Pastor Rick Warren blinded by poisonous plant, expected to recover

Euphorbia Tirucalli or "Firestick" the sap is VERY deadly. Will burn your skin if you touch it let alone get it in your eyes. Brazil looked at using the sap as gasoline in the 80's.

So another religous figure was playing around with a redhead and cought an STD to the eyes. This isnt news.

yea, if you went blind what would you really say about your god.

@ajl,
The same things he always says. He doesn't think he is exempt from problems and illnesses. I wonder what you say about yourself.

Mr. Warren,
I'll pray for your quick and complete recovery. I don't beleve God is through using our tremendous talents and skills.

Although you are suffering at the moment, remember, "it's not about -you-"

Imagine all the tithes/cash your sermons will bring in now. God gave you back your sight. Go ahead use it, what the hell.

Jesus Christ loves all man, but bows down to none.
Is he seen something I ain’t?

I guess God wanted this.

Oops. God just told me this happened because Rick Warren doesn't support gays.

Where was Sarah Palin, Dick Cheney and the utterly depraved Bush jr.? They should have been alongside Rick Warren pruning his firebush, getting in touch with the environment and finding out what the earth's environment thinks of them personally.

Wait a minute.......,
Yes here it comes, " 40 days of Pain" The new church small group resource.
Geez!

He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities and by His wounds WE ARE HEALED!!!!! Praying for raid recover. We love in Jesus Name.

There is no question at all.

GOD SAVED HIM

I am shocked by all of the people making mean spirited remarks about this man. Whether you believe in his God or not, he is a human being. It isn't 'nice' to wish ill on others or to take delight in their misery. These are probably the same people who pulled the wings off of flies as children. It saddens me what has become of the human race. I hope Mr. Warren makes a full recovery. Another sad thing is he would still pray for those who have wished him ill.

GOD will heal you and will saved you ,GOD loves you

May his eyes be opened to theway he has split and destroyed many godly churches with His ideas and new age methods.

May God open HIs eyes to the damage HE has done to so many churches in this country. The damage has put many churches out of GOds plan and emptied thier buildings and left them suffering financially.

Some of you people are so insensitive and very inconsiderate of ones well being. Here is a man who has temporary lost his sight and many of you does not show any type of compassion at all. I have seen many nonbelievers start going to church soon as they get into trouble or lose a love one. I hope you nonbelievers accept Jesus as your lord and savior before times get hard for you.

can you imagine if he had been messing around with one of these plants? Much more dangerous than the firestick! http://bit.ly/cdVzbY

Unbelievable. A man was injured and nearly lost his sight. Have some compassion. Whether or not you believe in what he preaches, where is your basic human decency???

THANK YOU Mr. Warren for doing so many great things for so many people worldwide. Good to hear you are getting better.

He could probably think he has been punished for something.

By the way, if this plant is so toxic, aren't people made more aware of it. Was he not aware of this I wonder.

This Pastor sounds like he doesn't have too many fans on here, but there is no need to be mocking. You are mocking God also. Remember karma could come back and bite you in the you know what's it.

Wishing him a speedy recovery.

Rick, recover. The world needs you.

Out of the many TV preachers, Rick Warren has a good heart~ I pray for his full-recovery. He gives away most of book-riches and does lots of charity work ~

I pray for him to recover quickly. This is a true man of God who has been a blessing to millions of people across the world.

DEAR PASTOR WARREN , SORRY TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED AND I'M PRAYING FOR A SPEEDY AND FULL RECOVERY.

why doesnt he preach the truth like money is evil and you cannot serve two masters either you will love the one and hate the other these people arent sent from god for god said when you go take nothing no silver gold or brass for the workman is worthy of his hire besides if you follow christ you follow him not the world and teach with power and miracles not deceit and lust for money jesus said all that came before him are thieves and robbers many shall come in the last days saying i am he and deceive many repent and seek him these are evil days people

thats one big judas money bag to have jet and multi houses off twisting gods intent and word god said cursed is he who adds or takes away from my word and jesus said he comes that those who see be blind and those who were blind lame oppresed be healed so maybe this is a turning point brethren

God send him a little message.

OK, God send him an important message.

Ok, it was not God that sent him a message after all. It was mother nature.

