To The (We will miss you) Curtmudgeon

[lee_merrill]

That he might bring everything in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. (Eph 1:10)

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be for ever blessed.
Alleluia!

Oh, blest communion! fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia!
--WILLIAM W. HOW

In the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, the noble army of martyrs, the holy Church throughout all the world is one. Therefore year by year let us reverently commemorate their names, remembering what they were, but steadfastly gazing at what they are. Their very words are still ringing in our ears: of some the beloved image too is full before us. Let us live as they would bid us, could they still speak: let us fulfill their known behests, following in their steps, filling up the works that they began, carrying on their hallowed offices, now bequeathed to our care; let us be like them in deadness to sin, and unceasing homage to our unseen Lord. As we grow holier, we grow nearer to them; to be like them is to be with them; even now they are not far from us, we know not how nigh.
--HENRY EDWARD MANNING

(from Joy and Strength, by Mary Wilder Tileston)

[Teluog]

Oh, goodness. I just found out about this!

My goodness, what happened?!

http://www.theologyweb.com/campus/sh...d.php?t=133735

[Sparko]

Today at church me and the other communion servers had a prayer for Curt and his family. Also in my sunday school.

and during the service we were singing the song "Oh No, You Never Let Go" by Matt Redman and I teared up because it fit Curt and Dawn's family so well, how they remain strong through the tragedies they have faced recently.

Here are the lyrics:

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I’m caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won’t turn back
I know You are near
And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

Chorus:
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We’ll live to know You here on the earth

Chorus:

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

Chorus: (2x’s)

and here is the video from Matt Redman:

http://vodpod.com/watch/2245254-matt...u-never-let-go

[Raphael]

[Alien]

I see from his pictures he was a big man. I now learn from those that knew him well that that was true in more ways than height.

I exchanged a few posts with him once on the subject of James Joyce, from which I learned that he was a very erudite man. Other than that, I hardly knew him ... my loss, certainly.

My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Tony

[RumTumTugger]

to coincide with the memorial his friends and family are having in Florida I will be opening my pal talk room tonight at 7pm EST that will be 4PM PST. for those across the pond that will be midnight or there abouts I'm afraid.

it is under the christian rooms heading and called Just fellowshipping my name is the same as here RumTumTugger so if you see me buzz me and I'll invite then you can put it in your favorites

[Sparko]

Here is Curt and some of the Tweb Guys during our "Guy Time" at the theologyweb convention back in August.

Attachment 71108

[luv1another]

I was going through a few emails that curt and I exchanged during the time of my divorce and I really felt this piece of advice at the end would be something he would say to everyone here during this time not only to me during the difficult times I was going through.

"Take care, and keep your chin up! Remember, "All things -- all things -- work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."

[jpholding]

I'll post some narrative about the memorial service shortly....meanwhile here are jpgs of the order of service. As you can see, TWebber memories were on the list.

[jpholding]

Some narrative on the memorial....

Regrettably, Tampa rush hour traffic, and dark streets on Ehrlich Rd that made it hard to read address numbers, conspired to make the Holdings a little late. We walked in at the point of "Fond Remembrances."

This was something new for me -- people were invited to get up and share memories of their friendships with Curt. I decided to go ahead and raise my hand to come up. I talked about personal memories of visiting with Curt (the same things I mentioned on the other thread) and how well-regarded he was here at TWeb, and that everyone here would miss him. I mentioned how he composed his sig lines, his avatar selection (the Groucho Marx duck -- that drew some laughs), and how he piled in on the atheists with us in the Tekton section here.

Several folks who went up made gentle jokes about his height. I mentioned how when he decorated our Christmas tree with us, we saved the top for him. The pastor told a story of how someone was trying to fix a light in one of the meeting rooms, and had had to stand on a chair, but still couldn't fix it. Curt came over and told the man he'd take care of it, and he did -- just reached up and took care of it with no chair or anything.

It was also mentioned that Curt's mother left lights in her house unfixed until Curt could come by and fix them, since he could reach them easily.

There was a very touching testimony from a fellow who had done lawn and garden work for Curt. Apparently at a time when he was down on his luck, Curt took him into his home as a guest and let him stay with him until he got back on his feet. He closed his testimony with a simple, heartfelt phrase, in a broken voice, that encapsulated all of it perfectly: "I'll miss him."

There were also stories told of how people reacted when Curt showed up in a kilt. The one that sticks out told of how one lady bluntly asked him "What are wearing under that?" To which Curt replied with a straight face, "Nothin'."

The "Comfort from God's Word" part of the service was an exposition of Ps. 23 that the pastor said Curt was very fond of. He went through the Psalm and explained it, and also how Curt embodied its teachings. The pastor noted that his last prayer with Curt the Sunday before had been when Curt asked him to pray for an atheist he was witnessing to online, perhaps here somewhere, but he wasn't sure.

I may remember more later -- usually my memories of events like these are generally fragmentary and elusive. I'll close for now by noting some of the arrangements. The memorial was held in the church's sanctuary, which was one of those types with no pews, but rather loose chairs that could be arranged as needed. At the front was a table with some flowers (not sure if they were the ones from TWeb? the card was obscured), a picture of Curt in younger days (his hair and beard were still black), what I assume was his Bible, and two of his Irish berets. Mrs H and I went up to greet Dawn afterwards as well.

I may remember more later.

[Sparko]

Thanks JP!

[Michelle]

I really appreciate this, JP

[Cow Poke]

Super. Wish I were there.

[mossrose]

Thank you, jp.

[Bill the Cat]

Thank you so much JP.