, Donut Girls, empty core, first Friday in June, fund raising, God, Great Depression, holiday, holiday hype, holidays, lassies, life is like a donut, National Doughnut Day, Salvation Army women, Salvationists, sugar coat the truth, USA | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Freedom of Speech — In Church Services

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Steve Simms

A Creative Church Concept — Apply the First Amendment of the US Constitution (the Freedom of Speech) to church services. At The Salvation Army Berry Street everyday people are free to obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, church, church meetings, church services, mysticism, Nashville, Nashville adventure, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments