I was talking with a friend today about John Piper’s biographical sketch of John G. Patton. Here’s a little blurb on it:

Upon hearing Paton’s intention to go, a Mr Dickson exploded, “The cannibals! You will be eaten by cannibals!” To this Paton responded, “Mr Dickson, you are advanced in years now, and your own prospect is soon to be laid in the grave, there to be eaten by worms; I confess to you, that if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by cannibals or by worms; and in the Great Day my Resurrection body will rise as fair as yours in the likeness of our risen Redeemer.” (p. 56) This is the kind of in-your-face spiritual moxie that would mark Paton’s whole life.

I recommned buying the tape, Piper adds his own passion to the story. Failing that, why not read the transcript?