Posted on 06/25/2005 8:37:08 PM PDT by CHARLITE
As his final American revival meeting continued Saturday, a fragile Billy Graham (search) was met onstage by former President Clinton, who honored the evangelist, calling him "a man I love."
Clinton spoke briefly before Graham's sermon and recalled how the man known as America's pastor had refused to preach before a segregated audience in Arkansas decades ago when that state was in a bitter fight over school desegregation.
"I was just a little boy and I'll never forget it," said Clinton, who was joined by his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (search). "I've loved him ever since. God bless you, friend."
Graham called the Clintons "wonderful friends" and "a great couple," quipping that the former president should become an evangelist and allow "his wife to run the country."
Graham, 86, then launched into a short sermon that was interupted by applause five times. Organizers estimated 80,000 people had come to the crusade at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens about 20,000 more than the opening night Friday. The rally ends Sunday.
The evangelist is suffering from fluid on the brain, prostate cancer and Parkinson's disease. He uses the walker due to a pelvic fracture and is largely confined to his home in Montreat, N.C. He had said previously that the rally "will be the last in America, I'm sure."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I would bet money that the Clintons very cleverly contacted the Crusade at the last minute, making it virtually impossible for anyone in the Graham camp to say 'no'. The Clintons are master craftsmen at this kind of stunt. Then add to this the fact that Billy is 86 years old and probably a little spacy and it unfolded just the way Bubba and Hildebeast wanted.
Question is: Why aren't the Republicans and Dubya this smart?
I agree that is what I wished he had said. But, we have to admit that people do get dementia and fame does not prevent the disease.
We need to broach what we do when dementia hits Supreme Court justices.
Try this link. ("Bloody Bill Clinton; American Caligula")
http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/article.asp?ID=14
Did Bill and Hillary get 'saved' tonight? Confessions? Tears or repentence?
When Billy Graham visited Rochester, NY in the late eighties, there were no photo ops for politicians. He didn't need to do that in NYC. In the past, the guests he invited on stage added a genuine Christian testimony. Somehow, I doubt he invited any of the bunch in NYC, but was too polite to turn them down. Pity.
Leave Larry Flynt out of this.
I lived in Arkansas when he was governor, and have a pretty good understanding of who he REALLY is. Jughead was lying through his teeth, some aid found that story when asked to do background research after the Clintons decided to call and get themselves invited.
Graham called the Clintons "wonderful friends" and "a great couple," quipping that the former president should become an evangelist and allow "his wife to run the country."
I'm certain that Graham was only trying to be nice and polite, to spread goodwill, and trying to reach out to the widest audience possible so as to spread the gospel. Thus I'm sure he thought that being nice to the Clintons, who many New Yorkers DO like and voted for, would aid in that cause. He's probably right. But at what point does politeness and kindness cross the line into enabling and excusing repeated patterns of sinful behavior? We can look at the bible and see that Jesus did throw the moneychangers out of the temple, and Paul wasn't afraid to talk straight with leaders. I can't see either allowing themselves to be used for a photo op. Jesus did dined with tax collectors and the woman at the well, hence I can uderstand Graham allowing them onstage, but he would have done much better to remember how Jesus ended his conversation at the well, "Go and sin no more." Wouldn't have to be done onstage, but effusive praise as if they weren't continuing in their sinful behaviors, words, and deeds seems to be the easy way out, and ultimately destructive. Remember how Solomon got too lost in the comforts of wealth, fame, and celebrity. Sure, render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's, and Jesus didn't come to establish an earthly kingdom, but I also don't recall reading where Jesus invited Herod in front of the crowd and then proclaimed "What a great friend to children" Herod was.
After Graham had finished speaking, did Bill or Hillary mutter, "Almost persuaded?"
Posting an image with profanity is probably not the best idea in a thread about Billy Graham's religious revival meeting.
.......now that you mention it, it's hilarious. It DOES look like Larry Flynt. I'll be darned!
Thanks for the laugh, RichInOC!
Char :)
Hmmm, some of this might make sense, if a herd of newly possessed pigs were seen running into the sea immediately before the event.
Rick Warren and his church band launching into the Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze at his stadium rally, or this?
Did that seriously happen?
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With Rick Warren, I would not be suprised.
Of course Schummer spoke
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What was that antiChristian smuck doing there? I wouldnt care if he was there. We all need Christ - but between that man, Biden and Hillary - every single thing Christians stand for would be ripped apart at the seems and we would begin to see the outright oppression of Christians in this nation. We already see that oppression in the selection process which he is part of.
They're really not getting away with it.
"waiting for lightening to strike"
I was hoping for it.
He said the same thing about witnessing all those burning churches .. except he was lying .. as usual.
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