tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65973811658113762292012-02-11T08:11:23.228-06:00Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.comBlogger941100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-9675185343513419312009-11-03T22:48:00.000-06:002009-11-03T22:48:13.211-06:00

After denying oxygen to this blog for a few months, it's about time to pull the plug.  I'm directing my attention to a new blog called "Out of the Mold," where I can blog about a wider variety of subjects.  Jump over and take a look!

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1558951975548144942009-04-20T15:25:00.003-05:002009-04-20T15:29:33.701-05:00

It seems that I'm blogging on the InTake blog so often these days that this blog is being neglected. If you haven't visited the InTake blog, I hope you'll jump over and poke around. From this post through the end of May, Brad and I will be blogging on the 30 Core Competencies of the Christian Faith. Click here for introductory info on the Core Competencies from our church website.

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-41601660586287295552009-03-23T11:48:00.004-05:002009-03-23T12:05:04.684-05:00

This morning, my youngest son Benjamin was on his way out the door to catch the school bus when he turned to me and said, "Dad, I went all the way to the 2." I had no idea what he was talking about. "Dad I read Mark all the way to the number 2." The Chapter 2 heading! Before he went to bed last night, he picked up his Bible and read the first chapter of Mark. We are encouraging everyone at the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-15727608069323726102009-02-02T08:37:00.003-06:002009-02-02T09:18:23.311-06:00

As I write this morning, my fingers may be the only part of my body still working. My ribs are bruised from an attempted dive into the end zone (see slide show). My legs hurt, my arms hurt, my head hurts. But that's the price you pay to be a champion. The Hunks (old guys) were victorious over the Punks (jr. high and high school boys) once again in our annual neighborhood football game. But

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-69326450958025356382009-01-29T09:00:00.000-06:002009-01-29T09:01:10.040-06:00

Our second set of burning questions revolved around how we can increase the church's exposure in the community. We received a lot of good suggestions: yard signs, various forms of print advertising, temporary signs around the community on the weekends, mailers, more signage at the YMCA, and the list goes on. Unlike the fundraiser questions (see previous post), I think we all agree that it's

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-41771234778792811952009-01-26T21:57:00.005-06:002009-01-26T22:55:20.270-06:00

At our recent 1st Birthday celebration, I provided index cards and asked people to write down any question they had about the Springs. After sifting out the really profound ones, like "what color does blue and yellow make," I realized that almost all of the questions fell into 2 categories: finances/fundraising and marketing/advertising for the church. In this post, I'll address the fundraising

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-50455317879040908652008-12-22T17:38:00.005-06:002008-12-24T18:15:26.277-06:00

I feel guilty. Our kids did such a great job decorating Christmas cards for families affected by the hurricane, and our families gave over $800 in gift cards and cash to those same families this past Sunday. Then I got to experience the joy of delivering those gifts today, which really cool but a little unfair. Every person who gave should have had the privilege of delivering those gifts

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-4232142015257595362008-12-22T16:52:00.004-06:002008-12-22T17:37:37.267-06:00

A feature story on Church @ the Springs made the front page of the Galveston Daily News today. It was great to read Rick Cousins' take on our church as an objective journalist. For the most part, I think he "gets us." As a Galveston reporter, he's seen many, if not most, of the island's church buildings damaged by Ike. Viewing the Springs through that lens, he asks an important question about

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-71890261442579839002008-12-22T10:06:00.001-06:002008-12-22T10:06:20.535-06:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1805843459580173612008-12-08T09:26:00.004-06:002008-12-08T09:43:03.521-06:00

Ironically, our annual celebration of the birth of Christ has become our most indulgent, commercial, and stressful time of the year. But Christmas is worth saving. Join the families in our community who have committed to make 1 change in each of three areas this Christmas: Spend Less, Give More, and Worship Fully. Scroll down to see the posts for ideas in each area, and make your own

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-59210433543516813772008-12-08T09:16:00.003-06:002008-12-08T09:44:50.165-06:00

Deciding as a family to spend less is a crucial first step in bringing sanity and meaning back to the Christmas holiday. We should all commit to avoiding debt at this and all future Christmases. Beyond that, here are several choices your family can make to spend less this Christmas.Give one less gift per personSpend half as much (total expense) as last yearPurchase store-bought gifts for kids

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-8027915891026941322008-12-08T09:10:00.001-06:002008-12-08T09:45:20.389-06:00

It is possible to spend less and give more. Sometimes shopping is the least effective way to truly give at Christmastime. Here are some suggestions for giving more this Christmas, or add your own ideas as a comment to this post.Express yourself. Write cards or letters to family members, and tell them how much they mean to you.Give photos, family mementos, or small items with symbolic significance

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-15537415229717864942008-12-08T09:04:00.003-06:002008-12-08T09:16:19.652-06:00

Many of us already give charitably at Christmastime, but often our kids are not involved and may not even be aware that we gave. Choose options for giving that allow the whole family to get involved; remember, this is not just giving it's also teaching. Our kids need to learn the value --and experience the fulfillment--of giving at Christmastime.Depending on how you've decided to Spend Less

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-12810483512009423802008-12-08T08:45:00.003-06:002008-12-08T08:54:31.862-06:00

There are many worship gatherings and special events you can attend in our community, and I encourage you to do so (the Springs Family Christmas Celebration is 12/21), but don't let attending an event be the beginning an end of worship for your family this Christmas. Here are some suggestions to help you and your family worship fully this Christmas (or add your own as a comment):Have a birthday

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-29332436698693170382008-11-20T10:04:00.004-06:002008-11-20T11:00:18.449-06:00

It's been our dream from the beginning to be a church that is perceived--and actually is--a partner in and with our community. I've learned the hard way that people outside the church often shake their heads at the church's insistence on 'doing its own thing.' We prefer to partner with other people and organizations in our community if possible, and not just because we're small. If we're huge one

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-76397933906712943842008-11-06T08:51:00.004-06:002008-11-06T09:21:05.024-06:00

Hope, like many things, is different for suburban Americans than it is for others in the world. We have many things in our lives that often appear to be dependable, in which we are tempted to place our hope. This temptation is a luxury most people never experience. If you've never had a nice house, if you've never seen a grocery store with all the shelves full, if you've never had the chance

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-43241106189124215732008-11-04T20:23:00.010-06:002008-11-05T07:38:53.445-06:00

Barack Obama will be the 44th president of the United States. This news is undoubtedly being celebrated today by some readers and lamented by others. But whatever your political persuasion, there are aspects of this election we can all celebrate, and I believe we all should.The next leader of our country was just selected by the people, rather than a judge, a mob, or a military group. Because we

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-30053786643471221892008-10-06T16:09:00.004-05:002008-10-06T17:20:08.103-05:00

Leamon hung up the phone, threw the necessities in the back of his van and hit the road. Verizon had work for him in League City, 1200 miles away. The money was good and his wife was already gone to a training conference, so he set out to join the hundreds, perhaps thousands of workers who have flooded into the bay area in recent weeks to get our power, water, phone and cable working again, pick

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-12623402165721072032008-10-01T11:08:00.004-05:002008-10-01T11:53:42.606-05:00

I've been keeping an eye out for a part-time job to supplement my income, surfing through craigslist and the newspaper from time to time. One that caught my eye this week was an ad for a part-time delivery person in our area. The pay and the hours were agreeable, and the business owner seemed intent on finding someone who would "represent my company well," although what, exactly, his company

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-17756836978624956452008-09-30T11:42:00.005-05:002008-09-30T12:47:23.576-05:00

"So, has anyone asked you yet whether you think God directed this Hurricane to Galveston or not?" The question hovered in the air for a moment like a hawk waiting to dive on its prey."No," I answered, "and I hope nobody asks me that.""We were talking about it at work the other day. It was a pretty lively discussion." I couldn't even bring myself to ask what was said. If the discussion was

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-25330943057614834082008-09-22T21:31:00.003-05:002008-09-22T21:41:16.563-05:00

Just a few miles down the road, Galveston Island looks like a war zone. The causeway is blocked by highway patrol. There is a tree sitting on top of the Lutheran church in Dickinson. My oldest son Jacob spent a day last week ripping carpet out of a local teacher’s home that was flooded up to the second floor, while fish swam in the black water in her backyard pool. With such destruction in clear

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34528138231126433572008-08-05T21:48:00.008-05:002008-08-06T12:08:27.242-05:00

We expected to be sequestered in our homes Tuesday due to tropical storm Edouard. What do you do if you're stuck at home all day? --Invite the neighbors over! Even though Edouard turned out to be little more than a nice rain shower, we took advantage of the opportunity the little storm provided and spent some great time with our neighbors, eating and playing cards. Everyone brought something to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-71097774063979255112008-07-29T12:11:00.003-05:002008-07-29T12:30:39.255-05:00

We baptized four young people at the Magnolia Creek community pool Sunday evening. What a great celebration! It felt very right for us to all bring our food and drink, hang out, have fun, and celebrate new life in Christ. Here are a few background notes from the baptisms that you might not have known even if you were there.First, the parents from all three families were a major influence

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-13351634960110096832008-07-23T10:01:00.003-05:002008-07-23T15:32:15.564-05:00

Wow, 20 days since my last post. Thanks, readers, for hanging in there with me. I'll try to catch up on all that's been happening in the last 20 days this week.In June, both of our boys spent two weeks at Kanakuk camps in Missouri. It was Benjamin's first time to go, but Jacob's sixth consecutive year. Kanakuk is now a must-do in our family every summer, and now Jacob is talking about the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-90244949101921793022008-07-03T09:15:00.007-05:002008-07-03T09:51:13.258-05:00

One of my favorites from the "Who I Am in Christ" list (see my previous post) is Ephesians 1:3-8, in which we are described as adopted by God.I wasn't adopted, and I don't pretend to know what it feels like to have been adopted. Apparently the desire to reconnect with one's birth parents is very strong, to understand why they were given up for adoption or what happened in their biological family.

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34171493892643210272008-07-01T11:30:00.003-05:002008-07-01T11:48:24.563-05:00

Sunday, I issued a challenge for all of us to be reminded of our identity in Christ by reading passages of scripture each day this week from the "Who I Am in Christ" list on our website. Whether you were at our service or not, I encourage you to bookmark, download or print this list and dwell on it this week. In the Bible, we are constantly reminded by God that we are accepted, secure, and

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-66524574228561365812008-06-21T21:38:00.006-05:002008-07-01T11:52:17.724-05:00

This weekend at the ranch, the boys' ingenuity really kicked in. They found a board that was tapered on both ends, and decided to try to "ski" on it behind a Kawasaki mule. They call it "muleboarding." I'm sure this is destined to be the next rage in rural Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia. Check them out on Youtube (Jacob)(Benjamin). It all worked great until they decided to try it on their

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1251777371250418822008-06-17T15:23:00.002-05:002008-06-17T15:28:48.731-05:00

We have a lot going on this summer, and we're experimenting with ways to keep people informed about the church's schedule. I put this calendar together, and I'd like some feedback on whether this would help you. There are a lot of options on how this calendar can be used: we can embed it on the church's website, you can access it directly from the web, and you can even have notifications send

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34176197396574179512008-06-09T09:31:00.006-05:002008-06-09T12:31:02.393-05:00

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. From what I usually say about our table, it probably sounds that way. It's not. There are bad days. Like when one of the kids flushed a plastic dixie cup down the toilet in the upstairs bathroom. I'm sure it was fun watching it swirling down the hole--it was the perfect size to lodge in the S-curve of the toilet. I can tell you from

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-35767123262276689552008-06-03T12:00:00.000-05:002008-06-03T14:39:41.946-05:00

One of my blog posts was picked up by a magazine (which will remain unidentified) recently and is scheduled to be published. The editor and I went through the customary back-and-forth of reducing the word count to fit the prescribed space alotted for it in the magazine. Since I didn't write the article for a magazine, I fully expected it to be adjusted to fit the magazine's purposes and target

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-50261020969742175052008-06-02T23:50:00.005-05:002008-06-03T00:25:32.072-05:00

When you say "small group," I think many people, especially guys, have an uncomfortable image in their minds of a bunch of people in a living room sharing their feelings. Last night, the guys in our group did auto repair. Blake's catalytic converter almost fell off on the way over to the house, and he didn't know how to fix it. I had the tools and Pete had the know-how and, after a quick trip

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-57914723679413583532008-05-30T10:04:00.008-05:002008-05-30T10:32:45.847-05:00

Bad news never has good timing. For the last couple of weeks, it seems there is bad news all around. It started with Johnny's funeral and just went south from there. All of a sudden, so many friends have sick relatives or family crises. Gas is through the roof. The national economy is bad. My personal economy is bad. Bad news from another church in our area. I don't want to go to the mailbox or

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-44465141491800788712008-05-27T15:03:00.003-05:002008-05-27T17:05:11.087-05:00

I'm trying to let myself down easy today. I'm breaking off a long relationship, but it needed to happen. She just takes and takes and doesn't give as much back as she used to, and I think it's time we just went our separate ways.I put my Jeep up for sale today. I've been a Jeep owner for 11 years; first a forest green Sahara model that I drove into the ground, then my white Rubicon for the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-64596939342766268462008-05-20T17:22:00.007-05:002008-05-21T11:43:59.174-05:00

The ranch house where my wife grew up sits back off of a gravel road in rural central Texas. You can see for miles from the back porch, and if you really try, you might be able to spot three other residences across the landscape. The next closest house is on the other side of a large cultivated field. It's a place where, if you don't want to be bothered by people, you pretty much don't have to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-71878457916373568002008-05-20T10:47:00.004-05:002008-05-20T10:58:26.093-05:00

It's been a while since my last post. A recent death in our family put the blog on hold for a while. In a SpringsLetters first, my wife Elizabeth requested that I post the following today from her:I’ve often thought it fairly cliché when people say, “Words just can’t express my gratitude.” As someone who loves to talk a lot, I’ve thought surely someone could come up with a better way to say

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-63961749546689750882008-05-09T10:22:00.005-05:002008-05-09T11:14:58.164-05:00

Can you put a dollar value on motherhood? The newspaper said today that if you include "overtime," moms typically do about $117,000 worth of work in the home each year, based on current market value for tasks usually done by moms in the home. When I read that, I thought to myself, "wow, maybe I should get into that line of work." But then I started thinking about what moms do, and realized I

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-89822838747266557512008-04-30T14:29:00.005-05:002008-04-30T16:49:59.853-05:00

"I remember when we had to walk to school in the snow, uphill--both ways." So goes the famous rant, the intent of which is to drive home a point about how much easier kids have it these days. But the kids don't seem to get the point (I certainly didn't). What they learn is that the ranter is an old fogey, intent on telling stories from a past that doesn't concern them.If there is a fogey book

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-72197026106969735722008-04-28T08:31:00.003-05:002008-04-28T11:35:58.407-05:00

Apparently, 22 divided by 2 equals 35. That was the math this weekend as we celebrated the birth of a new neighborhood table. Our 22 people at a recent table gathering was the signal that it was time to start a new group in the neighborhood adjacent to ours. But instead of ending up with 2 groups of 11, we had 17 at our table and the new table had 18. I'm not hung up on numbers, but the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-68615993109047059932008-04-25T13:58:00.005-05:002008-04-25T14:49:32.646-05:00

This weekend is a landmark in the life of our fledgling church, as a new neighborhood table is scheduled to meet for the first time. A couple of other tables should begin also in the near future. I have waited and prayed for this moment for a long time, and I am excited to see it happen.For the most part, our "original" tables were formed by organizing people into groups according to where they

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-58205203263984709972008-04-23T08:28:00.002-05:002008-04-23T08:39:18.316-05:00

My in-laws live on a ranch in central Texas. It's been one of my favorite places since my college days, when I used to run out there after classes to fish in the stock tanks or go dove hunting. But when you're driving around on the ranch, you have to watch out for mesquite thorns. Mesquite trees, even small ones, often have thorns over 3 inches long, and they go through a tire like a hot knife

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-68192673302985897022008-04-22T10:36:00.004-05:002008-04-22T11:35:44.062-05:00

Although it's not the most important thing about the Springs, the most attention-getting aspect of our church is the fact that we don't have services every week. A consultant recently called it "gutsy." Many people think we probably just don't have enough resources to have weekly services. Others just think we're weird. I'd like to offer another explanation: The Springs Gives Back.For the past

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-71863622291490914302008-04-17T11:00:00.000-05:002008-04-17T11:48:00.195-05:00

"You know the old saying," says Gary Zeiss, a 50-year old attorney from LA. "If you want something done, give it to a busy person." Gary spoke these words on a night when his family met for dinner...at 10:20 PM, after a day completely crammed full of work, school, and extra-curricular activities. Mr. Zeiss, his wife and two children live a life that can accurately be described as insanely busy,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-31239936015449594582008-04-16T13:37:00.003-05:002008-04-16T14:10:43.304-05:00

Thanks to you, we've now surpassed 1,000 readers on the Springs Letters blog! I hope this is just the first of many landmarks we'll pass by as we build an online community of people interested in living the Christ-life in all its fullness.In honor of this occasion, I asked 200 of my closest friends to "do something special," so they posed for the photo above. I told them it was a bit over-the-top

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-84933552154364736472008-04-13T20:53:00.007-05:002008-04-14T11:19:30.465-05:00

Sunday evening was different from our normal table, but a very exciting evening in that it represents the imminent multiplication of our neighborhood tables. We had 22 people at our house with new families who are wanting to get involved. It was really too many for people to be able to connect, but everyone understood and went with it. From our original group of 4 families from 3 adjacent

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-7452324052486619472008-04-11T10:25:00.002-05:002008-04-11T10:48:23.789-05:00

My wife picked up a book yesterday and I haven't been able to put it down. It's called Lord, Save Us From Your Followers, and it's also been made into a compelling documentary film. The author/producer, Dan Merchant, is a follower of Christ who set out to discover why Christians and non-Christians seem so hostile to each other in the public square; why those who don't profess to follow Christ

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-62672007615411020352008-04-10T10:42:00.005-05:002008-04-10T11:56:57.444-05:00

In honor of the beginning of the Masters golf tournament today, I'd like to introduce you to one of golf's most sought-after trophies. The Springs Cup ranks right up there with the Green Jacket and the Claret Jug on the list of prizes any golfer would love to claim as his own. Since I am currently the possessor of the Springs Cup, and since I'll never wear the green jacket or hold the claret jug,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-23367392430768193372008-04-08T13:00:00.000-05:002008-04-08T13:00:07.987-05:00

As of the writing of this post, around 950 people have visited the Springs Letters blog. Plans are currently under way for a huge Blog Party when we reach 1,000 which should be by the end of this week! It will be a celebration you won't want to miss. Help us get to 1,000 by referring your friends to the Springs Letters Blog, and check back often this week--you may just be visitor #1,000.

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-10617669383117310582008-04-08T12:10:00.004-05:002008-04-08T13:00:53.023-05:00

I didn't originally intend to give a table group report every week, but it has become unavoidable. Every time our group gathers, things happen that are so significant I can't help but write about them. And when it involves your kids...well, I can't resist the urge!When we seek out relationships, we often look for things in common: common age or stage of life, common interests, common background,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-81128707500584937262008-04-02T11:04:00.002-05:002008-04-02T13:57:47.901-05:00

I spent Spring Break in one of the most beautiful places on earth: Sedona, Arizona. For several days, we hiked and climbed and explored Indian ruins in this gorgeous high desert country. More than anything else we would just climb to a high spot with a good view and stare. The red sandstone cliffs and blazing blue sky command your attention; cool, dry mountain air tinted with the smell of juniper

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34933304684901510292008-03-31T10:03:00.004-05:002008-03-31T11:25:51.167-05:00

Yesterday I did something that I know I have never done before. It was the first Sunday our table group got together in the morning rather than the evening. We met at Countryside Park at 11:00 AM for picnic lunch and fellowship, and followed lunch with a great game of adults vs. kids wiffle ball (adults won and showed no mercy) and some sand volleyball. A neighbor family and another boy from our

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-53194881532351552482008-03-27T13:05:00.000-05:002008-03-27T13:05:26.005-05:00

Last week, while on vacation with our friends the Spencers, I had the privilege of baptizing the youngest Spencer, Nicholas. We did it in mid-afternoon in the hot tub at the resort where we were staying, with both our families in attendance, and lots of other people around the resort's pool area. In fact, as I was standing in the hot tub with Nicholas, explaining to him the meaning and

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-75143841213097322842008-03-24T11:00:00.007-05:002008-03-31T11:26:45.052-05:00

Wow, what a week! So many amazing things have happened over the past week that I haven't had time to write about them. We finished our 21-day challenge on Easter Sunday, during which many of us read a chapter of the Gospel of John each day for 21 days. I wrote some reflections on each chapter on the Intake blog, so that's taken most of my blogging time. All 21 posts are still there, so if you

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-45375218909267170372008-03-11T22:46:00.006-05:002008-03-28T18:22:29.381-05:00

Elizabeth and I stayed up until 2:00 AM last night to watch the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavor. It was spectacular. We had actually received an invitation to go to Florida and be present for the launch, and I could not help but feel like I had missed the opportunity of a lifetime as I watched it last night from home. But even watching it on TV was an experience I will not soon forget: for

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-69943471183249187972008-03-10T11:08:00.007-05:002008-03-10T13:13:11.472-05:00

"Churn" is the new word to describe the current state of religious faith in America. The word has great imagery. Here we are, with our various religious beliefs, swirling around in a giant fishbowl called America (or for you pessimists, pick whatever swirling bowl you prefer). The news is that we're apparently churning more than anyone thought.A recent study of religious life in America by the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-46375048186516401612008-03-03T17:27:00.005-06:002008-03-03T18:54:25.104-06:00

It was a laid-back night for our group. Everybody just brought pizza, plus some fruit and salad, which I think cancels out the bad effects of the pizza. Then I noticed the bottle of champagne. With pizza? I was told there was going to be a special announcement, that we had reason to celebrate. It was apparently champagne-worthy, so I was more than a little curious. As we gathered around in the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-9123449731362826992008-02-25T14:01:00.004-06:002008-02-25T14:17:12.031-06:00

From now through Easter, we're going to be focusing exclusively on the person of Jesus in a series called High Definition Jesus. From February 25 through March 1, I'll be blogging on the InTake blog (see link to the right) on the importance of Jesus being our main focus. From March 2 through Easter on March 23, we're challenging everyone to read a chapter of the book of John each day, and Brad

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-76039917310598817082008-02-18T10:35:00.005-06:002008-02-18T12:19:51.630-06:00

As we concluded our Simple Faith series yesterday, we featured a song by Keith Urban called "Everybody."Maybe I've been too caught upTo see what you've been going throughAll that I can say is that I'm here nowEverybody needs somebody sometimes...These lyrics, taken from the bridge and chorus of the song, gripped me as I prepared to sing them last week. When it comes to loving our neighbor (or

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-76484209630484702942008-02-13T08:38:00.004-06:002008-02-13T09:17:51.625-06:00

There are markers in every relationship, big things or small things that mark the beginning of a new era. For me, the most important ones have usually marked the movement from formality to informality. It's sometimes very subtle, but when people start to relax and let their guards down, everything changes. Small changes in behavior or conversation usually tip this off, and I think my radar is

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34910228521841519192008-02-06T13:20:00.000-06:002008-02-06T13:25:44.022-06:00

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been rediscovering Matthew 10. I've lived most of my Christian life in the Matthew 28 mode of "all nations," and God has backed me up a few chapters to rediscover the local mission of Christ. I've labelled it the "First Commission," which I'm studying and about which I'm posting comments on our InTake Blog this week (see link to the right). Check it out and

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-16837776897638475262008-02-04T10:22:00.000-06:002008-02-04T12:31:28.745-06:00

I can hardly move. My thighs hurt, my knees hurt, my calves hurt. But who cares? The Hunks (translated: dads/old men) beat the Punks (sons/teenagers) by a score of 6 touchdowns to 4 in our neighborhood's annual Super Sunday football game. We played on a vacant lot in our neighborhood that a couple of the dads actually chalked and striped for the game, which was a good thing because there was a

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-26453172297172131242008-01-31T14:19:00.001-06:002008-03-31T11:25:05.935-05:00

One of my heroes in Christian teaching is John Ortberg, pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, California. I admire him and his teaching so much that once Brad Gartman sent me a Valentine card "from John" and pasted it on my office door. I just went back and read that last sentence, and realized I probably shouldn't put things like that in print on the internet. Oh well.I

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-24793027833593322162008-01-29T11:13:00.000-06:002008-01-29T13:21:34.370-06:00

I had a great conversation yesterday with Kris McLendon, our awesome children's ministry director. She attended a children's ministry workshop in Dallas last week, and I wanted to hear all about it. While I hoped the workshop would be helpful and informative, I was just impressed that Kris had taken the initiative to sign up for it and attend. When a person is that proactive about something, you

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-77967580352977828202008-01-28T11:35:00.000-06:002008-01-28T12:14:05.622-06:00

This weekend, I did something I hadn't done since we started the Springs: I cancelled our table gathering. It was a big week too. We had new folks coming for the first time. Our neighbors were planning to be there. We were actually concerned about there being too many people in the house at one time, and were talking all week about how we were going to start new groups. Then Elizabeth got

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-8135505927803842672008-01-21T11:19:00.001-06:002008-01-21T12:07:41.106-06:00

Is there any way for BOTH teams in the Super Bowl to lose? Just asking, 'cause I can't stand either one of these teams and I can't find any reason to cheer for either of them. Maybe it's for the best. Since I don't really care about the game, I'll spend more time focusing on people. We'll be spending the afternoon with our neighbors, and the festivities will be highlighted by the Hunks vs.

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1788358787460442392008-01-10T11:08:00.000-06:002008-01-10T11:52:00.636-06:00

My oldest son's name is Jacob, which means in Hebrew, "he grasps the heel." Jacob was the son of Isaac in the Old Testament, the brother of Esau, who wrestled with God in Genesis 32, at which point God changed his name to Israel, which means "he struggles with God." It's interesting to me that Israel's namesake is famous for having it out with God in an all-night wrestling match. The Bible is

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-949232779342850492008-01-08T11:29:00.000-06:002008-01-08T16:39:16.804-06:00

That's me on the right, in Romania in December 1992. Some friends and I went there shortly after it was opened to the West. We were partnering with some local missionaries and Romanian believers, performing concerts in places they were trying to start new churches. I knew it would be cold, so I went prepared and, being a Texan, most of my warm clothing was recreational: ski clothing. In the photo

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-7777204503738464072008-01-07T10:13:00.001-06:002008-01-07T11:02:41.097-06:00

Jerome Bettis is the Bus. Karl Malone is the Mailman. Frank Thomas is the Big Hurt. And I think I may have found my nickname this weekend: the Can Opener.I suppose you could misinterpret that. It sounds like some kind of macho thing, like a guy who's had too many Bud Lights and is threatening to "open up a can" on some unsuspecting guy in a gravel parking lot. That would not be me. But yesterday

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-5478671329640858612008-01-02T17:02:00.000-06:002008-01-03T11:09:37.094-06:00

We have debuted a new site this week, dedicated to providing "lead-in discussions" for our Sunday services; in other words, you can prepare with us, study with us, and comment on the topic leading up to our next Sunday service. It will definitely make the message more meaningful to you, but it's more than that. We are a community pursuing God together, not a community waiting for a "shot in the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-76496329775540363602008-01-02T11:26:00.000-06:002008-01-02T11:27:17.877-06:00

I'm a big football fan. I love to watch a well-coached football team functioning like a precision machine on the field: an offense that picks a defense apart, or a defense that shuts down the other team's offense. I've been a fan since I was a kid, and the game has certainly evolved over the years, especially on offense: from the run-oriented offenses like the wishbone and power I formations to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-45613396022266835952008-01-01T12:46:00.000-06:002008-01-01T13:11:33.123-06:00

I went to three different New Year's parties last night. I joked last night about "party hopping," which I didn't even do when I was younger and thought I was cool. I can't remember how long it's been since we were invited to more than one party on the same night--any night, not just December 31. Two of the parties were on our block, and the third was not far from our neighborhood. Today, as

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-66277202849800119112007-12-31T08:25:00.000-06:002007-12-31T08:27:35.686-06:00

Happy New Year! I know we have one more day of 2007 left, but I couldn't wait. Since today is Monday of the first week of 2008, we're starting the year early. I recently completed my first annual teaching calendar, which begins with our service on 1/6, and I'm excited about what this year holds for us.A fellow pastor in town "invited" me in 2007 to join him in accepting responsibility for the

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-10959838868904646152007-11-13T11:33:00.000-06:002007-11-14T09:33:49.027-06:00

I had a conversation with my wife last night that took me by surprise, although it's not the first time in our marriage we had talked about it. I don't think Elizabeth had ever even thought about being a minister's wife before we started dating, and it was a big issue we had to walk through before we were married. She was totally supportive of my calling to ministry and excited to be involved in

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-89678419145114217462007-10-29T16:12:00.000-05:002007-10-30T16:55:41.859-05:00

It's Halloween, and here we are--one of the few churches not offering an alternative activity for kids. We'll be the same church that doesn't have a Super Bowl watching party on our giant screen (we actually have giant screens now!), that won't have a Christmas spectacular, and that won't have a giant Easter egg hunt. If you listen carefully, you can hear the sucking sound as I've just sucked all

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-2126864057902638502007-10-29T15:22:00.000-05:002007-10-29T16:10:22.580-05:00

The last few seconds ticked off of the countdown clock and the space shuttle lifted from the launch pad...on our video screens yesterday, as the first Sunday service of Church @ the Springs began. It was an incredible experience from start to finish: from the text messages and emails I received from friends all over the country who were up early praying for us; to the surprise appearances of

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-81215860136099670572007-10-10T09:02:00.000-05:002007-10-10T10:29:49.177-05:00

Many of you who read this blog are already visiting the Pray 2 Launch site daily (see web links to the right). If you're not, I hope you'll take a moment to subscribe to the site and begin praying with us from now through our dedication service on 10/28.God works when people pray. Don't ask me to explain it, but I've experienced it too many times to ever doubt that it's true. I took a trip to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-49725816754423907502007-10-04T16:30:00.000-05:002007-10-04T16:42:31.609-05:00

One of the great things about this season of starting the Springs has been the relationships I've enjoyed with other pastors and church leaders. I am excited to call members and leaders of several other area churches friends and partners in the gospel. I appreciate the way I've been befriended and made to feel welcome. Several churches have found creative ways to help me and our church during our

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1778437450980550602007-09-24T10:15:00.001-05:002007-09-24T22:30:47.098-05:00

I received a comment on last Friday's post on shared experiences that I suspect resonates with a lot of people (see the comments from the Fri 9/21 post). The commenter expressed a great deal of frustration over attempts to provide shared experiences for his/her family, including feelings of failure and futility. I thought the comment was important enough to require a response in today's post. I'm

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-64963001025107456392007-09-21T21:23:00.000-05:002007-09-21T22:24:00.352-05:00

I'm writing this post tonight from a hotel room in Buffalo, New York. I just spent the day with my family at Niagara Falls: we went to the Hershey store and ate chocolate, then had lunch at the Hard Rock cafe and looked at cool guitars owned by Ace Frehley and Ritchie Sambora. This afternoon we got on a boat called the Maid of the Mist and rode up to the falls from the river. It was like

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-30738745286788311982007-09-17T15:05:00.000-05:002007-09-17T16:36:25.202-05:00

One of the things I struggle with is the lack of "pizazz" in our ministry. I have this urge to do things to hype the church more--years of programming, of looking around to see who's getting attention, have made me uneasy about our quiet approach. We gather in people's homes in various neighborhoods in the community...big deal, I fear people will say. Where's the show? The flash? The lights

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-8199589388244691562007-09-07T16:35:00.000-05:002007-09-10T12:38:54.544-05:00

(part 5 of 5 posts on the four functions of Neighborhood Life)Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-31848208910144702262007-09-05T14:00:00.000-05:002007-09-05T22:22:31.059-05:00

(part 4 of 5 posts on the four functions of neighborhood life)All four functions--belong, serve, grow, and play--were modeled for us by the first Christians in Acts 2. Of the four, play is the most often overlooked. If you read Acts 2 through a pious lens, you'll miss the fact that the early Christians were distinguished in their community by their enjoyment of life together: "They broke bread in

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-34839790681011466192007-09-04T17:28:00.000-05:002007-09-04T22:32:30.585-05:00

(part 3 of 5 posts on the Four Functions of Neighborhood Life)On Labor Day, Discovery Channel aired a marathon of one of my family's favorite shows, "Dirty Jobs." We love watching Mike Rowe attempt the jobs that, in his words, "make civilized life possible for the rest of us." It's a weird idea for a TV show, but a refreshing one--in an entertainment universe that includes Paris Hilton and Nicole

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-29406666715596188442007-08-30T10:10:00.000-05:002007-08-31T14:44:47.663-05:00

(part 2 of 5 posts on the four functions of neighborhood life) Dances With Wolves! I am Wind In His Hair! Do you see that I am your friend?Can you see that you will always be my friend?-Wind in His Hair, speaking to Lt. Dunbar in Dances with WolvesIt's an unforgettable image at the end of the epic film Dances with Wolves: Sioux warrior Wind in His Hair, horseback on the cliff above the camp,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-24179403470485035872007-08-29T15:05:00.000-05:002007-08-29T22:27:33.371-05:00

(Part 1 of 5 posts on the four functions of neighborhood life)The the first Christians were distinguished in their culture by the nature of their relationships with one other. There were no external markers that set them apart; they didn't look any different, walk or talk any different than their peers. They did not have Christian t-shirts, ties or bumper stickers, lace or leather Bible covers,

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-48948081192216831832007-08-27T15:30:00.000-05:002007-08-28T07:58:15.095-05:00

Where I was born, where I was raisedWhere I keep all my yesterdaysWhere I ran off 'cos I got madAnd it came to blows with my old manWhere I came back to settle downIt's where they'll put me in the groundThis is my townYeah, this is my townfrom the hit country song, "My Town," by Montgomery GentryWith the start of school today, League City felt like a community. For a couple of hours, we were

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-1266986520908190632007-08-23T20:01:00.000-05:002007-08-23T21:34:03.379-05:00

School is once again upon us. At my house, everything is beginning to change. The boys aren't staying up as late as they did. Summer reading projects are being wrapped up. My oldest son got his locker and equipment for football season today. We've tried to squeeze in some of those "one last time" activities this week: a trip to the skatepark, a daytime trip to the movies. But in just 3 days

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-51897300851965132482007-08-21T20:22:00.000-05:002007-08-22T18:39:58.930-05:00

We almost had a block party this weekend! I know it sounds weird to be excited about a party that almost happened, but I am. It marks real progress for us in developing relationships in our neighborhood, something we've tried to be a lot more intentional about since moving to Magnolia Creek earlier this year. So when my wife Elizabeth said that she and two other ladies on our street discussed

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-47429730459153096002007-08-21T13:13:00.000-05:002007-08-21T14:08:42.259-05:00

When you plant a church, there are always certain ideals you hope to achieve. One of those has been realized recently, and I want to celebrate it.I'm not a very good fundraiser. I don't enjoy it. Our current income reflects that. But beyond my personal issues, it is important and necessary in church life and especially in church planting. We have some significant up-front expenses in our near

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-39758059869870278522007-08-19T00:00:00.001-05:002007-08-20T09:45:07.682-05:00

In my previous post, I mentioned the resistance I've sensed in Christian circles to attempting to define or measure spiritual growth. How do you quantify something like that? A groundbreaking passage of scripture for me in this regard was 1 Peter 1:5-9. Here it is in the TNIV translation:For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-61517426890447555372007-08-18T18:35:00.000-05:002007-08-18T23:58:41.011-05:00

A lot of people are interested in spiritual growth, whether Christian or not. If you believe that, as a human being, there is a spiritual aspect to your life, and you don't want it to atrophy, then you want it to grow. People pursue spiritual growth in a variety of different ways: Bible study, prayer and meditation, reading books or websites about spiritual subjects, serving others, the list goes

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-17332128792589691572007-08-13T22:47:00.000-05:002007-08-18T23:57:49.568-05:00

In my last post, I wrote about 2 ways I'm simplifying my relational life and encouraging people at the Springs to do the same: pursuing relationships close to me and merging my relational worlds. I'm not a social genius, and those who know me best will all say so. I can be very task oriented, I lack sensitivity at times, and I prefer time alone more than most. Brad, our community pastor, and my

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-76915230553181177162007-08-08T10:02:00.000-05:002007-08-18T23:57:12.467-05:00

In my previous post, I wrote about Christian simplicity as a core value for us at the Springs. In this post I want to describe how we're pursuing it. We call our pursuit Neighborhood Life, and consider it an application of Jesus' command to love our neighbors as ourselves.In our commuter society, we tend to ignore the impact of physical distance on our relationships and schedules. For example, we

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-54359592846605687852007-08-06T15:07:00.000-05:002007-08-18T23:55:40.691-05:00

"entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem."Or, translated from Latin to English, "entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity." This phrase was made famous by William of Ockham, a 14th-century English Friar, and has become known as Ockham's Razor. Ockham proposed that, all things being equal, the simpler solution is usually the best one. This thought stands in stark contrast to

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6597381165811376229.post-60537995128658508232007-08-03T11:05:00.000-05:002007-08-03T12:00:57.188-05:00

Is there anything of which one can say, "Look! This is something new"?It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time. Ecclesiastes 1:10 TNIVIt's funny that I could be writing my first blog post and think this is some new kind of communication. As we've launched Church @ the Springs, I've been reminded at every turn that new is ancient and

Cameron Simmonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05461603575358251991noreply@blogger.com0