Category Archives: Dress and Appearance

When False Teeth Become a Problem

Posted on July 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

but as He who 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.) In his booklet How to Kill a Church Without Really … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Character, Church, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, God's Holiness, God's Work, Holiness, Homosexuality, Influence, Lying, Making Restitution, Money, Personal Holiness, Repentance, Righteousness, Salvation, Sanctification, Sex, Sin, Temptation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Plowing of the Wicked Is Sin

Posted on May 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin. (Proverbs 21:4, N.K.J.V.) It’s easy to understand why God classifies a haughty (conceited) look as sin. It’s equally easy to understand why He classifies a proud … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Brokenness, Christmas, Church Attendance, Commitment, Decisions, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Giving, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Marriage, Obedience, Rebellion, Reward, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Salvation, Sanctification, Service, Sin, Stewardship, Submission, Trusting In God, Work, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Bubba Smith Learned Too Late

Posted on April 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

Bubba Smith was an All American football player at Michigan State. He is one of only three players from that program to have his jersey number retired. Following his collegiate career, he was the #1 overall pick of the 1967 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Character, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, Entertainment, Family, God's Will, Holiness, Honesty, Influence, Justice, Righteousness, Sanctification, Separation, Sin, Sports, Truth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Contentment

Posted on May 16, 2018 by russellmckinney

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6, N.K.J.V.) How content are you right now? You might as well tell the truth. After all, God knows the correct answer, anyway. Are you content with your spouse? Are you … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Christ's Death, Church, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Disappointment, Dress and Appearance, Family, God's Love, God's Provision, Greed, Impatience, Jealousy, Marriage, Money, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Prosperity, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trusting In God, Work, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Should a Christian Get a Tattoo?

Posted on September 23, 2017 by russellmckinney

We are currently living in the age of the tattoo. A Harris 2015 online survey poll of 2,225 American adults found that 29% have tattoos. That was up from 21% just four years earlier. And of those who have a … Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Liberty, Current Events, Dress and Appearance, Evangelism, Individuality, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Tattoos, The Old Testament Law, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Jesus: The Unkept Hippie

Posted on September 19, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #7) Johnny Paycheck was a country music star who had his biggest success in the 1970s. He was most famous for his hit Take This Job & Shove It, which went to #1 on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Church, Church Attendance, Discernment, Discipleship, Dress and Appearance, Personal, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Salvation, Sanctification, Series: "The Jesus You Know" | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Simple Test for Standards

Posted on September 17, 2012 by russellmckinney

You’ve probably noticed that Christians have wildly different standards when it comes to matters of personal holiness. Sometimes these differences stem from nothing more than the generation gap. Other times they are created by the varying diversities of local cultures. … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christian Liberty, Conscience, Decisions, Discernment, Doubt, Dress and Appearance, Entertainment, Faith, God's Guidance, God's Will, Guilt, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Sin, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Galatians 6:9

Posted on August 28, 2012 by russellmckinney

Robert Raikes was the father of the Sunday School movement that swept over England in the late 1700s and spilled over into the United States in the early 1800s. As the editor of the Gloucester Journal, Raikes became greatly burdened … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Children, Church, Commitment, Disappointment, Doing Good, Doubt, Dress and Appearance, Encouragement, Evangelism, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Impatience, Influence, Ministry, Missions, Patience, Perseverance, Problems, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Sunday School, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“I Am the Joker”

Posted on July 23, 2012 by russellmckinney

Lately, I’ve been preaching a series on the life of Samson. As you might recall, Samson lived his life under the Old Testament law’s Nazirite vow (Judges 13:5, Numbers 6:1-21). That vow had its definite particulars, but a big part … Continue reading →

Posted in Alcohol, Choices, Christian Liberty, Current Events, Discipleship, Dress and Appearance, Drugs, Entertainment, Gambling, Influence, Music, Personal Holiness, Separation, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Making Perception Align with Reality

Posted on January 16, 2012 by russellmckinney

The owner of a candy store noticed that one of his salesgirls would have customers lined up waiting for her even as his other salesgirls stood by doing nothing. Perplexed by this, he went to the girl and asked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Change, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dress and Appearance, Faithfulness, God's Work, Honesty, Hypocrisy, Influence, Missions, Personal Holiness, Righteousness, Salvation, Service, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment