Jehoiada

I truly miss watching the Bugs Bunny cartoons.  I never see them any more.

My daughter watches SpongeBob Squarepants, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, the Fairly Odd Parents and Camp Lazlo, but no Bugs Bugs Bunny…Bugs doesn’t seem to be available any more.

With Bugs, I loved every character.  There was Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Foghorn Leghorn, Granny, the Martian, Peppie Le Peu, the Roadrunner, the Singing Frog, Sylvester the Cat, the Tasmanian Devil, Tweetie Bird, Wiley Coyote, Yosemite Sam and a host of other hilarious and silly figures who could accomplish and survive virtually anything.

Almost always, one character was trying to get one over on the other - trying to confuse, deceive, defeat, finagle, fool and rip off the other for one thing or the other.

One particular set of cartoon segments seen periodically with Bugs and the crew dealt with a wolf (that was very reminiscent of Wiley Coyote) and a sheep dog (named Ralph) that matched wits with each other regarding the sheep the wolf wanted that Ralph was employed to protect. In these segments, Ralph would come to work, clock in and relieve the out-going sheep dog (Frank or Fred - I don’t recall which).  However, though the wolf had no relief, he was always constantly, consistently and diligently “working” to steal the sheep regardless of which sheep dog was on duty, and some of his schemes to get the sheep were ingeniously classic.

At about 4:10pm, Friday, January 18, 2008, I informed my supervisor that I was about to depart the office for the day…and the weekend.

“Okay,” she replied “Have a great weekend.”  Then she added, “I didn’t realize we had a holiday weekend until I checked my calendar. I’ll see you on Tuesday.”

During the elevator ride down to the first floor, I exchanged end-of-the-day pleasantries with a fellow departing employee.

“I’m glad this is going to be a 3-day weekend.”  he said.

“Yes,” I replied “Thanks to the life of a great man.” That’s just one of the ways I can accurately and honorably describe Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - as a great man.  Another way I can describe him is to agree with a term many have associated him with based on a historical and powerful speech he gave on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in August of 1963 - “the Dreamer.”Of all that he was and all he embodied, represented and stood for; he was indeed a “dreamer.”  Yet in my estimation and evaluation of his life considering the essence and totality of his accomplishments, acts, deeds, initiatives, works and ultimately his sacrifice; I would have to assess him as the “penultimate dreamer.”As I write this, I realize that a true dreamer acts upon his or her dreams.  They begin moving forward toward making their dreams become reality.  They’ll for ways to implement, develop a plan, and look for ways to breing the dream to fruition.  They’ll construct building blocks, stepping stones and strive without abandon to bring the dream to life, even at the expense of losing their life.

Some years  ago on this date, January 12th, an amazing, inimitable and wonderful human being was born. 

Though I didn’t know her during her youth, the characteristics and qualities she now embodies - charcteristics and qualities I’ve come to appreciate, know and love since I’ve known her must have been “percolating and simmering” during her formative years.

The person I’m talking about is my bride, my wife of 16 years and the love of my life - my Debbie.

I met this awesome woman almost 18 years ago and am unable to completely express how much better my life is because of her.

As a sort of gift for Debbie in celebration of her birthday today, I decided to write this week’s Jehoiada- submission to tell her (and the world) how much I love her and how much she means to me.

After thinking about how to convey this, I realized I could in no way effectively and fully describe the totality of my love for her and what she truly means to me because even I don’t know how much that is.  There’s no way I could literary-wise (or otherwise) do it. 

Sooooo, I’m going to offer a general rendering in an effort to say it the way I know it to be. 

In a complete nutshell, Debbie is my “treasure.” 

She is my “treasure” because of her exquisite and intoxicating beauty.

The inimitable manner in which she cares, laughs, loves and gives her all to me and our children makes her my ”treasure.”

This incredible, indescribable and uncommonly rare woman is my best confidant, critic, encourager, friend, inspirer, only lover, mother of our children, supporter, very precious jewel and a limitless source of blessing - in essence, my “treasure.”

And she is undeniably the “treasure” God gave to me.

In His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus made a statement that solidifies my determination that Debbie is my “treasure.”  As a matter of fact, very often when I’m sharing my thoughts of her with others, I refer to her as so.

Jesus said, “Your heart will always be where your treasure is.” (Matthew 6:21 - NASB)

Undoubtedly and without question, Debbie is my heart, therefore, she is definitively my “treasure.”

Debbie, I love you immeasurably and thank and praise God for you without reservation.

Happy Birthday Baby.                             

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved      

Security.  Tis’ what I do as a mouth-feeding occupation for me and mine.  It’s not the type of security that brings to mind images of someone carrying a flashlight wearing a gray pair of pants with a stripe running down the side, or an impassive-looking figure wearing dark glasses and an inconspicuous earpiece, nor a sentinel dressed in black holding a high-tech automatic rifle above the shoulder. 

No, no.  The security work I do is more of an administrative type, though it does involve a lot more.  I can’t tell you any more than that without breaching uh…oh yeah…security.  However, if you had a Top Secret clearance, code-named “Yankee-White” (the highest clearance available within the realm of U.S. national security), I could tell you more provided you had and could validate a “need-to-know.”   

(BTW, I’ve often wondered about the history behind the decision to name the highest national security clearance in America, “Yankee-White” – hmmmh…) 

Anyway, the subject of security has been a big topic around the world for many lately.  For those who see as well as know the importance and necessity of security in a wide range of specifics, it has been a vital topic of address and action for a very long time. 

There’s a plethora of types of security.  There’s national security and international security; there’s personnel security and physical security; there’s home security, computer security, financial security, identity security, investment security, job security and the list goes on. 

(Wow…I just had an image of me standing before an easel with a big magic-marker, trying to write downs all the types of security a huge audience of people shouted out to me as they thought of them…weird…) 

However, the security I’m most concerned about has to do with what happens to me when all the types of natural, factual and earthly security we know of breaks down, is breached, dissolves and no longer ceases to be.  In other words, when the physician says “We’ve done all we can do…it’s only a matter of time now…”    That’s when my real security assets (which I have working for me right now) begin to truly kick in.  I’m speaking of an un-breachable, un-penetrable security…a security so complete and impregnable that it can only be explained as “eternal.” 

On the north side of 50, I’m glad to have this in the form of a security plan.  And yet, I didn’t order it, have to qualify for it, build it, have it installed, don’t pay for it, don’t have to monitor, maintain or upgrade it periodically.  All I really had to do was receive it in the free, package deal, known as salvation through the name and person of Jesus Christ – the Son of the living God of all creation and existence. 

While reading through my security agreement and warranty (the Bible) last night, I came upon one of the many passages of undeniable assurance that addressed a pre-eternal security for me.  This made the eternal security part of the plan even better.  The manufacturer stated, “Whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without any fear or concern of evil (Proverbs 1:33 – paraphrase, mine). This is just one facet of a risk-free, all-encompassing and cost-free security plan that I highly recommend. 

To sign up, go to the New Testament book of Acts, the second chapter, verse 21.  You already qualify for it and have a “need-to-know” about it.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

Hi there.  Almost 3 months ago, I began this blog (compliments of my mentor - CSM (ret.) James D. Pendry) by endeavoring to introduce a not-widely-known Biblical figure named Jehoiada.  Jehoiada was an Old Testament priest who so impressed me some years ago when I first learned of him that I began to study whatever history or commentaries I could find on his life.  Because of the things I learned about this man’s character has impressed me so, I have chosen to honor him by titling this site after him. Unexcusably, I now resume my initial submission from October 15th as 2007 comes to a close and ask your forgiveness for my lengthy, literary inactivity.

Jehoiada exemplified a quality of leadership that I find amazing and intriguing.  There are numerous books, explanations, gurus and “talking heads” available today that offer their definitions, teachings and views on what leadership is and/or should be.  In my finite mind, the essence of leadership is displayed when people sincerely want to follow the one who they view as their leader. 

Interspersed throughout chapters 11 and 12 of the 2nd book of Kings, and 23 and 24 of the 2nd book of Chronicles, there is clear evidence that there were people living in the kingdom of Judah in Jerusalem who wanted to follow the Jehoiada because of the leadership he demonstrated during his life. Jehoiada bravely opposed a would-be throne usurper; defiantly stood against all practices that dishonored the God of the Hebrews; initiated and implemented reforms that helped a wayward nation return to the laws of God via the teachings of Moses; directed his fellow priests to perform their duties properly and purposefully in accordance with the instructions God gave to King David; and for good measure, created what I believe to be the first ever “safe deposit box” to be used for offertories in the church (2 Kings 12:9).

The Bible even states the King Joash, a king who served Judah during the life of Jehoiada, did what was pleasing in the sight of God his entire life because Jehoiada instructed him to do so.  Jehoiada did so much good in his service to the kingdom, when he died at age 130, he was buried in the burial place reserved for kings only - a high honor for one whose lifetime of service was as a temple official.

So, there you have it.  My reason for dedicating this blog-site to the Old Testament priest called Jehoiada.  I intend to continue writing here regualrly, sharing my thoughts on a myriad of subjects and thought processes in an effort to bless others in a way that is remotely reminiscent of this Biblical hero, as I am able to do.  If I become negligent in submitting entries as I did in the past 3 months, somebody please contact me and say, “Hey, Jehoiada wanna-be, what’s up?”

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved