[Rick4404]

Wow. Isn't this shocking news? I knew Dr. Falwell had been hospitalized a number of times recently, but I can't believe he's gone. Although I didn't entirely agree with Dr. Falwell on a few matters; I always respected him as a fellow brother in the Lord, and most importantly, as a minister of the gospel.

Rev. Falwell is home tonight in Heaven with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He will truly be missed by many, many people. My prayers go out to his beloved wife Macel and the entire Falwell family.

TV evangelist Jerry Falwell dies at 73

By SUE LINDSEY, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 7 minutes ago

The Rev. Jerry Falwell collapsed at his campus office and died Tuesday after a career in which the evangelist used the power of television to transform the religious right into a mighty force in American politics. He was 73.

The founder of the Moral Majority was discovered without a pulse at Liberty University and pronounced dead at a hospital an hour later. Dr. Carl Moore, Falwell's physician, said he had a heart condition and presumably died of a heart rhythm abnormality.

Driven into politics by the 1973 Supreme Court ruling that established the right to an abortion, Falwell founded the Moral Majority in 1979. One of the conservative lobbying group's greatest triumphs came just a year later, when Ronald Reagan was elected president.

Falwell credited the Moral Majority with getting millions of conservative voters registered, aiding in Reagan's victory and giving Republicans control of the Senate.

"I shudder to think where the country would be right now if the religious right had not evolved," he said when he stepped down as Moral Majority president in 1987.

Fellow TV evangelist Pat Robertson, himself a one-time GOP candidate for president, declared Falwell "a tower of strength on many of the moral issues which have confronted our nation."

The rise of Christian conservatism — and the Moral Majority's full-throated condemnation of homosexuality, abortion and ****ography — made Falwell perhaps the most recognizable figure on the evangelical right, and one of the most controversial ones, too.

Over the years, Falwell waged a landmark libel case against Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt over a raunchy parody ad, and created a furor in 1999 when one of his publications suggested that the purse-carrying "Teletubbies" character Tinky Winky was gay.

Matt Foreman, executive director of National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, extended condolences to those close to Falwell, but added: "Unfortunately, we will always remember him as a founder and leader of America's anti-gay industry, someone who exacerbated the nation's appalling response to the onslaught of the AIDS epidemic, someone who demonized and vilified us for political gain and someone who used religion to divide rather than unite our nation."

The 1980s marked the religious conservative movement's high-water mark. In more recent years, Falwell had become a problematic figure for the GOP. His remarks a few days after Sept. 11, 2001, essentially blaming feminists, gays and liberals for bringing on the terrorist attacks, drew a rebuke from the White House, and he apologized.

Falwell's declining political star seemed apparent when he was quietly led in and out of the Republican Party's 2004 national convention. Just four years earlier, he was invited to pray from the rostrum.

The big, blue-eyed preacher with a booming voice started a fundamentalist church in an abandoned bottling plant in Lynchburg in 1956 with just 35 members. He built it into a religious empire that included the 24,000-member Thomas Road Baptist Church, the "Old Time Gospel Hour" carried on TV stations around the country and 9,600-student Liberty University, which Falwell founded in 1971 as Lynchburg Baptist College.

From his living room, he broadcast his message of salvation and raised the donations that helped his ministry grow.

"He was one of the first to come up with ways to use television to expand his ministry," said Robert Alley, a retired University of Richmond religion professor who studied and criticized Falwell's career. Alley died last summer.

Falwell had once opposed mixing preaching with politics, but changed his views. The Moral Majority grew to 6.5 million members and raised $69 million as it supported conservative politicians and railed against abortion, homosexuality, ****ography and bans on school prayer.

Falwell became the face of the religious right, appearing on national magazine covers and on talk shows. In 1983, U.S. News & World Report named him one of 25 most influential people in America.

"Jerry's passions and convictions changed the course of our country for the better over the last 20 years," said James Dobson, founder of the conservative Christian Focus on the Family ministry. "It was Jerry who led an entire wing of Christianity, the fundamentalist wing, away from isolation and into a direct confrontation with the culture."

"Dr. Falwell was a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country," said Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record), a GOP presidential contender who during the 2000 primaries referred to Falwell and Robertson as "agents of intolerance." McCain has since distanced himself from those comments.

In 1984, Falwell sued Hustler for $45 million, charging that he was libeled by a liquor-ad parody that quoted him as saying he lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse.

A federal jury found the fake ad did not libel him but awarded him $200,000 for emotional distress. The verdict was overturned in a landmark 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision that held that even ****ographic spoofs about a public figure enjoy First Amendment protection.

With Falwell's high profile came frequent criticism, even from fellow ministers. The Rev. Billy Graham once rebuked him for political sermonizing on "non-moral issues."

Falwell quit the Moral Majority in 1987, saying he was tired of being "a lightning rod" and wanted to devote his time to his ministry and Liberty University. But he remained outspoken and continued to draw criticism for his remarks.

In 1999, he told an evangelical conference that the Antichrist was a male Jew who was probably already alive. Falwell later apologized for the remark but not for holding the belief. A month later, his National Liberty Journal warned parents that Tinky Winky, the children's TV character, was a gay role model and morally damaging to children.

Falwell was re-energized after family values proved important in the 2004 presidential election. He formed the Faith and Values Coalition as the "21st Century resurrection of the Moral Majority," to seek anti-abortion judges, a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and more conservative elected officials.

In 1987, Falwell took over the PTL (Praise the Lord) ministry in South Carolina after the Rev. Jim Bakker got caught in a sex and money scandal. Falwell slid fully clothed down a theme park water slide after donors met his fundraising goal to help rescue the rival ministry. He gave it up seven months later after learning the depth of PTL's financial problems.

Largely because of the sex scandals involving Bakker and fellow evangelist Jimmy Swaggart, donations to Falwell's ministry dropped from $135 million in 1986 to less than $100 million the following year. Hundreds of workers were laid off and viewers of his television show dwindled.

Liberty University was $73 million in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy, and his "Old Time Gospel Hour" was $16 million in debt. By the mid-1990s, two local businessmen with long ties to Falwell began overseeing the finances and helped get companies to forgive debts or write them off.

Falwell dreamed that Liberty would grow to 50,000 students and be to fundamentalist Christians what Notre Dame is to Roman Catholics and Brigham Young University is to Mormons.

In a statement, President Bush said he and First Lady Laura Bush were "deeply saddened" by the loss of a man who "cherished faith, family and freedom."

"One of his lasting contributions was the establishment of Liberty University, where he taught young people to remain true to their convictions and rely upon God's word throughout each stage of their lives," Bush said.

Falwell's father and his grandfather were militant atheists, he wrote in his autobiography. He said his father made a fortune off his businesses — including bootlegging during Prohibition.

As a student, Falwell was a star athlete and a prankster who was barred from giving his high school valedictorian's speech after he was caught using counterfeit lunch tickets.

He ran with a gang of juvenile delinquents before becoming a born-again Christian at 19. He turned down an offer to play professional baseball and transferred from Lynchburg College to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Mo.

"My heart was burning to serve Christ," he once said in an interview. "I knew nothing would ever be the same again."

Falwell had made careful preparations for a transition of his leadership to his two sons, Jerry Jr., now vice chancellor of Liberty University, and Jonathan, executive pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Falwell's survivors include his wife, Macel, his two sons and a daughter, Jeannie Falwell Savas. The funeral is set for 2 p.m. Monday at Thomas Road Baptist Church.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Mormon whose own faith has become an issue during his run for the presidency, said Falwell "built and led a movement based on strong principles and strong faith," and "the legacy of his important work will continue through his many ministries where he put his faith into action."

Copyright © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten

[Lady Star]

Apparently you simply had individuals mixed up when you were doing all the talk about a Funeral huh?

My heart and Prayers do indeed go out to the Family in their time of sorrow.

[HeritageLt]

What...........no fancy dancy insults to go along with the dig. Maybe you are mellowing out in your old age.

[Rick4404]

The news of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's passing is very unexpected. On the other hand, it should make us stop and think. None of us is guaranteed that tomorrow will ever come. Like Dr. Falwell, we could be struck down with a sudden illness, be killed in a car crash, whatever. In an instant, we can be whisked away to the throne room of God, where we must give an account of our lives.

This is why it is so vitally important that if a person has not accepted Jesus Christ as his or her Lord and Savior...it's essential that you do it today. Don't put it off any longer.

The word of God is crystal clear with this admonition in John 3:3 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." This applies of course to both men and women. Reading on in John 3:4,8 Jesus is having an exchange with Nicodemus. The Lord repeats that you must be born again. "Except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Being born "of water" is a person's birth into this world from their mother's womb. Being born of the spirit is the point when someone surrenders their life to Jesus Christ and accepts Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

Dr. Falwell accepted Jesus at a later age in life. I understand he was in college when he surrendered his life to the Lord Jesus and became a born again Christian. I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in 1987.

[Rick4404]

More words of tribute for the Rev. Jerry Falwell. From the Rev. Rod Parsley of "Breakthrough." Parsley, of course, is the pastor of World Harvest Church outside of Columbus, Ohio. Parsley is slated to receive an honorary doctorate from Liberty University this coming Friday.

Dr. Jerry Falwell inspired America with his moral conviction and spiritual outreach. His death this week saddened our hearts; but, I know heaven will surely welcome him. The world has lost a devoted, faithful Christian role model, yet we should rejoice in the fact that at this very moment he is home with his Father.

Others may eulogize Jerry Falwell the conservative, but I'll praise Jerry Falwell the pastor and the person. I am forever thankful for the Christian leadership Dr. Falwell provided throughout his life. Please join me in prayer for the loving family Dr. Falwell left to cherish his memory.

He was a wonderful husband and father. He and his wife, Macel, would have celebrated their 50th anniversary next year. I'm praying for her and their three children, Jerry, Jonathan and Jeannie, and their eight grandchildren. He deeply loved them.

In the end, that's one of the ways you measure a man - by his relationship with his family.

I'm proud I was part of his extended family - the Family of God. I appreciate the way he reached out to me and encouraged me to reach out to future generations of Christian leaders as well.

This Friday, I will receive an honorary doctorate of humanities from one of Dr. Falwell's most prominent legacies, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. It saddens me that I will not receive it from him in person, because he was both a gracious friend to me and a patient teacher. My hope is that someday I would be proven worthy of the greatness of the man who honored me with his blessing and his friendship.


Pastor Rod Parsley

email: pastorrodparsley@breakthrough.net
phone: 614-837-1990
web: http://www.breakthrough.net

World Harvest Church | 4595 Gender Rd. | Canal Winchester | OH | 43110

[Lady Star]

Do you suppose that Larry Flynn will attend The Rev. Falwell's Funeral? Do you suppose that Rev. Falwell had a " PRE-NEED Funeral in place?

I have learned in the last few hours, from a couple of DIM WITS who seemed totally pocessed with the SUBJECT/TOPIC of burying our PRECIOUS, LOVELY First Lady of Heritage USA Tammy Faye, eventho she is STILL very much alive, can you believe we have such ignorance and disgracefulness and disrespect, one would think that they would choose to keep it under wraps!!

I am very aware that PRE-NEEDS are a good thing, however...once we have them in place, that should be that, but you seem to be useing that as an excuse, to mouth off and carry on about a person who is NOT YET DEAD!!

LET HER LIVE DIM WIT!!!!!!!!

I suppose Rev. Falwell's DEATH will suffice to give the one DIM WIT fodder to feed his addiction concerning Tammy dying.

I have heard it said that we all beginning the process of dieing from the moment we are borned into the world, so why should ANYONE become so enthraled or hung up on the subject of another's death BEFORE God chooses to issue a SUMMONS to HOME.

[Rick4404]

Look. This is one thing I think we can agree on. I don't want Tammy Faye to die either. But the sheer fact of the matter is that we will all die some day. We have no say in the matter. When God calls us home, that's it. We won't know the exact hour and minute; but folks, our lives here on earth is but temporary. We could be struck down by a sudden illness. We could die in a car crash...whatever. None of us are guaranteed tomorrow.

I personally do not fear death. As a born again Christian, a man of God; I know I will have a place in Heaven when God's time for me comes.

There is no doubt in my mind that Tammy Faye loves our Lord. Many of us are praying for a miracle to take place concerning her battle with this awful cancer.

Yes ... yes ... yes ... Tammy Faye is still very much alive. Until God is ready to take her home to be with Him in Heaven; there is still an opportunity that she will be healed right here on earth. However, it's entirely possible that the choice has already been made; and dear Tammy Faye will not be completely healed until she arrives safely in the arms of Jesus Christ in Heaven.

I am continuing to pray and believe for Tammy Faye as well as for her family.

As far as Jerry Falwell goes, I'm sure the news of his passing comes as a shock to many people. Alive and well one day and suddenly whisked away into eternity the next.

By the way, Lady Star, I really don't appreciate being called names. It's downright rude and insulting. But again, I choose to forgive you in Jesus name.

[HeritageLt]

I think to say STILL very much alive is a little extreme. Alive, yes. Very much alive I'm not sure. Over!!!! and!!!! Out!!!!

[Lady Star]

With all that said now..........CAN YOU NOT.....WILL YOU NOT.....PLEASE put the subject to rest and show a wee bit of respect??????

You have been on this BULL CRAP off and on for the better part of a year now
Suck it up and get over it, move on and stop acting like a " DIM WIT " and PROVE that you are not one by not trying to bury a live Lady!

[Rick4404]

Originally Posted by HeritageLt

I think to say STILL very much alive is a little extreme. Alive, yes. Very much alive I'm not sure. Over!!!! and!!!! Out!!!!

Well, very much alive was a poor choice of words, I'm sorry. I was just trying to drive the point home that yes, Tammy Faye is still with us. For how long, we just don't know.

But getting back to Jerry Falwell for a moment. Things are moving fast down there in Lynchburg. The public viewings and the memorial service have already been scheduled. For details, go to http://www.trbc.org which is the official website of the Thomas Road Baptist Church.

I'm all for letting this subject go too. However, a certain person who shall remain nameless, simply insists upon getting the last word in. Oh well, life goes on.

[Lady Star]

You are durn tooten " LIFE GOES ON " in spite of the fact that we have those who think of themselves as being THE DEATH ANGEL ANNOUNCER!

Thank You for what once again appears to be a sensable decision to show some semblance of respect in leaving the subject in God's Loving Hands.

I hope and Pray you stick to that, and please don't yield to your desire to see your post in print!!!!!!

Just keep whistling and let " Life go on "

Thank You!

[HeritageLt]

It may only be two sentences but I think it is proof that Jay Bakker has moved on and is full of grace. Check out what he wrote about Falwell at http://www.revolutionchurch.com/

[SM1961]

From his website..."Even though we disagreed with the majority of Jerry Falwells' message, we are called to love above all else. Please keep his family and loved ones in your prayers."

I know what Jamie is trying to say here but he can't really believe that he disagreed with the MAJORITY of Falwell's message. Maybe the MAJORITY of Falwell's message on homosexuality.
sm

[Rick4404]

Dr. Falwell's funeral was held yesterday afternoon at Thomas Road Baptist Church, with a private family interment service conducted following that. The one thing I am very glad about was that the mainstream media simply reported about Jerry Falwell's death and for the most part, that was pretty much it.

The media could have dug into the man's past and concentrated on what they considered to have been the negative aspects of his life, ministry, activism, etc. I'm glad they didn't do that. Perhaps its because the mainstream media at least had some respect for the man.

[Lady Star]

I Pray that we ( including you ) NOW, will very simply let him quietly Rest In Peace in the care of God.
I am sure that we all have seen, read and heard the specifics AND details and DO NOT need YOU to regurgitate or futher plagiarize what has already been published for the past week Ok???

Thanks for giving that your best consideration!!


Sincerely,