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Friday, April 22, 2011

Pray for Texas


TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME:

WHEREAS, the state of Texas is in the midst of an exceptional drought, with some parts of the state receiving no significant rainfall for almost three months, matching rainfall deficit records dating back to the 1930s; and

WHEREAS, a combination of higher than normal temperatures, low precipitation and low relative humidity has caused an extreme fire danger over most of the State, sparking more than 8,000 wildfires which have cost several lives, engulfed more than 1.8 million acres of land and destroyed almost 400 homes, causing me to issue an ongoing disaster declaration since December of last year; and

WHEREAS, these dire conditions have caused agricultural crops to fail, lake and reservoir levels to fall and cattle and livestock to struggle under intense stress, imposing a tremendous financial and emotional toll on our land and our people; and

WHEREAS, throughout our history, both as a state and as individuals, Texans have been strengthened, assured and lifted up through prayer; it seems right and fitting that the people of Texas should join together in prayer to humbly seek an end to this devastating drought and these dangerous wildfires;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICK PERRY, Governor of Texas, under the authority vested in me by the Constitution and Statutes of the State of Texas, do hereby proclaim the three-day period from Friday, April 22, 2011, to Sunday, April 24, 2011, as Days of Prayer for Rain in the State of Texas. I urge Texans of all faiths and traditions to offer prayers on that day for the healing of our land, the rebuilding of our communities and the restoration of our normal way of life.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto signed my name and have officially caused the Seal of State to be affixed at my Office in the City of Austin, Texas, this the 21st day of April, 2011.

RICK PERRY
Governor of Texas
This is going to put God in a really difficult position. He's right in the middle of punishing Texas for being so stupid in the past few decades and now the Texans are pleading for relief from that punishment. It may be hopeless. After all, the Egyptians didn't get spared when they prayed to their gods to stop another god from killing all their firstborn sons.


[Office of the Governor]

31 comments :

Veronica Abbass said...

"Pray for Texas"!!!, not likely.

In fact, I'm getting sick of reading what I already know:
"For the Christian community Good Friday is the holiest day of the year, marking the day Jesus died on the cross."

Instead of praying, which I wouldn't do anyway, I am going to take advantage of this, "Good Friday is also the first day for advance polls for the federal election," and vote.

The Other Jim said...

Probably as effective as other Republican policies.

lee_merrill said...

"This is going to put God in a really difficult position. He's right in the middle of punishing Texas ..."

I'm thinking Prof. Moran may not have special access to the mind of the Almighty. But this is a proper question for those who (as I do) believe God is in full control.

Why pray for God to stop what he is in control of, and therefore, what he is doing?

Well, God's purpose might be for people to pray. For people to seek him.

For a person such as Prof. Moran who is aware that believers view biology as God's handiwork, it seems incongruent to hold that the creator of such complexity has simplistic purposes.

There are people who are smart, but not wise--however, Christians don't believe God to be such.

"The manifold wisdom of God", said St. Paul, which means God is not just out in the world with a hammer.

Anonymous said...

Veronica, where did you get the quote:
"For the Christian community Good Friday is the holiest day of the year, marking the day Jesus died on the cross."

DK said...

Unbelievable. I am speechless. I really thought it's a hoax.

t_p_hamilton said...

lee_merrill said:"Why pray for God to stop what he is in control of, and therefore, what he is doing?

Well, God's purpose might be for people to pray. For people to seek him."

And I torture people in my basement to hear them beg me to stop. All is good since I have control, eh?

steve oberski said...

god's ways are indeed mysterious, beyond mere mortal ken, but strangely enough god seems to share the same prejudices about homosexuals, abortion, stem cell research etc. as his believers.

DK said...

Well, God's purpose might be for people to pray. For people to seek him.

God is quite a narcissist, isn't he? :-)

The Rat said...

If there is no rain will Perry resign? Will god resign? Or will Perry and his fellow Texans consider any of these possibilities: 1) there is no god, 2) there is a god but he's a slacker, 3) there is a god but he doesn't give a shit, 4) there is a god but he's a prick, 5) there is a god but he's busy, 6) there is a kind loving god but he just hates Texas.

Devin said...

I'm going to pray for the drought to continue. We'll see whom God likes better.

Veronica Abbass said...

Anonymous asks
"Veronica, where did you get the quote"

It is from the Peterborough Examiner; however, it is similar to other articles on the topic found on other newspapers online:

http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.
com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=3089037

Veronica Abbass said...

The Rat said...
"If there is no rain will Perry resign? Will god resign?"

Great questions! I'm thinking of having a t -shirt made with the words "God resigned; fend for yourself."

Anonymous said...

