Jehoiada

Lately it seems that I’m regularly learning something new.

I’m extremely grateful for that.

Recent circumstances and events in my life have inspired me to pray more.  I recently made a commitment to God to try very diligently to meet Him in the communication of prayer three times a day.  I believed then, and yet believe now, that such an endeavor would be as wise as it would be beneficial – wise because of who God is and beneficial for the deeper development and continuance of having a truly intimate relationship with Him.

Daniel, the Old Testament prophet, prayed three times a day (Daniel 6:10) and the wisdom he gained as well as the intimate relationship with God he received and enjoyed, was of such great benefit that I believed it couldn’t be a bad thing if I followed his example.

As I began the practice of talking to and with God three times a day, I began to learn something new.  Not only was it new – refreshing and insightful, it had the added value of being immeasurably powerful!

During one particular prayer-time, I sensed the Spirit of God letting me know that He was pleased with my pursuit of our relationship and wanted me to actively and aggressively spend time with Him; actively and aggressively spend time in His presence.

I was then reminded that Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven allows aggressive pursuit and those who are aggressive pursue it grasp it via active and concentrated effort.” (Matthew 11:12 – paraphrase: mine)

So, here’s what I learned lately – if I want to enjoy a richly fulfilling relationship with God, I must:

Actively and aggressively seek first and foremost God’s kingdom and His righteous persona. (Matthew 6:33 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively anchor my primary desires upon heavenly things, and not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively serve God with a mature heart and a willing thought process. (1 Chronicles 28:9 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively resist the inclination and promptings of the wicked one, knowing that when I do this, he’ll quickly leave me. (James 4:7 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively remain firm, resolute and unmoved within the freedom wherein Christ has liberated me. (Galatians 5:1 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively communicate to and with God in an unceasing manner. (1 Thessalonians 5:17 – paraphrase: mine)

Actively and aggressively love my enemies, love my fellow man as I do myself, and let my love as a whole be bereft of insincerity. ((Matthew 5:44, Leviticus 19:18 and Romans 12:9 – all paraphrased: mine)

That’s just a smattering of the things I must do in this endeavor and I’ve committed myself to do so.

Join me.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

Forgive me – it’s been 12 days since my last confession…I mean, submission; and I have no excuse.

During a recent trip designed/intended to be joyful and relaxing, I heard such a great deal of negative comments and remarks from fellow attendees that it got me to thinking about the value of negativity.

The majority of these remarks I heard were complaints and criticisms about one thing or another (i.e. how something worked, how someone looked, the way something tasted or was presented, etc).  Now don’t think for a moment that I was completely innocent – I was guilty of offering my share of negativity right along with the rest.  As a matter of fact, I can probably be just as or more negative than most unless I choose and determine not to do so.

And that’s what I did.

At some point I began to realize what a waste of time, effort and energy my speaking or being negative really was.  Awareness of this wasn’t some new G.E. light bulb that went off in my mind, but it became so pronounced to me that I began to be appalled by it.  At one point the negativity I was hearing became so incessant that I tried to mentally dislocate my ability to hear it.

My bottom line up front determination/revelation is that negativity in any form has no value.  It has substance, but no value.  It cannot be used to convey love or appreciation, build-up or encourage, forgive or help, honor, renew or restore or any other positive-type things you or I can think of.

That’s because it’s… negative…… and it has no value.

In light of this my dear and wonderfully appreciated reader, I ask that you enter an agreement with me; let’s intently purpose to strive to not:

Add to negativity      Behold negativity      Condone negativity
Display negativity     Express negativity    Foster negativity
Give out negativity   Harbor negativity     Initiate negativity
Justify negativity      Kindle negativity       Listen to negativity
Mimic negativity       Nest negativity          Operate with negativity
Promote negativity   Qualify negativity     React negatively to negativity
Speak with negativity  Teach negativity    Unite with negativity
Visit negativity          Wallow in negativity  (e)Xude negativity
Yield to negativity     be Zealous for negativity

It’s much better to be positive.  Positivity has value.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

Born in 1955, I’m what is commonly known as a “product” of the 60’s and 70’s (my mentor – J.D. Pendry, often lets it be known when/where he was born in his writings so I thought I’d follow his lead).

Based on my coming up time and the times now, I’m certain there must be a language-slang issue among each generation in the U. S. of A.  That may also be true in other countries but this is the only one I’ve lived in long enough to attest to.

Take the word “bad” for example: in my youth, often when the word “bad” was used by folk in my age group, it actually meant the opposite – it meant “good.”  My generation would say things like, “Hey man, Ronnie got a new bike for Christmas and that thing is “bad.”

People of my children’s generation use words in the same connotation as my generation did.  However, the words are more diametrically opposed than simply opposites.  For instance, words that are meant to convey something or someone is good or cool, etc. are designated as “crazy,” “sick” or “stupid” – i.e. “Did you see that touchdown catch?  That thing was “sick!” 

In keeping with the language-slang of my younger days, I want to highlight a person whose life was so impressive to me during his earlier years that I would term him as a “bad” young man – again, meaning he was “good.”  His name is Josiah and you can read about him in 2 Kings 22-23 and 2 Chronicles 34-35 of the Old Testament in the Bible. 

Josiah became the king of the nation of Judah at the age of 8.  The Biblical account conveys that during his overall reign, he did the things (conducted himself and performed actions) that were pleasing in the sight of God and that he followed the example of his royal ancestor, King David, who had served and been remembered as an honorable and reputable king.  The record also conveys that Josiah never deviated from his commitment and conduct of excellent service. 

As a teenager at age 16, this “bad” young man began to seek (diligently pursue) God.  Four years later (age 20) he began to “clean up” his kingdom and the surrounding lands by getting rid of all the worship customs and practices that dishonored the one, true of God of his ancestry and heritage.  I’ve imagined his 4 years of pursuing God were akin to him pursuing a 4-year Master’s degree on learning about God so he’d become proficient in the abilities required to lead Judah back to sincere devotion and service to God.

At 26, after cleansing and correcting the land and the temple of worship, he made reparations to the temple and reforms to the duties, services and worship practices as they were originally mandated to be and set a public example by personally adhering to all the dictates in the sight of all the people.

This young man could have chosen another path or taken another direction in his office as the king.  He could’ve been corrupt (like his father was…and many public officials today), he could’ve been selfish and self serving (like many public officials today).  At 16, he could’ve been a fun-minded, “it’s all about me” teenager with all the authority of a king to live it up like a Saudi royal.  But he was selfless, focused and determined to do what was right for himself, his people and his God.

He was a good and exemplary king.  He was a “bad” young man.

I’ve been impressed and learned a great deal regarding characteristics I’m striving to emulate from the life of Josiah.

But since I’m no longer a “young” man, I’m striving each day to be a “bad” “older” man.  

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved

We’re almost all better now, thank God.

A little less than a week ago, my entire little family of four became sick.  I’m unsure who succumbed to the dreaded summer cold-bug first – it was either my “Treasure” or my daughter (the Amazing Angela).  Either way, before for long Paul B. (my son) and Paul (No Middle Name – yours truly) were also infected and began feeling the “home quarantine” love.

In the midst of blankets; chicken soup; countless tissue wads protruding from one or more nostrils; Echinacea tablets; incessant coughing; intermittent fevers; nasal breathing strips; sneezing; vaporizing rubs; zinc lozenges; and last but not least calling upon the God of all creation and existence with requests for relief via His power to heal, a really cool passage of the world’s number one all-time bestseller came to mind.

Psalm 139:3 says “You scrutinize my path and my lying down and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” (NASB)

This in turn reminded me of several passages in the book of Hebrews (New Testament) that address Jesus’ familiarity with all types of suffering (Hebrews 2:9, 18; 5:8).

I began to realize that since God the Father is acquainted with all my ways (circumstances, issues, situations, etc.) and God the Son experienced all the agonizing effects I feel when I’m down and/or troubled, He certainly understands how we (His created beings) feel when we experience sickness.

I started imagining Jesus as a child suffering a cold – having a low-grade fever with a runny nose and His mother Mary having to give Him some lamb soup and maybe some analgesic plants leaves they may have used like “Vick’s Vaporizing Rub.”

I realized that my God, Lord and Savior must be fully familiar with all the issues connected to mankind, including how we feel when we’re sick…and with that knowledge, I began to feel better.

This morning when I woke up, I felt some residual effects of the cold still working its way through me but I was reminded that “Dad” knew about it and I was able to move forward.

He’s acquainted with all our ways and fully familiar with everything we face and go through.

Be glad that He is.

Copyright © Paul Schneidmill 2008 All Rights Reserved