Category Archives: Rebellion

Following God’s Instructions to the Letter

Posted on December 13, 2024 by russellmckinney

The story of Israel’s conquest of the promised land of Canaan is messy, convoluted, and plays out over many decades. Its record covers the entire book of Joshua, spills over into the book of Judges, and is filled with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Disobedience, Faithfulness, God's Guidance, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Obedience, Rebellion, Sanctification, Service, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Elderly Woman

Posted on December 11, 2024 by russellmckinney

My previous post was the first of a two-part series on the Bible’s description of the ideal elderly man and woman. This description is found in Titus 2:1-5, and with that first post I covered the passage’s description of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adultery, Aging, Anger, Character, Children, Desires, Doing Good, Family, God's Word, Headship, Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenting, Priorities, Rebellion, Service, Sex, Sin, Submission, Teaching, The Tongue, Wives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Problem of Deprived Harvests

Posted on December 3, 2024 by russellmckinney

Judges 6:1-6 describes a pitiful situation. An alliance army of the Midianites, the Amalekites, and some other unnamed “people of the East” (referring to the lands located east of Canaan) was absolutely terrorizing the Israelites as the Israelites tried to make their … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Disappointment, Disobedience, Fear, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Satan, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Spiritual Warfare, Suffering, The Devil, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

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

God Sent? Or God Allowed and Used?

Posted on November 15, 2024 by russellmckinney

Somewhere along the way in my ministry, I picked up a daily devotion book written by Phillips Brooks. Brooks was a famous Episcopalian pastor in the Boston area in the 1800s. In the devotion for May 2, he writes: Faith … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, God's Will, Persecution, Perseverance, Problems, Rebellion, Sickness, Sin, Spiritual Warfare, Trials, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Man Who Had to Lose His Eyes to See

Posted on October 23, 2024 by russellmckinney

It’s a shame that many people won’t become spiritually broken unless some type of tragedy happens to them. Samson is a classic case in point. He was Israel’s strongman, the champion of the tribe of Dan and the slayer of … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Backsliding, Brokenness, Character, Choices, Confession, Depravity, Desires, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Work, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Separation, Sex, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Submission, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Nobody killed me. I had a wreck.”

Posted on October 21, 2024 by russellmckinney

Twenty-five-year-old Jamie Peavy had a job working at a barbecue restaurant. One day, after work, she got in her pickup and drove to meet a friend. She tried a new route that day, thinking it would be a shortcut. What … Continue reading →

Posted in Addiction, Adultery, Alcohol, Backsliding, Confession, Conviction, Drugs, Extending Forgiveness, Gambling, God's Love, Greed, Guilt, Lying, Pride, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Submission, Temptation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Kicking at the Goads

Posted on October 18, 2024 by russellmckinney

When the risen Jesus met Saul of Tarsus – who would become the apostle Paul – on the Damascus road, one of the things He told Saul was, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5). … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Change, Choices, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Dying To Self, God's Chastening, God's Guidance, God's Will, Guilt, Obedience, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Submission | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

When God “Goes Abraham” on You

Posted on September 18, 2024 by russellmckinney

I hope we can all agree that it’s never a good thing to miss God’s will. The fact is, though, that some trips outside God’s will result in a figurative slap on the wrist, while others result in a figurative … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Choices, Disobedience, God's Chastening, God's Judgment, God's Will, Rebellion, Repentance, Sin, Temptation, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Christian & Government

Posted on August 22, 2024 by russellmckinney

Let me give you four facts that are all true. Fact #1: The Christian should submit to his or her governmental authorities. Fact #2: Not all governmental leaders are sanctioned by God. Fact #3: Some governmental leaders enact laws that … Continue reading →

Posted in Abortion, Current Events, Disobedience, God's Will, Government, Homosexuality, Leadership, Lesbianism, Obedience, Politics, Rebellion, Submission | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments