Steve Simms's Blog, page 308
August 2, 2016
Express yourself or suppress yourself?
Contrary to popular opinion, continual self-expression leads to depression, stress, and duress. For example, contemporary culture has opened the door to almost unlimited self-expression, yet, rather than producing widespread happiness and fulfillment, we have some of the highest depression and suicide rates in history.
If self is the only thing inside of us, then self-expression is our only option. Like Janet Jackson said: “Self-expression is my goal.” Oscar Wilde went even further and said: “The purpose of life is self-expression.” Our society has bought the idea that full-self expression is healthy and that any self-repression is dangerous. Sigmund Freud expressed that concept like this: “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”
However, what if there is something beautiful inside of us that is beyond self? What if we can go beyond the struggles of self and express an inner light that is pure and bright and the source of all that is right? That gives two options instead of one: 1) We can strive to express our self and thus repress the inner light; or 2) We can work to repress our self and thus express the inner light. To express yourself is to trend toward a torrent of self-obsession and the terrible torment of self-oppression. However, steady self-suppression leads to progress in personal peace and success in satisfaction.
John the Baptist put it this way: “I must decrease, He must increase.” Paul of Tarsus said: “I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing,” and “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Jesus said: “Deny yourself, take up your cross (death to your own feelings and desires), and follow Me.”
When we suppress our self (and repress its desires), Jesus said; “Out of your innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” When we let self flow from within us, we experience unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and even misery; however when we shut down self and allow God’s Spirit to flow from within us we experience joy, peace, and hope.
So what flows out of you? What do you express? Yourself? Or the living, resurrected Jesus Christ?
July 31, 2016
The beach ball in my heart . . .
The Beach Ball In My Heart
–When life shoves me under
And tries to hold me down,
The beach ball in my heart
Comes bounding back,
Thrusting me to the surface
Like a jack-in-the-box
And keeping me afloat,
Displacing sadness with
Joy, peace, and hope.
This buoyancy that sets me free,
Is the reality of Christ in me!
July 30, 2016
Let’s go beyond church to the fruit of the Spirit!
Let’s Let’s go beyond church conflict, competition, and control — to the fruit of the Spirit:
* Love * Joy * Peace * Patience
* Kindness * Goodness * Faithfulness
* Gentleness * Spirit-Controlled Self
* http://amzn.to/2ao4vBe
July 29, 2016
All lifestyles are not equal. (Is yours working?)
All lifestyles are not equal:
–America teaches that there are a vast diversity of lifestyles, however, Christianity teaches that there are only two basic lifestyles. We can live our life following and obeying our thoughts, feelings, opinions, and desires. Or we can live our life following and obeying the Spirit of the living God. “Those who live according to the flesh (human nature) have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.”
–Those who seek to go against their human nature and instead live in obedience to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit are a small minority. Jesus called these two lifestyles the “broad way” followed by many and the “narrow way” followed by few. Is the lifestyle you are living working for you? If not, perhaps, you need to embrace the minority lifestyle.
–The best government is the government of God, not human government. That’s what Jesus talked about. He called it the kingdom of God — the territory that’s under God’s authority and rule. He said that that territory is established inside of people, not built with outward boundaries. Are your thoughts, emotions, opinions, and desires surrendered to God’s authority and control? If not, you are in rebellion against His kingdom and that means that your life is malfunctioning and out of alignment. Rather than looking to human government, Jesus challenged people to repent — to realign themselves with God and His government.
July 26, 2016
“The right to choose,” falsely says “Some lives don’t matter.”
Why don’t prenatal lives matter in America? Why have we devalued the most innocent form of human life? Why are prenatal lives offered no respect, no protection, and no rights?
The place to start with “ALL LIVES MATTER,” is in the womb. It’s foundational. If we say that human life doesn’t matter in the womb, then we have declared that a certain group of human lives doesn’t matter! Black, blue, and all — surely life matters in the womb. After all, prenatal care makes no sense if a baby in the womb is nothing but a disposable piece of tissue.
“The right to choose,” falsely says “Some lives don’t matter.” By teaching people that life in the womb is worthless our nation has to some degree devalued all human life and opened a door to increased violence in our culture.
America slowly replaced the words “Thou shall not kill,” with the words “The right to choose.” Now society is reaping consequences from this change in perspective. If we really want all lives to mater, lets begin by making prenatal lives matter again!
#DemsInPhilly #DemsinPHL
July 24, 2016
Love or sentimentalism?
If you’re impatient; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re unkind; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re envious; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re boast; it’s sentimentalism,not love.
If you’re proud; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re disrespectful; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re looking out for number one; it’s, sentimentalism, not love.
If you easily turn to anger; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you keep score; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you enjoy watching evil; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’re not honest; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you don’t protect; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you don’t trust; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you’ve lost hope; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
If you give up on someone; it’s sentimentalism, not love.
The Bible puts it this way: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.
July 22, 2016
The Trek Beyond: (Back To The Original Star Trek)
We’re Trekkies and Trekkers who are following the inner Star. We’re trekking beyond the bounds — outside the ordinary; over and above assumptions; out of the reach of routine; out of range of religion; past human performance and control.
Like the original Trekkies, our enterprise is to boldly go where few men have gone before. Those wise Trekkers saw a star and were inspired to leave home, family, country, and culture behind, in order to follow it. The star led the original Trekkies to an infant King and they worshiped Him.
Now a new Star Trek movie is calling our culture to be like the wise men who sought Jesus. In this age of Dones, when millions of people “done with church,” we are being challenged by God to pursue the inner Star and go beyond religion — beyond church as usual — back to the original Star trek, the passionate pursuit of the presence of Jesus Christ.
Our goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to “beam us up” to new spiritual heights. We realize that “resistance is futile” and that quenching the Holy Spirit is “highly illogical” if we want to “live long and prosper” in God, because ignoring the Spirit is like shutting down our connection with Starfleet Command.
Therefore when we gather in Jesus’ name we pursue His active leadership and direction by setting aside our own plans and agendas and allowing anyone present to share testimonies, words of encouragement, Scriptures, prayer requests, gifts of the Spirit, short teachings, prayers, etc. as they feel prompted by the Spirit. According to the New Testament (our Star Fleet Manual), this is the way the early Christ-followers met to worship Jesus. (See 1 Corinthians 14:26.) In the Greek language it was called ekklesia, but the word was dropped and replaced with the English word church.
So do you want to boldly go beyond? If so read Beyond Church: An Invitation To Experience The Lost Word Of The Bible–Ekklesia available here in Kindle or paperback. Also if you are ever in Nashville, trek over to The Salvation Army Berry Street on Sunday mornings at 10:45, 225 Berry St., 37207 — where ordinary people show and tell what God has done.
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July 20, 2016
America needs “J” for JOY
I made a “J” (for “joy”) with my hand in front of a map of America. We have relentlessly pursued happiness — but somehow we have missed out on joy. Happiness depends on happy happenings; but joy flows from deep within. It transcends and overcomes our circumstances. America desperately needs joy!
Joy radiates love and peace.
–America currently appears to be full of anger, fear, sadness, name calling, depression, anxiety, hatred, retaliation, bitterness, insecurity, unforgiveness, pride, hostility, etc. — but where is the joy?
–JOY is a 3-step process (and unlike happiness, joy doesn’t depend on circumstances): Step 1) J: Put Jesus first in your life. Step 2) O: Put others 2nd. Step 3) Y: Forget about yourself so that God’s joy can flow through you.
Our violent land desperately needs Christ-followers to demonstrate Jesus’ command to bless those who curse us and to love our enemies. Yet we’re not even effectively demonstrating blessing and loving those of a different “race” or political party. Is your love growing cold? Are you being desensitized? (“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.” –Matthew 24:12.) Joy can empower us to love unconditionally.
We can’t stop the anger in our society, by name calling or violence. That just breeds more of the same. Only demonstrations of the supernatural joy and love of Christ can transform a heart from anger to love. Do we have the courage show others Christ’s sacrificial love and forgiveness?
If we don’t learn to experience the inner joy of the living Jesus we will continue to wallow in and swallow the hollow pursuit of personal pleasure, self-satisfaction, unhealthy competition with others. Outward bravado can talk tough; but it takes inner joy to love and forgive.
July 19, 2016
Make church ekklesia again! (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Make Church Ekklesia Again! (1 Corinthians 14:26)
Ekklesia,
It will free ya,
Let you speak out,
Overcome doubt,
Drive away fear,
Bring Christ so near,
Make Christ so dear!
It’s time to make church ekklesia again. (Ekklesia, the lost word of the Bible, is the what Jesus called His body in Matthew 16 when He said: “I will build My ekklesia.” An ekklesia was the city council of a Greek city/state where everyone was equal and anyone could speak out in the meeting. More @ http://amzn.to/29I4tVW)
July 16, 2016
Why America needs to say, “Black Lives Matter”
Why America Needs To Say “Black Lives Matter”
In its early years America said
That black lives don’t matter
By subjecting millions of black lives to:
Human trafficking and abuse;
Lifelong bondage and work without pay;
Cruel separation from their families;
And brutal whippings if they didn’t obey.
Then America set black lives “free”
And turned them over
To a cruel system of separation
That denied their newly bestowed
Constitutional rights through:
Ongoing name calling, social abuse,
Harassment, bullying, torture,
Murder, and terror;
Resulting in the illegal lynching
Of more than 4,000 black lives,
While authorities turned their backs
(Or even assisted in the evil)
And the US Congress
Refused to make a resolution against it
And say that black lives matter.
Today it’s way past time to
Shout it from the housetops,
And write it on all of our hearts,
That black lives matter
Every bit as much
As white lives do!
Black men get a bad rap in America. Learn the truth about black men here.
