Category Archives: Christian theology

Unknown's avatar

The Ten Most Popular Posts in 2025

by

These ten were the top visited posts and pages in 2025. None of them were written this year, and most of them are sermons from the archives. Although I am posting less frequently these days, the old stuff remains much visited. The Ferlinghetti poem had an impressive 20, 774 hits. If you read it you will know why it is a poem for our time.

Just a friendly reminder that this is an open-source free site, and you are free to share content with attribution. But remember “Thou shalt not steal!” I appreciate your support. Thanks for coming by and come again in 2026. (Photo: Tierney Wildlife Refuge in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. © R.L. Floyd)

“Pity the Nation” A Poem for our Time by Lawrence Ferlinghetti  

Why did Jesus refer to Herod as “That fox” in Luke 13:32”?  

“Distracted by Many Things” A Sermon on Luke 10:38-42  

“Breaking chains, Opening Doors” A Sermon on Acts 16:16-34    

“Ask, Search, Knock.” A Sermon on Luke 11: 1-13

“The God who Still Speaks” A Sermon on John 16

“Building Bigger Barns” A Sermon on Luke 13-21

“Growing Up” A Sermon on Galatians 3: 23-29

“The Healing Touch” A Sermon on Mark 1: 40-45

“Of Fig Trees and Second Chances” A Sermon on Luke 13:6-9

Unknown's avatar

My Top Ten Posts of All Time

by

Onota Lake

It has been my custom to share my top ten most viewed posts of the year, but since I only posted seven times in 2024, I’ve decided to share my top ten posts of all time. I started this blog in 2009 and this is the fewest posts I’ve done in a year. Ironically, 2024 had the most views of any year. Here they are with the number of times they have been viewed: Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

“Hearing the Word of God from Unexpected Voices”

by

Burningbush

Will you pray with me:

Gracious God, through the written word, and through the spoken word, may we behold the Living Word, even your Son our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen

I was just twenty-six years old when I graduated from seminary and became the pastor of the Congregational Churches of West Newfield and Limerick, Maine. If you’ve never heard of them, it is because they are really small towns. West Newfield had about 400 residents and Limerick, the big town, had about twice that. The two congregations shared nothing but me. I had two boards of deacons, two trustees, two women’s groups and two youth groups. The two nearest hospitals were 20 and 45 miles away. I put a lot of miles on my car, and I learned a lot about ministry that I hadn’t learned in seminary. Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

Christmas Eve Reflections

by

I lead a little weekly Bible Study on Zoom and yesterday we had the story of the birth of Jesus from Luke Chapter 2. The Christmas story is a good one in which to ponder how we read Scripture since it is so familiar to us. After nearly a half century of studying Scripture for preaching I am still finding discoveries in texts that I thought were “settled.” The Christmas story is one such text.

Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

“New Shoots from Old Stumps” A Sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

by

I’ll tell you a secret. It is something every pastor knows. Also, any therapist, social worker or anybody else who deals with people at a deeply personal level. For many people this is not “the most wonderful time of the year.” For many it is a sad and troubled time. Advent invites us to consider even the darkest parts of our world and of our lives. And that is a good thing, because often the deepest truths are found in the darkest times. That certainly has been true for me. Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

“Heads Up!” A Sermon for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A

by

Advent is my favorite season of the church year. It has a different feel to it than the other seasons. There is a sense of yearning in Advent. A sense of anticipation. It is a time of watching and waiting. A time to remind ourselves that there are forces at work beyond our control. Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

“Taking on the Mantle” A Sermon for The Third Sunday after Pentecost, Year C

by

2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14

Luke 9:51-62

Who is Jesus? Albert Sweitzer famously said “looking for Jesus is like looking down a well. You see only your own reflection: that Jesus remains a stranger and an enigma; there will never be one answer to this question.” (The Search of the Historical Jesus). But there are things we do know about him that can help us understand his purpose and ministry. Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

“Growing Up” A Sermon on Galatians 3: 23-29

by

Growing up isn’t easy! I’ve had four grandchildren in the last two and a half years, so you can imagine I have spent a good deal of time with toddlers, and I am in awe of my children’s parenting. Toddlers need constant supervision, encouragement, and correction. I’ve heard my children say, gently but firmly, things like: “We don’t throw things at the dog!” and “Careful. You really don’t want to stick your finger in your baby brother’s eye.” Continue reading →

Unknown's avatar

My Blog is Ten Years’ Old: A Retrospective

by

In the Beginning: 2009-2010

I’d like to thank all of you who have dropped by this blog over the years. It is hard for me to believe a decade has passed since I began it. I started to write again as a personal act of healing which in time morphed into a new chapter of my ministry. Continue reading →