I apologize if you reached out to me and I just replied with a link to this post, or if you are just finding this out from a social media share. We are blessed with more people who love us and are reaching out to us than we can handle replying to. Praise God for that and forgive us for shooting you this form letter.

About Bailey

It is with great sadness that I share the news that Bailey’s life support devices will be removed Friday, April 21 6pm edt. The expectation is that she will not live on her own for even an hour. As she desired, after she is deceased, her organs will be used to help extend the earthly life of several people. As horrific as Bailey’s death is, we rejoice to know that she will help others and look forward, hopefully, to meeting these people who receive the necessary parts to sustain their lives.

We have wrestled with this decision with which Erin and I have been providentially presented since we first heard of her diagnosis. We do not take lightly that in the area of palliative care and organ harvesting that there is much evil in the world and many people have been murdered or assisted in self-murder through these processes. It is with a lot of prayer, a little fasting, and godly counsel that we have decided for certain that we are not assisting in or authorizing the breaking of God’s sixth commandment.

Someday I’d like to blog or podcast through the thought process. I take this utterly seriously.

One loving sister in the Lord actually reached out to us to ensure that we are aligned with God’s law. We recognize how hard that must be for someone to do, but her love for God and for us was greater than her fear of offending us, and that brings us great joy.

She got her hair done by her friend today.

We are sure that people have prayed for us more than we can know in this life and are grateful for the many ways people have reached out. Each gift, text, card, call, or help is something we cherish. And we may never be able to truly thank everyone for that. So please take this as your thank you if you have served us!

Our life is a flurry of activity now: coordinating childcare for our younger boys, ministering to each other, funeral and cemetery plot shopping, and trying to keep up with my work a bit. We have had very little time for a lot of what we often take for granted. I have been encouraged by some healthy habits which my wife and I have taken on which are helping us through the physical difficulties of this trial.

I hope no one reads my words and thinks “He’s complaining.” I’m not complaining. Our God in the Heavens does all that He pleases and that includes His righteous decree of all things that come to pass. We rejoice to know that He is working all things for the good of His elect and know that even in our intense sadness He is truly our only anchor in the storm.

I will update again when there is time and something to update. Until then, consider that you, dear reader, will also one day face death. You don’t know when it will be, nor if you’ll have time to rethink things before it comes upon you. Are you washed in the blood of the spotless lamb, Jesus Christ? Are you fully resting on His work for your soul’s salvation? Or does God’s wrath abide on you still? Come to Christ for the forgiveness of sins today. He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse everyone who calls on Him.

How You Can Help

We appreciate your continued prayer for us as we go through this. Practical needs arise daily but aren’t always predictable. My brother came and did yardwork today for me. An abolitionist friend Laura is doing some housecleaning. My ex-wife is bringing my mom to see Bailey. Everyone in our lives has been supportive locally and the Christian community around the world even has reached out with messages and prayer to our Great God.

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