Lindsey Graham's full funeral service: See speeches from Trump, Republican colleagues

[1:40] I am resurrection and I am life, says the Lord. [1:44] Whoever has faith in me shall have life, even though he die. [1:49] And everyone who has life and has committed himself to me in faith shall not die forever. [1:58] As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives and that at the last he will stand upon the earth. [2:05] After my awaking, he will raise me up and in my body I shall see God. [2:11] I myself shall see and my eyes behold him. [2:16] Who is my friend and not a stranger. [2:20] For none of us has life in himself and none becomes his own master when he dies. [2:27] For if we have life, we are alive in the Lord. [2:30] And if we die, we die in the Lord. [2:34] So then whether we live or die, we are the Lord's possession. [2:41] Happy from now on are those who die in the Lord. [2:44] So it is, says the Spirit, for they rest from their labors. [2:49] Good morning and welcome to Washington National Cathedral. [4:11] My name is Randy Hollerith. [4:13] I'm the Dean of the Cathedral. [4:14] And on behalf of all of us who serve God in this place, please know that we are a house [4:20] of prayer for all people. [4:22] And you are always welcome here. [4:24] Today, we bid farewell to a man much beloved by many. [4:30] And I know it means a great deal to Senator Darlene Graham and to the entire Graham family [4:35] to have all of you here today. [4:39] Lindsey Graham was a man of faith, a longtime public servant who devoted his life to this [4:44] country and to his cherished South Carolina. [4:49] His untimely death leaves a void in both places. [4:53] And we gather this afternoon to honor his life and commend his soul to God in firm and abiding [5:00] faith that he now rests in the life hereafter. [5:04] Let us pray today that God's love and peace may abide with him this day and forevermore. [5:12] Now, would you join with me as we give praise to God and sing, How Great Thou Art. [5:18] Thank you very much. [11:57] Vice President Vance, members of the Cabinet, members of the House and Senate, distinguished [12:06] guests, Darlene and the entire Graham family. [12:13] We love you all. [12:15] Today, we gather in the deepest gratitude and profoundest sorrow to honor a beloved friend, [12:24] a devoted brother, a respected statesman, a giant of the United States Senate, and a true [12:32] American original who left us much too soon. [12:38] And that can only be the one and only Lindsey Graham. [12:44] By the strength of his steadfast convictions, the force of his magnetic personality and the [12:51] goodness of his noble soul, Lindsey rose from a small town in rural South Carolina, a place [12:59] he loved so much, to become a constant fixture of American politics at the highest level and [13:06] a force to be reckoned with all over the world. [13:10] For more than 30 years, nothing of consequence happened in this Capitol without Lindsey Graham [13:16] knowing about it. [13:18] Nothing of significance happened anywhere in the world without Lindsey Graham having a view [13:24] on it. [13:25] And no bill became law in the most exceptional republic in human history without Lindsey Graham [13:31] having a say in it. [13:34] He was a man who gave America the full measure of his good and mighty heart until that heart [13:42] itself just gave out. [13:45] But even though Lindsey's life was cut short while he was still so full of vim and vigor, [13:54] there can be no doubt that he lived absolutely to the fullest. [13:58] He died doing the work he was born to do. [14:01] He was truly a great politician, serving the country he loved to serve so deeply. [14:11] He went out at the peak of his career, the top of his game as a legend that every one of [14:17] us, many of us here today, blessed to know him and a friend that none of us will ever forget. [14:26] There was truly nobody like Lindsey Graham. [14:29] It was his hometown of Central South Carolina that Lindsey first learned the art of politics. [14:39] His parents ran a bar and pool hall on Main Street with a room in the back where the family [14:45] spent and had to do. [14:51] As Lindsey said, his father taught him the key to being a successful bar owner is that [14:56] you have to be funny enough that people will keep coming back and that you have to be tough [15:02] enough that you can stay in business and thrive. [15:06] A very difficult combination. [15:09] For his entire storied career, that's exactly who Lindsey Graham was. [15:13] He was the first person to make you laugh and one of the last people that you've really [15:20] ever wanted to fight. [15:23] These were the traits that made him into one of the great figures in Senate history. [15:28] Few like him. [15:29] As a boy, Lindsey also learned his first lessons in diplomacy when the wife of one regular patron [15:37] called the bar asking for her husband. [15:41] She demanded to know where is he. [15:43] The man instructed Lindsey, tell her I'm not here. [15:47] And young Lindsey nodded and said into the phone to the wife, he said to tell you that he's [15:54] not here. [15:55] That was Lindsey. [15:56] When Lindsey was just 20 years old, he lost his mom to cancer. [16:03] Fifteen months later, he lost his dad. [16:05] Their deaths left his 13-year-old sister, Darlene, an orphan. [16:11] But in God's mercy, she had her wonderful brother to take care of her. [16:16] On top of it all, Lindsey became her guardian while still in college and helped raise her. [16:21] He later said that for all his achievements, and he had many, his single proudest accomplishment [16:28] in life was how well Darlene turned out. [16:33] He had total respect and love for Darlene. [16:38] Nothing could be more fitting than that woman who was Lindsey's proudest legacy, now continues [16:45] his legacy of service in the U.S. Senate, a place that he cherished. [16:51] And I have no doubt that he's looking down today, beaming with pride at his sister, Senator [16:57] Darlene Graham. [17:00] Thank you, Senator. [17:01] Lindsey first stormed into Washington with the Republican Revolution of 1994, becoming [17:09] the first Republican to win his House District in 120 years. [17:14] That was Lindsey. [17:16] In 2002, he ran for the Senate in what should have been a loss, and he swept to an easy victory. [17:26] Lindsey quickly became a master at maneuvering in one of the world's great legislative bodies. [17:33] He secured record funding for our military as a budget committee chairman. [17:38] He delivered the largest investment in border security in history, and last year, he shepherded [17:43] the passage of the largest tax cuts in American history, the great, big, beautiful bill. [17:49] And a lot of Lindsey goodies in there, too, I can tell you. [17:56] And of course, he was also a great champion of the United States Supreme Court. [18:01] His impassioned defense of a wonderful person, a great gentleman, Justice Kavanaugh, ended a [18:09] disgraceful attack on this very good man and gave us one of the greatest moments the Senate [18:16] Senate has ever seen. [18:17] It was a truly monumental moment in Senate history. [18:23] I believe it was Lindsey's perhaps finest hour. [18:28] But no matter how heated things got in Washington, virtually everyone, Republican or Democrat, liked [18:34] Lindsey. [18:36] Well, not everybody, but it sounds good. [18:39] Not everybody. [18:40] He was a tough cookie. [18:42] Okay, I have to be. [18:42] I have to veer from this first. [18:44] He said he was a tough cookie, darling, but he was beautiful, but he was also ready with [18:50] a joke and a gleam in his eye after being lectured on the excruciating details of patent [18:57] law by a fellow senator during a flight. [19:02] Lindsey declared that he had discovered a new form of enhanced interrogation and torture [19:08] for the Guantanamo Bay area. [19:13] He said this is really bad stuff and boring. [19:16] And while he was an incredibly hard worker, he was not exactly an early riser, as many [19:23] of you know. [19:24] When Senator Tim Scott, a great gentleman in his own right, I can tell you, invited him [19:31] to prayer breakfast at 8.30 a.m., Lindsey told him, Tim, if Jesus himself comes back before [19:38] 10 a.m., I ain't going. [19:42] Yet, while he was always quick to laugh and no one ever doubted the gravity of his mission, [19:48] above all, Lindsey Graham believed in a strong America. [19:52] He wanted a strong America. [19:54] He had unwavering faith in the righteousness of American power and prayer, and he was extremely [20:03] hawkish. [20:04] I will tell you, he never saw a war that he didn't like. [20:07] Only his true friends would understand that, but he wanted it for the good of our country. [20:12] He felt in his bones that our destiny is to win, and that his job was to do everything [20:17] he could to ensure our enemies would lose. [20:21] It was this conviction that led him to serve 33 years in uniform in the Air Force and Air [20:29] Force Reserves and Air National Guard, even while he was in office. [20:35] And it was this conviction that took him, as a senator, to almost every country on Earth, [20:39] confronting America's adversaries and standing up for America's friends. [20:44] He had tremendous friendships all over the world. [20:48] It's a testament to his towering impact that among those mourning him here today are leaders, [20:54] presidents, prime ministers from all over the globe sitting right here before you. [21:00] Lindsey met countless world leaders, yet wherever he went, he was always the same Lindsey Graham. [21:08] When he met Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in a tent in the desert, he told him, I expected [21:15] something out of the Arabian Nights. [21:17] This looks more like a Winnebago. [21:20] That was not a good statement to make at the time. [21:22] And when he met the Dalai Lama, Lindsey looked him straight in the eyes and said, so, can you [21:30] really levitate? [21:32] The Dalai Lama was not happy with that. [21:36] No matter how high he rose, he never forgot where he came from. [21:41] There's probably not a single town in South Carolina where Lindsey did not help repair [21:46] a bridge, expand a school, improve a hospital, or recover from a disaster. [21:52] He was a force of nature, and I will miss him greatly. [21:57] As you remember, Lindsey and I did not exactly get off to the best of starts, running against [22:04] each other. [22:05] Back in 2016, Lindsey said something rather nasty on his flight to becoming the next president [22:13] of the United States. [22:16] So naturally, I did something that I shouldn't have done. [22:19] I shared his personal cell phone number with the millions of people that happened to be [22:24] watching that particular day as I made a speech, a very important speech, and I remember [22:29] the number 202-228-0292 if anybody wants to give it a shot. [22:36] His phone exploded. [22:38] He said, I had that number for 20 years. [22:40] His phone totally, I don't know what he did with it, but it exploded. [22:44] That was the beginning of a friendship in a way. [22:48] But it was Lindsey who had the last laugh because while I blew up his phone all for one day, [22:55] we became great friends, and Lindsey did not stop calling me for the next 10 years. [22:59] It was not easy. [23:02] I always cherish the memories of our golf games, and only because of his really, and I will [23:10] say this memorial service, it's so hard to say, a memorial service for Lindsey, it's [23:14] hard to say. [23:16] But I'll admit that one time Lindsey Graham and Annika Sorensen actually beat me and Gary [23:23] Player together. [23:24] Can you believe that? [23:25] Annika played very well that day, actually. [23:30] But right to the end, Lindsey carried in his golf bag the putter that once belonged to [23:34] his dad. [23:36] And he carried it with him with glass and with a ring that was so beautiful, of his mother. [23:43] And they were laying right at his bedside the night he died. [23:47] They were there. [23:48] He had them with him at all times. [23:51] From that pool hall where his parents raised him to the halls of the United States Senate, [23:56] where he was respected and loved. [23:59] The son of South Carolina became one of the most important men in the most important country [24:04] on Earth. [24:06] In a city where politicians often become jaded and cynical, Lindsey Graham never lost the [24:12] old-fashioned American idealism that brought him to the highest levels of government and [24:19] life. [24:21] He took his duty seriously without taking himself too seriously. [24:25] He was unwavering in his principles, but always willing to listen. [24:28] He always wanted to listen. [24:31] And one thing about Lindsey that we all know, he never quit. [24:36] You wanted him to quit. [24:37] You waited for him to quit. [24:39] But he would never quit. [24:41] Above all, Lindsey Graham loved America and he believed in the American people. [24:46] If you shared that view, you had a friend in Lindsey. [24:49] If you didn't share it, there was no fiercer or more constant opponent. [24:55] Our nation needs more men and women like that great person sitting, laying, wherever he [25:05] may be. [25:06] I think I know where he is, and I think he's up there. [25:08] I think he's watching us. [25:09] I'm pretty sure of it. [25:12] Scripture tells us that blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when [25:20] he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life. [25:26] For 71 years, Lindsey Graham was strong and steadfast. [25:30] As a brother, a senator, a warrior and a patriot, he withstood every last test, every single test [25:38] that you can go through and every trial. [25:41] And now he wears the crown of life in heaven, reunited with his parents and reunited with [25:48] his Lord. [25:51] I end by saying something very, very special. [25:55] Lindsey, we love you. [25:57] God bless you. [25:58] We will always be with you. [26:01] And you were very, very special. [26:03] Thank you. [26:04] Thank you very much. [30:33] Thank you very much for being here on behalf of Lindsey, Darlene, and his family that loved [30:40] him so much. [30:42] You know, many of you know that I speak for a living, and President Trump often reminds [30:49] me that I kind of never stop talking, whether on air or off air. [30:55] And while it is an honor to be standing in this place today, I simply wish that our dear [31:02] friend Lindsey were here with us, as all of you do. [31:07] He would have been so proud, he would have been so honored, Mr. President, that you were [31:11] here, Mr. Vice President, that you were here. [31:14] I see the Secretary of State is here, and I see the entire Cabinet is here. [31:19] Thank you, all of you, each and every one of you. [31:21] Chief of Staff is here, Steve Whitcoff is here, I see everybody. [31:26] We are here to say goodbye, as the President said, to a true original. [31:32] There was nobody like Lindsey Graham, nobody. [31:36] He loved being a U.S. Senator. [31:38] He loved representing the great state of South Carolina. [31:42] He worked harder. [31:44] He traveled more than any senator I ever knew. [31:47] I couldn't believe his travel schedule. [31:50] And he was just a force of nature in a good way, for good reasons. [31:56] Nobody visited more war zones. [31:59] Nobody met with more active duty troops. [32:02] Nobody loved, with the exception perhaps of our President, our military more. [32:07] And that included the decades of service that he served himself, both on active duty and [32:13] in the reserves. [32:15] To our nation's warriors, I have a message to you today. [32:19] He was so, so grateful to all of you for putting your lives on the line for your country. [32:26] Nobody admired you more. [32:28] Now, I want to say for the record, Lindsey and I did not always agree, not on everything. [32:34] But we could disagree and we could remain friends, and we've remained friends for decades. [32:41] We had similar backgrounds. [32:43] This may shock some of you. [32:44] We both, in different ways, we both grew up in a bar. [32:49] You know, I started working at 12, washing dishes till 2, 3 in the morning. [32:54] And I was a cook at 13. [32:56] At 17, I was tending bar. [32:58] Lindsey, as the President mentioned, and a bartender at 17. [33:03] And his father, Darlene, you know, as you know, he ran a bar. [33:09] He ran a liquor store. [33:10] He ran a pool room. [33:13] And it's amazing what life lessons you can learn in that environment. [33:17] By the way, not all of them are really good lessons. [33:21] I can tell you that. [33:23] We did laugh about it constantly. [33:25] We shared stories always, and, yes, we, I shouldn't admit this, in the National Cathedral, [33:31] we could still curse like we were behind a bar. [33:35] Lindsey does hold a couple of records that I don't think will ever be broken on the Fox [33:40] News Channel. [33:42] And number one was how freely he would use certain words on my show in particular. [33:47] Now, in this beautiful cathedral, I will not repeat them, but his first record was on [33:54] how many different occasions those words would come flying out of his mouth. [33:59] That was record one. [34:00] Record number two was how many times could he say it in a single appearance. [34:05] I did show a montage on my show about this. [34:08] And, you know, I will selfishly admit that when a U.S. senator utters certain words on national [34:14] TV, it is really, Mr. President, you'll appreciate this. [34:18] It is great for ratings. [34:20] And Senator Graham was great for ratings because people listened to him. [34:26] He drew you in. [34:28] He had that passion to draw you in. [34:31] So for that, I was very grateful. [34:33] Lindsey also is well known on my TV show. [34:37] He was a shameless self-promoter. [34:39] I don't think any one person ever said LindseyGraham.com more than Lindsey Graham. [34:45] And then he'd call me hours later and tell me how much money he raised on my show that [34:49] night. [34:51] And over and over, if he were here today, I'm sure he would not miss a chance to say DarleneGraham.com. [35:00] I'll say it for him. [35:02] For the record, it was always a bit risky to have Lindsey on your TV show. [35:06] My Fox colleagues, they would understand this. [35:10] And I could have easily been fired for any of these occasions. [35:14] And I'm extremely grateful to my boss, Lachlan Murdoch, he is with us today. [35:20] And his father, Rupert, the founder of the Fox News Channel. [35:24] And they never held me accountable, Darlene, for what your brother said. [35:30] And I'm about to finish my 30th year at Fox, in part because I got to interview wonderful [35:35] leaders like your brother. [35:37] Lindsey, I want everybody to know, was so proud to be a senator. [35:43] He was so proud to serve the people of South Carolina. [35:47] For the people of that great state, I want you to know, with no ambiguity, that you gave [35:53] Lindsey Graham the honor of a lifetime. [35:57] Thank you. [35:58] At his core, Lindsey was a man driven by principle, God, family, country. [36:05] He was a friend's friend. [36:06] He was a great patriot. [36:08] He fought with every ounce of strength he had in his body for the things that he deeply [36:13] believed in. [36:14] He was also, as my friend, one of the funniest people that you could ever know. [36:20] We laughed nonstop. [36:22] We laughed often about many of you in this room. [36:30] With me, he never held back. [36:32] And that was the basis of our deep friendship. [36:35] I will miss him so much. [36:38] Mr. President, he would be so honored, so honored, that you are here today. [36:47] He loved you as he loved his country. [36:52] He loved the times you played golf. [36:54] I heard about every single solitary hole. [36:58] He loved the meals that you shared. [37:00] He loved the late night conversations you had. [37:04] And Mr. President, you gave him the greatest gift of his life. [37:08] And that was a front row seat at the highest levels of history in the making. [37:15] It meant the world to him. [37:17] Thank you, sir, for that. [37:19] I see Prime Minister Netanyahu is here. [37:22] Mr. Prime Minister, you too have been a dear friend of mine for 30 years. [37:26] It's an honor to have you. [37:28] And Lindsey would have been blown away that you took this long journey with your beautiful [37:34] bride to be here today. [37:37] He loved you. [37:38] He loved the state of Israel. [37:40] He loved the people of Israel. [37:43] Under your leadership, Israel has been one of America's most consistent and loyal allies. [37:49] He was never shy to say it to the day he passed. [37:54] And just as President Trump has been Israel's strongest friend in the history of the White [38:01] House, you know, the two partners aligned together. [38:07] Lindsey was that friend to Israel in the United States Senate as long as I've known this man. [38:14] Lindsey, he was often unfairly characterized as a warmonger. [38:20] I've heard that false criticism a lot. [38:22] It's not true. [38:24] The truth was the opposite. [38:26] Lindsey desperately wanted and talked to the president about a lasting peace in the Middle [38:32] East. [38:33] He wanted every region, every country in the region on that path to peace. [38:39] That was Lindsey's dream. [38:41] If people would only listen to what he had been saying. [38:45] His greatest gift in life, from my perspective, was Lindsey had moral clarity. [38:50] He understood right from wrong, good from evil. [38:54] And he knew, as President Trump knows, as Israel knows, as I know, there can be no path to peace [39:04] until evil is defeated. [39:05] Evil, in this case embodied in a death cult, an ideology, the world's number one state sponsor of terror. [39:15] Thanks to the partnership of the president, the prime minister, and many other allies, I pray their days are in numbers, and I pray that Lindsey's dream of a lasting peace becomes realized soon. [39:29] I see President Zelensky is here. [39:31] President Zelensky, I know that Lindsey would have been deeply moved and honored that you made this long journey to be here today. [39:40] God, God, our father, called him home not long after he returned from yet another perilous trip to Kyiv to meet with you. [39:50] In our private conversations, he often marveled at your strength against the world, one of the world's most brutal regimes. [39:57] He saw you, and he said it to me once, as a warrior poet or a warrior comedian. [40:03] He used those terms. [40:05] And on paper, I think everybody would agree, on paper, Ukraine would have been defeated in months. [40:13] And here we are nearly five years later, and your country has shown a fighting spirit that no one ever predicted. [40:22] Now, he was proud of you and the courage of your countrymen. [40:27] The president mentioned Justice Kavanaugh, who I see here with us today. [40:32] Justice Kavanaugh, in an unfortunate way, you brought out the very best in Lindsey [40:39] for the entire country to see. [40:42] Now, he saw what was happening to you and your family as a grave injustice. [40:47] And the world got to witness my friend, the person that I knew, in action. [40:53] And they got to see him at his absolute best. [40:57] He unloaded on those that were being unfair and brutal to your family and to you. [41:04] And I believe it was his finest moment, as the president mentioned, as a U.S. senator. [41:09] And just as with Justice Thomas before him, and before you, and Robert Bork before you, [41:15] he had had enough. [41:19] He'd had enough. [41:20] He let the world know it. [41:22] Thank you, Justice Kavanaugh, for being here. [41:25] To the members of the Senate, led by Majority Leader Thune, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, [41:31] all the members of Congress present, you all know he loved his job. [41:35] He lived it, he breathed it, and he left every single bit of energy he had on the field fighting [41:42] for what he believed in. [41:45] In case you didn't know it, I'll say it for him. [41:47] You were his second family. [41:49] I see my friend Senator Tim Scott, my other dear South Carolina friend. [41:55] I have one more that is here with me today that's really extra special, okay? [42:03] Senator Scott, Lindsey loved you. [42:05] Your unwavering loyalty meant the world to him. [42:09] Even before his last primary, when you came on my show the night before that primary, [42:14] and you advocated for him better than he could ever advocate for himself, it touched him deeply. [42:21] He always knew and understood that you had much higher polling numbers than he did. [42:26] He was never jealous, ever. [42:29] He was proud of you. [42:30] And you defined what it meant to be a man, a character, and a true friend. [42:35] I see my friend Trey Gowdy, my fellow Fox host is here, another dear and loyal friend. [42:41] He loved playing golf with you. [42:42] He loved when you made fun of him, which, by the way, was usually very justified. [42:48] You were a confidant. [42:49] You were a mentor in ways that people will never know. [42:54] I see Governor McMaster is here. [42:57] You were Lindsey's friends in life and an even greater friend after his passing. [43:02] You understood the deep love that he had for South Carolina. [43:06] And you recognized what it would mean to appoint his younger sister, Darlene, to finish the [43:12] work of her big brother. [43:15] That decision reflected the best of South Carolina values. [43:19] Governor, thank you. [43:23] Last and most important, my dear friend, Senator Darlene Graham. [43:30] You know, I see that you're here with your beautiful husband, your family, all the people [43:36] that love you, love Lindsey. [43:39] And as you have said yourself, Lindsey was your brother, your father, and your mother. [43:48] And you were only, as the president pointed out, you were only 13 years old when your parents [43:53] passed away. [43:55] And he was only 21 years old. [43:57] And he left school, and he took over the family business. [44:01] And he made it his business to raise his little sister. [44:06] Politics was politics. [44:07] Lindsey and I talked a lot of politics. [44:10] But you, Darlene, you were his life. [44:14] Your family was his life. [44:18] You were his God-given purpose. [44:21] He loved you with all of his heart, and he told me often. [44:26] Now, we all know that he was a true believer. [44:30] We know that he is in paradise today, and we know that he is so proud of you. [44:37] We all know in this room today, this beautiful cathedral, that these past two weeks have been [44:42] the hardest two weeks of your life. [44:45] And most people could not imagine losing the brother that raised them. [44:52] And then almost immediately, almost immediately, you got a call from the president of our country. [45:01] You got a call from the governor of your state. [45:05] They asked you if you would be willing to step up and finish the work of the brother that [45:12] we honor here today, your brother, Lindsey. [45:15] You barely had time to warn, if any. [45:19] You told me that you asked yourself the one question that mattered. [45:26] What would Lindsey want me to do? [45:31] That was the one question. [45:33] You put your personal tragedy aside for the state that you love and for the country that [45:39] you love within two days, you were sworn in as the first female senator from the great [45:45] state of South Carolina. [45:48] And by the weekend, you were in shorts and a T-shirt on your hands and knees with your [45:55] daughter painting her parking space at her school. [46:03] That was the week that your brother passed away. [46:06] Now, to me, that tells us everything we need to know about you. [46:10] Your brother loved you with all his heart. [46:15] I would be negligent if I did not acknowledge Lindsey's staff. [46:18] There's too many to mention. [46:20] The hard work that went into this service today and the service that will be in Columbia tomorrow [46:28] is extraordinary Senate staff. [46:30] I know how hard you all worked. [46:32] Richard Perry, Van Cato, Tara, I know how hard you worked. [46:36] Kevin Taylor. [46:37] There are so many others, too many to name. [46:39] The fact that the vast majority of you are staying on to work for Darlene would have made [46:45] him grateful beyond words. [46:47] And on his behalf, I want to say thank you to all of you. [46:52] Thank you. [46:55] My Christian faith is the most important thing to me in my life. [46:59] I like Lindsey. [47:00] God, family, country. [47:03] And I believe that with all my heart, we will see him again. [47:08] To my dear friend, to our fearless warrior, I will miss our late night calls. [47:14] I will miss our strategizing together. [47:17] I will miss our dinners. [47:18] I will miss our conversations about the president and the country we both loved. [47:24] I'll miss the gossip. [47:25] I'll be honest. [47:26] I'll miss talking about how to defeat evil in our time and how to find a path to peace [47:31] so that peace may one day reign around the world. [47:36] Many people ask me if I know at the end of my television show that I'm quoting scripture [47:42] when I say the words, let not your heart be troubled. [47:47] Well, I am. [47:48] The answer is yes. [47:49] John 14. [47:52] Let not your heart be troubled. [47:53] You believe in God. [47:55] Believe also in me. [47:57] In my father's house are many mansions. [48:00] If it were not so, I would have told you. [48:02] I go to prepare a place for you. [48:05] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, [48:11] that where I am, there ye may be also. [48:17] Lindsay, Mr. President, I would argue in my mind probably has a heavenly version of Mar-a-Lago. [48:27] It may even be a little bigger. [48:30] He may have a little more gold in the Oval Office in his mansion in heaven. [48:36] And I wouldn't be surprised if he added one big beautiful ballroom and an arch somewhere [48:40] on the property. [48:42] Because he would want to obviously duplicate his dearest friend in life, you, Mr. President. [48:49] Lindsay, my friend, goodbye for now. [48:53] We will see you again. [48:55] We will finish the work that you started. [48:59] All done, good and faithful servant. [49:04] Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. [49:10] Godspeed. [49:11] Lindsay Graham. [50:15] On behalf of our family, thank you all for being here. [50:18] The outpouring of love has been unbelievable, faith-restoring, and deeply healing. [50:25] In a sense, it feels like we have gotten additional time with Lindsay through all the stories that [50:31] have been shared with us. [50:33] I know Lindsay would be so thankful for the kindness that you have shown to his family. [50:41] Lindsay was without a doubt a family man. [50:45] His world revolved around my mother, his family, and those he considered such. [50:52] Like his lifelong friends, colleagues, staff, and the citizens of South Carolina. [50:59] Lindsay was a very busy man. [51:00] There is no question about that. [51:03] However, when my mom called, he answered. [51:07] It didn't matter if he was about to walk in to a meeting with the president or another [51:12] world leader. [51:13] He would ask, is everything okay? [51:16] She would say yes. [51:18] And he would ask, is everybody okay? [51:22] That was Lindsay. [51:24] Always worried about others. [51:26] That is why he dedicated his life to being a civil servant. [51:31] While writing this eulogy, I sat and I relived a lifetime of memories with Lindsay. [51:36] I laughed, I cried, but mostly I immediately felt overwhelmed. [51:43] There were so many moments filled with laughter, love, and immense joy that I found it so hard [51:50] to pick the ones to share with you all. [51:53] How to let the world see a glimpse of the Lindsay that his family knew and loved. [51:59] From family vacations to holidays, proms, graduations, my sister's volleyball games. [52:06] He was there for all of it. [52:07] He even DJed a few songs at my husband and I's wedding. [52:13] Not very well, but. [52:15] For those of you who were ever unfortunate enough to go on vacation with Lindsay, I'm sorry. [52:22] Lindsay never slowed down and that applied to vacations as well. [52:27] On Disney trips, we had to be the first ones and we took the last bus out. [52:33] I remember waiting for the resort bus thinking, finally. [52:38] And Lindsay's behind me practicing his golf swing. [52:44] Lindsay had to squeeze every second of joy out of those trips. [52:48] See it all and do it all. [52:51] I joke, but those trips really are some of my best, most authentic moments of him. [52:58] And then there were the holidays. [53:00] From Christmas shopping for the ants to Easter egg hunts, which Lindsay made a sport of. [53:08] He would jokingly, mostly, yell cheater when we would give my little sister hints on where [53:13] to find the eggs. [53:16] Lindsay may not have lived a life as long as we would have liked, but it was a fulfilled [53:21] one. [53:22] He made sure of that. [53:25] As many of you know, my mother and Lindsay lost their parents when my mother was 12 and [53:31] 13 years old and Lindsay was in college. [53:34] Lindsay became brother, father and mother to my mother overnight. [53:40] It is a story that has been shared over and over. [53:42] I grew up hearing that story, but it wasn't until a few years ago that I really processed [53:48] what it meant. [53:50] My mother said Lindsay would come home to visit every weekend from the University of South Carolina [53:55] in Columbia while she was living with their aunt and uncle in Seneca. [54:00] That is over a two hour trip, one way, every weekend as a young man in college. [54:07] And that was only the beginning. [54:09] Without a second thought, Lindsay made sure that he was there for his little sister and [54:15] he never stopped. [54:16] Lindsay was always there for all of us. [54:20] He held more than one role for each of us. [54:23] He wasn't just an uncle, a brother, a nephew. [54:27] He was the foundation of our family. [54:30] In our family, when you needed advice, a problem solved, or a helping hand, you turned to Lindsay. [54:37] But hopefully the help didn't involve cleaning or manual labor, because if so, you were out [54:41] of luck. [54:44] Lindsay was there the day I was born. [54:47] He held my son in the hospital the day he was born. [54:50] And I had no doubt that he would have been there and will still be there in spirit the [54:54] day my second child is born. [54:56] My husband and I shared with my mother that we were pregnant the evening of Lindsay's passing. [55:03] The first thing she did was pick up the phone to call him to tell him the great news, just [55:07] like I knew she would. [55:10] She never got to tell him. [55:12] But I have no doubt that he knows and is thrilled. [55:16] Lindsay was always so supportive of me. [55:19] That is just how he was. [55:21] Fiercely supportive, fiercely protective. [55:24] Unfortunately, over the years, I have had a long line of health issues, and Lindsay was [55:29] there every step of the way. [55:31] He was by my bedside with my mother for every major surgery. [55:35] In 2011, after my first surgery, when my brain started to swell, I grabbed for Lindsay and [55:43] said, my head hurts, before losing consciousness. [55:47] Most people probably would have been like, well, yeah, of course your head hurts. [55:49] You just had brain surgery, makes sense. [55:53] But with my mom having stepped down the hall for a break, he jumped into action and immediately [55:57] got the nurse, no doubt preventing a catastrophe and likely saving my life. [56:03] However, as much as he did to save my life that day, he also put it in danger many a times [56:09] with his driving. [56:12] Those of you who did not have the privilege of riding with Lindsay Graham, consider yourself [56:18] blessed. [56:20] BMW must make one heck of a tank for a car. [56:23] I'll say that. [56:24] But in all seriousness, nothing was happening to me on his watch, and I believe that to my [56:30] core. [56:31] We all did. [56:32] No matter the situation with Lindsay around, at the end of the day, it would all be okay. [56:39] To be loved by Lindsay was to be truly blessed. [56:43] It is the circle of life that we must all return home to our creator one day. [56:50] But in my mind, Lindsay was invincible. [56:53] He was so strong, confident, witty, and full of life. [56:59] How lucky were all of us to have known Lindsay. [57:02] He was a humble man from humble beginnings, and he never forgot that. [57:07] He took care of people in need. [57:10] He defended the defenseless. [57:12] He put everyone above himself. [57:15] He was the most selfless person I have ever known. [57:19] As they say, he would have given someone the shirt off of his back. [57:25] He was strong-willed, hardworking, and his loyalty was unwavering. [57:29] You could always count on Lindsay. [57:33] But most of all, Lindsay was a godly man. [57:37] So while we grieve our loss here on Earth, I find grace and comfort knowing that he has [57:42] gone home to reunite with his mother and father that he lost far too young. [57:52] So I count my many blessings to have known him and loved him, and I rejoice in his memory. [58:01] Today we celebrate a life well lived, a life well loved. [58:05] Thank you. [58:44] Please stand as you are able. [58:52] The Lord be with you. [58:56] Let us pray. [59:00] O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought [59:06] life and immortality to light, grant that your servant Lindsay, being raised with him, [59:14] may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory, who with you [59:20] in the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God forever and ever. [59:25] Amen. [59:28] Most merciful God, whose wisdom is beyond our understanding, deal graciously with Lindsay's [59:35] family and friends in their grief. [59:39] Surround them with your love, that they may not be overwhelmed by their loss, but have confidence [59:45] in your goodness and strength to meet the days to come through Jesus Christ our Lord. [59:51] Amen. [1:00:39] A reading from the prophet Isaiah foretelling the coming of the anointed one. [1:00:44] The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me. [1:00:49] He has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty [1:00:56] to the captives, and to release the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and [1:01:04] the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, to provide for those who mourn [1:01:11] and Zion, to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, [1:01:19] the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. [1:01:24] They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord to display his glory. [1:01:34] The word of the Lord. [1:01:51] Psalm 46. [1:01:54] God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. [1:01:59] Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, and though the mountains be toppled [1:02:04] into the depths of the sea, though its waters rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble [1:02:11] at its tumult. [1:02:13] The Lord of hosts is with us. [1:02:15] The God of Jacob is our stronghold. [1:02:19] There's a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most [1:02:24] High. [1:02:26] God is in the midst of her. [1:02:27] She shall not be overthrown. [1:02:30] God shall help her at the break of day. [1:02:34] The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken. [1:02:39] God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away. [1:02:44] The Lord of hosts is with us. [1:02:46] The God of Jacob is our stronghold. [1:02:50] Come now and look upon the works of the Lord, whose awesome things he has done on earth. [1:02:57] It is he who makes war to cease in all the world. [1:03:01] He breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the shields with fire. [1:03:08] Be still then, and know that I am God. [1:03:13] I will be exalted among the nations. [1:03:15] I will be exalted in the earth. [1:03:17] The Lord of hosts is with us. [1:03:19] The God of Jacob is our stronghold. [1:03:22] Senator Darlene, Mr. President, many people don't want to talk about death because death [1:03:59] means the end, a step into darkness. [1:04:02] For those that have been to the foot of the cross in repentance, believing in the name [1:04:12] of the Lord Jesus Christ is not the end, it's the beginning of a brand new life, a beginning [1:04:19] of eternity in the presence of Almighty God. [1:04:22] I want to read a passage of Scripture that gives us a little glimpse as to what is coming [1:04:29] for those that have put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. [1:04:34] A reading from the Revelation to St. John. [1:04:40] I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God prepared as a bride [1:04:50] adorned for a husband. [1:04:53] And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, See, the home of God is among men. [1:05:02] He will dwell with them as their God, they will be his people, and God himself will be [1:05:09] with them. [1:05:11] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, death will be no more, mourning and crying and pain [1:05:18] will be no more, for the first things have passed away. [1:05:24] And the one who was seated on the throne said, See, I'm making all things new. [1:05:32] Also he said, Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true. [1:05:38] Then he said to me, It is done. [1:05:42] I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. [1:05:48] To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. [1:05:56] Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God, and they will be [1:06:02] my children. [1:06:03] The word of the Lord. [1:06:06] The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to John. [1:12:06] Martha said to Jesus, Lord, if you'd been here, my brother would not have died. [1:12:11] But even now, I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him. [1:12:17] Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. [1:12:22] Martha said to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day. [1:12:28] Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection and the life. [1:12:33] Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live. [1:12:37] And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. [1:12:41] Do you believe this? [1:12:43] She said to him, Yes, Lord. [1:12:46] I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world. [1:12:54] The Gospel of the Lord. [1:12:56] Amen. [1:13:10] I believe. [1:13:11] Do you believe? [1:13:14] You know, that story that we just heard there, there's a little bit more to it. [1:13:19] You see, Martha's brother Lazarus, he had been dead for three days. [1:13:29] And it's always unique to me when I read that, how Martha puts Jesus in a box. [1:13:39] And we just can't do that. [1:13:41] For you see, when Jesus is three days late, he's still right on time. [1:13:50] Good afternoon. [1:13:51] My name is Tim Tate. [1:13:52] I'm the pastor at Corinth Baptist Church in Seneca. [1:13:57] I've been the pastor there for 15 years. [1:14:00] And let me just say, President Trump, Vice President Vance, the very Reverend Hollerith, [1:14:11] thank you so much for being here and affording me the opportunity to be here. [1:14:17] Most of all, Senator Darlene, thank you. [1:14:22] Thank you so much for allowing me to be here and be a part of this service today, this celebration. [1:14:31] We've joined together today to celebrate. [1:14:33] And I choose the word celebrate because I know where Senator Lindsey Graham is, because [1:14:40] I know by his own profession of faith, he professed Jesus Christ as his Lord and as his Savior. [1:14:48] So for that cause today, we celebrate. [1:14:52] I had no idea 15 years ago when I became the pastor at Corinth Baptist Church that there [1:15:01] was a U.S. Senator that was a member of that church. [1:15:07] But shortly thereafter, I come to know, and I remember the very first time I met Senator [1:15:16] Graham. [1:15:17] Now, I'm just going to tell you, I always call him Senator Graham. [1:15:25] He was in the living room of his aunt. [1:15:30] Some of you may know her and you've met her. [1:15:33] She has gone on to be with the Lord, but Verna May and Uncle Hollis. [1:15:43] And I remember walking in, my wife Stacy and my son Weston, and we walked in and I didn't [1:15:49] know what to think because I had never met a Senator before. [1:15:56] And so I walked in and there he was with a raggedy pair of khaki pants on, a raggedy sweatshirt. [1:16:04] His hair was messed up, so we had a ball cap on. [1:16:08] And I knew from that moment on, I liked this guy because he was like me. [1:16:14] I love what we're doing here in Washington, D.C., and I think it's very fitting that we'll [1:16:20] be celebrating tomorrow because Senator Graham was very Washington, if you know what I mean. [1:16:29] But he was also very small town. [1:16:35] When I think about being a pastor, it's such an honor. [1:16:41] You know, he didn't get to come to church very often. [1:16:46] And when he did come, he was quiet. [1:16:49] He was quiet. [1:16:50] Sometimes I would just look up and he would be there and other times he would call and [1:16:55] say, hey, I'm coming. [1:16:56] And every now and then there was a time or two I hadn't seen him in a little while and [1:17:00] I'd say, are you coming? [1:17:06] But I loved when he was there. [1:17:07] And I don't know if I really preached good when he was there or not, but he always complimented [1:17:13] me and it really meant something. [1:17:17] It was so, so encouraging. [1:17:19] I tell Senator Graham and, you know, many people in our congregation, hey, if there's anything [1:17:26] you ever need, let me know. [1:17:30] You know, and sometimes I'm just being nice when I say that. [1:17:36] Senator Graham called me and he says, listen, I got something I need for you to do. [1:17:40] And I said, yes, sir, anything. [1:17:44] He said, Verna May needs a Christmas tree in her living room. [1:17:50] I said, well, is it in the attic or in the basement? [1:17:53] He says, no, you have to go with her to buy it. [1:17:57] And I'm like, you know, Walmart or something like that. [1:18:02] Well, she wanted a real Christmas tree. [1:18:06] So we made it a tradition. [1:18:07] I don't know for how many years Verna May and I, we went and we went and we bought her [1:18:12] a Christmas tree. [1:18:13] And I normally got to put it up two times the first time and then when I would leave [1:18:19] and after she decorated it, Senator Graham would call me again and say, can you run back [1:18:23] by there and put that tree back up because it had fallen over. [1:18:33] Senator Graham was my friend and I tried to be a friend to him. [1:18:39] We would sit and talk sometimes in my office and sometimes in the living room. [1:18:45] I wanted to be a safe place for him. [1:18:47] I didn't want to, um, to ever go to him and, and, and want a favor or want something because [1:18:52] so many, so many, um, wanted him and needed him and he was always there for them, but I [1:18:59] just wanted to be his pastor and he afforded me the opportunity to do that. [1:19:03] And so every time we were together, we would talk a little bit about fishing or hunting or, [1:19:10] or golfing, which by the way, I never got invited to go golfing. [1:19:15] But we would talk a little bit about those things, but two things always came up. [1:19:23] One of them was you, Darlene. [1:19:27] And the other one was the United States of America because he loved this country and he [1:19:36] loved the people of this country. [1:19:39] He loved the people of the great state of South Carolina. [1:19:45] You know, I, I, uh, we had a, I got a little fun memory. [1:19:49] Um, we, um, president Trump came to pick in South Carolina. [1:19:54] Now, I don't know if you guys know this or not, but that doesn't happen very often. [1:19:58] Some of you guys just heard pickings for the first time in your life. [1:20:02] All right. [1:20:03] But he came and, and my family, Stacy, my wife and my son Weston, we had been at the beach [1:20:07] and, and, you know, I, I wanted to meet president Trump and, and I was, you know, uh, he, he called [1:20:12] and he says, do you think you, um, are going to be back in town? [1:20:15] And I said, we'll be there, you know, we'll cut our vacation short. [1:20:19] And, and so anyway, we come home and it wasn't looking good. [1:20:22] And he called and he says, I don't know if we're going to be able to do this. [1:20:25] And so he called me that, that afternoon. [1:20:30] And he says, where are you at? [1:20:32] I said, I'm at home. [1:20:34] He says, can you be in pickings in seven minutes? [1:20:37] And I live 15 minutes away. [1:20:40] And I said, yes, sir, I can. [1:20:44] Where should we come? [1:20:45] And so he told us, and, you know, I, I tell that to say this, and so many of you are going [1:20:53] to agree with this. [1:20:56] Senator Graham was a man who could make things happen. [1:21:02] There's several different kinds of people in this world. [1:21:06] Um, there's people who sit around and wait to see what's going to happen. [1:21:10] There's some people who, um, you know, in a supportive way are a part of what's happening. [1:21:17] There's some people who are wondering what just happened. [1:21:20] And then there's people like Senator Lindsey Graham, who make things happen. [1:21:28] And listen, what a legacy he is leaving behind this wonderful staff. [1:21:35] I know he would be so proud because the past two weeks have been, have been crazy busy, [1:21:42] but you've made it happen. [1:21:44] And that's so Senator Lindsey Graham and Darlene, you inspire me with your strength and with [1:21:56] your will. [1:21:57] And I believe that you're driven with a passion and a love, just like Senator Lindsey Graham [1:22:03] for this country, for the state of South Carolina. [1:22:09] Oh, I have so many things that I think about, but you know, it's not what happens in our life [1:22:15] that defines us. [1:22:17] It's how we respond to it. [1:22:19] And if we look back over the life of Senator Graham, we see many responses. [1:22:26] There was no quit in him. [1:22:29] There was no let up in him. [1:22:32] He was full on fighting hard, keeping on, keeping on. [1:22:38] As I think about him, I think so many things. [1:22:44] Him being a brother, a college graduate, the first in his family to ever go to college. [1:22:51] So, so unlikely. [1:22:52] But listen, he made it happen. [1:22:58] Colonel in the Air Force, part of the National Guard, the Air Force National Guard, part of [1:23:05] the JAG program there in the Air Force, 33 years and devoted his life to this country. [1:23:15] I say it over and over again, he loved America. [1:23:23] But I think he loved me a little bit, too. [1:23:27] I remember on my 40th birthday, he wasn't able to come to my surprise party, but he surprised [1:23:34] me with a video. [1:23:36] Darlene, I think I've already told you this. [1:23:38] I bet I have watched that video, I don't know how many times, over the past couple of [1:23:43] weeks. [1:23:43] And, you know, he tries to be a little cute in there about being 40, as you might expect [1:23:50] him to do. [1:23:51] But he wishes me a happy birthday. [1:23:54] I will cherish that forever. [1:23:57] I cherish the fact that I got to be his pastor. [1:24:00] I cherish the fact that I got to be his friend. [1:24:04] Darlene, family and friends and guests. [1:24:08] Let me read what the Apostle Paul says in Philippians chapter 3. [1:24:12] It's one of my favorite passages of Scripture. [1:24:14] Verse 12 of Philippians 3 says, not that I have already obtained this, or am already [1:24:21] perfect, but I press on to make it my own. [1:24:27] Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, but one thing I do, forgetting what [1:24:32] lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. [1:24:36] Verse 14, this is the part right here. [1:24:38] I press on toward the goal. [1:24:41] And this defines Senator Lindsey Graham in my mind. [1:24:45] He pressed on. [1:24:47] There's a lot of times it's easy. [1:24:50] It's easier to bow out. [1:24:51] It's easier just to go a different way. [1:24:54] The path of least resistance. [1:24:57] But he stayed the course. [1:24:59] He stayed the course even when it wasn't going to make him popular. [1:25:08] He knew, as we've heard today, right from wrong. [1:25:13] His moral compass was great. [1:25:15] And if he believed it to be true, he was going to go for it. [1:25:20] He was going to fight for it. [1:25:21] He realized, and I learned from him, that sometimes being right will not make you popular. [1:25:31] Now, there is a sadness here today. [1:25:33] But it's not because there's a loss. [1:25:36] Because remember, when you lose something, you don't know where it's at. [1:25:40] But we know where he's at today. [1:25:42] But there's still a void here today. [1:25:45] I appreciate what Brother Hannity said. [1:25:50] And I'm going to expound upon that in John chapter 14 for just a moment. [1:25:54] Because I want to share this with you, darling and family. [1:25:57] So Jesus and the disciples have been doing ministry together. [1:26:02] All right? [1:26:03] They have been doing life together. [1:26:06] Ministry together. [1:26:07] Life together. [1:26:08] And then Jesus, all of a sudden, not really, because he had been telling them. [1:26:15] He says, I'm going away. [1:26:17] And for the disciples, it rocked their world. [1:26:23] What do you mean you're going away? [1:26:25] Man, things are going good. [1:26:26] For you see, they thought that Jesus was coming to set up shop and rule the land. [1:26:34] But my friends, Jesus came first to rule our hearts. [1:26:39] And he came and he says, I'm going away. [1:26:41] Well, where are you going? [1:26:44] How will we know? [1:26:46] They were just in a panic. [1:26:50] I would think there's been some panic over the past couple of weeks. [1:26:55] Specifically, that first couple of hours, that first evening and just trying to wrap your mind around it. [1:27:03] Darling, we were on the phone that Sunday morning and I was just like, what happened? [1:27:09] I don't know. [1:27:10] I mean, we instill right now, all of us, just it's hard to wrap our mind around this. [1:27:18] But Jesus said this. [1:27:19] He says, listen, let not your heart be troubled. [1:27:23] Now, we talked about it's not what happens that defines us, but how we respond. [1:27:34] So, Darlene and family and friends, I challenge all of us today to respond with confidence in the Word of God. [1:27:43] If I say it, there's a maybe with it. [1:27:47] But if God in His Word says it, I believe it. [1:27:51] And that settles it for me. [1:27:53] And I hope it does for you today. [1:27:56] We need to respond with that confidence. [1:27:58] He says, let not your heart be troubled. [1:28:00] He goes on to say, I'm going to send another comforter. [1:28:06] See, Jesus was a comforter. [1:28:09] He says, I'm going to send another comforter, the Holy Spirit. [1:28:15] And Darlene, I believe with all of my heart, as you have picked up in this race and you, you have stepped into this role of being a U.S. Senator. [1:28:26] And as you think about the days ahead, the Holy Spirit is going to be a comforter to you. [1:28:32] The Holy Spirit is going to be a helper to you. [1:28:35] And there's going to be people who's going to say, I don't see how you're doing it. [1:28:38] I don't see how this is happening. [1:28:40] Listen, with God, all things are possible. [1:28:45] So I encourage that. [1:28:47] Friends, family members, it's very easy to have this day and then go our separate ways. [1:28:58] But there's going to be many, many days and weeks that now Senator Darlene, she's going to need you. [1:29:08] And I challenge you to be there for her. [1:29:11] I challenge you to give her that phone call. [1:29:13] I challenge you to send her that text message or the staff and let her know. [1:29:18] Because listen, we go back to our, I've done this a long time. [1:29:22] We go back to our lives. [1:29:23] But there's still grieving to be done. [1:29:27] So continue to be there for her. [1:29:30] And then the last thing, and I'm going to finish, let me say this. [1:29:33] It's not what happens to us that defines us. [1:29:36] It's how we respond. [1:29:38] Let us respond to Senator Graham's life and death with consideration for ourself. [1:29:49] For ourself. [1:29:50] I didn't see this coming. [1:29:52] I don't think anybody did. [1:29:57] As I think about the timeline, there's not much of one. [1:30:00] It was so fast. [1:30:06] My friends, not to be doom and gloom, but let us know that Senator Graham woke up on his last day, [1:30:20] the same as you and I woke up this morning, never knowing that he would breathe his last. [1:30:29] It's risky business for us to live our life not being ready. [1:30:36] As I think about that, Hebrews chapter 9 tells us it is appointed to men once to die. [1:30:44] We know that we're going to have this appointment with death. [1:30:47] So Paul says in Romans chapter 3, verse 23, that we've all sinned. [1:30:53] We've all sinned. [1:30:54] Nobody is perfect. [1:30:56] And I think Senator Graham knew this. [1:30:58] And I've heard this testimony today. [1:31:00] And I've seen it and heard it with my own ears. [1:31:04] Yeah, you may not have liked him. [1:31:07] And he may not have liked you. [1:31:09] But he would work with you for the common good of this country. [1:31:13] Nobody was perfect. [1:31:14] Nobody had it all figured out. [1:31:18] He realized this. [1:31:21] And then Romans 6, 23 says, for the wages of sin is death. [1:31:30] Romans 10, 13 says, but the gift of God is salvation through Jesus Christ, our Lord. [1:31:45] One last verse there, Romans 8, verse 18 says, for I consider the sufferings of this present time [1:31:52] are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. [1:31:58] Listen, my friends, listen closely. [1:32:05] The things that we deal with in this world, the things that we deal with in this life, [1:32:10] sometimes it's hard. [1:32:11] Sometimes it's difficult. [1:32:13] The Bible says that sin abounds, but God's grace abounds more. [1:32:19] And what we deal with here and now has no comparison to what we will experience for all eternity. [1:32:27] That is, if we know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. [1:32:32] I believe today, somebody asked me at church a couple weeks ago, and they said, well, if [1:32:38] Senator Lindsey Graham was here with you right now, what do you think? [1:32:41] What do you think he would say? [1:32:44] And I said, I think he would say, keep up the good work. [1:32:48] Fight the fight. [1:32:51] And I thought a lot about that. [1:32:52] And I'm going to give you my honest, pastoral, biblical opinion. [1:33:06] You see, Senator Lindsey Graham has been at the feet of Jesus. [1:33:11] And I believe today that if he was here, having been where he's been, having seen what he has [1:33:17] seen, having experienced what he has experienced, you may disagree with me, but I don't think [1:33:23] he would talk to us about golf just yet. [1:33:26] I don't think he would talk to us about the weather. [1:33:28] I think he would talk to us about Jesus. [1:33:32] I think he would tell us, listen, my friends, if you don't know Jesus, you need to meet [1:33:37] him. [1:33:38] I met him. [1:33:39] I have stood at his feet. [1:33:43] There's a story in the Bible about Lazarus and the rich man. [1:33:50] He dies. [1:33:50] The rich man does. [1:33:51] Lazarus goes to be at the bosom of Abraham there in paradise. [1:33:56] And the rich man goes to Hades. [1:33:59] And we see in that context, the rich man says this. [1:34:02] He says, oh man, listen, can I just have something to drink? [1:34:08] You see, he was in a place of torment. [1:34:10] The Bible teaches this. [1:34:12] This is not a fairy tale. [1:34:17] Oh, could I, could I have something to drink? [1:34:19] There's nothing to drink. [1:34:20] And then he says this, well, can you go tell my brothers, and I'm going to loosely paraphrase, [1:34:26] can you go tell my brothers to follow Christ? [1:34:30] And I stand before you today with all of my heart believing that as Senator Graham has passed [1:34:37] from this life to his eternal life, his conversation piece today would be, do you know Jesus? [1:34:43] Have you met Jesus? [1:34:44] Do you know Jesus personally? [1:34:47] I believe that with all of my heart. [1:34:51] Father, we thank you for this day. [1:35:00] It's an odd day, but we thank you for it. [1:35:03] We thank you that we're here. [1:35:04] And we thank you that we're celebrating such a wonderful life. [1:35:09] And God, I pray today that you're glorified and honored through the things that have been [1:35:13] said here and done here. [1:35:16] And God, I pray for Senator Darlene, the staff. [1:35:20] I pray for President Trump. [1:35:22] I pray for Vice President Vance. [1:35:25] Lord, I pray for all of our government that we would see you and ourselves in light of you [1:35:41] and that you would do a work in our lives and that you would minister to us so that you [1:35:47] can minister through us. [1:35:49] Father God, I pray today that you would provide peace and comfort and guidance and direction [1:35:59] for this day, the rest of this day, tomorrow, and for the days and weeks and months and years [1:36:05] to come. [1:36:07] For we say, we pray, and we ask these things in the mighty name of Jesus, who is King of [1:36:16] all kings. [1:36:17] Amen. [1:36:17] We stand as you are able. [1:40:54] In the assurance of eternal life given at baptism, let us proclaim our faith and say, [1:41:02] I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. [1:41:08] I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. [1:41:13] He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. [1:41:19] He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. [1:41:24] He descended to the dead. [1:41:26] On the third day, he rose again. [1:41:30] He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. [1:41:36] He will come again to judge the living and the dead. [1:41:38] I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness [1:41:47] of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. [1:41:52] Amen. [1:41:54] Let us pray in the words our Savior Christ taught us. [1:41:59] Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. [1:42:06] Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [1:42:12] Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass [1:42:21] against us. [1:42:22] And lead us not to do temptation, but deliver us from evil. [1:42:27] For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. [1:42:33] Amen. [1:42:34] For our brother, Lindsay, let us pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, who said, I am resurrection [1:43:16] and I am life. [1:43:22] Lord, you consoled Martha and Mary in their distress. [1:43:29] Draw near to us who mourn for Lindsay. [1:43:35] Dry the tears of those who weep. [1:43:38] You wept at the grave of Lazarus, your friend. [1:43:47] Comfort us in our sorrow. [1:43:54] You raised the dead to life. [1:43:58] Give to our brother eternal life. [1:44:06] You promised paradise to the thief who repented. [1:44:12] Bring our brother to the joys of heaven. [1:44:16] Comfort us in our sorrows at the death of our brother. [1:44:26] Father, let our faith be our consolation and eternal life, our hope. [1:44:41] Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to you our brother Lindsay, who was reborn by water in the spirit [1:44:46] and holy baptism. [1:44:48] Grant that his death may recall to us your victory over death and be an occasion for us [1:44:54] to renew our trust in your father's love. [1:44:58] Give us, we pray, the faith to follow where you have led the way and where you live and reign with the father and the Holy Spirit [1:45:07] to the ages of ages. [1:45:11] Amen. [1:45:11] Your servant with your saints. [1:50:39] Where sorrow and pain are no more. [1:50:42] Neither sign, but life everlasting. [1:50:46] You only are immortal, the creator and maker of mankind. [1:50:56] And we are mortal, formed of the earth. [1:50:59] And to the earth shall we return. [1:51:03] For so did you ordain when you created me, saying, [1:51:08] You are dust, and to dust you shall return. [1:51:12] All of us go down to the dust, yet even at the grave we make our song. [1:51:21] Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. [1:51:24] Give rest, O Christ, to your servant with your saints. [1:51:31] Where sorrow and pain are no more. [1:51:34] Neither sign, but life everlasting. [1:51:39] Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servant Lindsay. [1:51:45] Acknowledge we humbly beseech you a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock, [1:51:51] a sinner of your own redeeming. [1:51:54] Receive him into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, [1:52:00] and into the glorious company of the saints in light. [1:52:04] Amen. [1:52:07] And may the peace of God, which passes all understanding, [1:52:10] keep your hearts and your minds in the knowledge and love of God [1:52:14] and of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. [1:52:17] And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit [1:52:21] be amongst you and remain with you this day and always. [1:52:26] Let us go forth in the name of Christ. [1:52:33] Thanks be to God.