World Upside Down: The Life of Paul, God's Chosen Messenger

By Louis McCall

This book tells the story of an uncompromising Pharisee and religious bigot named Saul, later renamed Paul, who initiated the first persecution of Christians, including approving the death of Christianity's first martyr, Stephen, after the crucifixion of Jesus. To Saul, those Jews who followed Jesus were heretics fit for imprisonment or death. T

• Language: English
• Publisher: Louis McCall International
• Release date: Apr 8, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892281003

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World

Upside Down

The Life of Paul, God’s Chosen Messenger

Louis McCall

Copyright © 2024 by Louis McCall.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without a prior written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review, and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by the copyright law.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024903999

ISBN: 979-8-89228-092-1 (Paperback)

ISBN: 979-8-89228-100-3 (eBook)

Printed in the United States of America

The cover picture is of a section of the wall of old Damascus, Syria that has been preserved. The partially bricked over window is the place where Paul is believed to have been let down in a large basket to escape those seeking to take his life. The cast metal statue nearby represents Paul falling from his horse on the road to Damascus in his encounter with the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to God the Holy Spirit who put it in me to write this book. I didn’t think I was up to the task or know whether it should be a single book or several volumes. I just began writing and relied on the Holy Spirit for guid ance.

I also want to dedicate this book to the memory of the apostle Paul of Tarsus. I gained a new understanding of Paul, the challenges, and obstacles that he faced, and his dogged determination to fulfill the assignment he received directly from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul had no detailed blueprint. The scriptures, the words of Jesus during his earthly ministry, and Paul’s encounters with the resurrected Christ in visions, along with the guidance and one on one teaching of the Holy Spirit, and angelic messengers, were his marching orders, signs, and confirmations. The rest was a walk of faith. His itinerary was determined by the leading of the Holy Spirit. He organized the network of churches that he set up, revisited them like a circuit rider, assembled a multinational evangelistic team of men and women, Hebrews and former pagans, appointed leaders, and gave detailed instructions through his letters on how to worship God, preserve apostolic teaching, maintain discipline, and be ready to suffer for the gospel.

Paul was tough as nails. He endured multiple beatings, a stoning, evaded conspiracies to kill him, survived satanic schemes to take his life, and, in the end, boldly faced martyrdom. By his perseverance, witness, and demonstration of the power of God, he, along with others, turned the world upside down.

Acknowledgments

The King James Version of the Holy Bible served as the source book for this fictional account. Although fictional, this book is based on what is recorded in the Bible. Where dialogue is taken from the Bible, it was paraphrased by the author into modern colloquial English. Other dialogue comes from the artistic license of the author and is ficti onal.

Scripture quotations are from The Authorized (King James) Version. Rights in the Authorized Version in the United Kingdom are vested in the Crown and are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s patentee, Cambridge University Press.

I also want to acknowledge the helpful assistance of Barbara Hollace, Cassandra Johnson, and Tarinna Olley. Their sage advice and sharp eyes contributed greatly to improving this book.

Endorsements

One of the most important questions in life is to ask: Who should be my teachers? Louis McCall is not just an author who has an interest in the Scriptures. Louis is a man of prayer and God’s Word who passionately lives out and applies the Scripture in His daily life. He is a man of integrity and wisdom. He is a needed voice, and I would submit, he is a worthy tea cher.

I hope you will receive the teaching in World Upside Down as he walks us through the life of one of the most influential disciples of Christ in world history. Partake of his creative imagination in retelling the story. He doesn’t just share a narrative; he draws out the miraculous transformation that inspires the human soul. You will continually be confronted with a man who was redeemed and became an activator of faith to so many around him. So much so, his identity was literally changed (from Saul to Paul).

Louis doesn’t just tell a story from books; he walks us through the literal historical sites of many of the settings of this bold and powerful storyline. As you read, as you receive, I pray you too would consider all that God can do in and through you, with a trust and active faith in Christ.

Joel Schmidgall

Executive Pastor, National Community Church

Washington, D.C.

• • •

Louis McCall successfully takes on the challenge of telling the Apostle Paul’s ‘upside down’ story, a story that made no sense to the people of his day. The author attempts to help the reader make sense of Paul, his life, his choices, and experiences with a unique literary license that remains true to the holy scriptures yet provides insight into what the Apostle was thinking and experiencing. With strategically placed photographs and masterful biblical literacy, Louis demonstrates a well-seasoned life of professorship and a long and full political career. Experience Paul through a seasoned lens that helps us to understand God’s plan of love, grace, and mercy to a broken, needy, and desperate world.

Bob McGurty, PhD

President and Chairman, Calcutta Mercy

Kolkata, West Bengal, India

• • •

I loved reading World Upside Down. In this day and age, one needs sound biblical teaching and the right books that can point us to the Lord Jesus Christ and the message of salvation. When the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew chapter 24 about the end of the age, He told them in verse 4 to be careful that no man deceive them. Deception and ignorance of Biblical truth is one of the signs of the times.

What I appreciated most about World Upside Down is that Louis McCall has taken the history, story, and theology of the Apostle Paul and the early church and presented it to readers in an authentic, interesting, and creative way to a public that is fast losing the knowledge of the Word of God. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history of Middle Eastern countries that Paul visited and was fascinated by the current pictures of such places which have been included in the narrative. This made the book come alive for me, a modern reader. Refreshingly, World Upside Down is true to the Word of God but also contains literary creativity that gives readers context and understanding of the life and ministry of Paul during the times of the early church.

I highly endorse this book and the creative, but true to the Word, artistry of Louis McCall.

Tina Mdobilu

Co-Pastor, Tanzania Assemblies of God,

Manzese B Church, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Co-Founder, Prayer Mountain Ministries, Houston, Texas

• • •

This book on the life of Paul, World Upside Down, is really a great effort. The story it tells is of the transformation from Saul to Paul beginning with his encounter with God. This encounter made the difference in his life. Saul was a person who scattered and slaughtered the church. But Paul was a missionary, a man who carried the Gospel with obedience and commitment. Paul’s life is a model role for the servant of God, and this book illustrates that perfectly. When we encounter God, He changes our direction and legacy, and we become a resilient disciple and missionary before our Lord. We don’t seek our own desires but follow God’s plan for us. As the book brings out, Paul was a witness in all circumstances. His testimony impacted on Mark’s and many others’ lives. Even while he was imprisoned, he never stopped being on mission. I appreciate Louis for sharing the wonderful writings of this book, World Upside Down. May it touch many hearts and change their lives. God bless you!

Bishop Qamar Aziz

Independent Evangelistic Outreach Ministries

Punjab, Pakistan

• • •

Masterful storytelling… for such an intricate character. The author brings Paul’s magnanimous life to a level that we all can understand and relate to. The creative dialogues will keep you engaged and transport you to the very beginnings of the followers of The Way. Themes of grace, righteousness, community, and perseverance are brilliantly captured throughout the narratives. If you want a fresh understanding of Paul, you will appreciate this concise book.

Kelvin Mulembe

Pastor, Arlington Temple United Methodist Church

Arlington, Virginia

• • •

It has been such a pleasure to literally absorb this book and to be compelled to keep inculcating the pure Word of God written with such verve and abandonment to the truth. The characters shine through with immense design, and it has been a huge honor to not just read with understanding but also insight and to pick up all the minuscule detail provided. This book forms clarification needed in these very high-stress times we are enduring.

Philip P. DeVries

Chairman, Life Enterprises

George, Western Cape, Republic of South Africa

• • •

Dr. Louis McCall, the profound Professor, dynamic Diplomat, and awesome Ambassador for our Savior, Lord, and Liberator Jesus Christ, took the pen of his creativity, dipped it into the inkwell of his anointed imagination and brilliantly penned this fictional\semi-biographic work covering the life, the call, and the legacy of the Apostle Paul.

Embedded in this wonderful work one will witness great biblical truths and see the awesome hand of GOD as HE transforms a Pharisee among Pharisees, Saul of Tarsus, into the articulate Apostle Paul. You will experience his conversion as well as his overcoming the forces and counterforces that sought to prevent the completion of Paul’s mission and mandate from GOD.

World Upside Down takes the reader along the life path of the Apostle as he builds churches, preaches and teaches, endures storms and shipwrecks, and suffers a potentially deadly snakebite all while writing nearly two thirds of the New Testament, the foundation upon which the modern church is built.

Upon reading this well written work and labor of love, one can take comfort in knowing that if you know GOD for yourself through Jesus Christ, just as with Saul, GOD will meet you right where you are, no matter what your condition and despite all opposition, He will place you in position to carry out HIS divine mission.

This is an excellent read and it is a high honor and precious privilege to endorse this book. I pray that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Robert A. Woods, Pastor

The Historic Berean Baptist Church

Washington, D.C.

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Endorsements

Chapter 1    The Second Roman Imprisonment

Chapter 2    From Legalism