Both men faced rows of loved ones still wrapped in grief after shocking tragedies.
Both men quoted the Psalms. Both concluded with visions of eternal life and heavenly reunions. Both referred to familiar songs that offered comfort.
Facing those gathered in Beckley, W.Va., to mourn the loss of 29 miners, President Barack Obama asked them to remember a rhythm and blues classic ”” “Lean on Me” ”” that had its roots in coal country life.
Songwriter Bill Withers wrote: “Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow. ”¦ Lean on me, when you’re not strong and I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on, for it won’t be long ”˜til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”
The Rev. Billy Graham was more daring at the 1995 prayer service for the 168 victims of the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The world’s most famous evangelist even quoted an explicitly Christian hymn.
Read it all.
Terry Mattingly–Sermons by Billy and Obama
Both men faced rows of loved ones still wrapped in grief after shocking tragedies.
Both men quoted the Psalms. Both concluded with visions of eternal life and heavenly reunions. Both referred to familiar songs that offered comfort.
Facing those gathered in Beckley, W.Va., to mourn the loss of 29 miners, President Barack Obama asked them to remember a rhythm and blues classic ”” “Lean on Me” ”” that had its roots in coal country life.
Songwriter Bill Withers wrote: “Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow. ”¦ Lean on me, when you’re not strong and I’ll be your friend. I’ll help you carry on, for it won’t be long ”˜til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”
The Rev. Billy Graham was more daring at the 1995 prayer service for the 168 victims of the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The world’s most famous evangelist even quoted an explicitly Christian hymn.
Read it all.