You can count me in the minority too, I guess. I didn't care for his oration (or his "God and Country" purpose), but the text of his gospel messages were great, and he clearly was a man of God.

Agree with you on the influence without spotlight thing too.

I saw this news this morning and my first thought was that it is a shame that Kennedy's death will not get a mention on the nightly news shows because of Pavarotti's death. Kind of reminds me of when Mother Teresa died in the wake of Princess Diana's death.

Like you, I didn't always agree with his methods, but he was steadfast and I'm sure he was greeted by the Lord with the much coveted, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I guess that puts two of us in the minority. However, no one can discount the great work he did for furthering the gospel--although I'm sure some will try.

This I know, we don't have to say "may he rest in peace." We know he's there already--and so are thousands others because of his life's work.

i was never a big fan of his communication style, but i have nothing but the deepest respect for this great man. he was faithful to scripture and, like spurgeon, his calvinism did nothing to dampen his great enthusiasm for evangelism. he worked long and hard at what he believed to be important in the advancement of christ's kingdom, maintained a godly life, and remained creative and committed right up to the end.

i once wrote to him. in my letter i mentioned that i had met him briefly after a commencement address he gave at covenant college in the 80's. i knew he'd never remember me and didn't expect him to in the least. he wrote back and said "of course i remember you young man," and then he recounted our conversation. i was blown away.

That's pretty cool, Damien. I know the chances are pretty slim that I'll still remember someone from a brief conversation a few years from now. Probably even as low as the odds that someone will write a letter to me.

I would add to this that during my time with Logos Research Systems, I worked a little with folks at the schools he started down there on the campus of his church, and I was always impressed with the way they were firmly focused on God and the Scriptures and teaching the good news; you wouldn't have known they worked (ultimately) for D. James Kennedy if you didn't already know that. It's sad to say (and was one of our frustrations), but that too often wasn't the case with institutions founded by Christian celebrities; too often, at such places, the Doxology begins "Glory be to the Founder" . . .

A very poor comment on a strong brother in the Lord. The time of his death is not the time to let us know about your personal issues with the man.

Sorry for the offense.

I thought it was worth mentioning in the context that I was praising him precisely not because I was a personal fan of his style, but because of his character and the life he lived.

But I understand your objection.

Re #7: that's a rather presumptuous statement, imho. "Personal issues with the man"? Huh? It was a very positive and complimentary comment which acknowledged along the way a minor disagreement; how does that merit your complaint? Or are you one of those who holds to "speak nothing but good of the dead"?