From Insanity To Prominence: A Biblical, Spiritual Autobiography

By Joseph A. Blayon Davies

"From Insanity to Prominence" is an Autobiographical description of a man's journey in faith while suffering from bipolar disorder, in pursuit of his Call to Sacred Vocation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jurnal Press
• Release date: Nov 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955241854

Joseph A. Blayon Davies

Joseph A. Blayon Davies, is the author of "From Insanity to Prominence". He is a Businessman, Theologian, Liturgical Minister, and a Set-Apart Deacon in the Order of Saint Stephen Deacon, OSSD, at Peoples' Community Evangelical Lutheran Church, PCELC, of Baltimore, Maryland, USA of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA.Married to Linda C. Davies of Gaston, North Carolina, USA since June 30, 1978, is grand father of six grandchildren, and father of three daughters: Dionne and Maline held with Linda, and Sylvia held prior to marriage. Dionne is married and is Co-pastor with Senior Pastor, Reverend Brian James Edmonds of Macedonia Church of Pittsburgh, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvia, USA. Pursuing theological studies at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology, EI, of Saint Mary's Seminary and University, he obtained two Master of Arts Degree, one in General Theology, and the other in Systematic Theology, in anticipation of ordination as Pastor in the Diocese of Maryland of the Episcopal Church, but was denied entry as a Postulant because of past bipolar disorder. Consequently, he pursued Sacred Vocation in the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA, which resulted to Set-Apart Deacon for Word and Service in the Order of Saint Stephen Deacon, OSSD by the Synod Bishop William (Bill) Gohl. Earlier and prior to seminary studies, he pursued collegiate academic preparation at the University of Baltimore, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with subsequent studies for a Master of Science degree in Economics at the State University of Baltimore.

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FROM

INSANITY

TO

PROMINENCE

A Biblical, Spiritual Autobiography

By: Joseph A. Blayon Davies

Businessman, Theologian, Liturgical Minister,

Set-Apart Deacon

From Insanity To Prominence by Joseph A. Blayon Davies

This book is written to provide information and motivation to readers. Its purpose isn’t to render any type of psychological, legal, or professional advice of any kind. The content is the sole opinion and expression of the author, and not necessarily that of the publisher.

Copyright © 2021 by Joseph A. Blayon Davies

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, or distributed in any form by any means, including, but not limited to, recording, photocopying, or taking screenshots of parts of the book, without prior written permission from the author or the publisher. Brief quotations for noncommercial purposes, such as book reviews, permitted by Fair Use of the U.S. Copyright Law, are allowed without written permissions, as long as such quotations do not cause damage to the book’s commercial value. For permissions, write to the publisher, whose address is stated below.

Printed in the United States of America.

ISBN: 978-1-955241-86-1 (Paperback)

ISBN: 978-1-955241-85-4 (E-book)

Published by Jurnal Press LLC

30 N Gould St. Ste R Sheridan, WY 82801

https://www.jurnalpress.com/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Foreword

Chapter 1:

From Insanity to Prominence: An Introduction

Chapter 2:

A Biblical, Theological Overview of the Synoptic Accounts of

The Gerasene Demoniac Story

Chapter 2 Bibliography

Chapter 3:

The Gospel of Mark 5: 1-20 (NRSV) –

Healing the Gerasene Demoniac: An Exegesis

Chapter 3 Bibliography

Chapter 4:

His Demons As Bipolar Disorder:

A Biblical and Spiritual Biography

Introduction

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Chapter 4 Bibliography

Chapter 5:

The Demoniac’s and Joseph’s Rise to Prominence

Chapter 6:

Reflections and Commentary

Foreword

In Ecclesiastes 3:1 the writer states, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. He goes on to state in verse 7, a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. We are living in a time where the creation desperately cries out for the church to speak on all matters of faith, but particularly, issues concerning mental health and wellness. Many people have suffered in silence for years under the weight of mental illness and the grip of the enemy. Others have been deceived into thinking that their situation is hopeless and there is no cure. And in many cases the church has remained silent.

Until now that is. The Lord has raised up a prophet, a voice, a mouthpiece in the form of the author, Joseph A. Blayon Davies. He stands as a living witness to the redemptive power and presence the Lord Jesus has over sin, death, and, yes, even sickness. The Church and the culture are in desperate need of a reminder of the hope that is found in the cross and hope to overcome every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, (2 Cor. 9:5, ESV).

Fortunately, what you hold in your hands is a reminder. It is a reminder of the hope we all have in the cross, and it bears witness to how that hope was and is demonstrated in the life of one man that seeks to live completely surrendered to Christ. Joseph Davies candidly speaks about his struggle with bipolar disorder and eloquently shares how his experience parallels with that of the Gerasene demoniac.

This is a powerful, sincere story of God’s redemption. The words come from a man who has battled with his demons and experienced the power of Christ to deliver him from them. It is a timely message! Read it, share it, discuss it, and let it strengthen your communities and churches.

Reverend and Pastor Brian and Dionne Edmonds

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chapter 1

From Insanity to Prominence: An Introduction

This book is largely a biblical and spiritual biography of the author based on the Synoptic Gospels accounts of the Gerasene demoniac who was healed by Jesus of Nazareth. The spiritual biography is about the author, Joseph A. Blayon Davies. His biography is similar, to some extent, to the Synoptic Gospels stories of the Gerasene demoniac chiefly of the Markan and Lukan accounts, with major deviations of Matthew’s and with Mark’s account as the principal version used in this publication. It details the spiritual biography of the author, parallel to the Gerasene demoniac story of Luke and Mark to reflect the author’s life experiences in his battles with bipolar disorder which he describes as his demons. He has overcome bipolar with regular and continuous prayers, meditations, and Jesus’s healing, in addition to psychiatric and psychological therapies.

He rises to prominence as a famed businessman, a liturgical minister, and a theologian. Like the demoniac whom Jesus commands to go forth and proclaim how much God had done for him and became an itinerant disciple, the author of this publication proclaims the Good News of God as an itinerant, liturgical minister wherever invited. He is a man of God’s own heart, who teaches and proclaims the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Peoples’ Community Evangelical Lutheran Church in Baltimore City, Maryland, while serving as a pastoral minister in The Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 2 of this publication is a concise biblical and theological overview of the Synoptic accounts of the demoniac stories, chiefly of Matthew’s and Luke’s, with Mark’s reflected on but discussed in detail in chapter 3. Chapter 3 is an exegesis of Mark’s account of the demoniac story, which in the view of the author, runs parallel to his lived experiences. The author, in his youth, faced grave encounters with bipolar disorder, which he describes as his demons. From his perspective, this book, From Insanity to Prominence is written to appeal to students of Holy Scriptures and Christian theology from ecumenical perspective, as well as to lay Christians across denominational and nondenominational lines. It could serve as an inspiration to millions of persons suffering from bipolar worldwide—in developing countries and in developed countries of North America, South America, Europe, and the like. Some attributes of the Synoptic accounts are identical to the experiential endurance of the author in his battle with bipolar, which he endured most of his early to midlife, when experimental drugs were applied to treat symptoms of the disorder.

Whereas chapter 3 is an exegesis of the Gerasene demoniac story, chapter 4 is a detailed biography of the author, reflecting his life journey, how his battles with bipolar disorder began, how he struggled with his battles, and how he overcame his demons with help and assistance from many sources.

On the whole, chapter 4 is structured into five parts reflecting the author’s biographical life. Part 1 reflects the author’s early years with parents and life as a foster child in the homes of foster families. Part 2 describes the author’s recurring battles with bipolar disorder and his marriage to his wife. Part 3 explores the author’s call to sacred vocation with subsequent denials by the Episcopal Church of the Diocese of Maryland, and the Delaware/Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ECLA). Part 4 demonstrates the venues used to implement his sacred calling, and part 5 closes with a postscript in which the author projects where his life might be heading.

Chapter 4 of the book discusses the demoniac and the author’s rise to prominence, with emphasis on the demoniac’s prominence as the first missionary disciple called by Jesus Christ and sent to the Transjordan regions to proclaim the message of how much God had done for him, in contrast to the author now freed from bipolar disorder, an acclaimed business executive, theologian, and liturgical minister, also proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 6 is a reflection and commentary, which are in response to three questions posed by the author in relation to his success as detailed in his biography. In a nutshell, From Insanity to Prominence is a biblical and spiritual biography demonstrating the lived experiences of a man once affected by demons called bipolar disorder and healed by Jesus Christ as he embraced his call to sacred vocation and academic pursuit in general and systematic theology at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at Saint Mary’s Seminary and the University of Baltimore, Maryland.

Chapter 2

A Biblical, Theological Overview of the Synoptic Accounts of

The Gerasene Demoniac Story

The Gerasene demoniac story of the Synoptic Gospels is different in the Gospel of Matthew when compared to accounts of Luke and Mark, which are narrated similarly. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus heals two demoniacs at the sea country of Gadarenes about six miles southeast of the Sea of Galilee, modern Kursi,¹ according to Dennis C. Duling. Matthew’s narrative (8:28–34, NRSV) is sandwiched between three healing miracles stories of Jesus: the first (8:1–4, NRSV) is a leper healed by Jesus by a commandment to stretch out his hand and in turn is touched by Jesus and is immediately cleansed of his leprosy. The second (8:5–13) is Jesus heals a servant of a centurion by words spoken to the centurion after he asked Jesus not to come under his roof, but speak to let his request be done according to his faith. The third (8:14–17) is an account of Jesus, who upon visiting the home of Peter his disciple, saw his mother-in-law lying in bed and sick with a fever. Jesus touches her and immediately she was healed. These three healing miracles represent the first cycle of healings by Jesus according to chapter 8 of the Gospel of Matthew.

Prior to the demoniac story of Matthew 8:28–34, Jesus stilled and rebuked the windstorm in the Sea of Galilee, which threatened to capsize the boat carrying him and his disciples while he fell asleep. After Jesus stilled and rebuked the windstorm, the disciples became amazed, saying, What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him (8:27). Matthew’s account (8:28–34) is summarized as follows: "When Jesus came