Category Archives: Choices

The Man Who Had to Lose His Eyes to See

Posted on October 23, 2024 by russellmckinney

It’s a shame that many people won’t become spiritually broken unless some type of tragedy happens to them. Samson is a classic case in point. He was Israel’s strongman, the champion of the tribe of Dan and the slayer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Brokenness, Character, Choices, Confession, Depravity, Desires, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Work, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Separation, Sex, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Submission, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Kicking at the Goads

Posted on October 18, 2024 by russellmckinney

When the risen Jesus met Saul of Tarsus – who would become the apostle Paul – on the Damascus road, one of the things He told Saul was, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5). … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Dying To Self, God's Chastening, God's Guidance, God's Will, Guilt, Obedience, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Submission | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Terms of Salvation

Posted on October 16, 2024 by russellmckinney

A businessman was trying to win his banker acquaintance to Jesus. After the businessman had shared the story of Christ’s virgin birth, sinless life, substitutionary death, and victorious resurrection, he pressed the banker to believe in Jesus as Savior. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Belief, Choices, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Eternal Security, Evangelism, Grace, Heaven, Salvation, The Gospel, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When God “Goes Abraham” on You

Posted on September 18, 2024 by russellmckinney

I hope we can all agree that it’s never a good thing to miss God’s will. The fact is, though, that some trips outside God’s will result in a figurative slap on the wrist, while others result in a figurative … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, God's Will, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Have You Dug Your Ditches?

Posted on September 4, 2024 by russellmckinney

And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Choices, Decisions, Faith, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Needs, Obedience, Prayer Requests, Problems, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons Learned From the Brink of Canaan

Posted on August 14, 2024 by russellmckinney

The book of Joshua is the Bible’s record of how the Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, claimed their promised land of Canaan. Unfortunately for the Israelites, however, four decades earlier their initial attempt at completing that assignment had produced disastrous results. … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Choices, Comfort, Courage, Disobedience, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Guidance, God's Judgment, God's Will, Obedience, Rebellion, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Worst Form of Earthly Judgment

Posted on August 12, 2024 by russellmckinney

Quick, name the worst judgment that God ever inflicted upon someone. If you answered, “Sending that person to hell,” give yourself a gold star. After all, there simply cannot be anything worse than eternal judgment. But eternal judgment involves God … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Death, Decisions, Depravity, Desires, Disobedience, Faithfulness, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Homosexuality, Human Life, Idolatry, Lesbianism, Lust, Obedience, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sex, Sin, The Heart, The Sin Unto Death, The Unpardonable Sin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

One Reason Why God’s Will Rarely Gets Done

Posted on August 1, 2024 by russellmckinney

Suppose I wake up tomorrow morning and God burdens me to spend the day working on a new sermon based on John 3:16. Okay class, how many individuals are involved with me either doing God’s will by preparing that sermon … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Criticism, Discernment, Disobedience, Doing Good, Doubt, Dying To Self, God's Will, Obedience, Pastors, Personal, Prayer, Preaching, Rebellion, Reconciliation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

False Expectations

Posted on July 15, 2024 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

Is God Good All the Time? (post 2 of 3)

Posted on July 10, 2024 by russellmckinney

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” Genesis 1:31 (N.K.J.V.) “Every good gift, and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father…” James 1:17 (N.K.J.V.) In 1 Peter 3:15, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Backsliding, Choices, Demons, Depravity, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Holiness, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, God's Sovereignty, Justice, Problems, Rebellion, Satan, Series: "Is God Good All the Time?", Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, The Devil, War | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment