Sunday...

Sunday.

Crazy times...

www.danielroberthall.net

Support...

My sister and her kids come home today, less their Daddy--my beloved friend and brother-in-law--the lovely Daniel Robert Hall.

Holy smokes, I still can't quite believe it.

Church at THE WELL is going to be wild today, and at ten other churches I can think of right off the top of my head; churches pastored by dudes who loved Rob. Our band is primed to blow the roof off the place, most of my closest friends are coming, my Dad is preaching to honour King Jesus and sweet Robbie who loved Jesus and was loved dearly by my Dad.

Naturally, every single freakin' cent of our offering today is going to support Rob's memorial fund. I just wanted to say that, if you're a Pastor reading this blog, I would invite you to prayerfully consider doing the same at your church today.

Giving 'alms' to support widows and orphans is clearly Biblical. Your churches can give a one-time 'benevolence' gift in accordance with your by-laws and the tax receipt your Church can give your people for their gift just might free up some of them to give much larger amounts than have been given so far.

This is a young woman widowed on the mission field in Africa, left with three children under the age of six.

It should be our honour to do this.

Yes, I'm her elder brother, but I'm speaking to you Man to Man, Pastor to Pastor.

I urge you to give.

Happy Sunday people, 'cause though life is hard, JESUS is good and--knowing him as I did--I'm 100% sure sweet Robbie would agree.

T

On their way...

Flying across the Globe with multiple kids? Awesome.

Jess and Kate and the kids are on their way.

Full details are at...

www.danielroberthall.net

As for Niki and I we have our new house. We are happy, and sad all at once. Jesus has shown Himself so good in this process.

We just wish our brother-in-law was coming swimming this summer.

We're at dear friends' as I type this, designing a kitchen for the new house, eating pizza and drinking red wine.

Robbie would approve.

Small mercies.

T

Funeral news...

Our last photo together.

Notice he's right in the middle?

I have been given permission by the families to post funeral news. Please visit...

www.danielroberthall.net

For the details.

As for me, my dear friend Chris Jones (Robbie's best friend as far as I could tell...) is on his way so he and I can go scout the funeral location and pick up their MPV and bring it home so it's tuned up and ready to go by Sunday.

An MPV (by the way) that's been paid off by you.

So, on behalf of Kate, the babies, sweet Robbie and his families...

Thank you.

And PLEASE keep reaching out to your networks and asking them to consider financially supporting Kate and her three small children as they begin this next phase of their life without a Daddy, Husband and breadwinner.

T

Significant updates...

That's my last shot of him, leaving Pearson airport for their Odyssey.

His family will return that same way Sunday.

For in-depth updates from yesterday and today in Africa please visit...

www.danielroberthall.net

T

Just for me...

"Hey! What are you crazy people doing in my backyard?" he asks, coming out his back door.

Missing you.

See, he was just her husband, just their dad, just our brother.

Just wonderful.

I have been struck, again and again throughout this process, with how much sorrow is yet to come. Because, see, we'll still be in backyards together and it will still be Easter.

But uncle Robbie won't be setting the eggs out.

We'll have to step up, but we won't do it as well or as intuitively or as imaginatively as he did.

Even if she doesn't keep that house I'll still be there when we close it up and I'll still stand there on those steps and ache.

And if she does keep it, well, I'll be there all the time.

Missing a friend of mine. One of my dearest, oldest, closest most beloved friends.

My 'other' brother.

I feel like I've been shot through the heart.

T

Thursday evening...

Yes, they came as an 'Avatar' and 'Bjork at the Oscars' to my birthday party last year.

For the full post for this evening please visit...

www.danielroberthall.net

As for me, the grief comes in waves fewer and farther between today compared to yesterday. I'm almost cried out, but then--at the slightest provocation--I'm undone again.

I've been using all my 'Producer skills' (such as they are) to get things organized--on a practical level--for both families and, thanks to the help of many and the blessing of God, things are going quite smoothly.

Great things are happening around this terrible tragedy.

I was going to preach Sunday at THE WELL but, upon his return, my Dad asked if he could so, naturally, that's what's happening. If you're in the Burlington area this Sunday and would like to be there as Dad preaches FOR his Son-in-Law and for Jesus' fame please join us. We are just a small church and will have lots of room should you decide to pop by.

Sunday, 10:30am...

HERE.