Category Archives: Personal

What’s Your Love Language?

Posted on October 13, 2017 by russellmckinney

My mother attends Calvary Baptist Church in Winston Salem, NC. Dr. Gary Chapman served on staff there for many years, but he is best known as the author of “The Five Love Languages” series of books. The first of those … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Communication, Doing Good, Family, Fatherhood, Friendship, Husbands, Individuality, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Reconciliation, Service, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Hard Truth

Posted on October 3, 2017 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 , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How to Spot a Work of the Devil

Posted on September 28, 2017 by russellmckinney

Life is filled with all kinds of unpleasant situations. As Job 14:1 says, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” But how can you tell the difference between one of life’s inevitable troubles … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Demons, Discernment, Persecution, Personal, Problems, Satan, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Devil | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Jesus: The Conservative Icon

Posted on September 14, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #6) Ed Dobson was about as conservative as conservative gets. In 1979, when Rev. Jerry Falwell founded the Moral Majority (a Religious Right conservative movement that helped Ronald Reagan win the presidency in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Discipleship, God's Work, Ministry, Personal, Politics, Preaching, Racism, Series: "The Jesus You Know" | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus: The White Supremacist

Posted on September 1, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #2) I was born and raised in Mitchell County, N.C., and have lived here virtually my entire life. The county is small (total population around 15,000) and sits nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountain … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Personal, Racism, Salvation, Series: "The Jesus You Know", Slavery | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Does Your Jesus Look Like?

Posted on August 30, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #1) Since none of us have ever seen Jesus face to face, we are left to conjure up our own images of Him in our minds. I myself am still detoxing from a mental … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Favoritism, God's Work, Individuality, Ministry, Missions, Personal, Priorities, Series: "The Jesus You Know" | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Nothing Important Happened Today

Posted on August 23, 2017 by russellmckinney

Sometimes the facts get in the way of a good story. For years, a legend persisted that on July 4, 1776, the day the American colonies declared their independence from England, King George III’s diary entry read: “Nothing important happened … Continue reading →

Posted in Commitment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Human Life, Personal, Priorities, Service, Submission | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Selling Hamburgers

Posted on August 16, 2017 by russellmckinney

I have never served as the pastor of a megachurch, and I don’t figure that I ever will. My pastoral ministry has always involved small, rural churches. Still, I’ll admit that, like megachurch pastors, I feel the internal pressure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Church, Church Attendance, Music, Pastors, Personal, Preaching, Worship, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kateland’s Answer

Posted on July 24, 2017 by russellmckinney

I was in my first pastorate, and our church was having its annual Bible School week. The attendance was excellent each night as several visiting kids who weren’t part of our church were coming. One of those visitors was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Children, Church, Discernment, Evangelism, God's Work, Humor, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Reward, Salvation, The Holy Spirit, Witnessing, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment