Nadia Bolz-Weber: A “Lousy Candidate”

Dawn Coates
4 Feb 2014
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lousy candidate

“Simul Iustus et Peccator.” This Latin phrase, first coined by Martin Luther, refers to the belief that followers of Jesus Christ are both sinners and saints at the same time. R.C. Sproul breaks it down this way: “A Christian is simul (at the same time) iustus (just or righteous) and peccator (a sinner).” The Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of this struggle in Romans 7, declaring, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.” (v. 15) In light of this doctrine, a small […]

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‘Tis the Season to Be… Lonely?

Dawn Coates
3 Dec 2013
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Deck the halls! Be merry! Come on, ring them bells! After all, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or, is it? Tinsel and lights, carols and mistletoe don’t always usher in a feeling of good cheer. For many people, the holiday season invites the most unwanted of visitors — loneliness. Christmastime, with its unspoken pressures to be jolly, the expectations of family togetherness, and year-end reflections have a tendency to intensify the heavy, dull ache of loneliness. Look at all the lonely people An interesting aspect of loneliness is its universal nature — ironically, lonely people aren’t alone […]

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From Abuse to Acceptance

Dawn Coates
8 Nov 2013
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Whenever I share my story with others, I’m inevitably asked how I’ve managed to persevere in spite of the many difficulties I’ve experienced, especially in my faith. I was raised in an abusive home, by a silent mother who never wanted me and an angry father who struggled with mental health issues. I bear the scars of physical, emotional and verbal abuse, as well as what I refer to as “religious abuse.” While salvation in itself is a miracle for each human soul, it is by an extra measure of God’s grace that I am a follower of Jesus Christ […]

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The Single’s Valentine’s Survival Guide

Dawn Coates
7 Feb 2013
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Red roses, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, teddy bears, and candle-lit dinners… it’s that time of year again: time for singles to do a thinking check. The month of romance is upon us, and Valentine’s Day—also known as Singles Awareness Day—is approaching; but, more importantly, it is another opportunity for self-examination. When it comes to Valentine’s Day, what are you thinking? What are you believing? What are you thinking? Christians, including Christian singles, often make the mistake of failing to understand that we are different from those who do not know Jesus, and even worse, actually take on a worldly mentality. […]

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Still Single?

Dawn Coates
3 Jan 2013
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“Why are you still single?” Verbalized or not, the question lingers in social settings, particularly in Christian circles. For those in the Reformed tradition, the correct theological answer to this question lies in the belief that God is sovereign over all things. We finite humans cannot explain the coexistence of God’s will and man’s responsibility this side of heaven—and that’s okay. After all, as Dutch Reformed theologian Herman Bavinck noted, “Mystery is the vital element of dogmatics.” However, when it comes to the role of human responsibility, the new year is as good a time as any to examine ourselves […]

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It’s a Wonderful Life

Dawn Coates
10 Dec 2012
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In Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, the main character, George Bailey, has lived his entire life with an underlying discontent that only occasionally rears its ugly head. One Christmas Eve, however, years of frustration are magnified by unfortunate events that occur, and George erupts—despairing of hope. Similarly, the single adult may become accustomed to the normalcy of singleness, to be reminded only now and then of her sad estate—particularly while walking through the frozen foods section at the supermarket to find the “pizza-for-one” staring back at her. These momentary twinges come and go, but the fact […]

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Is Pornography Grounds for Divorce?

Dawn Coates
15 Nov 2012
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God’s Perfect Plan  According to the scriptures, and contrary to conflicting opinions in today’s society, God ordained marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, in which “the two are united into one”(Genesis 2:24). During his earthly ministry, Jesus also taught that, “Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together” (Mark 10:9-10). One man, one woman, united as one flesh, forever — this is God’s desired will, out of his infinite wisdom and because of his great love for His children. Our Broken Reality When sin entered the […]

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Finding Hope in the Election

Dawn Coates
9 Oct 2012
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Fellow Americans, election season is upon us. Attack ads are in full force, armchair politicians are slinging mud all over Facebook, and Jay Leno is having a field day with so much new material. Both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions have come and gone, and commentators are chomping at the bit for upcoming debates between the vice-presidential and presidential candidates. In Tampa and in Charlotte, a common theme was heralded from the convention stage regardless of gender, race, or political preference: the notion of the American dream. James Truslow Adams coined the phrase in 1931 in his book The […]

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