George W. Bush was a man who came from an influential family, was educated, was married and had children, etc. However, there was one thing that prevented him from having a life with more meaning--alcohol. Shortly after celebrating his fortieth birthday with alcohol (in 1986), he decided that his life needed to change. He vowed to give up drinking. He fulfilled his goal, and he gives God the credit. To make a long story short, his life improved. In 2000, he was elected President of the United States.
John Newton, who is famous for writing "Amazing Grace" among other hymns, also came to the realization that he needed God in his life. As a child, his mother taught him about God. However, she died while he was still young. His life was without God after he read Shaftesbury. He began to have a change of heart after reading Thomas a Kempis and facing a near-death experience while at sea. Once he was reconverted to Christianity, he became a part of the clergy and wrote hymns.
What I find interesting is that Bush and Newton experienced the success that brought fame after they established a connection with God.
References:
Hymnary.org. Newton, John. http://www.hymnary.org/person/Newton_J (retrieved Sept. 2010). This website drew John Jullian's entry in the "Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)" and Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.
Romano, Lois and George Lardner. Bush's Life-Changing Year (1999). Washington Post. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/bush072599.htm (retrieved Sept. 2010).
Written by BSica
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