David Wickward

Follower of the Carpenter from Nazareth.
Vinyl Hoarder. Preacher. Music Critic. Pop Culture Guru. Pour-over Alchemist. Cinephile. Wordsmith. Bible Nerd.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

https://t.co/nADNb2RGui

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[Jesse Ridgway @McJuggerNuggets]

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. ❤️

[David Wickward @DWickward]

#NewProfilePic

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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. ❤️

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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!

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[Kristan Hawkins @KristanHawkins]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

“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

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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!

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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 Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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. 😂😅

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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.

https://t.co/SdmQkLE2gK

[Wes Huff @WesleyLHuff]

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

[David Wickward @DWickward]

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

[Tesla @Tesla]

For a driver born without arms, FSD Supervised is life-changing accessibility

“I was born without arms and have driven with my feet my entire life. I’m a fully licensed driver, and traditionally I drove with my left foot on the steering wheel and my right foot handling the gas and brake. My only legal restrictions are automatic transmission and power steering.

Over the years, though, the strain from my congenital birth defects has led to significant arthritis in my hips. I drove a Model 3 for the past seven years, and it honestly helped extend my independence in a huge way.

Recently upgrading to the Model Y – along with Full Self-Driving – has been a complete game changer for me.

It dramatically reduces the physical pressure and fatigue of driving and has helped preserve a level of freedom and mobility that means a great deal to me.

Most people understandably think of Tesla in terms of innovation or sustainability, but for some of us, this technology truly becomes life-changing accessibility.”
– John F.