I feel for those who suffered damage to their homes. Credit to all the people who took the pics. They were all top notch.

On one never knows what's it like until you walk in their shoes.

Buzz, I completely agree. Fortunately, in Kensington I personally had no damage done to my house or property except for losing a few small insignificant limbs.

Richard, I cannot imagine the pain and hopelessness these people will go through losing everything. Losing a photo of my deceased parents would hurt bad enough.

Imagine those who lost loved ones. It tears at people's faith and makes you wonder.

Buzz, Don't where you are in a spiritual walk, but what gives me strength
in times like these is knowing that God wraps His arms around us in times
of turmoil. I have been thru losing a sister, parents and my wife. The only
thing which sustained me in those times and this is the assurance of a loving
Creator and Sustainer.

Rich, easy for you to say. Where was he for those that died.

I'm not quoting this to downgrade religion. I respect it as part of the history of the world but where was he for all of he suffering and why just you and not others who are equally deserving?

"The only thing which sustained me in those times and this is the assurance of a loving Creator and Sustainer."

Over 55 dead homes and lives destroyed and you use the words "loving Creator and Sustainer."

Buzz, Not really easy for anyone to say! Having had heavy property damage
to my yard a number of years back and with parents passing not having support from my spouse; there are times which don't make sense. I know
that some how, some way, maybe by government, maybe by church affiliated
programs or neighbors there will be provision.

Bart you in way over your head. We are in a discussion and Mr. Rice credits God for his good will. I respectfully respond by posting before commenting: "I'm not quoting this to downgrade religion. I respect it as part of the history of the world but where was he for all of he suffering and why just you and not others who are equally deserving?"

Now when engaging in discourse based on your limited comprehension I responded respectfully with a different opinion.

Bart, you're in way over you head when you come after me. It makes you look ...

You can't distinguish the word attack from discourse. I don't think you even know what it means

Richard, I just lost my mother die an very painful death. Go to my profile page and read my blogs on it. There is one more left to write.

I respect religion I just feel that God is not part of this world. Being a cop for 39 years give you a good look at reality.

Ironically we probably owe quite a bit to last summer's "derecho", inasmuch as it took out most of the weak trees in the DC area, leaving Sandy's glancing blow even less lethal. Now if only those talking heads who deliver our news could learn how to pronounce the word correctly.

Buzz, so sorry you look at the negative side of life.

buzz, seriously?! Last time i checked, people had the right to believe what they want and you need to accept that. i do not mean that you need to agree with it... just think of that before the nasty comment. for some, God has helped them through hard times. i am a catholic and i rely on God completely yet my best friend is a jew, i accept her beliefsand she accepts mine... think next time

Bart you in way over your head. We are in a discussion and Mr. Rice credits God for his good will. I respectfully respond by posting before commenting: "I'm not quoting this to downgrade religion. I respect it as part of the history of the world but where was he for all of he suffering and why just you and not others who are equally deserving?"

Now when engaging in discourse based on your limited comprehension I responded respectfully with a different opinion.

Bart, you're in way over you head when you come after me. It makes you look ...

You can't distinguish the word attack from discourse. I don't think you even know what it means.

I love it when people like FIFA say things like that. Why don't you sell you belongings and give the money to the Red Cross and start all over again.

You know why, because you have never been there. Look at angry you get at me and your talking about happy hour because I call it the way it is?

Thanks FIFA. You don't write like Steve and I know that. If there was a God we wouldn't need a president.

Wow, you guys need to let this one go I think. Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and opinions, and regardless of what those beliefs and opinions are we should respect the ones we happen to disagree with. I am all for dissent and love a good Internet fight, but no good can come from this one. Please don't mess with other people's core belief systems. Let's fight about Elkridge and Howard County instead. This particular topic was supposed to be tout the journalism put forth by the Patch teams, and yes, it started out that way but skewed into uncomfortable territory pretty quickly!!! Thanks Patch, for the photos and links.

"It's humane nature. Mr. Rice felt God played a role in this matter and I took (respectfully) issue with him. There were no foul words but rather pure adult discourse. Like I said before I respect religion and it has it's place in the human event, but more physiological than scientific."

That's some funny schiznit right there....

I really don't care what you think. You're not important enough to matter.

... and there it is. Line. Crossed. Flagged as inappropriate for the admins. Buzz ... EVERYONE is important enough to matter, and that was the point all along. I tried, sir. Sorry I couldn't stop you. Maybe next time?

Where in the Bible does it say we won't suffer? I think someone has the wrong idea of what God is all about in this world.

Buzz. "It's humane nature." I think you meant human. Maybe the problem is you need to slow your roll.

Leona, thanks. I was raised strict Catholic and remember John where he says: "All those who believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ shall have their prayers answered"?

I don't thing he was talking about suffering. My mother prayed every day of her life and just died a terrible death. Nice God to treat his child that way.

In this world we call it - Child Abuse!

The real problem seems to be that we are all nothing more than animals with brains that have the ability of perceived reason.....called human beings by our own definition.

Wow...laughing at this conversation!

DJ, it's easy for you to sit in judgement since you not the one being attacked on a constant basis. Look up Robert Armstrong and that who Steve is. Read his comets then pass judgement on me.

If I came at your for over two years like that you would have a fit, but no, you just spout off without knowing the facts. Uninformed is a good word.

I don't have a chip on my shulder but I'm certainly not going to lay down and let some crackpot like Steve call me the leader of the KKK amonger many other slurs.

And if you would allow that then I would have no respect for you. I don't think you would allow your family to be slandered like that now would you? If that is what you mean is a chip on my shoulder, then yeah, I have a big one.

Here is a Christian perspective. God created a perfect world. Eve ate from the one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that was forbidden. God never intended for us to know evil existed. This created the fall of man and hence our broken world. God created man with free will so that we would not live as robots...slaves to God. He wants us to choose Him out of our own love. All I ask is that you read Genesis. I watched my grandmother suffer a horrible death about a year ago, and her faith as well as mine, remianed strong because I knew where she was going and I know where she is. God gave us the ability to make choices and to reason. It's not the God is gone, or not interested in this world...it's that He lets us makle choices. Jesus noted that we would not be without suffering. He promised eternal life, but not a lack of suffering. All I can recommend is reading Gensis and the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to start. God is a loving God, but it's difficult to see in our everyday lives. I can understand why so many people don't believe in God or think that He ahs abandoned us. I cannot, nor would I be pushy to try to make people believe what I believe, I just like to ask people to consider it. As I said, we are free to make our own choices, but the love I have in my life (which is not perfect, two babies lost before they were born and other things that were difficult as well). I just wanted to shed some light from a Christian perspective.

A new low in social discourse.

sorry about the typos, my fingers don't seem to be working well today! :-)

Alicia - I ask you to consider this. One of the reasons most non-believers disagree with you is your third sentence. "Eve ate from the one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that was forbidden." To imagine that "poof" happened and Adam and Eve were just placed on this planet is incomprehensible and not supported by any science.

"Read his comets then pass judgement on me."

Comments. Please if you are trying to play like you are brilliant ....and oh so smarter than everyone else ya better proof read.

FIFA, youre totally entitled to what you believe! I would never try to push you otherwise. There is no science to prove that God created man, you're correct. For me, that is what faith is, believing in what is unseen and what may or may not have evidence. There is a lot of evidence that supports the Bible, but it cannot be proven to 100% accuracy. Please know that I am not in any way trying to start an argument with anyone, definitely not my style. Just wanted to shed some light on what the Christian beliefs are.

What the heck?

If we are going to start picking and chosing what to censure then there's no sense in bothering to post.

Leona, I entirely agree with you. We are engaged in discourse which carries a variety of opinion and views

Just because two people engage in same or for that matter many people, if done properly, everyone should have their say in an adult and respectful way.

The articles that are disallowed by the editors are done when the terms of agreement are violated.

Afly80, we are not arguing. We are engaged in a conversation of different viewpoints. I respect your views. I just pose questions to them for thought.

Lets look at Adam and Eve. In my opinion for God to punish the human race with unimaginable suffering for 2012 years because Eve ate an apple is a bit much.

Not only that I thought he died on the cross for that and man's sins. Just for the heck of it read that link I posted.

My deceased Mom read a tattered prayer from a old piece of paper and then prayed the Rosary every day so she wouldn't fall. In the end she fell and that began her slow painful path to death.

I wondered how could God's mother culd do that given the fact that her son is supposed to be loving and merciful? Why would Mary allow that?

Would you allow your children to go through that?

afly80, I was s strong religious person also. I just could not understand that a loving mercifully God and creator of all things would allow his own children to suffer like this.

A great quote came from the acto Burt Douglas who asked why we have not heard anything from God since the Bible? I would like to see some sort of update or something other than blind faith that was written thousands of years ago.

Religion does give us peace just as our loved ones so it does serve a purpose.

Science is discovering scrolls that shed new light on the Bible who was put together by a man named Constantine as ruler of ancient times.

Buzz,

No not really. I don't think I violated anything at all. I've seen some pretty nasty stuff on here and some of it from even you. So...whatever. I'm done since I can't say what I think .