I Played Jonah and the Prodigal Son

By Stanley B. Perry

The struggle began with a stubborn, obstinate, strong-willed child, a powerful journey through life-erupting soul-searching. A probe that began at the death of his father when he was at the tender age of seven. Propelled by the emergence of an enormous ego drive to be in control; drove him into pursuing whatever he desired. His life parallels the direction in which our world is now traveling; pursuing whatsoever is desired without taking into account that the day of accountability is quickly approaching.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781449766030

Stanley B. Perry

Reverend Perry is the pastor of Jeffries Baptist Church, where he has ministered and counseled for the past ten years. The Church and Reverend Perry are currently obediently awaiting the Lords Direction and guidance to move to a new location. Pastor Perry continues to study the Bible and read Christian books daily. Stanley lives with his wife of –forty-four years on December 7,2012, in Auburn Hills, Michigan, where they raised their three daughters.

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I PLAYED JONAH

AND THE

PRODIGAL SON

Stanley B. Perry

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Copyright © 2012 Stanley B. Perry

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-6603-0 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-6604-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-6605-4 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012916083

Bible quotations are taken from the Scofield Study Bible

Copyright 1907, 1917

Copyright renewed, 1937, 1945

New materials copyright 1996

by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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WestBow Press rev. date: 10/29/2012

Contents

Preface

CHAPTER 1      April 1954

CHAPTER 2      June 1957

CHAPTER 3      July 1960

CHAPTER 4      September 1963

CHAPTER 5      January 1965

CHAPTER 6      September 1966

CHAPTER 7      June 1967

CHAPTER 8      March 1969

CHAPTER 9      June 1975

CHAPTER 10      March 1979

CHAPTER 11      January 1980

CHAPTER 12      February 1984

CHAPTER 13      August 1983

CHAPTER 14      June 1988

CHAPTER 15      February 2001

CHAPTER 16      July 2001

CHAPTER 17      September 2006

CHAPTER 18      May 2011

CHAPTER 19      November 2011

ENDNOTES

Preface

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Shortly after I became born again, I was led by the Holy Spirit to Proverbs 3:5–6. Instantaneously, I memorized the verse and hid it in my heart. Thy word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against thee.

The stupendous struggle begins with an extremely strong-willed man and his Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Self-will: Stubborn of obstinate willfulness, as in pursuing one’s own wishes or aims (Random House Webster’s Concise College Dictionary).

I want to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ for blessing me with a wonderful family; my wife, Diana Marie, along with our loving daughters and their husbands, Domonique Latrece and Alfonso Banks III, Danielle Katherine and Paul Barron, Dawn Nicole, and Neil Williams. Our grandchildren, Dominick Christopher Banks, Devin Alfonso Banks, Alfonso Banks IV, Greta Marie Banks, Alexander Bernard Banks, Asher Etienne Bernard Barron, Anahera Katherine Irene Barron, Finley Brian Williams, and all to come. I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will continue to save souls that are born and added through marriage to our family.

I would like to give special thanks to my dear friend and fellow servant in the ministry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Rev. Dr. Louis Forsythe II, pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church. I thank him for encouraging me to write this book, which the Lord instructed me to write years ago.

CHAPTER 1

April 1954

My journey began in April 1954 when I was seven. My younger sister and I were waiting for our father to return home from work. I was excited because our father had just purchased a new 1954 Pontiac. It was dark green with a white top and sun visor over the front windshield. Mother! I shouted. Where is Dad? He is late getting home from work.

Wait, Stanley, she said as she stared out the living room window. Just wait. I knew that something was wrong, because Mother just sat and stared out the window. The doorbell rang. We ran to the door, expecting to see our father, but there stood our uncle with a strange look upon his face. Where is Dad? Where is Dad? I asked.

Mother said, Would you take Stanley and explain to him what has happened? Because I am not able to.

I stood there, looking at mother, and for the first time, I saw the tears in her eyes. I wondered why Mother was crying; I had never seen her cry. Stanley! Stanley! called my uncle in order to get my attention and keep me from staring at Mother. Come with me, Stanley; come with me. We entered mine and my sisters bedroom, and he said, Stanley, sit down. I have some bad news to tell you. I just stood there, trying to understand what he had said. All of a sudden, my world was turned upside down as he explained, Your father was involved in an automobile accident last night. His car ran into a viaduct, and he was killed. I just stood there; mute, trying to comprehend what was said.

The next statement changed my life forever! Stanley, my uncle exclaimed, your father is dead! And you are now the man of the house; you must look out for your mother and sister. There I was, a seven-year-old boy, told that I was now the man of the house. The insurgence of self-will would emerge.

I want to make this perfectly clear—no one is responsible for my behavior, and I do not charge my uncle for the attitude I developed the day I discovered my father was dead. I take full responsibility for everything; therefore, I am solely responsible and accountable.

There I was at seven—stubborn, obstinate, and pursuing my own wishes and aims—all because I thought I was a man. Thank God for the mother that he gave me, who would not subject herself to a child who viewed himself as a man at just seven years old. At twenty-eight, she was a widow with two children—a son of seven and a daughter of five. Mother took us to church and Sunday school every Sunday. I was exposed to the truth that Jesus Christ was the Savior—the only begotten Son of God. However, I was not saved. I simply had an intellectual knowledge of God, but I did not have a personal knowledge and relationship with God until midnight on May 25, 1979.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Mother ruled us with an iron hand. She had a difficult task—to raise two children without the help of her husband. Mother was not aware that her son refused to accept the role of a son but embraced the idea that he was a man. We were taught to respect elders early in life by a few spanking sessions. Discipline was necessary for me; without it, my life would have been completely destroyed. I never dishonored Mother openly—I knew better. I loved her deeply and felt her pain. I wanted so desperately to remove her anguish, not realizing that my own behavior was a contributing factor. I was a sinner, and that was a problem.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me (Psalm 51:5).

Imagine the impact on a seven-year-old who was given the responsibility of taking his younger sister to school all the way across town. We lived in southwest Detroit and went to school on the east side of Detroit (New Center area). St. Phillips Lutheran School was located on East Grand Blvd. between Brush and John R. Our journey began at 6:30 a.m. We left home and walked to the Fort Street bus stop. We boarded the bus at 6:45 a.m., arriving downtown at 7:25 a.m. Then we walked over to the Oakland bus stop located at Broadway and Gratiot Ave. We boarded the Oakland bus at 7:40 a.m., arrived at East Grand Blvd. and John R. at 8:05 a.m., and walked to school, arriving at 8:15 a.m. School did not start until 8:30 a.m. Praise the Lord! We lived in the era when adults watched out for children. The adults were astonished and truly amazed that we were able to accomplish our journey. We would leave school at 3:05 p.m. and arrive home at 4:30 p.m. safely.

Unfortunately, this could not happen in today’s society. There are sexual predators who are out there, lurking around, trying to seduce our children in order to have sexual intercourse. Many of the children are murdered. Today you have to keep your children within your eyesight when out in public, because of the impending danger.

Mr. Jones, our neighbor, fueled my self-will when he greeted me by calling me Stan the Man. I already thought more of myself than I should.

For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself (Galatians 6:3).

I was a child, not a man. But everywhere I went, people said, Stan the Man. Our mother never drove an automobile. This is the reason we had to catch a bus to school. Naturally, my sister looked up to me. After all, I was her big brother. We bonded as children, and we never argued or fought, because it simply was not allowed. After all, I was the man of the house, and I needed to look out for my sister. Our mother was a lady of culture who instructed me to be a gentleman. The fact that she was not prejudiced was a blessing. I was taught to respect everyone, regardless of his or her color. I learned early to respect women. Mother instructed me to always open doors when I was in their presence, allowing them to enter first. I still remember their responses. Thank you, young man. Of course, I only focused on the word man. My ego was fascinated by the idea that these women viewed me as a gentleman.

