God Bless him and his family.
I must admit, reading through the list of quotes by the who’s who of the prejudice-supportive Christain world made my skin crawl.
Having listened to him for hours both on tv and even more so on radio I can say he certainly was intelligent. Unfortunately he used his itelligence to cause so much misery and hurt….rather than to make the world a better place for all God’s children.
Peace!

He took a lot of money from trusting, gullible people; I can’t claim to feel the world is worse off without him.

…and used the money obtained from trusting, gullible people to marginalize others. Hardly Christlike behavior, to be sure. The sad thing is that for every one like Falwell or Kennedy who depart this Earth, there are a thousand just like them waiting to take their place.

Now somebody will have to take over the running of the business, and that is what he had, many enterprises… schools, radio, TV,books, etc. I’d call those businesses. Plus a 10,000 member church??? that is a business too, IMO. 10,000 members certainly isn’t a nice, friendly intimate church setting. There is no way a minister/priest/rabbi could know all the members of any congregation with that many folks.
Must have taken in millions of dollars during his life, some from folks who couldn’t afford it, I’m sure. How much actual good did he do? Probably depends on who you ask.
Sounds like all the “leading evangelicals” will miss him, from the quotes in the article.
Though I didn’t agree with any of what he stood for, I do feel for his immediate family. There is never a good time to lose a loved one.

I’ve heard his talks, he was a good man of God. And now he is receiving his treasure and glory due to him in Heaven.

“a man of God” How do you tell a “man of God”? Someone who talks a lot of religion of the kind you like?

Okay, I do not know a lot about this man, other than what the article says, so maybe you all just know things I don’t, but why do you (Nnmns, Pagansister, Chevy) seem to assume he was a bad guy? This article makes no mention of him fleecing money out of people, and a quick Internet search of information about him does not seem to show anything particularly horrendous about him, other than the fact that was conservative on issues like abortion, homosexuality etc. So why do you seem to assume that, just because he was running a Christian charity, he must have been hoarding money from the poor, or just because he had certain views (which almost of the country also hold, I might add), that “the world won’t be any worse off without him?”
God bless.

Dr. Kennedy was a man who believed what God said in the Bible was true. It was his life message. He served with compassion and faithfulness. There is nothing his critics can say that will detract from the fact that he followed God and served Him and now has entered the presence of God.

Only God knows what was in Kennedys heart, and only God knows if he learned all he came to learn. If he didn’t, he will, into eternity, as all of us will.
My sympathy to his family.

Just because someone can’t stand conservative Xianity does not make one a “god hater”.

“…why do you (Nnmns, Pagansister, Chevy) seem to assume he was a bad guy? This article makes no mention of him fleecing money out of people…”
I admit I didn’t listen to/watch his shows. It’s barely possible his audience was not asked/urged/advised and-or cajoled to send in money. If, in fact, his listeners/watchers weren’t asked for money someone please correct me. Otherwise, I stand by my statement.

Buh bye…
Wonder if they’ll pass the plate at the funeral? Old habits die hard.

“It’s barely possible his audience was not asked/urged/advised and-or cajoled to send in money.”
Well, now, see, there is quite a bit of different between “asking” and “cajoling” people for money. If simply asking viewers for a donation is enough to make him bad in your eyes, then I see no reason why we shouldn’t all go protest the local PBS station for their perfidious practices, trying to exploit money from Viewers Like Us. But I sense that your argument is built mainly on the fact that he was asking for donations for a purpose you yourself don’t believe, and though to you any money donated to him was wasted, I doubt the donators viewed it that way. Granted, there have been Christian televangelists who ripped off a lot of innocent people, but since I’m not aware of any real controversy about the issue from the late Mr. Kennedy, I see no reason to lay such accusations at his feet.
Anyway, the best to the man’s spirit and his family. May God bless them all.

nnmns-
“ It’s barely possible his audience was not asked/urged/advised and-or cajoled to send in money. If, in fact, his listeners/watchers weren’t asked for money someone please correct me. Otherwise, I stand by my statement.”
You are safe. Up until the end of Dec 2006 (after his heart attack in Dec 2006) I recieve weekly emails from him asking for dontations as well as to buy his books. Since then, they have come only about once per month.
Henrietta22-
As usual your compassion and wisdom show through in your posts.
Peace!

Sorry, I forgot to put my name on my post above.
Joey-
“So why do you seem to assume that, just because he was running a Christian charity, he must have been hoarding money from the poor, or just because he had certain views (which almost of the country also hold, I might add), that “the world won’t be any worse off without him?””
Was Rev Kennedy “hoarding money from the poor”? Who knows? What we do know is that he was using a tremendous amount of this donated money to encourage our lawmakers (who are supposed to represent us all) to further write discrimination and prejudice into our laws. I am not suggesting he misled his followers. I know the letters and emails that I recieved from him/his ministries were very clear about how they would spend my requested dontation. That does not change the fact of what he was doing.
Would the money have been better spent assisting those in need?
Peace!

To quote Dr.Adrian Rogers “It doesn’t take much size, to criticize”. To quote the Bible “Judge not, least ye be judged”. Only God really knows Dr. Kennedy and he will be valued accordingly. As for us still awaiting that day, it can be said Dr. Kennedy did try to show us the way, the truth and the life of Christ; apparently some just don’t want to listen or learn. My thanks to Dr. Kennedy for all he tried to do and for enriching our lives with the word of God. Who is so knowledgeable to say anyone suffered for making a contribution to his ministery. If the bible is true as I believe it is, then God blesses those who give rather than those who criticize. Dr. Kennedy will be missed, and my sympathies go out to his family.

JohnQ,
Let’s see, Reverend Kennedy agrees with Jesus and you and your kind do not. Like on marriage for example:
“Haven’t you read,” Jesus replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
\\\
Now, JohnQ, you and the anti and non Christian associates can disagree with Jesus all you want to, but Christians, Christians like Reverend Kennedy, choose to believe Him. And when Christians “sin” against the Lord, they do not redefine sin and edit the Bible or alter the teachings of Christ Jesus . . . they repent.
Now opposing repentance, now that is literally writing discrimination and prejudice “into” the law. You progressives literally hate change, yet you pretend that that is what you are peddling. Look to Liberal and Progressive ideology (atheistic Secular-Humanism), to see hate “written” into the law. What you try to pass off as progress, is just another round of persecution of Christians, and abominations age-old style.
Reverend Kennedy did not fail in teaching the Truth. All you have to do to prove that, is compare his preaching with that of Jesus and the Apostles.
His passes the “test,” and Liberal/Progressive teachings of “do what thou wilt . . .” does not.
Why denigrate a man that did no wrong in his correct stance on Biblical truth?
I know the answer but you won’t give it.

Thanks Mr. Q..

I feel a greater loss in the death of Pavrotti. I thin he did more to elevate the spirit and full the soul of humanity than most any other preacher could hope to.

You are so right jestrfyl, God gave Pavarotti a huge talent, and personality. We can always listen to his voice, thankfully, on his recordings and reviews of his concerts. My sympathy to his family.
Rev. Kennedy was virtually an unknown to me until he got sick. The Miami AP this a.m. describes him as a pioneer in Christian broadcasting and a Megachurch Pastor whose fiercely conservative worldview helped fuel the rise of the religious-right in American Politics. Now we all know who he was.
As a Christian I’m not a religious-right person. I know some, however, and I accept them as being the nice people they are, and I know they feel the same about me. At least I haven’t been compared to the players in Sodom and Gommorah, as a certain someone here just did.

Henrietta22-
One of the great differences between Pavarotti and Rev Kennedy is that Pavarotti used his God given gift to make the world a better place for anyone who enjoys opera. Rev Kennedy worked to make the world a better place for prejudice-supportive people. I have no idea how many people he lead to Our Lord……however, I am pretty sure he alienated even more people from Christianity.
And, for the record I can see you in the story of Sodom.
You would play the part of Lot using your wisdom in an attempt to rectify the situation with the mob and the Angels.
Peace!

Henrietta22-
One of the great differences between Pavarotti and Rev Kennedy is that
Pavarotti used his God given gifts to make the world a better place. He expanded the appeal of opera….and, gave pleasure to millions.
Rev Kennedy used his God given gifts of speaking and cleverness in an attempt to make the world a better place for prejudice-supportive people.
BTW, I can see you in the Sodom story.
You would be playing Lot using your wisdom and compassion attempting to rectify the situation with the mob and the Angels.
Peace!

jestrfyl:
“I feel a greater loss in the death of Pavarotti. I think he did more to elevate the spirit……”
Amen to that!
Donny:
“……..Sodom and Gomorrah rising from the left? ” Oh Please! Think I’ll stick with my liberal, non-religious, sinful leanings.
Truth spoken by FALWELL??? That is a joke. He spread hatred for those who didn’t agree with his way of thinking. His death was absolutely no loss. Kennedy? He spoke his version of truth and had quite a “Christian” business enterprise going. He was never hungary.
“While liberals go from bad to worse enslaving miscreants into further debauchery as civil rights etc.” So you are basicly against civil rights for people you think are living sinful lives? Fortunately you aren’t making the rules.
This article is supposed to be about the death of Kennedy. Am I joyful he is dead? I really don’t have any feelings one way or another. Oh, didn’t die of an STD? You know this how? If by some chance he had, do you really think publicity folks that work for his business would have it published? Natural causes. What are natural causes? When you’re dead, you’re dead, no matter what the “cause”.

my regrets to his family- no matter what the religius affiliation.

Brick:
Lovin’ that evil, Man, totally lovin’ it!!!!
“I’m happy I’m on the RIGHT because the LEFT wouldn’t know a good man when they saw one.” (Brick) And you do???? Nice to know someone does(or thinks they do).
Didn’t hate a man I never knew. Just didn’t agree with him. My choice. If that is “left”….I’ll lean a little farther.

Brick:
Yes, IF there was a god, I’d argue with him/her. Why not?
HOT air? Yes, that goes 2 ways.
My truth is obviously not your truth. Time wasters? But it’s my time and I can do anything I want with it. I am assuming you don’t waste time, and that is to your credit, (I guess).
I’m off now to waste more time.

Donny, sorry, but I see no goodness in a man who hid his prejudice and hatred behind belief in a deity, and spent money to legally attempt to use the legislative process in order to marginalise others. If that is being a hater, then I accept the title gladly.

I do not/did not hate Rev Kennedy. I have stated the methods of his work. As a Christian, I can not condone his actions.
IMHO, Rev Kennedy was a brilliant person. I am saddened that he did not use his talent to assist other. But, I do not hate him….nor, do I hate anyone or anything.
Peace!

JohnQ, you had me for a moment when you said I should be playing Sodom! Thank you for your compliment.;)

Brick:
You seem to be very good at opposites. The good-bad, love-hate thing.
I’m not trying to win approval from you, believe me. Thus I’m LOSING nothing. Only expressing my opinions on the subjects that are on the different posts and commenting on posts that I find, shall we say, interesting.
Answer how I can hate something I don’t believe in? In this case, your version of a god. One has to believe in the god to love or hate him/her. So calling me a god hater is kind of ridiculous.
Are you a good (or bad) example of “loving your neighbor” with the comments you make about folks who don’t happen to believe your rantings on god? If I were going to give a god a chance, I’d use some of the other posters here as examples of Christianity. I also have family and friends who are Christians. They are my examples, loving me for who I am, not condemming me for not believing the way they do.
Get some new lines, Brick. Yours are getting old. Oh, I don’t hate you….totally disagree with you, but no hatred here.

Brick-
Just because you do not agree with my views….and/or in some cases you wish to disavow the truth, it does not mean that I hate God.
Quite the contrary, I worship God through out the day…..I pray through out the day…..I give thanks throughout the day.
I can not actutally think of a regular poster whose posts make me think hesh “hates God”.
Now, there are several regular posters that do not believe in God…and/or do not believe in the God of Abraham and Issac….but, that does not mean they hate God. I still respect these posters even if my beliefs are different from theirs.
I do not hate anyone…nor, anything….so, I certainly do not hate God.
Now, Rev Kennedy was certainly not God. He may have been a minister….but, not one I would want my children to use as a role model. From his fruits ye shall know him. Perpetuating prejudice and encouraging discrimination are not fruits that I would eat.
Peace!

Brick
Go read Job, read about Moses – for that matter go read about David. Then read Amos. God does not like brown-nosers and yes men. God seems to have a marked preference for people who aregue. I preach this often – God likes a good argument because then God knows the opther party takes the relationship seriously enough to have real expectations.
Simply spleeny remarks that reduce “argument” to namecalling are not even hot air (which can at least lift something. They are frigid, like death breath – sinking and killing everything it surrounds.
So give thanks for Hot Air Vendors like me – and all us Lefties (which, incase you didn’t know is also know as “sinister” as compared to “dexter” or “right”. So maybe ya’ll should be reduced to “Dexters” – not so cool now, eh?!) because we keep the breezes blowing and the conversation flowing.

Donny:
There are several problems with your “facts” as you see them.
For a person like me, all your “sin” talk,and telling me that your god made the rules doesn’t work, because I don’t believe in your god or the “sin” thing. “God is the Judge and He will call the shots-make no mistake about that! In your opinion.
For the believers in these sites,I feel they have a much happier relationship with their god. Their god is a loving and accepting god, who loves them just the way they are. Your version of a god is not a loving one, from what you write. Whose god would I try and accept? Certainly won’t be yours.
You claim that you are not condemming anyone here? You’re basicly pointing that if we don’t believe as you do, we’re going to your version of a hell. That is the impression I’ve gotten with your past posts. BTY, there is no hell, so I’m not worried about that either.

Brick
Not so solid (unlike your namesake) arguments. Lots of quotes but sense of meaning or understanding. You say:
“And He loves me just the way I am, but He wants whats best for me and that means living as He wants, and not as “I” want.”
That is a contradiction. God loves you just as you are BUT wants you to live as God wants, not according to who and what you are. I agree that God loves all people as they are. I think God expects us to live fully and without fear. For some folks that means being different. God did not create us for uniformity. (Of course, this gets into the entire Creation/Intelligent Design/Evolution thing. But I suppose that should be set aside in favor of keeping this to barely one topic.) So as God created us to be fully ourselves, different, and loving, there is plenty of room for a variety of sexual preferences, races and heritages, religions and philosophies. When they say in the Bible that every knee shall bow at the name of Jesus Christ, they did not mean that someone would kick from behind the knees of those who do not choose to believe (which is how your argument is sounding).
Start to interpret and apply your legion of religio-quotes and then you may start to make sense. Othrwise you are simply hurling the same bludgeons that have driven people fro the Church for generations and centuries.

Donny:
Something is true because it is true? That’s profound!
Here’s the thing, just because you (personally) say it is true, doesn’t make it true. That is just like you telling me that because I don’t think it is true doesn’t make it untrue. We could play this game forever.
I happen to believe in the truth of gravity, and the theory of relativity etc. Those things and many others have been scientifically PROVEN. god has never been PROVEN, IMO. A man made book, the bible, has yet to prove anything to me.
As to the value of my opinion, of course, I place a high value on it,just as you do yours. More important than your god’s? Remember, I don’t believe in him/her, thus there is no high or low opinion in relation to him/her.
I learned John 3:16 a long time ago, in Sunday school. This is proof of your loving god for you. You claim your god loves you just the way you are. He also then loves ALL his children, just the way they are. Right? No man(or woman) is more deserving of his/her love than another, right? No matter who they love? That is where your claim of a totally loving god fails to me. A loving god would want all his “children” to be happy and live with love. I believe you think he/she dictates the gender of who one should love. To me that is a problem with your reasoning …how a loving god can be picky about who he gives that love to. …like a parent who loves one kid better than the other.
As to the death of Kennedy. Did he say the things you liked hearing? Agreed with your beliefs? He didn’t represent what I believe. I am, after all, very left and love it.

BIG Correction:
BIG Mistake with my last post. NOT for DONNY, but for BRICK. Sorry Donny. read the post name wrong and addressed my last post to the wrong person.

pagansister,
Once again, I appreciate your response. I had a thought about your last sentence. I believe the probelm with so many religions – allof them it seems, is that work too hard to provide answers. I disovered a while ago that the problem is our questions. So now I devote a fair amount of thought, meditation, and reading to working on my questions.
As the late prophet, Douglass Adams proposed, the answer to the meaning of life and everything is “42″. The problem is we are asking the wrong questions. Don’t believe him? Ask the dolphins. Don’t Panic.

jestrfyl:
My children are big fans of Douglass Adams and have read all of his writings. So I have heard from them that the answer to the meaning of life and everything is “42″. As well as DON’T Panic! Think the answer is great!
Also, this is going to sound strange, but which response did I give that you were kind enough to address so well? (really BAD sentence, sorry).

Brick:
Just thought I’d add one more thing…IMO
that would be YOUR god that says homosexuality is “an abomination”.
The Christians I know have a loving god, who is accepting of all his children. According to them, he/she didn’t make any mistakes.

Brick-
Do you actually read my posts?
To me, it seems as though you often respond as though I am not Christian….as though I do not believe in God.
As a Christian, I believe it is unfortuante that Rev Kennedy focused so many of his resources working against people rather than working to assist those in need.
Peace!

Brick:
I know you believe what you write, and I believe what I write. Your answers come from a deity, mine from experience. You claim that the bible gives you the answers. To me it is a piece of literature, along with many other pieces of literature. There is, IMO, no way a book could have been written and rewritten so many times over 2000 years and be accurate. Ever notice the contradictions? I don’t claim to have all the answers, and I don’t think you do either(no matter what your source).
As to my eternal destiny? This is all there is….and I’m going to live my very wonderful life to the end. At the end my energy will return to the universe, and my ashes taken to the ocean, where all life came from. Don’t worry about me, I am just fine. It is comforting for some to think that there is more after this life. They can’t believe that they will just “stop”. It is a hard concept. I’m going to concentrate on this life and continue to do the best I can.

Brick:
Yes, I’m right. It is YOUR god….not mine. Mine wouldn’t be homophobic.

Brick-
What make you think that I and others do not have a personal relationship with God?
I have already posted that I pray throughout the day…I worship God through out the day…..I give thanks throughout the day. I also ask guidance throughout the day. If it was not clear….I do each of these with Our Lord.
BTW, what is your understanding of the Bible….are Christians required to follow the OT or only the NT?
As far as Dr Kennedy….I listened to him for years. That is why I have posted as I have about him.
God Bless!

Brick-
Well, we certainly can agree to disagree about Dr Kennedy.
We do however agree that our Salvation is through faith and that our works demostrate our faith.
God Bless!

come on,people.we are here to honor the life and legacy of dr. kennedy.
this is not the time or place to debate our beliefs.
some of you judge dr. kennedy very,very harshly,and,may i add,without any justified reasons,whatsoever.
dr. kennedy was a wonderful,faithful servant of the lord jesus christ.
a lot of what i learned from him,is spiritual truth.he was completely dedicated to delivering the truth of jesus and his gospel,no matter what the cost. yet people criticize him,and call him prejudiced.
that is completely unfair and out of line.he lived his life the way he was called to.if he had ”stradled the fence,”so to speak,and lied to people,and said,”oh,it doesn’t matter if you are doing a certain thing.[such as lying,stealing,hurting other people,etc.]
you can’t lose god.he still loves you.you’ll be all-right.”
what do you think he would be doing?he would be compromising the truth,all for the sake of not offending anyone.i am the first to say,that love comes with a price.that price is something called truth.without truth,there is no love.dr. kennedy’s legacy is reflective of the price he paid,all for the sake of the truth.
first and foremost,he loved god.he was passionately committed to living the truth of jesus,and helping others to find that same truth.
dr. kennedy was not a hypocrite.he loved the sinner,but he hated the sin.he loved the sinner so much,that he spoke the truth in love.yes,god loves everyone.even people who do things that a lot of people condemn.but you can’t expect a servant of jesus,to tell you things you wanna hear all the time.
i think a lot of people who live certain lifestyles,take advantage of the grace of god.and,sadly so,some of us christians are responsible for condoning these lifestyles,every time someone starts preaching ”tolerance.”
dr.kennedy did not condone anything,that went against the word of god.he honored his commitment to jesus,while lovingly speaking the truth of jesus.he did not take money from people.and he delivered the message of the lord boldly,and without hesitation.
he valued the truth given to him by jesus,and he lovingly carried the message of jesus to everyone-believer and non-believer alike.
god bless him.he’s now receiving the great eternal award that is due him.
i’m not here to bash anyone.if i offended anyone,i truly apologize.
i do believe that god is a god of love.and when i say”sinner,”i’m not referring to just anyone.we all do wrong things,we all make mistakes.none is perfect.dr. kennedy wasn’t perfect.he was a sinner just like i’m a sinner.and,like myself,he found the mercy of jesus,so he could live a new life.
i just believe that dr. kennedy was called for a special purpose.he wanted people to know the truth,and he wanted to protect them from deception.and,above all,he wanted to serve jesus,and make a positive impact on his church.
the church of jesus christ is built on more than just love.love is important,but it’s also out of love,that the servant of jesus will speak the word of truth.yes,god loves everyone.but if we’re doing something that might hurt us,like the loving father he is,he will tell us about it.
dr. kennedy looked out for people.he was certainly not prejudiced.if he didn’t look out for people,he would have been a liar and a hypocrite.he would have kept the truth of sin quiet,and not made the bold stand he did for the truth.
the church of jesus christ,is built on love,charity,faith,hope,grace,and truth.if the man of god didn’t love people,he wouldn’t speak the truth at all.he would allow people to believe in whatever they chose to,and become deceived and manipulated,instead of speaking the truth in love.
i hope dr. kennedy is enjoying his eternal award.he was a wonderful,faithful servant of jesus.and his ministry blessed many people worldwide.
thank you,dr. kennedy.i learned so much from you.your bold message of truth inspires me even to this day.i hope people will look back on your life,and see the incredible legacy you made.
you spoke the truth in love.you told people worldwide,how we can find jesus.you educated people,and opened up a lot of eyes.the one thing i really remember you for,is how you took a stand against spiritual deception,and moral injustice.your faithfulness to jesus and love for people has earned you your due award.enjoy the fruits of your labor.and thank you,for how you truly blessed people’s lives,and showed the love of jesus.you will be missed dearly.
but our loss is jesus’ gain.god bless you.you will never be forgotten.

Michelle:
In your opinion he will never be forgotten. If he isn’t forgotten for awhile it may not for the reasons you gave.

Michelle-
That is quite the opinion you posted above.
Dressing prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination in the name of religion does not change the fact that it is prejudice, bigotry, and discrimination.
Perhaps you, Donny, Joey, and others would benefit from volunteering some time at a suicide clinic to see the fruits of people such as Dr. Kennedy.
For the record, I did not hate Dr. Kennedy. I do not hate anyone. As a Christian, I do find it profoundly sad that any organization professing to follow Christ would miss Our Lord’s message so greatly.
Peace!