eBook ISBN: 9798227159359
Paperback ISBN: 9798227165350
Emunah Short Stories Book 4: John
by Janice Wee
With his mother's health declining and ruthless Rabbi Caleb harassing them for money, John feels trapped. John learns of a weightlifting competition with a cash prize that could cover his mother's medical expenses and free them from Caleb. Can the frail young man conquer the odds and save his mother? This inspiring tale of perseverance and inner strength will leave you cheering for the underdog.
Part of the Emunah Chronicles
See where John's story fits in the complete timeline from the Pre-Tribulation Rapture through the Millennial Kingdom.
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Book Excerpt
Samson killed a lion with his bare hands. He pulled up the gates of the city and carried them to the top of a hill at midnight as a prank. Samson, of the tribe of Dan, was John's great (a great many greats) grandfather's brother on his mother's side. John's father, and therefore John himself, was from the tribe of Benjamin. But hey, John still had Samson's DNA through mom, so that counts. Sort of. Pride swelled in John's heart as he reflected on his heritage. He studied the man in the mirror, examining his smooth spaghetti-like arms, a product of his sedentary lifestyle. Lifting books didn't help his physique. Maybe he should keep his hair long? It worked for Samson. Who was he kidding?
Author's Notes
Grandpa's nickname was superman. He could do all the stunts the strongman in a circus might perform. On top of that, his favourite stunt was to lie on the ground face up, hands behind his shoulders, four muscular men balancing on his body from his shoulders to his hips while he lifted everyone off the ground in a reverse pushup, holding that pose for a photograph. My dad was skinny with an 18 inch waist in his youth. Embarrassed, he took up body building. The transformation was astounding. On my mother's side, grandma's brother was a competitive bodybuilder. He trained his son, my uncle, Ah Joo, to represent our nation in weightlifting competitions. His mom cooked for him, to fuel his training and prepare him for the competitions. Grandma would bring me along with her on visits to their home, where the conversations revolved around weightlifting. It's the only sport I know enough to write about, through osmosis, listening to the family discuss the ins and outs of competitive weightlifting. My sports fiction, John, is inspired by these strong men who raised me when I was little.