It has been the classic for decades: the hero is the regular guy next door who hears the call of destiny, step out into harm's way and by courage, strength or skill overcomes the challenge. The details may differ from story to story, but the storyline is roughly the same, whether it's the Homeric epics of the Greeks and Romans, the Arthurian legends of the Europeans, the bravado of the ancient African warrior or the superhero antics of Batman, Spiderman and Superman.

But that storyline is also true of the great sagas of the Bible. Hebrews Chapter 11 is the Bible's "Who's Who of Faith" and...