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July 2005, Page 8.
Index of articles:
by subject,
by date.
In this issue:
(July 2005)
Flying cow,
Foundations,
Prayer Audit,
Day Centre,
Song.
His eternal friends
These lines were written for the Christian Songwriter's Network "lyrical challenge" in March 2005.
His eternal friends
Brothers, I want you to know
about the saints who die:
that they are not just lost and gone
beyond the deep blue sky.
They do not come back to us
as animals or birds,
and they aren't ghosts who haunt their friends,
or speak through mediums' words.
Those who sleep in Jesus
are his eternal friends:
he will come from heaven
when the cosmos ends,
and they'll be with him, with him,
together, for ever.
Those who have no trust in God
think we can never know
what happens to a friend who dies:
so grieving lays them low.
We, who know that Jesus rose,
feel separation pain.
But we have hope, for Jesus said
his friends would rise again.
We who trust in Jesus
are his eternal friends:
we can feel his presence,
broken hearts he mends,
and we are with him, with him,
together, for ever.
There's no need to worry for
the faithful ones who die:
for Christ will come and call them up
to join him in the sky.
When the final trumpet calls,
the dead will burst their shrouds.
And when the_archangel's voice commands,
they'll meet him in the clouds.
All who trust in Jesus
are his eternal friends:
we will see his glory
as each one ascends,
and we'll be with him, with him,
together for ever.
Words and music copyright © John Hartley 2005.
The challenge was to write words for a song based on a choice of three texts from the bible: this one is from 1 Thessalonians 4:12-18. St Paul says it's really important that we should be sure of life beyond the grave for those who trust Jesus. I wanted to debunk some common ideas about vague existence beyond the grave, I wanted to say what comfort Jesus brings us in bereavement, and I wanted to make use of Paul's striking language about "meeting the Lord in the air". You can hear a tune on our web site.
John Hartley