November 7, 1918- February 21, 2018
When I turned on the TV this morning while making coffee and feeding our dogs, I heard the sad, but also celebratory news that Billy Graham has died at the age of 99.
As I listened to the Fox and Friends show, several people who knew Billy Graham for many years called in. There was much information that I knew about Graham, but I also learned some new information about him.
Billy was included on a list of “most admired people” over 60 times.
Graham, who had been in ill health for a number of years, was regularly listed in polls as one of the “Ten Most Admired Men in the World.”
He was non-partisan and had met and prayed with 12? ( I think) U.S. Presidents over the course of his lifetime. He was offered a cushy celebrity job and also encouraged to be a politician, but turned such offers down. Thus, he became one of the greatest evangelists in my lifetime.
His Christian crusades took him from the frenzy of Manhattan to isolated African villages and according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association website, he preached to more people in live audiences than anyone else in history.
Thank you, Billy Graham, for all the decades where you preached the truth of the Bible and how Jesus Christ saves us from our sins. Enter into the joy of the Lord!
Perhaps I can revisit this blog post later today. I’m sure that there will be many posts to share, celebrating his life and ministry that reached millions of individuals all across the world.
The BGEA put his lifetime audience at nearly 215 million people in more than 185 countries and territories, with “hundreds of millions more” viewing him on television, video, film and webcasts.
“My one purpose in life,” he said, “is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”
Billy often told the audiences at his revivals:
“God Loves You.”
He also quoted the following Scripture:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
Near the end of the F & F’s show on Fox, Brian Kilmede quipped:
“If he’s not in heaven, then we all are in trouble.”
In a way, that could be deemed a humorous comment. Knowing how, why, and what Billy Graham preached for his entire life – the truth of the Bible and the saving grace of knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior – saves those who have confessed and repented of their sins. There is no fear of condemnation. The promises of Jesus Christ tell us that we will enter into the joy of the Lord when we pass from this life into eternity.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
Tags: Billy Graham
Talk Wisdom 
February 21, 2018 at 7:05 pm |
I’ll just leave this here:
href=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/21/billy-graham-wrong-side-history
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February 21, 2018 at 7:22 pm |
The link doesn’t work.
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February 21, 2018 at 7:34 pm
You do know how to cut-and-paste, right? Have at it. Meanwhile, I’ll try to make it work
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February 22, 2018 at 10:05 am |
Okay, I’ll leave it here again.
BTW, you may inform L that I’ve done as she requested. I didn’t find anything in rereading the Bible that I hadn’t seen before, and I haven’t been told the secret code.
I’m still looking for the book she recommended. My local Barnes&Noble doesn’t have it. It may be out of print, but that’s never stopped me before. If it’s out there, I’ll find it.
If she wants to reply, she can. I’m not going away.
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February 27, 2018 at 9:04 am |
That article from The Guardian is all based on one man’s view of the world and how he negatively perceives Christian evangelicals; including Billy Graham.
Rev. Billy Graham was all about (mostly) saving people from eternal death through genuine and heartfelt confession and repentance of one’s sins at the foot of the Cross of Jesus Christ, belief in Him as the Son of God who came “to take away the sins of the world,” and the subsequent indwelling of the Holy Spirit of God to guide people in their lives – particularly when they study God’s Word – the Bible.
Billy Graham knew that he was also a sinner in need of the Savior. His mission was to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ – not to be (or consider himself) a “perfect person.” None of us are!
What Mr. Sutton did in that article was to try and tarnish Rev. Graham because of his (Sutton’s) own “convictions;” some of which are completely wrong because he is spiritually discerned from the truth.
This leads me to your comment and request(s) about L. When I speak with her, I will let her know about your comment and the book you are searching for.
In the same way that Mr. Sutton is spiritually discerned from the truth about Jesus Christ (Who is the Living Word of God), as well as the Bible (the Written Word of God); sadly, so are you.
A person’s “head knowledge” about these important issues is not the same as “heart knowledge.” You see, it takes a change of heart to be saved.
In the past, you objected to me posting a link to over 300 prophecies from the Old Testament that were fulfilled by Jesus Christ. In your “head knowledge,” you claimed that sharing that information was an ambush upon you and you were upset about it. You wanted me to reply in “your way” and manner. You mentioned that I should have just shared a few of the prophecies fulfilled. Why did you feel that way? The answer: you are not born again in Jesus Christ and thus you are spiritually discerned from the knowledge of the truth of God. How do I know this? Because I was there – and had done that – before I was born again in Christ.
Your “head knowledge” about the Bible and Jesus Christ needs to drop about 12 inches down and into your heart – spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally speaking.
~ Christine
P.S. An extreme (but true) example of “head knowledge” about the Bible vs. “heart knowledge” would be David Koresh. A recent documentary about him revealed that he had memorized both the Old and New Testament; however, he used such knowledge to mesmerize individuals and do evil through creating a cult where he did horrible things to his followers (including taking the wives of the married couples to bed).
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February 28, 2018 at 12:53 am
I objected because I wanted to know if you actually wanted me to respond to all 300+ prophecies. You refused to answer that, and you still haven’t. If all of the prophecies could have provided the truth you claim, then any one of them is just as good as any other one. You’ll also recall I told you I’d respond to them all if you agreed to read and publish them, each and every one, no matter how long it took. You never answered that, either.
Unlike you, I don’t drop a thread unexpectedly and run off to the next shiny object. The terms are simple; you do this, and I’ll do that. If I’m still writing counter-arguments five years from now, you should still publish them. I have to do all the heavy lifting; all you have to do is give it an audience.
You’ve got the words of the King of the Universe in your corner. Surely you don’t think I can successfully challenge them, do you? Let’s find out.
Yes, but Jones didn’t become that way from reading On the Origin of Species, now did he? No; he had Great Yahweh’s book, which he used to persuade hundreds of people to cut themselves adrift and leave California to live, and eventually die, in the jungles of Guyana. Where Jones became a divine despot whose word was law, just like the deity he claimed to represent. Whose book ends with tales of fire and sword and plagues and divinely-sent monsters in order to almost, but not quite, destroy humanity—the same humanity he is said to love.
And when people believe they are surrounded on all sides by those who are preparing to destroy them, well—suicide is a more graceful way to die, right? But we know that not everyone in Jonestown willingly drank the Kool-Aid™.
I’m not going to, either.
You and I both know Jim Jones was not the first, nor the only, transgressor to behave badly while invoking the name of god. But it’s interesting to note that all the others—the many, many Catholic priests, and charlatans and scammers such as Oliver Cromwell (who actually banned Christmas), G. Oral Roberts, Jim Bakker, Billy James Hargis, and these guys–all took their cues from the same book. You know—God’s Instruction Manual.
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February 28, 2018 at 7:16 am
The Bible discusses and warns about people like Jim Jones and David Koresh.
Mat 7:15
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Read the rest of the chapter HERE.
I had previously provided a link to the website where the 300+ prophecies could be found and read by anyone willing to see them. Here is a page that discusses The Prophecies Fulfilled by the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Excerpt from link:
Be sure to go to the second page at that link. That is where a conservative estimate of the odds of these Messianic prophecies being fulfilled without God are astronomical!
Excerpt from the page:
You can challenge them all that you want, GM. Facts are facts and no amount of objection, obfuscation, lying, or attempts at spinning the prophetic truth about them really matters.
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February 27, 2018 at 5:07 am |
Hello Christine! I sure hope Billy is in heaven. I suppose none of us know for sure who made it and who didn’t until it’s all over. I’ve always found a lot of Christians tend to put God “in a box” if you will not realizing that he really can do whatever he chooses. We’ll think to ourselves … “In his word he HAS to do this or that” when all along, it IS his word and I think he knows it better than us, surely better than our dear friend Mr. Pilot. LOL! It does sadden me that he thinks there’s a “secrete code” hidden somewhere. If he really thinks that, I recommend he continues searching within.
I pray you and your family are doing good. I like the picture for the link to ol’ Talk Wisdom.
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February 27, 2018 at 9:13 am |
Hi Steve!
Nice to see you comment here again!
Yes, we won’t know for certain who “made it to heaven” until we reach there ourselves. I’m sure we might be surprised who made it and who didn’t!
I know that Rev. Billy Graham did make some strange comments as he aged. But maybe that was a bit of dementia? Since genuinely being born again means that our past, present and future sins are forgiven, then I hope Billy will be there.
The charlatans stick out like sore thumbs to discerning believers, so they won’t be fooled by them. In my lifetime, I’ve seen “famous” preachers and pastors exposed in such ways.
Jesus warned us:
Mat 24:24
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Mar 13:22
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Thanks for the compliment on the new photo! That former one was when I was a lot younger! LOL!
We are doing well and hope the same for your family!
In Jesus,
Christine
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February 27, 2018 at 11:09 pm |
According to the Sacred Scrolls, it’s entirely up to the Big Guy to decide “who made it and who didn’t”. But I’m not especially concerned about that.
You may think to yourselves … “In his word he HAS to do this or that” but he only made the rules; what right do we have to expect that he’ll abide by them? “His ways are not our ways”, I have been told.
I prefer to think for myself rather than to myself, unlike the paladin.
What’s a ‘secrete code’? Do the answers slowly ooze out of the Big Guy’s…mouth? Does steve really think that? Or does he believe that Jesus is the locksmith who can provide me with the keys to the kingdom? Ah, so many questions, and never any coherent answers. HA!
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February 28, 2018 at 5:53 am
I think you’re coming around GM. Precisely, Jesus is the ‘key’ to the kingdom. As far as oozing answers … they are already there. I seem to recall the saying, “seek and ye shall find.” A little seeking could go a long way in obtaining coherent answers.
I hope you’re doing well GM. Always a pleasure ‘conversing’ with you.
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February 28, 2018 at 6:59 am
GM wrote:
Yes Steve, perhaps GM is coming around!
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February 27, 2018 at 9:39 am |
A quick note of warning to readers. I made the mistake of going back to the site link to read some of the comments there and the comments under Mr. Sutton’s article are very nasty! Several have even been deleted.
