[InChristAlone]

Amazing Grace: The Story Behind the Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33fA-oeuvFs

Amazing Grace - David Nevue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWmIjVe_Nnw

Amazing Grace - John Doan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V09zJnSotBc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-XOd7gOjdQ

Mason Williams - Art Maddox - John Doan - Amazing Grace

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_P6XWd8ItY

AMAZING GRACE - THE KELLY FAMILY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quuiSTwrcaI

AMAZING GRACE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzRdoJwVCx8

Amazing Grace - Darlene Zschech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4qbmPpfG6s

Amazing Grace - Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lajq1U6X9kI

Amazing Grace with Orchestra, Choir and Bagpipes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5p2CbHG9O0s

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Hymn Story

Amazing Grace

John Newton crammed a lot of living into his 82 years. His mother died when
he was six years old, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven.
He served his apprenticeship as a sailor, and rose through the ranks until
he became the captain of a slave ship. He abandoned the religious training
that he had experienced as a child, and reveled in the dissolute life of a
slave trader. He was noted for his profanity and his cruelty.

But one stormy night, when his ship was in danger of sinking and he was in
danger of dying, Newton had a real change of heart. It might have been his
religious training at his mother's knee surfacing after all those years ––
or it might have been his love for Mary Catlett, a Christian woman whom he
later married –– or it might have been his reading of the book, Imitation of
Christ, by William Law –– or it might have been all three. In any event,
Newton had a real conversion experience.

For awhile, Newton continued on his slave ship, but he began to treat both
the slaves and his crew with a good deal more compassion. Finally,
convinced that the slave trade was wrong, he left his ship and took a job
onshore.

He then felt a call to the ministry, and was ordained at age forty and
assigned to a church at Olney, England. He continued in ministry through
the rest of his long life, even after failing eyesight made it impossible
for him to read.

This hymn, Amazing Grace, is in a sense Newton's own story. It was amazing
grace that saved him, and it was amazing grace that was the focus of his
preaching. But Amazing Grace is the story of every Christian. It is
amazing grace that saves us –– nothing else –– no works of our hands or
gifts of our wealth. It was amazing that God would love and save John
Newton, but it is amazing that God would love and save any of us. It is
indeed a sweet sound to hear about it, but it is so amazing that it is hard
to believe. Believe it, because it is true.

–– Copyright 2007, Richard Niell Donovan

http://www.lectionary.org/HymnStorie...ng%20Grace.htm