Amazing Grace

It's the best film I've seen all year - but then again it's the only one. Wilberforce was rather more dashing than real life portraits suggest, and there was a hint of Bob Geldof about his dishevelled looks at times. Was this a deliberate ploy to link the two at a subliminal level? But they are poles apart in the motivations that drive them, although Wilber's evangelical Christianity is not given emphasis by this film. Sadly, John Newton is also poorly portrayed. This is best redressed by reading his 'Letters' (Banner of Truth paperback edition available, hardback due April) or better still, the original 'Cardiphonia' or 'Utterance of the Heart' as it is now rendered in the Gospel Mission edition.

The lesson is simple - see the film, and then read the books. You won't regret it.

Jeremy

Birthday Treat

It was my birthday yesterday. Don't ask how old. When I told Matt he kindly commented 'that's old' with GREAT emphasis! We had a customer in looking at Wilberforce books and it got us going on the Wilberforce theme -one thing led to another and we decided to go and see the film 'Amazing Grace' (a sort of 'birthday treat'!). For those of you that don't know, 'Amazing Grace' tells the story of William Wilberforce and his battle with the British establishment in bringing about the abolition of the slave trade. It has certainly given me further appetite for reading about both Wilberforce and also John Newton. Wilberforce was influenced by the ministry of John Newton and was supported by him in his fight against slavery. I will be taking a copy of 'Out of the Depths' (the autobiography of John Newton) home. I'll let you know how I get on with it...
Lorna
p.s. yes the film was worth seeing -birthday or no birthday!