Author Archives: russellmckinney

Don’t Let Delays Discourage You

“Ezra” series: (post #10) Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, God's Will, God's Work, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Series: "Ezra", Waiting | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Temptation to Compromise

“Ezra” series: (post #9) Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel,  they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers’ houses, and said to them, “Let us … Continue reading

Posted in Decisions, God's Work, Series: "Ezra", Service, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Different Reactions to the Laying of the Foundation

“Ezra” series: (post #8) Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Balance, Change, Church, Elderly, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Series: "Ezra", Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Kind of Shape is Your Altar in?

“Ezra” series: (post #7) And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. Then Jeshua the son of Jozadek and his brethren the priests, … Continue reading

Posted in Priorities, Series: "Ezra", The Old Testament Law, Worship | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Funding God’s Work

“Ezra” series: (post #6) Some of the heads of the fathers’ houses, when they came to the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God, to erect it in its place: According to … Continue reading

Posted in Giving, God's Work, Missions, Money, Series: "Ezra" | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Real Group Consisting of Real People

“Ezra” series: (post #5) The book of Ezra’s general list of the people who left Babylon and made the four-month-long trek (Ezra 7:9) to return to Judah is given in Ezra 2:1-61. Even though the list provides only a handful … Continue reading

Posted in Change, God's Will, Individuality, Series: "Ezra" | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Godly Leadership

“Ezra” series: (post #4) It’s been said, “Everything rises or falls on leadership.” So, with this in mind, who was God’s man to lead the remnant of Jews out of Babylon and back to Judah for the purpose of building … Continue reading

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“What Do You Mean You’re Not Going With Us?”

“Ezra” series: (post #3) Here is the list of the Jewish exiles of the provinces who returned from their captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar had deported them to Babylon, but now they returned to Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah where … Continue reading

Posted in Aging, Choices, Decisions, Elderly, Fear, God's Will, Obedience, Series: "Ezra" | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When God Flips a Script

“Ezra” series: (post #2) Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which … Continue reading

Posted in Adversity, Change, God's Omnipresence, God's Judgment, Justice, Persecution, Problems, Prophecy, Restoration, Series: "Ezra", The Ark of the Covenant | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

When God Stirs You Up

“Ezra” series: (post #1) Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, with all whose spirits God had moved, arose to go up and build the house of the Lord which … Continue reading

Posted in Change, Courage, Decisions, Faith, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Will, Government, Obedience, Prophecy, Series: "Ezra", Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment