Category Archives: Personal

What Should Have Been

Posted on November 22, 2024 by russellmckinney

I was a little under two years into my first pastorate when one afternoon, as I was driving in my car, I happened to drive past the sign for a certain church in our area. It was a sign that … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Counsel, Decisions, Disappointment, Discernment, Disobedience, God's Timing, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Influence, Leadership, Ministry, Obedience, Patience, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Rebellion, Service, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Filling in the Gaps of My Learning

Posted on November 20, 2024 by russellmckinney

I grew up in a small, rural, conservative Southern Baptist Convention church. I believed in Jesus as my Savior at a young age, was baptized, and joined the church. I went to Sunday School just about every Sunday and stayed … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Bible Study, Children, Church, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doubt, Faith, Parenting, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer Requests, Problems, Scripture, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Does God Speak Through Dreams Today?

Posted on November 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

In the days before Christ’s death and resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit to indwell His followers (Acts 2:1-4), one of God’s primary ways of speaking to people was through dreams. This was especially true concerning His prophets. … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Discernment, Dreams, God's Will, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When God Doesn’t Make a Way

Posted on October 29, 2024 by russellmckinney

My previous post was entitled “God Can Make a Way” and was based upon the story found in Acts 12:1-19. That post focused upon how God made a way of escape for Peter as Peter sat in a Roman prison … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Belief, Bible Study, Death, Disappointment, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, God's Omnipotence, God's Omniscience, God's Sovereignty, God's Will, Human Life, Justice, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Problems, Scripture, Suffering, The Bible, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 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

Recovering From Helene

Posted on October 11, 2024 by russellmckinney

It has been over a week since I was able to post anything on the blog, but today I’ve finally got the time and the internet connection to do it. Since my last report, I have worked harder than I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Christian Unity, Current Events, Doing Good, Evangelism, Giving, God's Work, Ministry, Missions, Personal, Weather, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Helene

Posted on October 2, 2024 by russellmckinney

Thursday night, September 26th, the remains of Hurricane Helene came roaring across the mountains of western North Carolina, bringing 20+ inches of rain and winds over 50 m.p.h. with it. By the following night, all 25 counties in our region … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Church Attendance, Current Events, Death, God's Sovereignty, Personal, Problems, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Weather | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Incident on a School Bus

Posted on September 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

During some of my college years, I had a part-time job driving a school bus for elementary and middle school students. Since I myself hadn’t been a kid for a while, that job served to remind me just how cruel … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Children, Doing Good, God's Work, Influence, Mercy, Ministry, Personal, Service, The Sermon On The Mount, The Tongue | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

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

A Story From the Lighter Side of Politics

Posted on August 19, 2024 by russellmckinney

In the midst of all the drama, vitriol, and outright rage that now characterizes American politics, allow me to lighten things up a bit with a story from my one and only foray into the political realm. It involves my … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Communication, Humor, Motherhood, Personal, Politics, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments