Category Archives: Scripture

The Fundamental Question

Posted on December 23, 2017 by russellmckinney

“A Thought-Provoking Book” series (post #5) You — the regular readers of this blog — have had the last four posts to grasp some of the more compelling arguments presented in the book Why I Left, Why I Stayed. As you know … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Children, Christ's Second Coming, Christ's Birth, Christ's Death, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Christ's Return, Doubt, Eternal Security, Faith, Family, Fatherhood, Heaven, Parenting, Personal, Salvation, Scripture, Series: "A Thought-Provoking Book", The Bible, Virgin Birth, Youth | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Morality Without God

Posted on December 19, 2017 by russellmckinney

“A Thought-Provoking Book” series (post #3) I have long believed that one of the best arguments against atheism goes like this: “If there is no God, there is no real motivation for men and women to live morally.” Putting it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Belief, Depravity, Doing Good, Entertainment, Faith, Greed, Homosexuality, Personal, Personal Holiness, Revenge, Scripture, Series: "A Thought-Provoking Book", The Bible, Trusting In God | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

One Reason Why One Man Stopped Believing in God

Posted on December 14, 2017 by russellmckinney

“A Thought-Provoking Book” series (post #1) As part of our Christmas shopping at the mall a couple of weeks ago, I went into a Barnes & Noble store to kill some time while Tonya shopped for shoes or something like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Children, Christ's Birth, Christ's Miracles, Christ's Resurrection, Doubt, Faith, God's Love, God's Omnipotence, God's Omnipresence, God's Omniscience, Hell, Homosexuality, Lesbianism, Personal, Scripture, Series: "A Thought-Provoking Book", Sunday School, The Bible, Trusting In God, Truth, Virgin Birth, Witnessing | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Hard Truth

Posted on October 3, 2017 by russellmckinney

Samson was conceived in the womb of his previously barren mother. And why did God choose to open her womb at that time? It was because Israel needed a leader (a Judge) to deal with the Philistines. As is the … Continue reading →

Posted in Adversity, Aging, Atheism, Belief, Bible Study, Death, Disappointment, Faith, God's Timing, Honesty, Patience, Perseverance, Personal, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Problems, Scripture, Suffering, Trials, Trusting In God, Waiting | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus: The Cosmic Santa Claus

Posted on September 11, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #5) I was licensed to preach in October of 1992 and formally ordained into the ministry in February of 1993. Upon my ordination, I began my first pastorate. So, if we do the math, … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Belief, Bible Study, Covetousness, Desires, Doctrine, Faith, Giving, God's Will, God's Word, Money, Needs, Prayer, Prayer Requests, Preaching, Problems, Prosperity, Scripture, Series: "The Jesus You Know", The Bible | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Jesus: The Compassionate Liberal

Posted on September 7, 2017 by russellmckinney

“The Jesus You Know” series (post #4) It is remarkable how Jesus can be so many different things to so many different people. Thus far in this series, we’ve seen Him as the white supremacist’s sanction for segregation and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Balance, Capital Punishment, Current Events, Extending Forgiveness, Money, Politics, Scripture, Series: "The Jesus You Know", Stewardship, The Bible, The Death Penalty, The Sermon On The Mount | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

What Sin Costs the Christian

Posted on August 25, 2017 by russellmckinney

New Testament Christianity teaches that salvation comes by way of faith (belief) in Jesus Christ. John 3:16 can’t be much clearer: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should … Continue reading →

Posted in Backsliding, Belief, Bible Study, Confession, Conscience, Conviction, Disobedience, Faith, God's Chastening, God's Holiness, Guilt, Holiness, Inner Peace, Joy, Personal Holiness, Rebellion, Repentance, Salvation, Sanctification, Scripture, Sin, Sowing and Reaping, Temptation | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

3 Quick Reminders about Homosexuality

Posted on August 21, 2017 by russellmckinney

One of the rationalizations that homosexuals use for their sin is, “If homosexuality is a sin, why didn’t Jesus preach against it?” The implication of this question is that all those “non-Jesus” Bible passages that condemn homosexuality aren’t as perfectly … Continue reading →

Posted in Choices, God's Word, Homosexuality, Scripture, Sex, Sin, The Bible, The Old Testament Law, The Sermon On The Mount | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is the Ark of the Covenant in Iraq?

Posted on June 28, 2017 by russellmckinney

The Ark of the Covenant series (post #4) Let me be clear about something: There is no guarantee that the Ark of the Covenant still exists. However, with that said, there is no fun in figuring that it got destroyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Catholicism, God's Word, Scripture, Series: "The Ark of the Covenant", The Ark of the Covenant, The Bible | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Filling in the Gaps of My Learning

Posted on May 3, 2017 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 , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment