Category Archives: Reconciliation

Five Bottles of Wine

Posted on April 28, 2025 by russellmckinney

An elderly woman who lived in the north of England hadn’t been able to truly pray for years. She needed to pray, even wanted to pray, but each time she tried to pray her mind went to five bottles of … Continue reading →

Posted in Aging, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Doing Good, God's Will, Guilt, Making Restitution, Prayer, Reconciliation, Sin | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s Your Love Language?

Posted on March 24, 2025 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 , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two Different Bible School Meetings

Posted on January 8, 2025 by russellmckinney

After a relatively successful V.B.S. at one of my former churches, I called for a meeting of the teachers and workers who had been involved with the effort. My purpose for the meeting was to assess what had gone well … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Backsliding, Brokenness, Christian Unity, Church, Church Attendance, Confession, Criticism, Extending Forgiveness, Forgiveness, God's Work, Humility, Ministry, Pastors, Personal, Pride, Problems, Reconciliation, Restoration, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

When Your Life Becomes an Object Lesson

Posted on August 7, 2024 by russellmckinney

One of the hardest roles God ever calls one of His servants to play is that of a walking/talking object lesson. Since you’ve probably never heard a sermon on this topic, I’ll use a prime example from the Bible as … Continue reading →

Posted in Dying To Self, Faithfulness, God's Love, God's Will, God's Work, Idolatry, Marriage, Ministry, Prophecy, Reconciliation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

One Reason Why God’s Will Rarely Gets Done

Posted on August 1, 2024 by russellmckinney

Suppose I wake up tomorrow morning and God burdens me to spend the day working on a new sermon based on John 3:16. Okay class, how many individuals are involved with me either doing God’s will by preparing that sermon … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, Church, Criticism, Discernment, Disobedience, Doing Good, Doubt, Dying To Self, God's Will, Obedience, Pastors, Personal, Prayer, Preaching, Rebellion, Reconciliation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Incredible Power of Showing Kindness

Posted on May 2, 2024 by russellmckinney

The Battle Creek Sanitarium in Battle Creek, Michigan, was once a world-renowned health resort. Opening its doors in 1866, the Sanitarium eventually grew into a massive complex that included a hospital, a nursing school, and multiple research facilities that were … Continue reading →

Posted in Character, Communication, Counsel, Criticism, Doing Good, Encouragement, Friendship, God's Work, Influence, Ministry, Problems, Reconciliation, The Tongue | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Are You Still Digging Johnson Grass?

Posted on April 6, 2022 by russellmckinney

A young man hired himself out to a neighboring farmer for the summer, but the farmer turned out to be a strict boss who worked the boy very hard. Finally, the young man decided to claim his revenge. Late one … Continue reading →

Posted in Making Restitution, Obedience, Personal, Reconciliation, Restoration, Seeking Forgiveness, Sin, Sowing and Reaping | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

God Works in Mysterious Ways

Posted on December 23, 2021 by russellmckinney

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Christmas, Church, Disappointment, Faith, Faithfulness, God's Omnipotence, God's Timing, God's Omniscience, God's Provision, God's Sovereignty, God's Work, Problems, Reconciliation, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Loving Your Fellow Christians

Posted on May 26, 2021 by russellmckinney

1 John series: (post #5) In 2nd Corinthians 13:5, the apostle Paul says to the Christians of Corinth, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you … Continue reading →

Posted in Assurance of Salvation, Church, God's Love, Reconciliation, Salvation, Series: "1 John" | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The CSS Shenandoah

Posted on December 28, 2020 by russellmckinney

The full-rigged sailing ship known as Sea King was a British merchant ship that was re-purposed as a raiding ship by the Confederate States Navy during the Civil War. The ship was renamed CSS Shenandoah and was deployed to raid … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Choices, Decisions, Discernment, God's Will, Priorities, Reconciliation, Revenge, War | Tagged , , | 2 Comments