Category Archives: history

Benjamin Franklin & Sermon Free Church

Posted on May 22, 2013 by

I think Benjamin Franklin would have loved sermon-free church because it gets people actively involved and transforms them from passive pew-sitters to spiritual go-getters! Ben said: “I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works. I mean real good … Continue reading →

Posted in American history, American Literature, Ben Franklin, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, church format, church meetings, church roles, church services, church structure, Doing the most good, good sermon, good works, history, involve me and I learn, memory, Nashville, organic church, pew, prayer, praying, preacher, preaching, quote, Quotes, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, sermon, sermon-free, sermon-hearing, sermons, simple church, teach me and I, Tennessee, The Salvation Army | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 2, 2013 by

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

Do The Math (Meditate On Multiple [7] Math Matters)

Posted on February 28, 2013 by

When you just can’t seem to figure life out — math might help.  Let’s meaningfully meditate on multiple (7) mathematics matters: 1)  Math wasn’t blown into being by the Big Bang.  It just doesn’t add up that an accidental explosion … Continue reading →

Posted in addition, big bang, Big Bang Theory, cool, creation, creationism, creativity, Creator, division, fiction, figure it out, God, hardware, history, history of the universe, human history, mathematical formulas, multiplication, mystery, mysticism, myths, non-material reality, physical universe, postulates, rebellion, revolting against God, software, soul, soul food, soul man, spirit, spiritual life, square, stuff, subtraction, supernatural, theorems | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Incredible Power of Christ Skills

Posted on January 10, 2013 by

How are your Christ skills? Many people live their lives without basic Christ skills — the abilities to connect with and release the life-transforming power of Christ in themselves and in others. However, when you look into history, you discover … Continue reading →

Posted in 24/7/365, addiction, addictions, anxiety, automatic, Christ, Christ followers, Christ in you, circumstances, contagion, counterfeit, emotional bondage, Greatest Teacher, guilt, history, life transforming, New Testament, peace, peace of mind, pie-in-the-sky, sainthood, saints, shame, spiritual bondage, spiritual leaders, stress, torment, tormenting thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is America Violent & Alienated From God Like Jean Valjean In Les Misérables?

Posted on December 28, 2012 by

Les Misérables, the new movie musical staring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried, beautifully brings Victor Hugo’s 1862 French novel to life.  However, it made me wonder:  Is America violent and alienated from God like the main … Continue reading →

Posted in 20th Century, 21st Century, alternative lifestyle, Augustine, brainwashed, brainwashing, C.S. Lewis, Christ, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian values, Christianity, conscience, conversion, convert, conviction, conviction of sin, cruel, devotion, discouragement, evangelism, faith, faith-based, faithfulness, fear, feelings, freedom, French novels, God, harmful thinking, hearing God, history, human nature, Jesus, Jesus Christ, John Wesley, life, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, meaning, message, misery, moral failure, moral principles, morality, morals, movie, movie review, movies, musicals, mysticism, new birth, obedience, persecution, popular culture, prayer, relevation, religion, repentance, salvation, search for significance, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual healing, spiritual themes, spiritual transformation, values, Victor Hugo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

What Would William Booth Say Today? (WWWBST?)

Posted on November 17, 2012 by

William Booth was the founder of The Salvation Army.  He was a man with a passionate love for God and a deep love for humanity.  He died 100 years ago this year.  What would William Booth say to us today … Continue reading →

Posted in authority, Bible type revival, Biblical concept, Christ, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, combat, deliverance, devotion, die to self, disciple making, disciples, discipline, discipling, England, faith, faith-based, fear, feelings, fight the good fight of faith, flag, followers, followers of Christ, freedom, glory, glory days, hearing God, hearing Jesus, heart-felt love, heroes, history, inner city, Jesus, Jesus Christ, kingdom of God, ministry, miracles, missional, modeling, moral failures, moral principles, move of God, movement, mysticism, normal Christianity, obedience, open airs, openairs, prayer, prayer walking, prayer without ceasing, praying, quote, Quotes, red hot, relevation, religion, right and wrong, right conduct, right living, righteousness, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, seduction, self-control, self-denial, self-destruction, self-discipline, self-focus, sex, soul, spirit, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual combat, spiritual disciplines, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual walk, surrender, surrender to God, temptation, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Can What You Know Prevent You From Learning?

