Power-working wonder?

July 5, 2003 8:46 AM

Preacher asks for a sign, and gets one. Is this the wonder-working power Bush was talking about in the State of the Union Address? Oddly enough this list of indoor lightning safety tips doesn't suggest staying the hell away from charismatic preachers.
posted by stonerose (22 comments total)

Don't forget the danger of tongue piercings.
posted by konolia at 9:49 AM on July 5, 2003

damage to the church is estimated at around $20,000.

So what kind of a sign is that?
posted by carter at 10:01 AM on July 5, 2003

On my desk I have this newspaper clipping from long ago...

LIGHTNING FOLLOWS 'HERE I AM' TAUNT

Associated Press
BOSSIER CITY, LA.

A man standing in the stern of his new boat raised his hands, looked skyward and declared, "Here I am," just before a lightning bolt struck him dead, authorities said.

Graves Thomas, 40, a lawyer, died of electrocution on Monday, forensic pathologist Dr. George McCormick said. There was no thunder or sign of lightning before the killer bolt struck, Dan Russell, one of four friends in the boat with Mr. Thomas, said.
posted by 327.ca at 10:19 AM on July 5, 2003

This is how religions get started.
posted by Netsloth at 10:32 AM on July 5, 2003

Or ended. I think this was a sign from God that Baptists are in the wrong religion.
posted by nyxxxx at 10:55 AM on July 5, 2003

If he was waving his arms around or even just lifting them up on high, maybe El Queso Grande thought he was.... you know...

dancin'.

But the report doesn't say he was Baptist, much less Southern Baptist.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:28 AM on July 5, 2003

I used to be a southern baptist. now I listen to Black Flag and I hate my parents!
posted by mcsweetie at 11:35 AM on July 5, 2003

I wonder if churches have special insurance that covers "acts of god" as they usually arent covered in most plans.
posted by RubiX^3 at 12:18 PM on July 5, 2003

And the George Bush reference was thrown in here why...?
posted by PrinceValium at 1:13 PM on July 5, 2003

XQ gets the prize for most applicable comics reference.

I was just thinking that this is certainly ironic, but mostly because it is perfectly explainable. He asked for a sign from God, and instead he got basic meteorology.
posted by Hildago at 1:43 PM on July 5, 2003

And the George Bush reference was thrown in here why...?

For some reason, the juxtaposition of the concepts of religion and electricity made me think of the phrase "wonder-making power," which I remembered from Bush's speech. Since I don't like letting an opportunity to smirk at Bush slip by, since the pun made me giggle, and since the post was a little bit weak on its own merits, I put it in as an added-value bonus.
posted by stonerose at 1:49 PM on July 5, 2003

The Glasgow Daily Record gets top marks for best headline: "A SINGE FROM GOD".
posted by taz at 2:10 PM on July 5, 2003

And the George Bush reference was thrown in here why...?

To encourage us to pray that Bush gets a sign? I'm just sayin......
posted by ElvisJesus at 2:31 PM on July 5, 2003

It's interesting that the inventor of the lightning rod, Benjamin Franklin, initially had trouble convincing the churches of his time to use the device, due to its theological implications.

Eventually, those tall, pointy, lightning-attractive steeples were hit often enough to convice even the most pious that Franklin's invention was a good idea.
posted by SPrintF at 2:43 PM on July 5, 2003

This is how religions get started.
Or ended. I think this was a sign from God that Baptists are in the wrong religion.

Not even a sign from God will make fanatics re-evaluate their beliefs.
posted by spazzm at 6:57 PM on July 5, 2003

what was the sign? That their steeple was the tallest conducive structure around?
posted by mdn at 8:10 PM on July 5, 2003

Maybe it was a sign for them to fire their electrician?
Who the hell wires a microphone to a steeple?
posted by spazzm at 8:13 PM on July 5, 2003

This community really does have a hardon for Bush. It's kinda pathetic. Make it stop.
posted by paleocon at 8:17 PM on July 5, 2003

"A man standing in the stern of his new boat raised his hands, looked skyward and declared, "Here I am," just before a lightning bolt struck him dead, authorities said."

This is the most persuasive evidence yet that my strategy of never leaving the basement is definitely the way to go.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:41 PM on July 5, 2003

This community really does have a hardon for Bush. It's kinda pathetic. Make it stop.


I live in Kenton, which is about 20 mins. away from Forest. All of the surrounding towns (including mine) are very very conservative. *Cue the Lee Greenwood songs and ClearChannel Bush tributes here*.

I'm trying to track down the picture of the charred steeple in our local newspaper, but the online archives don't seem to have it. The force of the strike was so powerful that it blew the cross off the steeple itself. If I do find it I'll post it here, otherwise I'll just post a transcript of the caption.

Yes, it's a podunk town. Kenton has maybe 5000, Forest maybe 1000? Not really sure.
posted by KoPi_42 at 8:59 PM on July 5, 2003

"You could hear the storm building outside... he just kept asking God what else he needed to say."

And God said, "Shut the fsck up."
posted by Cerebus at 8:53 AM on July 6, 2003

Same old story: Life imitates Simpson episode.
posted by soyjoy at 10:00 AM on July 7, 2003