Category Archives: Children

Contentment

Posted on July 21, 2025 by russellmckinney

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6, N.K.J.V.) How content are you right now? You might as well tell the truth. After all, God knows the correct answer, anyway. Are you content with your spouse? Are you … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Christ's Death, Church, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Dress and Appearance, Family, God's Love, God's Provision, Greed, Impatience, Jealousy, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trusting In God, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

Posted on June 18, 2025 by russellmckinney

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? is a Christian hymn written in 1907/1908 by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. The song asks the question of whether or not earthly families will be reunited in heaven. As popular as the song … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Children, Death, Entertainment, Eternal Security, Eternity, Faith, Family, Fatherhood, Heaven, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Music, Parenting, Personal, Salvation, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Failed Lately?

Posted on March 31, 2025 by russellmckinney

When Tonya and I were raising our two sons, we didn’t want either of them to have any problems in life. We wanted them to enjoy perfect health. We wanted them to be the most popular kids at their schools. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Business, Character, Children, Disappointment, Divorce, Divorce & Remarriage, Encouragement, God's Work, Humility, Individuality, Ministry, Perseverance, Personal, Pride, Problems, Prosperity, Service, Trials | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What’s Your Love Language?

Posted on March 24, 2025 by russellmckinney

My mother attends Calvary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC. Dr. Gary Chapman served on staff there for many years, but he is best known as the author of “The Five Love Languages” series of books. The first of those … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Communication, Doing Good, Family, Fatherhood, Friendship, Husbands, Individuality, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Reconciliation, Service, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Becoming Childlike

Posted on February 21, 2025 by russellmckinney

A man was driving down a treacherous mountain road. Suddenly, a deer bolted out in front of him, causing him to instinctively jerk the steering wheel to his left. The next thing he knew he was headed off a steep … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Belief, Children, Doubt, Faith, Fear, God's Provision, Heaven, Needs, Problems, Salvation, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Selling Hamburgers

Posted on February 7, 2025 by russellmckinney

I have never served as the pastor of a megachurch, and I don’t figure that I ever will. My pastoral ministry has always involved small, rural churches. Still, I’ll admit that, like megachurch pastors, I feel the internal pressure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Church, Church Attendance, Music, Pastors, Personal, Preaching, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Kateland’s Answer

Posted on January 22, 2025 by russellmckinney

I was in my first pastorate, and our church was having its annual Bible School week. The attendance was excellent each night as several visiting kids who weren’t part of our church were coming. One of those visitors was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Children, Church, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Work, Humor, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Reward, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

What Two Boys Can Teach Us About Christmas

Posted on December 20, 2024 by russellmckinney

One of my favorite Christmas illustrations is a true story that took place many years ago in Paines Hollow, New York. There was a thirteen-year-old boy who attended Mohawk Central School in that city. One year, at Christmastime, he heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christmas, Giving, Personal, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Some Things to Remember This Christmas

Posted on December 18, 2024 by russellmckinney

An old legend tells that Satan and his demons once threw a Christmas party for themselves. As the party was ending and the demons were heading out to resume their worldwide activity, one demon jokingly said to Satan, “Merry Christmas, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christ's Birth, Christmas, Christmas Traditions, Complaining, Divorce, Family, Giving, Husbands, Marriage, Parenting, Wives | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Profound Question

Posted on December 16, 2024 by russellmckinney

A missionary was once asked if he liked his work in Africa. His reply was as follows: Do I like this work? No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Love, Mercy, Ministry, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Sacrifice, Service, Stewardship, Suffering, Sunday School, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments