Its an itegerity issue

Jonah 1:1 NIV

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai:

Throughout the Bible God spoke to people in different ways.

Sometimes He spoke through these amazing thing like Fire, Earthquakes, and Whirlwinds.

Sometimes it was through things lie a still small voice.

And other times God was still.... and in those times of stillness the people had to rely on their understanding of who God is and was in order to her His voice.

In this Vicki and I felt the stillness of God.

I think I can safely say that neither one of us say a Fire, or Whirlwind, or and earthquake.

I have to be honest, I’m not sure I even heard a still small voice...

talk about getting the call......

All evening long I tried to find a reason to say no...

During feast and fellowship I prayed and worshiped and cried… looking for a reason to say no.

Jonah was furious with God when He asked him to go… to the point that he ran...

well that didn’t work out so well for him.. we all know that story

but why? I mean seriously Jonah’s response seems crazy… In chapter 4 after he preaches the word of God and the people repent he is furious....

Chapter 4: 1 says But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry

The literal translation is, “It was evil to Jonah with great evil.”

Many scholars believe that the reason Jonah was so upset was because the people of Nineveh were not Hebrews.

they were not his friends, they weren't the people he had grown up with and shared life they were not the people he loved.... his motives were selfish.

As I tried to come up with a reason to say no every thing that pooped into my mind, every argument was selfish...

things like I love it here, my kids and my grand daughter are close.

I love the town, the schools and really love each of you.... and I think you love us.

I’m comfortable, I have friends here. and we are doing so really cool ministry.....

But that all revolved around me....

See there is an integrity issue at stake in the story of Jonah…

He was called to be a prophet of God...

along with that was going where God sent him...

that required that Jonah submitted his life to the authority of God, and Gave God control.

There were other prophets in Israel, Jonah’s friends and family were going to be ok, But he was the prophet God had called to go to Nineveh.

On June 13th 2019 I stood before God, my friends, family and the entire annual conference and promised to be itinerant.

To go where God sent me through the leadership of the district Superintendent and the Bishop.

That means I have to submit myself to their authority and trust that God has directed them.

If I would have said no to this appointment… without a reason that was not selfish; Well then I would have been a liar.

I would have sacrificed my integrity for my comfort; and I could not do that.