Everywhere I went, I looked for the opportunity to open doors, give up my seat, or even let a woman go ahead while waiting in line. My enthusiasm efficaciously illuminated the enormous ego that propelled me into a driven personality. I was driven by what I thought, because I truly had accepted the idea that I was, in fact, Stan the Man and that I was in control.

Webster’s Concise College Dictionary says control means to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate, regulate or command. I have come to the painful conclusion that God is the only one who is in complete control. The rest of us truly are out of control if we do not allow the Lord Jesus Christ to be the head of our lives.

Fear ye not, neither be afraid; have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God, I know not any (Isaiah 44:8).

Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I the Lord? And there is no god else beside me; a just God and a Savior; there is none beside me.

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: I am God, and there is none else.

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear (Isaiah 45:20–23).

So where does it come from? Deep within the soul lies the will of all humanity, better known as our free will, which we execute daily. However, there exists also the will of God for our lives. We completely ignore God’s will when we pursue our own desires of life, liberty, and happiness. Think about it—when was the last time that you inquired of God about any decision before you went ahead with your plans? During my journey in life, I have come to the conclusion that it is better to seek the will of God for your life. As you travel with me, I pray that you will learn from my mistakes and that your journey will therefore become more profitable.

And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39).

Jesus Christ gave us the example that we should obey God. Thus the struggle begins between man and God. There are two realms—the natural and the spiritual. The conflict exists when the natural tries to dominate the spiritual. We strive to complete our dreams or goals without considering God’s plan or goals for our lives. After all, God did create us, and he has a plan for our lives. Look around—do you really believe that as complicated and organized as our bodies are, there is not a creator? Look at the universe. Everything has an order. Man and beast, the stars and the planets, and even the smallest insect have a define purpose. It takes more faith to believe the lie of the big bang theory of evolution than to accept the truth that God has created everything for his purpose. One truth that everyone will experience at death is that there is a God—and for some, it will be too late.

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

At the age of seven, I directed my life according to my objectives. It was all about what I wanted. At seven, I was introduced to the game of chess, which accelerated my mind to view life as a game of chess. I calculated every move with the anticipation of the designated results that I perceived. The awakening of competitiveness arose within me, which I directed toward myself. I competed with myself; therefore, I never became jealous of others’ accomplishments. Rather, I said, If I do not succeed, it is my fault and not theirs. The eruption of a serious-minded child evolved. I started planning my course, which led me down the path of destruction. I went to a Christian school, yet I failed to include God in planning my course of action. I discovered that God knows where you are and where you will be in the future.

I feared five things. First of all, I feared God, because I didn’t want to go to hell. Second, I feared water, because I can’t swim. Third, I feared an automobile accident, because my father died in one. Fourth, I feared the fog, because I need to be able to see where I am going. Fifth and last of all, I feared guns, because they can be used to take a life. God knew all about my fears and used every one of my fears to get my attention. God knew that these things were necessary in his process of reaching me. The method would in fact authenticate that I was not in control of my life, as I had believed. God, in his mysterious ways, proved to me that he was and always will be in complete control. As you travel with me, watch how God works in his process of acquiring my attention. Examine your journey. Are you aware that God is there, seeking to have an encounter with you?

Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof (Proverbs 1:24–25).

CHAPTER 2

June 1957

Early in my life, I learned that I was a leader. I refused to follow others, even if it meant that I had to be alone. I was born left-handed in a right-hand world, so from my early life, I knew that I was different. I knew what it was like to be alone. Everyone did things differently than I, which forced me to tenaciously pursue my quest to master any task. Driven by my self-will, the aspiration of completion fluttered my soul. In the 1950s, being left-handed was awkward, because I was viewed to be different. I believed that anything I set my mind on would be accomplished. Never seeking the endorsement of others, I relentlessly pressed onward. I learned while playing baseball how to bat both right- and left-handed. I learned how to eat with either hand depending on where I was seated. When I was in the second grade, a teacher set out to change the way I held a pencil. I was struck with a ruler numerous times on the hand, and fifty-six years later, I still hold a pencil exactly the same way.

During the summer of 1957, Mother allowed my sister and me to go to the recreation center in hopes that we would learn how to swim. My sister learned how—in fact, she could swim like a fish. However, I had a problem. I still remembered what had happened to me when I was five. My family went to the park. My uncles, aunts, and cousins were there. Everyone had a wonderful time running up and down the white sand hills, eating, and drinking. All of a sudden someone suggested that we all go swimming. My family members all ran to the water and jumped in. I stood on the beach, watching them. Come on in, Stan! they all shouted. I stood steadfast, not willing to enter the water. Come on in, Stan! they reiterated, and then they begin to ridicule me.

I stood still—almost as if I were transformed into a statue. All of a sudden, my father picked me up and carried me to the water. I panicked. I screamed and shouted, No! No! No! The sounds of laughter became louder the closer we came to the water. I heard them yell, Stop crying. Be a man. Be a man. Father proceeded into the water. I was terrified. Then the unthinkable happened; my father put me into an inner tube and swam away, leaving me alone, floating upon the water. My family’s words echoed in my head: Be a man. Be a man.

I thought that it could not get any worse, but then my father swam under the inner tube and pushed me into the water. I tried to walk on the water. That was the day I almost drowned. After that day, I never had the desire to learn how to swim. Instead, I learned how to play the game of pool. I still have a fear of water. I am not even comfortable taking a bath. I take showers, because there is never an accumulation of water; it just flows down the drain. This allows me to be in total control of the water.

My first encounter with fog was unforgettable. Mother had walked me to school for kindergarten for a couple of weeks in order to instruct me how to get to school. I knew the way after the first day, but Mother continued with me for several weeks. I am sure that this was for her benefit—to assure herself that I would be able to complete the task of walking to school alone. At five, I walked to school all by myself. I felt pretty good about my ability to accomplish this task.

I learned early in life that things happen when you least expect them. One day, on my way to school, as usual, I stepped outside. To my surprise, I could hardly see anything in front of me. I asked myself, What is this? I had never experienced this before; however, I knew that I had to go to school.

I was tried to walk to school but was unable to see down the street—only about fifteen feet in front of me. I could barely see the houses as I walked by. I was not sure what was happening. The street lights were not bright, as before; they only appeared dim and soft like. These lights kept me on the path to school. I knew that if I did not go to school, Mother would spank me, so I traveled onward, wondering all the way. When I reached the corner, I could not see the school. I became frantic. Where is the school? Where is the school? I shouted. They moved my school! They moved my school! I stood on the corner, crying and wondering what happened to my school. I knew that if I did not go to school, Mother surely would administer a spanking for not attending school.

All of a sudden, I heard a soft voice say, Son, stop crying. What is wrong? I looked up and saw a woman. She spoke softly to me. What is wrong?

They moved my school; they moved my school! I exclaimed. I will get a spanking. I will get a spanking.

The school is there; you just cannot see it because of the fog. Let me show you, the woman said as she held out her hand. Come, let me show you. Stop crying. She took hold of my hand.

They moved my school; I cannot see it.

Your school is there. Trust me; I will show you the way, my son, she replied.

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angles unawares (Hebrews 13:2).

I was just five years old. God looked out for me as a young child who was blind and could not see. I was blinded by the fog and unable to see my school. The lady took my hand and said ever so softly, Your school is there; it is there. As we walked together, I became calm as a result of her soft voice as she assured me that my school had not moved. It was still there; only the fog had blocked my view. As I look back in time, I discover that this was my first experience with the loving God who watched over a frightened child and came to my rescue.

"I will instruct