What was he doing with Firestick in his garden to begin with? This is a potentially very deadly poisonous plant. Why would you have that in your home garden? It's like putting copperheads in your garden to keep down the rodent population.

BMW-It is the LOVE of money that is evil, not money itself. If money
owns you then you are serving the wrong master! It doesn't mean
if you serve God you will never have money. Money in the right frame
is a tool. A tool that can be used for God's purposes. God will always
bless His children just as we bless our own children. That also does
not mean every parent can keep bad things happening to their children. We live in a fallen world and bad things will happen to
good, Godly people. Our response as Christian should be God can
use the bad things that happen and turn them to good. Until we
are in heaven with God we can be assured he will not give us
more than we can bear. My prayers are for a full recovery for Pastor
Warren in this life.

Not reported here, the plant was infected by Rick Warren's toxic poison and is not expected to make it.

Who is Rick Warren? I never heard of him. Sorry about his wound.

Toxic poison. . . Too bad it wasn't a non-toxic poison.

Mr. Warren, we will be praying for your full recovery. You have helped so many people. God heals. God is faithful. You will make a full recovery.

People criticize you because you stand for righteousness. But just like before, God will prove them wrong.

God bless you and thank you very much for all the good things you have done.

Gen 19:11And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. Mr. Warren has a homosexual mind, he mixes seed, his book Purpose Driven life is PURE DIALECTIC, his book is what the Creator told Adam and Eve to NOT partake of and Warren targeted the American church with the Purpose to corrupt it, God doesn't take too lightly to those who screw with HIS BOOK!

Really hope you feel better;
But if you feel God is doing his or her best; What about the doctors and nurses who are helping you through this mess. Did God select special ones to care for you?I am not a believer as you can see. But I had a hot marshmallow at a campfire site blow into my eve; God didn't save my eye, the doctors did. I can see clearly now that you were at the wrong place at the wrong time;playing with the wrong plant; Have a nice day;

GOD help us all for we know NOT what we do. in the end, whenever the end of these days comes about, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord!. As a believer in GOD, JESUS and the HOLY SPIRIT, i will pray that all mankind repents from our evil and wicked ways. there is only one way to be restored into right relationship with ABBA FATHER and that is by accepting JESUS as you own personal saviour, because we humans are born with a sin nature and that sin nature has separated us from GOD. GOD so loves this world and the people on it that HE gave of HIMSELF to correct that which man kicked to the curb. so, please all you humans get your business straight with GOD, because soon it will indeed be too late. God bless us everyone, we need it desperately!

What a moron.

It is amazing the lack of compassion expressed by some.

I hope and pray Rev. Warren is doing better.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I'm found
Was blind but now, we'll see

jesus is imaginary. Grow up.

Amazing comments, especially those lumping this dude in w/ anti-environmentalists and moneygrabbers when he doesn't take a salary from his church and gives most of his book profits to fund 3rd world charities, esp those fighting the AIDS pandemic in Africa.

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today to ask Your Forgiveness and seek Your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who call evil good," but that's exactly what we have done. We have lost our Spiritual equilibrium and inverted our values. We confess that; we have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism; We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism; We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle; We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery; We have neglected the needy and called it self preservation; We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare; We have killed our unborn and called it choice; We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable; We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem; We have abused power and called it political savvy; We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition; We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression; We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, O God, and know our hearts today; try us and see if there be some wicked way in us; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent here by the people of this state and who have been ordained by You, to govern this great state of Kansas. Grant them your wisdom to rule and may their decisions direct us to the center of Your Will.

I ask in in the name of your Son, The Living Savior, Jesus Christ

God spoke to me this morning...he told me Rick will make a full recovery and he hopes that he learned his lesson. Rick has been a bad little boy.....God didn't like his involvement with the death squads on Ghana for all gays and lesbians.

And now I will pass the donation plate.....to enhance Rick's speedy recovery and his noble work in Ghana – NOT!

Rick expects a surge in donations over the next few week/ends; and will repeat this self-inflicted victimized drama now & then! Just watch!

sigh...I see some of these posts and wonder what is wrong with some people...then it occurs to me. The darkness is so overpowering in hate for God that it is not Rick who is blind, but these posters.

Rick Warren GIVES back way more than God asks. Most of his royalities are given to charities and he preaches only love. Well of whom he preaches taught only love also. Look what happened to Him!! Praying for you Rick, get well brother. I am praying for some of the posters on here also that they may see the truth.

I too am amazed by the vitirol in the comments above. Its the same in many of the articles on politics (whether democratic or republican, it doesn't really matter). Bottom line is that folks say things here they would never say face to face with Mr. Warren or any of the other public figures reported on in these on-line news stories.

What we are missing in the internet community is common courtesy. We've lost a lot when we can't treat others as we would like them to treat us.

Remember Warren Jeffs? Most of his followers turned a blind eye on his sexual prowess. And the CC protected those child-loving priests for decades, centuries, and milleniums.

Sheep are sheep, regardless of religion. Things won't change.

I'm trying to understand how the business of a church that you don't attend is any of your business?!?!!! No one is asking you for our money – you don't provide any financial support Pastor Warren, his church nor his lifestyle so....what? Why are you and the rest of the crew always on the attack when it comes to the church? Like a bunch of hateful and jealous outsiders who have made a choice to remain on the outside, but can't keep their ears, eyes and nose out of what's going on, on the inside!?!

Why does a preacher's extravagance bother you, but not the extravagance of celebrities, sports figures and the crooked corporate CEO's who have destroyed the future of so many? Where are your rants and smart mouths about that?

You don't give to anybody's church, but you support the lifestyles and help to buy the cars, drugs, homes and yachts of celebrities, crooked corporate officers and (mostly) performance drug enhanced sports "heroes," without batting an eye!?!

That's the great thing about America – choices. You are free to support whomever you choose, even if your choice happens to be a church. When church goers want your input on how to spend their money don't worry...they'll ask you for it. Until then, get a life & tend to it, and allow others to exercise their right to do the same thing without all of your banal cackling!

Who tweets when they're enduring pain at a level of 8 on a 1-10 scale? And since he could see when he sent the tweet, what did he mean by, "Pray my sight LOSS is restored"? He wanted to lose his sight again?

It is ironic that some of the most hateful comments posted here are by "Christians" who disagree with Rev. Warren. Whatever happened to "Judge not, lest ye be not judged?"

Everyone that posts on this is crazy, either one side or the other.

He'll get some milage out of this. "I was bling and then I could see" Now write me a check.

Another holy roller proves he's dumber than a rock. Nice goatee by the way Rick!

Almost hides the week chin and the fact that your jawline is hidden behind a curtain of fat.

You are just one of thousands of master manipulators, liars who do so for their own enrichment. It's a scam. Wake up everyone, all people like Warren offer you is something to do for 1 hour on Sunday-and he wants 10 percent of your salary for that, which isn't even entertaining.
(Well unless they're speaking in tongues, that's pretty funny stuff. homina, homina, shamalamadingdong!)

And, on another note, I must say that I resent being subjected to prayers on this blog which include a lot of opinions best kept to oneself in the name of the lord. Politics should be kept completely out of religion or christians are no better than the muslims that adopt sharia law to control the masses. It's a sickness that verges on mind control, or the closest thing that there is to it. Who is the Manchurian candidate? The religious body of our world.

OMG! There really is a burning bush! I now believe! He couldn't open his eyes? Is that something new?

I'll pray for his followers to recover because they have his same condition. They can't open their eyes.

If [you] were OC spayed in the eye, you would understand that every human being deserves to be treated as one withouth even a split-second thought of anything personal you have against them.

I know Rick will enjoy reading all of these posts, after all, these are the people and opinions that our society is made of. Many of us are best at throwing our faults and fears out into the public and the best we can offer to each other are hurtful words.
In my humble advice, cure the world (let hurts and pains be healed), find and practice Love, and may it start with me.
Much Love to Rick and his family, and to all who cared to post here....

I'm sorry to hear that Rick, I hope and pray that you get better.

There are good people of all faiths who will never be heard of, nor do they seek fame or publicity, being too hard at work trying to help the suffering. These anonymous 'saints' face incredible dangers, not only from natural sources like plants, animals, germs and viruses, but human enemies of their cause. Still, they keep on with no surrender to fear.
All religious celebrities are satisfied by the brainwashed masses who keep them well supplied with what they crave..money, power, sympathy,
adoration, luxury and celebrity status. They are a particularly disgusting lot.
I don't wish this Warren guy harm at all. I just don't like him or his kind.

