“Billy: The Early Years” will be in theaters October 10, 2008. One interesting fact:According to Christianity Today, the part of the older Graham will be played by Billy’s first cousin, Bill Graham.
more about “GodTube.com – The Early Years of Bill…“, posted with vodpod
Posted by Alan Paul on July 5, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Check this out on Graham:
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/07/billy-graham-on-the-death-of-j.html
WHat do you think?
Posted by vernon chism on July 5, 2008 at 5:37 pm
very well done i thank billy graham would have approved it.vernon chism
Posted by Debbie Kaufman on July 5, 2008 at 6:20 pm
Alan: I was not a supporter of Jesse Helms for obvious reasons.
But, I think Billy Graham could look above and beyond those things and consider Jesse Helms a friend. A good friend. I respect that. Maybe, I could even learn from that.
Vernon: I agree. I want to see this movie. My father became a Christian watching Billy Graham in one of his crusades on television when I was in grade school.
Posted by Alan Paul on July 5, 2008 at 9:37 pm
some would say he was blind to what he didn’t want to see when he dealt with people in power… the one thing I appreciate about him is that he treated both sides of the political spectrum the same – well at least since he got caught up and burned by Nixon
Posted by Debbie Kaufman on July 5, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I would disagree that Billy Graham was blind to what he didn’t want to see. Billy Graham is a brilliant man, both as a thinker and a theologian. We can’t do as so many do and have guilt by association. Billy Graham’s first commitment was to the Gospel of Christ. It was what he preached, it was what he lived. He witnessed to as many people as he preached to.
He had friends in high places, but I think it was because he genuinely liked them, seeing things that you and I cannot see. I don’t see any wrong motives behind Dr. Graham’s associations. But that is just my opinion.
Posted by Alan Paul on July 6, 2008 at 12:52 am
I am sure you have heard his comments about the Jewish media establishment while he was with Nixon. Of course the press jumped on them, trying to sully Graham’s reputation, and of course, he apologized – I would like to think, for the right reasons and not just because the press busted him once they became public record – though cynicism keeps me from believing this totally. I would not pretend to judge the man based on one instance or even the small handfuls of instances that cast him in a negative light – mainly his instance on being the pastor to the presidents, but I would find it hard to defend his succumbing to Nixon’s bigotry and racist attitudes – especially considering he stood against the racists early in his career by refusing to never have segregated crusades ever again – consequences be damned. I guess that’s why he didn’t defend his actions, he just apologized.
Though I have defended Graham to some naysayers as perhaps the one evangelical leader above reproach – I have never lionized him as some have. He is a man whom God used mightily – simple as that – no more and no less. If there is anything to his credit, it was that he stayed on message – the message God tasked him to do his entire life – to preach the gospel and nothing more. Most of us would have just started with that task, seeing it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things.
BTW:I couldn’t pretend to see any wrong motives behind anything he did either – as you pointed out, we don’t know him at all.
Posted by Debbie Kaufman on July 6, 2008 at 6:00 am
I think that is the key with me Alan. He apologized with no explanation. He didn’t try to explain it away. He simply apologized. I’m not perfect even though I am born again. I am righteous however, and the reason I am righteous is because of what Christ has done for me on the Cross, it’s through His righteousness God sees me. I can’t ever forget that.
I haven’t agreed with Billy Graham on everything, not much of anything the last several years. It could be that he has gotten away from orthodoxy. But,I remember a powerful preacher, who led thousands of people all over the world to Christ, just through a simple sermon that God used powerfully. I also remember when he became older and had Parkinson, he would get up on a platform to preach, and suddenly he became the powerful preacher he was in his youth. That was supernaturally done in my opinion. God was working through him even then.
Posted by Rich Bryant on July 15, 2008 at 8:18 am
I love LINDSAY WAGNER..she will play Morrow in this movie…I say give her the oscar now
Posted by Debbie Kaufman on July 15, 2008 at 8:32 am
Hey Rick. I’m a Lindsay Wagner fan myself. I didn’t know she had a part in the movie. That’s just another reason to want to see it. Thanks for the information.
I admire Billy Graham who went through different stages of his ministry and publicly grew spiritually. I didn’t always agree with him, but I admired him. When he made mistakes, or saw something in scripture that changed his mind theologically, he wasn’t afraid to let it be known. He is a man of integrity who loved his wife, and even though she is gone, I’m sure still does. I’m anxious for the movie.