derek and dylan

"suffer well."
i remember these words from one of rod's sermons in the last few years
and now i watch a community devastated by a tremendous loss
and i see thousands of people suffering
so well
and i'm blessed to be a part of this family.

praying with friends at the gathering this morning
it was clear to me that we could cry everyday for a year
and sing worship songs for weeks or months
and our brother derek would not be the least bit impressed
unless we experience Gospel change.
his concern at this moment would not be that he left a legacy or a good reputation
but that because of his life other people desire to know Jesus Christ or to know Him more

i listened to this last night
Acts 2 [December 12, 2010 - Crossroads Bible Church - Derek Taatjes]
i am convinced that in sharing this message derek was filled with the Spirit
and i was confronted by his challenge
and i realized more than what i was comfortable seeing.
"are you devoted to the Word? do you survive on it?"
"prove to be my disciples in that you bear much fruit" [john 15.8]

[acts 2.42] "they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

i know that i desperately need to be so much more changed by the Gospel.
i desperately need the Word
and people
and to remember what God has done
and to learn to rely increasingly on His loving sovereignty

i am so grateful for one man's relentless commitment and uncompromising dependence on His Savior.
i am forever grateful for the example of one man's humble service and complete commitment to his wife.
i am overwhelmed by the depth of love that he possessed for his beautiful girls and precious son.
my heart hurts for the pain that they experience.

charity, ella, johanna, you are so. very. loved.
your community cares so deeply for you
and we plead with our God for His peace that transcends all understanding
while we celebrate derek and dylan.

continue to suffer well
for one day you will stand with your husband, your father, your son, your brother,
and you will share in the GLORY of HIM who makes sense of all things.
and in this eternity you will stand together again.
and this is why we hope.

one day He will set all things right.