Monday Morning Manna: Billy Graham and my Dad

Last week Billy Graham observed his 97th birthday. He and my Dad were the same age, both born in 1918, only a few weeks apart. Growing up, I had great respect for both men. Both were preachers worth imitating – although it was much easier to imitate my Dad’s Texan than it was for this east Texas boy to imitate a North Carolina accent. Both played semi-pro baseball, but yielded that career to the calling of God on their lives. Both married women described in Proverbs 31:10-31. Both fathered ministers. One preached to thousands, the other to hundreds, but neither preached according to certain modern sermon styles. Both dressed up in suit and tie to preach, believing it was better to honor God than imitate the congregation. Both believed when you said “the Bible says” you didn’t need an adjective to modify “Bible.” Both loved God’s people and wept over those who weren’t. One heard God say, “Well done, good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21); the other is within the sound of that heavenly announcement. A man like me couldn’t ask for better role models.

Dr. Dan Crawford, Senior Professor at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, is the WestCoast Baptist Association’s Spiritual Life & Leadership Mentor. Follow Dan on Twitter @DrDanRC and Facebook www.facebook.com/dan.crawford.