The Welcome Valley Reader
About the Welcome Valley Reader
Welcome to Welcome Valley. This is a free site available to anybody who likes to read stories or who is interested in studying the Bible. It is a Christian site, but those who are not Christians are certainly welcome here too. What you will find on this site are a collection of stories springing from the classical narratives of the Bible, a series of short essays, and a set of Bible study guides that will help you to discover what the Bible actually says for yourself. You will also find a series of stories that present the Christian message in very simple English.
To clarify
exactly what is here, the stories are not quoted verbatim from the
Bible. While I have tried to be faithful to the Biblical accounts, I have also
added bits of information from other sources and what we all know of human
nature. The stories are generally family friendly, but they are told at an
adult level. It’s only fair to note that, like history in general, they often
contain an element of violence. There's also an element of my interpretation
involved and an effort to relate the individual story to the bigger picture of
Biblical history. I’ve tried to recognize the difference between my thoughts
and what we know from the record, but do feel free to take your Bible—or a
borrowed Bible—and compare.
You will also notice that the stories are treated as historical. Some scholars won’t like this, but it is my conviction that the histories printed in the Holy Bible are true and accurate accounts.
The Bible study guide
follows a simple format which focuses on what the Bible says rather than the
comments of the author. In this section you will find actual Biblical texts
printed along with other Bible references to look up for yourself. While some
background information is supplied and study questions are included in each lesson,
the main focus is on the Scriptures themselves.
Please don’t let the idea of the
Bible scare you away. The Bible is a lot more interesting and a lot more
relevant than you might think. I encourage you to overcome the fear that many
people have of getting too close to the Bible. It isn’t boring, and it isn’t
dangerous. Go ahead! Look for yourself!
It is appropriate to give credit
where credit is due. Unfortunately, this is difficult. I first heard Bible
stories when I was young enough to be frightened by the scary parts. I grew up
studying them at home, at Sunday school, in a Christian high school, at the
college level, and beyond. God and His book have been a major interest. The
stories were largely written off the top of my head either while or after
reviewing the Biblical accounts. Where I learned some of the extra information,
I can’t always say. Did it come from a teacher? A commentary? A sermon long
forgotten except for one or two details? In many cases I just plain don’t know.
I have used Tyndale House Publishers' The Illustrated Bible
Dictionary for some research. Adam Clarke's commentary has also been
consulted. The Bible study section is similarly indebted to a lifetime exposure
to multiple resources. The primary book, other than the Bible, consulted for
the study section was Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, a book which helps
one find Bible verses based on the words they use. Still, my life has been
enriched by more sources than I can remember. I have tried to avoid unattributed
direct quotes (except maybe from the Bible itself.) If you think
I’ve quoted without giving proper credit or violated a copyright, please e-mail me,
and—assuming that this proves to be the case—I’ll rectify the situation.
This site is noncommercial. Except where
indicated otherwise, the materials you find here have been released to the
public domain. You can download them, copy them, put them on your web site,
print them, e-mail them, distribute them, read them before an audience, etc. No
permission is necessary. You may translate them into any language, but if you
do, I’d appreciate it if you’d supply me with a copy of the translation to
possibly publish here. For a formal statement, please see the
Copyright Information
page.
This site isn’t about me, it’s about the great
Christian reality that has so enriched my life. However, you do have a right to
know who is behind the site. I’m just a Christian bachelor in early middle age.
I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior as a young boy and renewed that
commitment as a teenager. Theologically, you’d describe me as very conservative
and evangelical. While I have studied
the Bible at the college and seminary level, my only degree is an A.A.S. from a
technical college in the area of telecommunications. I do preach part time, but earn my living at a
lumberyard. It is my hope that the information on this site will help
people find everlasting life in Jesus Christ and then to enjoy that life to the
maximum.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. How to Contact
One other item may interest you. The name Welcome
Valley is an English translation of the Native American name for the area
of northwestern Wisconsin where I live. Properly, this shallow valley near my
home is called Bashaw Valley.
Thank you for visiting The
Welcome Valley Reader. Please enjoy your time here, and check back soon
for new material.
C. David Cash
The material on this page is in the public domain and may be copied and distributed freely.
How to Have a Relationship with God
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A Father's Faith * A Man for an Impossible Situation * A Mother's Triumph * All they Did Was Show Up for Work * Angels in the Sky * Dealing with the Evidence * Enforcing the Enforcer * Magic Vs. Miracle * Reclaiming a Failure * Taking Away the Stone * The Beginning * The Decision * The Devoted One * The End of the Boy King * The Flood * The Good Samaritan * The King and the King of Kings * The Making of a Traitor * The Man Who Sold His Rights * The Man Whose Eyes Were Opened * The Outcast * The Secret Agent * The Stranger * The Testing * The View from the Cave * The Weak Commando * Two Men, Two Scandals, Two Results * Where Is the God of Elijah?
Bridges to Burn * Come in Out of the Cold * Dropping Out * Dying Faith * Everything I Didn't Have * Failed Horizons * Failing for the Lord * Fire Danger * Living Water * Negligence * Spring or Rock Formation? * Stepping Toward God * The Beacon * Swimming with Piranhas * The Road Through the Swamp * Tracks in the Woods
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