Way of Life Literature
Publisher of Bible Study Materials
Trees in Ancient Israel
The following is enlarged from the book Jews in Fighter Jets: Israel Past, Present, and Future, available from Way of Life Literature in print and eBook editions.In ancient times, the land of Israel was heavily forested. The Bible is a clear witness to this.
In Joshua’s day, the hills in Israel’s heartland (the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh) were called “the wood country” because of the forests (Joshua 17:15, 18).
Absalom was killed in the forest of Ephraim (2 Sa. 18:6, 8). Apparently it was an oak forest, because his head was caught in the branches of a “great oak” (2 Sa. 18:9).
In David’s day, there was a grove of mulberry trees in the valley of Raphaim, which was a couple of miles to the southwest of Jerusalem (2 Sa. 5:23-24). This is the Hebrew baka, which means weeping. Mulberry fruit is mentioned in the 1st book of the Maccabees (1 Macc. 6:34). This is the Morus nigra tree, which has black berries. It is probably the same as the sycamine .. Read More
Bible Commentaries and Twittering Swallows
TWO COMMON PROBLEMS IN USING COMMENTARIES:1. Leaning on them too much. - The Bible student should first go to the Bible and dig out as much meaning as possible for himself. For this, he must get a good understanding of how to interpret the Bible. The equivalent of a Bible Institute education is the starting point to be able to use commentaries effectually and test them properly so as not to be led astray by any error that might be present. We deal with this in the course The Effectual Bible Student, which is available as a free eVideo at https://www.wayoflife.org/free-evideo/index.php
2. Despising them. - On several occasions I have heard people disdain commentaries, but I have learned to love good commentaries and I thank God for them often. I thank God that I read and understand English, because that is where most of the good.. Read More
David Cloud, 1972
Friday Church News Notes
I WAS ABUSED IN THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (Friday Church News Notes, June 21, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - The 2019 annual Southern Baptist Convention was held in Birmingham, Alabama, June 11-12. There were 8,183 messengers from associated churches (meaning churches that contribute to the SBC Cooperation Program). “Southern Baptists acted in support of sexual abuse survivors, embraced ethnic and gender diversity and rallied around the Great Commission” (“Wrap-up: SBC supports survivors, embraced diversity,” Baptist Press, June 13, 2019). An amendment was approved stating that sexual abuse is grounds for a church to be deemed “not in friendly cooperation” with the convention. Recent reports have found evidence of cover ups of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist congregations, and the Convention is trying to deal with it. But they are dealing with it in a typically ineffectual denominational way which fails to address the root causes, which are.. Read More
Liberal Baptist Denominations
The Baptist World Alliance (BWA) is an ecumenical alliance founded in 1905 and currently consisting of 223 Baptist denominations in 120 countries, comprising 42 million members in 177,000 congregations. It is divided into six regional fellowships: North American Baptist Fellowship, Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, All-Africa Baptist Fellowship, Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, Union of Baptists in Latin America, and European Baptist Federation.Members of the BWA include American Baptist Churches USA, Baptist Union of Great Britain, Baptist Union of New Zealand, Convention of Philippine Baptist Churches, General Baptist Church of the Philippines, Luzon Convention of Southern Baptist.. Read More
Is the Church a Democracy?
The following is excerpted from The Discipling Church: The Church That Will Stand until Christ Comes, www.wayoflife.orgDemocracy is another factor that has weakened the discipline of churches.
The democratic political movement of modern times was birthed in America. The rule of kings was replaced with the rule of the people. Though America is not strictly a democracy; it is a democratic republic, which is a democracy under the rule of law, the emphasis is still on the rule of the people. The Declaration of Independence championed “the right of the people,” while the United States Constitution begins with the words, “We the people.” President Abraham Lincoln described the U.S. government as one “of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
,.. Read More
Repentance in Evangelism
Repentance is often a missing element in evangelism today, but it is a prominent theme in the Bible. Following are the answers to some important questions about repentance. This study is expanded from the One Year Discipleship Course and Sowing and Reaping: A Course in Evangelism.Is repentance necessary for salvation?
Many churches don’t preach repentance. They say that only faith is necessary for salvation. But repentance is commanded by God. It is mentioned 60 times in the New Testament.
Repentance was preached by John the Baptist. “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias,.. Read More
Friday Church News Notes
JERUSALEM’S GAY PRIDE PARADE (Friday Church News Notes, June 14, 2019, www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143) - Jerusalem’s annual gay pride parade was held on June 6, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 in attendance. To counter ultra-Orthodox protests, the police had a massive presence, posting officers every 10 to 20 meters along the parade route and stationing helicopters and drones overhead. Israel’s first homosexual justice minister, Amir Ohana, appointed hours earlier by Benjamin Netanyahu, joined the parade. The city government refused chief rabbi Aryeh Stern’s request to remove rainbow flags, instead ordering the removal of protest posters.. Read More
The Pelican (Photo by David Cloud)
The Pelican
The pelican is another one of God’s amazing creatures. It is a large waterfowl that comes in seven or eight varieties. It has webbed feet, large wings, a long bill, and a bag of skin below its beak called a gular pouch. It varies in size from about six pounds to 30. Its wonderfully-designed skeleton weighs less than 10% of its body weight.The pelican cannot straighten its neck, because its eighth vertebra is joined with the seventh and ninth.. Read More
Rome's Mary on the Cross and on God's Throne
For photos of Mary on God’s throne, Mary the Queen of Peace, Mary hanging on the cross, Mary adored by the apostles, and Mary on the ark of the covenant see the following:www.wayoflife.org/database/maryolatry.html
In spite of claims of contemporary Catholic propagandists, the Roman Catholic Church worships Mary. They use the term “venerate,” but it is the same thing.
According to Rome, she was immaculately (sinlessly) conceived, participated in Christ’s suffering for mankind, ascended bodily to Heaven, was crowned Queen of the universe, and intercedes for sinners.
During a radio message concluding the Jubilee of the Redemption, April 28, 1935, Pope Pius XI gave the Catholic Mary the title Co-redemptrix. At least five times Pope Paul II referred to her by this title in his papal statements. In his general audience in 1997, he said.. Read More
The Discipling Church. How to take a church to a higher spiritual level so that it can stand and bear fruit until Jesus comes
A Plea to Southern Gospel Music Fans - A plea for Southern Gospel fans to tear down the bridges that are being built from conservative Southern Gospel-loving homes and churches. .
