It’s an oldie but goodie, and well worth recounting here…
Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.
"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?"
The driver said, "No problem. Have at it."
Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway. A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap. The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure.
The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving.
He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.
He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law... but I also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."
The supervisor asked, "Is it the governor?"
The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that."
The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the president."
The young trooper said, "No, he's even more important than that."
The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?"
The young trooper said, "I pretty sure it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"
I share this today in light of the news this week, as reported in a story on www.Newser.com about Billy Graham titled: “Sculpture of ‘America's Pastor’ Unveiled in DC: The Late Billy Graham Is Honored by His Home State of North Carolina at the US Capitol”.
According to the article…
A bronze sculpture of the late Rev. Billy Graham, the prolific evangelist also known as “America's Pastor,” was unveiled at the US Capitol on Thursday. Graham's likeness, depicting the minister with his archetypal gesture toward an open Bible in his hand, was revealed inside National Statuary Hall during a gathering of lawmakers and Graham's family, per the AP.
The 7-foot tall statue is one of two that North Carolina and each state get to place on display inside the hall or elsewhere in the Capitol to honor notables in their history. Graham was born in Charlotte.
Graham, who lived most of his adult life in the North Carolina mountain community of Montreat, died in 2018 at age 99. Graham was the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, preaching in person to nearly 215 million people worldwide, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. His last crusade meetings were held in New York in 2005.
An adviser of presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush, Graham influenced both the political and spiritual realm during his ministry career. As a symbol of that nexus, Graham's body was laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda after his death, marking just the fourth private citizen at that time to receive the distinction, the association said…
The Graham sculpture was created by Charlotte-based artist Chas Fagan and bronzed in the state. The base, also created from local granite, is inscribed with two verses from the Book of John that highlight Graham's evangelistic ministry.
Take note of the last sentence. Those two verses inscribed on the statue are both from the New Testament Gospel of John. The first one, from John chapter 3, verse 16 records these words of Jesus: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” And the second one, from John chapter 14, verse 6 records a further saying of Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Kudos to Billy Graham! To his credit, he remained faithful all of his life and ministry to proclaim the core tenets of the Christian Gospel. In doing so, he repeatedly avoided falling into the pitfalls of a multitude of lesser agendas. In other words, he always managed to keep the main thing the main thing!
I’m so glad that he did. After all, not every preacher does. I’m also glad that he has now gotten recognition for that. Again, not every preacher does – at least not in this world.
Still, the reward Billy Graham received in this world undoubtedly pales in comparison to the one he will receive in the world to come. The same holds true for a myriad of other preachers throughout history, especially those who never received even the slightest amount of worldly proclaim.
For my part, I was privileged to meet and shake hands with Billy Graham on one occasion – at the State of Georgia Governor’s prayer breakfast back in the early 1990s. (I did not wash hand for six months. Just kidding!) It was a brief encounter; and I doubt seriously that, had ever had the opportunity to meet again in this world, he would have even recognized me.
Still, while that was a memorable event for me, it will certainly pale in comparison to that day out there in the future when I will once again meet Billy Graham. For there, in that time and place, “we will know as we are known”. And recognition and affirmation in Heavenly halls will surely surpass any such in earthly halls – be they those of congress or of state houses or of any other place!
But when that day does come, I will be only be glad to meet Rev. Graham again insomuch that it will be a prelude to meeting the One Whom Billy Graham faithfully served and proclaimed – His personal Lord and Savior as well as my own, the Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ.
Being recognized by Him will be the greatest moment of mine, or of anyone else’s life – for all eternity!
JOKE SOURCE:
https://activerain.com/blogsview/29938/must-read-really-funny-story-about-billy-graham-and-his-chauffer.
NEWS STORY SOURCES:
https://www.newser.com/story/350448/billy-graham-sculpture-unveiled-at-us-capitol.html;
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2024/may/billy-graham-capitol-statue-congress-us-north-carolina-prea.html.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/esv/john/3.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-12.htm.
Billy Graham was returning to Charlotte after a speaking engagement and when his plane arrived there was a limousine there to transport him to his home. As he prepared to get into the limo, he stopped and spoke to the driver.
"You know" he said, "I am 87 years old and I have never driven a limousine. Would you mind if I drove it for a while?"
The driver said, "No problem. Have at it."
Billy gets into the driver's seat and they head off down the highway. A short distance away sat a rookie State Trooper operating his first speed trap. The long black limo went by him doing 70 in a 55 mph zone. The trooper pulled out and easily caught the limo and he got out of his patrol car to begin the procedure.
The young trooper walked up to the driver's door and when the glass was rolled down, he was surprised to see who was driving.
He immediately excused himself and went back to his car and called his supervisor.
He told the supervisor, "I know we are supposed to enforce the law... but I also know that important people are given certain courtesies. I need to know what I should do because I have stopped a very important person."
The supervisor asked, "Is it the governor?"
The young trooper said, "No, he's more important than that."
The supervisor said, "Oh, so it's the president."
The young trooper said, "No, he's even more important than that."
The supervisor finally asked, "Well then, who is it?"
The young trooper said, "I pretty sure it's Jesus, because he's got Billy Graham for a chauffeur!"
I share this today in light of the news this week, as reported in a story on www.Newser.com about Billy Graham titled: “Sculpture of ‘America's Pastor’ Unveiled in DC: The Late Billy Graham Is Honored by His Home State of North Carolina at the US Capitol”.
According to the article…
A bronze sculpture of the late Rev. Billy Graham, the prolific evangelist also known as “America's Pastor,” was unveiled at the US Capitol on Thursday. Graham's likeness, depicting the minister with his archetypal gesture toward an open Bible in his hand, was revealed inside National Statuary Hall during a gathering of lawmakers and Graham's family, per the AP.
The 7-foot tall statue is one of two that North Carolina and each state get to place on display inside the hall or elsewhere in the Capitol to honor notables in their history. Graham was born in Charlotte.
Graham, who lived most of his adult life in the North Carolina mountain community of Montreat, died in 2018 at age 99. Graham was the most widely heard Christian evangelist in history, preaching in person to nearly 215 million people worldwide, according to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. His last crusade meetings were held in New York in 2005.
An adviser of presidents from Dwight Eisenhower to George W. Bush, Graham influenced both the political and spiritual realm during his ministry career. As a symbol of that nexus, Graham's body was laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda after his death, marking just the fourth private citizen at that time to receive the distinction, the association said…
The Graham sculpture was created by Charlotte-based artist Chas Fagan and bronzed in the state. The base, also created from local granite, is inscribed with two verses from the Book of John that highlight Graham's evangelistic ministry.
Take note of the last sentence. Those two verses inscribed on the statue are both from the New Testament Gospel of John. The first one, from John chapter 3, verse 16 records these words of Jesus: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” And the second one, from John chapter 14, verse 6 records a further saying of Jesus: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Kudos to Billy Graham! To his credit, he remained faithful all of his life and ministry to proclaim the core tenets of the Christian Gospel. In doing so, he repeatedly avoided falling into the pitfalls of a multitude of lesser agendas. In other words, he always managed to keep the main thing the main thing!
I’m so glad that he did. After all, not every preacher does. I’m also glad that he has now gotten recognition for that. Again, not every preacher does – at least not in this world.
Still, the reward Billy Graham received in this world undoubtedly pales in comparison to the one he will receive in the world to come. The same holds true for a myriad of other preachers throughout history, especially those who never received even the slightest amount of worldly proclaim.
For my part, I was privileged to meet and shake hands with Billy Graham on one occasion – at the State of Georgia Governor’s prayer breakfast back in the early 1990s. (I did not wash hand for six months. Just kidding!) It was a brief encounter; and I doubt seriously that, had ever had the opportunity to meet again in this world, he would have even recognized me.
Still, while that was a memorable event for me, it will certainly pale in comparison to that day out there in the future when I will once again meet Billy Graham. For there, in that time and place, “we will know as we are known”. And recognition and affirmation in Heavenly halls will surely surpass any such in earthly halls – be they those of congress or of state houses or of any other place!
But when that day does come, I will be only be glad to meet Rev. Graham again insomuch that it will be a prelude to meeting the One Whom Billy Graham faithfully served and proclaimed – His personal Lord and Savior as well as my own, the Son of God Himself, Jesus Christ.
Being recognized by Him will be the greatest moment of mine, or of anyone else’s life – for all eternity!
JOKE SOURCE:
https://activerain.com/blogsview/29938/must-read-really-funny-story-about-billy-graham-and-his-chauffer.
NEWS STORY SOURCES:
https://www.newser.com/story/350448/billy-graham-sculpture-unveiled-at-us-capitol.html;
https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2024/may/billy-graham-capitol-statue-congress-us-north-carolina-prea.html.
SCRIPTURES:
https://biblehub.com/esv/john/3.htm;
https://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/13-12.htm.