Category Archives: Followers of Jesus

The path of life

17 Sunday Oct 2021

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Sermon 17 October 2021 (Proper 24)

The path of life by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  The Psalmist says to God, “You will show me the path of life”. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is the path, and while we cannot be anyone’s savior we are called to live Jesus’ life in many ways. James and John were eager to celebrate the finish line of life; Jesus pointed them to the path required to reach it.

Lectionary:  Isaiah 53:4-12; Psalm 91:9-16; Hebrews 5:1-10; Mark 10:35-45

Referenced Scriptures: Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 6:40; Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 4:16-21; Psalm 16:11; John 14:6; Ezekiel 16:42; Hebrews 12:6; Mark 14:36; Luke 9:23; Matthew 7:13-14

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrB-pdd1EFsvKXb-D?e=OaxDcO

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRrCCotN72l6DunfQn?e=UcMiD8

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Depart from us, Jesus!

23 Friday Jul 2021

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A portion of yesterday’s Gospel reading from the daily lectionary, Mark 5:13-17:

Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region.

We often hear teachings on the miraculous deliverance of the demoniac – as well we should. But what about the curious behavior of the residents of that country? This man who had been a terror, a threat, and an embarrassment to them, and especially to anyone visiting the tombs; this man who had been demonized for so long; this man who could not even be restrained, much less cured … this man was completely healed and sitting calmly, fully clothed, and in his right mind. Think of the potential ministry for good that Jesus could have done in the region! Think of all the additional men, women, and children who could have been delivered from sickness, disease, malformity, and lesser demonization! Think of the tremendous potential!

IT NEVER HAPPENED. Why not? “And they were afraid.” A herd of swine had been lost. Demons had been loosed. The whole natural order of life had been turned on its head.

They were afraid. What about the other demons in the area? What if they were angry at what happened? What if they were loosed to find other hosts? How much damage to possessions and livelihoods might follow?

No, this was too risky. This man Jesus was too dangerous. Never mind the good that could be done – instead fear the changes to lives and lifestyles that might be required! No, we cannot have this. We are too comfortable in the way things have been. We want to get back to normal, so Jesus you must leave our region. Go do your miraculous healings somewhere else and don’t bother us.

Have men and women really changed at all since Jesus’ time? Sadly … perhaps not.

To whom much is given, from him much will be required

13 Tuesday Jul 2021

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Today’s New Testament reading from the daily lectionary, Acts 12:1-17:

Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church. Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.

Remember after the Resurrection, when Jesus revealed Peter’s fate to him? Peter replied regarding John, “But Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21). Peter was concerned that his own life would be taken from him forcibly, but John’s might not.

Do you see the irony in this? Peter asked about John – who lived – but ignored John’s brother James, who was killed with the sword long before Peter. Why was James put to death, and Peter rescued from prison? And why was John saved to die a natural death, and Peter later suffered martyrdom?

Jesus’ response on the beach shows the answer: “If I will that he … what is that to you?“(John 21:22). If God desires someone else’s story to end in a different manner than yours, or their life to be easier/harder, longer/shorter, less/more painful … why should that concern you?

We are all of equal value in God’s eyes, but that does not mean our experiences will be identical. You are not called to live my life, nor am I called to live yours. What we both know is this: “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48).

If you wish to receive the “much more” from God, then you must also accept the greater burden and responsibility.

See the bigger picture

06 Thursday May 2021

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Thoughts to ponder from today’s daily lectionary reading from the New Testament, Luke 8:26-39:

Why did Jesus grant the demons’ request to be sent into the swine? He could have sent them straight into hell, as they feared.

Had Jesus sent the demons straight to hell, the man’s problem would have been solved and no one else would have been impacted. But Jesus saw the bigger picture. He knew who owned the swine, and whether it would cause great injury or small. More importantly, He knew the hearts of the people in the region. Though their spiritual captivity was not as obvious as the demoniac’s, it was just as real. After the man was healed they did not see Jesus, the presence of the Kingdom of God drawn near*, as an opportunity for themselves and their loved ones to be healed and restored, but rather as a threat to their worldly possessions and their pursuit of prosperity.

Why did Jesus deny the healed man’s request to accompany Jesus? He could have become a faithful disciple with a tremendous testimony.

Again, Jesus knew the hearts of the people in the region. He knew that if this man lived the remainder of his life in the region, he would be a permanent reminder to the people of the opportunity that they had missed to draw near to God. Some – perhaps many – of those people would later repent of their selfish desires and turn to the Lord because of the man’s continued witness.

May we, too, see the bigger picture that the Holy Spirit is trying to show us, that we might make the best decision rather than the easiest or most expedient one.

* “heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’” (Luke 10:9)

Do you love Me more than these?

22 Monday Mar 2021

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Sermon 21 March 2021 (Lent 4)

Do you love Me more than these? by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  Jesus’ destiny was to die like a grain of wheat to produce a harvest of salvation. Our destiny is to be conformed to His image, to die to ourselves. This involves maturing from a self-directed life to a Christ-directed life … but beware of Satan’s lure to turn aside into a new self-directed lie.

Lectionary:  Jeremiah 31:31-34; Psalm 51; Hebrews 5:5-10; John 12:20-28

Referenced Scriptures:  Romans 8:28-29; Hebrews 5:11-14; Galatians 6:9; Zechariah 4:10; Haggai 2:3-9; Hebrews 12:27-28; John 21:15-19; Joshua 24:15

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqT_ceQRJfT8wr0Y5?e=yIuYVE

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqUB3eicH7X55N4T6?e=o0vJct

Love is far more than a candle

24 Sunday Jan 2021

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Sermon 24 January 2021 (Epiphany 3)

Love is far more than a candle by Fr. Dana

Simple Summary:  We missed meeting as a church from the 4th Sunday of Advent through Epiphany Sunday due to my contracting Covid. It was sad but necessary to guard the health of our parishioners. We missed Advent 4, the lighting of the Love candle, and Christmas Eve, the lighting of the Christ candle – and Christ is love incarnate. But love is far more than a candle, and the church (both the worldwide Church and individual local churches) is far more than a fellowship or a family….

Lectionary:  Jonah 3:1-10; Psalm 62:1-12; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20 (sermon not from lectionary)

Referenced Scriptures:  2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 12; Proverbs 27:6; Luke 13:6-9

Recording – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqQZdCrFaFWVVO-35?e=j5wz8w

Notes – Sermon:  https://1drv.ms/b/s!AvYHlhfoSlmRqQXpxEiMdDUnYIhV?e=qxUFf5

Because of their unbelief

21 Monday Aug 2017

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Matthew 13:58 “Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”
Mark 6:5 “Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief.”

I have always wondered that these Scriptures, both referring to Jesus’ coming to Nazareth (“His own country”), say He couldn’t do mighty works there because of their unbelief. Does lack of faith really render Jesus powerless? There are other Scriptures that show Jesus doing miracles in spite of the lack of faith.

I believe the Gospel from yesterday’s daily lectionary (not the Sunday Eucharist lectionary) gives us the key. John 5:30 says,

“I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” Jesus never, ever, did  whatever He wanted to do. He didn’t even consider doing His own will apart from the Father, as His prayer in the garden prior to His arrest clearly shows.

Here, in His own hometown, Jesus is once again obeying the will of His Father as explained in Proverbs 3:34 (and quoted in both James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5): “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

Why did the people of Nazareth receive so few miracles? Because they were filled with pride. They knew Jesus’ humble beginnings; many of them knew Him personally as a child. They were convinced there was nothing in His upbringing that would justify the reputation He had – they were just as good as He was, He wasn’t special. The Father, true to His Word, resisted them … and Jesus, true to the Father, obeyed … not reluctantly, but with joy and peace, because He knows the Father’s plan is best.

Can we say the same?

EKEK suvelaager 2017 Vormsil – guest teaching

31 Monday Jul 2017

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EKEK suvelaager 2017 Vormsil – Eesti Karismaatiline Episkopaalkirik (CEC Estonia)

Guest teaching 22-23 July 2017

Fulfilling the mission of the Church:

  • Session 1: Prayer as the spine of your life  by Fr. Dana
    • Hebrews 11:6; Matthew 6:33; John 17:15-16, 18; Romans 8:28-29; Daniel 3:15-18, 24-25
  • Session 2: Unhealed wounds, unconfessed sins  by Fr. Dana
    • 1 John 1:8-1; Matthew 5:23-24; Mark 2:1-12a; Matthew 6:11-15; James 5:16a
  • Saturday Mass: Baptism & confession: Bathing & spot-cleaning  by Fr. Dana
    • John 13:4-12; 1 John 1:8-10
  • Sunday Mass: Love as Christ defines it  by Fr. Dana
    • John 13:34-35; 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; John 15:11-14; John 15:5; Matthew 6:6; Matthew 22:39; Matthew 5:4; John 15:12-16a; Luke 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Recordings:

When your pursuit fails

28 Wednesday Jun 2017

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Is there an intention, plan, or project in your life which is failing?  If so, could that pursuit be from your own desires rather than God’s will for you?  Sometimes it’s hard to tell.  What should you do?

I recommend:
1. Lay it on the altar – offer your desire up to God to do with as He will
2. Ask God, who is your loving Father, that if your pursuit is not His will He would take away the desire in your heart
3. Then ask Him, that if your pursuit is His will He would give you the courage, strength, and perseverance to keep working until it comes to pass
4. Finally, ask Him to show you the way forward; He may have a different route to your destiny

This is not a one-time action, either.  Always hold plans in your hands loosely, as God may desire to change your direction at any point.  Trust Him: He knows what He is doing.

Whatever your pursuit, ALWAYS live in the present even as you pursue the future.  God desires us to “bloom where we are planted”, to bear fruit in our present circumstances.  That’s why He told the Israelites as they were heading into captivity, “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” (Jeremiah 29:7)  Paul and Silas sang in prison with their feet in the stocks, and the jailer and his entire household were saved.  Don’t be so focused on the future completion of your pursuit that you neglect to do good to those around you today.

Finally, be of good courage.  Keep in remembrance the words of the Pharisee Gamaliel to the High Priest and his council when Peter and the other apostles were preaching and healing in the Name of Jesus:
“…if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:28b-39)