Category Archives: Discernment

Strange Looking Bread & Fish

Posted on April 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

“Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Attitude, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Discernment, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, God's Work, Impatience, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Wisdom | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Tip for Determining God’s Will

Posted on April 12, 2019 by russellmckinney

Like everybody else I make about a zillion decisions each day. Some are as simple as, “Should I have a ham sandwich or a tuna fish sandwich for lunch?” Others are as complex as, “Should we list our house with … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, God's Guidance, God's Will, Personal, Prayer | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Lot of Moving Parts But Not Much Production

Posted on April 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

There was once an inventor who built an amazing machine. It was six feet high and five feet long and had a total of 5,626 parts (wheels, gears, shafts, chains, belts, etc.), to say nothing of all the nuts, bolts, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Church, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, God's Work, Ministry, Priorities, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Snapshot of Our Churches in 2019

Posted on March 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

LifeWay is the publishing department of the Southern Baptist Convention. Last month they released the findings of a study that was conducted between the dates of January 14 and January 30 of 2019. 1,000 pastors of Protestant churches were called … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Change, Church, Church Attendance, Communication, Current Events, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Word, God's Work, Ministry, Pastors, Personal, Preaching, Scripture, Sunday School, The Bible, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Behind the Times

Posted on March 22, 2019 by russellmckinney

A devout old Christian was visited by his grandson who was on Spring Break from college. “How are you doing, Gramps?” asked the grandson. “Fine, just fine,” said the old man. “How is school going?” the old man asked. Are … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Capital Punishment, Children, Coming Judgment, Commitment, Creation, Current Events, Discernment, Discipleship, Discipline, Doctrine, Elderly, Eternity, Faithfulness, Family, Fatherhood, God's Holiness, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Word, Government, Heaven, Hell, Homosexuality, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Salvation, Scripture, The Bible, The Death Penalty, The Gospel, Trusting In God, Truth, Wisdom, Wives, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Something to Consider When Troubles Come Your Way

Posted on March 20, 2019 by russellmckinney

You have to love Gideon. As he lived in a time when God seemed to be a million miles from Israel, and as he dealt each day with the fallout from that situation, he became a realist. And as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Faithfulness, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Obedience, Persecution, Prayer, Problems, Restoration, Service, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Popcorn Poppers & Irons

Posted on March 13, 2019 by russellmckinney

Some of us are old enough to remember eating popcorn made from a popcorn popper rather than a microwave. We’re also old enough to remember when people not only owned irons but actually used them. The following story stems from … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Church, Communication, Current Events, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Personal, Preaching, Priorities, Sunday School, The Gospel, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Lord God of Truth

Posted on March 7, 2019 by russellmckinney

Series: “The Names of God” (post #5) Here’s a trivia question for you. In our English translations of the Bible, what were the last words that Jesus spoke while hanging on the cross? Were they? A. “Father, into Your hands … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christ's Death, Decisions, Discernment, Doubt, God's Holiness, God's Guidance, God's Name, God's Will, God's Word, Lying, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Satan, Scripture, Series: "The Names of God", Spiritual Warfare, Temptation, The Bible, The Devil, The Old Testament Law, Trusting In God, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Posted on February 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

A farmer had lived on the same farm all his life. He’d been born and raised there and had received the farm as an inheritance when his parents had died. It was a good farm, but the farmer had begun … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Contentment, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, God's Guidance, God's Will, Obedience, Personal, Temptation, Trusting In God, Work | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Choosing the East Side of the Jordan

Posted on February 6, 2019 by russellmckinney

Numbers chapter 32 provides us with a fascinating twist in the history of Moses and the Israelites. The twist involves the tribes of Reuben and Gad as well as half the tribe of Manasseh, and it holds multiple metaphorical lessons … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Business, Choices, Commitment, Contentment, Courage, Covetousness, Deception, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Disobedience, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Will, God's Work, Lust, Obedience, Patience, Prosperity, Rebellion, Reward, Temptation, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment