Originally posted on Called. Convicted. Converted.:
The following is an excerpt from Dr Kevin Roy’s book “Zion City RSA” with a few alterations, additions and subtractions by me to make it more suitable for the blogging format. For the full bibliography see the bottom of the article This is the fourth in a series of posts I am doing on pivotal moments for the Gospel in South African history.… Continue reading The Gospel in South Africa #4: The First Indigenous Minister

Of the several commentators I have read regarding the genealogical record in Luke, none have positively maintained that this is the line of Mary. To me this is very curious. The reason most have cited for not regarding Mary is that her name is not mentioned. My reply to this is that the previous context demands Mary be seen as the birth mother of Jesus. … Continue reading Proof of Mary’s Genealogy in Luke 3

A powerful witness to the work of the Spirit in transforming Roman society with its Greek culture to the seed of Abraham. Some things to note in Pliny’s letter: 1. Christians came from every strata of society and not only slaves as some would contend. 2. Significant numbers were involved that, for a time, pagan temples were abandoned. The 1-2% Christian population estimate by some … Continue reading Pliny Persecutes Christians – A.D. 112

It is good for Christians to define their terms biblically so to better realize all we have in Christ. Eph. 4.4-6: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Here, Paul … Continue reading The Nature of the Church: One Body

Matt. 16.13-18: When Jesus came to the area of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the … Continue reading Peter the “Rock”?

It is helpful to see exactly from Scripture what the world consists of since our thinking often becomes muddled. I propose to show that self-righteous, supposedly “do-gooders” are worldly. 1Jn. 2.15-17 gives the qualities of worldliness: Do not love the world or anything in it. If you love the world, love for the Father is not in you.Here is what people who belong to this … Continue reading The World and Worldliness Defined

The Prophet (I will raise up a prophet like you for them from among their fellow Israelites. I will put my words in his mouth and he will speak to them whatever I command.  Dt. 18.18).* Groucho Marx quipped “Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them, well, I have others.”  No human is so one-dimensional as to not have characteristics that round … Continue reading The Prophet

From the Gospel Coalition blog of Don Carson. Much of the Bible is in the form of parables that invite further examination of underlying concepts that point to a truth only found by careful digging. As Proverbs urges: if you look for her (wisdom) as for silver, then you will find the knowledge of God. Dr. Carson is right: “reflect long and often on the … Continue reading Signs, Shadows, and Symbols

The last refrain of Joni Mitchell’s song reverberates to desire for transformation out of “the devil’s bargain”: We are stardust Billion year old carbon We are golden Caught in the devil’s bargain And we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden I grew up singing along with the sentiments expressed in this iconic song — getting back to Eden and somehow righting all the … Continue reading Woodstock, the song: getting back to the garden

This is probably the most famous cylinder seal and it is scheduled to tour the US in 2013. (courtesy Artdaily) I tried to re-blog Ferrell Jenkins’ post about the US tour but could not. Jenkins posted this news at the end of Nov. 2012, here is the link: http://ferrelljenkins.wordpress.com/2012/11/30/cyrus-cylinder-scheduled-for-a-u-s-a-tour/ Continue reading The Cyrus Cylinder

Mesopotamian cylinder seals are small cylinders, generally made of stone and pierced through from end to end so that they could be worn on a string or pin. The surface of the cylinder was carved in intaglio (cut into the stone) with a design, so that when rolled on clay the cylinder would leave a continuous impression of the design, reversed and in relief. Cylinder … Continue reading Cylinder Seal Article (courtesy British Museum)