Good-bye, Bart

15 Responses to “Good-bye, Bart”

1. Marcie on August 15th, 2010 9:22 am

   We are sorry to hear of your great loss. We are praying for you and his family at this delicate time.

   Thank you for those encouraging reminders of how brief our time here on earth is.

   Blessings,
   Mrs. Marcie Pennington

2. dave on August 15th, 2010 12:03 pm

   Bart Phillips was such a blessing the lives of our whole family. He had the incredible gift of quickly pealing back all the layers and stuff of life to develop a meaningful relationship quickly. He lived, he loved, and by doing so he will be sorely missed. We love you Bart.

3. Julianne on August 15th, 2010 4:25 pm

   Bart Phillips was such an encouragement to me. He has been friends with my dad through Focus on the Family for years and I had the pleasure of meeting him and his family when I was a student at FFI in summer of 2007. He and his family were truly a living testimony of God’s love and faithfulness. I am praying for his family and the ministry in the time of great loss.

4. Betsy on August 15th, 2010 4:59 pm

   May the Lord comfort all who are touched by this loss.

5. Steve on August 15th, 2010 7:18 pm

   I was shocked when the Focus representative called me to advise me of Bart’s death. I have been blessed immensely over the last six years or so to have gotten to know Bart. He and his sweet family were so gracious to our daughter Julianne when she was at FFI in summer 2007. Bart loved the Lord, his wife and sweet boys and serving the Lord through his responsibilities at Focus. I will continue to pray for Suzi and the boys and sincerely look forward to seeing Bart again in heaven. I thank the Lord to have known Bart this side of eternity.

6. John Kolstad on August 16th, 2010 7:02 am

   Sorry to hear of your loss Del. Bart will be conversing with my uncle Laurence who also passed away on the 14th. Perhaps, the two of them are hanging out together, giddy as can be because they were told, “Well done good and faithful servant.”

7. Elizabeth on August 16th, 2010 4:54 pm

   I am so sorry for your loss! My heart goes out to Barts wife and children. I lost my husband and best friend 1yr and 8 months ago. He also lived his life for Christ and he was 43 yrs old. My children 10 and 7 at the time was devastated; even knowing their dad was in a perfect place. Hold tight dear sister, the road is long but God is there in the midst of this life change. Blessings~ Elizabeth Duvall
   [Elizabeth, I am so sorry. I can't imagine the grief and all that comes with losing a young husband who leaves a wife and children behind. May the Lord continue to give you strength and bring support to you from the body of Christ. dt]

8. Sheila on August 16th, 2010 6:35 pm

   Dear Dr. Tackett:

   As a teenager and into adulthood, and most especially in the last 7 months, I have experienced acute loss of friends and family. Many, like Bart, gone far too soon. Now, as a graduate of “Truth” and relishing in my own faith walk, I am coming to fully understand that our lost ones walk in “victory” ~ they are at the party, celebrating with our one True Almighty God! We’re left to ponder His plan, but resolute that it is perfect indeed. My husband and I will be praying for Bart’s family, his sweet wife and boys. May they always know that our God reigns! Blessings to you, Dr. T.!
   [Thank you Sheila. This, indeed, is the hope laid before us. dt]

9. Bob Estabroo on August 16th, 2010 8:50 pm

   Please let me know when and where the funeral is. I would like to attend. I worked with Bart and have never known a better man.

   Bob Estabrook
   602 228 5176
   [Thanks, Bob. I am still waiting to hear about the arrangements. dt]

10. Ta on August 18th, 2010 9:57 pm

    a friend of mine was back in town for Bart’s funeral today. i did not know Bart but just finished reading some of his blog and the one on “Live Like You Were Dying” was beautiful and I have a feeling he lived exactly the way he expressed his thoughts in the blog. take the time to read it if you haven’t. i will definitely pray for his family.

    [Thank you. I did read Bart's blog. I am also deeply sorry that I didn't get the notice about his funeral. dt]

11. Sam on August 19th, 2010 12:56 am

    Dr. Tackett,
    I’m very sorry to hear about your friend. I know he rests in the loving arms of Our Savior, and I’m sure he would be proud of you and the work you’re doing. May the Almighty Father — together with the Son and the Holy Ghost — keep you in all strength upon the unique path He has laid for you. May you continue to encourage people like me to do the same. (Believe me — your work was encouraging to me, both as a twenty-year-old disabled man and a Jewish Christian.)
    In the peace of Christ and the Holy One of Israel,
    – Sam

    [Sam, thank you for your kind and encouraging words. If there is any good that has come from my feeble efforts, the credit and glory all go to Him. dt]

12. Sam on August 19th, 2010 12:51 pm

    Dr. Tackett,
    Thanks for the encouragement. I just read Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken (a Welsh hymn, I think). I thought of your friend as I read the last three verses:

    Man may trouble and distress me,
    ‘Twill but drive me to Thy breast;
    Life with trials hard may press me,
    Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
    Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
    While Thy love is left to me;
    Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me
    Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

    Take, my soul, thy full salvation;
    Rise o’er sin and fear and care;
    Joy to find in every station,
    Something still to do or bear.
    Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
    What a Father’s smile is thine,
    What a Savior died to win thee;
    Child of heaven, shouldst thou repine?

    Haste, then, on from grace to glory,
    Armed by faith and winged by prayer;
    Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee,
    God’s own hand shall guide thee there.
    Soon shall close the earthly mission,
    Swift shall pass thy pilgrim days,
    Hope soon change to glad fruition,
    Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

    I’ll be adding your names to the votive book Sunday morning.
    To you all, peace.
    – Sam

    [Thks Sam..very much. dt]

13. Keith on August 30th, 2010 8:58 am

    All, I am new to the Truth Project having been on the periphery of it for some time now. After reading “Good Bye Bart” and these posts I feel compelled to say a few words myself. I am saddened by all of the loss that I am reading about. It is so heartwarming to see all of the wonderful memories of the loved ones lost at such young ages. I am 43 and had a heart attack in Sept ’09 so it will be a year ago in less than a month now. It has been a hard year, but a rewarding year. God has truly spoken to me inside with a fatherly voice of wisdom and vision. I believe he speaks to us on the inside and when we don’t listen he intervenes on the outside to get our attention. My advice to everyone that reads this is don’t waste one second of your time here in this world, live as He wants you to live, think as He wants you to think, and love like He wants you to love. If you haven’t done so already today, tell those you love that you love them. Let them know how you feel about them. It is a gift that truly keeps on giving. It may be awkward, but it is like money in the bank and it means so much to those that receive your love.

    [Keith, thanks for the testimony and the great reminder. None of us know the day or the hour. Sounds like the Lord has used a tough time in your life for great good. dt]

14. Terry on September 2nd, 2010 11:32 am

    The one thing I will remember about that night that The Lord called Bart home was the Legacy Bart left his boys! The heartfelt prayers those boys prayed as I just sat there, holding those boys on that night was amazing! Lisa, my kids and I still expect to see and hear Bart say “Howdy neighbor” from across the fence and back yard. But I look forward to that day when in heaven we will turn around and hear… “Howdy neighbor” again! We love you Bart and miss you!

    [Don't we all. Thank you, Terry. dt]

15. Angie on September 19th, 2010 3:30 am

    Thank you all for your sweet remarks about my baby brother Bart. I ran across this email while cleaning out my in box and it was a sweet remembrance to hear what you all had to say about how Bart had touched your lives. We all as a family miss him very much and although we don’t grieve as those who have no hope, we still grieve. thanks for your prayers. Remember that Bart would want you to “Live like you were dying”.

    [Angie, thank you for this testimony. I pray He continues to give you comfort through the very difficult moments. And, by the way, that is exactly what Bart would say! dt]

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