Category: Articles by Terry Schmidt

Jesus said: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (Jn 10:10). Many believe the abundant life in this life is achieving financial independence, living in a lavish mansion in a tropical climate, enjoying great health, and…

An old adage states: “Familiarity breeds contempt.” Familiarity may indeed breed contempt but, according to psychologists, over-familiarity can bring about apathy and extreme boredom. Psychologists refer to this monotonous, unfulfilled state as “ennui” [on-wee]. From the French, ennui is defined as “a feeling of utter…

The natural seed has within it the power of life, as well as the potential of growth and propagation. The spiritual seed—the word of God (Lk 8:11), is much the same. Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are…

All through the Old Testament the nation of Israel – God’s chosen people – through whom God would bring salvation to all mankind, repeatedly demonstrated their unfaithfulness to their God. This is especially true throughout the time of the Judges, a period of about 300…

Simply and generally defined, prayer is communication with God. Prayer is also a spiritual discipline (hard work! – Col 4:12). And prayer is worship too. Personal prayer time is a period of deep and meaningful spiritual communion with our heavenly Father. In prayer our eternal…

With the simple switch of a calendar, the New Year promises to be a time of hope, change and renewal. With all its blank dates waiting to be filled with appointments, events, and other activities, 2017 serves to usher in a new beginning, complete with…

I wonder how we would feel on Christmas Day if we were to receive, from a friend or relative, a leftover gift from a previous year? And let’s emphasize the fact that you would know it was a used, re-cycled gift. How would this make…

This just in . . . dated: December 12, 2016 – “New Catholic ‘GO’ App Locates Nearest Priest for Confession.” The Catholic Church has launched a new smart-phone app helping sinners find the nearest available priest “in real time” to hear their confessions. The app…

The biggest struggle any of us will ever have in this life is with OURSELVES.  More specifically, the struggle involves the subjection or opposition of OUR selfish, self-centered wills to GOD'S perfect will. When we think about this rationally and objectively, the fact that mere…

In John 15, Jesus teaches us that we are to abide in Him (vv. 4-5).  We abide (stay in, continue in, dwell in, remain in) Jesus when we learn of Him (Mt 11:29), come to know Him and obey His commandments (1 Jn 2:3-4). Our…