Category Archives: Conviction

Has God Told You Something Lately?

Posted on July 31, 2026 by russellmckinney

Jesus remained completely silent when He stood before Herod Antipas for questioning (Luke 23:6-12). Nothing Antipas said or asked evoked a verbal response from Jesus. What made Christ’s behavior in this instance so strange was the fact that He didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Choices, Commitment, Conviction, Decisions, Disobedience, God's Wrath, God's Guidance, God's Judgment, God's Will, God's Word, Idolatry, Obedience, Prophecy, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sin, The Bible, The Gospel, Truth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Getting Right About Being Wrong

Posted on May 15, 2026 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, Character, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Forgiveness, God's Love, God's Mercy, Grace, Guilt, Lying, Making Restitution, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Sin | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Most Shocking Convert Ever

Posted on March 14, 2026 by russellmckinney

(Series: “The Early Church of Jerusalem” post #15) Imagine Osama Bin Laden becoming a Christian and asking to speak in Christian churches. Imagine Adolph Hitler converting to Judaism and asking to speak in Jewish synagogues. Imagine the Grand Wizard of … Continue reading →

Posted in Brokenness, Change, Church, Conscience, Conviction, Dying To Self, Evangelism, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Persecution, Salvation, Series: "The Early Church of Jerusalem", Service, Submission, The Gospel, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Story About the Value of Waiting Just a Little Bit Longer

Posted on January 19, 2026 by russellmckinney

In his booklet When Everything Goes Wrong, Adrian Rogers tells the story of Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. Solzhenitsyn, who was a Christian, was a Russian writer who was an outspoken critic of communism and the Soviet Union. In February of 1945, he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Conviction, Decisions, Depression, Faith, God's Timing, God's Foreknowledge, God's Guidance, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Problems, Suffering, Suicide, Temptation, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on January 3, 2026 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 , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Going Back Home

Posted on January 1, 2026 by russellmckinney

New York’s Bowery Mission was founded in 1879 and still serves today as a rescue mission and men’s shelter. Sam Hadley was once the superintendent there and told a certain story about the place. I’d like to share that story … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Belief, Brokenness, Change, Children, Confession, Conviction, Disobedience, Family, Fatherhood, Fear, Forgiveness, God's Love, Grace, Guilt, Love, Missions, New Year, Parenting, Problems, Rebellion, Reconciliation, Repentance, Salvation, Seeking Forgiveness, Sin, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Fall & You

Posted on October 17, 2025 by russellmckinney

One look out my window today here in the mountains of western North Carolina proves that Fall has arrived. I’ve already got a yard full of dead leaves that have officially made the “fall” from their trees to the ground, … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Conviction, Creation, God's Will, Personal, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Sanctification, Sin | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Five Bottles of Wine

Posted on April 28, 2025 by russellmckinney

An elderly woman who lived in the north of England hadn’t been able to truly pray for years. She needed to pray, even wanted to pray, but each time she tried to pray her mind went to five bottles of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Doing Good, God's Will, Guilt, Making Restitution, Prayer, Reconciliation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Oak Tree’s Fall

Posted on April 21, 2025 by russellmckinney

In the center of a town stood a giant oak tree that had been planted there many decades earlier to mark the founding of the town. The tree was massive and had proven that it could withstand any storm. Through … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Anger, Backsliding, Christ's Death, Conviction, Covetousness, Desires, Disobedience, Drugs, Forgiveness, Gambling, God's Judgment, Guilt, Idolatry, Jealousy, Lust, Lying, Pride, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sex, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What Sin Costs the Christian

Posted on February 17, 2025 by russellmckinney

New Testament Christianity teaches that salvation comes by way of faith (belief) in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 can’t be much clearer: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Bible Study, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Faith, God's Chastening, God's Holiness, Guilt, Holiness, Inner Peace, Joy, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment