Georgia Tries To Pray Up A Storm

(CBS/AP)  Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue stepped up to a podium outside the state Capitol on Tuesday and led a solemn crowd of several hundred people in a prayer for rain on his drought-stricken state.

"We've come together here simply for one reason and one reason only: To very reverently and respectfully pray up a storm," Perdue said after a choir provided a hymn.

After 20 months of drought, Lake Lanier, North Georgia's main source of drinking water, has had barely half its typical rainfall, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann. The levels are 17 feet below normal -- so low that boaters have to walk far out into the lake to get in.

Perdue has ordered water restrictions, launched a legal battle against the release of water from federal reservoirs and appealed to President Bush.

"It's time to appeal to him who can and will make a difference," Perdue told the crowd.

A church choir belted out "What a Mighty God We Serve" and "Amazing Grace" as a keyboardist swayed to the rhythm. While preachers spoke, worshippers chanted "amen," and some stood with eyes closed and arms outstretched.

"God, we need you," Perdue said. "We need rain."

The hourlong event was billed as an interfaith ceremony but only three Protestant ministers joined Perdue, who is a Baptist, and Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle.

Nearby, some 20 demonstrators from the Atlanta Freethought Society staged a protest against the holding of a religious observance at the seat of state government.

Protester Ed Bruckner sees a clear church-state violation in public prayer that is held on state property and led by Georgia's top executive, reports Strassmann.

"It's a public disgrace," said Bruckner. "My public leader is making a fool of himself."

Police moved the protesters when they cordoned off the streets before the event, and none were in sight at the end of the service.

Meteorologists said earlier this week there was a slight possibility of rain Tuesday, with some more rain in the forecast Wednesday. After that, little rain was predicted for the rest of the week. The rainfall deficit in Athens and Atlanta is 16 inches, according to the National Weather Service.

"I believe in miracles," declared Pastor Maurice Watson of Beulahland Bible Church. "How about you?"

[nggr]

PRAISE JESUS!
it was the PRAYER that made it rain!
it in NO WAY involved the natural processes that cuase weather to occur!
it was JESUS!!
hallelujah

[mocalleo]

Must have worked

''cause it rained for the last two days

woohoo

[nggr]

singinrick is a homosexual.
just ask jesus, singinrick cant hide the truth.
jesus IS the truth, and the truth has told me singinrick is a homosexual.
i have a personal relationship with my savior, JESUS CHRIST, that was his name, his momma named him that, MARY CHRIST and JOSEPH CHRIST were their names.
they were caucasian and southern, born in georgia, they built the worlds first cruiseship and sailed over to bethlehem where they stayed in a barn and had my good buddy JESUS.
he is the truth, nothing he says is ever wrong because he is so cool.
and he told me, while we was smokin a joint in my basement, that singinrick is a closet homosexual, and that he will never forgive him for that.
man, to bad rick

[logicanada]

fitedafuture. your last post sounds like a line by a Mullah declaring infatada.
You guys are all crazy.

[logicanada]

singinrick, jesus wasn''t the ''truth'' until Pope Constantine said he was in the 3rd century. Until then he was considered a zealot by Rome. He and his followers were adopted by the holy roman church in an ancient form of gerrymandering in order to capture tithes from more people.
You ought to read a little more history and a little less bible.

[fitedafuture]

if God Be for us, who can be against us?

[fitedafuture]

ye, of little faith...

[fitedafuture]

RAIN down!!!

[logicanada]

Let''s all pray for rain when storm season is coming. If it happens we''ll call it a miracle! If not, we have sinned and are not worthy.
Quit window shopping for the hereafter. There is no ''god'' as is amply evidenced by your treatment of the rest of the world.
Yeah, I know. Just another commie, pinko satanic left wing liberal baby killing democrat.

Spectrum108, punk, I have more education than you will ever have. Who the hell are you to put yourself on a pedestal and preach junk like that? The only reason why you post comments like that is because you''re too chicken to tell anyone your thoughts in person. Seems as if you''re the only one on here that knows about that.