2018-10-010Comments

My Honest Conversation with Michael Patton About Wanting to Die

An Honest and Vulnerable Prayer God, please kill me. This is a prayer I prayed with tears in my eyes for two and a half hours early Monday morning. Please. I will never ask...

by Dylan Whittler

Christian Life

Discipleship

Personal (Michael Patton)

2018-09-1522Comments

No, I Don’t Do Morning Devotionals — So Quit Asking

I remember my 2001 seminary graduation retreat. At least, I think that is what it was. I was an insecure seminarian about to graduate and go into full-time ministry and teach...

2018-09-050Comments

Hope in Lamenting: When Life Has No Easy Answers

Sometimes, there’s no easy answer—or an answer at all!—for life’s hardest questions, especially for a Christian. I doubt no one really wants to know the reason...

2018-08-23122Comments

Do People Who Commit Suicide Go to Hell?

Here is an email question that I received with the response to follow: Good Afternoon: I am writing to you under emotional pangs, as I wrestle with the Scriptures, and what I...

Questions and Answers

Teaching

2018-08-193Comments

If You Were a REAL Christian, You Wouldn’t Doubt (Part 2): Is There A Reason to Doubt God, Ever?

On a Facebook thread I’m currently following concerning the need for good apologetics, as nonexistent apologetics and intellectual doubts are contributing to many...

by Dylan Whittler

. . . and Other Bad Interpretations

. . . and other stupid statements

Christian Life

Rants

2018-08-141Comments

No, God Isn’t Going to Heal You on Demand Every Time You Ask

I know that may come as a shock to most Word by Faith communities and Pentecostals, but just stay with me a while. I recently read a post in a Christian apologetics group on...

by Dylan Whittler

Christian Life

Epistemology

2016-08-092Comments

All the Right Beliefs for All the Wrong Reasons

Sometimes it is frustrating to introduce yourself to theological issues. Most people who get deeply involved in theology quickly realize how much they don’t know. Confident...

by C Michael Patton

Addiction

Christian Life

2016-02-043Comments

Confessions of a Pill-Popping Pastor

This Place is Not for Me When I first arrived at rehab, I was met by a big, tattooed, long haired, bare foot Native American. “Here is where you will sleep. Lucky! . ....

by C Michael Patton

Christian Life

2016-01-075Comments

What the Church Can Learn from Alcoholics Anonymous

It is so hard to be real. Not only do we not want people to know who we are, we often don’t know who we are. The old maxim “Know thyself” is not as easy as...

by C Michael Patton

Christian Life

Doubt

2015-12-241Comments

Convinced Enough

I write this email from Orange County California, where I am spending a little over a month in drug rehab. As many of you know, in the last couple of years I’ve become...

by C Michael Patton

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