[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 34 (Monday, February 26, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E216-E217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        HIS BOOK OF LOVE, IN MEMORY OF THE REVEREND BILLY GRAHAM

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 26, 2018

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and remembrance of a 
great American Hero, who touched and blessed so many lives. As an 
Ambassador of the Gospel he spread the word of our Lord and his Book of 
Love lifting people up. The Evangelist, The Reverend Billy Graham. I 
include in the Record this poem penned in his honor by Albert Carey 
Caswell.

                            His Book of Love

                       (By Albert Carey Caswell)

     His book of love
     A gift from above
     As was this
     To so uplift
     As God's kiss
     To touch all hearts
     As he did his part
     To help us walk with God
     With no facade
     Was Billy thou art
     To lighten our burdens
     To help open the curtain
     Which, separates us for certain
     To feel the presence of Jesus Christ, for all those hurting
     To give us hope and strength
     Reminding us of the power of faith,
     all in our short time with him spent
     Armed with his gift from God ever forth he went
     For the Reverend Billy Graham was such a man
     Grabbing hearts,
     as he took our hand
     A messenger from God in his life span
     With his Special Gift
     Which was all this
     To so uplift
     His book of love
     From above
     A humble man from the South
     A holy spirit who espoused
     The word of God,
     in his voice to all would shout
     With him we felt the presence of Jesus Christ,
     inside and out
     To Save us bringing us to tears no doubt
     No matter the denomination
     Or the color of one's skin,
     he fought against discrimination
     And hatred's abomination my friend
     As he walked with Dr. King
     As the Angels up in Heaven they'd sing
     We are all God's children in his equation
     He did not just talk the talk
     But, throughout his life he walked the walk
     For in the sonnets of our lives
     What have our moments comprised?
     All in our time realized
     And what have we left behind?
     Who have we Saved or helped in our time?
     Did we take or did we give?
     Because, it's all about how we've lived
     In our short lives
     To turn the good from bad,
     as Billy had
     To spread the word
     All in our actions and our deeds
     Which all else supersedes
     To give this world what she so needs
     In that battle as old as time
     Of GOOD versus EVIL which comes to mind
     For in our darkest hours,
     it's only our faith upon us which showers
     To strength and courage and hope to find the power
     To move forth all in that hour
     While, The Reverend Graham's faith above all so towered
     And yet he was such a humble man all throughout his hours
     So, strengthened by his beliefs,
     as onward this Christian Soldier battled to achieve
     A lifetime to Save souls and bring relief
     To walk with Jesus Christ, he'd speak
     With his shot heard around the world,
     to touch almost every woman and man, boy and girl
     As twelve Presidents counted on him so
     With his council of love, hope, faith, and peace to help them 
           grow
     As a Soldier in the Army of our Lord,
     the path he strode
     He was put on this earth to help us know
     The greatest blessings are found in our Lord's plans we sow
     For almost 100 years on earth he walked here
     Because, God knew we needed him far more down here
     For his was an open tent into everyone who went
     As we could fill the oceans up with the tears he brought us 
           to
     A great Crusader who with such passion God's word pursued
     Answering his calling,
     as you could almost hear the Lord saying, I love you
     As Billy asked us to take that walk of faith so true
     So, one day with our Lord we could live in Heaven's hue
     In Billy's presence,
     with God we were always knew
     The Holy Spirit
     So, all in him imbued
     As we could feel it coming through
     Whether, on a TV screen or listening to a radio,
     we felt the presence of the Holy Spirit so true
     Giving us strength
     Giving us hope
     Giving us the faith to somehow cope
     As with each new word Billy spoke
     The Bible, the word of the Lord he invoked
     And with it in hand and upon a pulpit he would stand
     As you could feel the fire and brimstone,
     but even more the Lord reaching out his hand
     Telling us you're not alone
     Touching every women, child, and man
     Showing us God's plan
     Of resurrection and forgiveness and hope
     As the love of Christ invoked
     As thoughts to our Lord and Heaven awoke
     To take that walk down the aisle,
     as in that moment we began to smile
     To be Saved,
     all in his reassuring southern style
     As his voice and presence conveyed,
     such warmth and hope each day
     So simple, so strong,
     giving hope to all hearts who so longed
     As he was an ambassador of the Lord,
     so mighty and so strong
     And yet so kind like a love song
     In sermons out to hearts on Sunday's poured
     The word of God to all restore
     As all across the land in cars to work and churches more
     On radios in hearts he forged
     Words of gold to souls as the tears began to pour
     I know, because I was one of those for sure
     With his book of love the Angels him must have him so adored
     And tears of love flowing from our Lord
     And Billy look at your beautiful family,
     surely the sum of what love can be
     Making our Lord up in Heaven happy even more
     All throughout the world Billy wherever you spoke
     In heart,
     the love of Jesus Christ you awoke
     We will miss you my son,
     and all that you have done
     On earth in that war which must be won
     But, your voice and words and memory lives on
     Rise
     Rise, now my son
     Up to Heaven's gate as you have come
     With our Lord's arms around you,
     his chosen one
     With tears in eyes perhaps these words he's begun
     ``Billy, you never let me down my blessed son''
     A new Angel in Kingdom Come
     To serve in The Army of our Lord this one
     To watch over us day and night America's son
     As happily a family reunites up in Heaven's Sun
     And now we lay your body down to rest
     We pray our Lord your soul to bless
     As you Billy were one of our very best
     Who touched so many lives and blessed
     Lifting them up with the gift of love to help them crest
     And let us remember,
     this man and his embers,
     he left behind to warm us in his time in His Book of Love,
     as we go out in our life's quests

[[Page E217]]

     Amen.

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