Posts by Michele Crater
3. Spiritual Disciplines – Fasting
Fasting: what is it? How do you do it? Is it only about not eating? This week the staff explore the discipline of fasting and the various ways you can participate in it. The staff answer some personal questions off the Proust Questionnaire, and try their hand at “kid” trivia. It doesn’t go that well.…
Read MoreAsleep?
November 3, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 4:35-41 FIELD NOTES The storm rages on, and the disciples go to get Jesus so that he can help them. And what is Jesus doing? He’s asleep? What? When I was young, my mother suffered a brain aneurysm. I remember one day walking down the stairs of our house because I had heard…
Read MoreThe Power over Storms
November 2, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 4:35-41 FIELD NOTES They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” The disciples, who have been with Jesus, and who have seen the works he has done up to this point—they still don’t get it. They still don’t understand who they…
Read MoreDr. Toddy Holeman
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Toddy Holeman, counseling professor at Asbury Theological Seminary, about self-care in a pandemic. Dr. Holeman has years and years of experience teaching and practicing, specializing in marriage and family counseling.
Read MoreThe Power Over Storms
This week’s preacher: Dr. Laura Brantley. This week we continue our series, Power-Full, on the power of Jesus. This series is the second in our year-long focus on intentional discipleship called “Walking with Jesus.” Learn how you can be more intentional in your walk with Jesus at bumc.net/journey. Our Scripture reading: Mark 4:35-41
Read MoreLectio Divina
October 31, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 5:1-20 The Voice For most of Jesus’ miracles, the disciples are observers: they watch Him healing the sick, raising dead bodies, and casting demons out of strangers. This time, however, it is the disciples—and even Jesus Himself—who are in danger. Maybe that’s why they are having such a hard time…
Read MoreRefocus
October 30, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 5:1-20 FIELD NOTES You could say this man in the story was distracted by his circumstances. When Jesus casts the demons out of him, he is able to center and take control of his life. Not nearly on the same scale, but there have been times when I have let…
Read MoreBegging
October 29, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 5:1-20 FIELD NOTES Have you ever begged God? This man, whom Jesus had just healed, wanted to follow Jesus. He begged him. And yet God had other plans? Not quite a year ago, I got a phone call, telling me that my grandmother had been hospitalized and it wasn’t looking good. She was…
Read MoreLectio Divina
October 28, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 5:1-20 Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with…
Read MoreIn the Tombs
October 27, 2020 DAILY READING Mark 5:1-20 FIELD NOTES In today’s readings, we see the demon-possessed man is relegated to the tombs, having previously been chained and held captive. He was a problem for the people and this was how they dealt with him. Isn’t that how we deal with a lot of our problems? We hide…
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