Category Archives: Change

False Expectations

Posted on October 11, 2016 by russellmckinney

During the period of my late teens and early twenties, I spent four years working at Bakersville Quick Mart, a convenience store in my hometown. My job there entailed a wide variety of duties: pump gas, run the cash register, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Disappointment, God's Will, Humor, Personal, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

You would be correct to label me a big fan of the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. I’ve seen every episode many times and have also seen every big-screen movie based upon the series. While I enjoy the … Continue reading →

Posted on January 4, 2013 by russellmckinney | 2 Comments

Are You Getting Better?

Posted on November 27, 2012 by russellmckinney

When my youngest son, Royce, played 5th/6th grade football, his team’s line coach was a guy named Stacy Peterson. Even though I’d gone to high school with Stacy and had loosely known him for years, we’d always run in different … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Bible Study, Change, Church, Church Attendance, Commitment, Decisions, Depression, Discipleship, Doing Good, Evangelism, Faith, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Word, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Money, New Year, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Sanctification, Service, Sports, The Bible, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Changed Heart

Posted on November 13, 2012 by russellmckinney

Each year at this time thousands of people participate in Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program. The names of the children of inmates are placed as “angel ornaments” on Christmas trees in churches, businesses, and shopping malls. Along with each name … Continue reading →

Posted in Bible Study, Change, Children, Christmas, Christmas Traditions, Doing Good, God's Word, God's Work, Grace, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Motherhood, Restoration, Salvation, Scripture, The Gospel, The Heart | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mud

Posted on July 18, 2012 by russellmckinney

Following a summer storm, a mischievous little boy raced outside and proceeded to splash the water out of every mudhole he could find. By the time he was finished, the mudholes were all dry and he was covered in mud … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Change, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Forgiveness, God's Holiness, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Matter of Uriah the Hittite

Posted on June 11, 2012 by russellmckinney

One night a man got drunk and ended up in a bar fight during which he received several cuts and bruises to his face. When he got home, he stood in front of the bathroom mirror and tried his best … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Backsliding, Change, Character, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Forgiveness, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, Guilt, Lying, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Your Sign?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by russellmckinney

As a woman was waiting in the checkout line of a grocery store, she noticed a young mother standing in line in front of her. The mother had a baby strapped to her back in one of those baby-backpacks. Attached … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Anger, Backsliding, Baptism, Change, Christ's Death, Christian Liberty, Confession, Conviction, Depravity, Desires, Drugs, Forgiveness, Gambling, Gluttony, Guilt, Lust, Lying, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sex, Sin, Temptation, The Tongue, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Unpleasant Truth

Posted on May 7, 2012 by russellmckinney

God gave the prophet Jeremiah a thankless task. Jeremiah was to prophesy, for decades, to his own people of Judah. Those people were a sinful, proud, stiff-necked bunch. Their nation stood on the precipice of being conquered by the Babylonians, … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Change, Character, Coming Judgment, Depravity, Disobedience, God's Judgment, Preaching, Pride, Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Doing Church Differently

Posted on February 21, 2012 by russellmckinney

The churches of Asia greet you, Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19, N.K.J.V.) Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas and the church that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Balance, Change, Church, Church Discipline, Giving, God's Work, Ministry, Money, Music, Prayer, Preaching, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Stewardship, Sunday School, Teaching, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Doing Church Differently

Don’t Try to Wear Someone Else’s Armor

Posted on February 8, 2012 by russellmckinney

When King Saul heard that a teenage boy named David had volunteered to fight the giant Goliath, he called for David and tried to talk him out of it. He said, “David, you are not able to go against this … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Desires, God's Will, Individuality, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment