Category Archives: Change

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

Making A Decision In Winter

Posted on February 6, 2012 by russellmckinney

Several years ago, Tonya and I were shopping for a house. We had sold the one we had lived in for about ten years and were currently renting. One house we were interested in was not even on the market, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Contentment, Desires, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Personal, Weather | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Building with the Golden Windows

Posted on January 18, 2012 by russellmckinney

Contentment is one of those subjects that is easy to talk about but hard to master. Let’s say that my neighbor buys himself a brand new Corvette. The car is “please notice me” red. The interior is “please don’t get … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Change, Children, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Desires, Disappointment, Faithfulness, God's Provision, God's Will, Impatience, Jealousy, Needs, Personal, Praise, Problems, Prosperity, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Making Perception Align with Reality

Posted on January 16, 2012 by russellmckinney

The owner of a candy store noticed that one of his salesgirls would have customers lined up waiting for her even as his other salesgirls stood by doing nothing. Perplexed by this, he went to the girl and asked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Change, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Faithfulness, God's Work, Honesty, Hypocrisy, Influence, Missions, Personal Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation, Service, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Burning Your Ships

Posted on December 30, 2011 by russellmckinney

Hernando (Hernan) Cortez was a Spanish Conquistador who launched ships from Spanish-held Cuba to conquer Mexico in 1519. That brought about the demise of the great Aztec empire. According to legend, when Cortez first landed on the shores of Mexico, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Courage, Decisions, Disappointment, Faith, Fear, God's Provision, God's Will, Perseverance, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Shipwrecked Christian

Posted on December 13, 2011 by russellmckinney

Maybe you’ve heard the old line, “The world has become so churchy and the church has become so worldly that you can’t tell the difference between the two.” Well, unfortunately, that line rings far too close to the truth. Backslidden … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Church Discipline, Confession, Demons, Heaven, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Salvation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

Posted on November 22, 2011 by russellmckinney

Charles Spurgeon, the most famous preacher from the Victorian England era, said, “God’s people are prone to engrave their trials in marble and write their blessings in the sand.” Truer words were never spoken. I myself do far too much … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Change, God's Love, God's Provision, Prayer, Preaching, Thanksgiving | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment