I was surprised to hear that Jerry Falwell was found dead in his office earlier this week.

Honestly, we didn't always see eye-to-eye. But I know he'll be missed by a good many right-thinking and right-leaning folk.

The television evangelist and pastor who founded the Moral Majority in 1979 and later became the very voice and face of the religious right was a good many things to a lot of people. And many still owe him.

It was Falwell who pushed Ronald Reagan and the first George Bush into the White House. He's the one who took his Bible to political rallies and is quoted as saying "If a man stands by this book, vote for him. If he doesn't, don't."

Good advice to this day, I'd say.

Falwell took a strong stand against many of the moral issues that still confront our nation. He stood against pornography, abortion, homosexuality, and stem cell research. He was also against rock music. Like I said, we didn't always see eye-to-eye.

But Falwell wasn't just against things he didn't like. He stood for some mighty fine things as well. He stood for voluntary prayer in the schools; for balanced governmental budgets; and for military strength. He was also strong on aid to Israel. Like I said …

In the 1980s, Falwell and his Moral Majority, with a stated mission to "reverse the politicization of immorality in our society," claimed 6.5 million members and raised $69 million for conservative politicians -- ushering in the Reagan years.

Falwell and the Moral Majority lost a lot of ground in the late 80s due to the shenanigans of two other televangelists -- Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker. He closed up the Moral Majority shop in 1989, saying his objectives had been achieved.

Later, Falwell found a whipping boy in the president from the Razorback State, accusing Bill Clinton of criminal activities and calling him an "ungodly liar." He also warned parents that Tinky Winky -- a purple, purse-carrying character on the TV show "Teletubbies" was a gay role model and morally damaging to children.

I wonder what he thought of television these days. Tinky Winky ain't got nothin' on some of the characters blazing across the airwaves today.

In the more recent past, Falwell had formed another group -- the Faith and Values Coalition -- to seek anti-abortion judges, a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, and more conservative elected officials.

He was a busy man. And those who appreciate Christian values spilling over into the political realm owe him and his kind a great debt.

His Liberty University, located in Lynchburg, Virginia, is a monument to conservative thought and theology as well as being a top-rated university. Falwell dreamed that Liberty would become grow to become for conservative Christians what Brigham Young is to Mormons and what Notre Dame is to Catholics.

For me, however, Falwell was most notable as a spokesperson for the scriptures. He plainly and unapologetically believed that the Bible is the "inerrant Word of God, and totally accurate in all respects." Preach it brother!

May he rest in peace.