Billy Graham- America Salutes You

America has had its great share of renowned preachers, missionaries and evangelists but none can hold a candle to the Reverend Billy Graham. His influence is worldwide but for Americans his life and ministry have been both influential and a matter of pride. That is, we are proud of him, our native son, our pastor at large, our voice of hope in the turbulent and changing American landscape.

He has preached the message that is heralded by every believer across all denominational lines. That message is the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. One is bound to ponder, why if it is the same message that all our churches put forward, how has Billy Graham succeeded in its promulgation more than any of the churches? The answer is no secret. Graham stayed on course for over six decades; he stuck to the simple but profound message of the gospel. He did not swerve to take part in the new twists and emphasis that we all seem so hungry for, like the prosperity gospel, the dominion teachings, or any other new kid on the block kind of movement. His steadiness is not only his success but it is perhaps one of the greatest lessons America will ever be taught. From Hula Hoops to Elvis to hippies to cabbage patch dolls, beanie babies,MTV, and God knows what is next, Graham has held the course. Americans have a reputation throughout the world for their short attention spans. And we have earned it. But when we are in real trouble, facing attack or threats from without, we don't seek advice from the guy leisurely standing in the party with a dry martini in his hand. We always turn our ears to the steadiest voice we can find. Few Americans would disagree that Graham has been one of the voices.

Rick Warren wrote The Purpose Driven Life, but Graham gave us an up front example of it for over a half century. Joel Osteen gave us Your Best Life Now, as Graham showed us his best life continuously for a generation. Tim LaHaye warned us not to be Left Behind, while Graham gave us the details of the evacuation route year by year by year. Hal Lindsey gave us the Late Great Planet Earth, as Billy Graham preached of the doorway out of the coming calamities.

We have been blessed with Edwards, Whitefield and Billy Sunday just to name a few, but who will replace Billy Graham after he is gone? Sadly, at this moment in our history the answer is probably, no one. Even sadder is the thought that we may be left to the cotton candy gospel, the prosperity preachers and the pop Christianity proponents that now seem so woefully pervasive on the media. What is touted as Christian diversity provides only more confusion to the lost soul who is looking for a sure word of salvation. Perhaps the best prayer is now truly, God help us.

As this era of Grahams ministry comes to its inevitable close it may be hard to know what to expect next. Two things are known and must not be overlooked. One is that we can carry the lesson of Graham's persistence and steadiness on in our own lives. The other is that we must salute Billy Graham with the respect and honor due a true soldier of the cross.

Rev Bresciani is the leader of a non-denominational ministry in the New Orleans area. He has written many articles over the past thirty years in such periodicals as Guideposts and Catholic Digest. He is the author of two books available on Amazon.com, Alibris, Barnes and Noble and many other places. Rev Bresciani wrote, Hook Line and Sinker or What has Your Church Been Teaching You, published by PublishAmerica of Baltimore MD. He also wrote a book about to be released by Xulon Press entitled An American Prophet and His Message, Questions and Answers on the Second Coming of Christ. Rev Bresciani has his own site at, http://americanprophet.org

---

Jesus Our King: Priest Forever After The Order Of Melchizedek

Much confusion surrounds the person of one "Melchizedek" found in... Read More

Speaking of Speaking in Tongues

A young bible college student once wrote and told me... Read More

Jesus in Wales

The next few days were as hectic and exciting as... Read More

The Pope Hates Potter ? Both of Them

This month a court in Burlington, Kentucky issued the largest... Read More

Bible and Kabbalah: The Hardening of Pharoahs Heart

There is continuous creation, out of the new ideas discovered... Read More

The Kabbalah Kraze!

I remember hearing a minister years ago as he quoted... Read More

Denominations Gone Wild: What Happened To Unity?

The Bible teaches that Christians ought to practice a single... Read More

WARNING - Do Not Take The Mark Of The Beast

This article, on the mark of the beast, will be... Read More

Freedom of Religion

We were all taught in school that our forefathers left... Read More

The Basics of the Christian Walk

Now that I am saved, what do I do next?... Read More

Politics and Christianity

Revelation 20:1-20:10Politics and Christianity - there has been many an... Read More

The Face of Deceit

Jeremiah 14:14-14:14. What is Deceit? The intentional misleading or beguiling... Read More

String of Pearls -- A Call for Intercessors

My wife had a vision recently of a string of... Read More

Be Careful How You Live -- Ephesians 5:15-20

There is a sharp contrast in Ephesians between the "light"... Read More

God Will Forgive Your Sins

This was an article I did for a friend of... Read More

The Stilling Of the Storm: In My View

Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25.In my view, the significance... Read More

Rudraksha Beads - For Health, Wealth & Spirituality

The Tears of Lord Shiva that are Rudraksha, are the... Read More

Christian Unity according to Internet

Following are 30 questions that relate to Christian Unity that... Read More

A Comparison of ISLAM and CHRISTIANITY

Hi,(Salaam to You: Peace be Upon you) (What a great... Read More

Brief History of Jerusalem; Part 1

Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel.....it is the city... Read More

Churchless Christianity: A Move of God?

There's another "move of God" that's sweeping the nations. Have... Read More

The Rapture of the Church

The Rapture of the Church will be the most startling... Read More

Water Into Wine: The Meaning of Jesus First Miracle

The second chapter of John's Gospel offers a most interesting... Read More

Do We Really Need God?

The human being is endowed with ability. We have the... Read More

End Time Events and the 2nd Coming of Jesus

In part 1 of this series of end time articles,... Read More

Catholics Need To Take a Second Look at Morality

According to CNN, Catholics voted for President Bush over Senator... Read More

Belonging to Jesus Christ

In the name of Jesus, what shall we do in... Read More

7 Year Tribulation

As you will see in the Scripture verses listed below,... Read More

Slaves Songs and Freedom

It may seem trite and naïve to suggest we can... Read More

Undoing a Catholic and an Orthodox Christian Feud

There's an anecdote about twins still in their mother's womb.... Read More

Fruit-Bearing Christians

This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much... Read More

Josephs Life?a Series of Coincidences

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is the... Read More

Biblical Hermeneutics ? Part 2

Should we be tempted to believe that our system of... Read More