tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post1664442945068785903..comments2024-03-10T10:54:59.776-07:00Comments on Ben Witherington: REQUIEM FOR MY FATHER--A LAST LETTERBen Witheringtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06017701050859255865noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-13090192905224838182009-02-15T01:43:00.000-08:002009-02-15T01:43:00.000-08:00I am so sorry for your loss and for your mother's ...I am so sorry for your loss and for your mother's and sister's as well. One of the sorrows of my surgery was that I was unable to come to this funeral. I love your mother and miss your father as well. As a loyal Tar Heel in the midst of Duke fans, your father was steadfast and true to UNC and its sports teams. Don and I loved him all the more for that. And Don told me about the music at the funeral. Ben, Sr. would have loved it and so would I. I'm sure he was smiling in Heaven to hear it. My best to you and your family.lsmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02146637901303311914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-47860423371973183722008-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:002008-12-02T11:12:00.000-08:00I'm sorry for your loss Ben. Blessings to you and ...I'm sorry for your loss Ben. <BR/><BR/>Blessings to you and yours.Brianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13684193162599695204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-19197061069695655242008-12-02T11:09:00.000-08:002008-12-02T11:09:00.000-08:00Peace be with you.Peace be with you.Anglopressyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09332182259616458504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-36286168353450693552008-12-02T11:06:00.000-08:002008-12-02T11:06:00.000-08:00So sorry to hear of your dad's death. After readi...So sorry to hear of your dad's death. After reading this and the eulogy, one can sense the appreciation, respect and bond of love you had with him.<BR/>My wife had her mother pass away recently (Oct. 26) and grief is never easy, but she too was a servant of the Lord. I did something after she passed from this world, I Googled that day in history and found out that when Oct. 26 falls on a Sunday, and it did this year, that's Mother-In-Law's Day. I know I'll have that day memorialized for the sake of her and my wife.<BR/>Who knows what you will find that may interest you, but it may also provide some comfort. God works in mysterious ways as they say. My sympathies are with you and may God bring you His Love in the next days and weeks to come. Blessings and grace to you and your family.Kevin Schriverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13984321606470112985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-45953735117386796402008-12-02T05:57:00.000-08:002008-12-02T05:57:00.000-08:00What a long and fulfilling life your father lived....What a long and fulfilling life your father lived. You are truly blessed to know that he is with the Lord. Reading your memories of your father reminds me of the importance of every second I share with my daughter. May God continue to grant peace and comfort to your family during this time.<BR/><BR/>God Bless,<BR/>Benkangaroodorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04172265279507643348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-46538756563424651292008-12-02T05:21:00.000-08:002008-12-02T05:21:00.000-08:00So sorry to hear of your dads home going. My praye...So sorry to hear of your dads home going. My prayers are with you and your family. I just stopped by to share a little recent stuff. I also appreciate your willingness to open your forum for guys like myself [the little guy!] felt this post was some what of a recognition of theologians like yourself. (953)Yesterday I managed to catch a few TV shows that were good. National geographic did a special called ‘the first Christians’. It was excellent. They covered more historic truth in one hour than you would get from years of sermons. They basically taught the New Testament word for ‘church’ [Ecclesia] and showed how because the early Christians did not believe the ‘church’ was a building, that therefore they spread rapidly without lots of money. They then covered the historic development of the ‘church building’ and the effect this had on them. They also got into the ‘end times’ scenarios that are played out over and over again by today’s prophecy teachers. They interviewed true theologians who put Johns Revelation in historical context. Just an excellent job overall. I also caught the show ‘Journey Home’ on E.W.T.N. [the Catholic channel]. I do like the show, it often gives good historical stuff. Last night they were a little ‘too Catholic’ [I know, what should I expect]. They had a good brother on who left ‘non-denominational Christianity’ and became Catholic. Now, most of these brothers are very intelligent believers who make this choice out of sincerity. They usually study the early church fathers and realize the ‘Catholic tone’ of these early believers. I simply felt the brother who spoke last night was a little too critical of his former church experience [Willow Creek]. I then caught Scott Hahn [an excellent Catholic scholar and apologist], he always has stuff that interests me. He brought up an argument I have heard before on how the early church saw the ‘real presence of Christ’ as being in the Eucharist. Others have made this argument before from the Catholic perspective of Jesus being with us, as opposed to the detractors arguments that he misled the early followers to think that he would soon return and set up a literal earthly kingdom. I have heard and do understand this reasoning. In essence it defends Jesus and his followers by saying ‘Jesus didn’t let down the early church by not returning and ‘being with them’ he was with them all along thru the Eucharist’ good intentions. I would prefer to argue the same point thru the fulfilling of the Fathers promise and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost. Jesus says in John’s gospel ‘I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you’ it is understood by most theologians [Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant] that Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit. Jesus actually refers to the Spirit as ‘One just like unto myself’. The new testament very Cleary speaks of the Holy Spirit as Gods presence tabernacling among us in a real way. So in my thinking I would prefer to argue the real presence of Christ as being among the early believers as fulfilled thru the Comforter. Overall it was a good night of viewing some good teachers. I also couldn't help but notice how I have been skipping over the ‘more popular’ preaching shows of the day. I did click on one of the prophecy guys, he was defending ‘the rapture’ and I couldn’t help but notice the difference between the good theological discussions from the earlier shows, and the ‘silliness’ of what this brother was teaching. I don’t want to demean you if you hold to the rapture theory, it was just such an obvious ‘step down’ from the level of theologian to the level of popular prophecy preaching. In our current study of Corinthians we just went thru the verse ‘though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you have only one father’ [Paul referring to himself]. I couldn’t help but get this sense of the modern seen. You could flip thru all the religious broadcasting of our day and get every possible conceivable viewpoint on some subject, ten thousand of them! But there is a consistent voice of truth and wisdom that comes to us from both scripture and church history/tradition. I think we would be better off sticking with ‘the father[s]’.Corpus Christi Outreach Ministrieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03164866291727500237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-81350606408257313092008-12-02T00:57:00.000-08:002008-12-02T00:57:00.000-08:00Dear Ben,My deepest condolences on the passing of ...Dear Ben,<BR/><BR/>My deepest condolences on the passing of your father. You wrote a very moving letter and I am sure that he is proud.<BR/>Blessings in your time of grief.Michael F. Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09713482855679578651noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-69718480527764395352008-12-01T23:18:00.000-08:002008-12-01T23:18:00.000-08:00My condolences. May the Lord bless you an keep you...My condolences. May the Lord bless you an keep you during these days of sorrow.Dizmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05104898595453797065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-18787629658492015062008-12-01T18:54:00.000-08:002008-12-01T18:54:00.000-08:00I am sorry you've been parted from your father for...I am sorry you've been parted from your father for a space but glad he is with his glorious Lord in Heaven. May God give you peace until you meet again.Pleonichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12334707630263609614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-44958212519362143532008-12-01T12:31:00.000-08:002008-12-01T12:31:00.000-08:00Ben, your tribute and memories of your dad brought...Ben, your tribute and memories of your dad brought tears to my eyes. As someone who lost their dad a few years ago (and it seems like only yesterday still), I am so glad that you were blessed by a close relationship with him, and that you shared so much with him. God bless you, brother, praying that God's vast peace and comfort is with you now. - JenniferJenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09491546665904690470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-20980187306066752152008-12-01T11:54:00.000-08:002008-12-01T11:54:00.000-08:00Dr. Ben It is difficult to loose your father even...Dr. Ben It is difficult to loose your father even when you know you will be reunited again on that day. My dad died 11 years ago and there are still times I want to talk with him. You and your entire family are in my prayers.edhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01614698770399225927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-56001585526400834102008-12-01T10:44:00.000-08:002008-12-01T10:44:00.000-08:00Ben:Our prayers are with you and your family.I sti...Ben:<BR/><BR/>Our prayers are with you and your family.<BR/><BR/>I still remember many years ago when I was a student at Duke and attending the WNC Annual Conference, you invited Carol and me to hear you preach at a church in Charlotte. Following worship we went to your parents' house for Sunday dinner, where they exhibited that gracious southern hospitality.<BR/><BR/>The memory of that day has remained with me over these years.<BR/><BR/>May God comfort you in these times.Allan R. Beverehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07903011101108437513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-52032152621900924962008-12-01T10:04:00.000-08:002008-12-01T10:04:00.000-08:00I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing. I t...I'm sorry to hear about your father's passing. I think your eulogy was beautiful and I am asking for God's compassion and comfort to cover you and your family from henceforth.<BR/><BR/>I'm also grateful that someday, you will be together again in heaven.<BR/><BR/>It's a surreal experience. In a sense, you walk with a limp for a long time. I'll keep you and your family in my prayers<BR/><BR/>When I dream about my dad, it comforts me and I consider it a gift from God. I pray the same gifts upon you.<BR/><BR/>MarcMarc Axelrodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04364703655694001236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-85103886370433535322008-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:002008-12-01T07:12:00.000-08:00Ben,Thanks for sharing your memories of your fathe...Ben,<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing your memories of your father.<BR/><BR/>You and yours will be in my thoughts and prayers.Matthew D. Montoninihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12955318969706745375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-71487794659931875892008-11-30T23:52:00.000-08:002008-11-30T23:52:00.000-08:00Dr Witherington,My condolences to you and your fam...Dr Witherington,<BR/>My condolences to you and your family during this time of grief. By grace God has given you a wonderful father, and by grace, God leads him home. <BR/><BR/>"T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...<BR/>and Grace will lead us home."<BR/><BR/>conradeConrade Yap, (Dr)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12256834680709396244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-81339424253944496102008-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:002008-11-30T22:29:00.000-08:00Thank you for sharing your father with us, here. ...Thank you for sharing your father with us, here. May the Lord be close to you, your mother and family. Praying for you this morning, as I read your blog.<BR/><BR/>Warmly, Jason ClarkJason Clarkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15265198788556213437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-84188033656690631302008-11-30T21:33:00.000-08:002008-11-30T21:33:00.000-08:00peace to you and your family at this time Ben.peace to you and your family at this time Ben.CPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07061614570571933329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-89433332579200808752008-11-30T21:28:00.000-08:002008-11-30T21:28:00.000-08:00I'm so sorry to hear that, Ben. May God grant you ...I'm so sorry to hear that, Ben. May God grant you peace until you see your dad again.DErifterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00812393033282381213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-59395555317535892342008-11-30T18:45:00.000-08:002008-11-30T18:45:00.000-08:00I'm so sorry about your father. My prayers and sy...I'm so sorry about your father. My prayers and sympathies to your family.himmiefanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270899946791612366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-78415092531110076412008-11-30T18:40:00.000-08:002008-11-30T18:40:00.000-08:00Thanks for sharing these very personal memories an...Thanks for sharing these very personal memories and reflections. You and your family are in my prayers.Jonathan Marlowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06204365581553282434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11840313.post-79290946345109263442008-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:002008-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00Very poignant. I’m sorry for your loss, but glad y...Very poignant. I’m sorry for your loss, but glad you had a long time with him.<BR/><BR/>Dave DarnoldDave Darnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01057156323665763379noreply@blogger.com