Brother Fire

It has been a stressful few months for me. Secular work has been all too consuming and the tough economic times have taken it's toll on me...just as it has with most of us. When I'm feeling this stressed, it is very difficult for me to find peace in prayer and allowing God to comfort me. However, it seems that my friend Cait has found the perfect image of God comforting us. Cait and her husband Joe always find a way to keep peace in their lives. Below Cait shares an experience -- an image of God in an email that I think will help me to turn to God especially when faced with life's stressors. It's been a challenging week and a half for us here since returning from Florida. First was worst, of course, with news of Joe's sister's death. The personal stress there is obviously the most serious. We were already dealing with corroded pipes in our kitchen, so we thought that was our biggest problem to have repaired so we could once again use our kitchen sink. ...

As a close-to-50-year-old single man on Valentine's Day, it's hard not to be cynical during the holiday. We are constantly bombarded in the media with messages of how we are supposed to celebrate the day and what we're supposed to buy for our partners on this alleged most important day for lovers: electronics, chocolate, new car, $1,300 dollar Pandora necklace, insurance (really? yes really), flowers, etc. -- you get the idea. It's no wonder that we falsely believe that the holiday was created by a greeting card company. And it is also no wonder why it can be difficult for those who are alone to find reason to celebrate. With so much focus of the holiday on romance, it leaves us single folk out to pasture while the rest of the coupled world celebrates their bliss. And don't get me wrong, I love Valentine's Day. I support any day set aside to celebrate our love for one another. However, sometimes it's easy to feel left out when you are not partnered, or ...

Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.” Matthew 5:38-42 This is pretty self explanatory. If someone asks for a dollar....give them two. Or do we think Jesus is just kidding? Why do we think it's okay to refuse aid to others? Why do we justify our withholding by categorizing people into two categories: the deserving and undeserving? Jesus doesn't qualify about giving to those who ask. He just says, "Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow." Plain and simple. Yet I know...

I came to Charlotte, NC to build ministry -- I am called to bring flesh to the Word. However, it seems that I've spent most of my time contributing to empire building. I'm not sure how I got here -- yeah, yeah...I know...I got here by U-Haul truck. But how did I get so focused on earning a dollar? I give myself some credit though: my focus has not been making a dollar for wealth but rather making a dollar for survival. But I'd be lying through omission if I didn't confess that I have considered taking steps to advance in the retail business so that I could earn big dollars. But I remain sober knowing that Jesus has other plans for me. I've spent the last six weeks working 70-85 hours a week managing an electronics retailer and wondering why it has been so easy? I'm not talking about the lazy kind of easy where one sits back with little effort and watches things fall into place. It's been quite the opposite; this job has been hard work and very consu...

Jen Lemen was presented that question in a statement last year around Thanksgiving and this is how she answered it. Peace.

A Homily By Don Pratt Sunday, November 11, 2007 – 32 nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C Readings : First Reading : 2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14 Psalm 17 Second Reading : 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 Gospel: Luke 20:27-38 The first reading is such a disturbing story! Imagine being persecuted because of your faith and being tested in the same way that these seven brothers and their mother were forced to watch as each of them was tortured and brutally killed. And each of them responded bravely, having faith in God that they would be given everlasting life. They were challenged to abandon their faith, but none of them ceded. One at a time, they defied their captors by proclaiming their confidence that God would raise them up. How remarkable that after seeing his brother’s tongue cut out and hands cut-off that the third brother offered his tongue and hands as if to proclaim: “God gave these to me. Here take them. I have faith that God will give them back ...

A homily by Don Pratt Sunday, October 7, 2007 -- 27 th Sunday of Ordinary Time (Cycle C) Readings : First Reading : Habakkuk 1:2-3; 2:2-4 Psalm: Psalm 95 Second Reading : Second Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14 Gospel: Luke 17:5-10 Just preceding today’s Gospel Reading from Luke 17, Jesus had just warned his disciples about the dangers of sinning against others, or causing others to sin, and that they must forgive those who sin against them – unconditionally – no matter how many times they cause harm and ask for forgiveness. What a tall order! We know in our own experience how difficult that can be. The apostles responded with a request of Jesus, “Increase our faith.” I imagine that this is a common request. Many of us in our prayer lives ask that we be better Christians; we ask that our faith in God become stronger. And often we make the mistake in believing that in order for this to happen we must do dramatic things. That our lives must change s...