Jhn 15:18
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
Jhn 15:19
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Jhn 15:20
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
Jhn 15:21
“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
Jhn 15:22
“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Jhn 15:23
“He who hates Me hates My Father also.
Jhn 15:24
“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
Jhn 15:25
“But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’[fn]
Jhn 15:26
¶“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
Jhn 15:27
“And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Mat 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,[fn]
Mat 5:45
“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
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February 28, 2018 at 8:13 am |
But Billy Graham gets a free pass from you, even though you wrote:
The very same Christianity that influenced Graham also influenced Jones. But one is roundly condemned by you, while the other gets a halfhearted defense. Hmmm…
All you had to do was say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to my request, Christine. Instead, what you’ve done is weave and dodge around in a way that would make a linebacker envious.
I’ve already read the prophecies once, and I’m willing to do so again for this project. But if you’re not willing to commit, then why should I?
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February 28, 2018 at 8:39 am |
I don’t think that you are correct in your assumption that “the very same Christianity that influenced Graham also influenced Jones.” Both Jones and Koresh did things that ran against the truth in the Bible. They were never genuinely saved in the first place. Unfortunately, their “followers” weren’t aware of the deception they put forth and took Jones’ and Koresh’s “word for it.” Their followers believed the lies being told by these evil men because they were spiritually discerned (and most likely, not well versed in the proper hermeneutics) of Scripture.
We are told:
Rom 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Read the entire chapter for more clarity. Billy Graham preached the Gospel of Christ. If he had dementia as he aged and made some errors, such errors are covered by the grace of God through his belief in Jesus Christ. When true, genuine conversion to Christ happens, sins of the past, present and future are forgiven.
See the difference?
What is it that you want me to commit to? Proving to you that the prophecies are correct? The Bible has done this already so there is no need for me to do that. Either one believes the prophecies that have been fulfilled by Jesus Christ in the Bible, or one doesn’t. Arguing about them would be a waste of time.
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February 28, 2018 at 8:46 am |
I think you should learn the difference between ‘secret’ and ‘secrete’. A good dictionary would help.
As for the key to the kingdom…I’ve never liked gated communities. We are social beings; it’s not good to shut ourselves away from our fellow humans. It leads to an us-versus-them attitude, and that never turns out well.
Our hostess has voiced the belief that I am not ‘seeking’ anything, and has said so on more than one occasion. Since she apparently knows my own mind better than I do, it might be unwise of you to disagree with her. She has the mind of Christ, you know.
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February 28, 2018 at 9:10 am |
Hope Steve doesn’t mind if I “jump in here” regarding the term “secrete.” That word does have various meanings besides the one meaning that you perceived as an error – which may be the case.(according to Dictionary.com).
secrete
verb (used with object), secreted, secreting.
1.
to place out of sight; hide; conceal:
squirrels secreting nuts in a hollow tree trunk.
Origin Expand
1735-45; alteration of obsolete secret, v. use of secret
*******
Here’s a non-related meaning of the word for French origin:
se-crète
noun, Armor.
1.
a steel skullcap of the 17th century, worn under a soft hat.
*******
As far as your “seeking” goes, only you know the truth about that. This is a Christian-based blog. You once wrote something like, “I was a believer, but now I’m not” in your profile. That comment no longer appears on your gravatar page.
If that is truly the case with you, then what is your purpose for commenting here?
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February 28, 2018 at 9:33 am |
And who determined that? You?? Who made you the Big Guy?
Jones was still invoking the name of God almost up to the very hour he killed a US Congressman and induced his followers to suicide. The whole tail-end of the bible is about apocalyptic imagery, and holy vengeance—from which the only ways out are death or surrender. If he’d memorized the bible, he’d certainly have known that. But because Billy Graham never went quite that far, he gets a pass from you.
Tell it to the Jews. Christians argue it to them even more than to the “heathens”.
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February 28, 2018 at 9:56 am |
Well, you certainly claimed to know. What’s changed your mind?
It’s still true. I believe in a number of things, but gods are not among them. You should be happy that at least one non-Christian is here. If you’re only talking to people who already believe…well, there’s a colorful ten-letter word that describes such a gathering. You can’t change minds if you refuse to engage with them!
Because you challenged me to come here years ago, boasting “You’re probably gonna hate it”.
Because I feel I have an obligation to confront and correct errors…and lies. I’ve seen plenty of both on these pages.
Because you like having me here. If you didn’t, you’d have banned me long ago.
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March 2, 2018 at 8:47 am |
Whether or not I “like having you here” is irrelevant. Your posts often do give me the opportunity to share the biblical perspectives, replies, and answers to your perceived and so-called, “obligation” to confront and correct errors and lies.
Ultimately, readers here will have their own judgment on what you claim.
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March 2, 2018 at 9:52 am
So was whether or not I’d ‘hate it’ here, but that didn’t stop you from mentioning it.
You asked me what my purpose was for commenting here, and I gave you an answer. If you don’t want to hear a response, don’t ask the question.
I can live with that. But if I never comment (or if I’m not allowed to), readers can’t judge those claims.
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