December 2003

Contents of this issue of the Joan K. Snipes e-newsletter:
- "Exploring the Bible," a new 45-page booklet available
- A Christmas Alphabet Poem
- Tasha Tudor's book
- Rev. Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's book
- honor bestowed on Bible related books by Lynne Bundesen and Carol Meyers
- upcoming Bible workshops in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California
- gift ideas: wooden nativity sets and Noah's ark toys

Dear Readers,

I am happy to announce the availability of a new 45-page booklet entitled: "Exploring the Bible: Essays, Worksheets and Resources." This booklet is a compilation of the material I have written in the previous 17 issues of this e-newsletter. The information has been reorganized, slightly rewritten, and edited. A two-page table of contents makes finding specific information easy. The booklets are printed on 8 1/2 x 11 paper and bound in a simple folder. The cost is $5.00 per booklet plus $2.00 shipping via first class mail for the first copy and $1.00 for each additional copy. Thus the total price for one copy is $7; for two copies, $13. To order, send a check to:

Bible Teaching Press
1070 Willowdale Drive
Shepherdstown, WV 25443

Note: please send me an email when you have mailed your check so that I can be sure to have adequate copies on hand and get your orders filled quickly.

I found a version of the following charming Christmas Alphabet Poem on the Internet at: www.dltk-bible.com/alphabet-poem.htm. If you will be spending Christmas in a home with children, you might consider reading this aloud at some point during the holiday.

A Christmas Alphabet Poem

A is for Angels, appearing so bright, telling of Jesus that first Christmas night.
"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host." Luke 2:13.

B is for Bethlehem, crowded and old, birthplace of Jesus by prophet foretold.
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel." Micah 5:2.

C is for Cattle, their manger His bed, there in the trough where He laid His head.
"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." Luke 2:7.

D is for David and his ancient throne promised forever to Jesus alone.
"He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David." Luke 1:32.

E is for East, where shone the bright star which Magi on camels followed afar.
"Behold, there came wise men from the east asking 'Where is the king of the Jews?'"
Matthew 2:1,2.

F is for Frankincense, with myrrh and gold, brought by the Wise Men as Matthew has told.
"And when they had opened their treasurers, they presented unto him gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh." Matthew 2:11.

G is for God, who from heaven above sent down to mankind the Son of His love.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

H is for Herod, whose murderous scheme was told to Joseph in a nocturnal dream.
"The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt... for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."
Matthew 2:13.

I is for Immanuel, "God with us," for Christ brought man back to the Father's house.
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14.

J is for Joseph so noble and just, obeying God's word with absolute trust.
"Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife." Matthew 1:24.

K is for King. A true king He would be, coming in power and authority.
"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, the King cometh unto thee; he is just, and having salvation." Zechariah 9:9.

L is for Love that He brought down to earth; many shall rejoice at his birth.
"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9.

M is for Mary, His mother so brave, counting God faithful and mighty to save.
"And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."
Luke 1:38.

N is for Night, when the Savior was born for nations of earth and people forlorn.
"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night." Luke 2:8.

O is for Omega, meaning "the last;" He's eternal present, future and past.
"I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13.

P is for Prophets, when living on earth foretold His redemption and blessed birth.
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a sceptre will rise out of Israel." Numbers 24:17.

Q is for Quickly, as shepherds who heard hastened to act on that heavenly word.
"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
Luke 2:16.

R is for Rejoice. The sorrow of sin is banished forever when Christ enters in.
"And you will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth." Luke 1:14.

S is for Savior. To be this He came; the angel of God assigned Him His name.
"She will bring forth a son, and you will call his name JESUS, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21.

T is for Tidings of joy, not of danger, telling of Him who was laid in a manger.
"And the angel said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." Luke 2:10.

U is for Us, to whom Christ was given to show us the way and take us to heaven.
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11.

V is for Virgin, foretold by the sage, God's revelation on prophecy's page.
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23.

W is for Wonderful, His works and His words, the King of all Kings, the Lord of all Lords.
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given... and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6.

X is for Christ. It's X in the Greek, Anointed, Messiah, mighty, yet meek.
"God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power." Acts 10:38.

Y is for Yes, called God's Yes in His Word; with glory and might is Jesus now gird.
"For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."
II Corinthians 1:20.

Z is for Zeal as it burned in Christ's heart. Lord, by thy Spirit to us zeal impart.
"And his disciples remembered that it was written, the zeal of your house has eaten me up."
John 2:1.

Tasha Tudor's "The Lord is My Shepherd"

This fall I ordered a copy of a Bible picture book illustrated by Tasha Tudor. The words are from the King James Version of the Bible. The illustrations are sweet and include children, animals, pastoral scenes, churches, and villages. This is a lovely, traditionally-styled paperback that I highly recommend. If you're looking for a nice gift book for a child, this is available from any bookstore by special order.

Tudor, Tasha. "The Lord Is My Shepherd: The Twenty-third Psalm." New York: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1980.

Another nice book, appropriate for children aged 6 to 10 is "Kid's Bible Story Book" written by Jesse Lyman Hurlbut. Rev. Hurlbut's lifework was telling and then writing Bible stories in a compelling, accurate way. The fact that his work has sold over four million copies and endured decade after decade is a testimony to the timelessness of his retelling. The earliest edition is 1904! Currently available is a 1994 paperback edition which is 363 pages long and sells at any bookstore for $2.97. The illustrations by Marvin Jarbo are small, pen and ink.

I recommend this classic book for both children and parents who want to better learn the stories themselves.

Hurlbut, Jesse Lyman. Kid's Bible Story Book. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Barbour Books, 1994.

Honor bestowed on books by Lynne Bundesen and Carol Meyers
The Washington Chapter of the Women's National Book Association marked its 25th anniversary in 2003. In celebration, chapter members recommended books authored by women and published within the past 25 years that they have found particularly memorable and enjoyable. I am a member of this organization and am very pleased that two books I nominated made this list of 25 good books. They are both books that I have mentioned before in this e-newsletter: Lynne Bundesen's book, "So the Woman Went Her Way," and Carol Meyers's "Women in Scripture." To see the full list, please see: www.wnba-books.org/wash/lists.html

Bible workshops
I am continuing to give Bible workshops around the country. I'll be in Haddonfield, NJ on February 28, 2004; Berwyn, PA on March 20, 2004; and the annual Bible Study Seminar at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove, California June 20-24.

If your church or organization would like to sponsor one of my three Bible workshops, please email me for further information. Each workshop lasts 2 1/2 hours.

Christmas gift ideas: wooden nativity set and Noah's ark toy

Making sure that the next generation of children are biblically literate is a responsibility that falls to us. The best way to do this, of course, is to tell and read Bible stories to children. But, there are other ways to help children become familiar with the Bible. One fun way is to give them Bible-related toys. I get a lot of catalogs this time of year and have spotted some very nice looking ones. Below are just a sampling of those available online.

For a nativity set for $39.95 and Noah's ark for $59.95, please see:
http://www.gummylump.com/front/f_category.php?id=89

For an heirloom ark with 20 pairs of animals ($225.), see: http://www.animalsandarks.com/heirloomark.htm

Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 3; No. 6
Published six times a year by:
Bible Teaching Press
1070 Willowdale Drive (Please note our new street address!)
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
304-876-1332

To read my archived e-newsletters on the Internet, please visit:
http://www.authorsden.com/joanksnipes

To read the preface, introduction and bibliography of my book, "That Ye May Teach the Children," please visit: www.signature-book.com and go to the book shelf section. To order the book for $29.95, please send me a reply email. For those who have already purchased a book, there is a discount for additional copies -- only $19.95 each.

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