Category Archives: Choices

The CSS Shenandoah

Posted on December 28, 2020 by russellmckinney

The full-rigged sailing ship known as Sea King was a British merchant ship that was re-purposed as a raiding ship by the Confederate States Navy during the Civil War. The ship was renamed CSS Shenandoah and was deployed to raid … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, Priorities, Reconciliation, Revenge, War | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

When the Timing Isn’t Right

Posted on December 14, 2020 by russellmckinney

Tonya and I lived in a rental apartment and then a rental house for pretty much the first two years of our marriage. Then we started looking around for a house to buy. One house in particular looked good and … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Disappointment, God's Timing, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Personal, Submission, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Father’s Sacrifice

Posted on December 5, 2020 by russellmckinney

A pastor stood in the pulpit and spoke of his love for his childhood friend. Afterward, an elderly gentleman stood up from the front pew and walked to the pulpit to speak. He told a story about a father, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Choices, Christ's Death, Evangelism, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Provision, Grace, Parenting, Sacrifice, Salvation | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Does God Lead Us Along Routes That Don’t Make Sense?

Posted on November 9, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #10) God had to use unprecedented plagues, ten of them, to get Pharaoh to release the Israelites from their Egyptian bondage. At last, however, Pharaoh did relent. The Israelites’ departure from Egypt was sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Commitment, Courage, Decisions, Doubt, Dying To Self, Faith, God's Will, Leadership, Obedience, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Does God Accept Excuses?

Posted on October 30, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #6) Forty years had passed since Moses had killed an Egyptian taskmaster, fled from Egypt, and settled down in Midian. His Pharaoh grandfather, the one who had sought his death for killing that taskmaster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Courage, Decisions, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Service, Submission | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What Two Monks Can Teach Us About Sin

Posted on October 12, 2020 by russellmckinney

There’s an old story that tells of a senior monk and a junior monk who were making their way from one monastery to another. It was a pleasant enough walk until they came to a certain crossing site at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Choices, Christian Liberty, Conscience, Decisions, Discernment, Faith, Personal Holiness, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Spiritually Minded vs. Carnally Minded

Posted on September 12, 2020 by russellmckinney

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6, N.K.J.V.) We don’t have to wonder what the apostle Paul means when he uses the descriptive phrase “spiritually minded.” The man himself … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Depravity, God's Will, Salvation, The Holy Spirit | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Your Excuse?

Posted on September 7, 2020 by russellmckinney

Excuses are a dime a dozen, right? So, I thought I’d share a few “excuses” stories with you. Here we go. Story #1: Mrs. Smith gave her class of high school students the assignment of writing a term paper that … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Decisions, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dying To Self, God's Will, Lying, Obedience, Pastors, Rebellion, Sin, Submission | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

More Beyond

Posted on August 26, 2020 by russellmckinney

For centuries the country of Portugal proudly proclaimed the motto “Nothing More Beyond.” This was back when European sailors believed that the world was flat and had an edge over which a ship would plummet into a black hole. Terrifying … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Courage, Decisions, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, Submission, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

When a Past Blessing Becomes a Present Problem

Posted on August 17, 2020 by russellmckinney

He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Christ's Death, Church, Church Attendance, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment