Bible Trekking – Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Jesus was sent to redeem us

February 10, 2026

Do you know this? You do not need anyone’s help? That’s alright that you believe that. Jesus said that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. He came to this planet as a baby. That is what Christmas is about. Some do not realize who He is and what He did for us.

He had to come as a baby and live a life like we do. We are children, teenagers, and young adults just as Jesus was. He did nothing to deserve the death penalty except tell the religious leaders of the day that they had it wrong. They were messing up worship, the Sabbath observance, and countless other practices. This was why they wanted to kill Him.

They were not honest enough to come right out and say, “We do not like you, so you must die.” When He asked them why they wanted to kill Him, they ignored the question. He told His followers that the leaders were going to kill Him, and they argued with Him or pretended they did not understand.

Redemption means that a price was paid. The wages of sin are death. Jesus gave us the gift of life. He died for us. All you must do is accept that gift and allow Him to show you how to live the life He has now given to you. When I did that years ago, I thought it was easy. I still do.

One of the complaints that followers of other religions have against the Jesus way of doing things is that the gift is received before you’re required to show a changed life. This is one of those true receive now, change later plans. When I am told someone is not good enough to accept Christ, I tell them that none of us are. That is why He came.

Jehovah’s method of redeeming mankind is often thought of as cruel. A man had to die for others. Many religions, including Judaism, sacrificed animals. God allowed this so that one day, when these creatures were being murdered, He, Himself, would be the ultimate sacrifice.

You cannot call me sadistic if the person who gives himself to you is the one who required it. That is not sadism, that is grace. Who else would make a rule requiring your execution for what you are doing and then take the punishment for you? “A Tale of Two Cities” has nothing on Him.

Are you familiar with trading stamps? Mom collected Green Stamps. This was back in the 1960s. I am bringing this up because we would take those to a redemption center to exchange them for merchandise. Jesus turned himself in to buy you back. I hope you understand how important this is.

Where did I see them?

February 4, 2026

You are watching videos, TV shows, or streaming a movie. It doesn’t matter what decade the film or program was made in; they all have faces that we have seen before. During the 1960s, this was a favorite game for dad and mom when they were watching with us

Dad always pointed out the wagon master on “Wagon Train” and Ronald Reagan as the host of “Death Valley Days.” That was before Mr. Reagan became the President of the United States or even the Governor of California. Mom could tell us which actors had been on a soap opera.

My wife and I have been saying this for years. In the 1970s and 80s, we watched “The Love Boat,” an anthology series where almost every former TV and movie star could be seen. I’m sure some of these cost them twenty or thirty dollars, and the big ones as much as a grand. No one got rich except the advertisers.

This was in the days of T and A. Look it up on YouTube if you do recognize that entertainment term. There were many bikini-clad women, if that gives you a clue. Who was on it?

Captain Stubing was played by Gavin MacLeod, and we remembered him as Murray from the “Mary Tyler Moore Show.” Doc was from “Get Smart” and was played by Bernie Kopell. He played a recurring CAOS Agent.

When it comes to the weekly guest stars, the most common were Monty O’Grady and the Love Boat Mermaids, which included Terry Hatcher and others. They appeared in nineteen shows. We know Terri from Lois and Clark and Desperate Housewives, but she began as a mermaid.

Monty began his career in the “Our Gang” series and was a bit player on shows like Charlie’s Angels, Columbo, Little House on the Prairie, Gunsmoke, and many others, and in movies from the 1920s through the 1990s. Don’t look for him in the credits. He is usually a minor character, like a waiter or passenger, which is the part he played in twenty-one episodes of The Love Boat.

Remember Marion Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham on Happy Days. She became the captain’s wife and was on fourteen episodes. Florence Henderson was on board ten times after she left The Brady Bunch. Charo, Rue McClanahan, Erin Moran, and Connie Stephens each made it nine times.

Patti MacLeod, the ex-wife of the actor who played the captain, was on eight times. Bert Convy, Linda Evans, Carol Channing, Robert Reed, and Donnie Most sailed seven times. Some remember Peter Graves, Milton Berle, Michelle Lee, Lisa Hartman, Ethel Merman, Richard Cline, and Jimmy J.J. Walker, who also portrayed many different characters.

Am I boring you with all these names? Dick Van Patten, Don Adams, Mellissa Sue Anderson, Sonny Bono, Vicky Lawrence, and Tom Bosley may be more familiar to you. Do you get the idea? They booked many different age groups of former and future celebrities.

You may recognize Betty White, Harry Morgan, Harvey Korman, Loretta Switt, Debbie Reynolds, John Astin, Jamie Farr, Cesar Romero, Jayne Wyatt, MacLean Stephenson, Dawn Wells, Bob Denver, Patty Duke, Lorne Green, Will Geer, Mark Harmon, Rich Little, Jim Stafford, Donnie Osmond, Shirley Jones, Janet Jackson, Gene Kelly, Tom Hanks, Frankie Avalon, Michael J. Fox, or Hayley Mills.

If none of these people sound familiar, check back with me later. We’ll discuss some other series where I will drop some more names that I think you will recognize. Some programs begin stars while others remember their careers like Ricky Nelson.

Becoming your parents

February 3, 2026

You’ve seen the commercials. An insurance company tells us that young homeowners are in danger of becoming their parents. Is that such a bad option? I remember the first time I looked in my bathroom mirror, shaving one morning, and saw my Dad staring back at me.

Over the years, I have noticed many of Mom and Dad’s habits and mannerisms that I have picked up. There are some that I try not to emulate. Dad would cross his feet when he sat watching TV. Mine are currently crossed as I work on my laptop.

One of the things in these commercials is the friendliness and ability to speak with others. I have friends whose children have these attributes, except their parents do not. If it is offensive to you for someone to be outgoing, maybe you need to rethink why.

Another scene in these ads involves the homeowner encountering a celebrity. They do nothing embarrassing other than, once again, being friendly. Indeed, this man is not portrayed as knowing how to take a selfie with his phone. The famous man shows him how to change the camera view.

Some of these early spots have obnoxious actions. Pushing food onto guests as they leave a party when they do not want it. Stopping drivers as they go down the street and blocking traffic. Telling others how to do everything from grilling to starting a campfire, or what to order at a restaurant.

These are annoying habits that some have. Blaming your parents for being this way is insulting to those of us who have children who are now homeowners. I am proud of the ways my kids turned out. My sons-in-law tells dad jokes. My daughters and grandchildren even tell my old stories.

I consider imitation to be the greatest form of flattery. These kinds of copying of others might be considered creepy by some. We are led to believe that this behavior is unintentional. We all have pet peeves. Friends or family do things that agitate us. Having a therapist make a living by criticizing patients is probably against their professional rules.

It is a good thing that the part is played by an actor, and these are not based on true stories. Many things we see on TV and in movies show rude or annoying behavior. The problem comes when a project shows illegal activity as perfectly acceptable.

Noah’s Ark

January 18, 2026

by Billy Brandi Hayes

The most terrifying detail about Noah’s Ark isn’t the size of the flood. It is the design of the boat.

If you look closely at the blueprints God gave Noah in Genesis 6, He was extremely specific.

He gave the exact length, width, and height. He specified the type of wood and the pitch to seal it.

In my little years, I have never thought of this!

But God left out one crucial component.

There was no steering wheel, no sail, and worse still, there was no engine. Think about how scary that is.

Noah was building a massive vessel to survive a global storm, but he had zero control over it, or over where it went.

He couldn’t steer it away from rocks. He couldn’t turn it into waves. He couldn’t aim for dry land. He was completely at the mercy of the water.

The Ark was not designed for navigation; just for floating.

Noah’s job was to be the Passenger, not the captain.

God was the captain.

This is a picture of your life right now.

You are trying to put a steering wheel in a boat that God can control, if you let Him…

This is another story I have copied from Facebook. Be careful if you publish it there. Guys like me can borrow it, and they can put their own names on it. I don’t do that. I would like to add a bit of my own commentary.

I have expressed my feelings about the time Noah spent constructing this craft. My belief is that they were not the primitives that we think they were. Billy speaks of the materials that were used, but when you read the original Hebrew, the translation of the words for these materials is not definitive.

It is possible that Noah used technology that, for the last four thousand or more years, has not been known. At least until around one hundred years ago. Tell me about your opinion on this theory and this article in the comments. Thanks for reading.

The printer

January 6, 2026

This title could be a story about my friend Rick or my Uncle George. Both were printers by trade. Rick worked for the Springfield Newspaper for thirty or forty years, and George did the same at the Kansas City Star. Some day I may regale you with stories of these fine men, but that is not tonight.

God woke me up tonight to write as He does sometimes. When I walked into the living room, I noticed a light in our dining room. I went to see what I had left glowing when we went to bed and found our printer was lit up with an error message. In the dark, it is very bright.

During the day, you do not notice these messages, and that screen is often dark when we have not used it for a while. Tonight, in the dark house, it was apparent from the next room. You are probably asking yourself, “Where is he going with this thought?”

One of my categories is Tangents. That is what this is. These are wild, stray thoughts that come to my mind. As I sit at my laptop, I am reminded of Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world.” I’m going to offer a non-theological commentary on this idea.

Light is a common thing in our world. During the day, sunshine illuminates most of the outdoors. If you are fortunate enough to have windows in your home, you can raise the blinds and move around inside without needing your electric lights. My wife, Cindy, likes to do this. My eyes are not as good as hers anymore, and sometimes I must flip a switch for the artificial light.

Jesus was referring to His followers as being a source of light in our dark world. This is a reflected light. That has been my ministry for over fifty years. I call myself a workplace minister because I’ve never pastored a church. My congregation was the people I encountered on a daily basis as I performed my different jobs.

I am a light in the darkness. I tell you about my Jesus and what He means to me. I share with you how He touches my life and speaks truth into it. That may seem strange to you, and that is fine. My Christian readers understand what I am saying. We are lights in a world that is full of darkness, as this room was tonight. A small shine from a printer control screen got my attention. This is our job. Shine a little brightness in the gloom and guide someone to Jesus.

You are not to be a glaring beacon from a spotlight. Just be a candle in the darkness. I’ve had some say that they knew I was a man of God or a religious person. They saw His reflected light in me. I don’t draw attention to myself intentionally.

Others notice something coming from us, and they go like Moses did when he saw a bush burning in the desert. It should have burned out quickly. It did not. Do not be a flash that no one can find when they need questions answered, be that light that brightens the darkness of their distress. Let them come to you and tell them what He has done for you. It is that simple.

Typewriter

January 4, 2026

As a writer, this was my right arm when I was taking journalism in high school. I started journalism classes in my junior year. To be ready, I took typing in my sophomore year. I knew I had to be able to compose a story while at the machine.

If you are not aware of what this contraption is, let me explain. Before computers, word processors, and smartphones, people used typewriters to type messages, letters, or other documents. You put a sheet of paper, like copy paper, onto a roll and type on a QWERTY-style keyboard.

Is that something else you do not understand? Computer keypads typically feature the QWERTY layout, with the first letters on the top line. That is the same as a typewriter. Most cell phones have the same onscreen configuration for typing messages. There are many things that we had to do back then that are not needed now.

I did not double-space at the end of each sentence now. It has taken me years to learn not to do that anymore. Over thirty years of writing takes a while to change habits. Another practice that I have not suspended is the -30- at the end of each article. I still end each column or story with that designation. I’ll show you what I mean at the end of this page.

Another thing we did was hit the return twice after each paragraph. I am happy that I do not need to load the paper onto that roll. One more blessing is the elimination of an eraser or whiteout to make corrections. Have you never used correction fluid? It is liquid paper in a bottle with a tiny brush inside the cap to block out ink on the page.

It was an essential office supply for my first thirty years in business. I was one of the few, the proud, purchasing agents who typed their own purchase orders and letters. Secretaries knew how to do this for most of us men in business. That was what my wife did for years in different companies.

I enjoy the fact that I can change manuscripts in many ways before putting them on a page. One beautiful thing about computers and phones is the ability to edit. Apps give features to add graphics, edit text, and even create videos. You will notice that these stories have videos or images that add to what I have written. I love adding songs or clips to illustrate what my article is about.

Technology is great. I am fortunate to have been one of those to grow up without digital media. When these devices fail, we know how to use other systems as a backup. I can dial a phone, write on paper, or even walk into a warehouse to check stock. This was what I did fifty years ago. I have not forgotten how to do these things.

Progress is wonderful. Knowing how to do it the old-fashioned way may someday come in handy. Read any modern dystopian science fiction story, and you will see a world where the only ones who survive are those who can live without our modern comforts. Even knowing how to move an outhouse every few weeks might be a skill we need. What is an outhouse? That is another column, or ask your granddad.

-30-

Time of the year

December 19, 2025

The song you just watched says “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” I agree that the Christmas season can be a great period for some of us. For others, it is not that enjoyable. You may have lost someone, and the holidays are a reminder of that loss. If you are not watchful, you can be taken in by scams and fraud even more at this time.

That is what I want to talk to you about. Those people who use the most wonderful time of the year for not-so-fantastic experiences for others. I am not just addressing the criminals. Let’s talk about Christians. Some of my readers are like me and have been disappointed and given up on Church People.

First, I think we need to qualify what I mean by a Christian. If you mark the box that says Christian on a questionnaire, that does not make you a follower of Christ. Christian means Little Christ. Jesus, who is called the Chris,t died for everyone in the world. He did this because He loves us. When we do not love others, we cannot truly call ourselves by His name.

A follower of Christ can be broken down into two categories. The first is those who have accepted Him as their savior. I call this having fire insurance. Many have had a salvation experience, but may not have made the extra commitment that we call making Jesus our Lord.

When I was eighteen, I decided that while I had been a Christian since I was eleven, I needed to make the choice for Jesus to be my Lord and my Savior. Since then, I have been learning as much as I can about God, Jesus, and the Bible.

Describing Christmas as the most wonderful time of the year is not something that I normally do. Gathering with family and friends from Thanksgiving through the New Year is often a good time for us. I can make an argument that other holidays that bring us together are just as joyful.

For those of us who are born-again believers, all year is a blessed time. This was one promise He made to His followers. “I am with you always, even to the end of the Earth.” (Matthew 28:20) He also gives us joy throughout the year. (John 17:13, Galatians 5:22) Having this joy in our lives does much for us.

In the last year, several of my friends have gone home to be with our Lord. For their families and friends, I want to encourage them that they will miss them during these celebrations, but keep in mind that we are all together in the presence of our Lord with them. We just do not have a visual confirmation of that with our earthly eyes. (1 Corinthians 13:12, Hebrews 11:1)

If you have lost someone and do not know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, please contact me or someone that you know is a believer. We can lead you to a saving knowledge of this person we call Jesus, and when your earthly life ends, you will join us.

Trekking to Christmas (Part two)

December 11, 2025

Jeremiah 31:15 is another verse that predicts events of the birth of the Messiah. It mentions Rachel weeping for her children. This is fulfilled in the massacre of the children under two years of age mentioned in the gospel of Matthew. We will discuss this more when we reach that passage. This is the aftermath of the visit of the astrologers.

Biblical prophecy often speaks to the current time and to a future where the interpretation is slightly different. This is the case in Hosea 11:1. it appears to be discussing the fact that Israel was brought out of Egypt by Jehovah and is going to be sent into exile from the Promised Land. In the New Testament, the story changes and the one coming from Egypt is Jesus, the actual Son of God. Joseph was told to take his family there in response to Herod’s coming attack on the children of Bethlehem.

Micah 5:2 is the source of the prophecy that tells that Messiah will be born in Bethlehem, but it tells more if you read on. Bethlehem was still a small village like in David’s day. It is now much larger but still considered a village. The one to be born there is from the distant past. Not a bad description for someone who is fully God and completely human.

During King David’s time on the throne, he was told by the prophet Nathan that Jehovah would reward him with the Davidic Kingdom being eternal. 2 Samuel 7:16 is where you will find this promise. Even when the kingdom of Judah was destroyed the prophecy held true.

In the book of Luke, we are introduced to Zacharias and his wife Elisabeth who wanted a child and were unable to have one. While serving in the Temple a messenger from Yahweh delivers the news that they will have a son, and his name is to be John.

John is the one that we know who came before Jesus. His father is told that he will be the Elijah that was predicted. Being an old man he has difficulty believing this message. I hope I will have an easier time believing in the Lord when He gives me this kind of good news. I might not be better than this Levite.

In Luke chapter one in the twenty-fifth verse Gabriel, the messenger that we saw earlier, goes to a girl named Mary. The message to her is that she will also have a child. His name is to be Jesus which is the Greek for the Hebrew name Joshua which means Yahweh is Salvation.

The birth of the baby is shown in Luke chapter two. Remember that the prophecy told of the birth in the town of Bethlehem. This is the boyhood home of King David. The prophets never told us about the manger that the baby would be laid in after He was born. The swaddling clothes is another detail that was not written about earlier.

Did you notice that the shepherds are spoken of in Luke but not the wise men. Matthew tells us about them. Chapter two talks about their visit to King Herod. He knows nothing about a newborn king. He is interested. This new baby is a threat to him. Notice that the number three is not even mentioned.

As you read further you see the number three applies to the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh that they brought for the baby. When they meet Mary and Jesus they are now staying in a house. There are no shepherds, no stable, and no sheep, or other animals.

These are astrologers that represent a king. They are not kings. They follow the signs of the stars. That is how they knew about Jesus. God wrote His birth in the heavens years before man was even created. That is the kind of God I want to believe in and worship. How about you?

Trekking to Christmas

December 9, 2025

Let’s look at the story of Christmas as recorded in both the Old and New Testaments. The life of Christ is first shown in Genesis and continues throughout the Bible. We will read the prophets that predicted the coming of Jesus and what they said about him, and then proceed to the gospels that tell how these prophecies were fulfilled.

Our trek through the birth of Jesus begins in the little book of Malachi. In chapter 3, verse 1, a messenger is to be sent before the Lord comes. Then, in chapter four, verses five and six, he says that Elijah will be that messenger sent to bring the hearts of the children back to their parents. In Luke 1, we will see this fulfilled in John, who is called the baptizer.

Let’s walk back to Isaiah 7:14 and read the prophecy that a virgin shall give birth to a son. The fact that a woman who had never been with a man sexually could have a baby is amazing to all of us. His name is “God is with us.” The virgin birth is critical for this to come to pass. The child must be God and man. God in soul and spirit, and man in body. To be a man, He must have a mother and father. God is His father and a human woman His mother.

Isaiah 9:6-7 is one of the most quoted prophetic passages about the Messiah. A male child will someday be born. He shall be our ruler. He will be wonderful, and a counselor, or it could mean he will become a wonderful counselor. We all need counsel at some point. He will also be God and will be mighty. In addition, He is our Father, but not an earthly father. This father always was and will remain forever. He will bring peace as we allow him to rule in our lives. He will take over David’s throne in Israel but will expand it to the entire world. Jehovah God has guaranteed this and will see that it comes about.

When we look at Matthew and Luke and the story of Jesus’ birth, we will read the lineage of Joseph and Mary. Isaiah 11:1 says that David’s kingdom will be cut off. Judah was still in existence at that time. Later, it was conquered by Babylon and mostly destroyed. When Nehemiah and Ezra tell us about the Israelites returning to their homeland, they have no king. The Medes rule them. Isaiah encourages them by stating that a branch will grow from this stump, meaning a new ruler will someday come from the Israelites. This was the man we call Jesus Christ, who is the Jewish Messiah.

We read Malachi’s prophecy about the predecessor to the Messiah. In Isaiah 40:3-5, we are told he will straighten the path for God’s ultimate messenger. The glory of the Lord will be seen by everyone. What do all these words mean? John is coming to guide us in becoming the kind of people who will accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. We read John’s words and can see how the Baptizer’s ministry was crucial to many of the disciples of God’s son, choosing to accept Him. The plot thickens.

Stay tuned, and we will continue with the rest of the story and go through to the birth of the baby that will change the course of the world. I hope you join me in a couple of days.

Written in Red

December 8, 2025

Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Walk With a Servant

Category: Bible Trekking