Author Archives: amcaudill27

The Story Continues

Mark 16:1-8 And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Can you imagine if the Bible had ended here? For some early listeners, it apparently did. The oldest authorities we have end the story here, with the first half of verse 8. Later versions extend the story by three more verses, and evenContinue reading “The Story Continues”

Why Should We Not Imitate Him?

John 18:1-19:42 So far, this Church year has felt in many ways like a very long Good Friday. Multiple horrific mass casualties, an ongoing genocide of an entire people who share a homeland with our Lord, violence raging in the Sudan, a humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo, personal losses and illnesses onContinue reading “Why Should We Not Imitate Him?”

Love Takes the Risk

John 13:1-17, 31b-35 Once upon a time, a white straight Christian minister invited a Black gay actor to cool his feet in a wading pool on a hot day. After sharing a few moments of relaxation together, their feet side by side in a small plastic pool, the white man shared his towel with theContinue reading “Love Takes the Risk”

Anointed

Mark 14:1-15:47 We are all familiar with the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus shared with his friends the night he was betrayed, the meal we remember on Maundy Thursday and every time we share the Eucharist. But did you ever notice that there’s also a First Supper? Our Lenten study group spent anContinue reading “Anointed”

Look the Serpent in the Eye

Numbers 21:4-9 After forty years in the desert, the people of God are tired, downtrodden, and impatient. They have just recently learned that the older generation will not live to see the promised land- all those who were adults when Moses led them out of Egypt, including Moses himself, will die before crossing the JordanContinue reading “Look the Serpent in the Eye”

Every Body Holy

John 2:13-22 When I asked what struck our Lenten study group the most about this passage when they read it last week, one of the responses was the sheer size and magnificence of the Temple. We Christians sometimes conflate our own ideas of churches and cathedrals with the Temple of Ancient Jerusalem. But the scaleContinue reading “Every Body Holy”

Setting Our Minds on Him

Mark 8:31-38 There has been a lot of buzz both online and in conversations all over the country about a certain Super Bowl ad. For two years now, something called the He Gets Us campaign has been purchasing and running advertisements during prime-time sporting events. The ads have a high production value, and cost millionsContinue reading “Setting Our Minds on Him”

An Unarmed God

Genesis 9:8-17 It has always fascinated me that the story of Noah and the Ark is such a fixture in children’s toys and books and Sunday School lessons. There are at least four Noah’s Ark ornaments on our tree every year from Ben’s childhood, and I have served in multiple churches with the scenes ofContinue reading “An Unarmed God”