Russell Mckinney's Blog

Regular readers of this blog have probably noticed that I haven’t been posting much lately. I assure you it’s not because I’ve run out of anything to say. My life and ministry have just become so busy that I find it very hard to write three or so posts a week.

One of the things that makes it hard is that I, like most writers, only have so much writing in me per day. I can’t just sit at a computer hour after hour churning out good material. I’m sure I could write a new post every day if that’s all the writing I had to do. But it’s not. For one thing, I always have new sermons to write. For another, I’ve started writing a second book.

This new book is on the subject of prayer, and I have a good start on it. I’ve completed the introduction and the first chapter. But I’m finding it downright impossible to work on the book and still consistently post blog entries. When I wrote my first book, Straight Talk About God’s Will, I wasn’t writing a blog. That meant that I could get up every morning and spend a couple of hours doing nothing but writing the book. That enabled me to complete the book in about three months.

I’m telling you all this so will understand why I’m going to stop writing the blog. For the next several months, I’m going to devote what writing time and energy I have to my sermons and the book. That’s the only way the book will ever get finished. Once it is finished, then I’ll talk to the Lord and see if He wants me to pick back up with the blog. If He does, that’s what I’ll do. If He doesn’t, this will be my last post. If you are really interested in the blog, all I can tell you is check it again in six months. As of this morning, I can’t even predict myself which way God is going to lead with it.

Just to be honest, I’m not the typical blog writer anyway. Blog posts are supposed to be consistent (at least every other day) and relatively short. I have trouble in both areas. My posts tend to be a bit more sporadic and fairly long. It’s not that I repeat myself in my writing. The problem is that I like to tackle “big” subjects that take a lot of explaining. Many of my posts are somewhat short, but that’s only because I made myself keep them that way. My natural way of writing is to explain and teach in detail, not just offer short little devotions and move on. And that’s not what the majority of readers are looking for in a blog. 

I started writing the blog a year ago at the suggestion of my editor. She felt that it would be a good way for me to gain some web-publicity, get folks interested in my writing, and sell some copies of Straight Talk About God’s Will. I didn’t know what to expect from the new endeavor, but I have to say that the experience has been enjoyable. It’s also been profitable, not in a monetary sense, but in the spiritual help it has provided others. The comments and feedback I’ve received have been so encouraging. There’s no doubt that God has used the blog as a tool to help many people.

Of course, the blog archives will still be available right here, and people will still be able to find posts by using search engines on certain topics. Also, since I doubt that you’ve read every post, I would encourage you to sift through the archives. Just click on a particular category and see what posts pop up. Chances are you’ll find several that you haven’t read. Also, if you feel led, feel free to leave me a comment. I will read it. I’d love to hear how God has used the blog in your life. I’d also greatly appreciate your prayers as I write, appropriately enough, a book on prayer.   

In Ecclesiastes 3:1, the Bible tells us that everything has a season. For the past year, I’ve been in the season of writing a blog. When I finish writing my second book, a new season of blog writing may come around in my life and ministry. Or it may not. Either way, I have no doubts that God knows what He’s doing and I thank you for reading.