Their Lips Would Turn to Clay

Garth Rosell on his father and his preacher friends, which included Billy Graham and Harold Ockenga:

I remember the sense of absolute wonder and awe that would suddenly come over my father when his comments would turn, as they invariably did, to the discussion of the surprising work of God in their midst. And I remember the terrible urgency to preach the gospel that seemed to grip my father and all of his preacher friends. Like Jonathan Edwards before them, they were absolutely amazed that God has chosen them. They were thrilled to be a part of it all, of course, but they were absolutely certain that they had not caused it, and they all knew in their heart of hearts that if they dared to take even the smallest measure of credit from that which belonged solely to the sovereign Lord of the universe, “their lips would turn to clay,” as they often phrased it.