Category Archives: Uncategorized

Songs Made for When You Begin Again

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Carl Simmons

To paraphrase the immortal words of John Mendelsohn: I am annoyingly partial to Bill Mallonee—both the man and the music. If you’d like more exposition on how much, go here; otherwise I’m going to stick more to the new music … Continue reading →

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Leading Out of Who You Are

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Carl Simmons

In a way, this book’s title is a bit of a misnomer. Not that it’s not about mentoring—and to be certain, the book’s main audience is mentors (of some sort). But really, this book is more about discovering what God’s … Continue reading →

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Children of the Promise

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Carl Simmons

I’ve been coming across our title phrase—or rather, it’s been coming across me—a lot lately (Rom. 9:8, Gal. 4:28). How do we live like “children of promise”? One way to look at it also came across me lately… As I’ve … Continue reading →

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Making Time for God, and Letting the Words Speak for Themselves

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Let me get this confession out of the way first: I am liturgically disabled. 🙂 And having gone from no religious background whatsoever to the reformed-arminian-charismatic-relational Christian mutt I am today, I’ve never really felt the need to hunt down any liturgical … Continue reading →

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Re-engaging Men…. starting in the home….

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Carl Simmons

David Murrow is back. Mostly. But perhaps some history is in order…. Even for someone like me, who loves men’s ministry but recoils violently at the thoughts of Promise Keepers and John Eldredge (huzZAH!), Why Men Hate Going to Church … Continue reading →

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Maybe We Should Just Go Read the Original Words Instead…

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Carl Simmons

As I’ve always said about Shane Claiborne: I may not agree with everything he says, but I’m glad there’s someone out there saying it. And Tony Campolo’s been eminently quotable for decades now. Plus, Claiborne was Campolo’s student at Eastern … Continue reading →

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Living as Though God Mattered

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Carl Simmons

I had to adjust my sights a bit, but after doing so was able to enjoy this book. Because really, there aren’t any secrets here, or even that much in the way of new insight. What this is, really, is “Stuff We … Continue reading →

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Love, Obedience, and Purity of Heart

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Carl Simmons

I’ve been spending a lot of time in the “upper room discourse” lately, in John 13-14 in particular so far. It’s an interesting section, since it’s one of the few where you really see Jesus interacting with His disciples collectively, … Continue reading →

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Who We Are, Where We’re Going, and How We Get There

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Carl Simmons

(or: How I Spent My Extended Summer Vacation, 2011 version) Buckle up, friends—this’un’s gonna be almost as autobiographical as informative. But the back story does inform the official one. So bear with me…. For the final 4 1/2 years I was … Continue reading →

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Gospel Identity: The Reviews Start Coming in….

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Carl Simmons

Originally posted on Confessions of a Futon Reformer:
At this year’s General Assembly of the PCA, I received a preview copy of New Growth Press’s small group materials. I was excited because I am a big fan of New Growth…

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