My friend, Warren Jarman, who sang "Amazing Grace" at Kristi's funeral sings in a gospel band called the "Boys from Bethlehem" and a Civil War period band called the "Sons of Dixie". Visit their web-site at SONS OF DIXIE. |
Amazing Grace The story of John Newton, author of America's favorite hymn by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson I used to think America's favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace," was a bit overdone: "... that saved a wretch like me." Really now! But the author was a wretch, a moral pariah. While a new believer around 1750, John Newton had commanded a English slave ship. You know what that meant. Ships would make the first leg of their voyage from England nearly empty until they would anchor off the African coast. There tribal chiefs would deliver to the Europeans stockades full of men and women, captured in raids and wars against other tribes. Buyers would select the finest specimens, which would be bartered for weapons, ammunition, metal, liquor, trinkets, and cloth. Then the captives would be loaded aboard, packed for sailing. They were chained below decks to prevent suicides, laid side by side to save space, row after row, one after another, until the vessel was laden with as many as 600 units of human cargo. Captains sought a fast voyage across the Atlantic's infamous "middle passage," hoping to preserve as much as their cargo as possible, yet mortality sometimes ran 20% or higher. When an outbreak of smallpox or dysentery occurred, the stricken were cast overboard. Once they arrived in the New World, blacks were traded for sugar and molasses to manufacture rum, which the ships would carry to England for the final leg of their "triangle trade." Then off to Africa for yet another round. John Newton transported more than a few shiploads of the 6 million African slaves brought to the Americas in the 18th century. At sea by the age of eleven, he was forced to enlist on a British man-of-war seven years later. Recaptured after desertion, the disgraced sailor was exchanged to the crew of a slave ship bound for Africa. It was a book he found on board--Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ--which sowed the seeds of his conversion. When a ship nearly foundered in a storm, he gave his life to Christ. Later he was promoted to captain of a slave ship. Commanding a slave vessel seems like a strange place to find a new Christian. But at last the inhuman aspects of the business began to pall on him, and he left the sea for good. While working as a tide surveyor he studied for the ministry, and for the last 43 years of his life preached the gospel in Olney and London. At 82, Newton said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Saviour." No wonder he understood so well grace--the completely undeserved mercy and favor of God. Newton's tombstone reads, "John Newton, Clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long labored to destroy." But a far greater testimony outlives Newton in the most famous of the hundreds of hymns he wrote: Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me, I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see. 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come. 'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home. |
What's Missing? Death is a nasty thing. Probably the nastiest thing we experience on earth. It rips from our arms the ones we love, leaving us with nothing but memories, broken dreams, and an aching heart. In life's catalog of bad things that can happen, death is at the top of the list. If you've lost someone to death, you know what I mean. Recently a friend of mine died of a heart attack. His wife e-mailed this note about her husband: "His death has left a real void in my life, but God's grace is sufficient and I must draw from His abundant supply daily." As I thought about her words, I was struck by the far-reaching implications of what she said. In her case, it is the loss of her husband that has created the gaping void in her life. What's missing is Warren. But notice what she said. God's grace is filling that emptiness. Can we apply that grace to other situations? Death may be the nastiest of troubles we face, but it's certainly not the only one. You face your own set of troubles. You look out over the horizon of your life, and you notice that something is missing. Perhaps you've had a relationship that has recently crashed down around you, shredding your heart as it went. Or maybe what's missing is the joy of your salvation, sapped away by other interests in your life. Or it could be that the missing element is the assurance of knowing what God wants you to do with your life. When bad things punch huge holes in your life, remember that you have a source to fill that emptiness. Plead with God for His grace--that powerful force that changed you from a sinner to a saint (Titus 2:11). Surely it can now fill the empty places that trouble is digging out of your life. DB The greater the loss, the greater God's grace. |
Music soothes the soul. Many songs were played and sung at my sister's funeral. Selected Celtic songs, "Thank You" by Ray Boltz, "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You" by Van Morrison plus several others. Tory (Kristi's neice) played a piano piece entitled "Rain" and Whitney (another niece) sang "The Gypsy Rover". Among the selections was "Amazing Grace" performed on bagpipes and then sang by our dear friend, Warren Jarman, at the graveside. God's Grace is truely Amazing.... I hope you enjoy this touching story. |
AMAZING GRACE, HOW SWEET THE SOUND... |
My friend, Warren Jarman, who sang "Amazing Grace" at Kristi's funeral sings in a gospel band called the "Boys from Bethlehem" and a Civil War period band called the "Sons of Dixie". Visit their web-site at SONS OF DIXIE. |
