Wednesday, February 21, 2018

The enduring wit and warmth of Billy Graham

“America’s pastor” died Wednesday, just shy of 100.

A global chorus of tweets, posts, articles and remembrances recalling the remarkable life of the Rev. Billy Graham, a charismatic evangelist who grew up on dairy farm in Charlotte, North Carolina, are a testament to his profound international legacy.

Graham appeared on Gallup’s “Most Admired Man and Woman” poll a record 60 times, and he preached to an estimated 215 million people in 185 countries. He was arguably the most influential religious figure of the 20th century—the “most important evangelist since the Apostle Paul,” according to one Christian leader.

Graham’s laid-back, affable, down-home persona belied a sharp wit and wisdom, which charmed massive crowds around the world and overcame barriers of language and culture. Though Graham was ambivalent about fame, many presidents, rock stars, athletes and even royals sought his counsel. He built a global empire based upon gospel teachings.

Graham’s passionate preaching comforted, convicted, uplifted, unsettled and challenged millions for more than six decades. His sermons have been broadcast on TV since 1953.

Here are a handful of Graham’s most memorable quotes, as compiled by Crosswalk:

  • “I've read the last page of the Bible; it's all going to turn out all right.”
  • “It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict, God's job to judge and my job to love.”
  • “Suppose you could gain everything in the whole world and lost your soul. Was it worth it?”
  • “There is nothing wrong with men possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess men.”
  • “The only time my prayers are never answered is on the golf course.”
  • “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area in his life.”
  • “A real Christian is one who can give his pet parrot to the town gossip.”
  • “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.”
  • “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.”
  • “Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.”
  • “Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.”
  • “We say to our children, 'Act like grown-ups,' but Jesus said to the grown-ups, 'Be like children.'
  • "God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with."
  • “Quit beating yourself up. We all live under grace and do the best we can.”
  • “Tears shed for self are tears of weakness, but tears shed for others are a sign of strength.”
  • "Mountaintops are for views and inspiration, but fruit is grown in the valleys."
  • “They asked her (Ruth Graham, Billy’s wife) did she ever think about divorce and she said, ‘No, I’ve never thought of divorce in all these 35 years of marriage, but,’ she said, ‘I did think of murder a few times.’”

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