Father Mike Schmitz

Here they are shipwrecked on the island of Malta. They're building a fire. And the Maltese folks, I was going to say Maltese Falcons, the Maltese folks, they build a fire. And it says Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire when a viper came and, you know, latched on his hand. It's a small thing. Because the big thing is, of course, that Paul didn't die.

You know, Jesus had promised that you'll handle serpents and not die. The bigger thing, I think, well, maybe it's not bigger. The fact is, Paul was gathering sticks and put them on the fire. I know sometimes. I've been camping. I've been even relaxing. I've been with family. I've been in those places where... There's a lot of people helping.

You know, Jesus had promised that you'll handle serpents and not die. The bigger thing, I think, well, maybe it's not bigger. The fact is, Paul was gathering sticks and put them on the fire. I know sometimes. I've been camping. I've been even relaxing. I've been with family. I've been in those places where... There's a lot of people helping.

You know, Jesus had promised that you'll handle serpents and not die. The bigger thing, I think, well, maybe it's not bigger. The fact is, Paul was gathering sticks and put them on the fire. I know sometimes. I've been camping. I've been even relaxing. I've been with family. I've been in those places where... There's a lot of people helping.

And so I, here's my, my tendency and anyone who knows me knows this, like, oh yeah, where's father Mike? Oh, he's on the couch. Like that kind of, that kind of situation, as opposed to, I have these incredible brothers-in-law, the incredible parents and siblings who they like just contribute. They just, they would be the one gathering sticks. They'd be the ones making the fire.

And so I, here's my, my tendency and anyone who knows me knows this, like, oh yeah, where's father Mike? Oh, he's on the couch. Like that kind of, that kind of situation, as opposed to, I have these incredible brothers-in-law, the incredible parents and siblings who they like just contribute. They just, they would be the one gathering sticks. They'd be the ones making the fire.

And so I, here's my, my tendency and anyone who knows me knows this, like, oh yeah, where's father Mike? Oh, he's on the couch. Like that kind of, that kind of situation, as opposed to, I have these incredible brothers-in-law, the incredible parents and siblings who they like just contribute. They just, they would be the one gathering sticks. They'd be the ones making the fire.

They'd be the ones gathering all these things. And I'd be like, okay, I'm going to sit over here on the corner. And I, again, this is one of my faults, one of my many faults. I have to be reminded, oh, it's time to help. It's time to get up off your rear and contribute. But here is St.

They'd be the ones gathering all these things. And I'd be like, okay, I'm going to sit over here on the corner. And I, again, this is one of my faults, one of my many faults. I have to be reminded, oh, it's time to help. It's time to get up off your rear and contribute. But here is St.

They'd be the ones gathering all these things. And I'd be like, okay, I'm going to sit over here on the corner. And I, again, this is one of my faults, one of my many faults. I have to be reminded, oh, it's time to help. It's time to get up off your rear and contribute. But here is St.

Paul who doesn't have to be reminded and he gets bitten by a viper as he's seeing that people need help and he's helping them. Hope that that makes sense. I don't know. It's just one of those little points that I think it sticks out because being a Christian isn't always heroic moments, right? Being a Christian is having the attitude of a servant.

Paul who doesn't have to be reminded and he gets bitten by a viper as he's seeing that people need help and he's helping them. Hope that that makes sense. I don't know. It's just one of those little points that I think it sticks out because being a Christian isn't always heroic moments, right? Being a Christian is having the attitude of a servant.

Paul who doesn't have to be reminded and he gets bitten by a viper as he's seeing that people need help and he's helping them. Hope that that makes sense. I don't know. It's just one of those little points that I think it sticks out because being a Christian isn't always heroic moments, right? Being a Christian is having the attitude of a servant.

Paul talks about that all of the time, having the attitude of a servant. And clearly, here he is living what he preaches. And again, it's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it. And clearly here, Paul isn't just working miracles with the Maltese people. He's also building fires, gathering sticks. And I think that probably points more to his character than anything else.

Paul talks about that all of the time, having the attitude of a servant. And clearly, here he is living what he preaches. And again, it's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it. And clearly here, Paul isn't just working miracles with the Maltese people. He's also building fires, gathering sticks. And I think that probably points more to his character than anything else.

Paul talks about that all of the time, having the attitude of a servant. And clearly, here he is living what he preaches. And again, it's one thing to say it. It's another thing to do it. And clearly here, Paul isn't just working miracles with the Maltese people. He's also building fires, gathering sticks. And I think that probably points more to his character than anything else.

Maybe just because I'm sensitive. about that myself, of the ways in which I fail. Anyways, Paul contributes. And not only that, but he is all about preaching the gospel and using this opportunity, this opportunity to be in Rome under house arrest, to preach to the Praetorian Guard. I mean, he uses any opportunity, any and every opportunity.

Maybe just because I'm sensitive. about that myself, of the ways in which I fail. Anyways, Paul contributes. And not only that, but he is all about preaching the gospel and using this opportunity, this opportunity to be in Rome under house arrest, to preach to the Praetorian Guard. I mean, he uses any opportunity, any and every opportunity.

Maybe just because I'm sensitive. about that myself, of the ways in which I fail. Anyways, Paul contributes. And not only that, but he is all about preaching the gospel and using this opportunity, this opportunity to be in Rome under house arrest, to preach to the Praetorian Guard. I mean, he uses any opportunity, any and every opportunity.

There's no situation, no circumstance in which Paul will not be willing to preach the gospel, even to the end, to the very, very end. And so that is just, again, not only picks up sticks and builds fires, he's always willing to preach the gospel. So that's the end of Acts, the Apostles, chapter 28. But as we know, the church continues on and we live in the age of Acts, chapter 29. St.