Category Archives: Honesty

The Jonah Path

Posted on August 7, 2026 by russellmckinney

Question: “What is the Bible’s only book that ends with a question?” Answer: “Jonah.” Jonah 4:11 closes the book by way of God asking the prophet Jonah: “And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Anger, Backsliding, Church, Church Attendance, Complaining, Contentment, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Honesty, Mercy, Ministry, Missions, Obedience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Preaching, Problems, Rebellion, Service, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your Prayers Don’t Have to Be Perfect

Posted on July 17, 2026 by russellmckinney

Acts 12:1-19 records the story of Peter’s prison break. The story begins with Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of Herod the Great, having Peter arrested and incarcerated in a Roman prison in Jerusalem. Herod is riding high because he has … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Belief, Comfort, Confession, Discipleship, Doubt, Dying To Self, Encouragement, Faith, Fatherhood, Fear, God's Love, God's Provision, God's Will, God's Work, Grace, Honesty, Influence, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Repentance, Submission, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Bubba Smith Learned Too Late

Posted on July 15, 2026 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 NFL … Continue reading →

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

When God Doesn’t Seem to Care

Posted on July 13, 2026 by russellmckinney

How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Children, Christ's Death, Comfort, Complaining, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Faithfulness, Fatherhood, God's Love, Honesty, Needs, Parenting, Pastors, Persecution, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Suffering, Thankfulness, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lies & Dishonest Scales

Posted on March 23, 2026 by russellmckinney

Two college boys foolishly spent the week before their final Physics exam drinking and partying at their off-campus apartment. They didn’t sober up until the morning of the exam, and that’s when it dawned on them how much trouble they … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Character, Communication, Conscience, Deception, Depravity, Doing Good, Honesty, Lying, Money, Personal Holiness, Work | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Hard Truth

Posted on March 17, 2025 by russellmckinney

Samson was conceived in the womb of his previously barren mother. And why did God choose to open her womb at that time? It was because Israel needed a leader (a Judge) to deal with the Philistines. As is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Death, Disappointment, Faith, God's Timing, Honesty, Patience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Scripture, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How Would You Describe Your Walk With the Lord These Days?

Posted on October 14, 2024 by russellmckinney

Vance Havner, the renowned preacher, once told the story of a writer who knew an elderly lady who loved to give her testimony in church. The lady would always begin by saying, “Forty years ago…” After hearing her do that … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Belief, Children, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Faith, Family, Fatherhood, Honesty, Loneliness, Parenting, Personal, Personal Holiness, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Sports, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Rebuked & The Rebuker

Posted on September 9, 2024 by russellmckinney

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:5, N.K.J.V.) …Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. (Proverbs 9:8, N.K.J.V.) …a scoffer does not listen to … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Counsel, Courage, Criticism, God's Work, Honesty, Influence, Ministry, Personal, Preaching, Sports, Truth, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Christianity in Shoe Leather

Posted on March 21, 2024 by russellmckinney

In my previous post, “For His Name’s Sake,” I talked about how a Christian’s conduct has a direct effect upon Christ’s reputation with the lost people of this world. Summing up the situation, a Christian’s sinful conduct does harm to … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Business, Character, Church, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Honesty, Influence, Lying, Obedience, Personal Holiness, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Plea for Courtesy

Posted on October 25, 2023 by russellmckinney

Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. (1 Peter 3:8, N.K.J.V., emphasis mine) I want to use this post to address a problem that I believe has reached … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Children, Communication, Doing Good, Honesty, Humility, Influence, Leadership, Parenting, Personal, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Sports, Youth | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments