I always looked forward to seeing what Town had to say about this or that each time I logged in anew at TOL. I watched him grow in his confidence with matters of the faith from a time when he first joined and vexed me greatly as I tried to determine exactly where he stood on doctrinal points, to his most recent cogent and confident defense of his reason for believing and even tough topics like the Trinity. One could literally witness another's walk of faith strengthening and maturing day by day. It blessed me often.
Town is my friend and I miss his acerbic wit, penetrating dissection via clever mordancy of his unwitting interlocutor's foilbles, and his charity to all, even his aristarchs who sought to hold him up to ridicule. While it may appear to be obeisance on my part, nevertheless for me at least, TOL is a bit less scintillating without my friend's contributions. It is my prayer that I have not seen the last of him here and about.
While Town's return would be met with perverse glee by a minority who relish spending their time with calumny, I am confident the majority would welcome someone who can craft challenging and penetrating thoughts worth considering, even when we may disagree.
AMR
