remembering Jerry Falwell

As most have heard, Jerry Falwell has gone to glory... I shook his hand twice: once when I received my B.S. from Liberty University and then when I received my M.A.R. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, both times, he said "Congratulations buddy." He had no idea who I was, but thanks to his vision, I learned how to learn.

I heard about his death as I was driving from Greenberry's back to school just before 2, when my daughter called me to let me know, she graduates with her B.A. from Liberty tomorrow, she had heard on campus and called me. About an hour later I heard it on the radio. Then I got to school and a colleague sent an email around (this person, like many, didn't like Jerry because of something he had done, she made some comment in the email which announced the death, I was a little put off by the crack but let it go, until now). That night I scanned the beginning of the news shows, they all led with the death of the "controversial figure." I watched the networks (I don't have cable) and there seemed to be a generally civil discussion of Jerry's words and his accomplishments.

Of course, the Moral Majority was discussed, it seemed that Falwell was given the credit for the election of Reagan and both Bushes and the development of the Christian right as the most powerful single political force in America today. But as I listened to Tony Campolo on The News Hour, he really hit a kind note. Campolo, no Falwell Fundamentalist, stated that while Jerry might disagree and debate you on TV with force, he did so with kindness. He was gracious, he was a gentleman. Yesterday a friend told me that Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton had made similar comments.

On the News Hour, Campolo said these things

"My wife, who, unlike myself, is a strong advocate for gay marriage, once had a meeting with him. And she said, "I came away feeling that this man was a gentleman, and he spoke with kindness and with civility." And, off camera, he was as gracious a man as you could possibly imagine. And I have found him to be the same.

We differed politically, not theologically very much, but politically. And we will stand in awe of his impact in history. Of course, his greatest impact is not his politics. His greatest legacy is going to be Liberty University, where thousands of people will be raised up to support the things that he believed in." (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/remember/jan-june07/falwell_05-15.html)

I learned to learn at Liberty. I was glad that one of our girls went to Liberty. I have met some amazing servants of God who trained at Liberty. I think Campolo and the other guy on TV got it right, Jerry's greatest accomplishment was founding Liberty.

But now, Jerry is so enthralled in the glory of God, that he cares no longer of these things, now he sees the Maker, the Saviour, face to face, not darkly like we do... Thanks be to God for Jerry. I'll see you there Jerry.

unrelated ideas?

"The church's unwitting capitulation to powerful cultural forces has caused it to lose its prophetic, other-worldly voice. We must remember that we are the people of the future formed by the past, and living in the present." - W. Tullian Tchividjian

I got this quote from a missions conference recently... during the same session, I wrote these things down that I heard said...

'We must not be so pipelined (tunnel-visioned?) in our vision to reach the lost that we lose sight of who we are as the Church of Jesus Christ.' - This comment is aimed at causing the church to consider how its tactics to reach the lost have caused it to lose some sight of itself, who she is, and how she should live. I think a good challenge... then I, days later, in reviewing these ideas thought this...

The church should be involved in the world, in culture, flavoring the world, but this should be done in such manners which hold her true to who she is... The spotless bride of Christ.

Thus one must consider what is appropriate for this bride to be a part of? How can this be clearly seen day-to-day? The bride has mandates from her groom. To be holy as he is holy, thus demonstrating she is his. As a bride is set apart at a wedding from the guests, so is the bride set apart from the world by her robes of righteousness. This bride is set apart but not removed, indeed, after the wedding she may walk down the aisle and smilingly acknowledging some of the guests present. At the reception, she and her groom mingle with all present, thanking them for their participation, their presence, their friendship. She radiates happiness and joy. People are happy to meet her because of her joy. The friends that surround her. Some from the past, some new, some will be around in a few years, some will not... What is the impact of this day and its memory on them? How will her reaction to them impact how they view her and her groom? Would they, having seen her, cause them to wish to be friends with them? Consider these questions in light of the fact that if you are a follower of Jesus, you are the part of the bride of Christ...

How does these 'unrelated ideas' inform us about the impact of the church? What lessons can we learn from this? Several, I hope. I hope to consider these ideas in the future... The plan of the wedding. The cost of the wedding. The gown/robe she wears. The joy she shows. Her attractiveness.

soon to be

next month I am heading to the heart land... and over on vonLazo's blog there has been a conversation about my favorite place to start my day in the heart land... Z Nagy... here is a pic I stole from von Lazo...

when I saw this before reading the caption, i was fearful... then i leaarned that they were only closed for the holidays... what a relief...

ahhhh... the pastries... the coffee... ahhhh I await the 11th of Feb when i will sit and enjoy whilst listening to the rumble of the 3-4 making its way back and forth into the centre of Szeged...

thank you von Lazo for the reminder

Narnia

my dearest and I watched Narnia last night, it was awesome to see Lewis' words come to life on the screen...

I have enjoyed it so much that I have begun a new light reading excercise: The Magician's Nephew

yet another thanksgiving post

I'm sure that many will post thanksgiving messages all across the blog-o-sphere... and so I add mine too...
I'm thankful for:
- the love of God, which was demonstrated for me on the cross and in the resurrection...
- my sweet wife, who has been so faithful and true and therefore shows Jesus to me all the time
- our girls, who bring such joy to our lives
- my parents: resting in Jesus
- great friends: who accept, love and help no matter what
- freedom: and the ability to understand how we get it
- creativity: both the ability to be creative and the ability to appreciate it
- the image of God: in which we find the ability to hope, love and reason

there is my serious list... but I feel compelled to demonstrate thankfulness for other stuff too!
trains
coffee
Greenberry's
ZNagy
music
Italian Renascence and Byzantine art (no kidding)
spell check!
sausage balls (thanks for the recipe Jeri!)
maps (yes, maps - it's my list okay? I happen to love maps)
sunsets over the ocean (my only good memories of Okinawa are these)

okay that's enough... but I should close this post by reminding myself that I need to be thankful in all things: the good, the bad and the ugly!

Happy Thanksgiving!