Visitor's Book Wording

As the author of the visitor’s book used in a number of churches (at least seven that I know of), I am happy for others to utilise the text for your own church. I have removed most formatting so that you may use it in your own word processing or page layout program.

I would request that somewhere in small type something along the lines of “Original text by Lionel Hartley, PhD www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com” be printed in the publication.

Cheers,

Lionel ><>

 

Welcome to the [name of your] Church & Sabbath School

 

            Thank you for visiting us.

            We are a Christian faith community of diverse individuals that reflect the diversity and strength of our surrounding communities.

Whoever you are—rich or poor, young or older, tall or short, liberal or conservative (or anywhere in between), and no matter the colour of your skin or any difference in your speech—you are very welcome here!

 

            This church is not a building, an organization, a name, or a day. It is the people you see around you here today, a family of believers, a population of diverse individuals united by love for each other and a common relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

We are a church, to be precise, a Seventh-day Adventist Church. We realize that the word “church” may be intimidating to some people; maybe it is to you. If so, we regret that, because we’re just a group of regular folks doing the best we can for God with what He has given us.

 

Our goal is simply to follow Jesus so that we can become more like him, and we’d be delighted if you chose to join us in that goal. We are the first to admit we’re not perfect; but we are in the process of being changed by Jesus who is perfect.

 

            We’re glad you have been interested enough to visit our church today. Our aim in all that we do is to bring glory to God. Please take your time to get to know us, as it is our sincere desire to greet you warmly and help you feel at home. We won’t pressure or judge you. We wouldn’t want someone to do that to us, so we won’t do it to you.

 

            If you have any questions, or want to know more about us, please don’t hesitate to ask.

— Lionel Hartley, (Author responsible for this booklet - www.hartleyonline.blogspot.com)

 

What is Sabbath School?

 

Sabbath School is the Seventh-day Adventist equivalent, in general, of the Sunday School of other denominations, but designed for people of all ages, rather than for only children and youth.

 

The goal of the Sabbath School is the discipling of people for Christ.

 

The four basic objectives of the Sabbath School are faith development, fellowship, community outreach, and world mission.

 

Adventist Sabbath School work began in 1852 when Seventh-day Adventist pioneer James White wrote the first Sabbath School lessons, a series of 19 for children and youth published in the magazine ‘Youth’s Instructor’. The first regular Sabbath School was probably the one organized in 1853 by James White in Rochester, New York.

 

Early Sabbath Schools had only two divisions, one for children and one for adults (the latter called the Bible Class). Teachers placed much emphasis on the memorization of Scripture.

 

In 1952, the centennial of James White’s first Sabbath School lessons, there were 17,993 Sabbath Schools, with 1,120,998 members.

 

In 1992 organized Sabbath Schools were operating in 204 of the 233 countries recognized by the United Nations and  the Sabbath School lessons were being taught in 687 languages.

 

The Sabbath School today is divided by age groups: adults, young adults, youth (or high school), earliteen,  junior, primary, kindergarten, and cradle roll (beginners).

 

— From the SDA Encyclopedia.

 

What Seventh-day Adventists believe...

 

Seventh-day Adventists believe salvation is a free gift of God's grace, made possible through the sinless life and the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and is accepted by faith on the part of the believer. We believe that we can have victory over sin by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, but that if we sin, forgiveness is available through Jesus Christ.

 

Seventh-day Adventists believe in one God, a unity of three co-eternal beings, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This loving God is the Creator and Sustainer of all things, an He has revealed Himself to humanity in His inspired Word, the Bible. We believe that the Bible is the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian. We urge its daily study, aided by prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

Seventh-day Adventists believe the Ten commandments are a loving transcript of the character of God and a revelation of His will. We believe that we should keep His commandments (including the fourth, which enjoins the observance of the seventh day of the week as God's Sabbath), not as a means to salvation, but as a loving response to His loving gift of salvation.

 

Seventh-day Adventists believe that Jesus is presently ministering in our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary, and we believe in the soon return of Jesus to bring full redemption to His people. We believe that the faithful who die prior to the Second Coming of Jesus will rest in the grave until the resurrection at that time. We believe in the final annihilation of the wicked by the fire that purges the earth during the executive phase of the judgment.

 

Seventh-day Adventists believe in spiritual gifts, including the spirit of prophecy. We believe that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit, and proper care of our bodies is part of true spiritual living.

 

Where to Look in the Bible

 

When

Anxious for dear ones   Psalms 121; Luke 17

Business is poor – Psalms; 37, 92 Ecclesiastes 5

Discouraged – Psalms 23,42,43

Everything seems going from bad to worse – II Timothy 3; Hebrews 13

Friends seem to go back on you – Matthew 5; I Corinthians 13

Sorrow overtakes you – Psalms 46; Matthew 28

Tempted to do wrong – Psalms 15, 19,139; Matthew 4; James 4

Things look “blue” – Psalms 34, 7; Isaiah 40

You seem too busy – Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

You can’t go to sleep – Psalms 4, 56, 130

You have quarrelled – Matthew 18; Ephesians 4; James 4

You are weary – Psalms 95:1-7; Matthew 11

Worries oppress you – Psalms 46; Matthew 6

 

If You

Are challenged by opposing forces - Ephesians 6; Philippians 4

Are facing a crisis – Job 28: 12-28; Proverbs 8; Isaiah 55

Are jealous – Psalms 49; James 3

Are impatient – Psalms 40, 90; Hebrews 12

Are bereaved – I Corinthians 15; I Thessalonians 4:13-5:28; Revelation 21, 22

Are bored – II Kings 5; Job 38; Psalms 103, 104; Ephesians 3

 

When

Desiring inward peace – John 14; Romans 8

Everything is going well - Psalms 33: 12-22; 100; I Timothy 6, James 2: 1-17

Satisfied with yourself – Proverbs 11; Luke 16

Seeking the best investment – Matthew 7

Starting a new job – Psalms 1; Proverbs 16; Philippians 3:7-21

You have been places in a position of responsibility – Joshua 1:1-9

                      Proverbs 2; II Corinthians 8:1-15

Making a new home – Psalms 127; Proverbs 17; Ephesians 5; Colossians 3; I Peter 3:1-17; I John 4

You are out for a good time – Matthew 15:1-20; II Corinthians 3; Galatians 5

Wanting to live successfully with your fellowman – Romans 12

 

Where to Find

The Ten Commandments – Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5

The Shepherd Psalm – Psalm 23

The Birth of Jesus – Matthew 1, 2; Luke 2

The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12

The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-13

The Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5, 6, 7

The Great Commandments – Matthew 22:34-40

The Great Commission – Matthew 29:16-20

The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Luke 10

The Parable of the Prodigal Son – Luke 15

The Parable of the Sower – Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8

The Last Judgment – Matthew 25

The Crucifixion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus – Matthew 26, 27, 28;

     Mark 14, 15, 16; Luke 22, 23, 24; John 13-21

The Outpouring of the Holy Spirit – Acts 2

 

If You

Bear a grudge – Luke 6; II Corinthians 4; Ephesians 4

Have experienced severe losses – Colossians 1; I Peter 1

Have been disobedient – Isaiah 6; Mark 12; Luke 5

Need forgiveness – Matthew 23; Luke 15; Philemon

Are sick or in pain – Psalms 6, 29, 41, 67; Isaiah 26

 

When You

Feel your faith is weak – Psalms 126; 146; Hebrews 11

Think God seems far away – Psalm 25; 125; 138; Luke 10

Are leaving home – Psalms 119; Proverbs 3, 4

Are planning your budget – Mark 4: Luke 19

Are becoming lax and indifferent – Matthew 25; Revelation 3

Are lonely or fearful – Psalm 27; 91; Luke 8; I John 3; Revelation 14

Want to know the way of prayer – I Kings 8:12-61; Luke 11, 18

 

 

Why Read the Bible?

 

The Bible sheds light on God’s plans and how to walk your path.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:130

 

The Bible is a mirror. You see your hidden motives and what needs to change in your attitude and behaviour.

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. James 1:23-24

 

The Bible is food. If you read it and do what it says, you’ve eaten it. If you eat it, you grow to become a person of integrity, insight, and enduring courage.

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

 

The Bible is a weapon. The truth in the Bible destroys misconceptions you believe about yourself, how life has treated you, and how to find happiness.

The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

 

The Bible is a comforter, laden with promises ready for the claiming.

Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45

“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 1 Kings 8:56

He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4 

 

Want a worshipful mood – Psalms 24, 84, 116; Isaiah 1:10-20; John 4:1-45

Are concerned with God in national life – Deuteronomy 8; Psalms 85, 118, 124; Isaiah 41:8-20; Micah 4, 6:6-16

 

Where did the Bible come from?

 

The Bible is somewhat like a library because it is actually a collection of books. Those books were written over many centuries, and they were only gradually brought together into their present form.

 

The first “collection” was probably the first five books of the Bible (often called the “Torah,” which is the Hebrew word for God’s Law). As time went on, other books were added, including some that told about God’s dealings with His people, as well as the prophets and other writings.

 

The whole Old Testament was finished about four centuries before the time of Jesus. Only a few decades after His ministry, the books of the New Testament were written and then accepted by Christians.

 

The most important fact about the Bible, however, is that God watched over its writing and He has preserved it down to the present time.

The Bible isn’t just another ancient book of human wisdom—it is God’s Word, given to us to tell us how we can know God.

 

The Bible says, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (2 Peter 1:21).

 

What place does the Bible have in your life? God wants to speak to you through its pages—are you listening?

 

Most of all, He wants you to come to know Him by discovering Jesus Christ, who is the centre of Bible’s message.

 

Would you like to know more? Would you like free Bible studies?

Ask today to be introduced to an Elder or Pastor. We would be happy to help, we can even study with you in your own home if you wish.

 

 

 

Ten “Positivements”

While sorting through some papers that had been in storage for at least a decade, I came across this piece that I wrote for the Morisset Weekly News in 1999.

Sometimes we regard the Ten Commandments as being a list of “thou-shalt-not”s. but it is not necessary to view them that way. Here are God’s Ten “Positivements”:

1. We can rejoice in worshipping Him alone
2. We are blessed when we love Him with all our heart
3. God wants us to feel comfortable about respecting His name
4. We have His reminder to celebrate with Him the birth of His creation
5. We can benefit from the privilege of the mutual respect of parents and children
6. God grieves when others hurt us and wills that we treat others the way that we would wish to be treated
7. God has a plan for us to have happy homes
8. Because God would like us to have possessions without them being stolen He asks us to help by setting an example of honesty
9. God does not want us to get hurt by telling lies, and
10. God wants us to be happy and content with what we have.

-- Lionel Hartley, Ten “Positivements”, Morisset Weekly News, Monday April 12, 1999, p3

Through the Valley of the Shadow

Recently, while searching for a document in my electronic archives, I came across an article that I wrote for the South Pacific Record in 1986. As the content is still relevant, I have reproduced the article here for your information and inspiration.

Through the Valley of the Shadow

Lionel D C Hartley

I sat quietly in the doctor's surgery contemplating in silence the news he had just given me. I could hear a baby cry in the next room . From another the laughter of children's voices was oblivious to the solemnity of the occasion. "Quadra-serum Glioma . . . Malignant Cancer . . . First operation unsuccessful . . . Second operation unsuccessful . . . May not survive another operation . . . Third operation essential!"

 

My fiancee, waiting in the outer room, prayed quietly. How was Ito tell her that the breath of life that God have given me for almost thirty years may soon be taken back, and that our blossoming friendship could become just a memory?

Suddenly I felt closer to the Lord than I had ever felt before. I remembered He had spared my life before. Once when I was a child, I had drifted out to sea on an inflated air mattress and I was miraculously returned to shore by an exhausted teenager.

Again, as a youth my clothing had become entangled in a joiner's circular saw which whined to a halt only centimetres away from my terrified head. Surely He had a purpose for my life! Could I have unknowingly already fulfilled it? Now, although I couldn't remember the reference, I claimed a promise from the Bible: "I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me." Psalm 30:2.

My thoughts now moved to my family, 2,500 kilometres away, who would only now be reading a letter advising them that a second operation (the one which took place last week) was scheduled, as the cancer was spreading rapidly—into the skull, neck, shoulders? Now I would be returning home to be with them as the third operation could offer no promise of reprieve. So, in one week's time I would be returning home to them, but leaving studies and fiancee behind, perhaps forever.

My head spun with the echoes of pathology reports: "Malignancy: operate immediately," and the tissue X-rays- "Two more tumours have appeared," and precious promises: "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" Hebrews 13:5.

Little did I realise then, as I sat in the quietness of that doctor's surgery, that only one week later I would be completely healed! Little did I know that scar tissue and signs of precision surgery would "appear" where once there were lumps without me ever undergoing another operation. Little did I know that a subsequent twelve months of weekly blood tests, examinations, and X-rays would reveal no further traces of the disease. Nor did I know then that Rosemary, that precious friend praying silently in the waiting room, would later become my beloved wife and bear three wonderful children. Could I then have viewed the future I would have seen that eight years later a CAT scan would still reveal no trace of cancer. No wonder my family and I praise the great God of the universe for healing me so miraculously.

All this was yet future as I sat quietly in the doctor's surgery, my fiancee silently praying in the waiting room, while I contemplated the news I had just received. . . .

Published in the South Pacific Record, June 14, Signs Publishing Co: Victoria, 1986, p7

Happy New Year

Happy New Year. Only a few days away now.

For the ultra-competitive Kiwis they may brag that the first major city to see the beginning of the new year is the city of Auckland which is only is 496.3 kilometres west of the International Date Line.

For those who thought that New Year comes once in a year, think again. You will be surprised to learn that New Years are celebrated several times all through the 12 months of the year.

January 1 - New Year's Day – is the world's most widely celebrated holiday. Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, India and many other countries celebrate their New Year on this date. It is also the Japanese New Year's Day known as Gantan-sai or Oshogatsu.

January 7 is the Egyptian New Year's Day (Sekhmet) and the Mahayana Buddhist New Year is celebrated on the first full moon day in January.

January 11 is the Old Scottish New Year

January 14 is the Eastern Orthodox New Year's Day

January 21 is the Celtic New Year, and close to this is the Korean New Year (Sol-Nal). The Lunar New Year being celebrated at sunset on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice.

The Vietnamese New Year or Tet is celebrated between January 17th and February 19th at the time of the new moon.

The Tibetan New Year also called Losar is celebrated in late January or early February at the time of the new moon. Some Tibetans celebrate their New Year a month later than the Lunar New Year as Ugyen Thinley Dorje.

Muharram is the first month of the Muslim year and its first day is celebrated as Islamic New Year's Day sometime during February.

March 1 is the Roman New Year also called the Festival of Mars or Feriae Marti, honouring Mars, the Roman god of war.

March 14 is the Sikh New Year Day. It is the first day of Chet, the first month of the Sikh calendar.

The Baha'i New Year (Naw-Ruz) is always celebrated on the 21st March.

Also during March, The Hindu New Year known as Bikrami Samvat falls on the day following the new moon on or after the spring equinox.

The Persian or Iranian New Year (Noruz) is always held on the spring equinox on March 21st. On thsat same day, the Assyrian New Year, called Rish Nissanu, occurs on the vernal equinox, commencing the start of the spring.

The Zoroastrian New Year or Jamshedi is always on March 21st.

Telugu New Year's Day also known as Ugadi is celebrated on the day after the new moon following the vernal equinox (first day of spring).

Before the Calendar Adjustment Act of 1751, Great Britain and its U.S. colonies celebrated New Year's Day on March 25 because it is Lady Day as well as the Feast of the Annunciation. This is referred to in the literature as the Old British New Year.

The Tharavadin Buddhists of Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, and Lao celebrate the New Year on the first full moon day in April with three days of celebration.

April 14 is Solar New Year (Songkran) - This new year's day is celebrated in many southeast Asia countries as Baisakhi in India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka (or Varushapirapu); Songkran in Thailand; Boum Pimay or Bun-Pi-Mai-Lao in Laos; Thingyan in Myanmar; and Bon Chol Chhnam in Cambodia. Like the Nepali New Year’s Day, the exact time on the 13th or 14th is determined by astrologers.

April 13 or April 14 is also the Sikh New Year’s Day (Vaisaki or Baisakhi). On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh created the Brotherhood of the Pure.

Sri Lankans celebrate their national New Year's Day (Puththandu in Tamil and Aluth Avurudhu in Sinhala). The specific time of the New Year is set by astrologers on the 13th or 14th. The Tamil New Year and Vishu are celebrated on the same day respectively in the Southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They generally fall on 13 April or 14 April. The first month of the Tamil New Year is called Chithrai.

The Thai New Year is celebrated from 13 April to 15 April by throwing water.

Also during this time is the Cambodian New Year and Lao New Year, and the Bengali New Year called Pohela Baisakh is celebrated on 14 April or 15 April in both Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Parsi New Year Day also known as Pateti is celebrated on April 23 (April 22nd on leap years), this is one of the local new years celebrated in India.

The Babylonian New Year begins the Nabonassar Era Year 2752 on April 25th (24th on leap years).

The  Buddhist New Year also known as Buddha Purnima or Buddha Jayanti is May 26. Some Buddhist sects celebrate Budhha's birthday on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month as their New Year's Day, although some sects now celebrate Buddha's birthday on April 8th.

Some versions of the ancient Greek calendar celebrated the new year on the summer solstice. June 21

Armenian New Year - The Armenian Era, an old way of measuring time, began on July 9, 552.

On the new moon in late August or early September (the first day of the Hindu month of Bhadon), the southern Indian state of Kerala celebrates the Malayalam New Year.

The Zoroastrian New Year (Shenshai) is always on August 23rd, for those Zoroastrians who follow the Shenshai calendar.

September the first marks the New Year for some Russian Orthodox Christians.

September 10 is the African New Year

Ethiopian New Years Day is September 11 (or 12th in leap years). This is a national holiday in Ethiopia.

Rosh Hashanah or Jewish New Year begins on the first day of the Jewish month of Tishri (Tishrei), is also called the Day of Judgment and Remembrance. This is September 16th.

October 3rd. is the Moroccan New Year's Day

The Hindu New Year (Diwali) is celebrated on the new moon in late October or early November. It is considered by some as one of the Hindu New Years (sometimes celebrated the day after Diwali as Vikram New Year). The Marwari New Year is also celebrated on the day of the festival of Diwali

The Jain New Year is celebrated on the day after Diwali. This is the New Year's day for the Jain religion. It is the day after of the attainment of Moksha by Mahavir Swami and the day when his chief disciple Gautam Swami attained Kevalgnan.

The Gujarati New Year is also usually celebrated the day after the festival of Diwali (which occurs in mid-fall - either October or November, depending on the Lunar calendar.

The Sikkimese New Year or Losoong is celebrated from the first to fifth day of the Lunar 11th month. It is also called Sonam Losar or the Farmer's New Year and occurs in December.

So whenever you celebrate the New Year, if you do, May God grant you a new beginning.

