Separated by a couple of thousand miles, sitting in my Florida hotel room with Pastor Joel, I watched my son Josh deliver a powerful Bible study tonight. Being in Florida for a conference was actually the reason he was filling in to teach and share the Word at Calvary Aurora. He stood among one of the most love filled congregations I know and shared some of the deepest points of pain he’s experienced in life.  His brother died. It was crushing.

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He shared an incarnational Word, one where God’s truths took on reality in a life. His life.  A word that didn’t merely come “from” him but truly “through” him. God made the Word come alive as Josh weaved his testimony in and through the Scriptures. He let us into the depths of his personal pain and the tragedies he experienced after his best friend and only brother died in a hospice room some 968 days ago.

Yes, It was hard to listen to. I felt his pain. I felt his tears. I connected heart to heart with him. I remembered back to those days while he was at Bible College and how we weren’t really able to be by his side to comfort him. His mom and I were taken out, blindsided by the deep anguish of loss, faced with  unfathomable actions no grieving parent should have to face in the midst of such searing pain, and dealing with the dark pit in the aftermath of watching our strong young healthy son die a senseless death.

I’m proud of Josh as his dad. I’m honored to serve alongside of Josh as his pastor. I’m humbled to be his friend. His bravery in sharing his life and his loyalty to the true solid Word of God blessed me. Most people when they face grief do so privately. It’s their privilege to endure the darkest days in relative privacy. However it is our privilege as a family, to grieve and face horrendous pains and horrific grief in a more public fashion.  We are His. We serve God at His pleasure. Our lives are on display to highlight the absolute certainty of God’s faithfulness.

If you want to be encouraged by a real life story of God’s grace listen in and share.

Great job son. Love dad.

P.S. Eddie you didn’t die in vain. Looking forward to seeing you then and your heart for your son to come to pass very soon here and now. The best is yet to come.

His Promises Are True” by Josh Taylor from Calvary Aurora on Vimeo.