Tag Archives: recovery

Your stream of consciousness is a faucet with 2 flows — H & C.

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Steve Simms

Your stream of consciousness is a faucet with 2 flows:  H & C — hell & Christ.  In most of us they flow together in a mix. The Bible calls the H-flow (hell-flow) “the acts of the flesh.”  It calls … Continue reading →

Posted in a river runs through it, flowing in the Spirit, Galatians 5, preference, recovery groups, repentance, self-help, spiritual growth, spiritual maturity, support groups | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

4 steps to resist the devil and make him run from you.

Posted on October 7, 2014 by Steve Simms

Jesus’ 1/2 brother, James, who wrote one of the books of the New Testament, said:  “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  But how do you resist the devil?  Here are 4 steps: 1)  Recognize that there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible memory, deceit, deception, deliverance, demons, devil, devils, James 4:7, James Jesus half brother, New Testament, overcoming depression, overcoming fear, overcoming sin, overcoming temptation, prayer, praying, pride, resist the devil, self-help, sin, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual exercises, spiritual growth, spiritual healing, spiritual maturity, spiritual training, spiritual transformation, spiritual walk, spiritual weapons | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Robin Williams Made Me Think About Suicide

Posted on August 16, 2014 by Steve Simms

I’ve been thinking about Robin Williams‘ suicide. Suicide is tangible evidence of the invisible evil forces at work on us all. Humans have been programmed with a survival instinct. It is not natural for us to override that programming and take our … Continue reading →

Posted in demons, depression, despair, hopelessness, human life, human nature, spiritual battle, spiritual warfare, spirituality, suicide | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

How 2 B 4given! (Are Your Sins Forgiven?)

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Steve Simms

Guilt is an electric quilt that will burn you up.  No one should carry such a burden. Shame will leave you lame and loaded with inner pain.  But how do you shake off your blame? The most commonly tried remedy … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 John 1:9, 12 steps, condemnation, condemning, faith, faith in God, faith-based, freedom, freedom from sin, freedom of conscience, how to be forgiven, how to overcome guilt, judge, judgment, judgments, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Real Christianity, Romans 8:1, shame, sinner, Sinner's Prayer, sinning, sins | Tagged , , , , , | 9 Comments

I Loved 1,400 Men At A Salvation Army ARC

Posted on March 1, 2014 by Steve Simms

When I was hired as the counselor/chaplain of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) in Nashville in October of 2002, I had no idea that I would be working with about 1,400 men over the next 5 1/2 years … Continue reading →

Posted in cost of addiction, depression, drug abuse, freedom, heart, heart care, love, Love one another, loving men, recreational drugs, self-destruction, self-worth, selfish desires, selfishness, sex, sexual addiction | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Perhaps church needs to demonstrate the real presence of the Higher Power (Jesus Christ) by letting ordinary people show and tell what God has done; rather than being confined to a 1-man human presentation and a handy program.

Posted on October 31, 2013 by Steve Simms

Since Jesus said; “Shout from the housetops,” perhaps we could start by allowing people the freedom to share and testify in church.

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, AA, church in decline, church programs, church services, freedom, Jesus, Jesus Christ, NA, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, participatory sermons, Quotations, Quotes, sermon, sermons, shout it from the housetops, testifying, testimonies, testimony | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

AA Church

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Steve Simms

An Innovative Idea For Sunday Morning Church — Function Like An AA Meeting! Here’s a description of a typical AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meeting from the AA of Australia web site: “AA meetings are very informal. Just take a seat and … Continue reading →

Posted in 12 step meeting, 12 steps, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christianity, church format, church meetings, church program, church roles, church services, order of worship, organic church, participation in AA meetings, participatory church, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, simple church, Spirit-led, Spirit-prompted, telling their stories, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

The Simple Path To Peace (And Joy And Success) In Life

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Steve Simms

The Simple Path To Peace (And Joy And Success) In Life — Flip the switch of repentance and faith. Connect with your Creator. Let His spiritual life flow through and control you daily.

Posted in 'Tis The Gift To Be Simple, alternative lifestyle, Creator, daily, faith-based, flip the swithch, hearing God, hearing Jesus, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, listening, marvel, ministry, miracles, move of God, mystery, mysticism, obedience, Oh my God, presence of Christ, presence of God, put off the old man, religion, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, revolution, rivers of living water, salvation, security, self-denial, self-help, simplicity, soul, soul food, spirit, Spirit-led, spiritual athletes, spiritual awakening, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, spiritual warfare, still small voice, submission, surrender, surrender to God, truth, voice of God | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Guilt-Free Living

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Steve Simms

Guilt-free living is amazing . . . Knowing you are forgiven, Keeping a clean conscience, and Living in freedom from the control of cravings and compulsions. Guilt-free living comes through daily following and obeying the living, resurrected Jesus Christ. “What … Continue reading →

Posted in addiction, addictions, alternative lifestyle, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, boundaries, brokenness, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, Christian values, church, clear conscience, community, conviction of sin, ethics, faith-based, forgiveness, godly sorrow, guidance, guilt, habit, healing, heart care, Jesus, Jesus Christ, life, lifestyles, missional, moral principles, morality, morals, non-church, organic church, recovery, relational church, repent, repentance, revelation, revival, salvation, search for significance, searching for significance, shame, show and tell, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual formation, support group, surrender to God, The Salvation Army, values | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Cravings Can Capture & Control Your Life

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Steve Simms

Unrestrained desire can dominate and defeat you.  Cravings can capture and control your life. Yet our society teaches us to surrender to desires, cravings, compulsions, and whims:  “If you feel like doing something, go for it, and don’t listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcoholics Anonymous, alternative lifestyle, casual sex, challenges, Christian, Christianity, Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt, complacency, conscience, conviction of sin, country music, cravings, feelings, free will, freedom, guidance, guilt, habit, harmful habit, inward change, John Piper, John Ruskin, lifestyles, morality, morals, peacetime, Quotations, quote, Quotes, recovery, reformation, repent, repentance, self-will, shame, sin, sobriety, society, spiritual formation, thoughts, tolerance, true Christian life, violent streak, war, White Eagle, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments