This book of fiction is based on truth.
The truth: Saul was met by Jesus on the Road to Damascus and was blind for three days. Through this dramatic encounter, the Rabbi Saul was changed and became known as the Apostle Paul.
The fiction: What did Saul think and pray during those three days? What did he go through? What did the Pharisee of Pharisees have to face and confront as he changed from being the persecutor to one of the persecuted? This story opens the door as to what could have happened to Saul in those three days before he was visited by Ananias, who was also a devout Jew, as Saul was, but who was also a believer and follower of Jesus as the Messiah.
The truth: Saul was met by Jesus on the Road to Damascus and was blind for three days. Through this dramatic encounter, the Rabbi Saul was changed and became known as the Apostle Paul.
The fiction: What did Saul think and pray during those three days? What did he go through? What did the Pharisee of Pharisees have to face and confront as he changed from being the persecutor to one of the persecuted? This story opens the door as to what could have happened to Saul in those three days before he was visited by Ananias, who was also a devout Jew, as Saul was, but who was also a believer and follower of Jesus as the Messiah.
Lindsay has written a vibrant gripping description of how to sanctify your imagination and mind following a traumatic shock.
Relational Divine encounter overcomes learned knowledge and logic based around customs and traditions.
This Sovereign God knows my name and what I do. There is another way, and this short book weaves and unravels the story of a Saul confronted with a levitating rolling ball of flame, speaking intimately to him, with an agape loving, conviction, and sorrow.
Leading to a whole range of questions, insights, on an emotional journey over the next days and nights. Questions, questions…attempted answers none quite hitting the spot.
Saul with the sure and certainty of a brilliant, yet disciplined, mind suddenly had this ‘other’ to contend with. At first it doesn’t fit, yet gradually, whilst not throwing away any of the Divine scroll accurately, carefully, dutifully, passed down as a People’s unique Culture and traditions which Saul had set himself to be the best at…Messiah? Jesus of Nazareth? Could it be?
With an increasing focus on revisiting what Saul knew so well, the impact of this Lord/Messiah who loves, grew bigger and bigger. Overshadowing, yet illuminating, all at once - relationship overwhelms religion, somehow purifying it setting apart in consecration. The fearlessness and courage of the followers of The Way beautifully unwrapped. They live loving with Abundant Life, enjoyed to overflowing measure, all the while in a time and age where loss and death seems to hold no sting.
What was this? Saul of Tarsus, to be renamed Paul, was thoroughly convicted, and finding out he was so intimately loved, at the same time. This Divine interruption seems to mirror Yahweh God’s proposal to the Israelites (each family as well as tribe and nation) in Chapter 19 and 20 of the Books of Exodus. The Awesome Reverential Fear of The One True Living God alighting on the Mount Sinai with a set of covenantal marriage (best Way to live) conditions. When, like Isaiah’s experience in the Throne Room, they become instantly aware of the deep sin unworthiness in their lives. Will you accept? What is your answer? Their response was to cry out in fear and trembling, asking Moses to go face to face with and to stand in between, God and man. Paul’s response, being so very familiar with this passage was different in that, whilst similarly reverentially convicted, there seemed to be a relational intimacy which effectually opens a door that didn’t seem to be there before? Could this really be true?
The Scriptures Paul re-examines in the context of this interruption are profitable to study in themselves, further illuminating the paths his mind was travelling. Set in 1st Century Damascus, beautifully described as a remarkably vibrant, resonating City, this is a fascinating, overflowing with nuances of Life, unputdownable read.
Enjoy!"
Tony G Hodges is an experienced Business & Church Leader, former Director of ICCC UK, and has a passion for pragmatically encouraging multi generations with revelation knowledge entrusted to him. Now a Life Mentor/Coach Tony teaches co-creating relational solutions from Scripture to align clients to the Scroll track written for them.
I like historical fiction and especially this genre of what might have happened during silences in well-known narratives. |
This book describes itself as the untold story of Rabbi Saul. Read this book and you will never see this Rabbi in the same way again. The way that Lindsay has used Scripture is imaginative but more importantly it is illuminating and is what truly brings this story to life. Hopefully it will also challenge its readers to use Scripture to give voice their prayers as the Jewish people have always done and continue to do. It well worth a prayerful read. |