Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo
Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo
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| Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo |
KCMG CBE QC (2 March 1914 – 12 December 1997) was a politician, diplomat, and well-known lawyer, famed for his 245 consecutive successful defences in murder cases. His reputation earned him an entry in the Guinness Book of Records (1990) where he is dubbed the world's "most successful lawyer". He also practised as a barrister in England and later served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Guyana
He was the brother of the last Governor-General of Guyana, Sir Edward Luckhoo.
British honors
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| Sir Lionel Alfred Luckhoo |
In Queen Elizabeth II's 1962 Birthday Honors, Luckhoo was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), was made a knight bachelor in 1966, and received the KCMG (Knight Commander of St Michael and St George) in 1969.
Politician and diplomat
In addition to his legal practice, Luckhoo also had a political career. He was the head of four trade unions, including the Manpower Citizens' Association, and served in the Legislative Council between 1952 and 1953. He served as the Lord mayor of Georgetown in 1955, 1956, 1960 and 1961. In the late 1950s he established the conservative political party the National Labour Front, which contested the 1957 general elections. However, Luckhoo was unsuccessful in his bid to be elected as Prime Minister, and his party only won one seat.
He was also involved in the negotiations for independence of both Guyana and Barbados. He was appointed High Commissioner for Guyana and Barbados in Britain (1966–1970), and was also Ambassador for both countries. From 1967 to 1970 he served as joint ambassador for Guyana and Barbados in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
He served as the President of the Guyana Olympic Association from 1974 to 1979. He was also a notable figure in the Guyanese horse racing industry, and owned several race horses. He also owned an island and a resort hotel.
Religious transformation
He experienced a profound religious conversion at a meeting he attended that was sponsored by the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International (FGBMFI); thereafter, he actively participated in the Protestant Evangelical movement of Christianity. After his conversion, he established Luckhoo Ministries in Fort Worth, Texas
When he heard about the resurrection of Jesus. He personally checked it out using his legal skills.
He found that the message of Jesus’ resurrection satisfied not only his heart but his mind. He gave his life to Jesus. He said the transformation was immediate. It’s the resurrection and its power we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
Lionel says “I have spent more than forty-two years as a defence trial lawyer in many parts of the world. I say unequivocally the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt!”
How can we be so sure?
What’s The Real Evidence for the Resurrection
To establish the resurrection one must be able to prove two things. It’s not complicated really. One must show Jesus was dead at point A—beyond resuscitation. Secondly it must be shown he was alive at point B—at a later date. If someone is dead then alive, the only reasonable inference is resurrection. And if that happened Jesus deserves to be worshipped as Lord, as he has defeated our universal enemy—death.
What is the case for Jesus being dead at point A? Well let’s act as a jury and look at the evidence.
Firstly, we have the eyewitness accounts in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that are found in the New Testament. They clearly testify Jesus was crucified until dead. A spear was even thrust into his side bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. He was dead.
Some sceptics like Dan Brown in the Da Vinci Code say, “Look he just swooned death and was later revived and pretended he died”. But can you imagine a man whipped to the point of death, as Jesus was, hanging on a cross with a spear thrust in his side, being able to jump around three days later convincing every he was 100% fit?
Even the famous skeptic about Christian things David Strauss, admitted the old swoon theory is a greater miracle than the resurrection itself! Most liberal scholars invent the swoon theory because they will never accept any miracle – miracles aren’t sophisticated enough for them – but yet they can’t avoid the empty tomb. Their conclusions for a lawyer are biased and ridiculous.
And the Gospels that record the death of Jesus are most reliable. The former Chief Justice of New South Wales, Sir Leslie Herron stated, “Let any objective reader put side by side the four Gospels and he will be struck, as any Judge accustomed to evaluate evidence is always struck, with one outstanding fact. It is this: that while they may be a great variety of detail or form of expression or narration of or emphasis put on occurrences, underneath it all, the substance and the weight of the narration are true.” Sir Leslie was one who really knew what reliable evidence was.
The New Testament gospels document that Jesus was dead. But of course there is other historical evidence that Jesus was dead at point A. The Jewish historian Josephus affirms his death as does the Roman Tacitus who states Jesus was put to death by Pontius Pilate.
Alive at point B
What is the evidence for Jesus being alive at Point B. Well we have the direct eyewitness accounts of the disciples and others recoded for us in the reliable Gospel accounts. And as Clarrie Briese, former Chief Magistrate of New South Wales says these testimonies have a real ring of truth to them. He says, they tell the story “warts and all”. He further states “the witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ are witnesses of the highest credibility.”
The Apostle Paul also goes on to list there were over five hundred witnesses (1 Corinthians chapter 15). He records a superb witness list to the fact of resurrection, that included people who were initially sceptical but saw the risen Christ and then believed. He is saying to the reader, here are names, check it out.
Apart from the eyewitness accounts there is circumstantial evidence. For example, no one ever produced Jesus’ body to refute the claim. The Romans certainly didn’t want any rumours out there about this crucified Jesus being a resurrected Messiah and Lord. But no one produced the body to kill the story. Also why would the Jewish followers of Jesus change their day of worship from the sacred Saturday Sabbath to Sunday unless they truly believed he was risen? The tomb was empty.
And look at the impact the message He is Risen has had on our society. Lord Hailsham, one of the most significant lawyers of our age stated, “Our whole system of education, public or private, our network of hospitals, our social security system itself, have each a clear origin in this Christian foundation. The tomb was empty, Jesus is alive!
Listen to how the Apostle Paul shared the news in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 3–5. These few verses all agree, even sceptics, was a creed the first Christians shared when they meet. Paul said “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.”
This Easter we can join with millions of people saying Christ is Risen—He is Risen indeed! The ultimate proof we have of this is that when we put our trust in Jesus he comes into our lives. He transforms us and walks with us. We discover it is true that God loves us so much that he sent his only Son into the world to die for us. To God we are significant.
Sir Lionel Luckhoo said of his commitment to the risen Christ, “From that day my life changed. My life took a 180-degree change. I found real peace and happiness and joy.” If we want forgiveness and power for living it’s truly found in the crucified and risen Christ.
Pastor Ankur Narula
Video of a man healed of skin disease.
Narula changed his name to Ankur Yoseph Narula after converting to Christianity in 2004. He started his ministry with just three people in 2008, and now the church has grown significantly, with weekly congregations reaching around 30,000. The Church of Signs and Wonders is considered the largest and fastest-growing church in Punjab.
1 Corinthians 1:18
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God
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