Falwell

I asked my friend Steve the first thing he thought when he heard Jerry Falwell died.  He jumped right up and started talking...

You go to breakfast -- then back to your office for another day.

You're planning, scheduling, returning phone calls, making decisions, dealing with all the little and big problems...

You've got the pressure and challenges of a big church and university...you're preparing for another commencement...Newt Gingrich is coming...

And in the middle of it you fall over -- dead.

The Bible says, "absent from the body, present with the Lord" --

And instantly you're with Jesus -- and everything's perfect and you're celebrating and there's no pressure, no problems -- just pure joy that's gonna last forever.

50 years at the highest, most visible level of public life and ministry -- done -- and never a scandal!

To others -- you're a social force.

To others -- you're controversial.

Not to the Lord.

To the Lord -- "well done good and faithful servant."

Steve also said 20 years ago he read a book by Falwell.  Right out of Bible school, Falwell was going to start a church in Macon, GA with a buddy.  But a group of people in Lynchburg, VA also wanted him to go there and start a church.  He didn't know what to do.  But he ended up feeling God was saying something to him -- "you choose; I'll bless it."  Knowing what happened, Steve said that really rattled his cage and he's never forgotten it.

So -- if God told YOU -- you choose, I'll bless it -- what would YOU choose?
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And who said this? --

My mother always told me that no matter how much you dislike a person, when you meet them face to face you will find characteristics about them that you like. Jerry Falwell was a perfect example of that. I hated everything he stood for, but after meeting him in person,..Jerry Falwell and I became good friends. He would visit me in California...

Comments

[Justin]

I am glad to finally read a post by someone who knew Rev. Falwell. Like you I can't say that I agree with much that he stood for, but I have to applaud you for saying that there were some things about him that you admired after meeting him. Though I'm not sure that he is going to get the "well done..." as your friend has suggested, I do hope that he is at peace, with Christ, and maybe they've sat him down and pointed out the good he did, and tomorrow he'll get a stern talking to about the bad.