Off to see the wizard

I visit four doctors at least once a year: my general practitioner, endocrinologist, cardiologist, and dentist. I also see others when needed. I was thinking about “The Wizard of Oz” and how that movie can give me some insight into why these visits are or are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

When Dorothy lands in Oz and wants to return home, she is given the ruby slippers from the feet of the deceased wicked witch of the East. Glenda the good witch magically transfers them to her feet. She can’t return them to the dead witch’s family, sending her on a journey to Oz to find the Wizard.

If you have not seen this film in a while, I urge you to watch it again, or even for the first time. It may be old. It is still a classic. You may be wondering how Dorothy’s trip to the Emerald City is like our visits to our physicians. No, you do not have to take three friends with you. Some of us may need another to interpret what they say or to aid in our remembering what we need to talk to them about.

The main similarity is in the interaction between the two parties. The Wizard instructs Dorothy to complete a task when she sees him for the first time. This encounter is frightening for her and her friends. The problem is with bringing back the broomstick of the Wicked Witch.

When our doctors tell us to revise our eating habits, take prescribed medicines, or follow an exercise or therapy plan, it may be as hard as getting that broom. Keep in mind that if you don’t follow the doctor’s orders, you will not have a good time at the next meeting.

Dorothy brought the broom and still had trouble. The problem was that her Wizard was a humbug. Her words. He did not have the abilities and training needed to get her home. They finally found a solution. It was ruby slippers. That is a modern-day fairy tale.

For most of us, there is not a simple trick to correcting our health. It may be more than an hour’s trek through a scary wood. We may spend months or years seeing the same or different doctor many times. My heart condition must be monitored at least once a year.  My diabetes requires more frequent checkups. Now I must have an annual examination to satisfy the Medicare folks.

What about the humbugs or quacks that we may encounter. Before you make an appointment, answer the questions that the scheduler asks. Be as specific as you can. Do not go to an ophthalmologist if your toe is hurting.

Have you heard about the man who had gone to five different doctors and decided to try one more? The physician asked, “What is the problem?” He explained, “When I touch my nose it hurts. It hurts when I touch my ear, and when I touch my foot it hurts.” The doctor’s reply was “That’s an easy one.” The astounded patient responds, “Easy, five other doctors said I was a hypochondriac.” His new doctor simply tells him, “Your finger is broken.”

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

I did what was best

The response to this statement on a recent TV show was, “Best for who?” If anyone has ever used the above phrase, did you think or respond with the idea of “best for whom?” That was what the other character said in this case.

As a writer, I often examine words to determine what I want them to mean to my reader. I also attempt to ensure that you know what I mean. Have you ever read the poem “Jabberwocky?” If not, go to this link and read it now. Go ahead; I will wait.

As you see, this poem makes no sense. The author has made up words and is not trying to make you understand anything. He wants you to realize that it is nonsensical. Many people, especially politicians and salesmen, do this as well. I want you to ask the next person what a word means if you do not understand what they are trying to say.

Communication fails when the listener is unsure of what has been said. Often, when someone says, “I did what was best,” they leave out the last part, which is “for me.”

I also have a difficult time when someone says, “Don’t you believe me?” My response is often, “Which part?” They may have given me a few reasons or excuses for their behavior, and I cannot determine if any are believable. This also applies to political ads. Often, crucial parts of opponents’ statements are not shared with viewers.

Returning to what is best, let’s look at the three words, good, better, and best. We think these make perfect sense until we ask the question, “for whom.” This trio may be dependent upon personal opinion. You know what they say about opinions. Everyone has one.

We are currently amid political campaigning for a lot of things and people. In Missouri where I live, we will be deciding whether we want sports gambling to be legal. Those who have put it on the ballot are telling us that it will be great for the economy. They mean it will be great for the people who run the wagering. Everyone knows that there will be more losers than winners.

I am not a gambler. I buy the occasional lottery ticket to see when God is ready to give me millions of dollars. He has not, yet. I know people whose lives have been destroyed by a gambling addiction they could not control. This happened with most gambling being illegal in our state.

Abortion rights are also on our ballot in November. I have not read the wording of this question. My right-to-life friends say I should not approve it. Those I know that believe in a woman’s right to choose, hope I say yes. My problem is I am both pro-choice and pro-life.

I believe a baby has a right to be born if it is viable. That means that the life of the mother and the child must be considered. If the baby being born endangers the mother’s life, that decision must be made by her, her husband, and their doctor. When the father is not in the picture he has no say. All these topics must be dealt with in the bill, or I will vote against it.

I want to do what is best, not just for me, but for as many people as I can. That is where good, better, and best come in. One way is good for some. Another opinion is better for others. Which is the best for most of us. I hope we all choose the correct answer. It is more important than any test from school.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

I am not a brand

Ford Motor Company is a brand. G.E., Hunts, Nike, Swanson, and some ninety million others already exist. I do not need to try to make myself a brand. I am an author and a servant. I created a logo for this page. I want to write. I want you to be able to read what I produce. I don’t care if I make money or become a household word.

I am motivated by expressing my thoughts. My high school journalism teacher taught me to write an article and let it sit for a while. She did not want me expressing anger or hatred in my columns. I must let those emotions flow. No one wants to hear them. No one cares.

People are dying of drug overdoses. Who cares. Some kill because their anger takes away the reason that God gave them. I get angry, too. I want to kill the predators that attack others. I am tired of judges letting criminals out of prison because the jails are overflowing. Empty the jails by executing the murderers and rapists. They don’t deserve to continue breathing.

We let a presidential candidate call other people names. He’s angry because he lost the last election. He has lost his mind. Someone tried to kill him. He wants revenge. He wants to show the world how wonderful he is. He is just a scared angry man. Like me.

Some of you want to put him back into the most powerful office in this country. What are you thinking? Tomorrow I will delete these rantings because right now I am angry. No one cares. You are all asleep in your beds. The world is crashing around us, and you don’t care.

I can’t sleep because I am scared and tired. Life gets the better of me. I know you feel the same way at times. We need to work with each other for our own sanity. Talk me down off this ledge. Give me a reason to try again. I want you to have a purpose in life. I want you to know why God put you where you are.

I am trying to decide every day why I have lived all these years. No one seems to acknowledge that I exist. Articles tell me I need to promote my brand. I am not a brand.

I am a thinking, feeling, and caring individual. I don’t need millions of dollars to make me better than you. I don’t want to be president so you will listen to my crazy ramblings. We vote people into offices because they are as demented as the rest of us at times. They don’t know any more than we do about how to control our own minds.

What am I doing about it? I will wake up in the morning. Begin my day. Publish this column and let you see that I am as conflicted and crazy as you are. I hope that you see yourself in this and realize that you are not a brand, and you don’t want to be. We all need someone to talk us off the ledge. We need to help each other make it one more day.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

America is still great

Get lost in the fifties with me.

I am a child of the fifties. I began school in the fall of 1960. When the decade changed to the seventies, I was in high school. I wrote a feature story about how it felt to begin a new decade which was published in my high school newspaper. I wanted to become a journalist. That was where I was headed.

I remember when Allan Shepherd became the first American to fly in the first Mercury manned spacecraft. I was in front of our TV watching Walter Cronkite as Mr. Shepherd took that historic ride. I was there for the launch of all six mercury flights including John Glenn’s Friendship 7 orbital flight and Gordon Cooper’s final Mercury flight in Faith 7.

I watched every launch of Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. I saw most of the splashdowns. My life revolved around the NASA space program and the astronauts. When I graduated from high school, there was one more moon mission to be flown. In my opinion the manned space program showed the greatness of America.

I watched this live. Did you?

Yes, we beat the Russians to the moon. We do not know for sure, but it is assumed that more cosmonauts were lost during their programs than were killed in our entire history of space flight. Does this make America great? I think that depends on your perspective.

The Russians who put themselves at risk were willing to risk their lives just as Americans and others have. America has never been great because of our government. We are great because of our people. Our government started the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; however, it took courageous men to go into space. These men were my heroes.

As a boy, teenager, young man, and eventually a father I looked at these heroes as people that I wanted to emulate. I knew I did not have the courage, physical stamina, and intelligence that astronauts had. I did have the courage to become a husband and father. My dad had been my hero for many years. He was up there with those astronauts.

I had given up my dream of being a journalist to surrender to be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I trained to be a preacher, I learned that what made America great was the gospel of Christ as it has been represented in the American citizen. Not everyone born in the United States does things that make this country great.

Today there is a slogan used by a political group Make America Great Again. This is abbreviated MAGA. Because of the person who started using this slogan while running for President, many of us do not view MAGA as a positive force. My personal viewpoint has always been that America is great because of great Americans.

You are probably one of these people that I am talking about. How do we make our country great? We must be good citizens. That means respecting others and being willing to work. We must be kind to others. Patience is a virtue. There are many virtues.

One of my favorite School House Rock episodes.

I find it depressing that there are those that believe that America is great or not because of whoever is President. He is one man. An entire country is not good or bad because of one man. Our constitution says that our government is by the people and for the people. A person is singular. We the people are plural.

I believe that it is our responsibility to Keep America Great. Would you comment below if you agree that we need to keep America great. I would like to see as many of us that are making this a wonderful world to adopt the slogan Keep America Great, not Make America Great Again. Which do you believe in, an America that needs to be made great or keeping it great by treating others as we want to be treated?

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

For better or for worse

I’ve officiated at several weddings over the years. I remember the first one in the fall of 1976. Cindy and I had not been married for a year. My store manager at Wendy’s asked his girlfriend to marry him. When she said yes, he asked me to marry them. I used standard traditional vows for them. Love, honor, and cherish till death do you part. The line, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse was also included in the ceremony.

As the years went by and other weddings, I noticed that some brides and grooms did not want these words and those traditional vows were changed. One couple gave me a ceremony they downloaded from the internet that included their children from other marriages. Their pastor had declined to marry them because of the vows.

Think about what the phrase for better or for worse means. The best situations you can imagine are the better. No one wants to think about what the worst could be. What if the plane crashed as you were flying home from your honeymoon? What could be worse? It crashed on the way to the location.

What would cause you to get a divorce? Adultery? Finding out that your spouse had a million dollars of debt and no intention of ever paying it off? They were married before and forgot to tell you. And they also neglected to get a divorce. As you move into your first place together, the police pull up and arrest your one and only for rape or murder.

Would you stick it out in these situations? What is the worst you can think of? Do you know that often it is the best thing that causes a marriage to fail? Children can be a bone of contention for some couples. Women may transfer their love for their husbands to their children. He would be torn between his love for them and his need for companionship.

Wedding vows only work when you commit to each other for life. No matter what. Our marriage has lasted for forty-eight years. My Mom and Dad never made it to forty. He died when he was sixty. Mom could have found many reasons to end their marriage. She did not.

Commitment is difficult. Do not run from it. Run toward it. Fight for it and each other. I find it interesting that many couples refer to each other as a fiancé. They haven’t even set a date and have been living together for years. I’ve seen these relationships break up shortly after the wedding.

Good and bad are relative. All it takes is for circumstances to change. Hang in there, baby. The best and the worst you can imagine will change. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Challenge yourselves to become better than you have ever been.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

Eight Decades

I’ve experienced a great deal from the time I was born in the 1950s until now in the third decade of the twenty-first century. I have not lived seventy years, but I have experienced some or all of eight decades.

My first recollections were of the race for the President that ended in November of 1960 with the election of John Kennedy. My Dad was a Teamster. This meant he and Mom always voted for the Democratic candidate. I did not understand why they did that, but I was just a kid.

Dad was a Baptist and did not want to vote for a Catholic. On more than one occasion I heard him discuss with other adults the guns and explosives that they kept in their basements to use to overthrow the government. The only other group they seemed to hate more was the blacks. That wasn’t the word they used.

In the 1960’s I watched the Mercury astronauts fly into space and circle the Earth. Later the Gemini program tested technics and technologies that would be needed during the Apollo program that took men to the moon in 1969 and into the 1970’s. A total of twelve men walked and drove on the moon. Did you know that one man took a golf club and ball to the moon and made the first drive not on the surface of the Earth?

Many new devices were developed in that decade. Microwave ovens, wireless home phones, and computers for businesses came into use. Manufacturing and technology were stepping up all around the country. Television moved into the future with cable companies spreading throughout the country.

In junior high, I discovered the world of science fiction. Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clark were the first authors that I read. The first sci-fi movie I saw was “The Day the Earth Stood Still.” It premiered in the late 1950s and is still considered one of the finest motion pictures of its kind.

The next two decades saw many low-budget films produced but the genre took a giant leap forward with the original Star Trek TV series and the first Star Wars movie. Special effects technologies continued with George Lucas and his vision. And we need to talk about graphic novels. When I started reading them, they were called comics. Everything from Spiderman, Batman, and Classics Illustrated were being published. These were much better than the Mickey Mouse and child-type magazines.

I have watched computers progress from the Univac and the IBM machine that NASA used to calculate the trajectories of all the space vehicles. The 1980s brought personal computers and cell phones into our homes. Smartphones came around in the next decade.

Those two decades saw the way we watched movies and television change drastically. Satellite systems, video cassette recorders, and compact discs for audio music became popular even though they are mostly obsolete now. The DVR and streaming services came on the scene. The internet was needed for all this new technology.

Our new millennium and century began with a possible panic that never materialized in the computer and technology areas. In my lifetime I have watched black and white, color, cable, satellite, and high-definition programming come into my home. Now I walk around with a computer more powerful than the one that got us to the moon in my shirt pocket.

I haven’t even talked about robots, artificial intelligence, and many other advances. I mentioned reading earlier. I have carried a book with me from the time I learned to read and now have over two thousand on my phone that I can read in print or audio versions. I even have comics on my phone. What a difference a decade makes.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

What do you do?

This morning there was another deadly shooting in Springfield, Missouri where I live. The news report currently being released says that two men are dead and two other men are in custody. This was in a residential area and those arrested were taken at a convenience store in a business area that is close to the home where the attack happened.

Another report talked about the increase in traffic fatalities nationwide. They mentioned a few of the tragic collisions that made the national news in the last year. Is there any way to avoid these situations?

I don’t have to give those who have read my memoir “Doulos” the story that explains my concern for accidental shootings. I have not shared another story about a shooting that my wife and I were witnesses to. A few months ago, we were grocery shopping. We left our car parked in a handicapped space close to the doors.

As we pulled into the row of cars, I noticed a young lady standing near a car that was across from us. We were in the market for at least a half hour. When we returned to our vehicle, she was still there. As we prepared to pull out the conversation escalated.

We did not understand most of what she said. None of the other person’s words could be heard by us. She was backing away from the car with the driver’s door open. A man bolted towards her. My wife immediately called 911 on her phone.

Before she could complete the call, the woman pulled a small gun from her purse and fired one shot into her attacker’s chest. He fell to the ground. She began screaming that she had shot him. A nurse that had been behind her when she fired, bent down to check on the injured man while she ran and laid the gun on the hood of the car opened a back door, and removed a baby.

This all happened in a few short minutes. What should we have done? We both considered leaving the scene. We did not need to because she was more concerned with her child than she was with bystanders. Let’s talk about what to do if you are present when shots are fired.

In our situation, had she waved the gun around as other supposed witnesses reported, we would have vacated the area immediately. We had no need to do that because she put the weapon down and we were not in danger. In the case of the shooting last night one witness heard five shots while she was in bed. We were not told what she did. What should you do?

Take cover. Do not look outside. You may become a target. Stray shots may enter your home. Put as much between you and the exterior as you can. Walls, furniture, and space are some of the things to separate you from danger. If the shots sound like they are inside, hide and be quiet or leave the house. Vacating should not be done until you determine you can do that safely. Each situation is different.

Let’s discuss a situation like the recent tragedy in Kansas City. If you are outside and hear shots, you probably want to hide and wait to run until you are aware of where the shooter or shooters are. Getting down might be safer unless you can see where the shots are coming from. I won’t tell you to remain calm. You already know to do that. The question is how to do it.

Now about those traffic accidents. Do not allow yourself to become angry. Road rage will escalate the situation. Again, you know to stay calm. Stay observant while you are driving. If you aren’t driving, be observant. Do not yell at the driver, if you think you see something that could possibly be dangerous, use as quiet a voice as you can and be specific about what you see.

Do not scream “Look Out.” “Do you see that kid running this was?” would be a better way to handle it. I once saw deer running toward the highway I was driving on. I had a matter of seconds to decide what to do. I put the pedal to the metal. One of the animals jumped over the trunk of my car. And the others crossed safely.

I have always driven defensively. My dad was a trucker and he taught us to drive safely as we were traveling. Mom did the same. The best way is to be shown proper conduct. Do not get in a vehicle with an unsafe driver. Our daughters had friends they wanted to go with and we questioned their skills. Our answers were no to these requests.

Do you stop and let other traffic from side streets proceed when it is rush hour? I was in an accident when someone did that. I was in the inside lane where traffic was still moving. I was hit by a driver who could not see me coming. He did not approach my lane with caution. I tried to avoid him but was not successful. Fortunately, no one was injured.

Stop and think about where you are and what you are doing whether you are driving, walking, or sitting quietly at home. Accidents happen regardless of how careful we are. Others can create dangerous situations that we may be able to avoid. I no longer like to be in crowds. I’m not afraid of being shot. I’m tired of rude people. Try not to be rude. I’ll do the same.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

Creators

There is a term that is used today for those of us who are creative. We are often called makers. I understand that. We use words, materials, ideas, and objects to “make” something. We are not creating something from nothing as Jehovah did when He brought the universes into being. I am still a creator when I use my thoughts to form words and ideas.

There are those of us who have not experimented with this ability to take what we possess and make it something new and unusual. I like doing things that are un-e-kew. You normally think of it as unique. I pronounce it my own way, un-e-kew. I also create words and phrases that you have not heard before. Often, I find out that I did not create them.

I wanted a way to designate political party members as being overboard in the way they embraced their political party affiliation. I refer to them as Republicrats and Demicans. It does not matter what group you stand for, if you believe that you are always correct and anyone who agrees with you is also infallible then you fit the meaning of these words.

A Young Republican once was explaining to me why a democratic congressman should be forced to step down while a Republican who was accused of the same things could wait until he was actually convicted of these offenses. He was one of the first Republicrats I knew. Many have crawled out of the woodwork since then.

I have also used the terms doginality, catanality, and animality for years. When I refer to what others call their pet’s personalities, I use these terms. We treat our pets like people, but they are not human. Thank God. They are better than us. Many of these traits cross the lines. Others are similar to the way we humans act.

 

Cats are distant, aloof, and opinionated. We all know that dogs have owners and cats have staff. Some of these canines and felines are loving, hateful, and contrary. We have had many animals in our family. They all have certain characteristics that we find challenging and endearing. That makes life fun.

In the sixth grade Mr. McNeil asked us to memorize this poem.

We know some monkeys or apes can be mean but they would never make a movie called “Planet of the Humans.”

I am sure I have used other words and phrases in my writing that I have created or borrowed. You may wonder what I mean when you catch me in this. If so, just make a comment and I will try to explain myself.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger

Trapped?

Am I? Trapped, that is. I know some people who are stuck in jobs they do not enjoy. I was there on more than one occasion. My last two jobs were not the ones I really wanted. There were different reasons that I did not want to be there.

Personality conflicts and bad management practices were two reasons. Another job that I worked in for twenty-five years had similar problems. I stayed there hoping that I could make changes to improve these difficulties. After I realized I could not God led me to a job I loved. A layoff I had no control over, took me from there.

Some are in bad relationships. We may be the ones who need to change our attitudes or actions. Others are not always completely at fault when there is trouble communicating and we can grow apart if we do not change positively. My wife and I often discuss ways that we have changed in the last forty-seven years. Compromise is the reason we have stayed together. And, of course, love.

I had a bout with addiction a few years ago. I did not know it at the time. I found myself in the emergency room with flu-like symptoms. The doctor sent me home to recover. A friend suggested that I might be going through withdrawal from the opioids I had been taking for pain following bypass surgery.

The fourteen symptoms that I was told were a virus were listed as withdrawal symptoms on an opioid website. I had become addicted in a short time. Now, healthcare professionals are learning that what manufacturers told them was incorrect. Smaller dosages did trap some people in less time than was believed at then.

I understand now how fortunate I was. I recognized what caused the pain, nausea, and cold I was experiencing. I did not take another dose as I had been doing every two to three days when my pain became worse. Alternate over-the-counter painkillers got me through a rough couple of days.

Smoking or alcohol usage may be your problem. I’ve never used these substances. I cannot tell you how to overcome their control over you. These are also addictions, and you may need professional help to get out of these traps. The first step is to admit that they are a problem for you. Then find a trusted friend who will assist in your recovery.

The worst trap that I have seen is in my own mind. You may be like me and subject to believe that your opinion is the only correct way to view situations. I have attempted to draw my opinions from the Bible for over fifty years. God has taught me that because you do not agree with me, you might not be wrong.

I have seen myself use scripture to prove what I was taught was the only right interpretation. Let me give you an example. Do you believe in The Rapture? Many of us Christians do. Our proof that we will be taken to meet Jesus in the air at the End of Time is a collection of unrelated scriptures.

Like the prophecies that prove that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected Messiah of the Jews, we believe God will save us from a world of evil. Some of us think this will happen before we must choose life or death. In some countries, this is already their situation. Being a follower of Jesus is a crime that carries the death penalty. I am not one hundred percent sure that my way of thinking is correct.

I could tell you of other doubts that I have had. I even considered the possibility that Jesus was not Christ or that God did not exist as my parents and grandparents taught me. I dealt with that internal conflict by asking Jehovah to prove He is the I Am. He did this for me and straightened out my thinking about who Jesus really was.

I have decided to accept Him as my Lord and Savior. Each year that passes on the calendar gives me more confirmation that this was the correct decision. I am constantly considering all alternatives and do not see any that my faith does not prove to be false. I may be putting this faith in the wrong being. If I am wrong, I will not spend eternity in a place of torment. That is one main difference between my beliefs and other religions.

Lastly, let’s discuss other ways our own minds trap us. Many of these are referred to as mental illness. Some of you may diagnose me as having a delusion because of my faith. I am talking about depression, schizophrenia, and all the other ways that our physical chemistry or internal thoughts can hold us prisoners.

Suicidal thoughts have haunted me for years. Sometimes these are caused by medications that react badly to our systems. Other times outside influences can make us feel hopeless and helpless. Get professional help for these problems. Just as I take insulin and heart medications for my health problems, we may need assistance in handling anger, frustration, depression, and all those emotions that plague our everyday lives.

If you feel trapped in any of these areas, ask for help. Do not accept this as the way you must live. Look for someone who has dealt with what you are enduring. If they have been able to overcome problems like yours, they may be able to direct you to someone who can assist you.

©Copyright 2023 by Charles Kensinger

HIGHWAY & HEDGES MINISTRY

In forty years of ministry, it has often been asked, “You’re a minister?  Which church do you pastor?”  The explanation is often difficult.  Not all ministers are pastors of churches.  When the calling came, it was to full-time gospel ministry.  That was a term that had a lot of possibilities.

At the time, the pastorate was the assumption.  Music ministry is not this Christian’s gift.  My passion was for the written word.  God could not use that.  Or could he?  Lesson plans have been conceived, drawn up, and used.  They were not published, yet.  Plays, skits, monologues, etc. have been created and performed.  Once again they have not been published as yet.  Articles have been written and published, but just in the past fifteen years. 

Full-time does not necessarily mean that you make your living by it.  As the road has taken a salesman to different locations, ministry has been accomplished.  As others came to a purchasing agent or manager, the same has happened.  Stories about these encounters are numerous.  Some are shared in “Doulos”, others have yet to be written down.  You may see these in later pieces.

Ministry by definition is difficult to pin down.  A cup of cold water is a ministry.  A kind word or listening ear may be another.  A bowl of stew or other nourishment may be another way to serve some. A listening ear and shoulder to cry on is another way to help.

Another thing I have learned is that every believer is a minister. Accepting this call may seem difficult for many people. I remember the days when I could not speak to people without having my knees knock together. When I accepted the call to serve, I struggled with being the kind of person Jesus could use.

Because I expected to be bivocational, after college I went into secular business. Christians in the workplace can be good employees. They can also be available for prayer and listening to difficulties. Training is not needed for most of us to be friends.

Jesus told a parable about those invited to a wedding feast. When the servants returned to the groom’s father and said that none of the invited guests would come to the dinner, they were instructed to go into the highways and hedges and bring in anyone who would come.  That may be your ministry.  People from work or school need comfort or help.  Those standing in line at Wal-Mart may need a smile or a “good” joke.  Ministry is not hard, but it can be challenging.  What is your challenge?

Copyright 2023 by Charles (Chuck) Kensinger