"Remember God is in charge.".. and HIS WILL be done....

Be careful what you pray for ...it may not be HIS WILL..... For only God can see the future and make all things fit together for His Glory.. not ours.

Maybe God is trying to tell him something. He speaks in mysterious ways....

Of course it will heal. The doctors said so. Why exactly are you praying then? To exploit it for gain?

Remember...
"God" is a character in ancient literature-a "guy" created by guys in a book. And when the old stories and myths became "doctrine" (also called dogma)-viola! a religion was born. It's called "Monotheism." It's practiced by Jews, Muslims, and Christians in about 30 zillion variations worldwide, including the one Hitler (Catholic) used to "justify" killing Jews. (An atheist would call it murder). Of course, non-believers kill (almost) nobody. More correctly stated-God ISN'T in charge, YOU are superstitious. And WE are alone out here in space, and very lucky to have had the chance to take the ride. Like ALL "men of God," THIS GUY profits from your ignorance. And yes, he knows it. We don't know everything, but we know it isn't mythology...

He must've had some sadistic physicians as there was absolutely no need for him to suffer. Cocaine HCL and substances derived from Cocaine HCL are widely used topical anesthetics to control pain in the eye. In fact, more than one medical text states: "The general surgeon will find many opportunities to employ the drug advantageously; indeed, in many instances it has replaced all other anesthetics. In many operations on the genito-urinary tract, rectum, nose, throat, ear, and eye it serves a most valuable purpose." Thus, my conclusion that his treating physicians where either sadistic, prejudiced against its use, or afraid of law enforcement. It's a problem patients in pain run into far too often in the USA because some idiots choose to abuse the medications.

"Pray my sight loss is restored" That makes NO sense. He should say "pray for my SIGHT to be restored." lol

as my friend used to say 'what goes around comes around".

Even though I diverge from him politically from time to time, I believe he's a good Christian and charitable man. Hoping he has a speedy recovery.

i wonder how many people here that made the mean spirited comments try to portray themselves as caring people in front of their peers or those they would impress? is it okay if you do it to a christian, but NOT an animal? take no delight in the misery of your neighbor, or it isn't long before you are the one in his place. then pray that they have compassion, no matter the faith.

God bless Pastor Warren, as it pleases the Lord.

At least he asked for prayers and not money. We'll see how long that lasts.

None so blind as they that will not see.

Rick Warren is being punished by God for his unChristian attitudes toward Gay people. Its not YOUR job to judge people Rick.

Suffer much and I hope you are met with the same "compassion" you have shown your fellow man. You have no business using MY God to line your pockets! This is the Lord's way of telling you that he wants you out of the ministry.

while the title of this article is brilliantly worded already, it should read more accurately:

thanks to a poisonous plant and a tendency toward shadenfreude, CNN will benefit from a little extra ad revenue.

Toxic poison? – try to avoid unnecessary redundancy.

"""Its obviously an accident""""", if it happened to anyone else who did not represent God, there wouldn`t be vicious comments!

Rick dosn`t wish evil on others, thats your interpretation, he just stands for what he believes!
You can believe what you want, but wishing pain on others is gonna come back to you eventually !

I pray him well, and I`m sure thats what God wishes too..........

This is God's way to show Mr. Warren she's pissed off.

@zinnia - OMG... ROFLMAO... I love this!
@Mary - Sorry, couldn't get past the first paragraph or two... if you read it from my perspective (lesbian non-Christian), I see he's just reaping that which he has sown.

This thread proves one thing- that atheism is just as much a religion as any monothestic faith. And its followers can be just as hate-filled, ignorant, and violent.

Jesus saves! He clips coupons. Seriously though, jesus is dead. deal with it.

It's amazing to me that people who consisder themselves "good Christians" spew such hate and venom. Isn't that the antithesis of what Christianity is? I don't know much about Rick Warren and don't really care, but how are these people any different from the Taliban? They want to punish and get rid of people who don't agree with them and, if they could, they would make us all toe the line with their beliefs.

I saw a cartoon a while ago that had God as a guest on the "Larry King Show". Larry says "Let's get right down to it, is it intelligent design or evolution?" God smiles and says "Yes".

That about sums it up for me. Something gave it some rules (physics, fractals) and started it, and it's been rolling along on its own ever since. Your invisible super heroes and their mythology play and have played a vital role in culture. A culture's mythology (like the Bible) is it's moral cookbook for living. It shouldn't be dismissed out of hand, but it also shouldn't be mistaken for history.

I just can't believe that God has some magical influence over your daily affairs because you pray.

nah, it was just the plant Devas trying to get his attention. It was pure Karma. The pagan figures are tired of being ignored for some imaginary "all in one" god. Look around you, deity and creation is all around you every day! Or become as blind in body as you are in spirit.

For all you sinners who refuse to believe in God, the Bible calls you fools. If you read the story, you'd find the man can now see again and it was just an accident. Don't make more of it than it is, however if anything, the man was actually healed of blindness. That's something the lot of you need despirately before its too late for you.

Looking at the comments here just proves a couple of points:
Religion really does ruin everything
It's scary how many people really believe the voices in their head are from AREN'T symptoms of illness

Similarly, Pastor Warren has been blinded by religion.

This happened quite a while ago, yet it reads as though it just happened. Is this the second time?

He should thank the Sun for he can see again.

God said we would all go through trials and tribulations.I pray for a quick recovery

Perhaps it was God's will for him to be blinded. But it really would be of no difference since he is one of these so-called good, God-fearing holy roller in a mega church driving his fancy cars, dressed in his fancy clothes, preaching as if he is a servant of God thinking he knows what The Truth is all about. He was always blind so what's the difference now. Not only was he always blind, but so are his followers and all those following organized religion. What religion was Jesus? When someone can tell me this that will be the day I go to that church. WAKE UP PEOPLE, SEE THE TRUTH, LEARN THE TRUTH, LISTEN TO THE TRUTH, LIVE THE TRUTH, AND WALK IN THE TRUTH, and then, and only then, you will know what it is like to walk in the footsteps of Christ. Until then, you are nothing more than a false apostle or a follower of darkness.

Don't worry Rick ... as you are constantly babbling, "It's all in god's plan"

Plant? After reviewing the pre-election debate, are you sure he wasn't blinded by a BHO (pronounced Boa) snake? Hospital staffers are reputed to have overheard ramblings about "same-sex" communions and falling book sales.......

I guess this is just the Lord moving in a mystrious way.............or perhaps not.

When they bark about freedom of religion.

What they (christians) are really saying is freedom for their religion. Their God ONLY. With Christianity there are no other freedoms because they refuse to acknowledge any other religion.

In their self centered world: To KNOW religion is to KNOW peace.
The rest of us have figured it out: NO religion to KNOW peace.

Christians slaughtered millions of people, you either converted or they killed you. Read.... Christians were the first terrorists.... But, it seems.... too.... violent to accept. Well... it is part of our history.

I would just rather the religious groups just cut to the chase ask for what ya want. (there is always an angle) Stop hiding behind a book that you don't even follow to the letter. If you did there wouldn't be a new testament because in the first book o fairy tales it says clearly that this was the word of god not to be changed.

Along comes the NEW testament. Huhhhhh wwwhat.

I'm glad he's on his way to recovery. Hopefully, he'll recover easily–although my guess is any trauma to the eye will leave him at an increased risk of cataracts.

I'm not a Christian (actually Muslim), but admire Pastor Warren and his reverse tithing philosophy (give away 90%, live on 10%).

I think it's great he does his own yard work.

Wow... Many people who comment here may look liberal in their faces, but their hearts don't reflect that at all. Read on the comments here. A lot of comments here reveal their inability to accept other people's religion.

I don't care if he is a believer of any religion or a atheist, may it be a straight or a gay, I will wish him a speed recovery.

Oh Boy,,,,,guys.....give this guy a break. He is just a man, no more, no less. I do admit that the idea behind these mega churches is not my cup if tea, however, I do not wish harm to come to its leaders. Church and state are not suppose to mingle yet all I see is the churches mingling in the affairs of state. If I go to church and hear who I should vote for, and not passages being explained to me from the bible.....I want to puke. This is not to blungeon Pastor Warren...This is only to say that I do not like th mega church situation.
I actually wish Mr Warren well as I have also been poisoned by weeds from my garden!

Ok... if these evangelicals are always looking for a sign from god... it seems like this one would be hard to miss...

I guess Mark 16:18 does not really work.

"They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

ficheye – thanks for making my day! Loved the speaking in tongues!