Once Blind: The Life of John Newton by Kay Marshall Strom

It's been a long time. Life is so flat out now that I've taken on extra responsibilities at work that I've barely got time to think. I've been catching up on a few unread books lately in my few spare moments before and after sleep to give the ipod a break Last night I finished "Once Blind: The Life of John Newton".

It was probably the most interesting books I've read this year. It was not only well written but was full of believable detail about the very colourful life of the man who wrote Christianity's most heartfelt hymn of praise.

Originally I was drawn to it because of the impact the movie "Amazing Grace" had on me when I saw it last year. I feel blessed to know a little more of the lives of people who have worked together in obedience for such important social change as the abolition of the slave trade.

Having read Strom's interpretation of Newton's life events I'm now pretty curious to know what source materials were available to her. Newton is very much as I'd imagined him, starting out as a debase and rebellious young person to become the man we are more familiar with, very much aware of his humanity and his need of God.

It was the process of change that fascinated me. Newton's conversion was dramatic, but its full impact wasn't realised all at once. It reminded me that God's grace is not only in forgiving us of our past before we knew Him, but of our ignorance of His fullness as we are getting to know Him this side of heaven.

Visit Kay Marshall Strom's website for more information about the author and for those who think they might be interested in finding the book, the publisher is Authentic (January 2, 2008)
ISBN-10: 1934068276, ISBN-13: 978-1934068274

Click here for a read of the first chapter.