David Wickward

I have stayed quiet over the last day or so because the whole #JesseRidgway situation has felt like an old bruise pressed again. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Jesse, a popular YouTube personality, and his wife shared that they had ended their unborn child’s life because Down syndrome might have been in the picture. They named a lifetime of needing help an inconvenience and ended the life because of it. They say it was reasonable. I say it was capital punishment for the crime of being inconveniently human. I believe every abortion takes a life and grieves the God who formed that life. For those of us with disabilities, the same thinking that ends a pregnancy over disability doesn’t stop there. It follows us out of the womb and into how people see us every day. Living with a disability, you learn the look that treats you like damaged goods. It’s the unspoken worry about the burden you will be, and often your heart knows the judgment before anyone speaks it aloud. There’s a special pain in watching pro-abortion advocates disguised as ordinary, caring people turn your own life and reflection into justification for murdering unborn babies. This thinking doesn’t end with the unborn. It eventually evaluates every life, crafts false flaws, and decides who is too costly to keep and who is worth loving. But those with disabilities reveal the lies in the thinking of people like Jesse and his wife; the child they ended was not a mistake that needed removing but a soul already carrying the image of the God who made everything and called it good. The real issue that abortion fails to address isn’t a child's dependence but prideful hearts that believe self-sufficiency proves a person’s humanity and dignity. When abortion is allowed, society begins to judge dignity by how easy a person is to manage. It fosters a culture that abandons the command to bear others’ burdens and see people as Christ does. A disability does not take away the dignity God has given a person. Abortion does the same thing whether disability is part of the story or not. It turns convenience into an idol that demands the death of another person made in God’s image. I hope and pray that one day soon, we will see abortion abolished and eradicated from every part of our society.

This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21. The choice was not made lightly. We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us, especially the unconditional support we received from fans with no matter what we decided. I know some of you may be very disappointed to hear this news. We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley. She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend. Thankfully, everything went smoothly, but emotionally we are drained. Trisomy 21, also known as Down Syndrome, is caused by an extra chromosome. It is caused by an error in cell division, like a glitch. The odds of a baby having it is 1 in 1000. When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic. If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may…but I just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed. Once we made it public, it became clear that MOST people don’t know what Down Syndrome entails (and no, it’s not the same as Autism): 50% of babies with DS have heart defects. 75% will have hearing challenges. Over 50% will have vision problems. Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc…Sadly, the list is long, feel free to look it up…Down Syndome isn’t a “blessing”, it is objectively shitty from a health perspective. I didn’t realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family…more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life. The miscarriage risk is also close to 50%, which made matters worse…they may never see the light of day and it puts Ashley further at risk. We spoke with doctors, friends, family and genetic counselors and learned that up to 90% of women terminate their pregnancy after learning the baby has Trisomy 21. This was WAY higher than I expected, I thought it would be lower given that I hear so many say they kept or would keep the baby. I believe that’s because most terminations happen privately, it feels shameful. A lot of judgment being cast. You never think you’d be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change. To all of my fans who have weighed in on this topic who have Autism, Down Syndrome or any other conditions…we appreciate you. You matter a lot and we’re glad you’re here. I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward. As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice. It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome. Love you guys & thank you for understanding. ❤️

I have stayed quiet over the last day or so because the whole #JesseRidgway situation has felt like an old bruise pressed again. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, Jesse, a popular YouTube personality, and his wife shared that they had ended their unborn child’s life because Down syndrome might have been in the picture. They named a lifetime of needing help an inconvenience and ended the life because of it. They say it was reasonable. I say it was capital punishment for the crime of being inconveniently human. I believe every abortion takes a life and grieves the God who formed that life. For those of us with disabilities, the same thinking that ends a pregnancy over disability doesn’t stop there. It follows us out of the womb and into how people see us every day. Living with a disability, you learn the look that treats you like damaged goods. It’s the unspoken worry about the burden you will be, and often your heart knows the judgment before anyone speaks it aloud. There’s a special pain in watching pro-abortion advocates disguised as ordinary, caring people turn your own life and reflection into justification for murdering unborn babies. This thinking doesn’t end with the unborn. It eventually evaluates every life, crafts false flaws, and decides who is too costly to keep and who is worth loving. But those with disabilities reveal the lies in the thinking of people like Jesse and his wife; the child they ended was not a mistake that needed removing but a soul already carrying the image of the God who made everything and called it good. The real issue that abortion fails to address isn’t a child's dependence but prideful hearts that believe self-sufficiency proves a person’s humanity and dignity. When abortion is allowed, society begins to judge dignity by how easy a person is to manage. It fosters a culture that abandons the command to bear others’ burdens and see people as Christ does. A disability does not take away the dignity God has given a person. Abortion does the same thing whether disability is part of the story or not. It turns convenience into an idol that demands the death of another person made in God’s image. I hope and pray that one day soon, we will see abortion abolished and eradicated from every part of our society.

Finally getting around to posting these, but the best way to describe this weekend is as a deep breath: a chance to exhale, recharge, and be fully present. It was my biggest adventure since the whole hip-surgery saga, and I couldn’t have asked for a better couple to share it with; who also happen to be my two favorite people on the planet. From dominating at The Bible Is Funny card game, to introducing them to one of my favorite TV shows and laughing until our sides hurt, to drinking entirely too much coffee, it was a weekend filled with joy, laughter, and memories I’ll carry with me forever. I truly have the best big brother and sister-in-law in the world, and I can’t wait for our next adventure together. Love you both so much. ❤️

I have a physical disability & airports can be hard for me. Most airlines (American Airlines is the best with disability accommodations in my experience) will have a wheelchair (and someone to push it) meet you at check in or even curbside. Even though you can typically just check “wheelchair assistance” when buying a ticket, I’ve found it more helpful to call the airline after you book your flight and can often “customize” the accommodations (within their ability.) I’d also do your best to give yourself time for any layovers. One thing I haven’t seen people say on here is that TSA actually has a disability accommodation program. Just google “TSA disability accommodations” and you’ll find the info on it. You have to call them 48 hours before your flights (and before any return flights) but it is SO helpful. They’ll have a specially trained agent meet you at the pre-screening area and that agent basically walks you through the security checkpoint themselves. For me, they’ve taken my carry on and pulled out (and repacked) any electronics, medical tools, and medications for me. They’ve let me keep my shoes on. It’s super helpful for getting myself through security which I wouldn’t be able to do independently. Sometimes they do require me to let them swab my hands or shoes for explosive residue but the agent with training is always very kind and respectful about it while making sure they don’t hurt me (I have upper arm/hand deformities) The TSA program is definitely my biggest travel hack, @EWErickson!

Guys, I know this will attract trolls, but I’m actually genuinely asking. My 86yo father who is not in great health wants to go to Orlando to see his 84yo brother who is in really bad health, probably for the last time. A multi-day road trip would be too much wear and tear for my dad. I cannot afford private flying. Anybody got recommendations on navigating an 86yo through multiple airports when he can’t walk great? Like, how do people get the wheel chair assistance and can they wheel him through to a rental car etc? And how do you handle an intermediate airport a we’d probably have to go Baton Rouge to Atlanta to Orlando. Never done this and old age can suck. And yes, this would be a reunion between Erick and Lief Erickson. May the Vikings rise again.

This is just dumb and totally inaccurate. You can’t argue that abortion is murder and then allow those who do it to have no consequences. It’s logically impossible or requires you to water down the definition or murder by saying it’s morally excusable in certain circumstances which is the pro choice argument.

This post made my day as abolitionists are now admitting the quiet part out loud. They want to argue for capital punishment for women and not for ending it against innocent babies.

When they mean to insult you but explain your mission in the same post…. Yes, my goal is to convert pro-abortion young people to save babies from the violence of abortion, not have nonsense conversations that don’t advance the ball down the court. No time for that. I’ve got babies to save.

