Monthly Archives: January 2012

A Contest No One Can Win

Posted on January 31, 2012 by russellmckinney

Imagine a contest where the stated goal is: “Jump up and touch the moon.” Contestant #1 is an eighty-year-old woman with a walker. She steps up to the line and gives it all she’s got, but her jump doesn’t even … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Belief, Bible Study, Depravity, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, Heaven, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Do the Wicked Prosper?

Posted on January 26, 2012 by russellmckinney

Why do the wicked prosper? It’s a question that goes back at least as far as the time of Job, a man who lived during or perhaps even before the patriarchal age of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Job 9:24, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Money, Prosperity, Satan, Temptation, The Devil | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Don’t Bail Out

Posted on January 24, 2012 by russellmckinney

Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67, N.K.J.V.) A pilot announced to his passengers that three of the plane’s four engines had conked out. A few seconds later he came out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Choices, Christ's Miracles, Commitment, Complaining, Decisions, Depression, Disappointment, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doubt, Eternal Security, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Will, Obedience, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Service, Suffering, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Secret Sin

Posted on January 20, 2012 by russellmckinney

It’s been said that your character is what you are when no one is looking. However, it’s also been said that you can fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Character, Conviction, Drugs, Gambling, God's Omnipresence, God's Judgment, God's Omniscience, Guilt, Homosexuality, Honesty, Hypocrisy, Lesbianism, Lust, Lying, Personal, Personal Holiness, Racism, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Building with the Golden Windows

Posted on January 18, 2012 by russellmckinney

Contentment is one of those subjects that is easy to talk about but hard to master. Let’s say that my neighbor buys himself a brand new Corvette. The car is “please notice me” red. The interior is “please don’t get … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Change, Children, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Desires, Disappointment, Faithfulness, God's Provision, God's Will, Impatience, Jealousy, Needs, Personal, Praise, Problems, Prosperity, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Making Perception Align with Reality

Posted on January 16, 2012 by russellmckinney

The owner of a candy store noticed that one of his salesgirls would have customers lined up waiting for her even as his other salesgirls stood by doing nothing. Perplexed by this, he went to the girl and asked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Change, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Faithfulness, God's Work, Honesty, Hypocrisy, Influence, Missions, Personal Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation, Service, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

My Post-Holiday Funk

Posted on January 12, 2012 by russellmckinney

Financially speaking, this month of January tends to be a more trying month for me and Tonya than other months. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce the reason: Christmas hangover. It’s not that we go wild with … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Christmas, Dieting, Gluttony, Money, New Year, Personal, Thankfulness, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Now That’s a Good Question

Posted on January 11, 2012 by russellmckinney

A great debate was held between a devout Christian and a staunch atheist. The Christian was allowed to speak first, but without saying a word he simply pulled an orange from his pocket and began to peel it. Then, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, God's Love, God's Provision, Salvation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Young Man & His Reason

Posted on January 5, 2012 by russellmckinney

A Christian once asked a young man if he wanted to believe in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. The young man answered, “No.” When the Christian asked him to give a reason for his refusal, the young man said: … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Coming Judgment, Death, Evangelism, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Hell, Salvation, Witnessing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Keeper of the Spring

Posted on January 3, 2012 by russellmckinney

In a little hamlet, the town council held a meeting to discuss how to cut expenses. They studied the budget more seriously than ever before and noticed an item that had previously escaped their attention. It was a small fee … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Comfort, Commitment, Discipleship, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Provision, Inner Peace, Joy, Needs, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Sanctification, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments