Bill...I love you so, I always will

My sister and I first heard this song on Gilmore Girls and now we like to sing it to each other. However, today I am singing it in reference to Billy Graham. I have always known about Billy Graham growing up in church. I knew of him as a famous preacher..and that was about it.
But I have just finished reading "The Preacher and the Presidents Billy Graham in the White House" by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Duffy. And have found that he is so much more than that. He is the man who is believed to have spoken face-to-face to more people than anyone in history. That is amazing to me, especially considering this man was preaching God's word. In over 185 countries this man has reached hundreds of millions of people. However this book goes so much further into the humble, considerate, amazing man that is Billy Graham. I wish I could know this man.


Billy Graham befriended eleven Presidents in a row, the authors point out that nothing like this has ever been done by another man in history. These men were from all walks of life, Democrats and Republicans and he was able to become close personal friends with seven of our former Presidents. I am so amazed at how he was able to remain neutral on hot-button topics in an attempt to keep from being drawn into partisan politics. Had he been vocal on every issue coming and going he would have likely driven one party away and because he didn't he was able to reach that many more people. This book means more to me than any other I have read (with one exception). The importance of keeping politics out of church and not becoming so caught up in petty partisan debates. I have been so guilty in my past of taking such a strong stance on one topic or another and while I still may feel strong personally, it is not my job to try and persuade others. As the book said Billy was God's servant, not his lawyer. It is not our job as Christian's to argue whether gay marriage is right or whether or not abortion should be legal. It is our job to tell others about Jesus and stop getting hung up in all the political hoop-la.

This book made me laugh, cry, think, and I learned so much about my faith and about politics. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in either. I was able to learn more about the presidents that Billy ministered to and gave me a new respect for many of them, especially the Clinton's. My horizons have been broadened and even some of my opinions changed.

Jesus never fails.