Category Archives: Music

Does Praising God for Past Deliverances Build Our Faith for Future Ones?

Posted on November 13, 2020 by russellmckinney

(“Questions From Israel’s Exodus” series: post #12, last one) As God brought the walled-up waters of the Red Sea back together to drown the Egyptian army, He also slammed the door shut on the Israelites ever returning to Egypt. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Praise, Series: "Questions From Israel's Exodus", Thankfulness, Worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Entertainment In This Modern Age

Posted on May 21, 2020 by russellmckinney

“I have the right to do anything,” you say — but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything” — but not everything is constructive. (1 Corinthians 10:23, N.I.V.) A Christian woman once gave the great preacher … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Christian Liberty, Discernment, Discipleship, Entertainment, Music, Personal, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Mind Is Like a Hotel

Posted on September 16, 2019 by russellmckinney

One writer has compared our minds to a hotel. The hotel manager cannot keep a problem person from entering the lobby, but he can keep that person from getting a room and staying there. Similarly, you cannot cannot keep a … Continue reading →

Posted in Discernment, Discipleship, Entertainment, Music, Personal Holiness, Sanctification, Separation, Temptation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Popcorn Poppers and 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, Sunday School, The Gospel, Worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A Word About Church Services

Posted on July 18, 2018 by russellmckinney

A faithful churchgoer who also happened to love fishing was asked by his fisherman friend, “How can you go to the same church every service, week after week, month after month, year after year? It’s the same place, the same … Continue reading →

Posted in Church, Church Attendance, Discipleship, Music, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

Posted on April 13, 2018 by russellmckinney

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? is a Christian hymn written in 1907/1908 by Ada R. Habershon and Charles H. Gabriel. The song asks the question of whether or not earthly families will be reunited in heaven. As popular as the song … Continue reading →

Posted in Belief, Children, Death, Entertainment, Eternal Security, Faith, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Heaven, Human Life, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Music, Parenting, Personal, Salvation, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Your Feelings Might Be Real, But They Won’t Impress an Atheist

Posted on December 17, 2017 by russellmckinney

“A Thought-Provoking Book” series (post #2) We’ve begun a series of posts on the book, Why I Left, Why I Stayed. The book is coauthored by the father-son team of Tony and Bart Campolo and explores the reasons why Bart Campolo … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Belief, Christ's Miracles, Conscience, Conviction, Creation, Discipleship, Doubt, Faith, God's Omnipotence, Guilt, Music, Personal, Preaching, Salvation, Series: "A Thought-Provoking Book", The Bible, The Holy Spirit, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Worship Wars

Posted on June 8, 2017 by russellmckinney

Some years ago I met with the pulpit committee of a certain church about the possibility of me becoming that church’s next pastor. I don’t normally take Tonya along for such meetings, but this committee wanted to meet her as … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Balance, Change, Church, Church Attendance, Doctrine, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Music, Personal, Sunday School, Truth, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

God’s Fiddle

Posted on April 3, 2017 by russellmckinney

Bob Jones Sr., who founded Bob Jones University, a Christian university in Greenville, S.C., used to tell the story of a student from North Carolina named Dorothy. Before enrolling at B.J.U., Dorothy came from a family who wanted nothing to … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Brokenness, Desires, Dying To Self, God's Name, Idolatry, Joy, Music, Priorities, Submission, Talents | Tagged , , , , , | 1 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 at its heart … 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