Author Archives: russellmckinney

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

A farmer had lived on the same farm all his life. He’d been born and raised there and had received the farm as an inheritance when his parents had died. It was a good farm, but the farmer had begun … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Guidance, God's Will, Obedience, Personal, Temptation, Trusting In God, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Mechanic

As an old story goes in the early 1900s a husband and his wife purchased one of those newfangled Model T Fords. They took it out for a drive one day, but something happened to the engine and the car … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Creation, Dying To Self, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Individuality, Needs, Problems, Reconciliation, Salvation, Submission, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Baptizing Your Job Into Service to Christ

There once was a young man named Arsene who lived in Paris, France. Arsene worked as a grocer, but he absolutely hated his job because he felt like he was meant for bigger things. In his mind, circumstances created by … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Brokenness, Business, Christ's Birth, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Desires, Disappointment, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Greed, Humility, Individuality, Influence, Inner Peace, Ministry, Missions, Money, Prosperity, Service, Submission, Suicide, Trusting In God, Work | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Weekly Reminder

The April 16, 1990, edition of People magazine featured the story of a young man who was in the midst of paying off an interesting sentence for drunk driving. Eight years earlier his drinking and driving had resulted in the death of … Continue reading

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Christ's Death, Comfort, Confession, Conscience, Eternal Security, Forgiveness, God's Mercy, Grace, Guilt, Making Restitution, Peace, Salvation, Satan, Seeking Forgiveness, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Choosing the East Side of the Jordan

Numbers chapter 32 provides us with a fascinating twist in the history of Moses and the Israelites. The twist involves the tribes of Reuben and Gad as well as half the tribe of Manasseh, and it holds multiple metaphorical lessons … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Business, Choices, Commitment, Contentment, Courage, Covetousness, Deception, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Disobedience, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Will, God's Work, Lust, Obedience, Patience, Prosperity, Rebellion, Reward, Temptation, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will Explain Later

In his day, Dr. Thomas Guthrie was one of Scotland’s most popular and respected preachers. On the subject of the Christian life oftentimes being difficult, perplexing, and downright confusing, Guthrie said: A man standing on the summit of a lofty … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Commitment, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Eternity, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Heaven, Impatience, Loneliness, Patience, Persecution, Problems, Salvation, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s Hard to Be Still

Be still, and know that I am God… (Psalm 46:10, N.K.J.V.) Royce was our child who couldn’t sit still. He was hyper, fidgety, squirmy, active, and all sorts of other wiggly. He could sit and play his PlayStation for hours, … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Church Attendance, Comfort, Contentment, Courage, Depression, Doubt, Dying To Self, Faith, Fear, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Guidance, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Word, Impatience, Joy, Needs, Parenting, Patience, Peace, Personal, Problems, Revenge, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

If in This Life Only…

Sometimes you’ll hear a preacher make the statement, “Even if there is no heaven, the benefits you receive in this life make it worth it to follow Jesus.” I remember saying this myself a time or two in my younger … Continue reading

Posted in Belief, Bible Study, Christ's Resurrection, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Eternity, Forgiveness, Heaven, Missions, Money, Pastors, Prayer, Preaching, Revenge, Reward, Sacrifice, Salvation, Service, Stewardship, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Give God All There Is of You

William Booth was one of the most famous ministers who ever lived. When he became a Christian at the age of 15, he wrote in his diary, “God shall have all there is of William Booth.” He then spent the … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Christ's Death, Commitment, Complaining, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Evangelism, Faithfulness, God's Work, Human Life, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Service, Submission, Suffering, Trials, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Does Heaven Have a Wall?

A few years back, as the political debate about illegal immigration was in full blaze, a certain meme started making the rounds on social media. There were different variations of the meme, but most of them featured a picture of … Continue reading

Posted in Christ's Second Coming, Christ's Return, Current Events, Eternity, God's Timing, God's Word, Heaven, Politics, Prophecy, Racism, The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment