Category Archives: Priorities

Are You Too Busy?

Posted on January 17, 2024 by russellmckinney

I live in Mitchell County, way up in the mountains of western North Carolina. Our total population is under 16,000. We roll up the sidewalks at night in our two towns, and we know far too much about our fellow … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Bible Study, Business, Church Attendance, Personal, Prayer, Priorities, Work, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

One Flesh

Posted on November 29, 2023 by russellmckinney

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24, N.K.J.V.) The union of a man and a woman in matrimony can be illustrated in various ways, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Children, Divorce, Divorce & Remarriage, Family, Fatherhood, Husbands, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Personal, Priorities, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Redefining Prosperity

Posted on November 27, 2023 by russellmckinney

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: I wish my blog readership was bigger, my church had more people, my home was nicer, my salary was larger, and my bank account was more impressive. Does that shock … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Contentment, Covetousness, Desires, Disappointment, Discipleship, Doing Good, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Will, God's Work, Greed, Influence, Money, Personal, Priorities, Problems, Prosperity, Reward, Service, Trials | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Life on the Island

Posted on November 17, 2023 by russellmckinney

In his book 1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching, G. Curtis Jones tells a story from the life of Methodist pastor Roy L. Smith. As the story goes, Smith had a deep concern for an elderly couple who lived by themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Children, Christ's Death, Christ's Resurrection, Comfort, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Priorities, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God | 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

Bread & Stone

Posted on October 6, 2023 by russellmckinney

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Complaining, Desires, Disappointment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Love, God's Omniscience, God's Will, God's Work, Husbands, Marriage, Ministry, Parenting, Pastors, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Priorities, Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Don’t Let Yourself Be Stopped

Posted on October 2, 2023 by russellmckinney

A missionary society in South Africa wrote to David Livingstone, the legendary Scottish missionary who blazed trails in Africa for over thirty years. The letter read: Have you found a good road to where you are? If not, we want … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Commitment, Confession, Courage, Depression, Disappointment, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Work, Leadership, Ministry, Missions, Pastors, Persecution, Perseverance, Priorities, Problems, Repentance, Service, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Do Your Building with God

Posted on September 29, 2023 by russellmckinney

Psalm 127:1 is one of my favorite verses from the book of Psalms. The first part of that verse reads: Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it… (K.J.V.) The Bible’s best illustration of these … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Decisions, Desires, Discernment, Disobedience, God's Will, Obedience, Priorities, Prosperity, Temptation, Trusting In God, Work | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Water Lines & Old Paths

Posted on August 28, 2023 by russellmckinney

You don’t have to be a nautical expert to know that boats must be as solid below the water line as they are above it. A boat that looks good above the water line but is rotten below it will eventually sink. Well, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Backsliding, Bible Study, Church Attendance, Commitment, Confession, Discipleship, Doing Good, Faithfulness, Giving, Obedience, Perseverance, Prayer, Priorities, Repentance, Righteousness, Sanctification, Scripture, Service, Sin, Stewardship, The Bible, Trusting In God, Witnessing, Worry, Worship | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Keeper of the Spring

Posted on June 26, 2023 by russellmckinney

In a little hamlet, the town council held a meeting to discuss how to cut expenses. They studied the budget more seriously than ever before and noticed an item that had previously escaped their attention. It was a small fee … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Comfort, Commitment, Discipleship, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Provision, Inner Peace, Joy, Needs, Personal Holiness, Priorities, Sanctification, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment