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go here to buy my stock photography Alan Creech
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aaron klinefelter
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 So, what about Angels, and why did I capitalize that? We don't capitalize "humans" when we write it. Well, I do when I'm talking about the new, recreated Humanity. We were created to be Human, not merely human. I wonder if we generally capitalize Angels because we're talking about Angels who "made the cut" as it were - those in the heavenly dimension - who kept their jobs working for God. So, I'll be capitalizing it for whatever it's worth.I never thought about it like this, but I believe I have the answer to the much-asked question, "are we alone in the universe?" Aha! There apparently is, very close, another order of living beings. Saying it like that makes it sound fairly significant, doesn't it? If you were aware of this whole group of living, intelligent, created beings ("persons") who inhabit the same region of the galaxy as you do, what would you do about it? How would this information change the way you think and act? Interesting question. I want to make clear, first of all, that I am not what you would call a biblical literalist. For instance, the story of creation in Genesis: I believe it's true and that it was written down as God intended it to be. I believe it conveys to us exactly what it needs to convey. I don't think it's important that any implied time-line be taught or adhered to in that story. Implied in my last statement - I don't believe the "days" referred to there are necessarily 24 hour earth-rotation days. It is general and more of an overview. Was there a literal Adam and Eve? Likely, probably. They are named, their children are named in relation to specific events in history. So, saying that one story isn't literal is not saying that no story is literal. There's plenty of plainly stated and literal story and fact in the Scriptures. That was all related to the subject at hand by the way. I certainly don't want to write a book on Angels. That's been done too many times. I can't see how you'd get enough information to fill a book, honestly. I just wanted to write a few things down because I was thinking about them lately. I have no reason to doubt the existence of Angels as real beings created by God. Sons of God, Messengers, Ministering Spirits - with names and specific stories and historical events connected to them. Gabriel, Michael, Raphael (get you a Catholic Bible), - Seraphim, Cherubim. They seem to have a mission to (folks this is really general stuff here - please) help out with the whole Mission of God on earth. They seem to have a job helping us out ("Guardian Angels") in particular, since that whole Mission of God thing centers on us. They seem to be "assigned" to us, to keep us out of too much trouble, to protect us and fight for us on that end of the dimensional divide. It's a Scriptural thing and it's woven all through the Tradition of the Church. Sure, a lot of people have probably gone too far "Angelically" speaking, but that shouldn't cause us to go too far in the other direction. As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad they're there. I'm glad they're real. I look at them as companions and help. I don't travel anywhere without praying a short prayer and asking for Angelic protection. There are times when I may be doing "spiritual warfare" for a friend or situation - I ask/send Angels to fight on our behalf. I don't really want to talk much about demons. Apparently they're angels too (see how I didn't capitalize that - you knew that would come in handy). Ignorant angels who made a bad choice to follow after a supremely ignorant high-ranking angel for some odd reason. So, these ignorant ones have a job too, to cause trouble for us, to trip us up in whatever way they can, to distract and lead astray and harm, both physically and mentally. They're real and can do real damage. Everything we see isn't merely a result of some physically explainable phenomenon. As I said to a friend the other night, Jesus wasn't going around lying to people all over Judea as He cast demons out of them. "Poor things, they can't understand what's really wrong with them so I'll just tell them it's a demon and pretend to cast them out." Goofy. There is all manner of activity going on in a dimension that we don't always see and aren't always acutely aware of. If there is no room for this invisible world, for such "supernatural" things in your understanding of existence, then why are you a Christian? Ours is at it's core a very mystical "religion." It doesn't go very far without that element. It doesn't mean much without that. Why? Because it's real and we're dealing with reality here, all of it, not just what you can see and quantify. Angels - whether those who love God or those who do not, are just part of the created order. They are connected to us in some way. For my part, I choose to act as if that's true because I believe it is. Acting on what you believe is usually a good thing. Hopefully this has made some sort of helpful or interesting sense. It's not the most important subject matter in our world but it is real, it is part of our reality, so it IS important. Everything real, to which we are connected in some way, is important in some way. That's all. Grace and Peace be with you - oh, and may the Angels of God protect you. technorati tags > angels, angelology, bible, practical theology, spirituality, demons, mystical Labels: theology :::
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three quotes |:: "Then, if we cannot as yet think alike in all things, at least we may love alike. Herein we cannot possibly do amiss." "Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the cross
is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus
is a burden without a reliever." "...I am deeply convinced that the Christian leader of the future is called to be
completely irrelevant and to stand in this world with nothing to offer but his or her own vulnerable self."
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