Posted on November 9, 2012 by

Millions of Europeans knew that the world was flat.  They had no desire to sail off of the edge of the world.  So ships sailed close to shore and no one learned that there was a new world across the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic Ocean, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Christian, Christian community, Christian organizations, Christian values, Christopher Columbus, church, church meetings, church program, church programs, church roles, church structure, Claude Bernard, Columbus, courage, creativity, decision-making, denominations, do church, Europeans, Ferdinand and Isabella, followers of Christ, guidance, history, inspiration, religious ceremonies, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Spain, the Americas, voyage of discovery | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Evangeline Booth, The Salvation Army, & Spiritual Fire

Posted on September 25, 2012 by

Evangeline believed that The Salvation Army represented an aggressive style of Christianity.  However, over the years, some of the early Army boldness has been lost.  Perhaps it is time to bring it back.  Here’s one step you can take to … Continue reading →

Posted in alternative lifestyle, army, attitude, Berry Street, Berry Street Worship Center, Catherine Booth, challenges, Christ followers, Christ-centered, Christian, Christian community, Christian flag, Christian history, Christian organizations, Christian values, church history, church roles, courage, denominations, East Nashville, Evangeline Booth, fire, fire of the Holy Spirit, followers of Christ, God calling, hearing God, hearing Jesus, history, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Jesus Christ, lifestyle Christianity, lifestyles, missional, move of God, movement, Music City, organic church, quote, Quotes, salvation, Salvation Army church, Salvation Army Corps, Salvationists, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual combat, spiritual formation, spiritual warfare, The Salvation Army, The Salvation Flag, William Booth | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Unconditional Will Wow You!

Posted on September 23, 2012 by

Unconditional, a new movie staring Lynn Collins and Michael Ealy, is based on events in the life of Joe Bradford, affectionately known as Papa Joe by the people whose lives he has changed in the projects of Nashville, Tennessee.  It is a … Continue reading →

Posted in history, lifestyles, The Salvation Army, race, prayer, music, racism, kingdom of God, life, positive thinking, recovery, Berry Street Worship Center, salvation, Christianity, revelation, spiritual, multi-racial, Berry Street, Music City, East Nashville, motivation, guidance, guilt, courage, spiritual growth, guts and glory, gratitude, spiritual warfare, miracles, normal Christianity, godly sorrow, spiritual combat, idealism, ideal, repentance, missional, conviction of sin, suicide, heart-felt love, human life, love, confession, equality, spiritual awakening, obedience, faith-based, non-church, misery, healing, Christian values, motivational speaker, lifestyle Christianity, training, Judeo-Christian, die to self, ministry, media, Lynn Collins, Michael Ealy, Nashville projects, movie, inner city, urban, middle class, poor, poverty, blacks, whites, African Americans | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Awesome Power Of Spiritual Interaction

Posted on August 17, 2012 by

*  One of the most powerful tools for personal transformation is spiritual interaction, openly sharing your faith, spiritual experiences, struggles, and concerns with others in a loving and compassionate environment.  (I have personally seen spiritual interaction produce life-changing results both … Continue reading →

Posted in AA, addiction, addictions, Alcoholics Anonymous, Berry Street, Christ followers, Christian, Christian history, Christian values, church, church history, church meetings, church programs, church roles, early church, His story, history, house church, I Corinthians 14:26, inspiration, Methodist class meeting, Methodists, missional, move of God, movement, NA, Narcotics Anonymous, Nashville, Neil Cole, non-church movement, open church, order of worship, organic church, participatory church, pentecostals, Quakers, religious ceremonies, Revelation 12:11, revival, sermon, sermons, simple church, sobriety, Spirit-led, spiritual, spiritual awakening, spiritual formation, spiritual growth, spiritual interaction, support group, the 12 Steps, The Salvation Army, the Walk to Emmaus, tradition, Tres Dias, unprogrammed church, When you come together | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments