Tag: christianity

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.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger

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.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger

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.

©Copyright 2025 by Charles Kensinger

Good Friday?

March 29, 2024

Sunday is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus whom we call The Christ. Today is Friday. Why do Christians call it good. Around two thousand years ago the savior of the world was executed by the Romans. What is good about that?

Jesus said that there is none good but God. (Mark 10:18, Luke 18:19) He had just been called a Good Teacher. He was not arguing with this young man. He was trying to educate him. We call people good. They are not. We are not. Good is a word that we use easily. Jesus wanted to point out that in His definition of good, no one qualifies except Jehovah.

Can a particular day in history be considered good? Will the day you die be good or bad? Personally, the day I leave this body will be a good day for me. I will be with God. That includes Jesus. He said He would come back and take me to be where He is. (John 14:3) Why would that be bad?

If anyone had a bad day, the day we are remembering would be bad for Our Lord. He was arrested the night before. He was charged with blasphemy. That is making himself equal to Yahweh. He could not argue against that charge. He is equal. He said it. “The Father and I are one.” (John 10:30)

The Sanhedrin took Him to Pilate. (Matthew 27:2) They changed the charge. “He claims to be the King of the Jews.” (Matthew 27:11) Jesus did not deny that charge. Why would He do that? Did He want to die? No. He had to. To save me from my sins He required it. He is God. (John 1:1-5)

The previous evening the sacrifice asked if there was a way to prevent Him going through crucifixion. (Matthew 26:39) There was no other way. If He did not do it, you and I would be punished for our sins. He had to perish for the entire human race.

That was not all He must do. That is what we will celebrate this Sunday. It is not Easter. That is a holiday named for a pagan god that the Romans worshiped. The emperor took that festival of debauchery and tried to change it to honor Jesus the Christ. The name stuck. I prefer to call it Resurrection Day. We need to forget the chicks, eggs, and bunnies. It is the day of the empty tomb. Mary saw Him alive. (Matthew 28:9) The Roman soldiers were like dead men. (Matthew 28:4) Over five hundred witnessed Him in His resurrected body.  Why don’t you believe it?

He came. He died on that Friday. He arose on Sunday. Friday is good because He came back to life and made it possible for all of us to live in His presence. That is yesterday, today, and after we die. Honor Him by remembering what He did for us.

©Copyright 2024 by Charles Kensinger