To pray to someone is an act of worship. Most essentially, prayer is transcendent communication with someone who does not, during the communication, share your “plane of...

Christian Life

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Warnings About the Validity of Subjective Experience As An Apologetic for Your Faith

Why do you believe in God? “Because I know deep in my heart that he exists.” Why do you believe Christ rose from the grave? “Because I have experienced the...

by C Michael Patton

Christian Life

Depression

Doubt

Suffering and Pain

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When God Does Not Show Up

There have been so many times in my life when God has not shown up. So many times when I am at my wits end, when it is forth and long, ninth inning, I put up a last hope three...

Why I Do Not Teach Christian Living Principles

(Lisa Robinson) Last year, an opportunity opened up for me to teach a group of very-young-in-the-faith believers. This is not the first time I have worked with new believers...

Why I Don’t Think Much Of the Spiritual Formation Movement

I was recently asked to participate in a group that is creating a curriculum in the area of “spiritual formation.” I have never really written or spoken much on this, but my...

“Sinners” Who Are Forgiven or “Saints” Who Sin? – Robert Saucy

In the portfolio of my Christian life, there are a few events, lessons, and people who stand out and deserve a page in my “book.” There are many things that stand...

Personal (Michael Patton)

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A Short Defense of Christianity (to myself)

I see myself as an evangelical (lower case) Christian (uppercase) apologist. I think every Christian is an apologist to some degree. No, not a “professional...

The Dark Side of Theology

I have come to have a love-hate relationship with theology. I love it because it can deepen one’s faith, helping people to rejoice more because they understand and...

Questions and Answers

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Why is God So Silent in My Life?

Mr. Patton, I have been a believer for quite sometime – since I was eight. It’s a miracle, however, that I believe at all. I grew up in a Oneness Pentecostal home...

What Defines Ministry Success?

“Grant to us that we sit on you right hand and left hand in glory.” Such were the presumptuous words of James and John to Jesus (Mark 10:35). I have often wondered...

by C Michael Patton

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