Political Insider

By GOD

November 14, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this

I’m not giving you any rain, maybe if you prayed for snow…but NO RAIN FOR YOU!

By Rational Jenn

November 14, 2007 10:10 AM | Link to this

You must be joking. What on earth do you mean by “You don’t dare spin God?”

The prayer service showed me many helpless and hapless “leaders” resorting to a PR Love Fest in the desperate hope that people will be distracted by their inadequacies.

Give me a break.

By Rational Jenn

November 14, 2007 10:11 AM | Link to this

You must be joking. What on earth do you mean by “You don’t dare spin God?”

The prayer service showed me many helpless and hapless “leaders” resorting to a PR Love Fest in the desperate hope that people will be distracted from their inadequacies.

Give me a break.

By Judy Kilgore

November 14, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this

While they’re at it, maybe call out a few Native Americans to do a rain dance—-or snow dance? Either works as well as the other.

By Rational Jenn

November 14, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this

Sorry about the double post—obviously I meant “from” their inadequacies….

By Undaunted

November 14, 2007 10:39 AM | Link to this

I think it’s great. Even if it doesn’t cause rain, it does make people take a step back and evaluate themselves and it drew people together. Do you think the people would have been there if they were going to “discuss conservation methods”, I can promise you not nearly as many. People like having something to believe in. Plus it’s encouraging to see there is a public place in our country were people can still pray.

By IPU

November 14, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

It’s refreshing to see that in these supposedly “enlightened” times that elected officials are willing to publicly flaunt their baseless superstitions in public.

Kudos Sonny.

I’m curious whether or not the government will turn to other mythical entities if this one fails them. Perhaps good old fashioned virgin sacrifice would do the trick!

By Josephandthedreamcoat

November 14, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this

IPU,

please don’t make such suggestions. before you know it sonny will toss three virgins whose feet are cemented into the middle of lake lanier,to appease God. Of course he will have the full support of Georgians, who will applaud his fathfulness, devotion, and willingness to sacrifice (others of course.

Then, any rain that occurs over the next 365 days will be a direct result of divine intervention and undeniable proof of the one true God, and have nothing whatsoever to do with silly “scientific explanations” for rain.

Then Sonny will hold a press conference where he places his divine mitts on the foreheads of non-believers, driving sceintific theory from their poisoned minds, watch as they experience cathartic seizures and introduce them to deep south.

By L. Pardue

November 14, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this

Yes, some people sure do “like having something to believe in,” even if it’s untrue.

How about believing in something that we know is real and could actually make a difference, like conservation?

It takes a lot of gall to tell god he’s got it wrong and needs to change the weather to please human beings. If there is a god, maybe he (or she) created the drought for a good reason. Who are we to second-guess god?

I think this prayer spectacle was more about public officials trying to look pious than it was about doing anything to alleviate the drought.

By One

November 14, 2007 11:34 AM | Link to this

I’m praying that Sonny boy will NEVER get elected to anything else!!!!!!!

By alohavampire

November 14, 2007 11:57 AM | Link to this

GOD IS AN IMAGINARY FRIEND FOR GROWN-UPS

By Alexander

November 14, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Thank you for reporting what’s REALLY going on!

TheScroogeReport.com

By Dr. Gusti

November 14, 2007 12:14 PM | Link to this

One more reason for the nation to laugh at the state of Georgia. The govenor, blatently defying separation of church and state, prays for a chance of rain that was forecasted by meteorologists a week ago! Behold! Divine intervention! What a joke.

By Hugh Haynsworth

November 14, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

AJC story has it right. We in America are profligate users of water. I think we need to triple what we charge people for the use of water, and use it to build more water reservoirs. This will have 2 benefits. One: people will think more about how they use water, and two: we will have created more stored fresh water for later droughts.

By Angie

November 14, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Sonny’s spirituality is no better than his science. If Moses couldn’t get rain in 40 years in a desert, Sonny and the Legislators From Hell will get no better response. Their only consolation will be that Accursed Allah’s followers have failed at the same task in their little sandbox. Pray for a scientific breakthrough which will allow us to reclaim graywater or distill drinkable water from atmospheric humidity, and science may respond where the supernatural has remained silent.

By allor

November 14, 2007 12:45 PM | Link to this

Luke 11:9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

By Matt

November 14, 2007 12:58 PM | Link to this

What an embarrassment! I thought having a kleptocrat as governor in my state of Maryland was as bad as it could get, but Sonny done proved me wrong. If I were a resident of GA I would be ashamed of the stupidity of my elected officials, and outraged that they consider this to be a viable response to a water crisis. Maybe Sonny should put “rain” on his christmas list letter to Santy Claus! Of course, this is only the latest in a long line of foolishness coming out of the GA governor’s office, and out of the mouth of Sonny Perdue. What a joke! It almost makes we want to hope the drought gets worse. Then what? In typical rainmaker fashion, if it rains, thank god and sonny. If it doesn’t, blame the folks who don’t have faith.

By L. Pardue

November 14, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this

Ask and it shall be given? Really? That’s all there is to it, huh? If that were actually true, there would be no suffering, no pain, no illness, no injury, no death, no misfortune, no grief… and oh yeah, no drought.

I live in the real world — the one where merely wishing for something doesn’t make it so. What world do you live in?

By Sam

November 14, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

A “virgin sacrifice” in Atlanta! Where are you ever going to find a virgin in Atlanta or surrounding areas?

By Glenn

November 14, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

Sam - we do sacrifice virgins in Hotlanta,(though we call them lobbyists)….every legislative session! Just ask Ben or Mark!

By Doug

November 14, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this

I am sorry everyone here sounds so sad and angry. I respect everyone’s belief and if a person said he or she was an atheist I would not react so violently. What is wrong with prayer? Not this exact situation, but overall what is wrong with praying?

By Kyle

November 14, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this

I prayed for my kids to stop screaming, but that didnt happen.

By Karen

November 14, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this

Acts 13:38 (New International Version) 38”Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.

By L. Pardue

November 14, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Doug, what’s wrong with praying about something like the drought is that it’s ineffective and it makes people think they are doing something constructive when in fact they are not. It substitutes wishful thinking for meaningful action.

What Sonny Perdue did is also wrong because constitutes state endorsement of religion and it alienates many who don’t share his particular brand of faith.

This kind of prayer is also wrong for Christians because it’s a showy, public display, done for PR purposes, which is exactly the kind of prayer that Jesus preached against. Jesus advocated private prayer between a person and his or her god, not making a public spectacle out of prayer in order to impress or influence other people.

By dj

November 14, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

Sounds like a great plot for a movie. Solutions include decreasing population by encouring smaller families and birth control, less sprawl, no golf courses, etc. If every person in this country lived closer according to their needs rather than their wants, we could live with a lot less of eveything. Our greed is finally beginning to do us in. More is not necessarily better. Reign in your egos, people.

By One

November 14, 2007 2:09 PM | Link to this

We should pray for intelligent government.

If praying for rain works, then please pray for a brain for George, a heart for Dick and courage for Condi!!!!!!!!

By Two

November 14, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this

Condi has pleanty of courage …..

By Three

November 14, 2007 2:28 PM | Link to this

Not true……..if she did, she’d have the courage to tell Bush to kiss her azz (and not be a part of his scandalous politics)!!!!!

By Laura

November 14, 2007 2:43 PM | Link to this

I’m really disgusted by the comments posted here by cynical, so-called “enlightened” Georgians. So they had a prayer for rain? What are any of you doing to conserve? And what had any of you done before we were in a drought? It is true, we have been poor stewards of our resources. Don’t make fun of someone for standing up for his beliefs. That is what is so hypocritical about liberals. They will support anyone’s views as long as those views reflect their own. Meanwhile, it is the conservatives who have to look the other way and be “tolerant” when the world is flying in the face of their convictions. The posts here are hateful, ignorant, and just plain sad. Wake up- buy recycled paper, maybe swallow your pride and stop washing your SUVs, and realize that whatever you believe in, the riches we are blessed with in this country are a gift that can be taken away.

By Kristi

November 14, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

I just want to say that I am in complete and total agreement with what the governor has done. Now days its ok to be Hindu, Buddhist, Atheist, into scientology….whatever the other religion may be, but people get so mad when you pray publicly to the ONE TRUE GOD who SPOKE everything into exsistance. But, its ok…what’s happening is supposed to, its all written, but the reward in heaven is going to be FAR greater!!! God Bless you Sonny and your entire family!!!!

By LuvIt

November 14, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

If praying for rain works, then please pray for a brain for George, a heart for Dick and courage for Condi!!!!!!!!

I luv it!!!!!!!! Hope it works!

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

I’ve read the same old comments when AL’s Governor publicly prayed. “Free Thinkers?” More like “Broken Records.” Funny, after so many “Free Thinkers” repeated other “Free Thinkers” and laughed, it rained. Some areas received flash flood warnings. I guess the “Rain dancing” natives pulled it off, right? The so-called “Free Thinkers” didn’t do anything as usual but continue to take Government hand outs… They definitely didn’t conserve anything especially the food stamps they received while driving that nice gasoline drinking SUV, right?

Here’s something to think about “Free Thinkers”, you’re wrong as usual. If you hate it, leave or shut up. And try to “Think” of something original to rant, OK? The old hollow meaningless words you people scream are starting to bore us.

By Huh?

November 14, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this

I’m a believer……….just not in Sonny and his antics!! But wait, I do BELIEVE he is a lying, greedy pig! I do BELIEVE he is one of the worst governors this state has ever had! I do BELIEVE he should be run out of office! I do BELIEVE something about Sonny after all!

By L Pardue

November 14, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Matthew 6, verse 1-5:

“1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. 5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”

Do it in secret, Sonny. Not in public as a PR stunt like the hypocrites.

By Laura

November 14, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this

To L. Pardue and others,

I love when people quote scripture but haven’t taken the time to read or understand it. Those verses are very important, it’s true. We are not to invoke God’s name for our own benefit or do good works to elevate our own names. But if you look further, that admonishment was written because there were a lot of people doing things loudly for their own glory. There is nothing in the Bible that says we must ONLY pray in private- in fact prayer in public, and in groups, occurs throughout the Old and New Testaments. What is at stake is the heart of who is praying or giving. Now some of you may possess magic powers to see what truly motivated those who prayed on the front steps, but as I have not been gifted with that, I have to take on faith that their hearts were true. And if you really want to spend some time delving into the Bible, you will see plenty of instances where men have prayed for their own glory, and believe me- God sees right through that.

Open your minds, close your mouths, and you just might learn something in this life.

By sheri

November 14, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

It’s obvious from the majority of these posts that there are people who refuse to believe in the One True and Living God. But, that’s OK. No need to get angry. The bible already predicts that in the last days, men will be lovers of themselves…. We, as believers, need to pray for these people that they will turn their hearts to God before it’s everylasting too late. I applaud the governor for not being afraid to call upon the only One who can deliver rain in a drought condition. If all of the unbelievers have an answer, why don’t they call upon whoever they believe in to bring rain? Obviously they can’t…so they just criticize. It’s OK though; the bible also says “every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess”. Believe me, God WILL have the last Word! Keep the faith believers!

By Peri Winkle

November 14, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

Has anyone noticed that the only folks imputing bad acts to other posters are the ones speaking on behalf of prayer? Take a look at “Laura” telling the Governor’s critics to buy recycled paper and stop washing their SUVs. Guess she’s clairvoyant or something and can “see” those kinds of things. Or “AntiAtheist” (now there’s a positive moniker) who somehow “knows” the Gov’s critics are taking government handouts, living off food stamps and driving gas guzzlers.

Ironic to say the least.

By Rob

November 14, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

I have never seen so many posts mocking GOD! Like the bumper stickers says ” If you don’t believe in GOD, you better hope to HELL you’re right!!

By Rob

November 14, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this

When you die, should by chance you end up in Hell, there will be a sign posted saying “Welcome to Atlanta”!!

By Scott Davis

November 14, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

There is no such thing as magic.

Everyone believes that the invisible entity they pray to is the ‘one true god’. They can’t all be right. In fact, I’d venture to guess that NONE of them are right since there is no magic, hence, no invisible magical santa-claus like omniscient beings controlling our lives.

If you are one of those folks that believe in magic, fine. Just please keep it to yourself. It’s embarrassing the rest of us. Now excuse me while I go do my daily money, sex and rock and roll prayer-dance in the back yard.

By L Pardue

November 14, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this

In times of natural disaster, it’s important to think rationally and to take sensible steps to prevent the worst outcomes from occurring. If a fire or hurricane is coming, evacuation may be called for. If a big snowstorm is on the way, it might make sense to stock up on food and firewood. And if you’re in a drought, it makes sense to conserve water and make responsible choices about how water is used now and in the future. Superstition is no substitute for rational action. No god will save us from our own stupidity. Millions of people no doubt tried to pray away Hurricane Katrina, to no avail. You can’t just pray away the weather. You have to take rational steps to actually deal with it.

I’m not angry or sad about Sonny’s public prayer spectacle, I’m just embarrassed by it because it makes Southerners, Georgians and Christians look like a bunch of ignorant, superstitious hicks who don’t know how to be rational about things like the weather and natural resources.

By Lynette

November 14, 2007 5:50 PM | Link to this

I was thrilled to hear about the prayer.
I am amazed, just amazed at all the folks that espouse freedom of/from religion and debate the constitutionality of an American citizen standing and praying in public. What about the constitutionality of you preventing others from practicing their religion. Some of you are willing to demand that Christianity and only Christianity be outlawed. Notice this, you are not attacking Buddhism, Islam, or Hinduism.
I submit if there were and Indian tribe doing a “Rain Dance”(By the way thank you for the negative racial stereotype), A Buddhist monk praying, or a Hindu performing a religious rite on the steps of the capitol we would not be here talking about this.
If you do not like to hear prayer, do not listen. If you do not like religion, do not practice one. I have to wonder why you are so worried about some deity that you allege does not exist.

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 5:53 PM | Link to this

Peri Winkle, you don’t have to psychic to know the cry babies in society are usually the same old ones, “Liberals”, that whine about everything. And yes, it would help if you did have a job in order to move out of your parents trailer. After all, there is only so much the Government can provide you all…

Silly Liberals, paychecks are for workers…

Scott Davis, wow I bet it took some real “Thinking” to repeat those lines. It’s not like it has all been said before, time and time again… How does it go? Dawkins writes it, Harris copies it, and Hitchens pastes it to profit off of morons such as yourself that repeats it over and over and over and over… The Liberal media loves you people, not because you are Liberal, but because you buy into their crap, you can smell a mile away and you are drawn to it like flies. If you want irony, that’s the irony of it all… “Freethinkers” incapable of seeing the truth because they obviously can’t think for themselves.

You see,Laura, they are open minded. Their minds were open so wide that their brains literally fell out. And now their brain dead, or is that what is meant by “Freethinkers”; their brains have been freed from their bodies?

Simple advice to the “Freethinkers”, just to tick you all off: “Get a job and move out of the trailer and get a life.” Try “Thinking” for real and stop being jealous of those who have lives and their own hard earned money.

By Lou

November 14, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this

Did anyone pay attention to the weather doppler over Atlanta after the prayer service? Go on … check it out … if you dare! Moisture began to gather in the northwestern part of the state shortly after the prayer service … and it is raining in some parts near Atlanta. This rain is now potentially going to turn into thunder storms later this week.

Is this the end of the drought? Maybe … maybe not. But one thing is for sure … God is not mocked.

God laughs at the secular humanist. Only a fool says in his heart that there is no God.

By Peri Winkle

November 14, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this

To AntiAtheist: stereotypes are no substitute for actual thinking, but they certainly simplify things, don’t they. It’d be nice if you could make your point w/o disparaging other posters. Might even be Christian.

By Think it Through Lou

November 14, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this

Yeah, Lou, in fact someone paid attention to the weather forecast before the prayer service. Who did? Sonny Did

By jaxpop

November 14, 2007 7:27 PM | Link to this

Greetings from Marin County, California. I read all of the above comments about Governor Perdue’s pray-for-rain meeting so that I can frame it as a 2nd amendment question for my civics students. Much of the country seems to believe that all of us in the general area of San Francisco are seething, anti-Christian lefties. Actually, I am a seething lefty, but I love Jesus and would likely be at the capital praying if NorCal were as dry as Georgia is. Whether or not you believe in prayer, I hope that your water situation improves quickly.

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 7:33 PM | Link to this

Peri Winkle, don’t like the same attitude and treatment you dish out at us? Being Christian does not mean being a push over but we don’t expect “Freethinkers” to know any better. After all, it would require using “Thinking” on your own…It’ll take “Work” which is something most of you are afraid of…

If you don’t like the attitude, comments, or treatment, don’t dish it out..”Common sense”…Get some…

By the way, there’s a good chance of thunderstorms tonight. I know you hate it, but deal with it. You should be use to being wrong most of the time…You do follow your blind Atheist leaders…

By Wackolibhack

November 14, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this

It is Bush’s fault that Sonny had to pray for rain. If he wanted, Bush could turn the hurricane machine he and Dick used to flood New Orleans onto the low setting, and give ATL and N. GA a break. He won’t. I hate Bush.

By neclark

November 14, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this

Lemme see… It’s October 14, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA…

…that makes it, what…1607 in Georgia?

Why must they offer “prayer-bribes” to their deity in order to convince him/her/it to do the right thing? Isn’t that the same thing as questioning His/Her/Its wisdom?

But what would we expect from people who battle so long and hard to insert “Creation Science” [oops…my bad…”INTELLIGENT DESIGN”] into the science curriculum?

By Glen

November 14, 2007 7:56 PM | Link to this

It’s all pandering. A cold front that is expected to bring thunderstorms and rain to the Atlanta area has been forecast for several days. Doesn’t it seem a little opportunistic that the governor would schedule this media spectacle the day before rain has been forecast? Anyone watching the local news or weather.com could see this coming. There’s no divine intervention here. Just a little right-wing grandstanding from the good governor.

By Craig also

November 14, 2007 8:01 PM | Link to this

AA - the Bible also says pray for your enemies, and a soft answer turns away wrath. You said “Get a job and move out of the trailer and get a life.”

Always nice to see Christian love in action.

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 8:06 PM | Link to this

neclark, what would you know about science? If you knew anything about history you’d know a little about the scientists in history who were religious and of the Christian faith. But knowing that would require opening up a book on history and or science which you wouldn’t know anything about, just what the Atheists in the media tell you… But what do you expect from a “Freethinker”… Not much but a bunch of BS and the typical same old rantings repeated over and over…

Get a life moron…

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 8:12 PM | Link to this

Craig, do I need to repeat it again? Of course I do considering reading comprehension is not something “Freethinkers” are good at doing.

We are not push overs and I’m sorry the word “Job” offends you…

Always nice to see that “Freethinking” in action. You copy and past that last line from another Atheist?

By neclark

November 14, 2007 8:39 PM | Link to this

Poor AntiAtheist…I think someone missed his nap…

I am proud to be a “thinker” (what are YOUR brains for?) and I happen to DO science; what’re YOUR qualifications, `possum-breath?

Let’s play “Put-Up-or-Shut-Up”; you specify the amount of rain that the prayer was good for, and propose a reasonable time-frame within which said prayed-for precipitation will occur… if it does, you win! If not…

By Wackolibhack

November 14, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this

It is Bush’s fault that neclark wants to play “Put-Up or Shut-Up” with AntiAtheist. I pray that the two of you will play it now.

By Just the Facts

November 14, 2007 9:16 PM | Link to this

It really saddens me to see the rather vicious comments by people on both sides of the issue. But I guess that’s the state of affairs we find ourselves. Most minds are already made up on the issue of the reality of God, so why just attack each other?

I believe one’s faith is a personal matter not subject to human judgement. It one believes in accountability to one’s God, so be it and live your life accordingly.

You don’t have to prove that you argument “wins” in this sort of forum.

I don’t seek to impose my belief system on anyone, just to live a life that best reflects these values. Not perfect and not sitting in judgement of others.

So sad…….

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 9:22 PM | Link to this

neclark, sure you do science…You lack the ability to comprehend what you read much less the qualifications for any scientist. If the only qualifications I had was to be a garbage man, it’s still more than what you got… Go now and flip those burgers and place those fires in the deep fryer if you know how… Oh wait, that’s right, that would be a “Job” something you don’t do… Silly me… I confused you for someone who can “Think” instead of one of those so-called “Freethinkers”.

So go run and cry and rant, the only thing you got in life and the only thing your good at… Don’t spend too many food stamps… And remember, when the brain pain kicks in from all of that “Science” you do, in fantasy land, to take some Tylenol.

Later “Freethinking” Trailer Trash.

By neclark

November 14, 2007 9:42 PM | Link to this

I’ll put my Masters in Safety & Systems Management against anything you got…and I note for the record that you didn’t put up…

..but then, that’s typical; those with the smaller mind and the weaker argument always resort to ad hominem(*)attacks…

(look it up…if you can figure out how to spell g**gle)

By Wackolibhack

November 14, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this

It is Bush’s fault that AntiAtheist’s brain is, just slightly, smaller than neclark’s. Bush is screwing everything up all the time.

By vicki

November 14, 2007 9:58 PM | Link to this

look at the “gov’s” website and see that he is soliciting ideas from 3rd and 4th graders for ideas on how to solve the water crisis. Maybe he should consider the fact that they are smarter that he!

By Craig also

November 14, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this

I wonder how many people you’ve won over to the “good news” this evening, AA.

By neclark

November 14, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this

I have to correct you, Just the Facts - this is NOT about challenging someone’s religious convictions; this about standing up to a bloviating bully who hides behind faith while hurling chunks of his angry, willful, prideful ignorance.

AntiAtheist is nothing but a North American version of the Talliban.

By MC

November 14, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this

Has anyone checked the Atlanta forecast and radar this evening…Unfortunately, the skeptic cannot’ see the forest for all the rain!

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this

neclark, you can use “wikipedia”, congrats on the new discovery! You’re not trying to be an online human spell checker are you? Because those jobs are already filled by those which have no life, but keep trying… That Masters degree might come in handy. You keep dreaming now… “It’s easy to play pretend on the internet, ain’t it?”

Silly Atheist, only hard working educated people are smart and obtain college degrees, not “Freethinking” hippies such as yourself. It requires actual work, not online role playing.

Really, no PhD or MD? Oh well…I know you “Freethinkers” can’t think too hard…Requires “Real” work and not just online role playing. When role playing, I figured the lie would be a little more impressive…

You keep trying to “Think” of comebacks and new fantasy careers for yourself and college degrees. It’ll give you something to do with your life. I gave you another comment you can respond to and rant about as I’m charitable and kind. I have to throw a dog a bone every now and again for charity cases such as yourself.

Hey, look on the bright side, you can state that you are the Trailer Trash Super Hero!

Hey, it’s raining and storming! You should be use to being wrong. After all, not everything you see on TV is real…

Later loser.

Hey Wacko, have fun with your commenting. Seriously, you people need better hobbies. It’s disturbing knowing the tax dollars are going to ward people such as you all…They should require more that online forums such as some sort of job before handing you people food stamps. Oops, I said the word you Freethinking hippies dread most, “Job”.

By AntiAtheist

November 14, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this

neclark, you are just as stupid as most. If you consider someone ranting on the internet that dangerous, you need help, mentally. And I thought the online role playing was strange, but you proved to be worse, in the head… Too much “Thinking?” I know, it hurts to be wrong, but you shouldn’t dish it out if you can’t take it…

It’s the rain isn’t it?

Did I sound pride, angry? How can you tell, psychic now? Well, wrong again… Oops… Didn’t mean to offend you about being right. Perhaps another forum so you can pick on someone who won’t respond with the truth… You can pretend to be something better and call someone a serial killer too for ranting on an online forum. No?

Get a life and get a job, trailer trash.

By vicki

November 14, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

look at the “gov’s” website and see that he is soliciting ideas from 3rd and 4th graders for ideas on how to solve the water crisis. Maybe he should consider the fact that they are smarter that he!

By Wackolibhack

November 14, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this

It is Bush’s fault that I am a freethinking hippy. Peace,man.

By Wackolibhack

November 14, 2007 11:03 PM | Link to this

BTW it is Bush’s fault that AntiAtheist is not prideful or proud. Pride? Reread your post before you post. Bush made you barely literate.

By BG

November 14, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this

It’s raining in Marietta. I looked at the 10 day forecast just yesterday and there was no rain in the forecast.

By Lakesider

November 15, 2007 12:14 AM | Link to this

Wow, what a tough crowd. Regardless of what people think, we’re getting some nice showers in Woodstock. I concur with BG. I don’t think rain was in our forecast yesterday.

By Dave

November 15, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights.

I believe in what this Declaration of Independence should stand for, life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Whether you believe in our God or not, this country was founded by men who did believe in our God.

And it was that God’s principles that guided certain men to do the right things. If not for that God’s principles, the Atheists would not have been or would not be tolerated right now. If men and women were following one of the ancient gods, the Atheists might be sacrificed to their gods for sacrilege. But the principles of our God are merciful towards them and tolerant.

Now, here is the logical part for the Atheists. If I were and Atheist, and I saw that their belief in their God made them do the right thing, I don’t think that I would discourage Sonny Perdue or anyone else from praying and saying the things that are true, even if it is just lip service, because the truth is out there and they might just have to abide by it.

Now that’s logic. But here’s a little more logic for you. I was dying in 1999 and the doctors told me so. I had two medications interact and made me crazy and many of my bodily functions fail, including my heart.

Now this “imaginary” Jesus appeared to me and healed me one day. The pictures of my heart with all the scars on it are at my doctors in Brunswick, Ga. Now there are pictures after I was healed with a healthy heart. Now if there is no God, how did I get healed? Voodoo? I don’t think so. I was so bad with the brain problems that they wanted to put electrodes in my brain. I was like a baby slobbering, but not any more.

And it wasn’t the bodies healing powers because it happened instantly during a prayer.

Now to me it would be illogical not to believe in a Spirit called Jesus who could do that.

But of coarse I’m half Native American. And we believe in God. Always will.

By Heidi

November 15, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this

Thanks for sharing your story, Dave. God bless you. By the way, it is raining in Dunwoody. :)

By Will Jones

November 15, 2007 6:32 AM | Link to this

President Kennedy’s assassin’s son, a drunken draft-dodger, and hypocritical sodomite, tells us “Jesus” is his favorite political philosopher - Not Jefferson, Paine, Algernon Sidney or Locke, as any intelligent, patriotic American would, and is then cheated into office by vote fraud and the votes of only the Roman Catholics on the Supreme Court. He then commits 9-11.

Can any honest person claim this is anything but the workings of the foretold, and forewarned by Our Founder, Anti-Christ?

Our Founders were anointed Prophets. There is only One Creator. Their exclusive use of “Nature’s God,” and “Creator,” in reference to It was intentional.

Every citizen, regardless of sectarian affiliation, can derive public understanding and Civil Religion through the shibboleths they bequeathed:

Annuit Coeptis - Divine Providence Blesses Our Endeavors;

Novus Ordo Seclorem - The New Secular Order; and,

E Pluribus Unum - Of Many, One.

The American Dream is that All nations of the world flow into a New and Righteous Nation. Sectarian strife and false religion have resulted in thousands of years of despotism. The Genius of America’s hope is that the Anti-Christ, identified by Our Whig/Masonic Founders, be continuously defeated by future generations guarding against “monkish religion,” its concommitant pedophilia and homosexuality, its organized crime, and rule through assassination instituted by its caesars, popes, and kings, anciently.

That President Kennedy’s assassins were serving the same sectarian Fifth Column faction as Lincoln’s and Meriwether Lewis’; that our treasury is now being usurped through debasement and debt contrived by the same interests, of which Our Founders warned; and that Our Covenant as the New Israel is now in real jeopardy, having been treasonously usurped by a bi-partisan false-elite, fascist plutocracy and Fifth Column: unwilling to bring to justice such egregious and easily proven treason as the Bush/Nixon/Roman Catholic CIA assassination of JFK to send us to die for papal, colonial interests in Vietnam; promotion of illegal immigration by Hispanic Roman Catholics in obedience to Rome’s published stratagem for conquering the “liberal” United States; and, the Bush/Cheney 9-11 which has expunged our moral authority in false war.

The “primary” “Jesus” pushers, Rome, got Hitler’s party elected and committed the Holocaust; killed Kennedy and promoted Vietnam as a “Christian, pro-Western democracy” others needed to go and sacrifice their lives to protect from the 95% Buddhists who demonstrated reluctance to continue as slaves.

Are we going to ignorantly forfeit that which Our Founders bequeathed and return to the Old Sectarian Order’s enslavement to King and Pope?

Let the People establish Justice in Our Land, instead:

Death for Treason. G-d will then smile upon all America, His Land of Promise.

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this

Most of America’s founders were Deists and Unitarians, not right-wing evangelical types. Look it up.

Sonny may be crazy, but he’s not stupid. He timed his public display of piety to coincide with a forecast for rain. Big whoop.

Who would Jesus call “trailer trash?” Hmmm….

By Will Jones

November 15, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this

America’s Founder, Thomas Jefferson, was an anointed Prophet of the One G-d. His Enlightened state transcended all earthly religious connotation, manifesting Americanism: a holy civil religion. Dr. King’s “Riverside Church” speech was a Jeffersonian proof - “Why are we friends with the landed gentry of Latin America?” - that we should not, as Fundamental Americans, support Roman “latifundial”(slave plantation) interests so clearly recognized as adjuncts of the Anti-Christ.

Mr. Jefferson and Dr. King are America’s twin prophets.

There is only One G-d.

Those with any discernment and inclination toward patriotic Fundamental Americanism should read Jefferson’s and Adams’ “Post Road Correspondence” contained in “The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams.” It’s like putting your hand into the wall socket of G-d.

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 9:31 AM | Link to this

“In 1797 America made a treaty with Tripoli, declaring that “the government of the United States is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” This reassurance to Islam was written under Washington’s presidency, and approved by the Senate under John Adams.”

link: http://ffrf.org/nontracts/xian.php

By Will Jones

November 15, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this

L Pardue’s above-stated truth fueled Rome’s fire to conquer America’s liberal New Secular Order (Novus Ordo Seclorem). Masters of “divide and conquer” sectarianism, they perceived it as “Anti-Christ.”

Mr. Jefferson returned the “favor:”

To Samuel Kercheval Monticello, January 19, 1810

Who is of GOoD, and who is evil?

Rome has institutionalized pedophilia in the Babylonian homosexual priesthood; assassinated Meriwether Lewis, Abraham Lincoln, and other U.S. presidents; committed the Holocaust; killed Kennedy and King to keep us in the slave fiefdom of Vietnam; usurped our money through their bankers in the Fed; and committed 9-11 to save their heroin business and Roman Catholic BIG OIL;

Thomas Jefferson - Author of the Declaration of American Independence, hence Founder of the United States of America?

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this

Meanwhile, early in the 21st Century, there was a drought in the American Southeast — and Rome, Bobby Kennedy and Thomas Jefferson had absolutely nothing to do with it.

Decades of right-wing political “leadership” in Georgia encouraged rampant and unbridled commercial and residential development in the state, with absolutely no regard for the environment or natural resources or the future.

As ye sow, so shall ye reap.

By Will Jones

November 15, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

The drought, to my understanding, is almost localized to the watershed providing the Atlanta region’s drinking water. Centuries of fascist assassinations, false war, sectarian division and political faction have brought us to this day: a drought affecting American Prophet Martin Luther King, Jr’s. hometown: where 90% of us know for a moral fact that Bush and Cheney committed 9-11, yet nobody has yet to force a political acknowledgment and adjudication thereof.

As an American I have the right to my own religious perspective. I believe, as did America’s Founders, that Divine Providence’s Blessings are not unconditional. We must be righteous to be blessed. Atlanta, the New Jerusalem, must be shaken from its fear, complaisance, and submission: When Bush and Cheney hang for the treason we all know they committed there will be rain aplenty in Atlanta.

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this

There’s some very strange theology being espoused here. Will Jones, the drought is by no means “almost localized to the watershed providing the Atlanta region’s drinking water.” Not by a long shot. The drought covers major portions of 5 states. It’s much bigger than one watershed. Here’s a drought map to help you out:

http://drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

By Churchll

November 15, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this

L Pardue, it is best to ignore Will. Everyone else does.

By Will Jones

November 15, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the map…it sure looks as if the worst drought area has Atlanta just about dead center, and seems to be populated by what should be some of the best people in America: the original stock whose ancestors literally built Our Nation.

These are just the Americans who should be expected by the Deity Who has so richly blessed us, our ancestors, and region, to overcome the obvious and foretold Anti-Christ’s propaganda, treason, and lies, return to the Fundamental Whig Spirit of their forefathers, and, as One People effect justice upon the faction so clearly Rome’s Fifth Column, who recently committed 9-11.

Divine Providence is evident in the creation of America from the Mayflower Compact, to Bloody Marsh, to Carpenter’s Hall. Equally evident is the insidious subversion of Our Constitution and Political Economy by agents and policies of the Roman Anti-Christ, from assassinations of our leaders by Roman Catholics, implementation by fraud of the unconstitutional Fed, finance of Hitler, Nazism and the Holocaust, publication of their stratagem to promote illegal immigration in order to usurp the Republic, institutionalized priestly pedophilia, 9-11, false war, organized crime, and the debasement of our currency.

If one can’t see G-d in the Good, it’s certainly understandable being unable to see “Satan” in the Evil.

As an American born of Americans I believe in My Country. In spite of termites, fleas, rats and disease it is my belief that G-d’s invisible “hand” can be recognized in a child’s face, the written word, miraculous Grace, and outer space. Reading the Founders’ wisdom and having an awareness of History instructs me that the Inventors of America also did G-d’s work.

Just because one does not “believe in G-d” does not excuse him or her, as American citizens, from fighting the same fight, ordained by G-d in the opinion of Our Founders, against the Old Sectarian Order of monarchy and popery from whom we escaped in 1776, and which so obviously has almost “Shot the Moon,” again.

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

I see your point, Churchll.

By Lou

November 15, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

IT RAINED! AND IT’S GONNA RAIN SOME MORE NEXT WEEK! God is not mocked! Turn your life around … turn to Jesus … He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life. The God of Abraham, Isacc, and Jacob is the only one true God and He has sent His Son, Jesus, to die for our sins. Believe in Him and live! He has again proven Himself to be real … and that means Heaven and Hell are real … which one will you end up in?

By L Pardue

November 15, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this

Oy vey. Lord, if you do exist, please protect me from your followers.

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this

I think I figured out what the good lord did with all the rain that was supposed to go to the Southeast: he inflicted it on the poor suffering people of Bangladesh:

“At least 500 people have been killed and thousands made homeless after a powerful tropical cyclone slammed into Bangladesh, local government officials said Friday.

The death toll was expected to rise, officials said.

Cyclone Sidr’s winds, gusting to at least 131 mph (210 kph), uprooted trees, leveled homes and damaged buildings where residents sought shelter.”

link:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/11/16/bangladesh.cyclone/index.html

All glory to god.

By Future Development

November 16, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/309685.html

With a landmark water deal, future development will depend on water from $1.6 billion in Dade projects to recycle wastewater and tap new sources.

By whatthe

November 16, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this

Last July, the Governor of Alabama led his state in a week-long prayer to end the drought. Today’s drought map will show that the efficacy of praying for rain is about the same as millions of public prayeras had for the return of Natalie Holloway (the girl who never returned from Aruba). http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_state.htm?AL,SE

By Mike

November 16, 2007 2:18 PM | Link to this

Please don’t get mad because a prayer was answered and it rained … and the forecast calls for more rain next week. This incident made all you mockers look like FOOLS. All you who mock God hate to lose … don’t you?

O vey … Lord … protect us from these silly unbelievers who follow their own selfish ways rather than your way.

By Joe

November 16, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this

Don’t blame God for this messed up world of droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, and other disasters. We have abandoned God and His perfect place He had for us in Eden. We are all guilty of mocking God and refusing to listen to His advice … now we live in a world tainted by sin and destruction. Bad things happen to good and bad people. Why? Just look in the mirror … that’s why. Repent and ask God for forgiveness and accept and receive Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior … this is the only way back to heaven. (John 14:6)

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

Mike, you must have missed the fact that a bit of rain was in the forecast well before Sonny’s publicity stunt. Sonny just took advantage of that forecast when planning his public piety display. Hardly a miracle — just crass opportunism.

Whose prayer got answered in Bangladesh?

By HelluvaEngineer

November 16, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this

Mike, I say to you that the murder rate in the U.S. peaks around the time ice cream sales peak.

Given your preposterously ignorant post, you would infer that ice cream was inducing people to murder others.

Sadly you are among the many that lack the analytical reason to recognize that both ice cream sales and murder rates are linked by the fact that they both occur in summer.

Before the vigil, the probability of rain was extremely nontrivial, around 30-40%. If you think God is the sole determinant of weather, then why

No wonder why Americans are falling so far behind in math and science.

And note that no one explicitly said they are not a believer. One can be a believer and an independent thinker, capable of explaining why things happen for a reason (in this instance, a cold front was moving through; precipitation generally occurs at the border of high and low pressure systems).

If God controls rain, why would he let this drought persist? Why would God need clouds to create rain? Is it just coincidental that it happened to rain amongst a change in atmospheric state?

The rain accumulation (at the airport) was 0.14”. That is infinitesimal relative to the lake defecit. But fools like you who lack analytical thought cannot understand this. You will now spurriously misuse water thinking that whenever you pray water will be given.

By Mike

November 16, 2007 2:48 PM | Link to this

Rain is a natural occurance. But timing is everything! Most of the 10 Biblical plagues of Eygpt can be explained away as “natural causes”. But what cannot be so eaisly explained away is the TIMING with the prayers of Moses! The fact that Israel exists today is a undeniable testimony that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is REAL. Yes, rain is a natural occurance … but TIMING IS EVERYTHING. God uses the simple things in His creation to mock the proud. Many Christians are scientists and intellectuals (in fact, American science was established by Bible believers). There is a reason why SMART people can believe … and that reason is the reality of a relationship with the risen Christ Jesus.

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

Joe, I’m a little confused by your theology. Please clarify: do natural disasters occur because a person in a mirror hasn’t accepted Jesus as their savior, or do they occur because Adam and Eve at the wrong kind of fruit?

And how exactly does god killing hundreds of innocent people and leaving thousands more homeless in Bangladesh by slamming them with a cyclone help the situation?

By John

November 16, 2007 2:52 PM | Link to this

Please provide PROOF that rain was in the forecast PRIOR to Tuesday Nov 13 … you can’t do it … because there was NO RAIN forecasted prior to Tuesday!

By Joe

November 16, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this

L Purdue, Adam represented mankind. We all inherit a sin nature from Adam (just watch the news for proof). None of us can keep every single part of God’s perfect law (the 10 commandments). We are all guilty of lust or lies (at the least). The Bible states that when Adam fell … the whole creation fell into imperfection … and that the earth is now yearning for God to make things perfect again (Romans 8:22). These yearnings are described as birth pangs in the Bible and represent the worsening state of natural disasters. Jesus predicted that His return would be preceded by increasing natural disasters and phenomena. You don’t have to believe … God does not force anything on you. You either accept Jesus or you don’t. But when that day comes (and it will come for all of us) non-believers will be without excuse for not accepting Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV)

By loveszuess

November 16, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

L Pardue, you are so dense! Why can’t you understand that God hates Bangadeshis because there are not enough Christians in Bangladesh. He is hammering them so that they will love Him, moron. Sheesh, didn’t they have a sign like this in the factory you worked in before the jobs were moved to China: “Notice from management: The floggings will continue until morale improves”? Now do you get it?

You better get with the program or you will eternally burn in Hell with all those Asian peasants (and 99.999999997% of all other humans who have ever lived) you are so worried about.

Meanwhile, I will join Tim Tebow in praying that Georgia and Tennesee both lose so that the Florida Gators can play in the SEC championship. I know it will happen because that is what I want and I asked God for it. And I believe in the motto of the world: “In God We Trust.” Since Tebow and I trust God, the Gators have decided to not practice for this week’s game and instead pray that bad things happen to other teams.

By HelluvaEngineer

November 16, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this

Mike -

so “Timing is everything” is the answer to my question?

Outstanding rigor… wow you are an bastion of intellect.

John -

Is there a website to get historical forecasts? I do not know of one. But weather.com had a 30% chance of rain as of Monday night. I do not have an old newspaper. I suppose one could go to a library and look it up on a microfiche, but I do not possess the time for this.

A few more questions for the two of you: (i) so was it coincidental that rain occured ahead of a cold front? (ii) why would God let drought get as bad as it was in the first place. (iii) if God made it rain, then why did he need to use clouds? Wouldn’t it have been magnificent to see it rain amidst blue sky? (iv) so we accumulated 0.14” of rain (slightly more north). While it is good we got some rain, why would he send such a trivial amount?

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

For all those who don’t believe rain was in the forecast prior to Sonny’s public prayer spectacle, here’s the proof: an article from 11/8 that mentions rain in the Atlanta forecast for 11/13 and 11/14.

here’s the link to it: http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/110907/opinion_20071109007.shtml

Second paragraph from the end. Read it and weep, all who think Sonny convinced god that Sonny knows better than god what the weather ought to be.

By todd

November 16, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

Who cares? It rained…

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Sonny cares — that’s why he timed his religious spectacle to coincide with the forecast.

I care, because this joker is using his public office to try to push his personal religion.

The people of Georgia ought to care too, because they voted for this crass opportunist who thinks he knows better than god what the weather should be.

By Mike

November 16, 2007 4:44 PM | Link to this

L Purdue, The article is NOT a weather forecast … in addition in says:

“In addition, there’s reason to wonder about the depth of the governor’s faith in divine intervention in the drought. From now until Tuesday, the day of the prayer meeting, rain isn’t mentioned in the National Weather Service forecast for Atlanta. The Tuesday forecast, however, includes a 20 percent chance of rain, rising to 30 percent Tuesday night and Wednesday. Could Perdue be hedging his bet on the Almighty?”

READ IT AND WEEP: “From now until Tuesday, the day of the prayer meeting, rain isn’t mentioned in the National Weather Service forecast for Atlanta.”

How did Sonny know that it was forecasted to rain on the day that he previously scheduled for the prayer meeting? The reason that rain was forecasted on Tuesday is because after the prayer meeting precipitation began to form on the weather radars! READ AND WEEP! The article turned around and bit you … becareful what you choose to “prove” your blindness to the truth.

By Mike

November 16, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this

HelluvaEngineer, let me guess … you probably believe in the macro-evolution fairy tale too! Talk about being a “bastion of intellect”.

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools …” (Romans 1:20-22 NKJV)

By L Pardue

November 16, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

Mike, your reading comprehension skills are sorely lacking. The article at the link, which mentions the National Weather Service forecast of rain for 11/13 and 11/14, was published on 11/8, four days before the prayer spectacle. No rain was forecast for the dates 11/8 to 11/11, but it was forecast for 11/13 and 11/14, so Sonny shrewdly planned the prayer spectacle for 11/12. Political opportunism at its finest, and no doubt he knew most religious folks would fall it for hook, line and sinker.

By Mike

November 16, 2007 5:13 PM | Link to this

L Purdue,

I stand corrected … you are right about the date of the article. Sorry about that … now let’s wait and see if more rain begins to occur (one bad thing about blogging is the speed of return and lack of time to fully research … ).

Anyway … let’s all close with a prayer:

“Thank you God for the little bit of rain that you sent down after we prayed. We hope and pray that more rain will come to help the citizens of Georgia … and more importantly … we pray that people take better care of your creation and follow you advice regarding good stewardship and eternal life through your son, Jesus. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.”

Thanks for praying with me, y’all.

By HelluvaEngineer

November 16, 2007 5:19 PM | Link to this

Mike, I have not revealed what my beliefs are. As I have clearly and unambiguously stated above, I have absolutely no problem if one turns to prayer on an individual business so as it does not compromise the separation of church and state.

As you have done with the rain and sonny’s event, you are making inferences becasue your world is very discrete; everything is very simple and is in black and white. You cannot argue in an analytic way, because to you all is driven not by logic but by a higher being.

Okay I will pose the following questions to you once more (LPardue is correct in his/her assessment of your troubles with reading comprehension as I have posed these questions before):

(i) so was it coincidental that rain occured ahead of a cold front?

(ii) why would God let drought get as bad as it was in the first place.

(iii) if God made it rain, then why did he need to use clouds? Wouldn’t it have been magnificent to see it rain amidst blue sky?

(iv) so we accumulated 0.14” of rain (slightly more north). While it is good we got some rain, why would he send such a trivial amount?

By HelluvaEngineer

November 16, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

Mike, I don’t want to make this personal; I am sure you are a good person. I do not want it to make it seem I am attacking those with stronger religious beliefs than my own. Four things contribute to my own frustration:

1.) I just wish someone who supported the vigil would acknowledge that the rain may have been due to the meteoroligical state (comprising of the ridge of high and low pressure, dewpoints, jet stream, and such).

2.) I am also frustrated as this crossed the line of separation of church and state.

3.) As one who is terribly concerned with how the US has fallen far behind in math and science, this event is a microcosm of this troubling fact.

4.) I am worried that many who made the inference that the rain was because of the vigil (and not meteorology) will use water excessively assuming that anytime they pray they will be given water.

By AntiAtheist

November 16, 2007 5:40 PM | Link to this

I just found this article again after checking Google news since it is Friday, EOD, and noticed “L Pardue” is still GOING!

Wow, bravo, Pardue for continuing the discussion and actually criticizing others who comment. You truly are the perfect example of “That which has no life.” Are you really addicted to this one forum or is this one of those off the wall hobbies?

Hey, just a tip, don’t confuse actual research with “Web search.” I know that’s hard for the “Freethinkers” because they just take what the Liberal media says and go with it…They put their “Faith” into what each other says…And as Pardue has shown us, can’t seem to get out…

Anyway, just ignore the cry babies and move on. They are the ones that have something to prove, the whole reason they scream the loudest… But I leave this comment for Pardue so it can respond and rant some more. I am, after all, kind and charitable. I got to throw a dog a bone every now and again, got to be charitable. Enjoy Pardue and other “Freethinkers”, and “Think” of something good to say. Don’t waste the comment…So make it good and unoriginal as it is impossible for you people to think for yourselves as I’ve stated before… So, “Repeat” something good.

Later losers!

By HelluvaEngineer

November 16, 2007 5:54 PM | Link to this

AntiAthiest,

What do you have against those who are free thinkers? That implies you would rather (a) not think at all or (b) have someone else do the thinking for you.

You bash a writer for “criticizing others who comment”. Yet you critize LPardue. Hmmm… so you are exempt from critics, yet you do the same? Not exactly ironclad logic… which probably explains why you believe sonny’s vigil created rain.

You do nothing to advance the discourse of the issue at hand. Rather, you turn to pigeonhole thinking and vehement rhetoric that is orthogonal to what the forum is debating.

The US continues to fall behind in math & science (and overall education), and AntiAthiest exhibits why. Yikes, I am scared for tomorrow.

By AntiAtheist

November 16, 2007 6:04 PM | Link to this

HelluvaEngineer, again another who can’t comprehend that which it reads… And yet makes so-called facts but does not provide evidence to back it up. Yes, I see the country is falling behind because of one religion? Please… Don’t blame us because you must play pretend on a BLOG… If you want that higher education, go for it and stop whining about it. “Get a life!”

Again, I state it, you atheists can’t think for yourselves and call yourselves “Freethinkers” and yet you don’t think…

I wast no more time as I’ve got better things in life besides a BLOG and role play… You go now,HelluvaEngineer, flip those burgers and serve those customers, you hear?

Later losers!

By neclark

November 16, 2007 7:22 PM | Link to this

Hmmm…the accumulated “rain totals” I’ve seen reported for the Atlanta area describe 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch accumulations since the mighty prayers were prayed.

From the way AntiAtheist was bloviating, I figured god loved y’all a WHOLE lot more than a quarter-inch. Or maybe he/she/it is just yankin’ your chains?

Don’t use it all at once…

By L Pardue

November 17, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

If god creates everything, including the weather, and everything he creates is good, then the drought is good. It’s a beautiful creation of god, so why do Christians thing they know better than god what the weather should be? Isn’t the creator supposed to be all-knowing? Why would a god need mere humans to instruct him in weather-making? Doesn’t he know how to do the job better than any human? Real Christians who respect god ought to just accept the drought as one of many beautiful divine creations (like the beautiful god-created cyclone in Bangladesh that has now killed some 1700+ people) and stop trying to arrogantly put themselves in god’s place by demanding and begging that he make it rain. Obviously, if god wanted it to rain he wouldn’t have created a drought, right? Accept that the drought is god’s will and stop trying to convince god he’s wrong.

By Anton

November 18, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

Who you dumb atheists talking to? Yourselves? Get a life! Darn you people are so stupid.

By L Pardue

November 19, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this

I hear this morning that the death toll in Bangladesh is now over 3000. God must really love those people.

By Mike

November 19, 2007 6:29 PM | Link to this

It is not a coincidence that heavy rain is forecasted for Thanksgiving day. GOD IS NOT MOCKED! Give Him thanks and repent. Believe in His Son, Jesus … and live! Prayer work when they are directed at the true God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob! The God of the Holy Bible is the one true God. Allah is NOT God! Buddah is NOT God! Moroni is NOT from God! Jesus is the only way, the only truth, and the only life! All who deny Him commit the unpardonable sin! One day … ALL people will bow to their knees and confess that He is Lord!

By Mike

November 19, 2007 6:43 PM | Link to this

God loves all people! That’s not the problem … the problem is that not all people love God! No one seeks Him like they should … no one is righteous except one … and that one is Jesus Christ!

The Bangladesh death toll is a sad tradgedy and a result of living in a fallen world of sin, corruption, egos, liberalism, and false religions. No one is guaranteed to live forever … but those who accept and receive Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior have the peace of eternal life with God the Father in heaven. This is a spiritual fact … proven by the resurrection of Christ Jesus. Don’t be a fool and follow the world … be wise and follow the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Those who mock God and try to find wimpy excuses for not trusting in Jesus are in for a terrible surprise!

Bangladesh is NOTHING compared to the pain and suffering in the literal hell of eternal separation from God. WAKE UP AND SEE PROPHECY FULFILLED. Iran and Russia will unite and attempt to attack Israel … but they will not succeed! They will be supernaturally destroyed by the hand of God Almighty! Watch the news and tremble at His feet! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT!

By Joe

November 19, 2007 6:47 PM | Link to this

Prayers are answered to those who believe in the name of Jesus! Thank you Sonny for standing up for God! Thank you Sonny for praying for rain … because rain is coming! God will not be ashamed of you, Sonny … because you were not ashamed of God!

By Jack

November 19, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this

I am Jack. I am a Christian. I am an American. I am a father. I am a husband. I am a friend. And as a friend, I must tell you of the good news: Jesus is alive and He wants to give you a new life and make you a new creature! Behold, the old things are gone and a new life is given to those who believe in His name! The answered prayer for rain is NOTHING caompared to the adventure of a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ! To accept and receive Jesus … make this prayer your prayer:

“Dear Heavenly Father, I admit that I am a sinner. Please forgive me for my sins. I accept and believe in your Son Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit and help me to live a life that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ Name I pray … Amen.”

If you sincerely prayed this prayer … welcome to God’s family! Find a Bible believing church that is Christ centered and begin your great new adventure with a fresh new life!

By John

November 19, 2007 7:11 PM | Link to this

Wow! I just read the forecast! And it is going to rain some more starting on Thanksgiving day! This is not the first prayer that I have seen come to fruition! I believe now! Thank you Jesus for showing us that you are real and the one and only way to get to heaven. I know that sometimes your answers to prayers is “no” … but it is only because you know what is best for us. Thank you for answering Sonny’s prayer with a “yes” … so that all people can witness your truth and give you all the glory!

By Tom

November 19, 2007 7:17 PM | Link to this

THE DROUGHT IS OVER! Thank you Sonny for praying to God for us! Thank you God for everything that you do for us!

Here is the official forecast for Atlanta for this week (of Nov 19, 2007) - READ IT AND WEEP ALL YOU WHO THINK THEY KNOW IT ALL AND ARE UNGRATEFUL TO GOD! READ IT AND WEEP … AND WEEP SOME MORE … UNITL YOUR TEARS FILL THE DRY LAKES AND RIVERS OF GEORGIA! GIVE GOD ALL THE GLORY!

Wednesday…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 70s. South winds 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night…Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Thanksgiving Day…Showers likely with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 50s. Chance of precipitation 60 percent.

Thursday Night…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 30s.

Friday Night…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain. Lows in the mid 30s.

Saturday…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the upper 40s.

Saturday Night…Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Lows in the mid 30s.

Sunday…Partly sunny with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 50s.

By Lyle

November 19, 2007 7:32 PM | Link to this

The “free thinkers” and “freedom from religion” organizations are a joke! They don’t want you to think freely … they only want you to think like them! They are a shameful bunch of secular humanists who only believe in their own selfish desires and gratification. If they want to only believe in “humans” … they are really foolish! Don’t worry all you who hate Christians … one day very soon we will all be gone in the twinkling of an eye … and you will be left alone to ponder the truth that you have refused to accept! REPENT! REPENT! REPENT!

By Lyle

November 19, 2007 7:38 PM | Link to this

Here is a link to proof that God answers prayers:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/prayer.html

By Churchill

November 19, 2007 10:01 PM | Link to this

God gave us sense to come out of the rain.

By HelluvaEngineer

November 19, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this

Lyle, Tom, John, Jack, Joe, and Mike is clearly the same person…. the same (poor) grammar is used, all posts lack any quasi-logical reasoning (in a short time interval). The fact that he or she tried to “outwit” anyone shows he or she has a very truncated intellect.

I have posed four questions above - multiple times - and no sonny supporter can answer. They cannot answer because they lack analytical reasoning.

They cannot comprehend the fact that weather systems and religion are independent entities. Else, if they were dependendent, then they are callous enough to challenge God’s plan by asking him to change it!

So if the idiotic rant above is true, that God is flooding Bangladesh because of “false religions”, then why did Hurricane Katrina exist? Your bretheren along the Gulf Coast are Christians. You absolute freaking moron, the typhoon off Bangladesh was created due to atmospheric conditons that allowed the strom to persist (due to warm water) and intensify.

And the drought of intelligence by these posters and in much of the southeast is far more concerning.

By L Pardue

November 20, 2007 7:34 AM | Link to this

What kind of a “loving father” kills and maims his own “children?”

By L Pardue

November 20, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

NOAA says southern drought will persist into 2008:

“A widespread area of drought development is expected from the southern Rockies into the southern Plains, Gulf Coast, and Florida. Year-to-date rainfall deficits range from 15 to 20 inches in the area of exceptional drought centered in northern parts of Alabama and Georgia. Drought will likely persist in these areas along with the Carolinas.”

link: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/expertassessment/seasonaldrought.html

It will take many, many days of heavy rain to erase this drought. A mere week of showers won’t do it. Folks, please at least make an attempt to understand the science before proclaiming the drought is over. It ain’t over! Not by a long shot.

By L Pardue

November 20, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

corrected link:

http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/expertassessment/seasonaldrought.html

By L Pardue

November 20, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

The NOAA link isn’t copying correctly. Put an underscore after “expert” and before the rest of it, copy and paste into browser and it should work.

By Mike

November 20, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

HelluvaEngineer,

No one answers your four questions because you have obviously made up your mind. Your other comments expose your presumptions. Also, HelluvaEngineer, thank you for entertaining us with your superior intellect and grammar … ooooooh, you are sooooo perfect in your “know-it-all” self-righteousness. Just remember HelluvaEngineer … your intellect is finite and you will one day stand before God to give an account of your self-righteous hypocrisy. Step off your egotistical pedestal of pride and maybe God will remove the scales from your eyes.

By the way … HelluvaEngineer and L Pardue are the same person!

By Paul

November 20, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

I agree with Mike (and I am not Mike).

The bottom line is this: it is raining. My understanding is that Sonny prayed for rain … and rain is what he got. It makes no difference if rain was forecasted before the prayer meeting - the weather forecasts are unreliable anyway!

It is true that rain is a natural process that, more than likely, would have occurred after Sonny’s prayers anyway. But who wrote and initiated the natural laws that make it rain in the first place?

It is true that only a fool would believe that something can come out of nothing. Scientists now know that the universe had a begining and they all admit that something or someone created it into existence (they call it the singularity). We call that someone God.

God bless you Mike for speaking out the truth of the Gospel and the reality of God’s love for mankind. Why do people continue to suffer? Because people continue to sin. And PRIDE is the father of all sin and is the very sin that brought Satan down from heaven.

By L Pardue

November 20, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this

Only a cruel and evil god would punish people with suffering and death simply for being skeptical, or for believing in a religion other than Christianity. If a human parent tortured and killed a child, we’d lock him or her up in jail, not offer praise and support. Why is an almighty god held to a lower standard than a human being? Osama bin Laden killed 3000+ people on 9/11 and the civilized world is hunting for him in the hopes of killing him or bringing him to justice. But the Christian god kills 3000+ people in Bangladesh and we are supposed to think that is a good thing worthy of praise and worship?

If god doesn’t want humans to kill each other, then why does he do so much killing himself? Shouldn’t he set a good example for humans by being gentle and loving and forgiving instead of cruel and heartless and homicidal?

By If, at first . . .

November 20, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this

Looks like we are not out of the woods yet on this drought thing:
Lake Lanier hits lowest point since its construction

Sonny and I will be sacficing 2 chickens and a small goat tomorrow at noon on the steps of the Capitol to see if we can turn this thing around. Who’s with us!?!

By Paul

November 20, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

God is killing no one. The weather is the way it is because of OUR decision … not God’s decision! God initially gave us a wonderful and perfect world but man decided to spit in God’s face … and some of us continue to spit in God’s face today. We think that WE are gods and that what WE say is right. But God’s way is not man’s way … thank God for that!

L Pardue, All your questions are easily answered in the Holy Bible … if you sincerely desire to study the Truth. The Holy Bible (not the Koran, not the Book of Mormon, not any other “religious” book) is the one true and proven word of God.

Only the Holy Bible passes the test of science, history, archeology, prophecy, and reliable eye witness accounts. Study it for yourself … otherwise you will continue to ask these simple and childish questions about God your whole life!

By Paul

November 20, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this

By If, at first …

a lesson is water physics: “rain + time = filled lake.”

We now have rain … gee … what else is missing in this equation?

By HelluvaEngineer

November 20, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this

Mike,

Yet again your logic is rife with errors.

(i) you’re not answering my questions because i’ve already made up my mind? it’s called debate Mike, a chance for you to defend your position in a coherent and logical fashion… not hand waving. I’m just curious for my own understanding.

So I ask you again: will you answer them?

(ii) Egotistical pedestal? Clearly you are putting words in my mouth to escape the challenge I have posed to you. Trust me: I could not be anything further from egotistical. As I have said, it is you and those fundamentalists who are egotistical who think they can run the weather system better than God (since you are taught all God’s creations are for a reason and are good… then drought must have been for a reason?). I do think those who have posted on here with no rigor and no logic - those who can only talk about believers vs. skeptics - have shown their ineptitude.

And yes, this is a microcosm of what is going on in this country with respect to falling so far behind in math and science.

(iii) You and your cronies here have shown how discrete your minds are. Everything is 0 or 1, black or white. Your classify people as being Christians or non-Christians. That’s it… everything else follows as your world is purely deterministic. You can only talk and shove your religion down the throats of others. You fail to realize that critics of perdue do not criticize him or his supporters for being religious. Rather, they criticize him for lacking a real bonafide solution to the problem, and taking the easy way out. We criticize him for letting unbounded growth persist. Yet you have to bring religion into the discussion whenever you can because religion - and religion alone - define your world. Many here are likely Christians, yet independent minded enought to realize the preposterous notion that God somehow is an ATM machine (like someone pointed out above). Sadly, these people are rarely heard from.

That said, hopefully it does rain. The scientific weather forecasts look promising through this weekend.

By If, at first . . .

November 21, 2007 7:18 AM | Link to this

Paul,

a lesson in reality: “time (even with some rain) + continued uncontrolled growth = still empty lake.”

We may have some rain, but, until we get real leadership with real solutions, I may as well put my faith in sacrificing chickens.

By AntiAtheist

November 21, 2007 9:11 AM | Link to this

HelluvaEngineer, why are you quoting science and grading comments like an English teacher? Are you seriously trying to appear smarter than a total stranger on an online News BLOG?

This is the moment when all readers begin to hysterically laugh at the pathetic individual that has done nothing more over the past few days but attempt to impress total strangers on an online News BLOG that he or she knows more about science and is superior in intellect but in reality has proven to everyone that he or she has no life.

HelluvaEngineer, a few science quotes and trying to prove superior writing skills - using MS Word does not count - means nothing when you have no common sense. You are still on an News BLOG fighting with those who comment… Get a life. Stop role playing… No one wants to be a stupid atheist with nothing in life such as yourself. No one wants to be you… A pathetic person with nothing better to do than role play. You are not fooling anyone but proving that you people live shallow and depressing lives.

Now go hug your science book and cry… Stop being jealous of everyone else and blaming them for your problems… Take responsibility and stop taking Government handouts… Do yourself a favor and Get a life! Get a job! Being a human spell checker does not pay.

You might even get a real job if you could start thinking for yourself for a change…

To everyone else, ie Mike and Paul, ignore the broken records… They’ll keep repeating the same old same until the end of time. Go one about your lives and ignore their meaningless nonsense… After all, misery loves company and HelluvaEngineer and Pardue shows that their lives really are miserable. Move on and let the blind continue to lead the blind… They’ll be happy now that I’ve provided yet another comment for them to rant about. I am kind…

By L Pardue

November 21, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this

Mike, I’ve read the Bible. I was a Christian for many years, until I switched to a reality-based world view. The Bible did not answer my questions, and that was a big part of the reason for the shift in my thinking. The Bible doesn’t say why a god that is supposedly just and loving would blame all of humanity for the actions of just two people (Adam and Eve), for instance. That’s like a father abusing a 6-year-old child for years and years because his 17-year-old sibling stayed out past curfew once. Most thinking people understand that it simply doesn’t make sense to punish someone for the actions of another. It also doesn’t make sense to credit a god for good weather and not also blame him for bad weather. Either god controls the weather or he doesn’t. Those here who believe he made it rain just for Sonny aren’t willing to admit that means he also created Hurricane Katrina and its resulting death and destruction, or the cyclone that has killed and left homeless thousands of innocent people in Bangladesh. The Bible and its followers simply don’t make sense logically, and no amount of preaching or threats of hell and eternal damnation will change that for me. If a god would condemn someone like me to hell simply for being skeptical, then I wouldn’t want to worship that kind of a god anyway. I refuse to worship a god that murders and tortures people simply for using their minds.

By L Pardue

November 21, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

I’d just like to add that I find the name-calling and insults from some of the Christians here to be really unnecessary, childish, and of no value whatsoever to the conversation. They also don’t reflect well at all on Christianity and Christians generally. I think it’s possible to make your points without resorting to this kind of thing. You really don’t know anything about the other people posting here, and can’t make claims about people’s job status, level of happiness and so on unless you have intimate knowledge of their lives, which I seriously doubt you possess. I suggest we all stick to the topic of praying for rain and not stoop to the name-calling and insults.

By Mike

November 21, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

L Pardue,

Name calling? Insults? L Purdue you call our Savior a “cruel and evil” God! Talk about childish. Why do you hate and degrade Christians? We are simply defending our faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We are standing for God’s point of view and for Christ Jesus and the spiritual truths of His Word. What are you standing for … what are you defending? Your own humanistic point of view? Now that is WEAK!

You have read the Bible … but it is obvious that you have not understood it. You have read the Bible in the flesh but it can only be understood in the spirit. You are talking about religion … and I am talking about a personal relationship with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Christians are not perfect … we do act and say stupid things sometimes. But please do not let imperfect people discourage you from seeking God’s perfect love in His Son, Jesus.

Good bye L Pardue and HelluvaEngineer … I have a church to pastor … you are both always in my prayers.

By L Pardue

November 21, 2007 1:35 PM | Link to this

I didn’t call anyone’s savior cruel or evil, I just said I wouldn’t want to worship a god like that myself. And I never expressed hatred nor degradation towards anyone. I respect everyone’s right to hold and express their own views on these matters. I would never stoop so low as to call someone a “loser” or a “moron” or “trailer trash” just because they disagree with me.

I’m not hoping for perfection out of anyone here — just simply courtesy and respect, which may be too much to ask of some folks who think they hold a monopoly on truth.