Amazing Grace

The year 2007 marks the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in Great Britain. While I was in Ireland, I was able to see the movie Amazing Grace (see link above), which tells the story of William Wilberforce, a British politician who was influential in bringing about an end to the slave trade in his country. Throughout his political career, he was defeated again and again in Parliament, but he never gave up fighting for what was right. I love learning about people like that who are not just interested in themselves and in their own little world, but who have a vision for greater things that have a lasting value, and who are ready to use their lives for a greater purpose. When we look at the life of Wilberforce, we see that in all of this, he was motivated by the love of God. A recent article in The Economist stated the following:

In the end any analysis of the real William Wilberforce has to draw on theology as well as politics. He can hardly be understood except in the context of a strain of evangelical Christianity, on that stresses sin and atonement, to which he was converted in 1787. (The Economist, 24 February 2007, p. 60)

For anyone who is interested in learning more about Wilberforce and his faith, I strongly recommend John Piper's short book Amazing Grace in the Life of William Wilberforce which can also be read online at http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/.

The movie takes its title from the famous song Amazing Grace, written by John Newton, a contemporary of William Wilberforce. John Newton was a slave trader who repented of his sins and found complete forgiveness and salvation in Christ. He then became a preacher and gifted song writer who encouraged Wilberforce to continue his fight against the slave trade. His song, Amazing Grace, is a biographical account of the great change he experienced in his life and speaks of the grace of God, which can bring about this wonderful change in anybody. The original words of the song are as follows:

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d 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 reliev’d;

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believ’d!

Thro’ many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promis’d good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be,

As long as life endures.

Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease;

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who call’d me here below,

Will be forever mine.

Trip to Ireland

Almost one year after leaving my job in Ireland, I was able to go back again for a short holiday. The weather was unbelievably good and it was great to meet up with friends there. It was fun to visit my old workplace and see someone else sitting at *my* desk! I also had plenty of fun with the teen group from church as they managed to help "Mystery Man" with another one of his missions. The Sunday morning service at Galway Bay Baptist Church and the fellowship with the church family on that day was a real blessing. Oh, and I also met up with a friend from Germany who just *happened* to be in Galway on the same weekend! That was absolutely nuts!! Below are some pictures from my trip...

Little SAP reunion

Eyre Square

View of Galway Bay from church in Furbo

Shop Street

German invasion in Billy's bookshop

Cracking the code

Finding the treasure

Photo with teens

Mr. Bean has definately got the looks!

My first blog entry

So, this is my attempt at becoming a blogger. Something I didn't want to do in the past because I thought I'd have no time to keep up with it (which may still prove to be true!). So what motivated to do it anyways??

1. Some friends who told me about their new blogs. That may include you if that's what you did within the last 2 or 3 years. Thanks for showing me how it's done! I enjoy visiting your blogs, to keep it up!
2. It seems a good way for me to share my news, views etc. with my friends.
3. The glory of God. (This really should be top of the list!) I've been hearing/reading/thinking a lot about this topic recently and want my life and all I do to glorify God.

So this blog exists for the glory of God. I may write about happenings in my life, but it's not ultimately about me.

What do I mean? Well, this is where the name for this blog fits in. It wouldn't be worth the effort for me to write just about my life because I'm petty insignificant and my life may be over at any moment. Here today and gone tomorrow. That's me. That's you. That's the President of the United States of America. That's every human being.

The Bible says:

Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a little time and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14)

Man's only hope for a true meaning and purpose in life is in his relationship to God through Jesus Christ. A relationship in which God is at the centre as the source of all life. We have every reason to glorify God.

John Piper writes:

God made man small and the universe big to say something about himself. And he says it for us to learn and enjoy - namely, that he is infinitely great and powerful and wise and beautiful. ... [T]he point is not to nullify us but to glorify him. (Don't Waste Your Life, p. 34)

So, in my blog, I want to show just some snippets from my tiny little corner of God's great universe. Things happening in my life, places I visit, deep thoughts and not-so-deep thoughts. Hopefully, there will be something interesting or edifying for you. And feel free to comment or ask questions on anything.

I want to end this first post with the words to a song which provided the inspiration for naming my blog and which makes me stand in awe of my wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. SOLI DEO GLORIA.

Who Am I?

Written by Mark Hall
Song based on Psalms 52 and 139 and Ephesians 2

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name,
Would care to feel my hurt?
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart?

Not because of who I am,
But because of what You've done.
Not because of what I've done,
But because of who You are.

I am a flower quickly fading,
Here today and gone tomorrow,
A wave tossed in the ocean,
A vapor in the wind.
Still You hear me when I'm calling,
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling,
And You've told me who I am.
I am Yours, I am Yours.

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again?
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me?