Tag Archives: Alcoholics Anonymous

Progress, not Perfection

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Frank Richard Coats

At the beginning of every meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous I’ve attended someone is asked to read the 12 Steps. We move from the first step — admitting we are powerless and our lives have become unmanageable — through a process … Continue reading →

Posted in discipleship, recovery, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Humility

Posted on November 12, 2023 by Frank Richard Coats

It takes humility to follow Jesus.  It takes humility to be obedient to the One who tells us to bless those who abuse us, to pray for those who have wronged us, to ask forgiveness when we’ve wronged them.   … Continue reading →

Posted in discipleship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

35 Years, Clean and Sober

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Frank Richard Coats

Proverbs 15:33 — The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. This is the cross-over year. I’m 68 years old, and today I have 35 years clean and sober. I’ve lived more than half … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Circumcision of the Heart

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Frank Richard Coats

I’m preaching a sermon series on the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Romans. This letter is dense, and wonderful and powerful; perhaps no other writing better explains the Christian faith than this letter Paul wrote to a church he did … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Poor in Spirit, Step 1 and Romans 7

Posted on February 11, 2022 by Frank Richard Coats

Photo taken several years ago at Lakeview Methodist Conference Center in near Palestine, Texas Is there a link between the Beatitudes, Romans 7 and Step 1? I’m starting a sermon series on the Sermon on the Mount, found in Mathew’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Blessed are the Grateful

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Frank Richard Coats

Hydrangeas outside the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire, England. A friend asked me if I would write a post with what advice I’d give the me from 20 years ago. I suspect he is 20 years younger than my … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Fasting

Posted on August 6, 2021 by Frank Richard Coats

Here is Winston, about nine weeks old. Winston has been with us for nearly two weeks. Earlier this week, he and his sister Maggie (yes, named after two British prime ministers) chewed on a Sego palm, something extremely toxic for … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Hearing the Voice of God

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Frank Richard Coats

I joined Alcoholics Anonymous a little over 33 years ago, deciding I needed to make a change. It wasn’t my first time to AA by any means; I had grown up occasionally attending the smoky rooms in Pasadena with or … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments