Mark Kennedy home with the Lord

[mukk_in]

Sorry to hear that Red. At least he's in a better place. My prayers for his family.

 

[brinny]

Thank you RLH. This is sooooo sad and jolting, even though he told us not that long ago in a thread he started about his diagnosis. He is sooooo missed. There's a gap here on CF, and in our hearts. Praying for his family, and his loved ones, and all who knew and loved Mark (and that includes many of us). (((hug)))

 

[Sanoy]

Mark was a stalwart defender of God’s Word, the doctrines of Grace and spent a lot of time posting about the Glory of God’s Creation.

He truly was unmatched on the net for both integrity and knowledge about creation. I have been trying to figure out the particulars of our origin for a long time and I have never seen his like on forums anywhere discussing these things. He is heroic in my eyes, what an incredible man he was and what an even more incredible man he has now become

 

[redleghunter]

He truly was unmatched on the net for both integrity and knowledge about creation. I have been trying to figure out the particulars of our origin for a long time and I have never seen his like on forums anywhere discussing these things. He is heroic in my eyes, what an incredible man he was and what an even more incredible man he has now become

He was passionate for the Gospel and for God's Word. He would hit libraries after work to study. Indeed he was a rare type on these chat sites.

 

[JM]

Bro. Mark often sent me messages telling me I encouraged him, but I don't believe he knew how much he encouraged me in the faith, or how often he encouraged others to remain faithful. Knowing Bro. Mark I believe he would be okay with me posting the following.

Hark! from the tombs a doleful sound;
My ears, attend the cry;
“Ye living men, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.

“Princes, this clay must be your bed,
In spite of all your towers;
The tall, the wise, the rev’rend head
Must lie as low as ours!”

Great God! is this our certain doom?
And are we still secure?
Still walking downward to our tomb,
And yet prepare no more?

Grant us the powers of quick’ning grace,
To fit our souls to fly,
Then, when we drop this dying flesh,
We’ll rise above the sky.
​

“My son, let tears fall down over the dead, and begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; and then cover his body according to the custom, and neglect not his burial.

Weep bitterly, and make great moan, and use lamentation, as he is worthy, and that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: and then comfort thyself for thy heaviness.

For of heaviness cometh death, and the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength. In affliction also sorrow remaineth: and the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.

Take no heaviness to heart: drive it away, and member the last end. Forget it not, for there is no turning again: thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself. Remember my judgment: for thine also shall be so; yesterday for me, and to day for thee. When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; and be comforted for him, when his Spirit is departed from him.”

Ecclesiasticus (Wisdom of Sirach) Chapter 38.16-23 Authorized King James Version

John Gill on 1 Th. 4.13, “the apostle’s view is not to encourage and establish a stoical apathy, a stupid indolence, and a brutal insensibility, which are contrary to the make of human nature, to the practice of the saints, and even of Christ and his apostles, and our apostle himself; but to forbid excessive and immoderate sorrow, and all the extravagant forms of it the Gentiles ran into; who having no notion of the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, had no hope of ever seeing their friends more,

but looked upon them as entirely lost,

as no longer in being,

and never more to be met with, seen, and enjoyed;

this drove them to extravagant actions, furious transports, and downright madness; as to throw off their clothes, pluck off their hair, tear their flesh, cut themselves, and make baldness between their eyes for the dead; see Deuteronomy 14:1 practices forbidden the Jews, and which very ill become Christians, that believe the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead:

the words are to be understood not of other Christians, who have no hope of the eternal welfare of their deceased friends; not but that the sorrow of those who have a good hope of the future Well being of their dear relatives, must and ought to be greatly different from that of others, who have no hope at all: it is observed by the Jews on those words in Genesis 23:2 and “Abraham came to mourn for Sarah”

“it is not said to weep for Sarah, but to mourn for her; “for such a woman as this, it is not fit to weep”, after her soul is joined in the bundle of life, but to mourn for her, and do her great honour at her funeral; though because it is not possible that a man should not weep for his dead, it is said at the end, “and to weep for her”:’

but here the words are to be understood of the other Gentiles that were in a state of nature and unregeneracy, who had no knowledge of the resurrection of the dead, or and hope of a future state, and of enjoying their friends in it: they are called οι λοιποι, “the rest”; and the Syriac version renders it, “other men”. (END QUOTE)

Grieve passionately for a time but keep in mind the hope we have in Christ.

Yours in the Lord,

jm

 

[St. Helens]

I am sorry to hear of his passing. He was a calm soul that made well thought out posts on this forum. He will be sorely missed here.

I agree about the avatar. It's classic.

 

[redleghunter]

Mark posted this on 11 August of this year:

What is Heaven Like.

Answer delivered brother.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Lord have mercy.

He will certainly be missed on CF. I admit it's a bit of a shock to me as I haven't been on much in the past 6-7 weeks.

I'm glad he was reconciled to his daughter. God is merciful. Prayers for him and his family, and especially for the daughter's sake.

 

[Chesterton]

He'll be missed on these forums.

 

[redleghunter]

I'm grieved to hear of his passing. He possessed a remarkable intellect and curiosity that was noticeable. May God rest his soul.

I know in a few messages exchanged we were getting deep into a theological issue. At the right moment in the discussion he expressed a very clear and childlike faith which just blew me away at times. The type of faith Jesus spoke of when the children came to Him.

I asked once how his church life was like. Given his struggles with working on weekends to make ends meet (at one point he came close to being homeless) and his previous health issues, he said he strived to get to church when not working. He shared that when he went he would take a pew in the back, not because he wanted to melt into the background and not be bothered. But because when he came to worship, he took his worship with him. He could hardly sing the words of the hymns, he recounted, as he would just think of God's Grace, Love and Mercy and just sit there with tears of joy of what is to come. Mark thought worship with fellow Christians was a small taste of what is to come.

 

[Job 33:6]

He was always very kind and carried himself in a peaceful manner. A great contributor to conversations here on these forums. May he be at peace with the Lord, forever.

 

[redleghunter]

I'm going to miss him too. And I'm with you on the avatar. LOL It was great.

Prayers for his family.

I remember on one of the origins threads he started posting a slew of data. Someone jokingly said "not the caveman again!"

 

[~Zao~]

View attachment 264068

Is that an Eaglenaut on his hand?

 

[Sam91]

So sad to hear this.

However, he's with the Lord and taken his residence in his real home. I thank the Lord that Mark is with Him, clothed in white, probably in awe at how much more Glorious is His presence than he could ever have imagined.

 

[friend of]

I asked once how his church life was like. Given his struggles with working on weekends to make ends meet (at one point he came close to being homeless) and his previous health issues, he said he strived to get to church when not working. He shared that when he went he would take a pew in the back, not because he wanted to melt into the background and not be bothered. But because when he came to worship, he took his worship with him. He could hardly sing the words of the hymns, he recounted, as he would just think of God's Grace, Love and Mercy and just sit there with tears of joy of what is to come. Mark thought worship with fellow Christians was a small taste of what is to come.

Thabks for sharing this. Made me smile. God bless that Mark Kennedy

 

[JCFantasy23]

Oh, no I didn't even know he was sick. How sad to hear - he will be missed. I am glad he is home with our Lord.

 

[JCFantasy23]

I am reading his thread now announcing his illness. I'm sorry I missed it

 

[Heavenhome]

It is sad for us as we will miss him but I am happy for him, he is finally HOME.
Praying for his daughter.

 

[FreeinChrist]

Sorry to hear this! Praying for his family.
He will be missed.

 

[brinny]

Is that an Eaglenaut on his hand?

It's a butterfly named "Ugg" i think.