This State is a Texas-sized paradox. Texas is increasingly urban, educated and wealthy. It has an enormous and diversified economy and population. Yet it is continuing its lurch towards the right-wing for the past twenty years. From primary education to penal policy to basic benefits for the poor and ill, Texas has become a national embarrassment. Perry's proclamation, while head-scratching, does not make the top 100 of recent anti-rationality from the Texas State Capitol.

lee_merrill said...

"And I torture people in my basement to hear them beg me to stop. All is good since I have control, eh?" (t_p_hamilton)

That would be a simplistic view for me to hold, wouldn't it?

"God is quite a narcissist, isn't he?" (DK)

And this would be as well. So to rebuke the Christian view of God, we must needs first find out what that would be.

Regards,
Lee

Anonymous said...

There, problem solved.

Now pray for cheap gas. Pray for a cure for cancer. Pray for an end to war. Pray to grow back severed limbs. Pray for a landing on Mars. Pray for early warnings of tsunamis. Pray for a strong dollar and a balanced budget...

Alex said...

I'd make it rain-- but please, call me Alex. God sounds so formal.

t_p_hamilton said...

"And I torture people in my basement to hear them beg me to stop. All is good since I have control, eh?" (t_p_hamilton)

Lee_merrill:"That would be a simplistic view for me to hold, wouldn't it?"

Yes, it is. And morally degenerate. I realize that not all Christians are so simple-minded as you, they actually struggle with the problem of evil, but still to no avail. Lee Merrill solves problem of evil - calls evil good!

Russ said...

True or false, it's going to rain in Texas before long? Well, that's true. This is just political religious bullshit. You can bet that a good percentage of deluded Texans will see rain, no matter when it happens, as having been caused by their prayers.

steve oberski said...

lee_merrill said...

I'm thinking Prof. Moran may not have special access to the mind of the Almighty.

But apparently you do.

And a very small, twisted, nasty mind, not unlike the minds of it's believers, it appears to be.

And completely devoid of any sense of irony.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Veronica.
The crucifixion and resurrection is the most important event in Christianity.

Jesus came back from the dead after about 1 and a half days. He was crucified on Friday evening and was seen alive again Sunday morning.

This is an example of what we call today a "near-death experience". (A near-death experience is actually a death experience).
There have been other recorded examples of people coming back from the dead after a few days.

What makes his resurrection so significant, is what he was able to do afterwards.

Unknown said...

And this would be as well. So to rebuke the Christian view of God, we must needs first find out what that would be.

Good idea. Who would you suggest we ask? Which Christian - whether individual or institution - is authorized to speak on behalf of all the others?

DK said...

OT but how about some commentary on the latest on PhD glut in Nature?

lee_merrill said...

> Ian: Which Christian - whether individual or institution - is authorized to speak on behalf of all the others?

As far as the Christian view of God, let's start with benevolent, all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent. No need to ask a special spokeperson! This is standard belief.

As far as the Christian answer to the problem of evil (I think this the best atheist argument), at least let's address what some Christian thinker said. This of course would not be the place for that.

But a quick outline might include the fact that Jesus said those who follow him must take up a cross, so praying for everything to be correct and comfortable is not in line with this.

Then next question is whether there can be a purpose to suffering, the Christian answer is that indeed there can be.

A third consideration is how does a real afterlife affect this problem? I think it has a profound effect, if it's true.

Yet God didn't answer all of Job's questions! Nor would I think myself able to do so.

Veronica Abbass said...

Anonymous said...

"What makes his resurrection so significant, is what he was able to do afterwards."

Huh?

Jud said...

lee_merrill writes:

As far as the Christian view of God, let's start with benevolent....

Jesus said those who follow him must take up a cross....

lee_merrill has only five more impossible things to believe before breakfast to equal the White Queen.

steve oberski said...

@Anonymous Jesus came back from the dead after about 1 and a half days. He was crucified on Friday evening and was seen alive again Sunday morning.

Hey, I've had weekends like that too !

But I blame it on the beer.

steve oberski said...

@lee_merrill As far as the Christian answer to the problem of evil (I think this the best atheist argument)

No, that would be the argument that says you don't have a shred of evidence for your invisible sky fairy.

The rest is just theological wanking.

Unknown said...

As far as the Christian view of God, let's start with benevolent, all-knowing, all-powerful, omnipresent. No need to ask a special spokeperson! This is standard belief.

Oh, so you're authorized to speak on behalf of all Christians. I'm sorry, I didn't realize.

The Rat said...

Veronica Abbass said "I'm thinking of having a t -shirt made with the words "God resigned; fend for yourself."

Now THAT is a good one!

Retrog said...

Is Perry's main job a model for hair dye? I often wonder what goes on in the minds of models. They don't need much. Perhaps Perry proves it.

Anonymous said...

It rained like hell yesterday, 5/12. See, the prayers worked, Dr. Elitist Professor!

My only wish is that Perry had put proper postage on the prayer parcel so it didn't take more than three weeks for delivery.