Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

There is a right answer.

January 29, 2025

I have just read another article that was published for the new year. We authors are always looking for a new way to express our thoughts. Each year almost every word purveyor finds what he or she believes is the next big idea. That will sell our thoughts to a publisher and if we expand on it enough, with the correct hook, there is a new bestselling book.

The Preacher said it in Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun.” The article I just read stated a new “truth” this way, “There is no right answer.” This writer decided that it took her thirty years to learn that. What she says is true. We try to convince folks that our way of thinking is the only answer. The way I express her thought is different. I say, “Just because you don’t agree with me doesn’t necessarily mean you are wrong.”

We are speaking of things like job decisions, where to live, and who to marry. That last one may be up for dispute. Some of us believe that there is only one man or woman that we can live with our entire lives. If we choose the wrong one, it will mean a divorce and the destruction of our family and possibly, our children. This concept of a soul mate can often be the reason for family breakups.

Each of these questions has good and bad answers. Some can be better and easier than others. The answer to your personal questions is yours to make. No one would dispute that. The idea that none of your decisions could ever be bad is wrong. Sometimes we make incorrect decisions and must suffer the consequences. Taking a route to work that you have always driven, may mean you are delayed by a traffic accident or road construction. This was another point made in the article, that our decisions are often made without complete information.

There are some rights and wrongs that we may want to dispute, but should. Is it wrong to kill? Yes. Must we kill? For self-defense or to execute murderers and rapists. This is our only way to keep society peaceful and civilized. There are some that oppose the death penalty because they believe there is never a reason to take a life.

The Bible instructs us not to murder. It provided for the death penalty for certain offences. Moses instructed the Hebrews in the Law to execute those who murdered intentionally. Read the book of Leviticus to get all the provisions made for this crime. It also includes what to do if a death is determined to be accidental. Quite interesting reading.

Modern laws have rejected most of the ancient Hebraic law. Parents cannot execute their children for disobeying them and homosexuals or adulterers are not put to death in this country either. Some cultures still observe these laws.

I am not advocating returning to following all the Levitical laws. It would be difficult for me to give up ham, bacon and other pork products. The pork industry would be destroyed if our government enforced kosher requirements on all U.S. products.

I am acknowledging that there are many direct truths given in the sixty-six books of the Christian Bible. It is not the only document that contains teachings that are admirable, and we can accept as truthful statements.

Jesus told us to love our neighbors as ourselves. He also commanded His followers to treat everyone the way that we want to be treated. They are truthful and sound instructions. Some believe that we should never lie. This however is not taught in these scriptures. Even our Lord withheld the truth when it was not to His benefit to answer questions.

The point I wish to make is that there is a correct and truthful answer to some questions. You might not agree with me. That is fine. You can oppose the President of the United States, and he may not be able to put you in jail unless he can prove that you violated a law. Even he can be wrong, although he usually will not admit it.

The one I will not disagree with is Jehovah God. I may not want to follow all His laws, but I have to admit that the more I read His Word and contemplate what He has been telling us for years, I see His point on most things. I agree life is precious. I believe I should follow our governmental leaders unless they violate God’s laws. But, once again, that is my opinion.

The summer of 1975

January 26, 2025

In 1975 I traveled farther than I had ever gone. I rode a Continental Trail Ways Bus from Springfield, MO to Harrisburg, PA. I left Missouri on a bright morning and by the next afternoon had checked into a hotel with over a hundred college and high school students from all over the United States. We were there for orientation to the Student Summer Mission Program of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Leaving home wasn’t that hard. I spent the last semester of school in a dormitory on campus in Bolivar. That is about thirty miles north of my home. Ron, my roommate, and I got along well, and we both went home every weekend. He went to Waynesville and I to Springfield. He had transferred to Southwest Baptist College that year as a junior from the University of Missouri, Rolla campus. I did the same thing from Southwest Missouri State University. He was a mechanical engineering student, and my major was creative writing. I was going to go to the University of Missouri at Columbia before God called me to the ministry. Ron’s plans were changed by God, also, before we met.

During the first week of my first semester, I saw signs around campus promoting the Summer Missionary Program. I filled out the paperwork and applied. We would find out if we had been accepted after the new year.

That year, I met many new people, not all of them at college. I went to church one Wednesday evening for dinner and joined a youth excursion to a haunted house. At church, I met a cute little high school girl. As we waited in line at the haunted house, we began holding hands, and I made myself available to comfort her when she was frightened.

I failed to ask for her phone number that night. I later asked the girl she had attended with for her number, and we began dating. When I received my acceptance for the summer and learned I would be going to PA I wondered about leaving her for ten weeks.

When I left in June 1975, we were engaged. We wrote letters—yes, I know that is old-fashioned—and spoke on the phone. I missed her terribly. I returned in August; I had decided that by next summer, we would be married. I was graduating in the spring and did not know if I would be going to seminary or where God would take me.

I took a part-time job in February of 1976 and was offered a full-time management trainee position two weeks before graduation. Two weeks after our wedding I was told they needed me to move to Joplin, Missouri. Cindy was still in high school. I left for Joplin on a Sunday evening and stayed in a hotel. She joined me on Friday after she quit her summer job.

I was so glad to have her in my arms again. She graduated in December, and we returned to Springfield in August of 1977. Over the years I have been asked why we did not wait until she finished school to be married. My answer is simple. I did not want to be away from her like I had been the previous summer.

I did not know that God intended me to move so close to home. I thought I might be going hundreds of miles away again. I had considered Dallas, TX, Kansas City, or even California for Seminary. That was not God’s plan. I did not need a master’s or doctorate. I needed to learn to be a workplace minister.

The question is sometimes asked by teenagers, “How do you know when you are in love?” For me, I knew that summer. I never wanted to be away from her again. I’ve gone on short mission trips of about a week. I’ve traveled for training and my job. Ten days was the longest we have been apart in fifty years.

Shortly after I accepted the call to full-time Christian service, my pastor told me to carefully select the woman I would marry. When I transferred to SWBC (Southwest Bridal College), I dated several girls. I prayed for each one. Was she the one I should marry? I do not believe I ever asked God about Cindy. I knew I had to spend my life with her.

If you are looking at major changes in your life this year, graduating, moving, or changing jobs, be sure that you are seeking the Lord’s will. Nineteen Seventy-Four was a pivotal year for me. God told me He wanted my life, and I gave it to Hum. Is this the year you should do the same?

Gifts from God

January 18, 2025

When we think about gifts from God, I am not sure that we all think of the things listed in this song. Your job, whether you like it or not, is given by God. James 1:17 tells us that every perfect gift comes from above.

This song is not talking about gifts of the spirit. It is speaking of the daily blessings that each of us receive and do not recognize as gifts. Let’s talk about some of the things that are not mentioned in the list given in the song. Or maybe we can talk about some of those in it as well.

Most of us take life for granted. The Declaration of Independence, which we celebrate in this country every July 4th, calls it one of the self-evident truths. Thomas Jefferson put it as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Those who take the lives of others do not seem to agree with this.

When I was unemployed for over three years, I came to realize that a job was another thing I should always be thankful for. Getting up in the morning and doing work for a day or two at a time is wonderful. I was thankful for each temporary position that I acquired. I still wanted the security of a place to go each day and a regular paycheck.

My family is a gift that this song points out. There are also my friends and my church that I must mention. They are in my life to keep me focused on the things that I need to appreciate. Someone I can joke with is also a gift that I often overlook. Do you have anyone that will take all your grief and give it back to you?

I can walk into a room, approach a perfect stranger, and begin a conversation like I have known them all my life. Some of my friends have witnessed this ability and asked me how long we have known each other. They comment on this from time to time. They look amazed when I say that we just met.

I know many people who do not read very much. I know some writers, but most of my friends are not into the things that I am into. My love for words, research, and turning the appropriate phrase are gifts that make me who I am. Many authors talk about how easily they can find viable ideas. This is one more way that I am blessed.

It is amazing how many gifts I have taken for granted all these years. In listening to the many iterations of “Gifts of God,” I have discovered how wonderful it is to be the recipient of everything large and small that He gives me every day. I hope you see this in your life as well.

The heat of the moment

January 12, 2025

This is a commonly used phrase. It was brought to my mind by a character in “The Waltons” TV series. We all have those days when we say or do things that we wish we could recall. This episode had several characters that were not their normal sensible selves.

One of these was John Walton, Senior. You know him. John Boy’s dad. He had trouble with his sawmill and decided to retire. He went fishing, playing pool, and drinking more than he usually would. His children were wondering about him. This happens to us all.

John took the correct steps to repair his damaged relationships. He apologized. He also informed his children that they should allow him the space to be himself while he was an adult, even if that meant actions that they did not expect from him.

I’ve had my times of going off the rails. Most of my business associates think of me as an even-tempered quiet type. My good friends and family have experienced the real Chuck. Not so quiet or dignified. Likely to blow off steam when needed. Life isn’t always easy and sometimes it drives us to blow a gasket.

I know this because I once sold seals, gasket material, and other products to repair these conflagrations. Yes, that is another way of saying explosion. Most pressurized equipment includes a valve designed to release excess pressure. What is yours?

When we first moved into a house with a wood stove, I began splitting my own wood. That was more than thirty years ago. I purchased a splitting mall and became adept at using it. Slamming that device into a log enables me to release anger and frustration. You need a release as well.

It is better to break wood before you crush someone’s face. Don’t go to a bar to relax. It might make matters worse. Walking away when you start to become angry, or upset is the best way. Distance from the problem gives you time to calm down.

If the news or weather upsets you, turn them off. Yelling at the TV or radio does no good. I know. I’ve done it. Those stupid people on the screen do not listen.

Try to cool the heat of the moment in the easiest way that you can. We all have those moments from time to time. The fewer foot-in-the-mouth moments I have the better life is. I hope it works for you.

Jimmy Carter’s Faith

January 10, 2025

With the announcement of the death of thirty-ninth President Jimmy Carter, we are hearing about the man who failed to be re-elected when Ronald Reagan defeated him. He passed away on the twenty-ninth of December 2024 at the age of one hundred.

I remember when this former governor of Georgia first announced that he was going to run. The question was, “Jimmy who?”. Gerald Ford was then President. He had been appointed as Vice President by Richard Nixon after Spiro Agnew resigned in disgrace.

As a sitting President, Ford was a shoo-in for the Republican nomination. I’m not a Republican or a Democrat. I have always been nonpartisan. I look at each candidate and decide which I think will be the most effective as our chief executive. I did not vote for either Ford or Carter.

I did vote for Ronald Reagan when he defeated President Carter. It was not because I thought that we needed a Republican. When Reagan was nominated, I decided he was the better candidate of those that would be on the ballot. Most citizens agreed with me.

It wasn’t until after he became a private citizen again that I saw the kind of man that Jimmy was. I read his book, “Keeping Faith” and remembered the man who put Southern Baptists into the spotlight. As a lifelong Holmanite myself I appreciated his spiritual outlook.

Most importantly is the fact that he emphasized his relationship with Jesus more than the fact that he was referred to as a Christian. Christianity is only a religion to some. To President Carter Jesus was his savior and his life. This is why he taught Bible studies every Sunday in church.

The Greek word that we translate as church is ecclesia. It means a gathering of people. Paul and other writers of the New Testament believed that followers of The Way, what would later be called little Christs or Christians, should meet regularly. These are the followers of Jesus.

One of the things that Jimmie always taught was that there were no grandchildren of God. He was a loving grandfather, but he wanted to be sure that all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren knew Jesus personally. He would not see them in Heaven unless they had a personal relationship with his Lord and Savior.

I ask you to consider if your faith is like that of James Earl Carter, Jr. Have you accepted Jesus as shown in the Bible? Do you have a relationship with Him? Don’t rely on family history or what you mark on a questionnaire to get you into the presence of the Creator God.

Give a woman a quilt

January 7, 2025

“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him to fish and you will feed him for a lifetime.” That adage is true. A corollary to it is, “Give a woman a quilt and she will be warm for a lifetime. Give the correct woman a quilting machine and she will warm others for thousands of lifetimes.” Never heard of it before. That doesn’t surprise me. I just wrote it.

What has me thinking about quilts? The APQS Company delivered a new machine to my wife. No, we did not buy one. It was a prize in a Facebook contest they had. Cindy received the call announcing to her that she was the winner. She was stunned and so was I, when she called me to share the good news.

People have commented about these contests and most don’t believe that anyone ever wins these prizes. It’s like the fast-food games where you win an order of fries or a hamburger, but never the trip to Spain or Bermuda. We can say we are the ones who were given the big prize. Our taxes for next April showed it as well.

All the prizes offered may not be in legitimate contests. Determine for yourself whether it is an honest company and whether it is not one of those scams you always hear about. All Cindy had to give was information readily available through normal means.

Has God ever blessed you with a gift of this kind? It isn’t the first time for us. He has given us a computer and other smaller items before. This time was a truly miraculous gift. The gifts we receive from the Lord are usually less in material value.

We are often blessed with good health, happiness, twenty-four hours in a day, and good jobs. These are wonderful and we should show our appreciation. Count your blessings, name them one by one as the gospel song says.

Our prayers that were offered were of thanksgiving and for direction in how to use the gift that God and APQS gave her. Letting the daughters and granddaughters learn to quilt on it is a given. Making quilts to be given to family and friends is also a result. The major concern is to become a professional quilter or let it remain a hobby.

When you are the owner of a professional machine, it stands that you will become a professional, right. Not necessarily. God does not usually give us something to be used only for our own profit. There comes that new saying, “Give the correct woman a quilting machine and she will warm others for thousands of lifetimes.”

New Year new goal

January 5, 2025

I am one of the few people that I know who can honestly say that they have not broken a new year’s resolution for more than ten years. Over ten years ago I resolved to never make another resolution. I make goals each year. Not just one thing that I may not accomplish.

These goals are of varying types. Usually, I set several during a year. In 2009 I needed to get a new job when I was laid off in January. I found that job in March. In 2010 I set the same goal when I was terminated from that company. I celebrated that dismissal because the owner of the company was a tyrant.

That new job did not appear until 2012 when I dropped the first company from my resume’. That made me realize they had been spreading lies about me. Recently they had problems of their own and I can say that I hope they soon recover. Tough times for others are not a time to rejoice.

This year I have a few goals already in mind. Publishing my book “Doulos” on this site and using several E-book platforms as well. We’ll see how quickly that goes. I have five other projects that I hope to complete and present to you here this year. My problem is which will be next.

To do this, my reading goal on Goodreads has been adjusted down to one hundred. Writing and publishing will be my priority until I can reduce my backlog. These are personal accomplishments I will concentrate on. My wife and I are working on a book together. We hope to finish it before the year is out.

We also have several quilts that we would like to finish. They are what are lovingly referred to as UFOs (Unfinished Objects). Then there is the completion of the dining room and kitchen renovation we began between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Several DIY repairs will follow that one.

Each year we perform these tasks as we have money, time, and energy. This is nothing new for us. We have been here for a while and did not need to make changes until recently. We have replaced the water heater, HVAC system, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Things wear out and must be taken care of. There has been talk of a hot tub and possible long vacations. These are in the we want and planning stages.

I am sure that you have some things you would like to see started or completed in the next few months. Restore a classic car, write your first or next song, get married, have children, or buy a home. These are all worthy goals. Set your own and see where they lead.

One thing I think we should all strive for is a more positive attitude towards others. This could be as easy as taking yourself off the throne in your life and putting others on that pedestal. It may sound hard. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Give it a shot.

Have a great year and let’s get together this December and compare notes. I believe we will all be pleasantly surprised.

The shoutin’ Baptist.

January 1, 2025

That’s correct. Mrs. Peale was a shoutin’ Baptist. You’ve never heard of that? Had you been raised in a church with a shoutin” Baptist, you would have heard of it. I don’t remember the first time I heard her shout or the last time. She did not shout every Sunday or at both the morning and evening services.

That is the thing about a shoutin’ Baptist. You don’t know when they will let loose. On several occasions I sat next to someone who did not know about Mrs. Peale. It was such fun to see the look on a visitor’s face. You never seem to react the same the second time it happened.

There was the girl I was dating who was an Assembly of God member. Mrs. Peale let loose the one Sunday she was there with me. I had attended her church, and no one had spoken in tongues or prophesied during the service. They were calm and quiet like you expect Baptists to be.

Then there was Mrs. Peale. Trudy said that we were too wild for her taste. This was just one more case of my being shown who wasn’t the one. Cindy wasn’t scared off by her. Thank you, Mrs. Peale.

Why did she shout? I suspect it is like most of us. If something excites you enough, you must vocalize it. This happens often at sporting events. Fans just shout because of the action around them. That is what triggers shouters, I believe. They are so caught up in the presence of God that they must let go.

Are there times that God speaks to you during worship, or because of hearing a song, or through something someone says? I began experiencing this after I accepted a call to the ministry while in college. When did you first feel this passion for Christ?

What did she shout? It was not always the same thing. Sometimes Hallelujah or amen. Often, we could not tell what she was saying. Hopefully she wasn’t speaking in tongues. This was a “Baptist” church in the 1960’s.

Emotion in worship was not something that we were known for. We believe in spiritual gifts. Most of us were not given the gift of speaking in tongues. Giving, prophecy, service was always big. As was hospitality. When I first realized that one of my gifts was discernment, I could not believe that I was given the ability to determine if people were honest or had an ulterior motive.

As I age, I wonder if I will become a shouter. Do you get to the point where you just get so wrapped up in worship and you forget where you are and who might be offended? Be ready in case this happens. I hope I won’t scare you too much the first time I do it.

The Ozark Empire Fair will never be the same

December 31, 2024

As a teenager, the fair was the place to be in Springfield each summer. Many worked there while others had jobs outside the fair. The Fortners were the competition when I worked at Dog ‘N Suds. It was a friendly competition between Fortner’s A&W’s and the Costello’s Dog ‘N Suds. Both families were Christians and both businesses were anchored in that faith.

Root Beer connoisseurs had their favorite and that was how they determined where they went. Hillcrest students in the seventies did not generally go to the drive-in on Glenstone. I worked at that Dog ‘N Suds location. Because of that, when not working, one must visit both establishments to see every friend. Chris and Mike were on Kearney at their Dad’s place except during the fair. The A&W’s on the fairgrounds were their home then.

After graduation, things often change. Not for the Fortners. The franchise expanded and soon even the old D&S became a Fortner A&W restaurant. Mike and Chris were still there at the fair as was Mike’s wife, Diana.

The generations changed. The restaurants were closed and sold. The A&W was removed from the stands on the fairgrounds, but the Fortners, Dan, Mike, Chris, and Di continued to run them until a few years ago. They also added the Pineapple Whip stands that are a perennial favorite in the Ozarks.

All three Kensinger girls, Heather, Michelle, and Kayla, learned to count change and “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.” from the Fortners. This father is proud to count them as friends of the family.

It is difficult to know how many doctors, lawyers, nurses, teachers, dads, moms, and possibly even grandfathers and grandmothers owe their start to Mike and his family. Mike passed away a few years ago. Many miss him in Springfield while as many or more have celebrated this man’s legacy from afar.

While he is remembered here, it will be only a short time before he is greeted once again. He has heard, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He and Diana have lost one of their sons since then. The Pineapple Whip stands have recently opened a permanent location at a newly reopened movie theatre off the square.

The Ozark Empire Fair Board saw fit to begin serving alcoholic beverages years ago. My wife and I have not returned to this event since then. We do not drink and believe that the introduction of alcohol into this family entertainment event is a disservice to our community.

There have been a few other changes at our local agricultural fair. Most counties around the country where farming is a large portion of their economies continue to have fairs of this type. Attendance at many of these events has decreased over time. We have a wide variety of entertainment choices compared to when fairs were popular.

If you have a story about a local fair and your experiences there, I would like to have you share them in the comments. I may decide to share these with you in a future column. Have a happy New Year and make next year a time to make life better for others and by extension, for yourself.

The invisible woman

December 28, 2024

I sat in the campus union at my local university in the 1970s. A fellow student stops near me and asks about the book I am reading. The title is “Invisible Man.” She mentioned she had read the book, and we spent the next few minutes discussing the plot and what each of us found interesting about the book. The conversation lags and she walks away.

Over fifty years later I am reminded of this situation and begin to contemplate some things that I have not mentioned yet. First, the book I was reading was Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man” and the book we discussed was H. G. Wels’ book “The Invisible Man”. Ellison was a current black author who wrote a detailed account of growing up black in America. The young lady that stopped to talk to me was also African American and at the time I found it humorous that she did not know the book I was studying for a contemporary literature class.

The point that strikes me as unusual today is that this girl was very attractive, and I let her walk away without even considering acquiring her phone number. Was she flirting or just being friendly? If she was flirting, why did I not pick up on that and flirt back? Was it because I was raised that blacks and whites should not date or marry and it never occurred to me that she might be interested in me? Or could it be that I was just too shy to have the guts to ask for her number?

The question is, am I a bigot because I never thought to flirt with an attractive African American woman who was my contemporary, or was, I just raised to be polite unless the lady did more than just talk to me, I did not assume that she wanted or expected anything more?

I have thought about the possibility of whether I am prejudiced or not. I admit that I do have my prejudices. They are not based on race, culture, origin, or beliefs. I often judge people as being stupid. As Forest Gump’s mother said, “Stupid is as stupid does.”

Do we even know what that means? To me, stupidity is what we do. Ignorance is not having knowledge. Foolishness is lacking wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and age. Stupidity is a human characteristic. We all do things that can be referred to as stupid.

It may have been stupid for me to not take an opportunity to get to know that lady better. An invitation to the student union would have been appropriate. Continuing a conversation about science fiction could have been easy for me. I have read not only H. G. Wells but Jules Verne, Arthur C. Clark, and many other authors since that time. In another semester at that institution, I took a science fiction class. It was the first offered there and is standard now.

My problem was my inexperience with dating. I had only one girlfriend at that time. I dated her off and on for five years. Shortly after this encounter, she told me that we should not continue to date. I then began looking for girls to date. I never ran into that young lady again. I have wondered if another chance would have ended differently.

It was almost two years later before I met the woman who was to be my wife. I like to think that God brought her to me at the correct time. None of the others I dated were someone I could not live without. It has been said, “Marry the person you can’t live without, not just someone that you can live with. I did that.

Walk With a Servant