Make No Mistake

This is nothing new.

It is a renewal.

The ten beliefs that have not changed, even after the death of our son (full text below).

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Picture Credit: Josh Collingwood, Snappy Goat

FULL TEXT

At Tyler’s memorial I read these opening words: “That’s great, Dad.” These are the words Tyler said to me every time I told him of an article being published, a student’s life impacted, a new approach to teaching used, a video series launched, or an accomplishment of any kind achieved. “That’s great, Dad.”

Make no mistake. The awfulness of my son’s death has not hobbled my beliefs. No. It has made my thinking more vital, visceral, and vigorous. Prophets, those who speak God’s Words, are conditioned not with comfort or ease but with pain and hardship. Suffering I have endured in life, now intensified by Tyler’s homegoing, continues to shape my being. Chiseled by circumstances, Divinely ordained, my words will persist on behalf of biblical Truth. And so, in the spirit of Tyler’s encouragement and Jonathan Edwards’ resolutions, I renew these confessions.

1. Standing under the Authority of Heaven, I will continue to speak God’s Truth to my time and place.
2. My interpretive lens will be guided by Hebraic-Christian thinking, prompted by The Spirit.
3. Care for all people, no matter who, without condition, will be driven by the love of Jesus.
4. Loving people includes speaking the Truth in love without compromise or condition.
5. Words from pen or keyboard will be considerate of context and culture without compromising Truth.
6. Cultural communication will be spoken within the wisdom and warnings of Scripture.
7. Doing good for all people, as much as is possible, will be my daily undertaking.
8. Practicing benevolence and excellence will be my conduct through all my vocational endeavors.
9. As I have strength, I will endeavor to offer the gifts given to me to the benefit of The Church and culture.
10. And I will give myself more and more to Christian discipleship of any who desire to walk this road with me.

“That’s great dad.” My son’s words will always ring in my ears. My Truth in Two series during Fall 2022 is a tribute to our son Tyler Micah. We lament his death while desiring to give voice to all who suffer in any way.