A Personal Check-In

Aside from the startup life, the election, and a week-long vacation over Thanksgiving (which included officiating my first wedding since being a sober alongside my step-dad), life has been about the grind. I’m working daily to get my feet under me and grow comfortable in my own skin and gifting again.

Honestly, while “theology” and the stuff written here may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Drunk Pastor has been deeply therapeutic. It was a space where I could wrestle with doctrines and spirituality—especially with the ideas and concepts that the Evangelical church clings to as absolutes, often shaming others who don’t agree. You all know what I’m talking about.

There was a time when I put a lot of blame on the church—a lot. Some of it was fair, and a lot of it wasn’t. Through all this, I’ve learned to own my ideas, my past, and my present. This journey has been not just crucial for me personally but has ignited a calling. Honestly, I’m not sure where all this processing, energy, and passion would have gone otherwise, but here we are.

Every Human’s Journey

The beta group for Every Man’s Journey has wrapped up, and we’re evaluating the results while finalizing the rough drafts of the curriculum, workbooks, and journal. A women’s group is launching in about a month with my friend, Dr. Angela Winters. Additionally, we’re working on partnerships with a halfway house in Colorado for the next round of development and hope to secure more collaborations.

Dr. Schweitzer, Ph.D. in Social Work and Research, and my step-dad, is developing evaluation forms and editing materials. My next steps include building the website and collecting signups for Missoula men’s groups. We’re also planning a Healthy Masculinity event this summer, featuring Dr. Schweitzer as the keynote speaker.

This project, now called Every Human’s Journey, is under my business, Stigma Marketing & Development. It’s also an integral part of my faith and the work I do with people, blending deeply with the writing and mission of Drunk Pastor.

“Not a Bible Study” Returns

After a long pause, Not a Bible Study is back! A handful of folks have been itching for its return, and we’ve secured a library room at the University of Montana for Sundays at 11 a.m. (for now). The first session will be announced soon.

This study goes deep into Genesis, exploring its historical and cultural context, and connects it with how John’s Gospel pulls from and parallels it. It’s a fascinating dive into scripture, mythologies, and worldview to uncover deeper truths. We’re starting with a group of 10-15 people and plan to record sessions for Patreon.

Patreon Launch

After nearly nine months of wrestling with the idea, I’ve finally launched a Patreon for Drunk Pastor. On the website, certain blog posts, like Throwbacks and more Random posts will be for Patreons only. Patreon will host extra content like digital art, stickers, posters, ebooks, and community engagement. At some point, there is going to be a Patreon section on the site. It’s early and I’m excited to watch it evolve this year.

If you enjoy my work and want to support its ongoing creation, consider checking out Patreon. It’s a bit nerve-wracking to ask for support, but I’ve worked through a lot of the insecurities around earning money for my work.

The Immortality Key and the Gospel of John

After months of reading and reflecting, The Immortality Key by Brian Muraresku reshaped my understanding of early Christian origins, particularly the role psychedelics may have played. Check out the overview of it and anticipate more coming. The book challenged deeply ingrained assumptions about faith and history, temporarily halting my work on the Samaritan Woman at the Well.

Now, I’m back to writing and have recently published a rough draft of the Re-Introduction to the Gospel of John. My goal is to work through the entire Gospel, eventually compiling it into a book. Patreon supporters will have access to a free rough draft ebook when it’s complete.

Personal Reflections

The first two years of sobriety were about getting sober and finding relationships. Last year, I hit a breaking point as I faced the distance from my kids, the financial weight of rebuilding my life, and addressing the wreckage of my past. Increasing my income became essential to reconciling relationships and stabilizing my circumstances. Aside from facing everything I was afraid of, at the center of it all was this fact about my life.

Last year, I spent chasing ideas and building a business out of the wreckage left behind by my drinking. A lot of progress was made. As we move into 2025, I’m hopeful and prayerful that this year will bring relief from some of those circumstantial burdens. My deepest longing is to see my children regularly and rebuild that connection. They are my heart, and I’m working tirelessly to make that a reality. I no longer want children living under the shadows of their parents, especially not mine.

Thank you, again, wherever you are and whoever you are, for reading along. It’s the small human connections that keep us grounded the most.

Did you miss some past Now updates? Looking for some toilet reading? You’ll find what you’re looking for below, from the one just before this to the first one in April 2024

If you’re here, thank you for already being a part of the journey.