Category Archives: Family

At What Age Should a Person Marry?

Posted on October 28, 2022 by russellmckinney

I’m officiating a wedding this afternoon. The bride and groom are both in their mid-twenties, which seems to be pretty much the average age for first-time marriages these days. But here’s a good question: At what age should a person marry? Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Bible Study, Children, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Scripture, Sex, The Bible, Wives, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Learning to Really Appreciate the Moment

Posted on October 12, 2022 by russellmckinney

To everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1, N.L.T.) The following quote is attributed to “Anonymous”: First I was dying to finish high school and start college. And then I was dying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Children, Complaining, Contentment, Desires, Family, Fatherhood, God's Timing, God's Will, Human Life, Joy, Parenting, Personal, Problems, Service, Sports, Thankfulness, Waiting, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Idolatry in Early Bloom (A Word about Youth Sports)

Posted on May 25, 2022 by russellmckinney

When you are the parent of a child involved in youth sports, you know more than you want to know about gyms, football fields, baseball diamonds, and soccer fields. You know how time consuming those places are. You know how … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Choices, Christian Liberty, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Idolatry, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Priorities, Sports, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lunchroom Trays & Jesus

Posted on May 23, 2022 by russellmckinney

You remember those lunchroom trays from your childhood, don’t you? They were so compartmentalized. They were the epitome of “a place for everything and everything in its place.” The cream corn wasn’t supposed to spill over into the mashed potatoes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Church Attendance, Commitment, Discipleship, Dress and Appearance, Entertainment, Family, God's Will, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Work, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

My Runaway Child

Posted on April 8, 2022 by russellmckinney

One night, when my son Royce was eight years old, my wife Tonya had to chaperon a school dance for a couple of hours. That left me at home with not only Royce but also his older brother Ryan, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Children, Christ's Death, Corporal Punishment, Depravity, Disobedience, Family, Fatherhood, Forgiveness, Humor, Parenting, Personal, Salvation, Sin, Spanking | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Requirements of Discipleship

Posted on March 2, 2022 by russellmckinney

So, you say you have an interest in becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ? Let’s see how much interest you really have. First, in Luke 14:26, Jesus says: If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Discipleship, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, Family, Priorities, Sacrifice, Service, Submission | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stopping Short (post #3 of 3)

Posted on November 19, 2021 by russellmckinney

So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran. (Genesis 11:32, N.K.J.V.) The Bible doesn’t tell us how long Abram, Sarai, Terah, and Lot lived in the city of Haran. It does, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Children, Choices, Commitment, Death, Discipleship, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Faith, Faithfulness, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Obedience, Parenting, Rebellion, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Stopping Short (post #2 of 3)

Posted on November 17, 2021 by russellmckinney

And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram’s wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Faith, Faithfulness, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Obedience, Parenting, Rebellion, Series: "Stopping Short", Submission, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Stopping Short (post #1 of 3)

Posted on November 15, 2021 by russellmckinney

Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Children, Choices, Commitment, Decisions, Disobedience, Dying To Self, Faith, Faithfulness, Family, God's Will, Obedience, Parenting, Rebellion, Seeking Advice, Series: "Stopping Short", Submission, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Separating From Your Ephraim

Posted on October 6, 2021 by russellmckinney

Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone! (Hosea 4:17, N.I.V.) The tribe called Ephraim took its name from Joseph’s son Ephraim and was one of the most prominent tribes in Israel’s northern kingdom. As a matter of fact, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Friendship, Idolatry, Influence, Personal Holiness, Separation | Tagged , , | 2 Comments