Category Archives: Children

Life on the Island

Posted on August 20, 2012 by russellmckinney

In his book 1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, G. Curtis Jones tells a story from the life of Methodist pastor Roy L. Smith. As the story goes, Smith had a deep concern for an elderly couple who lived by … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Children, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Priorities, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Day Mitchell Page Ended My Childhood

Posted on July 30, 2012 by russellmckinney

Today is one of those hot, sultry, late July days. The temperatures are in the 80s, and there is a slight chance of the thunderstorms that are such a classic trademark of summer in the mountains of western North Carolina. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Children, Personal, Sports, Youth | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Miss Thompson & Teddy

Posted on July 20, 2012 by russellmckinney

Today, I feel led to share a story that I picked up years ago from well-known pastor and author John Ortberg. It’s Ortberg’s story put into my own words. The story has always been a blessing to me, and I … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christmas, Doing Good, Encouragement, Evangelism, Friendship, God's Love, God's Work, Influence, Mercy, Ministry, Motherhood, Service, Teaching, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Plea for Courtesy

Posted on July 10, 2012 by russellmckinney

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. (1 Peter 3:8, N.K.J.V., emphasis mine) I want to use this post to address a problem that I believe has … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Children, Communication, Doing Good, Honesty, Humility, Influence, Leadership, Parenting, Personal, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Sports, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Bread & Stone

Posted on June 8, 2012 by russellmckinney

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Complaining, Desires, Disappointment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, God's Will, God's Work, Husbands, Marriage, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Who Are You Riding With?

Posted on May 3, 2012 by russellmckinney

The Lone Ranger and Tonto were in the desert. When 10,000 Indians attacked them from the north, the duo fled south. When 10,000 more Indians attacked them from the south, they fled east. When 10,000 more attacked them from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Children, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Fatherhood, Friendship, God's Will, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Sports, Work | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Personal Word This Monday

Posted on April 9, 2012 by russellmckinney

Well, I’m glad to be back with you today. Sorry for my infrequent posts lately. I had planned to do more blogging in the days leading up to Easter Sunday, but things just didn’t work out. One day I got … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Fatherhood, God's Work, Husbands, Marriage, Parenting, Personal, Talents | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The Wonder of Being Childlike

Posted on March 26, 2012 by russellmckinney

My oldest son, Ryan, was a freshman on his high school’s j.v. baseball team, and the team had an away game against a school that was located an hour and a half away. So, I made the drive to watch … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Belief, Children, Desires, Faith, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, Grace, Needs, Parenting, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Sports, Trusting In God, Worry, Youth | 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

What Two Boys Can Teach Us About Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2011 by russellmckinney

One of my favorite Christmas illustrations is a true story that took place many years ago in Paines Hollow, New York. There was a thirteen-year-old boy who attended Mohawk Central School in that city. One year, at Christmastime, he heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Christmas, Giving, Personal, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment