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 Crews battle a wildfire threatning a home in Strawn, Texas, earlier this week.
April 22nd, 2011
04:39 PM ET
Praying for rain in TexasBy Emily Smith and Josh Rubin, CNN Austin, Texas (CNN) - Texas’ water problems seem to have reached almost biblical proportions with a record drought, statewide wildfires and shrinking aquifers plaguing the Lone Star State. On Monday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry asked for federal aid in containing the raging fires that have already claimed two lives. On Thursday, Perry turned to an even higher power by declaring the upcoming holiday weekend “Days of Prayer for Rain.” The proclamation reads:
Praying for rain is not a new phenomenon. Religions the world over have sent prayers for precipitation to their respective gods. But does praying for rain work? In 2007, after a drier-than-usual summer, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue successfully prayed for rain. While Georgia did get some relief from its record drought, unfortunately there wasn’t enough of a deluge to stave off water rationing and restrictions. At least not that year anyway -– December 2009 saw record rainfall totals across the state, prompting some less-religious constituents to question the length of time it took God to answer their governor’s prayers. This weekend in Texas, some parts are expected to remain dry and windy, but cooler temperatures and higher humidity in others parts are giving emergency crews some relief. CNN meteorologist Sean Morris said thunderstorms are expected in the region this weekend, but they may not be of much help –- rainfall is expected to be low, and the lightning could spark further wildfires. Time will tell if the prayers of Gov. Perry and the people of Texas will be answered.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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There needs to be a qualification questionaire for all politicians. The 1st question should be do you believe in praying to the God of Rain, or any other Gods for help?
O ALLAH, shower rain of mercy on our state of Texas, and save us from Tornadoes, hail, storm and fire, and Hell fire., Amen.
http://arabnews.com/lifestyle/islam/article77007.ece
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20110422/pl_usnw/DC88071
Texas gets it's due.
I think I have found proof of the existence of God and miracles because it's truly a miracle that this fool got elected.
Well, I do certainly believe. I have God along with me everywhere and everything I do in life. You non-believers are selfish, mean, hateful people and you will BURN BURN BURN in everlasting hellfire and I'll be sipping iced tea with God in heaven.
Heaven is in Texas as any good Texan knows. We've already have been tempered in fire.
your response is mean and hateful. It must be great for a little person to know the will of God or is that blasphemy??
Didn't you know? They don't serve iced tea in heaven.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; " The Governor of the State of Texas has used his position as Governor to OFFICIALLY PROSELYTIZE his religious beliefs. Pure and simple. give him half a chance and Fearing God WILL BE a REQUIREMENT to live in Texas.
PLEASE take some of ours. 5 days a week it's either raining or heavy cloud here in the DC area for going on 2 solid months now. ENOUGH already! We are seriously lucky to see the sun 2 or 3 times a week.
To the non-believers, it wouldn't matter if it did rain and relieve the drought. They would chalk it up as something else and not believe b/c their hearts are hard.
That's because there's nothing miraculous about rain. In a state as large as Texas, I'm sure it will rain somewhere with in state boundaries. It's a near certainty, it will rain even if you pray for it not to rain. It's equivalent to praying for the sun to come up every morning.
These fires are strange since Texas is one of the most crazed religious states. I wonder if people prayed all day/night there would never be any disasters.
A little less prayer a little more action. Low taxes equals less readiness.
While I was praying my thumb got stuck up my nose. Is it too small a request to ask the Allmighty God to help get my finger out of my nose? I know that there are bigger problems in the world but I've heard that it's ok since I was a little baby to pray to the Allmighty for things. There are bigger problems in the world, by hey, my problem of my finger being stuck up my nose is a big problem to ME ME ME ME ME ME.....
I prayed... it hasn't rained. My faith is shattered. Thank you Gov Perry!
If I'm an agnostic can I still try to use mental telepathy to talk to god just in case he's there? Do christians allow me to pray to their god if I'm not sure whether or not he exists?
Does is matter to God if I actually say the words "God, please don't mess with Texas"? Or should I just say it silently and use mental telepathy to talk to God?
You're not the Government....
I already wrote this ... hope it goes through ...
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:6
Amen.
Everyone has an opinion. They are all valid to some degree. However, prayer changes things, especially when prayer is for something needed, like rain. What would you suggest the people of TX do? As for "producing" GW and GH Bush, Florida got their karma for GW with the massive hurricanes after the voting snafu. However, AMERICA, is another story, NOW we have Obama? Chew on the consequences we'll have as a nation for that one! Pray for our LEADER to be removed from office in 2012! Then, pray some more to make sure we elect a "better" leader after that! LOL
It is all random, if there is a God- he doesn't get involved in anything on Earth–to say otherwise is to possess a massive ego. To say it can be changed by prayer means God caused every disaster to punish yet releigious and non-religious suffer equally. I and millions will be praying Obama wins in 2012, good thing it will be the ballot that decides cause God keeps it quiet.
Please, take our rain!!! We have way too much already!
I want to start praying for rain for Texas. Would someone please help me? I'm not sure how to ask the lord for rain for the state of Texas. Would someone please help by putting an example of what I can start saying when I'm praying for this?
It's not within the power of the Government to tell you either.
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.
Psalms 5:1
Amen.
If it was a liberal state, the republicans would be out there saying God is punishing them due to, abortion, gay marriage and god knows what else. SO WHAT's with Texas, maybe there being punished for being right winged butt heads who have a double standard. Maybe it's being punished by God because the state produced George H and George W.
Mike,
the Bush's are yankees from the North East, they're not from Tejas, though dubya'd like you to think so...
You do realize that Texas isn't just a giant red mark on the map. This news is released from the Texas capitol-Austin,TX one of the most liberal cities in the country...so before you make your generalizations, do some research. Also, don't condemn a group of people to a plight just because some of them might not agree with your political beliefs. The majority of us wouldn't do that to you. What has become of humanity? So petty, man.
Timing has a lot to do with the success of a rain dance.
Overrule the chauvinistic U.S. Forest Service and ask the Russians for some IL-76 waterbombers.
Praying for anything is ridiculous. In the words of George Carlin, "Suppose that what you want isn't in God's Plan. What do you want him to do? Change his plan?" If an all-powerful, caring deity desired to help with the fires, he would have done it already. He wouldn't need to be reminded of your woes, folks. Also, any deity who holds such aid ransom for prayer is immoral and undeserving of worship.
A week ago some pastor with his congregation were at a gas pump praying for lower gas prices. That prayer doesn't seem to be having any effect and I doubt this one will.
I just prayed to God that I will get an "A" on my Calculus exam without studying - he failed me. Thanks God.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:6
Amen.
@ John: as long as there are math tests, there will be prayer in schools