In the mid 1850s, a call went out to the ministers of the Scottish Reformed Presbyterian Church for a new missionary to be sent to a chain of islands off the coast of Australia. John Inglis pleaded for another to be sent to help him, claiming that on his island alone “3,500 savages [had thrown]Continue reading “2.7 — John G. Paton and Steeled Conviction & Courage”
Author Archives: Chad Ashby
John G. Paton and the Death of a Young Boy
One of the great things about studying missionaries from the past is the treasury of public domain books to be had free online either at Archive.org or Google Books written by those very missionaries. Recently while reading John G. Paton’s autobiography, I was struck by an account from his years as an inner city missionaryContinue reading “John G. Paton and the Death of a Young Boy”
What If I Miss the Rapture?
So, I did a bad thing this past week. I googled “what if I miss the rapture?” For those who are not familiar with what I’m talking about, “the rapture” is a central piece of a dispensational reading of Revelation. The idea goes that when Jesus returns, he will come back secretly first and takeContinue reading “What If I Miss the Rapture?”
God Is Fair
My children are the fairness police in our home–and most violations have to do with snacks. Here’s how it plays out. One child comes to me and asks for an apple or a string cheese or a cookie, and if they get it, what do they do? Immediately, they go into the other room andContinue reading “God Is Fair”
The Blessing of “And”
Preparing a new sermon on 2 Thessalonians last week, I carried a photocopy of the Greek text into the gym with me (as I often do). For about an hour, I couldn’t make it past the first two words of the letter: “Paul and…” 2 Thessalonians 1:1 And. Such a seemingly insignificant word. The ESVContinue reading “The Blessing of “And””
2.6 — David Brainerd and Power in Weakness
On March 20, 1747, a twenty-nine year old David Brainerd said goodbye to his congregation of Delaware Indians for the last time. His long battle with tuberculosis ended in Northhampton, Massachusetts, on a bed in the home of Jonathan Edwards. He passed away October 9, 1747. Brainerd had been a missionary for only four years.Continue reading “2.6 — David Brainerd and Power in Weakness”
New Posts @ TGC and Southern Equip: ‘Chiasms’ and ‘Hope’
I’ve got a couple of articles up at The Gospel Coalition and Southern Seminary’s blog Southern Equip on two totally different topics, with two totally different tones. The first explores chiasm and symmetry in Scripture. The second shares personal testimony about my own struggles in the early years of ministry and the hope I foundContinue reading “New Posts @ TGC and Southern Equip: ‘Chiasms’ and ‘Hope’”