A prayer: Precious Lord, You are the specialist when it comes to new things. You give us new mornings, new life, new joy, new peace, new hearts and new beginnings. As this tumultuous year draws to a close, once again you give us the gift of a new year. We praise you for your leading throughout this past year a time of joy with babies born and precious souls born again. A time of sorrow with natural disasters, war and the loss of loved ones. A time to reflect and a time to look forward. We rejoice to know that, by placing the future in your hands we can be secure whatever this groaning world throws at us; safe in the Everlasting Arms. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Christmas Prayer

The following prayer was written in rhyming couplets. It is not intended to be good poetry, It is just as it came from my head to the paper, unedited. (Lionel.)


Lord, this is our prayer, we know you are near
We know that You care; that you sense our tears,
You feel our pain and as we come to you again
You feel our joy as we praise your holy name.

Our hands and feet are committed for your use here on earth
For the building of your kingdom in honour of Your Birth.
The day you changed all history to show us the father’s love
By leaving all the glory, leaving Heaven above.

A stable rude was where you came to begin your sacred duty
Animals for company, a manger for a bed, no comforts, no beauty
In the comfort of our decorated homes, we need reminding once again
That Christmas is not about tinsel, but remembering why you came.

And as the angel chorus welcomed you that day
We too welcome you into our lives to stay.
And as humble shepherds were privileged that night
We too consider it an honour to be for you a light.

As the Eastern wise men came in homage to their king
We likewise pay you tribute as we join in offering __
Ourselves into your service, whatever way we can
Acknowledging that every gift comes from your generous hand.

We confess our sins and selfish ways,
You take confessed sin and blow it away.
You give us new life and new paths to tread,
Free from anxiety, worry and dread.

Filled with Your peace, you give us new hope,
New vision, new hearts and all we need to cope.
We offer our thanks, our gratitude clear
Lord, this is our prayer, we know you are near

We come to You for learning, our hearts are open wide,
Inviting Your Holy Spirit to come and dwell inside.
Teaching us all things that we need to know
As we heed your commission for us to boldly ‘Go’.

For all that you’ve done and are doing today
And what you have planned for eternity
We praise you, precious Lord again.
This is our prayer, in Jesus’ name.
Amen

Victory!

Victory!

Several hundred years before the birth of Jesus, a crucial battle occurred between the Greeks and the Persians upon the plains of Marathon. The battle raged for hours. In many respects it was a fight to the finish. Finally the numerically inferior Greeks, the underdogs, managed a tremendous tactical win, but there was a problem. Soon the Senate, many miles away in Athens, was to vote and would most certainly ratify a treaty of appeasement. In desperation they sent a runner in full battle gear to go the twenty-seven miles to tell of the news. By the time the young boy got to Athens he had run a Marathon. It is said he was totally spent, that he literally ran himself to death. In his exhaustion he was able to utter only one word to the Athenians: "Victory."

Easter is all about that one word: victory.

A while back, I asked my son David what Easter means to him and he said, “An empty tomb”.

I applaud his answer, however there is much more to it than that, because THE empty tomb is not just any tomb. There is an empty tomb in Egypt that dates back to the fourteenth century B.C. It is an elaborate tomb that was prepared for King Tutenkhamen's military leader Horemheb, but he was never buried there. Four years after King Tutenkhamen died, Horemheb became the pharaoh and was later buried in the Valley of the Kings at Thebes.

The Etruscans were the first known inhabitants of Italy. They were there before the Romans and had a highly developed civilization. They left no written record, no history, no poetry, and no literature. All that we know of them we have learned from their tombs.  Grave robbers have stripped these tombs bare. There are many empty Etruscan tombs.

One April, a certain Sunday school teacher asked all eight children in her class to hide within an empty film container a small object that represented life in the spring.

Not wanting to embarrass eight-year-old Stephen, whose mental retardation was becoming more manifest, the teacher suggested that the children all place their unlabeled containers on her desk. Since she feared that Stephen might not have caught on, she decided that she should open them.

The first had a tiny flower. "What a lovely sign of new life!" "I brought that one!" the donor exclaimed. Next came a rock. "That must be Stephen's," the teacher thought, since rocks do not symbolize new life. But Billy shouted that his rock had moss on it, and moss was new life. The teacher agreed.

A butterfly flew from the third container, and another child bragged that her choice was best of all.

The fourth container was empty. "That has to be Stephen's," thought the teacher, quickly reaching for the fifth.

"Please, don't skip mine!' Stephen interjected. "But it's empty." "That's right," said Stephen. "The tomb was empty, and that is new life for everyone."

Later that summer, Stephen's condition grew worse, and he died. On his casket at the funeral, mourners found eight little containers. They were all empty.

For me the victory of Easter is not an empty tomb but a risen Saviour.

Musical duo William and Gloria Gaither wrote, “Because he lives I can face tomorrow; because he lives all fear is gone. Because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives.”

On Saturday 17th August, 2002, suspected Basque terrorist Ismael Berasategui Escudero escaped from the high security La Sante prison in Paris.

He swapped places with his brother and it took embarrassed staff five days to discover the escape.

On Friday on the first Easter, Barabbas was on death row, condemned to die. Your Elder Brother and mine swapped places with him and was crucified instead. It took three days for the disciples to discover his death sentence had really been revoked. It has taken two thousand years since then and still many have not discovered Him.

In 1874, hymnist Robert Lowry wrote a certain hymn. I have at home a scratchy 1921 recording of it by Henry Burr and the Peerless Quartet.

When I first heard it, I laughed. I confess that at first I did not listen to the words, but was intrigued by the metrical pattern in the melody. The verses are sung very solemnly in five-part harmony and the refrain in unison is in contrast, both upbeat and joyous. As they sang on, I began to listen to the words and it was strangely moving. Here is what they sang:

“Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Saviour, waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watch His bed, Jesus my Saviour; vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

Death cannot keep its Prey, Jesus my Saviour; He tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord!

And the refrain: Up from the grave He arose, with a mighty triumph o’er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!”

Easter is all about that one word: victory.

Lionel Hartley, Easter 2014

Healing and the Prayer of Faith

Healing and the Prayer of Faith Part 1

The General Epistle of James, Chapter 5:13-18

13) Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. 14) Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. 16) Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17) Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18) And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Seven aspects to prayer in this passage

1. Individual prayer (Let him pray.) Vs 13 – Begin with your own petition / Psalm 30:2; 147:3

2. United prayer (let them pray) Vs 14 – Invite others to pray / II Chronicles 7:14,15

3. Believing prayer (the prayer of faith shall save the sick) Vs 16 – The disciples were unable to heal a lunatic because of their unbelief according to Jesus (Matthew 17:14-21)

4. Intercessory prayer (pray for one another) Vs 16 / Job 42:10

5. Effectual prayer (effectual fervent prayer) Vs 16 / “effectual” a legal term for “...with power”

6. Definite, specific prayer (Elias... prayed earnestly that it might not rain) Vs 17

7. Repeated prayer (And he prayed again) Vs 18.

Healing and the Prayer of Faith Part 2

The General Epistle of James, Chapter 5:14,15

14) Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick...

Seven critiques for modern so-called “faith healing”

1. Selective healings – in which the applicants are screened before they are allowed into the service

2. Chicanery – simple trickery on the part of the faith healers

3. Undocumented, doubtful or demonstrably false claims

4. Spontaneous remission of the disease – due to natural processes and not the power of the faith healer

5. Remission due to medical or surgical intervention

6. Miracles by Satan – Revelation 16:4

7. Healing which comes as a result of faith in God and not in the faith healer. (And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up) vs 15 (Give God the credit... Psalm 115:1 says, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake.”)

(Reprinted from: Lionel Hartley, Dayspring Health Guide, Dayspring Health Services, 1991, p137)