Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
an Anglican priest. I dismissed this expectation, being convinced that I would become an electrical engineer like my father. In my family system, there were no adult males that attended church. In 1965, my late mother had a spiritual encounter at a Billy Graham event at the Pacific National Exhibition. Fifty-two years later, my motherās family faithfulness has had a huge impact on my life. I am a more loving, forgiving person today, because of my motherās faithful example and prayers.
seriously. Henry Kissinger commented: āTo my surprise, I found myself not only impressed but deeply moved by how he touched some profound spiritual yearningā¦I have an immense regard for Billy Graham. He is a strong but humble man, with a generous and compassionate heart that is open to every human being of every religious faith and to those who profess to have none.ā[1] It is not easy to finish well as a high-profile public figure. Everything that they say and do is constantly scrutinized. They and their families are living in a public goldfish bowl.
personal access to every American president since Harry Truman in 1950. The opening sentence of Billyās autobiography is āIt was July 14th 1950, and I was about to make a fool of myself.ā[2] Unschooled in presidential protocol, the 31-year old Billy Graham innocently told the reporters the content of his conversation with the President. Truman was so offended that he dismissed Billy Graham as a counterfeit.[3] Later Billy Graham visited President Truman, apologizing profusely for his ignorance and naivete. āDonāt worry about itā, replied Truman, āI realize that you hadnāt been properly briefed.ā[4] Billy Graham vowed that such a mistake would never happen again if he was ever given access to a person of rank or influence.
have met both the Billy Graham family and the Billy Graham team. Are they perfect? No. Do they make mistakes? Yes. I do sense a family faithfulness, a willingness to humbly admit where they need to grow and learn. My thankful prayer regarding the March 3rd to 5th Greater Vancouver Festival of Hope is in thanksgiving for the tens of thousands who came to hear the Good News and the thousands who experienced rising faith for themselves.[1] Chicken Soup for the Soul: Billy Graham and Me (CSS, 2013), 203
[2] Billy Graham, Just As I Am (Harper & Collins Publishers, Toronto, Ontario, 1997), xix.
[3] Stephen Rankin, āConfessor-in-Chiefā, Christian History Institute, Issue 111, https://www.christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/confessor-in-chief/ (Accessed February 15th 2017)
[4] Graham, Just As I Am, xxiv.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Fatherās Day. I am so grateful that my father was here on earth for so long. When a person deeply admires their father, it is easy to feel that one can never fill their shoes. When I lost my voice for eighteen months in December 1980, I remember feeling that I must be disappointing my father. What I have discovered over the years is that my father has been one of my greatest supporters, and has never stopped cheering for me.
Recently I read the book Rebel with A Cause, which described the fascinating relationship between the late Billy Graham and his son Franklin. Ā Growing up is rarely easy, especially for those with highly successful, famous parents.Ā During his time of rebellion, Franklin learned that he could truly be himself rather than have to be another Billy Graham.Ā Franklin commented: āAlmost every child who has a famous parent struggles with finding his own way and wondering if he is being viewed as an individual, not just an extension of his father or mother.āĀ Finding out whom we really are takes time, self-reflection, and willingness to grow.
couldnāt do much to help themselves.ā The Graham family has a deep spirit of adventure which causes them to sometimes hang over the edge. Out of compassion for workers at a Jordanian medical clinic, Franklin and a companion drove a much needed land rover from England to Jordan, travelling thousands of often precarious miles through nine countries, including Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon. When international or North American tragedy strikes, Franklin through Samaritanās Purse is often one of the first to be there helping. The book tells gripping stories of risking life and limb as lives are helped in the tumultuous Middle East and in war-torn countries like Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. Through Samaritanās Purse, many doctors and nurses like Dr. Kent Brantley have served in places like Liberia during the Ebola epidemic, even sometimes contracting and surviving the virus themselves. Samaritanās Purse reminds us that the love of God and love of neighbour go together. Jesus not only shared good news with people. He also practically fed the poor and healed the sick. May we too on this Fatherās Day be people who love both God and neighbour.Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
[1] David C. Bentall, Leaving a Legacy (Castle Quay Books, Pickering, Ontario, 2012), 5.
[2] Bentall, 5. 71.
[3] Bentall, 143.
[4] Bentall, 134.
[5] Bentall, 76.
[6] Bentall, 124.
[7] Bentall, 142.
[8] Bentall, 125.
[9] Bentall, 147.
[10] Bentall, 190.
[11] Bentall, 133.
[12] Bentall, 137.
[13] Bentall, 136.
[14] Bentall, 145.
[15] Bentall, 163.
[16] Bentall, 59.
[17] Bentall, 240. āā¦most importantly, I want to offer the next generation mentoring and coaching.ā
[18] Bentall, 134, 334. āI have always wanted to be right, and I really donāt like being wrongā¦During the first 10 years of my career, I didnāt understand that love trumps being right. Blinded by my own self-righteousness, I was a strident advocate of doing things right. Unfortunately this created in me a very critical spirit.ā
[19] Bentall, 224.
[20] Bentall, 234. āA person of integrity is someone who is incorruptible and honest, someone who firmly adheres to a moral code.
[21] Bentall, 24.
[22] Bentall, 4.
[23] Bentall, 242. āIf we build a business, we may leave a legacy of industriousness. If we serve, we may leave a legacy of service. If we love, we can leave a legacy of love. Our legacy will not be created tomorrow; it is created by how we live today.ā
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
One time Jesus was so involved with helping people that he did not have time to eat. This so upset his family and friends that they decided that he must be out of his mind. In some cultures, skipping a family meal is almost unforgivable. Eating three square meals a day is on the same level for some families as following the Ten Commandments or the Golden Rule. Because there was such a large crowd, his mother and brothers could not even reach Jesus. You can imagine how their anxiety level would have been spiking.
nuclear family. Jesus dearly loved his nuclear family, but he had to remind them that even our family cannot come first in our lives. This is not an easy lesson to learn, because we love our families so dearly. Our prayer for those reading this article is that we may learn to celebrate the gift of family in a way that still allows us the freedom to say no, to set healthy boundaries.Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
One of the most delightful movies that crosses the Hispanic/Anglo divide is Bella. My wife and I recently borrowed Bella from the local library, after a good friend recommended we check it out. We were not disappointed with our ādate nightā movie. This stunning āonce in a lifetimeā movie left us both in tears. It left me with the conviction that Bella has the potential to do something beautiful in the world. Bella lights a candle in people’s heart.
produce a movie that showed the real face of Latinos. So often Hispanic people are portrayed in movies in less than flattering ways. We need more culturally sensitive movies like Bella. For Latino people, the kitchen is at the heart of the family.Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
Sandy Brown and her family have just moved to Spokane, Washington where her husband, Scott, is pastoring a new church. With a fresh start, Sandy is determined to devote more time to her four children. But, within weeks of settling in their new life, the Brown family is plunged into turmoil.
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