This book takes six minor characters of the New Testament—the rich young man, the widow and her mite, the centurion Cornelius, one of the ten healed lepers, the good thief, and Peter’s mother-in-law—and presents fictional stories woven into the actual Biblical narrative. Jacob’s story concerns choosing between God and money. Sarah’s story is about believing in Jesus’ power to heal. Cornelius’ story regards coming to faith even in the face of a questionable past. Miriam’s story chronicles her physical and moral restoration leading to a deep personal commitment to Christ. The Dismas story is about forgiveness and inner beauty in the face of disfigurement and confusion. And the Hannah story dramatizes the overcoming of doubt and resentment followed by the discovery of peace and genuine faith. These stories resonate with readers, for the challenges presented are not unlike those faced by contemporary believers and unbelievers alike.

This book is a sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED...but maybe could have. It takes additional minor characters of the New Testament—a pagan woman, two blind men, the father of the apostles Matthew and James, and others--and presents fictional stories about them woven into the actual Biblical narrative. Justa, a pagan woman, is presented with a back story of true faith, genuine love, debilitating tragedy and miraculous healing. She is introduced as a house slave who longs to be respected and loved. Her story follows her as she learns resilience from Mary and Joseph, how to love and be loved from her beloved husband Danel, and her true worth from Jesus. Micah and Asher’s story begins with them as thieves partnering with Eli, an unrepentant ne’er-do-well. Then, through the concern of the apostle Nathaniel, they are lifted up from blindness to sight, both physically and spiritually. The story of Alphaeus is about a man who is obstinate regarding his Jewish beliefs and traditions, even if his stubbornness means being estranged from his sons, Matthew and James, and creating heartache for his wife, Rebecca. Alphaeus’ adamant stand leads him to join Saul in persecuting the first Christians until he and Saul are ironically called to be ambassadors for Christ. These stories engage and inspire, for they not only speak to questions of faith in the context of the start of Christianity, but they also touch on challenges regarding faith and the meaning of life facing contemporary believers and unbelievers alike.

This book is a second sequel to my previous book, SIX BIBLE STORIES THAT NEVER HAPPENED...but maybe could have to complete the trilogy of BIBLE STORIES. It takes additional underdeveloped characters of the New Testament and presents imagined stories about them woven into the Biblical narrative. “Malchus and Photine” is a coming-to-faith story. Malchus’ loses his ear to Simon Peter’s sword and Photine meets Jesus at Jacob’s well. These are transformational moments leading to struggle and salvation. “Didymus” is the story of the Apostle Thomas and his identical twin brother,Tamir, who learn the meaning of sacrificial love through doubt and conflict. “Joanna” is a story about Jewish aristocrats who become disgusted with their rich and powerful lives and come to know that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life.”

Janine Fisher, a talented primary care physician, is whole-heartedly dedicated to the art of healing. But her life is dramatically changed when she is graced with the power to miraculously heal by touch. Skeptical at first, Janine realizes she in fact has the gift of healing touch. Now she is confronted by the struggle to know when she should use this power and how she can overcome the temptation to use this power for self-promotion. As her story unfolds, Janine is faced with many people who need miraculous healing. But then she is faced with the consequences, some negative, of performing miraculous healings on them. She faces doubt, rejection, abandonment, and the ever-present lure of using her healing power for personal enrichment. It is her attempt to stay honest and genuine in terms of this power that leads her to deploy with other medical personnel to worn-torn Sudan. Here her faithfulness to a genuine mission of natural and supernatural healing is severely tested and she is brought to a life-and-death circumstance that calls for heroic action. The story of Janine Fisher is one of personal struggle, faith and a passionate devotion to healing. It is a dramatic telling of one person’s odyssey to use her special gift of healing lovingly even in the face of significant challenges, hostility and the nagging appeal of self-promotion.

Presented here are two volumes of apocryphal writings reflecting the life and time of the Old and New Testaments. Stories told by contemporary fiction writers of historical Bible times in fascinating and beautiful style.

A New York Times bestseller: The “magnificent” memoir by one of the bravest and most original writers of our time—“A tour de force of literature and love” (Vogue). One of the New York Times’ “50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years” Jeanette Winterson’s bold and revelatory novels have established her as a major figure in world literature. Her internationally best-selling debut, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, tells the story of a young girl adopted by Pentecostal parents, and has become a staple of required reading in contemporary fiction classes. Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a “singular and electric” memoir about a life’s work to find happiness (The New York Times). It is a book full of stories: about a girl locked out of her home, sitting on the doorstep all night; about a religious zealot disguised as a mother who has two sets of false teeth and a revolver in the dresser, waiting for Armageddon; about growing up in a north England industrial town now changed beyond recognition; about the universe as a cosmic dustbin. It is the story of how a painful past, rose to haunt the author later in life, sending her on a journey into madness and out again, in search of her biological mother. It is also a book about the power of literature, showing how fiction and poetry can form a string of guiding lights, or a life raft that supports us when we are sinking. Witty, acute, fierce, and celebratory, Why Be Happy When You Could Be Normal? is a tough-minded story of the search for belonging—for love, identity, home, and a mother.

“THE STORY OF PAUL!” Paul Dragon's secrets revealed! Malcolm's father from another dimension has been something of a mystery man – but at long last – we'll see how his story diverges from his Image Universe counterpart's. It's a fascinating glimpse into the past of this hallowed hero!