Category Archives: Desires

How to Be a Herod

Posted on July 6, 2022 by russellmckinney

Israel’s first temple, known as Solomon’s temple, stood for 400 years before it was destroyed by the Babylonians. Israel’s second temple, known as Zerubbabel’s temple, stood for 500 years and served as the centerpiece of Jewish worship all during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Decisions, Desires, Dying To Self, God's Will, God's Work, Priorities, Sports, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Building a Babel

Posted on April 2, 2022 by russellmckinney

Let’s say that you are toying around with doing a particular thing in your life. Maybe you are considering buying something (a house, a piece of land, a car, a boat, etc.) Maybe you are mulling over making an investment. Maybe you … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Disobedience, God's Will, Obedience, Pride, Rebellion, Sowing and Reaping, The Trinity | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Father Runs the Trains

Posted on March 23, 2022 by russellmckinney

Railroad tracks snake their way through the heart of the town in which I live. I’m not talking about old, decrepit tracks that haven’t seen any action in years. These tracks are alive and vibrant with the sounds of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Desires, Disappointment, Encouragement, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Needs, Problems, Trials, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strength for All Your Days

Posted on February 14, 2022 by russellmckinney

…As your days, so shall your strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:25, N.K.J.V.) A man retired at the age of 65 and set himself to doing the “bucket list” of things he wanted to get done before the end of his life. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Comfort, Death, Desires, Doing Good, Elderly, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Human Life, Individuality, Ministry, Priorities, Service, Spiritual Gifts, Talents, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Two Different Agendas

Posted on January 7, 2022 by russellmckinney

When my son Ryan was in high school and trying to get a chance to play college baseball, I took him to a Prospect Camp at a small college in Georgia. The college had a successful DII baseball program, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Discernment, Discipleship, Elderly, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Heaven, Loneliness, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Prosperity, Sanctification, Sickness, Spiritual Warfare, Sports, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

You Do Not Have Because You Do Not Ask

Posted on December 8, 2021 by russellmckinney

…you do not have because you do not ask… (James 4:2, N.K.J.V.) One of my favorite memories from raising two boys took place in a fast-food restaurant following a baseball game. My oldest son, Ryan, was a freshman in high … Continue reading →

Posted in Desires, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Provision, God's Will, Greed, Needs, Personal, Prayer Requests, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Which Direction Does Your Life Flow?

Posted on June 18, 2021 by russellmckinney

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, will inherit … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Confession, Contentment, Desires, Doing Good, Eternal Security, Grace, Guilt, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Restoration, Salvation, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Curious Case of the Tribes of Reuben, Gad, & Manasseh

Posted on May 3, 2021 by russellmckinney

God had given the land of Canaan to Israel (Abraham’s descendants, the Jews). Consequently, some forty years after unbelief and cowardice had initially cost them their first opportunity to make the land their own (Numbers 14:1-38), God again guided them … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Will, Impatience, Patience, Temptation, Waiting | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

What Satellite Chips Have to Do with Holy Conduct

Posted on April 28, 2021 by russellmckinney

…as He who has called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16, N.K.J.V.). A country doctor had a sign in his office that … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Character, Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Holiness, God's Will, Holiness, Personal, Personal Holiness, Sin, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment