Posted on 06/26/2005 9:17:36 AM PDT by AZConcervative
As his final American revival meeting continued Saturday, a fragile Billy Graham 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. "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 interrupted 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."
Despite his many ailments, he spoke strongly for about 15 minutes, in an address meant to appeal to young people. He peppered his speech with pop-culture references from Madonna to Bono to MTV. He wove a parable about bad decision-making from the plot of "Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith," in which Anakin Skywalker becomes the villain Darth Vader.
"The decisions you make tonight will effect your whole future and your eternal future," he said, before inviting people forward to accept Christ.
Graham's son and successor, the Rev. Franklin Graham, sat nearby, ready to finish the speech in case his father could not. But Franklin Graham was needed only to help his father move onstage.
Seats began filling hours before the event began, as temperatures reached into the 90s. Speakers repeatedly encouraged people in the audience to drink water to avoid fainting. Graham waited to go on in an air-conditioned tent, with aides nearby in case of a medical emergency, and the stage was shaded by a massive canopy.
Graham's pulpit has a movable seat hidden from view, so he can sit if he feels unsteady. He used the seat Saturday only after he finished his sermon.
Graham is considering a request to hold a rally in November in London, but Franklin Graham said his father no longer adjusts well to time zone changes and does not like to be away from his wife, Ruth, who is also in ill health.
Graham has preached to more than 210 million people in 185 countries. He has been sought out by U.S. presidents and leaders worldwide and, more than any other religious figure, has come to represent the American evangelical movement.
Marie St. Louis, 34, who came to the event hours early Saturday with friends and family from her New York church, called the rally "bittersweet" because it was Graham's last in the United States.
"It's sad because he's such a legend," St. Louis said. "When you think of Billy Graham, you think of a lot of things a Christian
Here's how I think Graham voted:
1952, 1956: Ike
1960: Nixon
1964: LBJ
1968, 1972: Nixon
1976: Ford
1980: Carter
1984: Reagan
1988, 1992: Bush
1996: Clinton
2000,2004: Bush
2008: definitely will be HRC, even the
Bushes have given him the green light
I don't know if he voted Helms for senator, but Helms thought so.
" Then, Rev. Graham shows up with Bill Clinton, and essentially endorses Hillary for President in 2008.
I am stunned."
I chalk it up to Grahams frail age and quite frankly at his age he's not about to spit fire from the pulpit. He's paid his dues and am certain he wishes to collect his reward at the pearly gates. Know whatta I mean Vern?
Thanks for the correction and info. I appreciate it.
You are welcome!!
Franklin Graham doesn't strike me as someone who can be silenced. I forgot about him after 9/11 -- I was cheering his comments. Obviously his Dad and him are not on the same page.
That Graham would end his public ministry so appallingly, harmfully, and shamefully?
Or that all these FReepers would rally to defend and excuse him for doing so?
Reminder: Biblically, greater privilege/prominence = greater responsibility, not the reverse.
Wow, even a tampered picture is worth a thousand words.
The day will soon be here when young people in the USA will not understood this imaginary photo.
Most of us are not defending the Graham embrace of the Clintons. We just acknowledge the mutual need of all three to crave popularity and the good wishes of their fellow man. Graham may remember Jeremiah or Jonah, but he has already forgotten Jones and Broaddrick, I would imagine.
I agree with you; over the years Dr. Graham has vastly mellowed and SHORTENED his crusade messages. The contemporary music, I think, has been a detriment to his revivals. He should have stuck with the tried and true, including the soul-stirring old hymns.
However, I agree 100% that this was a tragic, and shameful, end to his public ministry. To say before the crusade that he would only focus on the Gospel good news message while shunning politics, and then to praise, pose, and preen with the likes of the Clintons is a disaster.
I imagine his son Franklin is very distressed over what has happened.
We must focus on the good that Billy has done. He has earned a place as one of the greatest evangelists in history--there is no doubt about that. It is just a crying shame he chose to end it this way.
No, I don't remember seeing it, but I did an "Ask Jeeves" search, and found the following:
203. Billy Graham Show (edit)
First aired: 9/24/1963
Writer:
Director:
Guest star: Billy Graham (Himself)
Season opener. Don, Jack and Dennis do the commercial as Peter, Paul and Mary. At Billy Graham's request, the skit is redone according to a new formula in which there are no insults to anyone, and everyone is quiet and sweet; Dennis reports that he went to UCLA over the summer. Billy Graham gives a short inspirational message.
The URL was so long, I couldn't copy and paste it, so had to copy the synopsis of the skit.
Here's a link to an old WND column with BG's quote about BC:
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14443
The pertinent quote, "I forgive him . . . because I know the frailty of human nature, and especially a strong, vigorous young man like he is. "He has such a tremendous personality that I think the ladies just go wild over him."
Very disappointing, especially combined with BG's new quotes supporting Hillary.
Thanks so much for finding that information on Graham and Benny. Notice that the program ran two months before the JFK assassination, when the nation was all happily liberal and before the liberal crackup.
...and something occurred to me that I haven't seen mentioned.
We have an actual sitting president, who gives every indication of being an actual born-again Christian, whose life adorns his profession, and who credits Billy Graham with pointing him to Christ.
Why not him?
Dan
I read that Rev. Graham told Katie Couric last week that he was a life-long Democrat, and remains one. How can America's most celebrated Christian preacher belong to the party of homosexual sodomy, abortion, and socialism? I don't have an answer to that.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.