Category Archives: Problems

The Pessimistic Christian

Posted on February 15, 2020 by russellmckinney

A man opened up a hot-dog stand by the side of the road in front of his house. His goal was to make a little money to supplement his monthly income. He didn’t have a grand plan for the whole … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Complaining, Criticism, Decisions, Depression, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Provision, Problems, Trials, Trusting In God, Worry | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

How God Can Use Your Patmos

Posted on February 3, 2020 by russellmckinney

The apostle John lived into his eighties, perhaps into his nineties, and in so doing easily outlived all the other apostles. And how did he spend his “senior citizen” years? Post-Biblical church history provides strong documentation that he lived and … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Character, Complaining, Disappointment, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Patience, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Service, Spiritual Warfare, Sports, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Can You Give Thanks for Bad Things?

Posted on November 27, 2019 by russellmckinney

…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20, N.K.J.V.) In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18, … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Complaining, Death, Disappointment, Faith, Perseverance, Problems, Sickness, Suffering, Thankfulness, Thanksgiving, Trials | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Strengthen the Things Which Remain

Posted on November 2, 2019 by russellmckinney

“Be watchful and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die…” (Revelation 3:2, N.K.J.V.) According to Ecclesiastes 3:1, everything has its season and every purpose its time under heaven. Certainly that includes a time to leave and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Church Attendance, Decisions, God's Will, God's Work, Parenting, Prayer Requests, Problems, Service, Youth | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Clinic Built By a Tornado

Posted on September 30, 2019 by russellmckinney

The city of Rochester, Minnesota, was founded in 1854 and incorporated as a town in 1858. The area had previously served as a stagecoach stop, and the new city experienced rapid growth once the railroad began making stops there in … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Attitude, Depression, Disappointment, Doubt, Encouragement, Faith, Fear, God's Omnipotence, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Perseverance, Problems, Restoration, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Gamaliel’s Advice

Posted on September 28, 2019 by russellmckinney

“And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Choices, Depression, Disappointment, Discernment, Encouragement, Faithfulness, God's Timing, God's Will, God's Work, Ministry, Perseverance, Preaching, Problems, Prosperity, Reward, Service, Sowing and Reaping, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Far Better

Posted on September 19, 2019 by russellmckinney

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Comfort, Death, Encouragement, Eternity, Heaven, Persecution, Personal, Problems, Restoration, Reward, Salvation, Sickness, Suffering, Trials | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Is God Calling You to Deal with a Problem?

Posted on August 22, 2019 by russellmckinney

David Livingston, the legendary missionary to Africa, was a man who understood that some jobs God asks us to do aren’t for the faint of heart. On the subject of Livingstone’s work in Africa, one man wrote him, “I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Choices, Courage, Discernment, God's Will, God's Work, Problems, Service | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Happily Ever After

Posted on August 1, 2019 by russellmckinney

Everybody loves a happy ending. The fact is, though, that such an outcome usually depends upon just exactly what degree of “happy” the individual is expecting. If those expectations are unrealistically high, well…. The Bible’s classic illustration of this is … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Change, Disappointment, Family, Fatherhood, God's Will, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Problems, Trials | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Great War

Posted on July 15, 2019 by russellmckinney

Series: “The Great War” (post #1) It is difficult to count the number of wars that have been fought throughout mankind’s history. The difficulty lies in the question of what gets classified as an actual war. There are skirmishes. There … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Angels, Death, Demons, God's Work, Heaven, Persecution, Problems, Rebellion, Satan, Series: "The Great War", Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Devil, War | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment