Hi ,
In this newsletter, we continue a serial expanding the novelette "Paul in Snippets" by including extra sketches exploring events in the life of Saul, later renamed Paul. I hope that you enjoy it.
Coming soon...
Another novel is currently being edited for publication. "Beyond the Western Margin" is a contemporary novel for young adults that presents life in a possible near future. For more information, look below the serial.
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Book 2: Before Christ (continued)
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Chapter 5 – To Damascus
Acts 9:1-3; Acts 22:4-5, 19; Acts 26:9-11; Galatians 1:13-14
Synagogues in different countries had significant autonomy. Local elders settled local problems with little interference from the religious leadership in Jerusalem. But there was a central authority, and the high priest flexed his muscles from time to time.
Paul heard that the followers of Jesus had spread to many different cities and towns, and he was eager to apply his “methods” to believers in Damascus. The high priest was all cooperation, and letters of authority were duly signed and given to Paul.
It took the best part of a week to travel to Damascus, and Paul was champing at the bit. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the harmless, the innocent and the gentle. His attendants were baying for blood too.
Damascus was well in sight when the unthinkable happened. In a blinding flash, Paul met the man who simply had to be dead.
Sketch 5.1
We’ll be at the gates of Damascus soon, and then I can finally get on with what I came for. It’s so much better keeping busy with important work. All this travelling time has me thinking round and round in circles.
Anyway, those rebels who think they can overturn our ancient religion must be stopped in Damascus too. I think we’re in the process of getting them under control in Jerusalem and across Judea, but we can’t ignore places like this. Heresy like this must not be allowed to infiltrate our Jewish culture. Hopefully, if we time it properly, we can break down their advances here and the whole movement will collapse.
But I keep asking myself: why are they so stubborn? Why won’t they give up when it brings them so much suffering? And why are they so successful?
I’m willing to give them a chance to recant, but why are they so determined not to return to the faith? I have to admit that most of them are honourable people – amazingly so, really. If we could straighten them out, they’d be really good examples of what Judaism is all about. Yet they keep twisting Scripture to make it say that Jesus is the centre of God’s plan.
How can this Jesus be more important than Moses? It sounds like he was an amazing man in some ways, but he caused so much trouble! Some of our leaders paint everything he did as black, yet the people I arrest paint him as white as light. If only I could’ve met him and heard his teachings – been able to make up my own mind!
But I missed out on that, and nothing can change it now.
So, Jesus is dead. I just can’t understand how his followers can be so badly misled. How can they keep on believing in him and preaching about him when he’s dead? Why do they talk about resurrection? They must know that he didn’t rise from the dead – after all, it was their own leaders who went and stole the body. How can they claim he rose when they know he didn’t? That’s just dishonest! Besides, if he really is alive, how come nobody ever sees
him? He spent plenty of time in the temple in Jerusalem before he died, so if he’s alive again, why not now?
He’s dead, dead, dead, and his followers should just admit it and get back to the true worship of God.
I can’t help wishing that some of our own leaders were as upright, genuine and humble as many of those I’ve arrested. However, they believe such wrong things, so surely that must override the good they do? Enough. I’ll keep on attacking them; do my best to help them to change, and stop them doing more damage.
Ah, it’ll be good to get to Damascus after such a long journey. It’ll be a relief to able to get on with doing something instead of having my thoughts tormenting me all the time!
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Chapter 6 – New Sight
Sketch 6.1
What is that light? Getting brighter and brighter! Light in the sky; it must be from heaven. What’s going on?
Is this God’s light? It must be the glory of God. Oh, I can’t stand up any more! This is too much. I must kneel… no… get down on the ground. It’s terrifying; I must hide!
“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
Who’s that speaking? Nobody I’ve been punishing can do anything like this! The light is so bright, it hurts. “Who are you, Lord?”
“I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.”
But Jesus is dead! And he was a man, not a blinding light. It doesn’t make sense: but he’s speaking in our language, and his followers claim that he’s alive, and that he’s in heaven. I can’t deny that it’s happening, so I’ll just have to accept it for now.
“What shall I do, Lord?”
“Rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
What’s happening now? The light has gone. In fact, I can’t see anything! Where am I? I’m still on the ground. Maybe if I stand up I’ll be able to see.
I still can’t see. Where is everyone? There’s no sound of movement, no-one’s speaking. “Who’s there?” Oh, my voice is so quavery. Will anyone hear me?
“Sir, are you alright?”
“I can’t see. Did you see the bright light?”
“Yes, sir. It was very bright.”
“And did you hear his voice?”
“I heard a voice, sir, but I couldn’t understand any words. Did you hear words, sir?”
“I heard words alright. Words from a dead man… but… then he can’t be dead!”
“There’s no-one extra here, sir, and no particular light either – not now. It must have been lightning, and what you thought was a voice must have been thunder.”
“No, it was a voice. The voice of Jesus of Nazareth.”
“But he’s dead. Pilate killed him.”
“Maybe – but that voice was him, speaking to me.” How can that be? I’m blind after talking to a dead man who isn’t here. It’s ridiculous. I’ve got to go and… Calm down, Saul. Calm down. He told you what to do. Yes. I must go into the city, and once I get there, I’ll find out what I’m meant to do.
“Are you all there, men?”
“Yes, we’re all here, Saul. A bit confused, but well enough.”
“Hurry, men. Lead me into the city. Take me to Judas’ house.”
“Yes, sir. Here’s my hand.”
Acts 9
A light from the sky changed everything for Paul.
Jesus had to be dead. But he wasn’t.
Paul just had to be right, didn’t he? But he wasn’t.
The light, the voice, the commands. How could Paul deny Jesus when he had spoken to him? Darkness came after the light. It had all been too much for Paul’s eyes. He was blind.
Led into Damascus by his attendants, he struggled to come to terms with the new situation. Jesus was alive. He could no longer deny that!
But, oh! What had he done? The people he had persecuted: the beatings, imprisonment, torture and even death. What had he done? And now, what could he do?
Wrong, wrong, wrong. Everything he had been trying to do was wrong, and he wrestled with his understanding and his conscience. Guilt for wrongs which could never be righted. Sorrow for suffering inflicted on the innocent.
Paul could have given up then. But he didn’t. He could have denied that he had ever met Jesus and continued with his plans in Damascus – except that he was blind.
Day by day in the house of Judas, Paul struggled, eating nothing and drinking nothing. Three days of black darkness, but with a growing insight.
After three days, he was ready, and Jesus sent a believer to prove it hadn’t been a dream and to keep nudging him along a new path.
Ananias heard of his task with dismay. He knew about Saul. Had heard of the letters he was carrying and the authority vested in him. Ananias was no fool: he did not want to go. But Jesus was gently insistent, explaining to him that Saul was expecting him – by name.
Paul sat in his personal darkness, waiting for the knock to come. Would it come or was he going mad? But there it was, and the visitor was brought in and announced as “Ananias”. Laying his hands on Paul, he called him “brother” and spoke of the Lord Jesus who had appeared to Paul. He knew it all, thought Paul. How?
Immediately something seemed to fall off Paul’s eyes and he could see. What a difference a few days had made! If he had met this man a few days before, he would have been trying to kill him. Now, he was thanking him profusely and asking him to baptise him as the followers of Jesus were all baptised.
A new life was before him and new sight within him.
Sketch 6.2
Three days of blackness. No message from Jesus, yet. It almost makes me begin to question my experience on the road. Yet I saw him; I heard him. He said I would be told what to do, but so far, I’ve heard nothing.
Did I imagine it?
I can’t have. And after three days of thinking, I’m persuaded that Jesus really is the Messiah. All of those Psalms and prophecies in Scripture that fit with what happened to Jesus. How could I never have seen them before?
The gambling for his clothes. His pierced hands and feet. His silence in the face of false witnesses. The mockery of our leaders. Even his words just before his death, straight from the Psalm: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” That’s right, three days of thought and prayer have convinced me utterly: Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah.
Yet until now I’ve dedicated my life to fighting him. “Kicking against the goads,” he said. Oh, how right he was! I knew that the men and women I was attacking were genuine: just and righteous people. I knew it, but I fought it. What a fool I’ve been!
How long will I have to wait now? Many of those I put in prison are still there, waiting. Will I stay in this situation for years? I would deserve it. Perhaps that’s what Jesus meant when he said I would be shown what to do. Perhaps he will teach me through years of blindness, forced to suffer as I have made others suffer.
I can never redeem what I have done. Nothing can justify or undo my actions. Innocent men and women have died because of me. Oh, God! Forgive me, although I can never deserve it.
A voice! “Sir, there’s a man to see you. His name is Ananias.”
[To be continued]
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Coming soon: Beyond the Western Margin
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Begun during NaNoWriMo in November 2021, this is a story for young adults about a possible near future.
The COVID pandemic has ravaged Australia, leaving the country fractured and society in retreat. In Melbourne, economic troubles and an ongoing fear of even more dangerous strains of the virus lead to an increasing desire for isolation and tighter governmental control.
When the government announces new movement restrictions, Dan and his family seize what might be their last chance to escape the city and the shrinking territory of Victoria that surrounds it.
Many warn them about the "uncivilised" country beyond the Western Margin, but for the family, the attractions overcome their doubts.
They make for the Grampians – a former National Park – where the family has spent many happy holidays in pre-pandemic days. But times have changed, and some people are doing their best to exploit the lack of governmental control.
There's no shortage of work to be done, including solving some mysterious robberies.
Will they regret their choice to go Beyond the Western Margin?
Final editing of the book will be finished soon (God willing), and I will then be looking for people who can help us with reviewing and hopefully (if they like it), promoting the book. Although the book is targeted at young adults, I think adults could also enjoy it, so don't count yourself out just because you're an adult!
f you are interested in reading the book and writing a review of it (short or long), or have contact with a young adult who is interested, please reply to this email now and I will provide an eBook copy as soon as it is ready. I can send you a draft of the first chapter for you to think about.
Thanks.
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May the Lord bless you and keep you all safe this week.
Mark Morgan
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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