Category Archives: Uncategorized

An Improvisation on Mercy

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Carl Simmons

As promised, this post is inspired by Robert Gelinas’ most recent book The Mercy Prayer—although admittedly much of its structure owes more to Finding the Groove. I’ve needed, in my own life, to see what God provides each day as mercy rather … Continue reading →

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Mercy Is a Three-Way Street

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Robert Gelinas’ first book, Finding the Groove, was a paradigm-shifter for me. Not only did its “jazz theology” help unlock my faith in a new way, but its sense of creativity was a heavy influence especially on my own Growing Others. And … Continue reading →

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Do, Because You Are

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Consider this a kinder, gentler version of past ruminations on this subject…. as well as (in the case of the next paragraph) a leveraging of one small reworking within Lay It Down: the book (in hopeful anticipation of official publication … Continue reading →

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Making Sunday School Work Anywhere, Anyway, Anyhow

Posted on July 12, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Assembling what could well be considered a Baptist all-star team here — including Thom Rainer, Elmer Towns, and my boy Josh Hunt — Steve Parr presents a variety of success stories in the world of Sunday School, and in Christian … Continue reading →

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What Are Your Re-Reads (revisited)?

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Since I’m in waiting mode right now — both in terms of “hopefully impending good news” and in terms of “books I need to review” — thought I’d revisit a fun topic I’d first done a couple years ago…. Some of … Continue reading →

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Getting from the Pastoral to the Personal

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Yep kids, it’s time for another layman’s review of the scholarly…. That said, the book does a fine job of addressing the content, as well as some of the lesser-known exegetical points, of the apostle Paul’s letters in one pretty … Continue reading →

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Feelings Are Not Faithfulness

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Carl Simmons

Just a brief word today, but God gave it to me a month ago and I’ve found it really helpful, so I’m passing it on. I’m not sure how it may play out in your life specifically, but I suspect … Continue reading →

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A Groundwork for the Gospel

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Carl Simmons

And speaking of 1-on-1 discipleship…. Here’s a resource all you disciplers can utilize to help new Christians begin to more fully understand the Gospel, and to help them begin to more deeply pursue a relationship with Jesus…. Edward Michael Gross. Authentic … Continue reading →

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In Defense of 1-on-1 Discipleship

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Carl Simmons

A couple very different conversations this week got me thinking about this issue even more than I usually do…. In fact, this might be equally titled “In Self-Defense of Being a 1-on-1 Discipler”… 🙂 First, the backdrop: It seems like … Continue reading →

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You Can Have More of God… If You Want Him

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Carl Simmons

It was this time last year that I first discovered R.T. Kendall, and I’ve dove in since. This book, pulled from Kendall’s final sermons at Westminster Chapel more than a decade ago, isn’t as immediately compelling as last year’s Unashamed … Continue reading →

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