Please Continue Prayers for My Brother Randy

About 2 weeks ago, I wrote a post here, asking for your prayers for my youngest brother Randy.

He is still unable to use his left arm after the neck fusion surgery to repair damage from a 20 year old car wreck.

Here is what he posted yesterday on Facebook:

Went to Dr today for 1st post-surgery check. I still can't raise my left arm, and losing strength in bicep. They are ordering an MRI to make sure fusion is ok, and to see what might be causing the problem. I'm worried to the extent that for what I do as a lab tech, I have to have 2 working limbs with dexterity and strength, and right now my left arm is practically useless. I LOVE my job, my department, and the people I work with, and I would HATE not being able to do what I love. I'd appreciate it if you'd include me in your prayers. I don't care if my left arm is restored 100%, or if I can't make chords on a guitar. If it's skinny as a stick, that's OK as long as it can hold a tube, twist a lid, etc. Just hoping for any improvement at this point just for encouragement. Thanks all!

So, please keep Randy in your prayers, especially that he gains use of his arm again and is able to return to his job,

Thank you, and God Bless you all!

O merciful Father in heaven, thank You for being with Randy while he was in surgery. Thank You for blessing the surgeon with the skill and knowledge needed to do his and safely bringing Randy through this operation. O gracious Father, bring healing to Randy and bless him with the best care possible as he recovers. Continue to bless him with your tender care. Grant him patience during his recuperation, help him grow in strength each day, and bring him to full recovery quickly, without any setbacks.

Amen.

Prayer Request To Find A New Job

It seems that I am in extreme need of your prayers once again.

Yesterday, I was fired from my job. I don't want to go into all the details as to why here.

Let me assure you all, that I did not do anything unethical or illegal.

I was essentially fired because I had complained in front of a couple of customers and another employee that my work hours had been cut. The owner had said he had to cut hours because business had slowed down. Then he hired three new employees after telling me that, and no one else had their hours cut. The three new employees made a total of 9 employees at a convenience store/gas station that has one cash register, 7 fuel pumps, and that is open from 5:30 AM until 10:00 PM weekdays, with shorter hours on the weekends

So I was told I was being “let go” for the talking and that I had not been “happy” there for awhile.

I suppose I should have just kept quiet and took it in stride, but alas....I am human. I tend to gripe when I feel I am not being treated fairly.

Whenever the owner went out of town, it was me who was told to do the bank deposits every day. It was me who was told to go to Sam's Club (over 20 miles away with no fuel compensation) to pick up ordered merchandise 2 or 3 times per week during the owner's week long vacations.

So much for loyalty. So much for staying even after someone ignited a pipe bomb underneath the propane tank in the early morning hours of a November Saturday.

So I guess it is good that I am gone after all. God never closes a door without leaving us an open window.

I had been there for just over 2 years, so now I need a new job. Prayers, once again are greatly needed and appreciated!

Thank you and God bless,

Steve Smith

Continued Prayers Please

I am asking for your prayers for my worsening eyesight. I have cataracts, and my eyesight worsens daily it seems. I can definitely tell the difference between now and this same time last year.

I can especially tell the difference when it comes to posting for my blogs. If it continues, I may have to give up blogging altogether in a few more months.

So if you see a spelling or punctuation error in my blog posts, Facebook posts, or tweets on twitter, I apologize. Sometimes I just don't see them until well after the posts and someone points them out.

I have no health or vision insurance from work, as my employer does not offer either.

Your continued support through prayer is greatly appreciated.

I would also like to thank all of you who have made contributions for my situation through PayPal and GoFundMe, or have made purchases of Mystic Monk Coffee and my Zazzle products from Faith of the Fathers Catholic Gifts. All have been of a great help in my present situation, and I appreciate it very much!

May God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

St. Francis Dedication

The following video is from Catholic News Herald, Diocese of Charlotte

St. Francis of Assisi Church was dedicated by Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte on Aug. 16, 2014, in Jefferson, North Carolina.

To Help With My Cataract Surgery

As regular readers of “Faith of the Fathers” blogs know from a previous post over a year ago here, I have cataracts in both eyes.

I also have no insurance, and my employer does not offer insurance, as I work for a very small company.

My eye sight is getting worse. I can tell a big difference since I posted the previous post referenced above. I especially notice the difference when driving at night, and even more so if it happens to also be raining.

I looked into what my surgery costs would be with 2 different eye surgeons (opthamologists), and have found out that it will be just over $4,000.oo per eye, and that this is for just the basic interocular lens (IOL) that will be used in the surgery. A multifocal lens replacement would be much more expensive. So basic is the way for me to go.

Since I do not have insurance, and no savings at all, I have decided to try the crowd funding site, GoFundMe. If any readers would like to contribute, I would be more than appreciative. I would be greatly appreciative as a matter of fact.

My GoFundMe page can be reached by clicking here.

If you are unable to make a donation, I would also be appreciative of your sharing the page with others.

I will also take all the prayers I can get! Prayer is always welcome, and certainly needed.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as well!

May God Bless you all, and Our Lady keep you in her care!

I Need A Prayer Umbrella

Are you familiar with the old saying, "when it rains it pours"?

Well, it has definitely been pouring for me. Again

About a week ago this past Friday, I noticed a small bump on the inside of my upper right leg, when my pants rubbing against it brought it to my attention. It began growing larger by the hour (or so it seemed), and then the next day there was also one high on the back of my left leg.

I ran a fever on the Sunday night following, and had to call out of work the next day. I called my doctor, and had an appointment on Wednesday. It turned out that I had 2 boils.

The one on the right leg was about the size of a golf ball, and had started to drain. The other is still there, and has not changed yet.

The doctor did a swab of the drainage, and it turns out that I have a staph infection. Lovely.

And to make it even more lovely, this staph infection is what is known as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), which in layman's terms, means that it is resistant to certain antibiotics, which include the penicillins and the cephalosporins.

My doctor prescribed 2 antibiotics, one is Doxicycline Hyclate, and the other is Cephalexin.

So, after 2 doctor visits (with a third coming up Friday), missing 8 days of work, and several antibiotic doses later, I would once again appreciate your prayers.

I will tell you this. As much as these boils have hurt, if I had been the Pharaoh, and I had been afflicted with boils, that would have been enough for me to let Moses and the Hebrew people go.

I wouldn't wish these things on my worst enemy!

Thank you all for your prayers.

May God Bless you all!

Thank You!

I want to thank all of you who prayed for me, and who were so generous with your donations!

I was able to get my power bill paid, and I am greatly relieved to say the least!

God is good, and I ask His blessings for all of you!

Thank you again, so very much!

Another Problem

Once again, I find myself in a most embarrassing situation, and I am in quite a quandary.

As you know, I hurt my back at work due to a ladder falling....while I was on it. I twisted my back in the fall, and have a "slight compression fracture". It is still bothering me somewhat, but is slowly improving.

Because of the back injury, I missed over a week of work, and there is no such thing as any insurance where I work. Plus, my employer had already started cutting our hours a good month before my fall. I have a power bill that is overdue, for $444.89. I have until January 22 to pay it, or my power will be turned off. If the power is turned off, I will have no water, as well as no heat, and no lights.

I am fortunate that my landlady, allows me to access her internet service with my wireless adapter. (I mention this for those who wonder why I still have internet.)

I don't have cable or satellite TV, or even over the air TV. I have not had TV service in fact, for almost 8 years.

I would be very, very grateful for any donations you might be able and willing to make. We are having a colder winter this year than we have had in several years, and electric heat is my only source of heat.

If you can't make a donation prayers are greatly appreciated as always.

Thank you, and God bless you all!

The Diocesan Support Appeal of the Diocese of Charlotte, NC. English.

The Diocesan Support Appeal of the Diocese of Charlotte, NC. English. Funds collected through this annual appeal to Catholics for financial support is used to fund 31 ministries and offices of the Diocese of Charlotte.

La Apelación Diocesana de Apoyo de la Diócesis de Charlotte, Carolina del Norte. En español

La Apelación Diocesana de Apoyo de la Diócesis de Charlotte, Carolina del Norte. En español. Los fondos recaudados a través de este llamamiento anual a los católicos de apoyo financiero se utiliza para financiar los 31 ministerios y las oficinas de la Diócesis de Charlotte.

I Am In Need of Your Prayers

Well, today turned out not to be such a good day. I went to work planning on working my 2-10 shift. I went and got my tray ready, snd took it up front so the cashier who was working couid close out her shift and go home.

I had actually gotten there earlier than usual, when I saw the pike of letters for the road sign. The boss had wanted the sign changed when the stock person came in at 4. Since it looked like rain, I decided to go ahead and change the sign before the rain arrived.

Anyway, I had finished changing the sign, and was getting ready to come down off the next to the top rung on the step ladder, when the ladder started falling to the right, tangling my feet in it, and I hit the ground with a solid “thud”.

I twisted my back in the fall, and according to the x-rays, managed to pull the muscles in the lumbar region of my back.

I have known people who hurt their backs before, but I had no idea pulling the muscles in your back could hurt to the point that it makes you dizzy and nauseated. No, I didn't hit my head. If I had hit my head with this old hard head, I wouldn't have gotten hurt. (I said it before anyone else could, so there!)

I will have to be out of work through Monday, when I go back to the doctor. My employer's workmen's comp is taking care of the doctor, emergency, and med needs.

I won't get paid for the day's out (there is no disability insurance), and I can't afford to miss, but have no choice.

So I would greatly appreciate your prayers at this time. Also, I won't be posting to the “Daily Catholic Mass Readings”, “The Pope And Church News”, or “Saint Quote of the Day” blogs for the next couple of days at least. I typed this before taking the pain killers and muscle relaxant's.

Thank you, and God Bless you all!

Catholic News Herald - Former Lutheran pastor converts to Catholicism - Catholic News from around the country and world

The following excerpts are from the Catholic News Herald of Charlotte, N.C. by reporter SueAnn Howell:

HENDERSONVILLE — Dr. Paul Cates is proof that you are never too old to follow your heart and the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Cates, now in his 70s, is a doctor and former Lutheran pastor who is an avid reader and researcher. He and his son, Dr. Kirk Cates, are in practice together, working with patients who suffer from attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities.

Cates has also been active in homeschooling initiatives for more than 35 years and runs Faith Christian Ministries, where he is known as "homeschool's education doctor."

He will be the first to tell you that he's not one to shrug off the truth when it stares you in the face.

"I have been a pastor for 50-plus years. I have always believed in the Eucharist, that it is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ," Cates said. "I have always preached that and celebrated it as such."

Read more by clicking below:

Catholic News Herald - Former Lutheran pastor converts to Catholicism - Catholic News from around the country and world

Cardinal Francis Arinze On Three Videos From The 2011 Eucharistic Congress in The Diocese of Charlotte

The following three videos are from Franics Cardinal Arinzes keynote address to Diocese of Charlotte, NC, USA Eucharistic Congress, in September 2011.

I wasn't able to attend, but I enjoyed the good Cardinal's talk, and learned a great deal. I thought you might enjoy them as well.

Part one of three from Cardinal Francis Arnize's talk

Part two of three from Cardinal Francis Arnize's talk

Part three of three from Cardinal Francis Arnize's talk

North Carolina House passes milder pro-life bill after governor’s veto threat | LifeSiteNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeSiteNews.com:

• The North Carolina House of Representatives has passed a new bill with greater safety regulations for abortion facilities by a vote of 74-41.
• The House measure waters down a bill that passed the Senate yesterday, following a veto threat from the governor.
• The original Senate bill, which passed 29-12, required offices that perform abortions to meet health regulations “similar to those for the licensure of ambulatory surgical centers.” It also mandated that doctors be “physically present” and "in the same room as the patient" throughout any surgical or chemical abortion. In effect, that would have ended the process of telemed abortions statewide.
• It also included conscience protections and demands that the mother provide informed consent after receiving medically accurate information about abortion.
• However, the proposed measures hit a brick wall when Governor Pat McCrory, a Republican, threatened to veto it unless “significant changes” were made.
• In his 2012 campaign McCrory vowed not to sign any additional abortion restrictions into law, but said he may make an exception for this bill, which is a safety measure.
• In response to the veto threat, House Republicans amended the bill and attached its provisions to a bill on motorcycle safety. The new bill asks state health officials to write rules "not unduly restricting access" to abortion.

[Call, email, or fax the Governor to sign SB353 into law.  His contact information can be found by clicking here.]

Read more by clicking below:

North Carolina House passes milder pro-life bill after governor’s veto threat | LifeSiteNews.com

North Carolina Governor Threatens to Veto Pro-Life Bill, GOP Responds | LifeNews.com

The following excerpts are from LifeNews.com:

• North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said today he will veto a bill that would hold abortion facilities to stricter limits if the state legislature approves it and sends it to his desk.
• Abortion backers oppose the bill because they say other abortion clinics may not be able to comply and could be forced to close down. Planned Parenthood said its four centers may be forced to close. The bill passed the Senate, 27-14.
• The Family, Faith and Freedom Protection Act would place limits on the funding of abortions by any health plan that received public money, would require clinics to meet more stringent physical standards, would require doctors performing abortions to be physically present during the entire procedure, would ban the possibility of sex-selective abortion and fine abortion practitioners for doing such abortions. It would also allow any health care provider to not participate in abortion-related procedures.
• McCrory’s office said the Republican governor would block the measure from taking effect “unless changes and clarifications are made addressing our concerns.”

Read more by clicking below:
North Carolina Governor Threatens to Veto Pro-Life Bill, GOP Responds | LifeNews.com

Prayer Request

I am in need of your prayers, please. My eyes seem to be getting worse, at least it's more noticeable to me, especially at night. Hopefully, I can get them checked in the next few months, and find out what I can do to have the cataracts removed. Thanks, and God bless you.

Thanks!

I would just like to say thank you to all of you have sent me a donation to help me pay my $373.00 power bill.

I only have $150.00 to go to be able to pay it by April 24. 

Thanks for helping me not only have lights, but also it lets me have water, too, as I am on a well.

Thank you all, and may God Bless you and Our Lady keep you in her care!

Oh, and I almost forgot. I have created a small "banner" to show support for our Holy Father, Pope Francis. If you would like, you may have a copy of it for your own blogs, web pages, etc., by right clicking on it, click Save As, or Save Image (depending on your browser. Right click the image below, it is 400x80.

A Need

Once again, I must humbly ask for your prayers and assistance if possible. I have a power bill  due by April 24, that is over $370.00. I don't know where the money is going to come from. 

Last month, my power bill was over $417.00, and my landlady graciously allowed me to pay only one half of last months rent so that I would be able to pay THAT power bill. The other half of the rent will be paid over the next 2 months (that is this month and May).

So, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. I had my power disconnected almost one year ago, and I would like to avoid that scenario again, if at all possible. Not having lights is one thing, but I am also on a well, and would have no water without electricity. 

The good thing is, the weather has been very warm, and so I don't have to be concerned about heat right now, which is good because the home I rent has electric heat.

Anyway, please forgive my request, but I do especially covet your prayers, and would appreciate any assistance (even if it's just $1) or suggestions you might be able to offer.

Thank you, and may God Bless you all!

UPDATE: Thank you to those who have sent me donations through my PayPal donate button. Those donations have got the amount I need now to just under $300.00. Thank you again, and may God bless you all!

Cataracts And No Insurance

Just a question for anyone who might know.

Are there any programs offering assistance for cataract surgery for people who have no insurance? Particularly in North Carolina (I live in western N.C.).I have cataracts in both eyes, and the left one is the worst of the two.

My eyesight is getting so bad, that I am afraid that in another year, I won't be able to drive any longer. And, if I can't drive, I can't work.

Leave any suggestions or ideas in the comments area, or send me an email at faithofthefathers@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Bishop Jugis discusses Pope Benedict XVI's resignation

Bishop Peter Jugis of the Diocese of Charlotte discusses the resignation of the Holy Father on Feb. 11, 2013