That Atheist Blog

JoLynn, As I agree with you in most cases people say they are going to pray for someone, they are hoping that God will send someone else into the lives of those in need to clean up a mess, or to help them figure out what to do; I personally am a problem solver, when I know someone is in need and I can help... I do it! However there are times when things were completely out of my hands... And these are the times I pray...

With that being said... the people who just went into prayer without re-tracing their steps to find your daughter... were not thinking clearly. I personally would have gone looking for her... and to myself said prayers to God while searching, that I would find her safe and unharmed... Not to mention I would make sure adults would be placed at each of the locations they visited, so if she showed up... someone would be there for her.

And when it comes to your friend, what you did helped her and I am certain saved her from an extremely desperate situation. And some might debate, you were an answer to prayers... Because you loved her so much to hear her call for help and then did something about it.

Just one person's opinion... And I completely respect where your coming from. :)

@Chrystal - awesome thoughts! I have no issues with people praying - I just dislike it when people say they're going to pray because they want to look like they care......but well, they'd really rather be watching "American Idol" or something else. You're a cool, collected, honest thinker - I like that in a person.

a good thought provoking post... interesting...I personally look at both sides of this coin...cotta keep an open mind.... commend you for helping your friend...YOU ROCK

@Jack - thank you sir, I think there should be a bit less praying and bit more "doing" ... :)

@JoLynn... I agree! And your right... there needs to be more action when it comes to needs! Thanks for the chance to look at prayer from a new perspective!

i fell this way pray for me all you want it cant hurt in fact it can only help god hears all prayers ok example i can pray for x or y i cant help them but if i pray dear god you see my heart i really want to help but since i can't open someones heart. also many people ask me why i'm so good hearted even to people who clearly are taking advantage of me i say hay leave it alone gods going to bless me it may not be the way i want him to but in a place and time when i really need it. god sees your heart and your real motives i fell next time they say im going to pray for you say ill be praying for you also just pray god changes their heart & sorry to hear that about your daughter & friend pray for the people that actually helped your daughter.

@Chicka - just when I think I can't adore you any more - you outdo yourself .

@Chrystal - thanks for your angle and comments too - very well done.

@melissa - you make me want to hug you with your good heart and thanks for your outstanding comments.

Typically me when I say I will pray for you its in a situation of emotional healing or relationship healing but I am a huge advice giver its just in my nature. So I will say when I was in that situation this is what worked for me or this is what helped some one I know. Then I will also say I will pray the situation (whatever that may be) gets better. If some one is in the hospital yes I will pray for them because I am not a doctor so I can't really do anything unless they need something when they get home. But a situation like them losing your daughter I would be looking praying I would find her that is when it comes to God helps those who helps themselves! Just sitting there doesn't do anything.... wow!

I use to say I would pray for people out of good intentions, but then yes, I would usually forget or say a short prayer and forget about it. Prayers I prayed for myself however was of great intesity and they were always answered. One night I had a dream about praying and later felt that was my calling. Now when someone ask me to pray for them I pray hard and deep, sometimes fasting. It feels good when I see the person I was praying for overjoyed from their answered prayer. The only thing when prayer is answered most people aren't prepared to deal with the consequences that may follow. I do enjoy reading your blogs and hope there will be many more. Your fan, Melanie.

@Melanie - thanks for the awesome comment - that's so kind of you to reach out to others the way you do!

@Lisa - awesome comment. I love a "do'er" and I think you're a genuine, giving person for being so honest and true. Thank you.

You're really right,I'll take it as a challenge to every people who believed in God, because if they really know God they must do good for others as He wanted us to do especially in times of need wherever we are if we kept the good things that God teaches us this world could be a wonderful haven to live with.

AS Paul said in 2Thess.2:15. Therefore brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

By word- In James 1:22-25, But be doers of the word, and not hearer only, deceiving yourselve. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

By epistle-In 2Corinthians 2:1-3, Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.

@Jielmer - thanks for your comment. Basically I just wanted to convey I detest when people say they will pray for others because it is such a cop out. I have no issues with people praying - it if makes them feel better - do it by all means please pray.
Just don't pray for me and if someone needs help - get off your posterior and help them. Don't pray for someone to do something because you really don't want to get off FanBox or stop playing Farmville or you really want to polish off that pint of Ben and Jerry's - be a do-er not an asker.

I read an article awhile ago about a study that found surgery patients who were told they were being prayed for had a statistically worse outcome than those who weren't told. Luckily, an old news story about the study was easy to find online.

http://articles.boston.com/2006-03-31/news/29245021_1_intercessory-prayer-surgery-patients-common-complication

Here is a better article about the same study that found that praying for surgery patients didn't help them.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12082681/ns/health-heart_health/t/power-prayer-flunks-unusual-test/

God doesn't work in mysterious ways. He just doesn't work.

@Facts - hey thanks for the links that's a very interesting study. I always liked George Carlin's take on it. If God has this "divine plan" who is any human to ask Him to change it just because they want that job or that extra money? He also prayed to Joe Pesci because he said Joe got more sh*t done with a baseball bat than God ever did.

I remember the Joe Pesci part.

I am thinking of praying to Joe Pesci too - I have this stupid neighbor that is a sex offender that loves to sit on his porch in his skivvies in 30 freakin' degrees and stare into my bedroom - since I'm tired of closing my curtains constantly I wonder if I pray to Joe Pesci to show up with his holy baseball bat and knock some manners into the jerk.

Of course it will work. Joe Pesci is everywhere and does everything for everybody. Just pray to him, click your heals 3 times, and it will be done. But you have to give him money every sunday (wink, wink).

@Chicka - just the thought of that dude on my pizza makes me wanna hurl LOL

Which makes me wonder would anyone pray for a sex offender?
And if you did what would your pray for?
That his junk didn't work anymore?
That he finally found little kids repulsive instead of enticing?
I'm going to ask around and see what people think - I'd be interested to know a hard core believer's take on sex offenders and their place.

This dude is Tier III, that means most likely to re-offend and has multiple convictions.

Thanks Kaanii!!!!

@markjohn thanks for your email I feel the same way.

As for praying for sex offenders... I pray that they will change, I pray that no one else is put into a situation where that person can hurt again. I would love to say that all my prayers a positive things like that two that have been mentioned but I would be lying, I have also prayed that they would get theirs in the end, which that statement alone can be open to interpretation. I wish I could say that I never prayed negative things but that situation is very near to my heart... and well I believe they will get theirs in the end and that makes me feel a bit better....

@Jenny good comment.

I think sex offenders need to removed from the population. It's been proven time and time again (just needing tier 1-3 to ascertain the level of re-offense proves it) that these "urges" for lack of a better word can not be adequately controlled through drugs, surgeries or rehabilitiation therapy. They just get smarter about not getting caught.

I don't know if you've seen the movie "The Human Centipede" but it was started as a joke that child molesters should have their mouths surgically attached to the posteriors of murdering truck drivers...

wow no I haven't seen it...
Well I read a book by Sylvia Brown... (that doesn't sound right I'll have to look) and anyhow she was saying that we would start clipping them so they won't even be able to be aroused... so i'm wondering when that will happen.. soon I hope...

Dig on this, I read a the early results from a study that show there is really hard evidence to support a theory that repeat sex offenders - especially the ones very attracted to children may have a mutation in a particular chromosome. I'm saying it should be excused by any means - what I'm saying is if that is true then you have someone acting in a way they are driven to act and if you castrate them they will use another body part or object to achieve the result. I believe the study is supposed to encompass 6 years and they are only about 2-3 years in. I'll be interested to see how it pans out.

@Johnson - you do realize we're discussing child molesters and sex offenders right? Do you have a lot of admiration for these folks?

Johnson... that's what I thought ;)

Chicka I can only imagine. I have seen the flip side of it - not at the time when the damage has been done - but year after.

I volunteered with a group that helped Foster Kids between the ages of 13-18 so called "Bridge Youth" because they basically age ("bridge") out of the foster care system. I heard the same stories from so many kids regarding adults who took advantage. It almost sounded like the same person was doing it over and over to different kids.

Hello,
God is great, Who pray 4 others God them more blessing. God is with u, he is in ur soul heart, body, mind, feeling, U can be good human when u think about others, Its often that every1 thinks about themself but if u pray or say good words 4 other then count plus in the court of God. God is every where, he can see us, we can feel him but u have 2 have good soul mind then God is with u always.
MAY GOD BLESS EVERYONE.........

@Shreejekkalpesh - Let's discuss this. I'm here to tell you, God is not in my soul, heart, body, mind or feeling. I'm a rational thinking human being. I don't pray for things to happen to others - I DO them. I'm not waiting on someone's imaginary friend to maybe do something. Peace. Really, peace. and that's my 2-cents.

@Johnson - are you asking me if I am a kid?

@Johnson - You chose the screen name you use!

@johnson - be cool to Chicka - she's awesome. :)

@paul - there's another video where you can pray to a milk jug and get the exact same results as praying to "God". I'm not a believer and never have been.