Category Archives: Amazing Grace

Are We Good People Or Bad People?

Most people think that there are bad people in the world, but almost nobody thinks that they are a bad person.  However, people who are genuinely close to God, are the exceptions.  They seem to readily admit that they are … Continue reading

Posted in religion, Quotes, salvation, Christianity, morality, forgiveness, sin, Amazing Grace, John Newton, evil, quote, Isaiah, ethics, moral principles, Christian, Old Testament, moral restraints, Baghdad, Katrina, Russian literature, relevation, moral failures, looting, New Orleans, moral failure, moral foundations, moral laws, moral, moral reformer, laws, law enforcement, moral leaders, bad person, good person, author, a wretch like me, wretched man that I am, chief of sinners, unclean lips | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Wilberforce Force — Undying Passion To Make A Difference For Righetousness

Yesterday I watched a movie about William Wilberforce, the man who in the early 1800 spent many years trying to get a bill to end the slave trade through the British Parliament.  The force of Wilberforce’s example and lifestyle moved … Continue reading

Posted in abolishing the slave trade, abolitionism, abolitionist movement, abolitionists, advocate, agitator, alternative lifestyle, altruism, Amazing Grace, Atlantic slave trade, biography, British history, British Parliament, burning desire, burning heart, calling, causes, changing society, charity, Christendom, Christian, Christianity, compassion, crusader, do gooders, England, English, facebook, Facebook-style, giving, history, Making a difference, may the force be with you, middle passage, moral, moral failure, moral foundations, moral laws, moral principles, moral reformer, morality, movement, movie, movie review, MP, passion, passionate, philanthropy, purpose driven, purpose of life, Quotations, quote, Quotes, racial reconciliation, radical, radical Christianity, radical obedience, Real Christianity, reason for living, reformer, search for significance, searching for significance, serving others, slave trade, slavery, slaves, social justice, social media, social reformer, societal, transformation movements, volunteerism, volunteers | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

From Hinduism to Jesus Christ

I recently helped Tapan Saha write his testimony about finding Christ.  Tap is a soldier (member) of The Salvation Army Berry Street Worship Center in Nashville.  Here’s his story: I was born to a Hindu family in East Pakistan.  I … Continue reading

Posted in Albany, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, bell ringer, Bengali, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian values, church, comfort, compassion, disciple making, East Pakistan, evangelism, faith-based, Greek Orthodox Church, Hindu, Hinduism, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyles, makes change, ministry, move of God, Muslims, new birth, New York, salvation, Salvation Army Corps, selling books, share cropping, spiritual, spiritual formation, surrender to God, testimony, The Gideons International, The Southwestern Company, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Power Of Hearing Your Name

Sometimes I tell God; “Lord, I love you,” and then I hear these words in my spirit; “I love you, Steve Simms.”  Am I crazy?  Not according to the Bible. Four different people, in chapters 9 & 10 of the … Continue reading

Posted in Acts, acts of God, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, Ananias, ancient history, Apostle Paul, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christ, church history, conversion, Cornelius, courage, Damascus, disciple making, disciples, discipling, early church, Gentile, gift of God, glory, God, God's government, guidance, hate, hate speech, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Jesus Movement, Jewish, kingdom of God, lifestyles, Mary Magdalene, miracles, movement, mystery, mysticism, normal Christianity, Oh my God, Paul of Tarsus, prayer, presence of Christ, presence of God, Quotations, quote, Quotes, religion, repent, revelation, Roman, salvation, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual skills, spiritual warfare, Syria, The Salvation Army, The Voice, tradition, vision, worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

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

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 … Continue reading

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 , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

World Famous “Good” Men Who Weren’t So Good

People like to look back on history and call certain world famous men (or groups of men) good.  Perhaps the two groups of men that have been considered the best of the good are the American Founding Fathers and the … Continue reading

Posted in Amazing Grace, American, Americans, Anabaptists, Apostle Paul, Bible, black history, books, Christian history, Christianity, Founding Fathers, God, grace, guilt, history, human rights, Israel, Jesus, Jesus Christ, King David, lies, lifestyles, morality, morals, negro spirituals, prejudice, Protestant Reformation, Quotations, recovery, religion, repent, Robert Carter III, saved, sin, slavery, soul, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, tradition, Uncategorized, values, Why be a Christian? | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

William Wilberforce — The Power Of A Bold Believer

William Wilberforce (born in 1759) was a member of the British Parliament who stood up and spoke up courageously against the international slave trade and against slavery in the British Empire. His efforts and those of others ended slavery in … Continue reading

Posted in abolitionists, alternative lifestyle, Amazing Grace, black history, British Empire, British Parliament, champions, Christ, Christian history, Christianity, church history, conscience, courage, evangelicals, grace, guidance, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, lifestyles, morality, nonviolence, Quotations, Quotes, race, reading, religion, repent, slavery, social justice, spiritual, spiritual disciplines, spiritual warfare, Uncategorized, values, Why be a Christian?, William Wilberforce, words | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas Is About Judgment

Here’s a surprise: Christmas is about dealing with judgment. Our sinful thoughts, choices, and behaviors have been judged and we are guilty and condemned men and women. If our condemnation is merely canceled, the result would be chaos and injustice. … Continue reading

Posted in Amazing Grace, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, blessings, change, Christ, Christian history, Christmas, Christmas Eve, feelings, forgiveness, freedom, God, Hell, history, Jesus, Jesus Christ, juddgment, life, lifestyles, morality, mysticism, Nashville, religion, repent, salvation, saved, spiritual, spiritual growth, spiritual warfare, supernatural, The Salvation Army, tolerance, Uncategorized, words, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Thanksgiving Without Giving Thanks Is Just A Fine Time To Dine On Turkey

Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching.  However, Thanksgiving Day without actually giving thanks is just a fine time to dine on turkey. So, how do you give thanks?  What is necessary for thanksgiving?  3 things. 1) Something to give thanks for.  … Continue reading

Posted in Amazing Grace, blessings, blog, blog readers, feelings, God, gratitude, life, lifestyles, Oh my God, prayer, religion, thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Day, thinking, thoughts, Uncategorized, values, words, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Grew Up In Church Without God

My parents tell me that when I was a toddler, I used to talk to them about God.  They didn’t go to church or have much interest in spiritual things, so they were quite surprised by my interest in God and … Continue reading

Posted in Amazing Grace, awe, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Bible, Boy Scouts, change, Christianity, church, college, college students, East Nashville, feelings, fire, freedom, God, Hindu, Holy Holy Holy, I Corinthians 14:26, Jesus, Jesus freaks, Kumbaya, lifestyles, Nashville, non-material reality, organic church, Presbyterian, religion, revelation, self-image, simple church, spiritual, supernatural, The Salvation Army, Uncategorized, University of Tennessee Martin, What is church?, Why be a Christian?, worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments