February 2006

Contents of this issue of the Joan K. Snipes e-newsletter:

- Setting the captive free;
- Ink and Blood: Sacred Treasures of the Bible;
- Eleanor L. Smith's book, "Researching the Scriptures, Old Testament;"
- Important notice regarding subscriptions to this e-newsletter;
- Upcoming Bible workshops in Texas, California and Nevada.

SETTING THE CAPTIVE FREE

Those of us who look to the Bible for guidance, hope and inspiration invariably find answers. Often, stories in the Scriptures provide examples of how others have persevered when put in difficult circumstances.

The news of journalist Jill Carroll's abduction on January 7 has prompted people from around the world to pray. The Bible contains several examples of "the opening of the prison to them that are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)

On two occasions Simon Peter was freed from prison by an angel. (See chapters 5 and 12 of Acts.) The author of Acts notes that on the second occasion "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

Paul and Silas were freed from prison by a great earthquake. Paul intervened when the keeper of the prison "would have killed himself," and the magistrates subsequently brought them out of the prison "and desired them to depart out of the city." (See Acts 16:14-40)

Daniel was protected in the lions' den, Jeremiah was rescued from the mire of a dungeon, Joseph was released from prison, and the Israelites escaped from Egyptian bondage. Although the circumstances vary, each one of these accounts gives assurance that people can gain freedom, even when the situation looks impossible. Daniel's response to the worried king is an example of how the deliverances occurred: "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths...."

When Christ Jesus read from the book of Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth, he gave an assurance that resonates to this day: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." (Please see Luke 4:16-21)

James Montgomery wrote a hymn based on Psalm 72 that stirs hope:

Hail to the Lord’s anointed, great David’s greater Son!
Hail in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!
He comes to break oppression, to set the captive free;
To take away transgression and rule in equity.

(These are Montgomery original words, as posted on www.cyberhymnal.org. The words to this hymn have been adapted in some church hymnals. )

INK AND BLOOD: SACRED TREASURES OF THE BIBLE

On a recent speaking trip to Florida, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit a wonderful Bible exhibit at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg. One highlight of the visit for me was seeing a press designed to look similar to what Gutenberg's might have looked like. I learned a great deal about the history of the Bible and would commend this exhibit to anyone interested in the Bible. The title of the exhibit comes from an acknowledgment of over 300 martyrs who persisted in their efforts to get the Bible translated into English. Most notable of those courageous scholars was William Tyndale.

Even if you can't visit the exhibit in Florida, you will enjoy learning more about the artifacts on display by visiting this informative website:
http://www.inkandblood.com/

The exhibit will be in St. Petersburg until May 14. Later in May, it will move to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach.

ELEANOR L. SMITH'S BOOK, "RESEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES, OLD TESTAMENT"

This past fall I enjoyed reading a book by Bible scholar Eleanor L. Smith entitled: "Researching the Scriptures, Old Testament." This book, published in 1980, is an excellent guide for in-depth Bible study, whether done individually or in a group. Ms. Smith received her Masters Degree in Religion at Claremont College Divinity School. Ms. Smith visited the Holy Land with Edith Armstrong Hoyt and later assisted Laura Pleming on Bible study tours.

The Smith book consists of a series of short chapters that focus on key Bible stories followed by worksheets. All the main stories from Genesis through the Restoration are included.

To order Smith's book, please send a check for $12.50 (which includes postage) to her sister:
Marie E. Graser
315 Julie Ann Drive
Oregon City, OR 97045

All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Sunday School of First Church of Christ, Scientist, Lake Oswego, Oregon.

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING SUBSCRIPTIONS TO THIS E-NEWSLETTER

Because of the administrative work involved in maintaining a mailing list with over 850 subscribers, I can no longer offer the e-newsletter free of charge. From now on, there will be a $10 per calendar year fee to subscribe to this e-newsletter. If you would like to continue receiving the e-newsletter, published six times per year, you may subscribe using two different options: (1) by check or (2) by credit card or bank account deduction via PayPal (an established, safe way to make online payments.) If you enjoy reading the e-newsletter and cannot afford the annual fee of $10, please drop me a note. I don't want to lose interested readers because of this change.

E-newsletter subscribers can also feel free to consult me via phone or email with Bible-related or Sunday School teaching questions.

If you opt to pay via check, please send $10 (now and each subsequent January) to:

Bible Teaching Press
1070 Willowdale Drive
Shepherdstown, WV 25443

If you wish to use PayPal, please respond to the email that will be sent to all current subscribers from PayPal offering this option. Although PayPal's standard wording is: "Bible Teaching Press (snipes@principia.edu) would like to be paid through PayPal," you are still welcome to send a check. The PayPal email is being sent simply to enable you to use a credit card to subscribe utilizing their system. Although you will need to provide PayPal some information, there is no fee to you for using PayPal.

I began writing these e-newsletters in 2001. The archive of thirty issues (published over the course of the last five years) will remain on my website for anyone to read free of charge. However, I will not be posting additional issues there. So, please subscribe if you want to keep reading my Bible-related essays and book reviews.

The next issue of this e-newsletter will be published in April 2006.

BIBLE WORKSHOPS IN TEXAS, CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA

Details for upcoming Bible workshops are listed under "events" on my website, www.authorsden.com/joanksnipes. I will be speaking in Austin, North Richland Hills, and New Braunfels, Texas. In April, I will be in Bakersfield and Los Angeles. On May 20, I will be in Reno, Nevada. Those of you in California, Oregon, and Washington who are interested in hosting one of my three workshops should contact me as soon as possible to schedule remaining dates in April, May and June. Your church will save significantly on travel costs if you can act quickly and coordinate with workshops already scheduled.

Yours truly,

Joan Koelle Snipes

Volume 6; No. 1
Published six times a year by:
Bible Teaching Press
1070 Willowdale Drive
Shepherdstown, WV 25443
home: 304-876-1332
cell: 410-967-5013

ARCHIVED E-NEWSLETTERS
To read 30 past issues of my archived e-newsletters on the Internet, please visit:
http://www.authorsden.com/joanksnipes

THAT YE MAY TEACH THE CHILDREN
To read the preface, introduction and bibliography of my book, "That Ye May Teach the Children," click http://tinyurl.com/2wsom To order the book for $29.95, please send me a reply email. For those who have already purchased a copy, there is a discount for additional copies -- only $20.00 each, postpaid.

BOOKLET AVAILABLE
"Exploring the Bible: Essays, Worksheets and Resources," a 45-page booklet by Joan K. Snipes, is available from Bible Teaching Press. This booklet is a compilation of material written in the first 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 $10.00 per booklet plus $2.00 shipping via first class mail for the first copy and $1.00 for each additional copy. To order, please send a check to Bible Teaching Press.

ABOUT EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGES
Every time I distribute this e-newsletter, some emails bounce. If you want to continue receiving this e-newsletter, please send me your new address when it changes. So I can reach you in case of a returned email, please drop me a line with some alternate contact information such as your full name and phone number.