The "Thirty Minute Series" of Short Stories:

Story 1. ‘The glory of the Lord’: “Shalom, Simeon!” the cry rang out across the temple courtyard.
“Shalom Anna!” the old man called back over his shoulder to the prophetess.
He had no need to turn around from his seat in the courtyard. Simeon had known that unmistakable voice for more than 50 years. “Nothing?” was the simple word she offered. “Nothing yet! In a field, called the ‘Tower of the Flock’ in the countryside at Bethlehem, in Judea, the very thing that they had waited for was unfolding in a glorious fanfare. It was soon after that Simeon, under the unction of the Holy Spirit of God, saw a couple with a baby. His heart was pounding like a drum as he approached them. “Was this the Promise of Israel?” he asked himself. His wildest dreams were not wild enough at what he found.

Story 2: ‘The purest of hearts’ Ruth hurried to the market place. She always came at that late hour, for she could often buy bread and cheese cheaper, because the vendors did not want to throw it away, so they would take less for it than the normal price. The reason for the late hour was that she did not have much money. She had two jobs, but barely had enough money for food. Because her daughter was ill, all the money Ruth earned was spent on food, and at the apothecary for medicine to sustain her, although, none of the medication seemed to help……. He watched her, as he had for weeks, and was aware of her plight. He had devised a plan to get her what she needed, but without it seeming like charity.……. Unfortunately, he had leave on business to Jericho. It would not be a pleasant trip! But one with a very unexpected outcome

Story 3. ‘Virus’: Dr. David (Dave) Smyth signaled his intention and turned his Chevy Tahoe down Blossom Tree Lane. He liked the name of the street, it gendered up thoughts of his childhood, and long hot summer days with his friends, during school break, in Oregon. Then, intruding into the good memories were the not-so-pleasant thoughts of his drunken father, and the beatings that he, his mother, and two brothers received during his father’s ‘bad days’, as his mother used to call them. Blossom Trees conjured up something in his spirit that represented peace and tranquility, but even if the name felt good, it did not lift the gloom that hung over him like a blanket. More and more he had felt that his life was going nowhere and wondered too often if these were the same feelings that his father felt and was unable to control, until they consumed him and pushed him to drinking and uncontrolled violence and the eventual breakup of the family. His life had reached a crossroads, and he did not know where to turn, his intellect and computer skills were of no help, but a friend introduced him to someone who changed his life.
Story 4. ‘The most unlikely man’: Even the dogs snapped at Zacchaeus’ heels as he hurried through the town market in Jericho. He was not going anywhere in particular, but he had learned to walk quickly, with his head down, to avoid people and their rude remarks about him.
“Shalom Isaac,” he called out to a man who was a basket weaver. Isaac was standing amongst a knot of traders, but only managed a mumbled reply to the greeting. Then the man turned to his friends and said something, and they all laughed and watched the 5ft. 3in man hurry on down the road.
He thought that after all these years of this kind of treatment, he would have become used to it, but no, each snub, or snicker, hurt just as much. ‘Don’t they not realize that I am only doing my job?’ Being the chief tax collector was the worse job, as far as the people of Jericho were concerned. So how was his desire to be realized? He met a man who changed everything.

Story 5. ‘The kingdom of God’: Selfish desires, and an appetite for the ‘good life’ was all that Abel wished for. His selfish desires took his loved ones into near ruin, and his own was life plunged into darkness when he became blind. His life came a fight for survival, but he never forgot the love of his life, Dorcas. How stupid he had been, to risk everything on a few months of pleasure, and lose the most important parts of his life. Now, he is relegated to begging in the streets without hope…But was there hope on the horizon?

Story 6. ‘He was blessed by God.’ This is the story of the shepherd boy, David, and his life before he became the King of Israel, and a man after God’s own heart. David was the youngest son of Jesse of Bethlehem, and one who knew no fear, be it beast, or man. He is sent to take food to his older brothers, serving with the army of Israel under King Saul. But it was not a happy band of soldiers he found at the camp. They had come up against a giant named Goliath of Gad. No one will fight the giant….that is, except David.

Story 7. “How says I can’t dance?’ Mishak carried, his crippled since birth, brother Jeroboam, to the entrance to the temple each day, where he would beg for alms. Jeroboam knew that Mishaks’ life was on hold, while he looking after his younger brother. Jeroboam hated being such a burden to him, but his brother would not have it any other way. Mishaks’ faithful dedication did not go unnoticed, and had endeared him to one particular young woman. Family, and love, were the hallmarks of this Jewish tale.