There is a saying concerning difficult situations that goes something like this...

"Pray to God,
but row for the shore."


Another classic one goes like this...

• Heavy rains cause extensive flooding.
  
• Rising waters threaten an old man's house.
  
• A caring neighbor offers to take the man to high ground.
  
• The old man says "No thank you, I have prayed to God and He will save me."
  
• Waters rise and surround the house forcing the man to an upper floor.
  
• Another neighbor (a redneck with a fishing boat I guess) has made his escape with his family. While motoring by he cheerfully offers to take the man to safety.
  
• "No thanks," the man says. "I have prayed to God and He will save me."
  
• Waters rise further and force the man to his roof.
  
• A news crew is out in a helicopter, see the man on his roof and offer to pluck him off to safety.
  
• "No thank you, I have prayed to God and He will save me."
  
• Waters rise and the man drowns!
  
• In heaven, the man protests to God. "Lord, I placed all my faith in you, prayed to you for safety and still you did not save me from the rising flood waters. Why did you not answer my prayers?"
  
• The Lord replies, "I did hear your prayers and sent your caring neighbor, the friendly boater and the daring pilot to save you, but you weren't listening."
  

• Excellent, John - dolphin - September 14, 2001 - 12:26 UTC
  • Yes GOD does... - rggarfinkle - September 14, 2001 - 16:18 UTC
    • Robert, do not bother to justify gods existence. - alexander - September 14, 2001 - 16:26 UTC
      • Couple questions? - rggarfinkle - September 14, 2001 - 19:53 UTC
        • Yes, no need in Ra. All goes by natural laws (=math). - alexander - September 14, 2001 - 21:47 UTC
          • The "goes-by-itself-ness" is Existence - dolphin - September 14, 2001 - 23:40 UTC
            • And Action! - rggarfinkle - September 15, 2001 - 04:05 UTC
• John and Allan, where is the god in example with flood? - alexander - September 14, 2001 - 16:19 UTC
  • My actual point - jhuggins - September 14, 2001 - 20:02 UTC
    • So, no sigt of allmighty God, huh? - alexander - September 14, 2001 - 21:59 UTC
      • See my response about "goes-by-itself-ness" - dolphin - September 15, 2001 - 06:05 UTC