Heroes

I thought it would be helpful to describe some of the things that I witnessed this weekend with the support of some of Scott and Jill's friends and family. I will try to write about a few of the people who were so supportive during such a difficult time.

Brother Charles Attebery and Mrs. Janice
Scott's dad displayed genuine Christ-like compassion for his son this weekend. I can't imagine someone being a better support than he was. Just watching him truly ministered to me. He never left his son. May I be such a father.
His mother was so kind and tender toward her hurting son. Her love for Scott shined through in every move, every hug, every look on her face.

Jill's Parents
Jill's parents were very supportive of their son-in-law. Their compassion for Scott along with their obvious love for their daughter was a testimony of their faith.

Clif Johnson
Clif was truly a faithful friend this weekend. He was there the entire time, and never left Scott. He was the "rock" that many of us needed. His presence was calming and his love for Scott and Jill was obvious.

Andy Jarvis
Jill's brother was an encouragement to me. Scott frequently asked for prayer throughout the entire time. Andy prayed, and it was a huge encouragement to me. He displayed an unwavering trust in the sovereignty of God in this situation.

David Attebery
He was another "rock" that gave support in a very trying time. He displayed deep love and compassion for Scott.

Brandon Lupkey
Brandon was also a constant friend and immediately began thinking of ways that we could show Scott our love and support for him in the coming weeks and months.

Adam Thomas and Donny Hymer
They served Scott in such an amazing way this morning by going back to El Dorado to conduct our church services. Their love of Scott was evident as they interacted with him last night at the hospital. I can't imagine any two other people that I would want to be on our staff with Scott.

There were so many more, but these are the ones that I noticed.

Jill's Great Hope

It is amazing how your focus can change so quickly. 30 hours ago I was wrapped up in the coming political election, now, frankly, I couldn't care less (that is a little hyperbole). Tragedies like this cause your focus to shift from secondary matters to the most important matters.
I know Jill, and she would want me to share her Great Hope with all of you who are reading. If you truly understood the holiness of God, you would see yourself as undone before Him. No self-righteousness, no pride, no "I'm basically a good person" arguments will stand in the fiery brightness of God's holiness. All of your sin and mine are completely clear to God, and He is offended. God desires and deserves all glory. To the extent that we fail to give it to Him, we stand condemned. We have all completely and utterly failed at giving God the glory due His name, we magnify everything but God, and He will judge us for it. We are completely unable to reform ourselves, we are helpless, blind, dumb, deaf and lifeless. But God, at the expense of His own Son, bore our penalty. Canceling the debt we owe God for our sins, and living the life that we should have lived. He has done all of this, and if this thrills your heart that God has provided a Way, venture on this Christ. Flee to Him, trust in Him, cast yourself on Him. I am not asking you to recite a prayer, I am not telling you to "ask Jesus into your heart" I am telling you to turn from your sins and turn to Christ. Hide from God, in God. Be transformed by His work on your behalf as Jill was transformed by His work on her behalf.

If you want to talk with me about Jill's Great Hope I will be glad to talk with you. I realize that there may be many unanswered questions, and I will be happy to interact with anyone who has questions.

Sorrow

I've never felt this kind of sorrow before. I've never had someone so young and so close to my family die before. I have noticed over the past few hours that different people mourn differently. For me, pain and weeping come in waves- when I think about the 10,000 things that are going to be so difficult for Scott in the coming weeks, months, years. I can't bear to think about it for long. Needless to say I haven't been much of a "rock" for others.
This has caused me to ask the question: "What does it mean to trust in the sovereign goodness of God during a tragedy like this?"
It doesn't mean that you will approach it with some kind of stoic emotionlessness. It doesn't mean that you won't be devastated and fall. It doesn't mean that you won't wonder "why?"
It does mean that even though your heart is breaking, and your emotions are haywire, you do have a resting place. It does mean that even though you are devastated, and even though you are crying your eyes out, and even though you fall, you fall on the Great Hope you have in Christ. He is our solace, so that's where we go WHEN we are devastated. It does mean that we may wonder "why?" but that we also trust when things don't seem to make sense. If nothing else it means we take God at His word when He says "All things work together for good, to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose." Notice, it does not say that all things are good, but that God works all things for good.
I may have already shared this, but it deserves a repeat. Our church has been hit with tragedy after tragedy for the last 3 years. If nothing was happening spiritually at our church we probably wouldn't be going through this, or it may be proper to say if we hadn't been hit by tragedies we wouldn't be making progress like we are in so many areas. True growth rarely happens in the rosy times. Don't get me wrong, I prefer rosy, but obviously God has other plans right now, and we should trust Him.
Resting in Christ,
Jonathan

Pics from earlier posts

Here are a couple pics of Jill with Bryce.

Here

We Saw Her

Emily was the brave one. She wanted to go back and see her so I agreed to go back with her. She was very peaceful. What a privilege to have known her. I know she wouldn't want us to be as upset as we are, but she was a special person to our family, as she was to so many. Scott is holding up amazingly well. What a testimony. I was talking to Mark Harmon about our church and the hard knocks we have taken over the past three years. He pointed out that we ought to count it as a compliment, that if we weren't doing anything substantial, we probably wouldn't be going through this.
Nonetheless...still wishing this were a dream... a bad bad dream.
Jonathan

Goodbye Jill

They are allowing the family and friends to see her before they take her off life support. They have met with the organ donation representative and will write her testimony to give along with her organs.

In Memory of Jill

I would ask everyone who can to please write a longer comment on what Jill meant to you and post it here. I will make sure they get to Scott.
Thank you for your comments, Scott has read a few, and I'm sure he will read them much more in the coming days and weeks. Let's all rally around him right now. I cannot bear to think about the next week, month, year of his life. I know in whom he has trusted and am convinced that He is able to keep it until the day of his coming. Pray that God would sustain him, and comfort him, and pray for us that we will be able to support him.
Thanks again for your comments.

The Updates Will Probably Be Few Now

Please continue to comment. They will be an invaluable gift for Scott in the coming days and weeks. It's going to be a long hard road for him. I will update if anything significant happens. Thank you all for your prayer and concern.
In Christ,
Jonathan

The Last 18 Hours

They have been incomprehensible. To think that God sees every situation like this, is unfathomable. Scott is sitting across from me now with his head in his hands, and his mother at his side. I'm so thankful that God is in control and works all things together for good, even when we don't understand. John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. If we did not believe that, we would be going even crazier than we already are.

Scott Wants Everyone to Know

He appreciates your prayers. They are keeping her on a ventilator so that she can donate her organs. They are going to move her to a room where we can see her. This is going to be a long road, but God is faithful, sovereign and good.
Scott is going around hugging everyone right now.