Author Archives: russellmckinney

John Wesley’s Pound Notes

This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Titus 3:8, N.K.J.V.) The … Continue reading

Posted in Doing Good, Encouragement, Giving, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Money, Needs, Service | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

When God “Goes Abraham” on You

I hope we can all agree that it’s never a good thing to miss God’s will. The fact is, though, that some trips outside God’s will result in a figurative slap on the wrist, while others result in a figurative … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, God's Will, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Working Out Your Own Salvation

A man bought an acreage of hilly land dotted with boulders and covered with weeds and briars. He then began his work on the land. First, he paid a backhoe operator and a dump-truck driver to dig up the boulders … Continue reading

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, God's Work, Ministry, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Salvation, Service, Sin, Temptation, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Incident on a School Bus

During some of my college years, I had a part-time job driving a school bus for elementary and middle school students. Since I myself hadn’t been a kid for a while, that job served to remind me just how cruel … Continue reading

Posted in Character, Children, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Mercy, Ministry, Personal, Service, The Sermon On The Mount, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Thunder Balanced With Love

From everything we can surmise about Christ’s chosen 12 apostles, John was the youngest. He was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, who was also one of the 12 (Matthew 4:21). By combining certain passages (Matthew … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Anger, Attitude, Balance, Character, Family, God's Love, Greed, Humility, Love, Ministry, Persecution, Preaching, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Rebuked & The Rebuker

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5, N.K.J.V.) …Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:8, N.K.J.V.) …a scoffer does not listen to … Continue reading

Posted in Church, Counsel, Courage, Criticism, God's Work, Honesty, Influence, Ministry, Personal, Preaching, Sports, Truth, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Key Lesson About Life

Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17 (N.K.J.V.) The book of James will always have a special place in my heart because it is the first book … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Attitude, Disappointment, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Human Life, Humility, Pride, Submission, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Have You Dug Your Ditches?

And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your … Continue reading

Posted in Belief, Choices, Decisions, Faith, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Needs, Obedience, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Labor Day

Labor Day isn’t one of those holidays that Americans classify as “religious.” We associate it more with the end of summer, the start of school, and the beginning of football season. But we do tend to loosely classify Thanksgiving as … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Business, God's Will, Work | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Blessed by God or Blessed by Satan?

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Business, Church, Discernment, God's Work, Money, Problems, Prosperity, Satan, Sowing and Reaping, Spiritual Warfare, Sports, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment