Apparently, slumber parties in the mid-South 1970s were plied with a strange ritual. At midnight attendees would gather before a mirror and chant “I don’t believe in the Bell Witch� three times to see if the legendary spook would appear alongside their own reflections—a practice that echoes the “Bloody Mary� pattern following the execution of Mary Queen of Scots centuries ago. But that small circuit of preteen gatherings was neither the beginning nor the end of the Bell Witch’s travels. Indeed, the legend of the haint who terrorized the Bell family of Adams, Tennessee, is one of the best-known pieces of folklore in American storytelling—featured around the globe in popular-culture references as varied as a 1930s radio skit and a 1980s song from a Danish heavy metal band. Legend has it that “Old Kate� was investigated even by the likes of future president Andrew Jackson, who was reported to have said, “I would rather fight the British ten times over than to ever face the Bell Witch again.� While dozens of books and articles have thoroughly analyzed this intriguing tale, this book breaks new ground by exploring the oral traditions associated with the poltergeist and demonstrating her regional, national, and even international sweep. Author Rick Gregory details the ways the narrative mirrors other legends with similar themes and examines the modern proliferation of the story via contemporary digital media. The Bell Witch in Myth and Memory ultimately explores what people believe and why they believe what they cannot explicitly prove—and, more particularly, why for two hundred years so many have sworn by the reality of the Bell Witch. In this highly engaging study, Rick Gregory not only sheds light on Tennessee’s vibrant oral history tradition but also provides insight into the enduring, worldwide phenomenon that is folklore.

1 Samuel is an Old Testament book that provides an increased current of truth leading toward the Messiah. It opens with the people of Israel experiencing great spiritual failure: idolatry was rampant (7:3-4), the judges were perverting justice (8:2-3), the priesthood was corrupt (2:12-26) and "worthless" in the eyes of the Lord, and the surrounding nations were constantly harassing Israel. The cumulative affects of neglecting God and His Word are evident in the plight of Israel as a godly remnant struggled to maintain their hope in God's Promise. However, God's sovereign purpose and faithfulness would prevail: "For the Lord will not abandon His people on account of His great name, because the Lord has been pleased to make you a people for Himself." (12:22). We are introduced to Hannah who begged God to provide to her a son who would serve God throughout his life - at the will of God. In God's sovereign purpose, God gave her that son - Samuel - who would serve faithfully as a voice of righteousness. God's faithfulness to Israel would be personified in Samuel, His representative, who would as a result know the rejection of the people in rebellion against God. Instead, the people of Israel desired to have human authority exercised through a king - like the nations that surrounded them. The first king, Saul, represented what the best of human leadership and authority can provide. Without God man is lost in sin and spiritual blindness. God mercifully took the kingdom from Saul and gave it to a "man after God's own heart" - David. This is the point of God's sovereign faithfulness through which the greater Son of David, the Messiah would ultimately come. These exegetical outlines are designed to provide insights into the biblical text by the serious student who desires devotional stimulation. Each chapter handles a thought unit in the text and opens it up for the common believer to gain rich insight. These outlines will enable those who are studying the Scriptures to grow in grace and in a love for the Lord.