With all due respect @KristanHawkins, this is incredibly dishonest and shows how you have no interest in understanding abortion abolitionists. The fact is that you and your organization have REPEATEDLY shut down and organized AGAINST state level legislation that would actually end abortion by extending legal protections to the unborn. However, you and others are so adamant that women are somehow “victims” within the abortion industry while there are numerous examples of women bragging, boasting, and celebrating in crude ways that they murdered their unborn child. Your open organization regularly cites studies that show 99% of abortions are elective and done for no reason and yet you defy these studies when you argue that women are “victims” and have “no choice” in the matter. They do. They can choose to stop going into clinics or ordering medications online. It’s the women who get abortions that create a demand for it, therefore create the massive financial opportunities within the abortion industry. You can’t “debate” against evil or greed and to stop it, you have to put consequences in place to punish those who choose to participate in it. You can’t logically argue that abortion is murder and then just allow those who consent or execute the act to go on as if they did nothing wrong. Lastly, I find it rather offensive that you try to argue that abolitionists only are concerned with punishing women and not ending abortion—nothing could be further from the truth. Abolitionists want abortion to end and are done trying to reason with those who actively support and defend murder. The “pro-life movement” has tried to do that for the last 20+ years and all we’ve seen from it is more dead babies and abortion moving from “rare” to being defined as “empowerment and healthcare.” It’s time we try something different.

With all due respect, this is incredibly dishonest and shows how you have no interest in understanding abortion abolitionists. The fact is that you and your organization have REPEATEDLY shut down and organized AGAINST state level legislation that would actually end abortion by extending legal protections to the unborn. However, you and others are so adamant that women are somehow “victims” within the abortion industry while there are numerous examples of women bragging, boasting, and celebrating in crude ways that they murdered their unborn child. Your open organization regularly cites studies that show 99% of abortions are elective and done for no reason and yet you defy these studies when you argue that women are “victims” and have “no choice” in the matter. They do. They can choose to stop going into clinics or ordering medications online. It’s the women who get abortions that create a demand for it, therefore create the massive financial opportunities within the abortion industry. You can’t “debate” against evil or greed and to stop it, you have to put consequences in place to punish those who choose to participate in it. You can’t logically argue that abortion is murder and then just allow those who consent or execute the act to go on as if they did nothing wrong. Lastly, I find it rather offensive that you try to argue that abolitionists only are concerned with punishing women and not ending abortion—nothing could be further from the truth. Abolitionists want abortion to end and are done trying to reason with those who actively support and defend murder. The “pro-life movement” has tried to do that for the last 20+ years and all we’ve seen from it is more dead babies and abortion moving from “rare” to being defined as “empowerment and healthcare.” It’s time we try something different.

“When a Christian falls, too often the Church digs a grave instead of reaching out a hand. The wounded are left to stagger beneath wounds that should have been bound up by the body of Christ, with fellow believers leading them back to the healing mercy of God and the restoring power of the Gospel. Too often, the Church becomes the only army that shoots its wounded—then stands over the bodies wondering why the battlefield is empty.” -Paraphrased from Dr. Freddie Gage

I apologize as I’m just seeing this and not entirely sure how I missed it. First off, thank you for the kind words. This whole situation/disagreement aside, I am grateful for your example of what it means to be a follower of Christ with a disability. The church is notorious for excluding those with disabilities and we need more followers with Christ who are disabled and leading in the church. Now regarding our conversation, I wasn’t trying to dismiss or say that you shouldn’t have been hurt by the comments made. Though I think you are likely reading into comment about a “genetic disorder” (I think that’s what you said), I can understand how the walking comments and metaphor was hurtful. However, I was encouraging you to forgive and move past the hurt because I believe that relationships within the church and with fellow Christians are worth swallowing our pride to forgive them and fighting for. By posting this story on social media, the possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness becomes WAY more challenging. It also permanently paints both the pastor and the church as “ableist/discriminatory towards disabled people,” which isn’t who they are or fair to assert they are. This whole situation (in my opinion) is just an unwise joke with some unclear communication afterwards. I say all of this because as I mentioned earlier, the church as a whole is not great at reaching those with disabilities and it’s something I deeply believe needs to change. In order for this to change, I believe this is going to take grace, humility, and patience from both those in the church and those with disabilities. I believe church leaders are going to have to own things like their words and commit to learning how different communities take certain words or phrases. I believe that those with disabilities are going to have to own the fact that we can easily become offended and have a tendency to embrace being the victim way too easily. This was what I was trying to say to you. I think posts like this make the goal of including & reaching those with disabilities harder. You presented quite a bit of scripture to show that I was wrong for what I said and maybe I was, however, I’d like to present one more biblical passage. In the book of Matthew, during the sermon on the Mount, Jesus presents a radical counter idea to the well known, “eye for an eye” philosophy: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” (Matthew 5:38-39) I encourage you to read the passage in its entirety but Jesus is telling his followers to react to wrong doing with radical compassion and generosity, instead of the human reaction to “correct the injustice.” I’m not dismissing the hurt or pain you experienced. I am however arguing that by posting what you did, you are not just portraying a fellow brother in Christ in a dishonest/unfair manner but you are choosing disunity instead of being an example of radical forgiveness and grace like Christ calls us to be.

