Writing – Page 2 – Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

14 years and counting

May 21, 2025

That is correct. March 24th is the anniversary of the first article I published on Examiner.com. In 2011 they began making my pieces available to you. Examiner.com was a respected way for authors to build an audience and polish their prose.

Wordsmiths have many reasons why they need or want to express themselves. Writing can be an obsession or a casual means of telling others what you are thinking. Some write even when they have no hope of being published. For a Christian from Springfield, MO this was a great opportunity.

As a child, the urge to record one’s thoughts started early. A newspaper with a friend was not successful. Who wants to read what nine-year-olds know about? Just because you win a small printing press selling seeds door to door, does not make you a publisher. When the Pipkin Jr. High School newspaper staff was chosen, it was another disappointment. Missing that English class because of Spanish class was unavoidable. Missing out in High School had to be prevented.

Journalism I class in my junior year was a favorite. The assignments were not work. Putting pen to paper has always been enjoyable. Being selected as feature editor senior year was disappointing. Page three is not as impressive as page one. Articles were published all over The Herald even though writing and editing features were my focus. The Highlighter even features sports photos from my personal camera.

Creative writing was the best Southwest Missouri State University offered as a major in the 70‘s. Focusing on getting accepted to Missouri University’s Journalism School was the main thing. Saving money was also important. When the acceptance letter came from them in 1974, being published was not the priority anymore.

Those of you who place God’s will above your desires know why years can change your focus. When I was laid off in 2009, I saw a job description and Examiner was the opportunity to return to being published as God is obeyed. I continued looking for full-time work. My unemployment lasted over three years.

When Examiner stopped publishing my articles and eventually stopped working with everyone, I began my own website. That has been my method of sharing what I write for the last nine years. My web page was self-titled for years. It is now called DouloiGroup.org as you know. Doulos is the Greek word for servant and Douloi is the plural.

I have plans to add more options to my offerings including fiction, complete daily Bible studies or even videos. I would be happy to promote your materials on my website. I just need to be able to view anything before I endorse it. I am not in this just for the money. I have a responsibility to my readers.

I think I’m in love.

May 5, 2025

In college, this was a saying that many guys my age used. One of my friends or acquaintances would say this when we say a beautiful girl or woman walks by. A friend of mine at Southwest Baptist College in Bolivar, MO, changed that slightly. He was a ministerial student like me. He changed it to “I think I’m in lust.”

There is a difference between love and lust. Let me define the two words. Love is not an emotion. Lust is a desire for something sexual. I do not like to use dictionaries for words like love. Secular scholars are more interested in contemporary usages of the word and not what the Biblical examples indicate.

I agree with Paul’s definition of the love of God. You’ve read it in First Corinthians chapter 13. It includes patience, kindness, lack of envy, boasting, and pride. This is what we should strive for in our romantic love.

Do you know how to define what you mean when you say “I love you” to your spouse? The Association referred to it as “Cherish” in the song in 1966. “Cherish is the word I use to describe all the feelings that I have” is the opening line. This song also tells us that all the other guys say, “I love you.”

All they want is to touch your face, your hands, or hold you. Others say they will love you all the rest of their lives. When I was dating the girls were warned not to believe us when we said that we loved them. Most of these guys would use the line, “If you really love me, we should have sex.”

I never was one to do that. I had one girlfriend that I learned later and she stopped dating me because I never tried to have sex with her. Cindy will tell you that I haven’t had that problem for a long time.

On television and in movies, young people ask their parents or other adults how you know if you love someone. For me, it was because I wanted to be with her. Not every minute of every day like the songs say. When we are apart, I need to get back to her. I hope you have someone that gives you that kind of security.

This is not sexual. That is why I say that sex is not the same as love. I do not like to use the term making love. That makes love a noun, not a verb. Love is something you do. As Paul says, “It is patient, it is kind, it never fails.”

I explain to those who say that they fell in love and have fallen out of love by adding I did not fall. I jumped in. I can leave if I do not want to continue to love. I have a choice to love or not. It is the same for you. Jump or stay where you are.

Love is a choice as the book title says. It is up to you. Like Doc Brown said at the end of the third installment of the Back to the Future Trilogy, “Your future isn’t set. Make it what you want it to be.”

Computer illiteracy

April 6, 2025

The picture was ancient. Two nice-looking girls were sitting at manual typewriters in a school room. You knew it was old because it was black & white, and their clothes were vintage. My comment to the question on Facebook, “Do you remember this?” was, “Yes, I am the guy behind the two girls.” Slightly out of focus, a young man with horn-rimmed glasses and a white shirt was in the background. He was your typical nerd from the fifties and sixties. You couldn’t see his pocket protector, but I’m sure it was there.

My keyboarding career started that way. Typing class in high school. A few guys. Mostly girls were getting a head start on their stimulating careers in the secretarial field. Today, I am using a laptop to write. That class at Hillcrest is not typing but keyboarding, and it will soon die because no one gets to high school without being able to use a keyboard. Most get that education in kindergarten.

Computers first came to my attention in grade school. It was the Univac that I saw in magazines and books. Then there was the IBM monstrosity that NASA used to compute trajectories for the Mercury missions. I never knew what a computer really was until I saw “Secret Treasures”. Who knew that people used to be called computers? We just called them smart kids.

Our first computer keyboard was on a Texas Instruments device that was smaller than my first AM radio. Then came the Commodore, the Atari, and the 86-format machine. That was the first with minor connectivity and its own monitor. The rest plugged into the TV like your first video game. My first video game was brother Bud’s Pong.

My first purchasing position came with a brush with computing. The owner of the company had been looking into computerizing accounting, purchasing, and inventory control. For six months, I was tasked with designing and assigning unique part numbers for each of our products. I spent many extra hours and was not present when the machines were put into operation.

My second shot at a business in purchasing was again before that location had computers. The corporation had computers at both major warehouses. I was intrigued that their part number system was like the one I previously designed. When we had terminals installed at our branch, I enjoyed the time savings that the system brought.

I was also glad to see the inventory card system be moved out as well as the billing machine. Inventory, billing, and purchasing were done on the terminals. It was several years later before I had a personal computer on my desk at work.

Where does computer illiteracy come into? I am a baby boomer. I’ve never had problems with any electrical or electronic gadget. Currently, artificial intelligence seems to be the problem area. I’ve worked with AI since I used my first digital calculator.

Mechanical calculators used gears, cams, and other mechanical devices to make sums, multiply, divide, and subtract. If you have never seen one, go to an engineering museum. Science fiction writers have predicted that computers and robots would take over our world.

In the late 1990s, some thought that life as we knew it would end on January 1^st of 2000. Computer chips originally could not go beyond 1999. Programmers got with the plan, and we were ready on December 31. Now we need to figure out how to do things on paper again. We may never experience an EMP event that is currently being predicted, but just in case, keep pencil and paper handy.

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.

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 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.

A Positronic Christmas

December 16, 2024

For almost five years I was with Positronic Industries. Starting as a buyer, before the first anniversary a promotion to purchasing supervisor came through. One of my favorite things about that job was the feeling of the company being a family. Not all the employees felt that way, though.

One of my favorite things was the annual Christmas party. A Hawaiian luau, a western theme, and Silver Dollar City were some of the themes and venues that we were invited to with one special person in our lives. Many of my friends from that time are no longer there.

The reason that I enjoyed working for them was the people that I worked with and for. I would have liked to have retired from that position, but the crash of 2008 meant that many of us were laid off during 2009 and following. I have learned much from that experience.

One thing is not to take anything for granted. I continued my career with two other companies after that time. I retired as a purchasing manager. My ministry continued with each of these companies. Now I hope I can share some other things I’ve learned over my fifty years in business.

Managers and supervisors often believe that their job is to tell those that report to them what they need to do. A better way is to work with the team that you lead and utilize everyone’s talents and expertise to be better at what you are tasked to do. My experience has been that ideas and concepts flow from each employee in varied ways.

I worked for one boss that seemed to be constantly in fear that others would be deemed more suitable for their position. Instead of openly utilizing each person and their abilities, they dismissed valid ideas and changes in procedures. After a few weeks these same concepts were introduced as the manager’s brainchild. By this technic, they claimed these as their own.

I’ve seen this method utilized in church and community situations as well. I believe a lack of self-esteem is at the heart of this behavior. Refusing to give credit where it is due causes some to stop sharing their thoughts. Why contribute when someone else accepts the rewards?

Criticism for the sake of attacking others is one more common occurrence. I’ve seen this from employees to management and in the converse. If we do not feel that we are respected and appreciated, we may attack someone that we see as a threat to us. This does not promote a unified front.

Have you been on the receiving end of this type of abuse? Recognizing why it is taking place can contribute to eliminating this problem. It does not usually help to accuse the offender of this practice. I have left positions on more than one occasion when the owner or manager displayed objectional behaviors or a lack of confidence in me.

I’ve mentioned many negatives and would like to leave you with the qualities of the three best bosses I have had in my life. The owner at Dog ‘N Suds, my first job, recognized the value of each of his employees. If someone had difficulties with certain tasks, they were aided in those areas. He also recognized those who simply did not try to learn, and they were allowed to find other employment.

Tom saw something in me during our interview that made him offer me a sales position in an industry that I had no experience with. After a few months, he promoted me to a store manager, recommended me for a job under another manager, and for my first purchasing position. He saw what I could be and supported my growth.

I accepted another job for a man that I openly told his boss that I would be working to move into his role. I was honest and thought later that my words were ill chosen. I have always looked for improvement in myself and others. When I join a company or organization, I endeavor to work in any capacity that I can.

I enjoy a challenge and rarely shirk added responsibilities. Gary recognized this and trained me to take his place when he had an opportunity to advance. My retiring from the workforce as a purchasing manager was a direct result of his tutelage.

Hard work, dedication to expanding your horizons, and helping others advance is what a supervisor, manager, or owner should do. I could give you more personal examples of others that have exhibited these qualities to me over the years. Take a few moments and think of others that showed you qualities that you have gained in your life.

Christmas is a time of sharing and remembrance. People have made you who you are. Some by their positive actions, while others impacted us to be different from them. I hope that I am one of the former and not the latter. Merry Christmas to you all.

Are you a reader?

July 5, 2022

For those who know me personally, you are aware that I am an avid reader. My Goodreads account shows the number of books I have read for five years. I joined that online group in 2017 and read ten books. My goal was three volumes per month. I was working and failed to meet my goal. In 2018 I had no goal. In 2019 I set my goal at twelve. Because I retired in the spring, by the end of the year, I completed 26. I doubled that amount the next year for my goal and finished 76. Last year I set the amount I wanted to read at 100. I surpassed that number. This year my goal is again 100.

Next year I will set my sights on publishing my own books. I have five that I am currently writing. One is finished and has been published on Facebook in small sections. My goal is to complete a shorter volume to publish on Amazon followed by the first one which is my memoir. By this time next year, I hope to have at least four books on Amazon and other e-book sites. These will all be self-published.

I am not sure which ones will be ready. I have no problems with writer’s block. As I am working on a manuscript, if I have a block I jump to another idea. That explains the number in process.

Are you a writer? Or are you content with reading what others create? My desire to write began in junior high school. While my lifework changed from writing in college, I have maintained that desire to record thoughts and feelings. Much of what came from my pen was used in classes I have taught at church.

I was laid off during the downturn in 2009. As I looked for a new job, I discovered a new website called Examiner.com. They were looking for writers. I applied and began writing columns for them. After a few years, they went out of business. My desire to write had been energized. Some of those articles were the basis for Doulos, my memoir.

I created this website to replace that means of sharing my work. I want to continue with the process. My books are something I desire to contribute to the reading public. If you are not a reader but just a scanner, you may not consider what writers produce as worth investing in. For those of you who are writers or wish to share your own stories, some of the things I will be publishing will be techniques for improving your ability to pass on your knowledge, stories, and creations.

I enjoy a good story. Whether I am reading, writing, or sharing it. Subscribe to this page and you will be e-mailed as each new article is posted. Be watching for my premium content which will cost you a little. The annual subscription will increase as the content multiplies. This will enable you to watch as my books are written and prepared for publication. Thanks for your support.

Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Walk With a Servant

Tag: Writing