Category Archives: Conscience

The Problem of Copper Nails

Posted on July 31, 2023 by russellmckinney

Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Guilt, Honesty, Inner Peace, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sin, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Ministering to Difficult People

Posted on June 12, 2023 by russellmckinney

New Yorker Stephen Merritt was an interesting guy. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, he served Christ as both a minister and an undertaker. (He was the undertaker for the funeral of Ulysses S. Grant.) In addition to these … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Character, Complaining, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Discipleship, Doing Good, Extending Forgiveness, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Persecution, Revenge, Service, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

So Far, So Good

Posted on June 5, 2023 by russellmckinney

A man jumped off the Empire State building. As he went plunging down past the 50th floor, an onlooker spoke to him from an open window and said, “Well, how does it feel?” The jumper answered, “So far, so good.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Backsliding, Coming Judgment, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Forgiveness, Gambling, Gluttony, God's Wrath, God's Judgment, Guilt, Homosexuality, Lust, Lying, Making Restitution, Personal Holiness, Racism, Rebellion, Repentance, Sex, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil

Posted on December 17, 2021 by russellmckinney

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Choices, Commitment, Conscience, Decisions, Desires, Discipleship, Disobedience, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Word, Lust, Man's Freewill, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Righteousness, Sanctification, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nobody to Blame!

Posted on March 17, 2021 by russellmckinney

Several years ago I cut a little article out of a Christian newspaper. I threw the article in my nightstand drawer where I keep some of the illustrations I’ve accumulated and didn’t think much more about it. Today I was … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Attitude, Backsliding, Character, Complaining, Confession, Conscience, Depravity, Disobedience, Guilt, Repentance, Sin | 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

Getting Right About Being Wrong

Posted on February 18, 2019 by russellmckinney

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13, N.K.J.V.) A businessman stopped at a restaurant and ordered a cup of coffee. The waitress didn’t even try to disguise her … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Attitude, Backsliding, Change, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Forgiveness, God's Mercy, Lying, Making Restitution, Obedience, Rebellion, Restoration, Sin | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When You Know What to Do But Don’t Do It

Posted on September 12, 2018 by russellmckinney

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” (Luke 12:47, N.K.J.V.) It’s one thing when you honestly don’t know what to do about … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Coming Judgment, Conscience, Conviction, Decisions, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Fear, God's Will, Obedience, Problems, Rebellion, Seeking Advice, Stewardship, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Remember Lot’s Wife

Posted on June 12, 2018 by russellmckinney

When the burgeoning camps of Abraham and his nephew, Lot, became so large the same area could no longer support their flocks, the two men separated (Genesis 13:1-7). Lot took one look at the lush, fertile, well-watered plain of Jordan, … Continue reading →

Posted in Angels, Backsliding, Choices, Coming Judgment, Conscience, Desires, God's Judgment, Homosexuality, Influence, Marriage, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Death & the Atheist

Posted on December 21, 2017 by russellmckinney

“A Thought-Provoking Book” series (post #4) In the opening sentence to the preface for the book Why I Left, Why I Stayed, the father and son team of Tony and Bart Campolo jointly say: We are not unusual. Many Christian parents … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Atheism, Belief, Comfort, Conscience, Death, Doubt, Faith, Fear, Heaven, Hell, Human Life, Justice, Personal, Reward, Salvation, Series: "A Thought-Provoking Book", The Bible, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment