Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Where were you: 1974?

August 9, 2022

On this day in 1974, I was in Springfield, Missouri preparing to transfer to Southwest Baptist College. The Bolivar college was my choice to continue my education after accepting the call to ministry. My original plan had been to enter the Journalism school at MU in Columbia.

What is so special about this date in that year was that it was the day President Nixon resigned. Gerald Ford was sworn in as president of the United States. For those of you who were not around then, I will fill you in.

Spiro T. Agnew had been sworn in as VP when Richard Nixon and he won the 1972 election. This team had been re-elected after serving in 1969. Agnew had resigned over his own scandal and been replaced by Ford in 1973. That placed the former senator into a position to become the only president to not be elected as either Vice President or President.

During the 1974 presidential campaign, there was a break-in at a hotel in Washington, D.C. The Democratic National Committee Office was the target. Some of Nixon’s campaign staff were involved. It was discovered that the Oval Office in the White House was subject to the recording of audio. These tapes were subpoenaed for the investigations and trials of those being charged with the burglary.

Richard Nixon was referred to as King Richard by some and just as rumors were rampant about Franklin Roosevelt not wanting to leave the elected office. It seems that our two-party political system has gotten out of control. President Johnson that succeeded Lincoln after his assassination was the first to be tried for impeachment.

Since Nixon resigned it seems that we have a lot of politicians that push the limits of what is acceptable in our legal system. We no longer allow elected officials to sweep things under the rug. Both the Demicans and Republicrats have those members that consider themselves above the law.

The supporters of former President Trump who claim that the investigation of the attack on the capital is political in nature have nothing on President Nixon’s supporters. It was said that only Democrats were upset over the Watergate affair. As the cover-up was discovered, even Republicans had to admit that the country could not accept this kind of action by either party.

President Nixon stopped the draft just in time to keep me from having to deal with the draft board. He is still my favorite president because of that. Will those who believed Donald Trump was a good president admit that he was at least complicit in the attempt to overthrow a legally elected administration? If it is determined that he should be censored or imprisoned for encouraging the attack, they will do what was done for Nixon as soon as they retake the presidency.

This is my problem with political parties. Many believe their party members can do no wrong. They are the first to condemn the other party’s officials for the same type of infraction. Drunk driving, deaths in traffic accidents, adulterous acts, spousal abuse, and even child abuse accusations cross the aisles in our government houses.

We all have seen these types of situations represented in TV series. No producers ever deal with the problem of political parties in the same manner that we see on the network news reports. Which will be the first network to air a made-for-TV movie that replicates the January 6^th events?

Covid has made it into the TV schedules last season. We should see an influx of programs that feature political turmoil and attempts to overthrow our government by groups inside our own borders. Remember that this isn’t the first time politicians have disappointed us. We survived Watergate and Teapot Dome. We’ll survive January 6^th, 2001.

Who’s gonna fill my shoes?

August 7, 2022

Have you ever asked yourself this question? I asked myself after I heard the George Jones song “Who’s gonna fill their shoes?” It is about the country singers that my dad liked, and I grew up listening to. Some I only know by the records my father had in his collection. Most of those albums are long gone.

I am not a country music fan. If you know me personally you also know I am not any kind of singer. I like to create through my words in the form of prose and not poetry. My life has been spent in many ways and others have taken my spot in many of these.

Business managers are easily replaced as are purchasing agents and managers. A job can be filled by many when the previous holder moves on. As a teacher in the church, those positions have also been filled. While they may not use the same style of instruction, they have their own and get the job done.

The shoes that I want to talk about are those of husband, father, and grandfather. I have not been perfect. I have done my best and I will never be replaced when I am no longer here to fulfill those responsibilities. Others can try to accomplish the tasks that I have spent time on. It still will not be the same as I would do it.

Those tasks are to educate and inform the ones I care about on how to become a person of integrity, someone who loves them, and their biggest fan. Time is always too short. I would enjoy as much time as possible to continue with these wonderful people. How can I show love and concern to them when I am not with them?

Love is not an emotion as we normally think of it. Love is the actions that we take every day to show that we genuinely appreciate and accept each other. What can we do to continue these acts that are seen as love? Let’s look at how we communicate love.

Letters that encourage are one way. Write them now for the special occasions that will come after you are gone. A letter for each anniversary, birthday, wedding, graduation, and any other special occasion that you can think of. Start as soon as you can. Don’t mention a number except in certain cases.

Purchase and wrap gifts for these events and others like Christmas or a day that you currently celebrate with a gift. The hard part is how to get these into the hands of those you prepare them for. One of the simplest ways is to have your attorney or executor of your will present these for you. Discussing this extra and ongoing part of the job should be accomplished as soon as you can. Choose someone young enough to be around when you need them.

Selecting several individuals to take this task for you is another way to make the job easier. Be sure these are dependable folks. Do not forget to have letters and presents sent to them as well. Time is not the enemy here. It provides the opportunities to continue to be the person that others cherish.

The first funeral

August 7, 2022

I’m watching the episode of The Waltons where the Baptist preacher confesses to John Walton that he has never officiated at a funeral before. G.W. has died at Fort Lee in a training accident. He is brought home to be laid to rest by his parents.

This makes me think of the first funeral at which I was asked to officiate. Licensed and ordained ministers have had this duty thrust upon them since the first person died. If you have never had to perform this function for someone you knew, it would be hard for me to tell you how it feels.

I studied to be a minister at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, Missouri. None of the classes I had were designed to prepare us for weddings or funerals. Those were covered in the counseling courses I did not feel led to take.

My first wedding was a few months after I graduated from college. The couple was friends of mine that I worked with. My Pastor and friend advised me on what to say and how to conduct the service. Years later when my cousin asked me to help with his mother’s funeral, I felt more experienced to handle that on my own.

Because this was a funeral that would mostly be attended by family members, I decided to focus on family relationships. I read a portion of a poem written by another aunt. I told stories from my cousins and their children. Humor was not inserted into the stories. Many of them did have funny endings.

My one worry was that others would be offended by how I was honoring a family member’s life. Stories that I told might seem humorous or inspirational to me. Would others view them as they were meant to be interpreted?

I wrote about my dad for his funeral and could not read it myself. When Mom died, I was the only speaker. She had not asked me to do that. When my sister, brothers, and myself were planning her funeral I told the others that I would do the eulogy. My oldest daughter wrote her obituary. I asked a cousin to be ready to read what I had written if I was unable to finish it. He was relieved when I finished.

I’ve participated in a few funerals where I only read the stories of the family members. Our lives can be broken down into stories. When I wrote my memoir, “Doulos”, it was to tell my family who I was and how the Lord had led me to be the person I am. Don’t wait for your life to be told after you die. Now is the time to tell it yourself. Stay tuned for my book, “Your story, Your way.” In it, I discuss the different methods that can be used to record and present what your family needs to remember about you.

A Living Document Part 1

July 31, 2022

Here I am. It is three in the morning. I was sleeping soundly until a bodily function encouraged me to awake. When I returned to bed my mind was turning over the events of yesterday and here I am. I had to sit with my computer and talk to you about my thoughts. I am not sure when or if you will read this. I begin this morning and when I believe I have expressed myself clearly, I may share it with you. Or I may not.

That is the lot of a writer. I learned over fifty years ago not to publish something too quickly. Thank you, Miss Backlund. I still remember that day when you returned the article to me and asked me to hold it for a few days and decide if I wanted to change anything about it. I did and the result was a better piece. I continue to do that.

Emotions are flowing because of the Supreme Court decision reversing Rowe vs. Wade, the passing of legislation to change gun laws nationwide, and the continuing trial of a former President. It isn’t really a trial. Only a Congressional hearing on the January sixth, 2021, attack on the Capital building.

Currently, I want to state that I am Pro-Choice. What does that mean? For me, it means that I believe a woman has the right to decide if she should have a child. This decision should be made before she has sex. Not after she is pregnant. This is my opinion, and I don’t care if you agree with me or not. Opinions are like noses. We all have them, and you can change yours if you want. Someday I may decide to change mine. My opinion, not my nose.

I am also Pro-Life. I am not anti-abortion. Don’t call me that. I will define that term for myself, also. I agree with the words in The Declaration of Independence. “We hold these truths to be self-evident. That all men (and women) are created equal. That they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights. That among these rights are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

After this document was written and signed by the Continental Congress we fought for our freedom from England. And, if you weren’t listening in class that day, we won. Our Constitution was drafted and approved years later. It was decided to add amendments to it to spell out other rights of the states and individuals. In 1973 The Supreme Court of the “United States” determined that state laws prohibiting abortion were not Constitutional. This is the main function they have. They are educated in our laws and documents and should be able to decide what is correct and what is not.

At that time many learned men and women thought those men, yes, they were all men at that time, had made a mistake. Almost fifty years later the court overturned that determination and gave the states back the right to make their own laws concerning abortion. In 1973 I read The Constitution and the decision by those men. I did not find what they thought they had found. My interpretation was with the minority group of judges.

The Constitution has not been changed since then. This court made their decision about another case and determined to correct the error that they believe was made. I believed it as a college student, and I still believe that the child in its mother should be protected by our laws. If I am wrong, we need to amend The Constitution. Contact your state legislators to start that process.

Why do I say that I am Pro-Life and not anti-abortion? I think that the mother and her doctor should have the ability to decide if the pregnancy should continue. I would like to say the mother and the father should make that decision. Sometimes they would disagree and the one whose life is in danger should have the final say. Fortunately, my wife and I never had to make that kind of decision.

I know a family that did. They were told that the baby had some defects and would not live long after it was born. The mother’s life could be in danger as well. They decided to continue the pregnancy. The mom believed that God was telling her to trust Him, and He would take care of her and the child. Her husband agreed and the little girl was born some months later.

She is no longer little. She is a grown woman with children of her own. Her parents made the decision that was best for the three of them. I understand if you do not have that kind of faith. I am not sure that I do either.

I’m in marketing, you want management

July 30, 2022

I began my career as a full-time gospel minister in the 1970s. I have been studying and learning my trade for over four decades. When I think about where I was then, I am amazed at how little I knew. As I ponder my entry into the presence of God, at the time of my death, in another forty or fifty years, I consider how small my grasp of who God really is. At that time, I will be introduced to Him by those same people who taught me about him sixty years ago.

When I started my journey through God’s word, I was in my teens. My life of service and ministry has taught me a great deal. Years ago, a friend asked me why God did certain things. The question was about why bad things happen to good people. I did not know the answer. I still do not understand everything about Jehovah. My answer to these inquiries is the same as on that day. “I’m in marketing, you want management.”

The ones who are in the upper echelon of every Christian denomination should use the same response. Even the Pope is a representative of Jesus Christ and not the head of the church. We forget that. We try to defend Yahweh and His actions. That is not our job. Our job is to explain what we find in the Bible. I do need to explain to you why things happen the way they do in our world today.

Those are the things that I am still learning from the scriptures. He tells us who He is and why He must work the way He does. My job is to listen to what He says and share those thoughts with you. My ideas are not original. Many others can tell you exactly what I am saying. I may express it differently from others.

Your job is to take what I and other ministers or scholars tell you and check the Bible to be sure we know the Lord the way He reveals himself in the Word. You do not want to believe in Him because of incorrect information. One of the first things I must tell you are some of the things that He will not do when you become a born-again believer.

As a salesman in the secular world, my job was to promote the products I sold. My employer was wrong if he or she wanted me to lie about the advantages of those items. To be able to tell them what it would do and what it would not do I had to study the information that was provided about it. I read specification sheets, technical data sheets, and catalogs. I even looked at them being used by customers and in some cases used them myself to understand how they performed. I have done exactly that for over fifty years with God.

You will not become perfect. That means you will continue to sin. Jesus tells us He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I have learned that if you do not believe this, you are in trouble. If you miss the straight and narrow way He spoke of, you miss Heaven which is where He lives. Not following the Truth means you are following lies. Missing Life will end in eternal death.

This death is a complete separation from Jehovah. Have you felt an emptiness in your soul? Do you ever feel like you are spiritually dead? Our Lord said that we must be born again. That is because the human spirit died in the garden when the original people disobeyed God. You want a life with Him not death without Him.

What does independence mean?

July 24, 2022

The fourth of July has come and gone. July 4, 1776 is the day that The Declaration of Independence was signed by the Continental Congress. The name of the holiday is Independence Day. This group of men knew that attaching their names to this letter could mean the loss of everything including their lives.

Let’s look at the highlights of this document. It begins with why the thirteen colonies needed to separate themselves from Britain. The first reason is the fact that we all should have life, liberty, and the right to pursue our own happiness. The government can be replaced when it fails to do its job.

There is a long list of violations of these rights. They end the statement of abuse by pledging lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to the fight for these rights. After the war was finished in the favor of the colonies they attempted to survive alone and realized that they needed to remain working as one unit.

They were attempting to do something that had never been done before. Each of these thirteen governments knew they could be picked off one at a time by the Brits or some other country.

The Constitutional Convention was formed, and a new organization is devised to join these separate governments under one umbrella. Something they all wanted to do was maintain the ability to make certain laws for themselves. These were referred to as State’s Rights.

The name the United States of America was intended to show this arrangement. When you read our Constitution, you will see that many compromises were made to satisfy the individual purposes of states or other groups. The three branches of the Federal Government were created to solve perceived problems with other national forms of governing.

The President, who is the chief executive, has the final say before a law can become effective. Congress and the Senate can overturn a veto. The number of votes to do this is more than those needed to pass the bill the first time.

The legislature, congress and senate, are responsible for passing the bills that become laws. The president can recommend laws as can individual members. Committees look at these and make changes or prevent these bills from being voted on. Congress represents a member from groups that are similar in population. Each state has only two Senators. This was a compromise. What happens when these two branches attempt to violate the Constitution?

That is the job of the Supreme Court. They are the watchdog of our three-tier system. Nine judges are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. These men and women have no authority to do anything except determine the constitutionality of what the State governments, the Congress, and the President does. If they step out of line the President and congress can replace those who have violated their responsibility to interpret the constitution. This only happens when they die or resign.

You may have two more opportunities to celebrate the independence we enjoy in these states united into one nation. In Missouri, we will have our primary election in August. We all will vote for congressional representatives, one-third of the Senators, and many state and local candidates. Don’t forget to get out and vote.

Dance party round two

July 23, 2022

I began this column many years ago. The events are older than their brother and youngest sister. I hope you think it was worth me finishing it.

Yes, that is correct. The old Baptist has fallen from grace and gone dancing again. This time with a different girlfriend. My granddaughter, Mia, was this year’s date to the Father-Daughter Dance at her school. This time sister Maddie was escorted by Dad. They traded places from last year.

Is dancing a sin? What is that old joke? Why do married Baptist couples never have sex standing up? They are afraid someone will think they are dancing. Another reason is that they don’t want to fall and break a hip.

Dancing is not condemned in the Bible. When you find the verse where it is, let me know. David danced in the street to the Lord, when the Ark of the Covenant was being moved to Jerusalem, finally. His wife became angry and condemned him, but Jehovah did not. He likes to see us make fools of ourselves when we praise Him.

Psalms 149:3 tells us to “Let them praise his name in the dance.” This Psalm is not specifically identified as being written by David. There are no notes telling who wrote it like some of the others. Psalms 30:11 and 150:4 also tell us to praise the Lord with dancing.

We saw the dancing also in 1 Samuel 18:6 when the people came out to celebrate the defeat of Goliath and the Philistines.

Let’s get back to my dancing experiences. I am no Elaine when I dance. I limit myself to minimal movement as much as I can. I prefer a standard box step for slow dances, and I don’t do the Floss.

I do not appreciate people who have their own views of what the Bible says. We should do what Jesus told the Pharisees to stop doing. He criticized them for adding to God’s law and ignoring some of the commandments.

Failure to love your neighbor even if he or she is different from yourself is one of the worst things you can do. This was the second most important commandment according to Jesus. What do you consider a sin that isn’t listed in scripture? Drinking, playing cards, and other types of gambling are some other vices that do not appear in the Word.

Another problem that many of us have is ignoring the commands that are listed in the law. It may be as simple as not tithing, bearing false witness, coveting, or as bad as murder, adultery, or not honoring your parents. When we read the Bible, do we look for a way around the sins that are common for us? We should be focusing on overcoming what we know is against Jehovah’s law.

Do you know what a Pharisee is? They are the ones that had Jesus executed when He challenged their system which was based on men’s teaching, and they ignored the laws that Moses handed down. They deceived themselves into believing they were doing what was right. We need to ask ourselves if we have a pharisee hiding in us.

Trump is supporting candidates

July 22, 2022

When I heard the commercial for Billy Long for Missouri Senator, I was surprised that a PAC is pushing the link between him and former President Trump. It remains to be seen what will be done to the man that enticed followers to attack the Capital Building to stop him from being replaced as President.

I am not a Republican. I am not a Democrat. I am 100% non-partisan. When I vote, I look at the candidates, not any party affiliation. I advise you to do the same. The best reason for this was the 2016 Presidential election. The only reason Donald Trump won was that there were more people who disliked Mrs. Clinton than were willing to reject the Republican candidate.

I hoped that 2016 would be the year that those of us who are not part of the political parties would reject the two major candidates in favor of someone else. I was surprised at the number of personal friends who did not support either of these two until after they had their party’s nomination.

This is what I dislike about the political party system. There are always those that say they vote for the candidate but never vote for anyone other than someone in a particular party.

We also have those that claim they are conservative, liberal, or middle-of-the-road. The conservatives tend to vote Republican or middle-of-the-road. The liberals are democrats. Most middle-of-the-roaders let their own minds decide who to vote for. Often conservatives and liberals call us fence-sitters.

On my uncle’s dairy farm in Marshfield, Missouri. I sat on the fence from time to time. Usually, because I was told not to go into the field where the cattle were. My Uncle Paul, Aunt Nina, Mom, Dad, or one of my cousins gave me the instructions to stay out of the enclosure. I would be as close to inside without literally violating their advice.

Politically, sitting on the fence puts me in the same position. I am close enough to the action to see anything on either side. I am also where I can jump to either side as I may deem necessary. It is a good place to be.

I have jumped off the fence on a number of issues. Donald Trump is one of them. Lying, cheating, and misrepresentation are others. Oh, yeah, that describes Mr. Trump as well. Political analysts say that it remains to be seen how voters respond to Trump this election year.

I hope that the majority have finally realized how dangerous he is. I and others knew this in 2016. More woke up in 2020. When he began to see that his chances of winning were slim to none, he started the rhetoric of the vote being rigged against him. In his mind, the only reason he would lose was if the other party cheated.

When I played games with my two brothers, they might “throw the board.” Often this was literal. It was usually when I was winning. They also said I was cheating. Which I, usually, wasn’t. I learned to do the same thing when I felt slighted. I wonder who taught Donald to do this. I never saw him in the room with us.

Over the years, I have heard of Donald Trump. First, as a businessman who seemed to be suspected of possibly illegal practices. Then a reality show host who enjoyed firing people. He reminded me of the bad bosses I used to work for. Therefore, I did not support him in the 2016 primary or presidential races.

Others were under a rock or had their heads in the sand before he switched from a democan to a Republicrat and then entered the conflict to secure his power. I was not fooled, then. I was surprised, but not confused when his end run was to try to take over the country by throwing us into chaos and confusion after he lost.

It is up to Congress to accuse, try, and convict him of trying to overthrow the U. S. Constitution. This was a violation of his Presidential Oath. It used to be a hanging offense. It may still be punishable by death.

At the very least, those of us who can think straight must realize that an endorsement by this traitor is reason enough to not support a candidate. One 7^th district Missouri candidate for Congress is being accused of being a Romney Republican. It is said of him that he opposed Obama but never aided Trump against Clinton or Biden.

I believe he would be called a Rino by some Republicans. This may be my man this year. If his party sees fit to put him on my ballot in November. As usual, whoever the party members choose, I will select the man or woman that I feel is the correct choice. I hope you join me.

Have you seen my glasses?

July 21, 2022

Have you seen the Dish ad with the couple where he is looking for something and she is using her voice remote to find a movie she wants to watch? He raises up and asks her “Have you seen my glasses? We see his glasses are on the top of his head. She replies, “They’re around somewhere.”

I am going to scream about this degradation of older men. Do you know why the two actors’ roles were not reversed? I believe it is because the advertising agency would have lost much of their business if they were viewed as making fun of a woman.

Another question I have is why isn’t this couple mixed race? That seems to be the way most commercials are cast. Wouldn’t it be just as cute, if it was a white woman that said, “They’re around somewhere.” I’m sure the agency did not want to deal with the fallout from possible racism.

It is acceptable to make fun of men. Color or Race means nothing if the man is considered elderly. The idea of a forgetful old man is always a good laugh. Don’t make fun of a young black man. You’ll be called a bigot.

Another problem with this commercial is that it is making fun of those of us that do not have very good memories. Yes, I am in my sixties, and I have heard the story that when you get older there are three things that happen. The first is you lose your memory and the person telling the joke can’t remember the other two.

To prove my poor memory is not caused by aging, I will tell you the other two. You go to the bathroom a lot more and your breakfast consists of about two dozen pills. My memory started to go when I was in my twenties. When in grade school, high school, and even college I was praised for my ability to memorize scripture, statistics, poetry, speeches, and vocabulary words for four languages.

One of the things you learn when your brain does not recall things as easily as it once did, is to compensate. I began carrying a notebook in my pocket when I was in journalism. I still carry it. Everything I need to remember is in there. Phone numbers, ideas for articles and books, and even things I need to pick up at stores.

I have worn glasses since I was in the third grade. They are always on my face. I now wear a strap on them since I had cataracts removed and the new lens gave me the vision to read clearly. I still need glasses for everything else. They are always on my eyes, my chest, or the nightstand.

While many of you think this commercial is humorous, I hope you understand why it distresses me. One thing I assume is that the woman is his wife. If I am wrong about this and she is his sister, then I understand. So as Rose Ann Rosanna Danna would say, “never mind.”

A fourteen-year-old visits the moon.

July 20, 2022

Fifty-three years ago, my brothers and I were watching television with friends from church on Sunday evening. Our youth minister had planned this activity for us weeks before. My oldest brother was leaving that week for the Navy. This was his going away party.

Saturday, we had been watching as Apollo 11 landed on the moon. The words, “The Eagle has landed” were heard with a slight delay. I listened intently that evening to hear what would happen and when. At church the next morning my question was if there would be a television, we could watch at the home of the family that was hosting the event.

The answer was, of course. We ate, played games, and stayed alert to what was happening on the moon and at mission control in Houston, Texas. A few minutes before the door of the Lunar Excursion Module was opened, we all gathered around the TV.

We waited with Uncle Walter as Armstrong and Aldrin prepared to vacate the LEM. Mike Collins was orbiting the moon in Columbia. Viewers all around the world were watching. This had never happened before.

Apollo 8 with its three-man crew had orbited the moon the previous December. That was a first. There was no LEM on this flight. It wasn’t ready, yet. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” was heard from the craft on Christmas Eve. Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders were on board. Borman did the reading. This showed the difference between the Soviets and Americans. We saw God where we were. They never saw Him.

James McDivitt, David Scott, and Rusty Schweickart Flew the Apollo 9 with the first LEM in March of 1969. The docking and undocking of the command and lunar modules were tested. It working as expected. The only problem was that they never left Earth’s orbit. They did test the moon suits during a spacewalk.

In May Apollo 10 went back to the moon. It had a LEM and the lander undocked and went within 8 miles of the surface of the moon. They fired the ascent engine before reaching the point of no return. Tom Stafford and Gene Cernan were onboard the LEM while john Young flew the command module. The two crafts redocked and left lunar orbit to return to the Earth.

As this young man watched on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin did what had never been done before. They walked on the surface of the moon. A TV camera on the lander showed us as Neil stepped off the ladder and said, “That’s one small step for a man and a giant leap for mankind.”

As we all know all three of the Apollo 11 astronauts returned home from the moon. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 Apollo missions also returned to the moon before the end of the moon missions. We all know about the problems on Apollo 13 that prevented them from landing. Some of the astronauts drove golf balls or moon rovers while on the surface.

If you hear that the Apollo 11 landing was a hoax by the government, do not believe it. Not only did U.S. astronauts land on the moon once. They went there nine times and landed six times. A total of twelve Americans walked on the surface.

Take my word for it. I was that fourteen-year-old boy that walked on the moon with all of them through the miracle of live television. I never needed video games in the sixties and seventies because we had the space race. Watching real people explore the unknown in real-time beats any computer simulation.

Walk With a Servant