Monthly Archives: April 2012

The Joy of Scandal

Posted on April 27, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

To be honest, I liked this far more than I expected going in. Then again, knowing nothing about the author, I was expecting a book coming out of a “bunker mentality.” Thankfully, this (and he) is nothing of the sort. … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Future: a small-group session

Posted on April 20, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

This  session is based upon the following past devotionals—refer back, or forge ahead at yr discretion (the one place you’ll need to re-read is hyperlinked): Lay Down Your Anxiety Lay Down Your Doubt Lay Down Your Goals Lay Down Your … Continue reading →

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…Because He First Loved Us

Posted on April 18, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

The premise of William Smith’s latest book is a simple but profound one: We can only love others as well as we can receive and recognize Jesus’ love for us. The rest of the book is a matter of learning … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Fears

Posted on April 9, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

A great deal of the sin in our lives is little more than a lame attempt to “protect” ourselves from the possibility of being sinned against. Whether it’s a pre-emptive strike or a full-scale retreat, we’ll do just about anything … Continue reading →

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It’s a Church PLANT, Not a Church PLAN

Posted on April 5, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

If you know anything about me, you know that church plants are near and dear to my heart. And if you know anything about church plants, you know that no two are alike, no matter what books on church planting … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Expectations

Posted on April 4, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

Rather than attacking this idea from the front—and our previous rumination on goals and plans hit on many of the ideas inherent in this idea already—I’d like to approach today’s meditation from a different angle. Over the last several years, … Continue reading →

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Lay Down Your Goals

Posted on April 2, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

Let’s return to the idea of us “taking things out of God’s hands” through our own control issues—and specifically, through the plans and goals we lay out for ourselves. There’s nothing wrong with having plans and goals for our lives. … Continue reading →

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Spiritual Rhythms in Solitude

Posted on April 1, 2012 by carlsimmonslive

This one’s more a brief journal piece, but worth sharing. As promised a few weeks back, I’m working my way through Keith Meyer’s Spiritual Rhythms in Community. The Week 3 assignment was to watch, reflect, on, and preferably discuss the … Continue reading →

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