Asaph's Fabled Church History Podcast: Recent Episodes
Nathan Birx
An audio companion to the Daily Dose of Dead Guys blog. Sharing the life stories and writings of God's people from the past, inspired by the words of Asaph in Psalm 78:1-4. "I will speak hidden things from the past, which our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come His wonderful works." The podcast episodes are taken primarily from the blog posts. Visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com to see them in print with pictures and other resources. Visit our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/2p8tr3cz
In 1812, Adoniram and Ann Judson were the first missionaries sent out from an American mission board. Today's podcast gives the background to the story and begins to tell the life of Ann. This episode comes from the first three articles on the life of Ann Judson, which you can read (along with some of Ann's own writing that isn't featured here) by visiting www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com.
Contents:
Part 1: Setting the Stage
Part 2: One of the Happiest Creatures on Earth
Part 3: Stuck in the Mud Like a Pig
John makes it only a few days into 1827 before God calls him home. Although he had been isolated and alone for the preceding nine months, he dies surrounded by people who love him.
Weeks before his death, John writes what will prove to be his last letter to one of his college friends. Henry Craik had come to faith through John's example, and John's legacy would live on in Henry's future ministry and friendship with a Christian whose name almost everyone knows.
Following his last day at St. Andrews, John spent the summer and fall as a private tutor to the son of a wealthy family. He had plans to do this for a year, but his time was running out. The time proved to be months of discouragement and lack of fellowship, followed by a severe illness.
John gives a stirring final address to his beloved missionary society. He declares his intentions to go, he pricks consciences, and he stirs his hearers to action. This proves to be the climax of his short life and career, but its effects will be known only in eternity.
Having lost one brother to death the year before, and anticipating a soon departure for mission labors in another country, John writes an urgent letter to his remaining brother to consider the state of his soul.
John's greatest fear about being a missionary isn't the physical danger, but the spiritual. He thinks of many reports he has heard of missionaries who have made shipwrecks of their faith.
John finds that his desire to take the gospel outside the borders of England and Scotland is opposed by friends and family.
John is given the chance to take over a Sunday School from Thomas Chalmers, and this brings him into a closer working relationship with his professor and mentor.
Although plans to study formally under Robert Morrison do not materialize, John gets a chance to meet him and take the first steps toward learning Chinese.
John faces a decision: should he leave St. Andrews in order to study under Robert Morrison, who is temporarily home from China?
Death comes to John's family, but he is encouraged by the growth of the mission society.
John meets two men, a professor and a fellow student, who have a significant impact on his spiritual growth.
In our last episode, John was born again just before his 16th birthday. He immediately threw his available time and energy into ministry and plans for future missionary work. He was filled with zeal and urgency, as if he somehow knew that his time on earth would be short. To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of John Urquhart, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
Years of parental teaching and listening to sermons had filled John with an understanding of Scripture. Now, as a young teenager, the Holy Spirit breathes life into his soul. To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of John Urquhart, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
John begins his studies at the great University of St. Andrews. To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of John Urquhart, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive
John Urquhart was born and died in Scotland. God saved him at 16, and his heart was instantly drawn toward missionary work. He was a gifted student at the University of St. Andrews and his zeal stirred up his friends to dedicate their own lives to taking the gospel to places where it had never been heard. John died suddenly at 18 and never made it to the field. But the influence he had on his friends played a large part in their combined 141 years of missionary labors. To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of John Urquhart, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive
Not one of us would be here today without God's providence and protection in the lives of our ancestors. Think of it—if just one guy and girl connection hadn't been made in your family tree, you wouldn't be here. Today we reflect on one very important "guy and girl" meeting in the Bible, and I share a tragic story from the life of my 4th great-grandmother.
To see this article with pictures, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/blog/what-are-the-chances-of-seeing-you-here
To see it in slideshow form, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulCunK5e-58&t=2s
Nevins wrote sporadically in a journal. The original does not seem to have survived, but extracts were published in a short memoir written of him shortly after his death. This episode looks at some of his entries that consider his role as a pastor; they show a man of humility and self-deprecation. May God give our generation multitudes of men who think and act like this.
To see this article, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
When he was no longer able to preach, William began writing for Christian periodicals. Death was a constant companion in the 19th century, especially in his own life. This caused him to think about the uncertainty of life and the thin veil that separates this world from the next. This episode is comprised of an article he wrote, in which he describes life as walking along the edge of a cliff. At any moment it can all be over.
To see this article, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
In 1830, Louisa Key, the 18-year-old sister of William's wife, traveled to Louisiana with friends. She left in perfect health but was suddenly laid low by disease and died in a short time. In this episode we consider the brevity of life and look over William's shoulder as he records his deep sadness in his journal. He grieves her life, unsure if she died in the faith, and grieves his failures to more earnestly plead with her to look to Christ for salvation.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
Many of us find ourselves burdened with the cares of life in an uncertain world. We are not the first generation to feel this way. William Nevins knew many cares in his day, including the loss of two children and his wife and her mother. He wrote this article to encourage Christians to cast their cares upon God, because it is in God's nature to care for us. We do not need to fear that He is too exalted to care for the troubles of our lives. Nevins speaks of orphans in this article, and he does so knowing that when his own weakened health gives way, his remaining children will be left parentless.
To see this article, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 that God does not often choose the mighty or noble, opting rather to show his power and grace through the weak and despised people of this world. But there are times when He does call a prominent person to himself. William Wirt was such a person. He served as the Attorney General of the United States under Presidents James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. Highly respected in his day, William Nevins took time after his death to write a public tribute as his pastor.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
Following the onset of an illness that kept him from preaching and would eventually take his life, William Nevins began to write articles for publication. Today's is entitled, "Are you happy because you are religious?" He points out the fact that there are people who consider themselves generally happy who are religious, or even call themselves Christians. But he drives home the point that this is not enough. Our happiness must come from our religion (Christian faith). Joy is no less a fruit of the Spirit than love. 1 John tells that if we do not have love, we do not know God. Can we safely say that we know God if we do not have joy?
To see this article, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
After his wife's early and unexpected death in 1834, William wrote a short memorial of her life in a Christian periodical.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
William Nevins experiences painful and unexpected losses of family members before his own "premature" death at the age of 38.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
Ministry, Marriage, and Revivals. William Nevins experiences the greatest joys of his life.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
William begins his first (and only) pastorate in Baltimore.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.
An introduction to the life of William Nevins (1797-1835). Born in Connecticut, and son of a Revolutionary War veteran, he was born again while a young student at Yale. He studied at Princeton Seminary while that school was still in its infancy, then tried to determine how he could best serve the Lord with his remaining years. At the time of his early death, he was considered one of the most gifted preachers in America.
To see this article with pictures, and for more on the life of William Nevins, visit www.dailydoseofdeadguys.com/archive.