I remember taking a class in high school called Humanities. It was essentially an art appreciation class. It was really the first opportunity I had to learn about some of the great artists of history, including Michelangelo. Michelangelo is known for some pretty amazing pieces of artwork. The ceiling fresco painting of the Sistine Chapel is a panorama of incredible artwork, for instance. But it is his marble statues that are especially fascinating for me. Perhaps the piece th

John Newton is a well-beloved hymn writer to many believers today. His famous hymn "Amazing Grace" is known world-wide, and his testimony of God's amazing grace in his own life has virtually gone viral. In 1779 Newton, along with friend, William Cowper, published a hymnal for their church entitled The Olney Hymnal. In book 3 of that hymnal, a hymn with a sub-title, "The Effort" is listed, and has as its subject our approach to the mercy seat of God in prayer. May the words en