Monthly Archives: March 2011

The Chain Is Off

Posted on March 31, 2011 by russellmckinney

A mailman was given a new route. His first day he approached the mailbox of a home that had a big German shepherd crouched on the porch. When the mailman put his hand toward the mailbox, the dog started barking … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Disobedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Should We Pray Silently to Keep Satan from Hearing?

Posted on March 30, 2011 by russellmckinney

A fellow preacher and I once had an interesting conversation concerning people praying aloud and Satan being able to listen in on those prayers. The question we kicked around was this: Is it smarter to pray silently so that Satan … Continue reading →

Posted in Demons, God's Omnipotence, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Third Suit

Posted on March 29, 2011 by russellmckinney

Here’s a story that plays off my previous post about the original Sunday Schools. In one of Scotland’s manufacturing towns, a young lady applied to the superintendent of a Sunday School and asked for a class. He advised her to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Influence, Patience, Perseverance, Sunday School, Teaching, Youth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sunday School

Posted on March 25, 2011 by russellmckinney

Most people don’t know that the Sunday Schools of today’s churches bear little resemblance to the original Sunday Schools of England’s late 1700s. Those schools were quite literally places of basic education where poor children could learn to read and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Children, Church, Discipline, God's Work, Influence, Scripture, Sunday School, Teaching, The Bible, Youth | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stretch Your Soul

Posted on March 24, 2011 by russellmckinney

Many years ago The Alabama Baptist ran the following story told by R. Lee Sharpe: I was just a kid. One spring day, father told me to go with him to old man Trussell’s blacksmith shop. He had left a … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Personal Holiness, Service | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Awesome Seriousness of Unbelief

Posted on March 23, 2011 by russellmckinney

There are only two possible eternal destinies for each person, and Revelation 21:7-8 contrasts the two. First, in verse 7, Jesus says: He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Coming Judgment, Death, Faith, Forgiveness, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Heaven, Hell, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Be a Good Neighbor

Posted on March 22, 2011 by russellmckinney

He who despises his neighbor sins… (Proverbs 14:21, N.K.J.V.) Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10, N.K.J.V.) Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God will all … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Contentment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Influence, Personal Holiness, Problems | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Foolish Prince

Posted on March 21, 2011 by russellmckinney

A prince left the ease and safety of his father’s castle in order to seek adventure in the world. He left all his riches behind and eventually reached such a low state that he was forced to dress in rags … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Backsliding, Change, Children, Disobedience, Dress and Appearance, Eternal Security, God's Love, God's Provision, Grace, Husbands, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Seeking Forgiveness, Sin, Wives, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Right Praying in Old Testament Days

Posted on March 18, 2011 by russellmckinney

Who prayed true prayers to the true God in the days of the Old Testament? Well, we must keep in mind that God didn’t reveal Himself in that era as fully as He would in the New Testament era. Therefore, … Continue reading →

Posted in God's Name, Prayer, Scripture, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Does a Worm Get Inside an Apple?

Posted on March 17, 2011 by russellmckinney

Most people think the worm burrows down inside the apple from the outside. In actuality, however, the worm was born inside the apple. It’s an interesting process. I’ve read this in various places, but for this post I’ll quote directly … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Depravity, Rebellion, Salvation, Sin, The Heart | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment