BILLY GRAHAM LA 91 DE ANI...DIN PROPRIILE LUI CUVINTE...

In timpul decadelor petrecute in slujba de evanghelist, Billy Graham a vorbit de multe ori despre subiecte diferite si a scris foarte multe carti. In onoare implinirii a 91 de ani iata citeva dintre cele mai selecte citate…

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On Life's Greatest Surprise (Despre cele mai mari surprize in viata…)

“What is the greatest surprise you have found about life?” a university student asked me several years ago. “The brevity of it,” I replied without hesitation. ... Time moves so quickly, and no matter who we are or what we have done, the time will come when our lives will be over. As Jesus said, “As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).

“Care este cel mai surprinzator lucru pe care l-ati descoperit despre viata?” a intrebat un student cu citiva ani in urma. “ Graba cu care trece viata” i-am raspuns fara sa ezit…Timpul trece asa de repede si nu conteaza cine sintem sau ce am facut in viata, vine timpul cind viata noastra se sfirseste. Asa cum a spus Domnul Isus :”Cit este ziua, trebuie sa lucrez lucrarile Celuice M-a trimis; vine noaptea ; cind nimeni nu mai poate sa lucreze.” (Ioan 9:4)
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On His Greatest Passion and Joy in Life (Despre Pasiunea Lui cea mai mare si bucuria vietii lor)

Greg Laurie relates this story in Breakfast with Jesus."We were all pleasantly surprised when Billy said his greatest joy came from talking to and hearing from Christ. In the hospital during an operation that year, he thought he was going to die. 'I came face to face with my own sins and the Glory of God!" he said."

Greg Laurie relateaza aceasta poveste in “Micul dejun cu Isus”. Noi am fost cu totii surprinsi in mod placut cind Billy ne-a spus ca cea mai mare bucurie a simtit-o vorbind cu Christos. La spital, in timpul unei operatii in acel an, el credea ca o sa moara…”am venit fata in fata cu propriile mele pacate si cu Gloria Lui Dumnezeu, a spus el.”
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On His Childhood (Despre copilaria lui…)

In my Depression-era growing-up years, I suppose we Grahams on our North Carolina dairy farm bore some resemblance to the fictional Walton family on television. It’s easy to feel nostalgic about simpler times, but they obviously were not easier times. Nor were they necessarily happier times.
What we did have back then was family solidarity. We really cared about each other, and we liked to do things together. Jesus’ word picture of a hen gathering her brood under her wing fits my mother. She saw to it that we gathered frequently and regularly—and not just around the dinner table or in front of the radio for favorite broadcasts. She gathered us around herself and my father to listen to Bible stories, to join in family prayers, and to share a sense of the presence of God.

In timpul Erei Marii Depresii, cind am copilarit eu, cred ca noi Grahamii cu ferma noastra de dairy (produse lactate) semanam un pic cu familia Walton din serialul de TV. Este usor sa devii nostalgic depre acele timpuri simple…dar, nu si timpuri usoare. Si nu exact au fost nici vremuri mai fericite. Ceea ce aveam insa pe vremea aia a fost solidaritatea familiei. Ne pasa la unii de altii si ne placea sa facem orice impreuna. Ilustratia Domnului Isus …a unei pasari care isi aduna puii sub aripile ei este o ilustratie perfecta pentru mama mea. Mama s-a ocupat ca noi sa ne intilnim frecvent si in mod regulat – nu numai in jurul mesei de seara sau in jurul aparatului de radio sa ascultam programul ei preferat. Ea ne-a adunat in jurul ei si al tatalui meu, sa ascultam povestirile Bibliei, sa participam la rugaciunile de familie, si sa impartasim impreuna prezenta Lui Dumnezeu.
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On Marriage (Despre casatorie)

Ruth and I don’t have a perfect marriage, but we have a great one. How can I say two things that seem so contradictory? In a perfect marriage, everything is always the finest and best imaginable; like a Greek statue, the proportions are exact and the finish is unblemished. Who knows any human beings like that? For a married couple to expect perfection in each other is unrealistic. We learned that even before we were married.
Being human, not one of us will ever have a relationship with another person that doesn’t have a wrinkle or a wart on it somewhere. The unblemished ideal exists only in “happily ever after” fairy tales. I think that there is some merit to a description I once read of a married couple as “happily incompatible.” Ruth likes to say, “If two people agree on everything, one of them is unnecessary.” The sooner we accept that as a fact of life, the better we will be able to adjust to each other and enjoy togetherness. “Happily incompatible” is a good adjustment.

Ruth si cu mine nu avem o casatorie perfecta, dar avem o casatorie buna. Cum pot sa spun doua lucruri care par aproape contradictorii? Intr-o casatorie perfecta, totul este totdeauna cum se poate imagina mai bine; ca si o statuie greaca, proportiile exacte si statuia slefuita la perfectie. Dar cine cunoaste vreo fiinta umana in starea asta de perfectiune? Ca un cuplu casatorit sa astepte perfectiune unul de la altul…este irealistic. Noi am invatat acest lucru chiar inainte de casatorie.
Fiind umani insa nici unul dintre noi nu putea sa aiba o relatie cu alta fiinta umana care sa nu aiba nici un rid sau un neg pe undeva. Acest ideal perfect exista numai in povesti. Cred ca o descriere pe care am citit-o odata are ceva merit…ea spunea ca un cuplu este “incompatibil dar fericit “. Lui Ruth ii place sa spuna ca “daca doi oameni agreeaza in orice, unul din ei este in plus.” Cu cit acceptam asta mai devreme ca un fapt al vietii, cu atit va fi mai usor sa ne adaptam unul cu altul si sa ne bucuram sa fim impreuna. ‘Fericiti si incompatibili” este o ajustare buna.
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On Parenting (despre a fii parinti)

Except in emergencies, we never let a day go by but we had Bible reading and prayer. As the children got older, we asked them to participate. When I was home, I went up to tuck them in and to pray with them. Sometimes Ruth would stay up till one or two o’clock if one of them wanted to talk. Some of the greatest conversations I’ve had with any of my children have been late at night.
The same principles and promises we applied to our children are still true for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We pray for each one each day and spend hours each week on the telephone with them.
Without question, the regrets are greatly outnumbered by the delights. The mistakes we did make were not fatal, and we both thank the Lord for that. And that bolsters our faith that He will do the same for the generations coming after us.

Cu exceptia cazurilor de urgenta, nu lasam o zi sa treaca fara sa citim din Biblie sau sa ne rugam. Cind copii au mai crescut, le-am cerut sa participe. Cind eram acasa, ii puneam pe rind la culcare si ma rugam cu ei. Citeodata Ruth statea treaza pina la ora 1 sau 2 noaptea daca ei aveau nevoie sa vorbeasca cu ea. Unele dintre cele mai bune conversatii pe care le-am avut cu copii mei au fost noaptea tirziu. Aceleasi principii si promisiuni pe care le-am practicat cu copii nostrii sint inca valabile pentru nepotii nostrii si stranepotii nostrii. Ne rugam pentru fiecare din ei zilnic si ne petrecem ore intregi la telefon in fiecare saptamina cu ei. Fara rezerve…momentele fericite sint mult mai multe decit regretele. Greselile pe care le-am facut nu au fost fatale si amindoi ii multumim Lui Dumnezeu pentru acest lucru. Si asta ne intareste credinta ca Dumnezeu va continua sa faca acelasi lucru pentru generatiile viitoare.

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On Aging (Despre imbatrinire)

Most of us, when we are young, think that we are never going to get old. I certainly admit feeling that way from time to time. ... I know my time on earth will not be over until He calls me home. I admit I don’t like the burdens of old age—the slow decline in energy, the physical annoyances, the pain of losing loved ones, the sadness of seeing friends decline. But old age can be a special time of life, and God has lessons to teach us through it.
Certainly, one lesson is to remind us of our responsibility to be diligent in our service for God right now. I may not be able to do everything I once did (nor does God expect me to), but I am called to be faithful to what I can do. Another lesson surely is to make us realize in a fuller way that this world is not our final home. If our hope truly is in Christ, we are pilgrims in this world, en route to our eternal home in Heaven.
Old age should make us look forward with joyous anticipation to eternity. The Apostle Paul put it this way: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal”

Cei mai multi dintre noi, cind am fost tineri am crezut ca nu vom imbatrinii niciodata. Si trebuie sa admit ca din cind in cind asa am crezut si eu….Stiu ca timpul meu pe pamint nu se termina pina El ma cheama acasa. Trebuie sa admit ca nu imi plac greutatile pe care le aduce virsta- felul cum scade incet energia, problemele fizice, durerea de a pierde pe cei iubiti, tristetea de a vedea cum prietenii isi pierd calitatea vietii. Dar virsta inaintata poate fi un timp special al vietii, si Dumnezeu are inca lectii care sa ne invete. In mod sigur, una dintre lectii este aceea care sa ne aminteasca de responsabilitatile ce le avem, sa fim diligenti in serviciul pe care-l facem pentru Domnul chiar acum. Poate nu pot sa fac tot ce puteam sa fac altadata (dar nici Dumnezeu nu asteapta asta de la mine) dar am fost chemat sa fiu credincios in lucrurile pe care le pot face. Alta lectie ar fi cea in care ne face sa realizam intro forma mai complecta ca lumea asta nu este casa noastra. Daca speranta noastra este cu adevarat in Christos, pe pamintul asta, sintem doar trecatori in drum spre eterna casa in Cer.
Virsta inaintata ar trebui sa ne faca sa ne uitam cu anticipare plina de bucurie pentru eternitate. Apostolul Pavel spune: “ Pentruca necazurile noastre de o clipa ne pregatesc o glorie eterna care intrece orice pricepere. Asa ca ne fixam privirea pe lucrurile nevazute nu pe cele vazute. Pentruca ceea ce vedem acum este temporar dar ceea ce nu vedem este etern.”
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On True Heroes: (Despre adevaratii eroi)

“I’ve become an old man now. And I’ve preached all over the world. And the older I get, the more I cling to that hope that I started with many years ago, and proclaimed it in many languages to many parts of the world.” – from Billy Graham’s address at the Episcopal National Cathedral on Sept. 14, 2001.

Am devenit acuma un om batrin. Si am predicat peste tot in lume. Si cu cit imbatrinesc cu atit ma leg tot mai mult de speranta de care m-am legat cu mult timp in urma si am proclamat in multe limbi in toate colturile lumii” – Billy Graham adresindu-se LA Episcopal National Cathedrak Sept 14, 2001.
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On His Own Success (despre propriul succes)

I have often said that the first thing I am going to do when I get to Heaven is to ask, “Why me, Lord? Why did You choose a farmboy from North Carolina to preach to so many people, to have such a wonderful Team of associates, and to have a part in what You were doing in the latter half of the twentieth century?”
I have thought about that question a great deal, but I know also that only God knows the answer. “Now we see but a poor reflection; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Am spus adesea ca primul lucru pe care am sa-l fac cind ma duc in cer , va fi sa intreb…”De ce Doamne? De ce ai ales un baiat de la o Ferma din North Carolina sa predice la atitia oameni, sa aiba un Grup de asociati atit de minunat, si sa fie partas la ceea ce Tu ai facut in a doua jumatate a secolului 20? M-am gindit mult la intrebarea asta, dar am stiut intotdeauna ca numai Dumnezeu poate sa-mi raspunda. “Acum vedem ca intr-o oglinda, in chip intunecos; dar atunci, vom vedea fata in fata. Acum cunosc in parte; dar atunci, voi cunoaste deplin, asa cum am fost si eu cunoscut pe deplin.” (1Corinteni 13:12)
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On Illness (despre boala)

Over the years, I’ve had a number of illnesses and surgeries … Often they came just as we were about to embark on a Crusade or other project, and I could not help but wonder whether Satan was using them to attack our work in some way (and I suspect that was true). At the same time, though, God used them to teach me patience and to give me time that I might otherwise not have taken to read and contemplate.

De-alungul anilor am avut citeva boli si citeva operatii….Adesea ele au venit chiar la momentul cind ma imbarcam pentru vreo Evanghelizare (Crusade) sau alt proiect, si n-am putut sa nu ma intreb daca nu cumva Satan nu se folosea de aceste lucruri sa ne atace lucrarea in vreun fel (si suspectez ca asta era adevarat). In acelasi timp, insa Dumnezeu le-a folosit sa ma invete rabdare si sa-mi ofere timp sa citesc si sa meditez, cind nu as fi avut timp sa fac aceste lucruri.
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On Parkinson’s Disease (despre boala Parkinson)

I know this will continue to cause me increasing difficulty. Someone asked me recently if I didn’t think God was unfair, allowing me to have Parkinson’s and other medical problems when I have tried to serve Him faithfully. I replied that I did not see it that way at all. Suffering is part of the human condition, and it comes to us all. The key is how we react to it, either turning away from God in anger and bitterness or growing closer to Him in trust and confidence.

Stiu ca boala asta va continua sa imi creeze dificultati din ce in ce mai mari. Cineva m-a intrebat recent, daca cred cumva ca Dumnezeu a fost nedrept cind mi-a dat sa sufar de boala asta si mi-a dat si alte probleme de sanatate cind toata viata mea m-am straduit sa-L servesc cu credinciosie. Le-am raspuns ca eu nu vad lucrurile in acelasi fel. Suferinta este parte din conditia umana si toti avem parte de ea. Secretul, cheia…este cum reactionam, ori ne intoarcem de la Dumnezeu plini de minie si amaraciune, ori ne apropiem mai mult de El cu incredere si confidenta.
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On Regrets (despre regrete)

Although I have much to be grateful for as I look back over my life, I also have many regrets. I have failed many times, and I would do many things differently. For one thing, I would speak less and study more, and I would spend more time with my family.
When I look back over the schedule I kept thirty or forty years ago, I am staggered by all the things we did and the engagements we kept. Sometimes we flitted from one part of the country to another, even from one continent to another, in the course of only a few days. Were all those engagements necessary? Was I as discerning as I might have been about which ones to take and which to turn down? I doubt it. Every day I was absent from my family is gone forever. Although much of that travel was necessary, some of it was not.
I would also spend more time in spiritual nurture, seeking to grow closer to God so I could become more like Christ. I would spend more time in prayer, not just for myself but for others. I would spend more time studying the Bible and meditating on its truth, not only for sermon preparation but to apply its message to my life. It is far too easy for someone in my position to read the Bible only with an eye on a future sermon, overlooking the message God has for me through its pages.
And I would give more attention to fellowship with other Christians, who could teach me and encourage me (and even rebuke me when necessary).
About one thing I have absolutely no regrets, however, and that is my commitment many years ago to accept God’s calling to serve Him as an evangelist of the Gospel of Christ.

Desi am multe lucruri pentru care sa fiu multumitor, cind ma uit inapoi in viata, am si unele regrete. Am cazut de multe ori si acum as face multe dintre lucrurile ce le-am facut, diferit. De inceput…as vorbii mai putin si as studia mai mult, si as petrece mai mult timp cu familia mea. Cind ma uit la programul pe care l-am avut acum 30 sau 40 de ani, ramin blocat de cite lucruri si cite angajamente am facut. Citeodata am fugit de la un capat al tarii la celalalt chiar si de pe un continent pe altul in timp de citeva zile. Oare au fost toate acele angajamente necesare? Am fost destul de intelept despre care angajamente trebuiau luate si care trebuiau respinse? Nu cred. Fiecare zi in care am lipsit din familia mea, este o zi care am pierdut-o pentru totdeauna. Desi multa din calatoria care am facut-o era necesara, o parte nu era . De asemenea mi-as petrece mai mult timp cu cele spirituale, cautind sa ma apropii mai mult de Dumnezeu si sa devin mai mult ca Christos. Mi-as petrece mai mult timp in rugaciune, nu numai pentru mine, dar rugindu-ma si pentru altii. Mi-as petrece mai mult timp studiind Biblia si meditind la Adevarurile ei nu numai ca sa ma pregatesc pentru predici dar sa aplic mesajul ei in viata mea. Este prea usor pentru cineva in pozitia mea sa citeasca Biblia doar cu un singur ochi cu gindul la viitoarea predica, fara sa iau pentru mine mesajul pe care Dumnezeu l-a pus in paginile citite. Si as da mai multa importanta partasiei pe care as avea-o cu alti credinciosi, care m-ar putea invata si incuraja (chiar sa-mi faca observatie la nevoie). Despre un lucru insa nu am absolut nici un regret, si acela este promisiunea facut cu multi ani in urma sa accept chemarea Lui Dumnezeu sa il servesc ca evanghelist.
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On Heaven (despre cer)

No, I don’t know the future, but I do know this: the best is yet to be! Heaven awaits us, and that will be far, far more glorious than anything we can ever imagine.
I know that soon my life will be over. I thank God for it, and for all He has given me in this life. But I look forward to Heaven. I look forward to the reunion with friends and loved ones who have gone on before. I look forward to Heaven’s freedom from sorrow and pain. I also look forward to serving God in ways we can’t begin to imagine, for the Bible makes it clear that Heaven is not a place of idleness.
And most of all, I look forward to seeing Christ and bowing before Him in praise and gratitude for all He has done for us, and for using me on this earth by His grace—just as I am.

Nu, nu cunosc viitorul, dar stiu atit: partea cea mai buna va veni! Ne asteapta cerul, si cerul va fi cu mult mai glorios decit ne-am putut vreodata inchipui. Stiu ca in curind viata mea se va termina. Ii multumesc Domnului pentru ea si pentru tot ce mi-a dat El in aceasta viata. Dar ma uit cu nerabdare catre cer. Ma pregatesc pentru reintilnirea cu prietenii si dragii mei care au plecat mai inainte. Sint nerabdator sa fiu eliberat de dureri si tristete. De asemenea sint nerabdator sa-L servesc pe Dumnezeu in feluri cum nu ne putem imagina pentruca Biblia spune clar ca cerul nu este un loc de plictiseala, unde nu faci nimic. Si mai mult decit atit, sint nerabdator sa-L intilnesc pe Domnul Isus si sa ma inchin in fata Lui in multumiri si laude pentru tot ce a facut pentru mine si pentruca prin harul Lui, am putut fi folosit chiar asa cum sint…