You’re clearly a very intelligent man, David. Your writing shows you’re articulate, thoughtful, and capable of building a structured argument. That’s exactly why it stands out that you’re applying Scripture in ways that place burdens on the wounded that Scripture never places there. 1. Scripture never rebukes the wounded for speaking plainly. But it does rebuke those who minimize them. Paul writes, “If one member suffers, all suffer together” (1 Corinthians 12:26). Not: “Explain to the suffering member why they shouldn’t feel what they feel.” Your response does the opposite of what Paul commands. 2. Jesus treats careless words as spiritually serious, regardless of intent. “People will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Jesus does not carve out exceptions for pastors, jokes, or good intentions. You keep insisting intent erases impact. Jesus teaches the opposite. 3. Naming harm is not division — it is obedience. Paul publicly confronted Peter when his behavior harmed others (Galatians 2:11–14). Nathan confronted David. The prophets confronted kings. Not one of them was told, “You’re just offended,” or “You should forgive and move on.” Calling out harm is a biblical act, not a rebellious one. 4. Scripture forbids partiality toward leaders. James 2 condemns giving the powerful the benefit of the doubt while dismissing the vulnerable. Your entire argument rests on doing exactly that — assuming the best of the pastor and the worst of the disabled person who spoke up. That is the partiality Scripture warns against. 5. Forgiveness in Scripture never replaces accountability. Jesus says, “If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him” (Luke 17:3). Rebuke comes first. Repentance comes next. Forgiveness follows. You’re trying to skip the first two steps and demand the third. 6. Scripture commands empathy, not correction of someone else’s pain. “Weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15). Not: “Explain why they shouldn’t be weeping.” Not: “Tell them they’re projecting.” Not: “Accuse them of being stuck in offense.” Your response is the opposite of what this verse requires. 7. Scripture measures righteousness by fruit, not intent. Jesus says, “You will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:16). The fruit here was harm, minimization, and dismissal. Fruit reveals truth more than intent ever will. 8. Scripture says the one who refuses correction reveals their own spiritual condition — not the one offering it. Proverbs 9:8 says, “Rebuke the wise and they will love you.” Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever hates correction is stupid.” You’re treating correction as an attack. Scripture treats correction as love. 9. Bringing harm into the light is not “staying offended.” Ephesians 5:11 commands believers to “expose the deeds of darkness.” Not to keep quiet so no one feels uncomfortable. You’re asking me to carry a burden Scripture never places on me, and you’re refusing to place the burden where Scripture actually puts it: on the shepherd, on the teacher, on the one whose words shape a flock.

One Sunday morning, I was sitting on my couch watching LakePointe’s service online when Pastor Josh Howerton began telling a story about his grandfather. As he talked, he explained that his grandfather had a limb difference similar to the one I was born with. Then, in front of thousands of people, he physically mocked the way his grandfather walked and compared him to “Frankenstein.” The moment he said it, my stomach dropped. I remember sitting there frozen, staring at the screen, feeling a wave of humiliation wash over me. My first thought was not theological. It was painfully personal. “My friends are watching this right now, and they are picturing me.” They were picturing the limp I have always been most insecure about. They were picturing the way I walk. They were picturing the body I spent years trying to accept. I was born with a rare condition called fibular hemimelia, which means I was born missing my fibula bone. It caused severe deformities in my leg, hips, and knees. By the time I was 21, I made the difficult decision to amputate my leg in order to improve my quality of life. I now wear a prosthetic leg and still walk with a limp. For most of my life, I have worked hard to believe that my body is not something to be ashamed of. And in a matter of seconds, from the pulpit of my own church, that insecurity was turned into a joke. What makes this even more frustrating is that when Josh Howerton says something that begins receiving significant negative feedback, it often seems to disappear from the internet. The sermon containing the “Frankenstein” comment was later re-uploaded with that portion removed. If you try to go back and find exactly what was said, in many cases you can’t - because the most controversial moments are frequently edited out or scrubbed once people begin speaking up. Those of us who were there, we know what we heard, but the evidence is often gone by the time others go looking for it. What makes this even more significant is that I am not someone who is easily offended. I joke about my disability all the time. I have a thick skin and a dark sense of humor. I know how to laugh at myself. But there is a profound difference between a disabled person joking about her own life and a pastor standing on stage using disabled bodies as comedic material. Months later, during the fallout from Josh Howerton’s infamous wedding-night joke about women, he gave what appeared to be an apology. I hoped that perhaps the controversy would lead to greater sensitivity. Instead, a mere ten minutes after apologizing, he launched into another defense of his humor. While referencing Jesus’ words, “If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off,” he acted out someone with one hand typing an angry email and used a mocking voice. Once again, disability was the punchline. Once again, thousands laughed. Once again, I sat there stunned. By that point, I knew I could not keep quiet. I met with church leadership and tried to explain what this felt like from the perspective of someone who actually lives with a disability. I told them that disabled people already spend our lives being stared at in grocery stores, whispered about in public, and treated as if we are strange, broken, or less than. I told them that church should be the safest place in the world for us. It should be the one place where our bodies are not mocked for laughs. I expected someone to look me in the eyes and say, “Jay, what happened to you was wrong, and I am so sorry.” Instead, I was told it was a “gray area.” I was told how wonderful Josh is. I was told how humble he is. I was told that if he were in the room, he would sit there and tell me he was “so, so sorry.” But no one simply acknowledged the obvious: a pastor had publicly mocked a physical disability twice, and a disabled member of his church was deeply hurt by it. Then I was asked to email Josh directly, but even that came with instructions. I was told to start by complimenting him. I was told to mention a sermon I appreciated. I was told to keep my concerns short. I was told not to make it too emotional. In other words, I was taught how to package my pain so it would be easier for a powerful man to receive. So I did exactly what I was told. I wrote Josh a gracious and respectful email. I explained my condition. I explained my amputation. I explained how deeply insecure I had been about my limp and how painful it was to hear it mocked from the stage. I explained that disabled people want to feel welcomed, seen, and safe in church. His response was brief. “Thank you for your encouraging, kind, and respectful email. I will of course receive this and take it into prayerful consideration for the future. Love you! Josh.” I wanted to believe that meant he understood. I wanted to believe that maybe my vulnerability had mattered. I wanted to believe that perhaps the next disabled child watching from home would be spared from feeling what I felt. Then a video was brought to my attention of Josh speaking from the stage several months later. He said: “A lot of times what happens is people, especially the internet mafia, they’ll take one statement from a sermon and apply it to some insane fringe edge case and say, ‘I can’t believe you said that. Can you imagine how that would make that person feel?’ They’ll say, ‘My cousin’s sister’s brother’s uncle’s wife has this rare genetic disorder that affects one out of every three billion people... can you imagine how that would make her feel?’” (This part has also been scrubbed from their social media as of today, but was originally at around the 3 minute mark of the “The Power of a Godly Woman” sermon and I, thankfully, do have the clip of this.) I have a rare genetic disorder. I had already told him that. I had already explained how his words affected me. I had already entrusted him with one of the most vulnerable parts of my story. And now I was sitting there listening to him mock the very idea that someone with a rare genetic disorder might be hurt by what he says. I cannot prove he was referring to me specifically, but I can tell you exactly how it felt. It felt like I had exposed one of my deepest wounds, and instead of tending to it, my pastor laughed at it from the stage. I have been breaking under the weight of my experience at LakePointe for several years, but I have remained quiet because I have seen what happens when people speak out. Normally, I am not shy about using my voice to stand up for what I believe. But when you are vulnerable about something this deeply personal, it is hard to watch the flood of comments: “I love my church.” “Pastor Josh is amazing.” “You’re way off base.” “You just don’t know how to take a joke.” It is hard to see people accused of “dividing the church” when many of us tried very hard to address these issues privately because we wanted unity, healing, and accountability. We are speaking now because private conversations did not bring meaningful change, and we do not want others to be hurt the way we were. I have realized that the issue was never just a few poorly chosen words. The issue was the pattern. The issue was the defensiveness. The issue was the inability to sit with someone’s pain without minimizing it. The issue was a church culture that seemed more concerned with protecting a pastor’s reputation than with listening to the people he had wounded. And the thing is, it should be okay to acknowledge that he is HUMAN and that he makes mistakes, because humans do. But LakePointe cannot seem to do that. They defend him, make excuses for him, and attack you if you even suggest he may have crossed a line. I want to be very clear: I do not hate everyone at LakePointe. I am not cutting off friends who still attend that I adore with my whole heart. There are even members of the staff that I adore that genuinely love Jesus and think they are doing the right thing. I have empathy for them, and I believe God convicts each person in His timing, not mine. But the truth is the truth. Josh Howerton mocked disabled people from the pulpit. I respectfully confronted him. Church leadership minimized my concerns. I left feeling unheard and dismissed. A PASTOR should not mock disabled people. A PASTOR should not compare people with limb differences to Frankenstein. A PASTOR should not imitate the way disabled people walk, talk, or move for laughs. A PASTOR should not respond to sincere pain with a generic reply and a backhanded “love you”. A PASTOR should not brag about driving away members. A PASTOR should not tell people that it’s okay if they leave because, “we need your parking spot.” A PASTOR should care about the feelings of his members. Yes, pastors MUST speak truth even when it hurts, but JOKES are not TRUTH, and they are not necessary. A PASTOR should be humble enough to admit when he has caused harm. A PASTOR should protect the vulnerable. A PASTOR should not need to rely on people defending him and his staff scrubbing any evidence of his hurtful words from the internet. A PASTOR should make every image-bearer of God feel safe in the house of God. And A PASTOR should never make someone feel like the body God gave them is a punchline. Shepherds are entrusted to care for vulnerable people, not to turn their pain into entertainment. This is my story, but I am one of many.

Hey friends! I’ve got a road trip coming up this weekend, and I need ALL the #audiobook (@audible_com) recommendations. To help capture what I typically read and enjoy, here are a few of my favorite reads from the last few months: - The Harry Potter Series (Book 1-7, full cast editions) - The Gatekeepers by Chris Whipple - Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard - Bullies and Saints by John Dickson - The Jesus Discoveries by Jeremiah J. Johnston - Meant For Good by Megan Fate Marshman (If you haven't read anything by Megan, you need to get one of her books or hear her teach ASAP!) Though I'm not typically a non-fiction guy, your favorite fiction reads are welcome too! Thanks in advance!

I didn’t reduce you to a stereotype of a “bitter disabled person.” I also never tried to “spiritually diagnose” you or claim that you “denied the work of the cross.” However, I did point out that you make no sense when you claim that you, your friends, and loved ones joke often about your disability and argue that fact is proof you’re not “fragile” but then are outraged and offended when Josh makes a joke about his loved one and then even claim he was mocking all disabled people cruelty when he was only talking about his loved one. You’re contradicting yourself between posts and arguing his intent was malicious when it was clearly not and the joke was just unwise at best. It’s also clear that you’re stuck in being offended and my entire point about the quote from my therapist was to remind you that even if there was malicious intent behind the situation, God will get justice in the end and those involved will have to answer for it one day. By tossing accusations around on here and attempting to emotionally stir people up, you’ve moved past wanting accountability and only interested in “being right” in the situation. Staying stuck in being offended or “fighting for accountability” is only going to end up hurting you more than anything else. We live in a world where disabilities are always going to be treated unfairly and we’ll never fit in so the one thing I’ve learned in my life is that you have to just forgive and move on. Especially when it’s situations where the intent wasn’t malicious, which it’s clear this is one of those situations. I’m saying all of this as someone who has been in churches where things are said and done to either offend me as a person with a disability or even exclude me because of my disability. Within the church, 99% of the time, these situations happen because of either lack of knowledge or a miscalculation of how to connect with someone with a disabilty. It’s rare that the intent was to be malicious and harmful but when it is, those situations must be called out. All I’m saying is that you can either stay offended and being a victim over a bad joke that clearly had no malice in it or you can forgive the unintended offense and show grace. The church as a whole has never been the best at reaching those with disabilities and if that is going to change, it’s going to take a lot of humility, grace, and patience on both sides. And lastly, before you repeat that me saying “you’re staying a victim” is a “reckless thing to say to another believer,” it’s also incredibly reckless to accuse another believer of purposely and intentionally discriminating or mocking those with disabilities just because they are disabled.

David, this is honestly such a long way of saying “your disability experience doesn’t look like mine, so your reaction must be wrong.” You accuse me of projecting while spending multiple paragraphs projecting your own experience onto me. I have been an amputee for almost a decade. I joke about my disability constantly. My husband jokes with me about it. My friends joke with me about it. I literally said that publicly myself. So this narrative that I’m some fragile person spiraling because I “can’t handle jokes” is just false. That is PRECISELY why this affected me. Because when someone publicly representing Christ gets on stage in front of thousands of people, physically imitates a disabled gait, compares it to Frankenstein, and the audience laughs, it hits differently than joking privately with people who know and love you. And honestly, the “watching from home” section of your post was one of the strangest parts to me. You implied leadership maybe responded defensively because they “didn’t know my name” or because I wasn’t involved enough. Except I WAS heavily involved. I led a Life Group there. I served there. I poured years into that church. I was not some random outsider trying to “emotionally blackmail” leadership. That comment honestly says a lot more about the culture than it does about me. If someone has to be well known, deeply connected, or useful enough to be treated gently when they express hurt, that is a problem. And respectfully, please stop trying to spiritually diagnose me because I spoke up. Saying I’m “staying offended,” “playing victim,” or somehow denying “the work of the cross” because I addressed something publicly is an incredibly reckless thing to say to another believer. The cross does not erase accountability. Grace does not require silence. And confronting hurtful behavior does not mean someone is “unhealed.” You can disagree with me without reducing me to a bitter disabled stereotype because my experience threatens your view of someone you admire.

She’s also reposted Jasmine Crockett multiple times. Politics aside, Crockett has pretty offensive comments about people with disabilities and has encouraged her supporters to mock those with disabilities. As someone with a disability myself, I find it VERY hard to take someone’s moral credibility seriously when they hold someone like Crockett up as an example of moral leadership.

Yes, because what you fail to see April is that the best available set of policies for the Christian cannot be the maximum amount of baby killing and the maximum amount of perversion. And that is what the Democrats offer. Anyone formed by Christian ethics should see no inconsistency here.

I would also like to add that after a quick scroll through your profile, @aprilajoyr: You might want to look into the ways that @JasmineForUS has been blatantly ableist & disrespected people with disabilities. You’ve reposted her stuff and as a person with a disability myself, I find it hard to take someone serious in their “fight for minorities” when they hold Crockett has a moral leader.

Even if casting a ballot is a “sign of eternal devotion,” who you vote for does give insight into a person’s perspective on morality. I can’t speak for Megan but I think a better way to make her original statement would’ve been, “a person’s salvation is not dependent on a ballot.” However, her second statement (which was a comment that you failed to capture the context of) is accurate. The ideology of the Democrat party is incompatible with a biblical worldview. The murder of pre-born babies, the promotion of sexual immorality, failing to protect citizen from criminals both within and outside our country, grooming children, and extreme antisemitism are all but a few examples of why Democrat ideology is incompatible with the biblical worldview. Anyone who says they follow Christ and actively supports the Democratic Party is either ignorant on their official policies, the teachings of scripture, or both.

The hypocrisy/cognitive dissonance of MAGA Christians perfectly displayed by these two statements said within 24 hours of each other 🤦🏼‍♀️

I’m a person with a “severe” physical disability, and this is a huge issue not just with autism but with disabilities in general. The definition of what a disability is has expanded so much, and in my opinion, many people either claim to have a disability or even persuade a medical provider to write a letter confirming they do. This forces schools, businesses, and workplaces to offer “accommodations” to individuals who might not truly need them. Such cases hurt those with actual disabilities and medical conditions that require support, and often, the funding for accommodations isn’t available because those responsible for providing them can argue they already offer “reasonable accommodations” or simply say it’s too expensive. It’s also harmful because it makes people suspicious rather than empathetic about someone’s disability. The majority of those who benefit from the expanded definition often want to be coddled or use it as an excuse to be a perpetual victim. Living with a disability is tough and often involves pushing through significant physical and psychological pain. A disability means fighting against your own body and overcoming obstacles most people will never understand. When people claim the status of disabled through things like “neurodivergence,” it’s an insult to the many, like myself, who have defied the odds to do things like walk, talk, drive, attend school, live independently, and perform basic hygiene tasks. This isn’t a popular opinion, especially within the “disabled community,” but it’s an issue that no one is talking about. Sorry for the rant, this is just a bit of a soapbox for me. 😂😅

I think we, as a society, need to stop the spread of the “spectrum” and stop telling people who have a couple quirks that they have autism. Stop telling people that they’re neurodivergent just because they have a personality. It’s unfair to the population who truly have special needs. I’m tired of seeing posts online of people complaining that it costs too much and takes multiple providers to get an autism diagnosis. That should be a clue!

🚨 NC KIDS ARE SUFFERING Families with autistic children need REAL help. But instead, parents are watching a system where diagnoses — and spending — are exploding at the same time. 📈 Autism spending jumped from $100M to $600M in just five years 🏢 Private autism clinics are multiplying near major school districts 💰 Schools have financial incentives tied to diagnoses 👦 Meanwhile families still struggle to get support When money becomes the focus, kids get shortchanged.

This sermon is from one of my favorite Christian authors and poets, Jackie Hill Perry. It was given to an audience during a women’s conference but it’s applicable to all followers of Christ. It’s on suffering and the way God sees our sufferings. I listen to it often to remind myself of truth when I’m going through hard times. I hope it blesses you as much as it does me. youtu.be/Xn2nc78Dftg?si…

@DWickward @rentbotsTX Thanks for writing this. It’s rare on here… I found God while in the hospital ER with half of my insides spilling out. It wasn’t that long ago, so the old me still breaks through sometimes. Peace.

We just got robots banned from Southwest Airlines. You’re welcome 🫡 Yesterday we flew our humanoid robot Stewie from Las Vegas to Dallas on Southwest — something we (and others) have tried and failed multiple times because batteries are always the issue. This time we cracked it. Custom lithium pack, spec’d just under the legal limit. Stewie boarded, buckled up, and flew like a completely normal passenger. This morning a Southwest employee leaks us the internal training they just pushed to EVERY flight attendant companywide. Mandatory. Urgent. With a photo of Stewie on the plane as the example of what to look out for. We didn’t break a single FAA rule. Not one. They just weren’t ready for us. Robophobic? Arguably. The robots are traveling whether the airlines are ready or not. 🤖✈️

Justification gets you out of Egypt, but sanctification gets Egypt out of you.

As someone with a similar condition, I echo this & am grateful for my @Tesla and @elonmusk for making technology like #FSD that gives us back our independence and makes us safer in the process! #Tesla #Model3