Sunday, April 27, 2014

Sunday Faith Blog...Angels??

Angels Explained By Children....with a question from me at the end!  (with an amazing true story from Z below)

I only know the names of two angels, Hark and Harold.                                            Gregory, age 5

Everybody's got it all wrong. Angels don't wear halos any more. I forget why, but scientists are working on it.
-Olive, age 9
 

It's not easy to become an angel! First, you die. Then you go to Heaven, and then there's still the flight training to go through. And then you got to agree to wear those angel clothes.

-Matthew, age 9

 Angels work for God and watch over kids when God has to go do something else.
-Mitchell, age 7

 
My guardian angel helps me with math, but he's not much good for science.
-Henry, age 8

 Angels don't eat, but they do drink milk from Holy Cows.
-Jack, age 6

 Angels talk all the way while they're flying you up to heaven. The main subject is where you went wrong before you got dead.
Daniel, age 9

 When an angel gets mad, he takes a deep breath and counts to ten. And when he lets out his breath again, somewhere there's a tornado.
-Reagan, age 10

 Angels have a lot to do and they keep very busy.
If you lose a tooth, an angel comes in through your window and leaves money under your pillow. Then when it gets cold, angels go south for the winter.

Angels live in cloud houses made by God and his
Son, who's a very good carpenter.

-Jared, age 8

 All angels are girls because they gotta wear dresses and boys didn't go for it.
-Antonio, age 9

 My angel is my grandma who died last year. She got
A big head start on helping me while she was still down here on earth.
-Ashley ~ age 9

 Some of the angels are in charge of helping heal sick animals and pets. And if they don't make the animals get better, they help the child get over it.
-Vicki, age 8


What I don't get about angels is why, when someone
Is in love, they shoot arrows at them.

-Sarah, age 7

DO YOU BELIEVE IN ANGELS?
-Z, age 'never mind' :-)

"For he will command his angels concerning you to guard youin all your ways"
Psalm 91:11 (NIV)


The STORY:   A dear elder friend of mine had a very rich friend who was a strong Christian believer.  She'd often tell her friends and family she couldn't move from her amazing estate here in Los Angeles because "My angels are here!"    One day, her daughter-in-law, a decidedly non believing Christia!, walked down the long driveway to get her mother-in-law's mail.  She came screeching and running up the hill, full blast, screaming "there were ANGELS down there..BIG people in huge wings..10' TALL!"   The old lady said "Of course there were...they're my angels!"
The daughter-in-law remains a non believer.
The old lady is assuredly in heaven with her angels as I type!
SO, do you believe in Angels?

z

46 comments:

Ed Bonderenka said...

To disbelieve in in angels is to disbelieve the Word of God.
An angel blocked the return to Eden.
Stopped Baal from proceeding on his donkey.
Visited Lot in Sodom.
Wrestled with Jacob.
Passed over houses with blood on the lintels.
Argued with the Prince of Persia and then visited Daniel.
Jesus could have called on a legion to prevent His Crucifixion.
We entertain them unawares.
They'll come back (not all good) in the Book of Revelation.
The trick is not to be deceived by an "angel of light", should he counter the word of God, as Paul said.
That a modern day person should spot one is not unusual.
Many stories abound of help coming and disappearing as if an angel.
But I will never call on one.
I will call on the God (who directs them) for aid.

sue hanes said...

Z - I do believe in angels. Even though I have never seen one I do believe.

Thersites said...

Mark the Herold angels sing!

Ed Bonderenka said...

Of course, I married an angel.

Impertinent said...

This is great.

Anyone remember Art Linkletters show with kids saying all kinds of cute and funny things?

Z said...

Ed, she sure does seem like an angel!
But, otherwise, my question was more angels here and now.
We have all heard of astonishing things where somehow someone shows up in a blizzard, helps someone get to safety, and is gone before they can turn around and thank him. Things like that happen a lot, according to stories we've all heard.

Thersites..??

Imp..it was called KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS and I REFUSE to say I remember it :-)
But, seriously, we were both VERY little when that was on TV..you have to admit :-)

Impertinent said...

@Z:

Yea...we were kids.

But has anyone seen City of Angels with Meg Ryan and Nick Cage? I thought it was a great flick.

Baysider said...

Very definitely! I recall the story of a missionary who traveled through the bush alone in Africa. While he wasn't going through particularly dangerous country, he was aware of the need for God's protection. Each night as he set up camp he knelt at the four corners of his encampment and prayed for the Lord's protection.

One night he was so weary he failed to do this. He woke up in the middle of the night with two tribesmen standing over him. They were more curious than dangerous. They told him they had been following him since he passed into their territory just to keep an eye on what he was doing. And they approached him to find out because on this night the mighty warriors who stood guard at the 4 corners of his camp each night were not there.

Jen said...

I do believe, Z.

I haven't seen one, but once escaped being t-boned by a GIANT pickup truck....I swear that truck went trhough me. I can't explain it, except to say that when I looked up, the bumper was at my drivers' side window....and then...nothing. I actually braced myself. I still don't understand it.

Jen said...

Imp, that movie is based on an earlier movie called "Wings of Desire". (it's much better, in my opinion.)

Ducky's here said...

Imp. try "Wings of Desire" (z didn't like it though I thought she would).

Turns out the angels envy us.

Ducky's here said...

It may be because I'm a big Peter Falk fan but ...

... let me know if you can find anything to criticize in this scene.

Ducky's here said...

Actually, Jen, the Cage film was based on Wenders' sequel to Wings, Faraway, So Close.

Not nearly as good as Wings.

Z said...

Ducky, I honestly don't remember why I didn't like it, but I remember not liking the ending.
Have you seen the sequel?

And are you implying that because a scene is apparently faultless in your estimation, a whole film must be that way?

Jennifer; what a moment THAT must have been! HOLY COW!

Thersites said...

The genesis of a modern liberal "Steampunk" angel.

Mark the Harold angels sing...
Glory to the newborn thing!

Ducky's here said...

I wonder if it might have been too pantheistic for your taste, z.

Did have an interesting conception of angels.

Impertinent said...

Jen Nifer & Duck:

Since you both recommended it...I'll give it a look.

Thanks

Z said...

thersites...I get ya! Oh, man.

Ducky, I think there was some underlying tone that turned me off. I did think the movie was interesting and I usually like 'Dark and plodding"...seems more like it was the theme...

Imp; having seen the more modern one, I highly recommend you get this older film.

Ducky, HAVE you seen the sequel?

Ed Bonderenka said...

The Bishops Wife with Cary Grant was an interesting take.

Impertinent said...

@Ducky:


It may be because I'm a big Peter Falk fan but ...

Falk was fantastic. I see the movie lists Bruno Ganz who was incredible in Downfall. About the last and final days of Hitler in his bunker. This was the first time since the end of the war that Germany allowed a movie about Hitler to be filmed in Germany.

It is an extraordinary watch if you haven't see it. Told from the first hand accounts of Hitlers personal secretary, Traudl Junge, while barricaded with Hitler and his closest confidants in the Fuehrer's secret bunker.

Ducky's here said...

Ducky, HAVE you seen the sequel?

-------
Yes, it fallows his partner who inadvertently becomes a fallen angel.

I didn't like it as much but it's much less philosophical and more of a melodrama than the first.

Ducky's here said...

Yes, Downfall is intense, Imp.

Kid said...

Well, here is one of my stories. My sister died about 16 years ago. She has two daughters (my nieces) who both have children, my Great nieces and nephews) One of these is Cameron, who at the age of two lost his Grandmother (my sister). At the cemetery, as we were leaving, he stopped and looked up and said "I'll miss you too. I love you too".

Hmmm

Kid said...

Imp, Art's show was great. So was Bill Cosby's with the kids.

Rita said...

Great story Kid. I'm convinced children are a lot more receptive to these things than most adults.

Kid said...

Rita, that's my thought. No preconceptions, hangups, etc

Rita said...

When my grandson was playing one day when he was just about four, he kept talking about his sister Nina. He said Nina died after being hit by a car.

He didn't have a sister yet. So obviously I just thought he was using his imagination. But he kept going. Said the doctors tried to save her, but they couldn't. He kept saying she had five pieces of metal in her.

I asked him if he saw that on TV (thinking of that ER reality show). He said no.

I still just thought he was using his imagination, but he kept AT IT. He talked about Nina for a good 20 to 30 minutes.

I went from being amazed at his imagination to having the hair on the back of my neck start standing up. It was just plain creepy.

I don't believe in reincarnation, but the whole episode still gives me pause 8 years later.

If one of his parents had named their girl Nina, I would have freaked out.

Ed Bonderenka said...

"Except ye be as little children..."

Kid said...

Rita, and young children talk fluently to each other in a language no one knows.

Rita said...

And newborns smile at angels. Honestly, what other reason could they be smiling for?

Kid said...

You have a point. It's not because they know where they've ended up. I don't think.

Bob said...

" Ed Bonderenka said...

Of course, I married an angel."

Good save, Ed!

Bob said...

Maybe I am confusing angels with saints. In my experience I have run into people who were absolute angels to us. For example, when our son died, there were people coming out of all facets of our lives to comfort us and show their love.

I have often thought that our neighbor across the street is an angel. Nobody is perfect, but I have never heard her talk negatively about anyone, and she is always the very first to organize help when needed.

I have brothers and a sister that are angels, and also several cousins that are pure love.

However, I think angels are not people, but other beings that God uses. I can't remember ever being aware of the presence of an angel, but I do remember having a feeling that evil was present in some places.

You can put all this down to emotional musings if you wish, but I believe that some people are in the category of angels, and if there are supernatural beings of the same name, I welcome them.

Z said...

Imp; DOWNFALL is great...absolutely excellent, you're right.

Ed, The Bishop's Wife is a favorite of mine. I loaned it to the pastor and his wife of the church I used to go to and they were highly insulted that I'd like a movie where it seemed the Bishop's wife and the Angel were falling in love. I thought it was the sweetest part of it and, clearly, the wife would never have played around, but the angel revealed humanness....

Kid, that's an amazing story!! "I'll miss you, too!" ??? holy cow!

Kid, I think the last thing newborns would do is SMILE if they knew where they'd ended up! HA!

Z said...

Bob, I like to think that all of us are vessels of God from time to time; as if he uses us here on earth AS ANGELS to 'arrange things', to help someone, etc...don't you?

I also have to say I think you're highly and uniquely lucky that you know so many SUCH good people and cousins. WHat a blessing. I'll bet they say the same about you!

I wish I'd be remembered some day as someone who never had a negative word to say about anything or anyone.
I won't be.
Trust me! :-)

Z said...

Has any of you seen THE LIVES OF OTHERS? Talk about a terrific German film...

Impertinent said...

I gotta tell ya...Wings just blew me away. Slow and plodding and real dark in parts. But the last 20 minutes or so was some of the best film and dialogue I've ever witnessed.

Falk was terrific. But Ganz....just incredible. Perfect for that part too.

Shame though..."Marion" passed at the age of 45. She was only 26 in the film.

OldAFSarge said...

With all my heart Z.

Bob said...

@Z "I also have to say I think you're highly and uniquely lucky "

Thanks, Z. I have come to look at my situation as being blessed. All we have to do is look around us, and we can see these blessings.

Both of my brothers are great men, but also can be the most argumentative people I have ever known. Nonetheless, they will help anybody in need. We can't afford to let differences in opinion cloud our judgements of people.


Z said...

OldAFSarge: Lovely to have you here.
Got a story with which you could explain why you believe in Angels? I WOULD LOVE to hear it! I'll bet it's a dandy.
Thank you for your service, Sir!

"with all my heart Z". I'm pretty sure I never saw a prettier comment, if you don't mind my saying so.

IMP; There's no film I like better than slow and plodding and, for the life of me, I can't remember what turned me away from Wings...Or at least Ducky says I did! I wish he remembered what I'd said. I don't. But I think I hated the ending. Only to learn there's a sequel which, from Ducky's explanation, sounds like a cheap add-on to the story which needn't have been.

Bob...I think I'd have liked and/or respected your folks. A lot.
And I know they went through a LOT, as have you.

OldAFSarge said...

Z - I don't have a story per se regarding angels. But my faith tells me they are real, and so many times in my life I felt someone watching over me. How can there not be angels?

Z said...

Sarge..GREAT answer? How not, indeed.
You're inspiring. xx

Thersites said...

May the Lord forever protect me from His fallen angels, Mark and Harold! ;)

Thersites said...

May the Lord forever protect me from His fallen angels, Mark and Harold! ;)

Thersites said...

"I think Kafka was right when he said that for a modern, secular, nonreligious man, bureaucracy, state bureaucracy, is the only remaining contact with the dimension of the Divine." - Slavoj Zizek

See 1:42:30 - 1:47:20

Thersites said...

Mr. ducky plays "the plumber"! ;)