Category Archives: Christmas

How to Have a Christmas Without Money

Posted on December 21, 2016 by russellmckinney

Margery Tallcott tells the story of a memorable Christmas that she and her husband spent with their six-year-old son Pete. It was during the time of America’s Great Depression and money was so tight that the family simply couldn’t afford … Continue reading →

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Not Everybody Feels Thankful & Merry

Posted on November 21, 2016 by russellmckinney

Today is the Monday before Thanksgiving, which means that we are now moving into the holiday season. Thanksgiving will be here Thursday. That will be followed by Black Friday, the unofficial beginning of the Christmas shopping season. Eventually December 25th, … Continue reading →

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A Few Unanswerable Christmas Questions

Posted on December 24, 2012 by russellmckinney

Every Christmas I preach the familiar story of Christ’s birth. Over the course of thirty years of doing that, I’ve come up with a list of questions the Bible simply doesn’t answer concerning the story. Here are seven of them: … Continue reading →

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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

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

My Post-Holiday Funk

Posted on January 12, 2012 by russellmckinney

Financially speaking, this month of January tends to be a more trying month for me and Tonya than other months. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to deduce the reason: Christmas hangover. It’s not that we go wild with … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Christmas, Dieting, Gluttony, Money, New Year, Personal, Thankfulness, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Little Fun At Christmas

Posted on December 24, 2011 by russellmckinney

A little boy decided that it was time that he started wearing a watch, so that he could look grown up like his dad. Several weeks before Christmas he started telling his parents, “I want a watch for Christmas.” Day … Continue reading →

Posted in Christmas, Humor | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Peace That Jesus Brings

Posted on December 23, 2011 by russellmckinney

In my last post I explained that even though Christ’s birth didn’t actually usher in a time of “peace on earth,” prophecy teaches that one day He will bring in such a time, one thousand years worth of it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Christ's Birth, Christmas, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, Inner Peace, Personal, Personal Holiness, Salvation, The Sermon On The Mount, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Peace On Earth?

Posted on December 22, 2011 by russellmckinney

What was it those angels said on the night of Christ’s birth? The New King James Version of Luke 2:14 renders it: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” That translation simply follows the … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Christ's Second Coming, Christ's Birth, Christ's Return, Christmas, Coming Judgment, God's Timing, King James Only, Prophecy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

An Underappreciated Part of the Gift

Posted on December 20, 2011 by russellmckinney

In Africa, a missionary teacher did her best to explain the meaning of the Christmas holiday to her children. As a part of her explanation, she told them that Christians give presents to each other at Christmas as a way … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ's Birth, Christmas | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments