The Power Of Things Unseen

[Lindy]

I had this in my email... I am not one to believe everything I read, so I cannot attest to the facts of this story. All I know is that I believe that there are angels among us watching over us and protecting us. Angels with wings of all colors who walk with us and beside us, and no one has a clue.....Lindy

-------------------

A young university student was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than

planned, and had to walk home alone.

She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger. When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, she felt as though someone was walking with her. When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep. Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station. She felt she could recognize

the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him. She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had

seen in the alley the night before. When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed. The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question?

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her. When the policeman

asked him, he answered, Because she wasn't alone. She had two tall men

walking on either side of her."

Moral of the story: Don't underestimate the power of Prayer!

[Snow]

Originally posted by lindy9556@Aug 13 2005, 01:20 PM

I had this in my email... I am not one to believe everything I read, so I cannot attest to the facts of this story.  All I know is that I believe that there are angels among us watching over us and protecting us. Angels with wings of all colors who walk with us and beside us, and no one has a clue.....Lindy

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Why, in heaven's name, would angels have wings?

[Lindy]

I had this in my email... I am not one to believe everything I read, so I cannot attest to the facts of this story. All I know is that I believe that there are angels among us watching over us and protecting us. Angels with wings of all colors who walk with us and beside us, and no one has a clue.....Lindy

-------------------

Why, in heaven's name, would angels have wings?

I guess it's all a matter of interpretation..... to me an angel has wings.

Edited.... Angels have always been special to me Snow...... so you can just blow it out your ear....

[Guest Devil\'s advocate]

First of all, this story is bogus. Check Snopes.

Second, What about the other girl? Did the prayer stop her from being raped? What sort of merciful GOD simply diverts a rape from one woman to another, instead of preventing or stopping it altogether?

If you were able to stop a person from raping you, and he raped another person instead, would that make you feel warm and fuzzy? I dont think that would make me feel better at all.

[Guest Devil\'s advocate]

Originally posted by Snow+Aug 14 2005, 01:00 AM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-lindy9556@Aug 13 2005, 01:20 PM

I had this in my email... I am not one to believe everything I read, so I cannot attest to the facts of this story.  All I know is that I believe that there are angels among us watching over us and protecting us. Angels with wings of all colors who walk with us and beside us, and no one has a clue.....Lindy

Why, in heaven\'s name, would angels have wings?

I have never seen any evidence that angels do not have wings. Why do you beleive that they would not? Have you ever seen an angel? I have, and he did indeed have wings. The Lord God works in mysterious ways, that we do not understand fully. Do not criticize beliefs that you have not experienced the wonder of.

[Guest Devil\'s advocate]

Bingo........

http://www.snopes.com/glurge/rapestop.asp

It is faith promoting crap, as usual. Who the heck writes this sort of mindless drivel, anyways? GOD diverting rape attacks because a person is Christian? Like Christian women never get raped, especially if they pray to not get raped?

Prayer is insufficient, inadequate, unreliable, and circumstantial. If things work out, it is because you prayed. If things don\'t work out, it wasn\'t the will of GOD or you didn\'t have enough faith. That is a load of manure. Take responsibility for yourself and your actions. Blaming or praising GOD for the good or bad things that happen to you only creates a sense of irresponsibility for ones actions.

FACT: If you walk into a dark alley at night, in a city, you might get raped.

FACT: If you walk into a dark alley at night, in a city, you might get raped, even if you pray to your GOD.

FACT: If you take a stoll through a small town park in the middle of the day, you might get raped. Regardless of the time of day or your praying abilities or current status with GOD. It happens. Probably every day, right here in these Christian United States of America.

[Lindy]

Originally posted by lindy9556@Aug 13 2005, 02:20 PM

... I am not one to believe everything I read, so I cannot attest to the facts of this story.  All I know is that I believe that there are angels among us watching over us and protecting us. Angels with wings of all colors who walk with us and beside us, and no one has a clue...

Hoo Boy! Please read disclaimer put ABOVE the story.... I'm thinking that my main point was not the validity of the story....nor the fact that a young woman was raped in place of someone else....but the fact that ANGELS PROTECT US. I'm sorry if you don't agree, that is your choice.... More sorry to hear your opinion of prayers.

.....and no one has a clue...

[StrawberryFields]

What is the matter with promoting faith? Without faith there is no hope.

Without faith and hope you might as well be a ball in an arcade game bouncing off from one stopper to the next. If you have no faith you won't even try to hit the points, therefore making your way through life pointless.

[StrawberryFields]

Prayer is communication with our Father in Heaven.

Have you ever tried praying?

[DisRuptive1]

The story was inappropriately done. If you're going to write a story about prayer, make it someone devotional and show God in a good light rather than saying that praying will get God to cause some other girl to get raped. The story would have been a bit more inspiriation if the rape happened all together, rather than get transfered to the other girl. What if the other girl prayed to God to watch over her too? She got raped. Does that mean she didn't pray hard enough? What about all the people that have been sexually abused? This story tells them they didn't pray hard enough or God turned his back on them.

[StrawberryFields]

The story was inappropriately done.  If you're going to write a story about prayer, make it someone devotional and show God in a good light rather than saying that praying will get God to cause some other girl to get raped.  The story would have been a bit more inspiriation if the rape happened all together, rather than get transfered to the other girl.  What if the other girl prayed to God to watch over her too?  She got raped.  Does that mean she didn't pray hard enough?  What about all the people that have been sexually abused?  This story tells them they didn't pray hard enough or God turned his back on them.

Really?

If this is an inappropriate story for prayer what would be a better one in your opinion?

[Snow]

I have to agree with Advocate. Any angel with a shred of morality would have notified the police instead of just helping the first girl.

But the real question is: What purpose do angel wings serve? Besides bbq I don't see any good for them.

[StrawberryFields]

I have to agree with Advocate. Any angel with a shred of morality would have notified the police instead of just helping the first girl.

If prayer can't serve the individual saying the prayer then why do we teach our children to pray when they are scared etc?

[Lindy]

Originally posted by Snow@Aug 14 2005, 10:54 AM

I have to agree with Advocate. Any angel with a shred of morality would have notified the police instead of just helping the first girl.

But the real question is: What purpose do angel wings serve? Besides bbq I don't see any good for them.

And maybe the angels first priority was to protect the first girl because of her prayer.... I'm sure that angels have to make snap decisions just like everyone else; and I'm sure they must be good at what they do...ergo the title of "angel".

As for their wings? You must remember I am a convert....and somethings are hard to let go of. It is a fantasy I am willing to keep alive for some reason or another Of course I also believe in wingless angels...but what fun is that?

[Lindy]

Originally posted by Strawberry Fields+Aug 14 2005, 11:21 AM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Snow@Aug 14 2005, 11:54 AM

I have to agree with Advocate. Any angel with a shred of morality would have notified the police instead of just helping the first girl.

If prayer can't serve the individual saying the prayer then why do we teach our children to pray when they are scared etc?

and you are right SF... why should we pray if we don't think it would do any good? Prayer is what we are taught, and it is what we know to be a truth to follow.

PS..... Snow.. I don't think that we should judge the morality of an angel

[Setheus]

Originally posted by lindy9556@Aug 13 2005, 02:20 PM

Now let me explain to you how the spirit of The Lord would most likely have "answered" that prayer...

A young university student was home for the summer. She had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each shared their various experiences of the past year. She ended up staying longer than

planned, and had to walk home alone.

She wasn't afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away. As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked "God" to keep her safe from harm and danger.

(NOTE: isnt it funny how we humans claim to not be afraid yet ask God for protection. )

When she reached the alley, which was a shortcut to her house, she decided to take it. However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for "God's" protection. Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped around her, and she heard a still small voice whisper to her, telling her that she should not take this short cut. Telling her to take the normal route to her home. Having asked for God's protection she listened to that quiet prompting of the Lord and walked past the alley leaving the man behind.

She could not help the other girl who went down the alley, for she never came close to the danger. Regardless of how hard that other girl may have prayed did she follow the prompting of the spirit?

I believe that God doesn't wish to escourt us past evil but steer us clear of it all together.

Setheus.

[Lindy]

Yes Setheus... I understand your explaination, and will agree that we are guided around the danger in many circumstances, but don't you think that there are times when He has us protected in the face of danger for some reason? In the case of this "story" I see a rapist identified by the first woman who got a good look at him, where as perhaps the second (the victim) may have not had a chance for a good look.... and that slug spitting scum was taken off the streets and away from any more innocent victims BECAUSE of the first womans ID. So in a way, she protected countless others from his attacks, because she did what she was supposed to do....take that shortcut...while being protected as she continued her way down that alley.

I believe that sometimes we have to look evil in the face in order to do something to conteract it. But that's just me.

[Jason]

Originally posted by Snow@Aug 14 2005, 11:54 AM

But the real question is: What purpose do angel wings serve? Besides bbq I don't see any good for them.

How else would they fly?

Do you think birds could fly without 'em?

[shanstress70]

SF and Lindy, I don't mean to offend either of you, as I think your are both awesome.

However, I kind of agree with Devil's Advocate here. I think we've had the prayer discussion before. I still pray because it's what I've been conditioned to do, but I do struggle with this kind of situation. I don't think a just God would save someone from being raped just because they asked him to. Girl #1 did not deserve to be raped just because she didn't think to pray.

And what about the people who pray, yet still get raped?

[Snow]

Originally posted by lindy9556@Aug 14 2005, 10:48 AM

PS..... Snow.. I don't think that we should judge the morality of an angel

Even if they act immorally?

Besides, the story is false, fictionaly, so we have to question the morality of those that pass it off as true.

And besides that, why should it be that angels are above morality? Says who?

[Snow]

Originally posted by Jason+Aug 14 2005, 01:15 PM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-Snow@Aug 14 2005, 11:54 AM

But the real question is: What purpose do angel wings serve? Besides bbq I don't see any good for them.

How else would they fly?

Do you think birds could fly without 'em?

1. Why on earth would angels fly? Says who?

2. If angels fly, why would they need wings? Are they subject to gravity?

[StrawberryFields]

Originally posted by shanstress70@Aug 15 2005, 05:47 AM

SF and Lindy, I don't mean to offend either of you, as I think your are both awesome.

However, I kind of agree with Devil's Advocate here.  I think we've had the prayer discussion before.  I still pray because it's what I've been conditioned to do, but I do struggle with this kind of situation.  I don't think a just God would save someone from being raped just because they asked him to.  Girl #1 did not deserve to be raped just because she didn't think to pray.

And what about the people who pray, yet still get raped?

Shanstress,

You are right we have had this prayer discussion before. :)

This is just something that we have taught and are still teaching within the church today. If you need help call of the Lord and he will answer your prayers. I have even sat down with my own children as they have needed help and comfort and asked them to pray. I will testify to you that I have seen miracles happen with prayer. Some miracles have been seeing a very upset child suddenly feel comforted and calm down. Other times when I have lost something or I needed to find my way I have prayed and received my answers. I do not believe that we will always get the answer we are looking for but none the less answers and come to me within the Lords time. I also believe that answers come in many different ways and sometimes the answers come from another person. I have prayed for an answer for help with one of my children and I then felt as though I wouldn't receive an answer. I was in a checkout line in the store and heard a casher and a customer talking about teenage boys and my answer was within their conversation. How do I know that was my answer because the spirit bore witness to me and I had been prayerfully seeking an answer. Of course this will not happen if you do not believe that it will and do so with the faith that your prayers will be answered.

Not all prayers are for seeking miracles but as you know I also believe that miracles can happen through prayers. I believe that over time my prayers have increased my faith and my faith has increased my prayers. It's like a muscle if you don't use it regularly it will become weak. If you begin to slowly but steadily work on it you can increase that strength again. Sure bad things happen to good people but it doesn't mean that it wasn't because they didn't pray hard enough that it happened. The real test comes from the way they pick themselves up and continue in their faith. We can not possibly know why things happen here on earth. One of the key points to my faith is in knowing that I am not alone even at my most difficult times.

[Jason]

Originally posted by Snow@Aug 15 2005, 09:06 AM

1. Why on earth would angels fly? Says who?

2. If angels fly, why would they need wings? Are they subject to gravity?

1. Don't know. If they exist I suppose that they get around faster flying than walking.

2. They're a creation like anything else. I suppose that they would be subject to gravity. Seeing as how the angels were naughty back before noah's flood, sleeping with the hot babes of Adam's day, then I suppose if they can copulate, they are subject to gravity.

[Lindy]

Originally posted by shanstress70@Aug 15 2005, 04:47 AM

SF and Lindy, I don't mean to offend either of you, as I think your are both awesome.

However, I kind of agree with Devil's Advocate here.  I think we've had the prayer discussion before.  I still pray because it's what I've been conditioned to do, but I do struggle with this kind of situation.  I don't think a just God would save someone from being raped just because they asked him to.  Girl #1 did not deserve to be raped just because she didn't think to pray.

And what about the people who pray, yet still get raped?

Shan~ No offense taken...I understand what you said, and I think that I will just reiterate something SF said in her post..."Sure bad things happen to good people but it doesn't mean that it wasn't because they didn't pray hard enough that it happened. The real test comes from the way they pick themselves up and continue in their faith. We can not possibly know why things happen here on earth. There are so many answers we seek to find, ones we will never find here on earth. I know that I will have a list of questions that will go with me when I leave this life....questions I know will be answered...I just have to show patience. (something I really am working on :) )

[Lindy]

Originally posted by Snow+Aug 15 2005, 08:04 AM-->

<!--QuoteBegin-lindy9556@Aug 14 2005, 10:48 AM

PS..... Snow.. I don't think that we should judge the morality of an angel

Even if they act immorally?

Besides, the story is false, fictionaly, so we have to question the morality of those that pass it off as true.

And besides that, why should it be that angels are above morality? Says who?

Even if they act immorally? Ok, fair enough question.... I don't really know the rules and regulations of being an angel... I do feel that there are different levels of morality. I can only say this... I think that angels are a step above the spirits, that they were appointed to "angeldom" because of their faith and their obedience to our Heavenly Father. But the immorality of an angel?...right now that is a very hard question for me to even give my opinion on....still thinking about it.

#1 I usually fly everything by snopes to check it out....in this case I didn't...ergo the disclaimer at the top of my original post.

#2 Had no intention to pass it off as truth, was just using the story to discuss the the power of prayer, and the angels we encounter in our lives.

#3 Had no intention of upsetting anyone over the fact that girl #2 was raped in this fictious story.

#4 I don't care if anyone questions my morality, since I wasn't trying to pass it off as the truth.

#5 I still don't think we should question the morality of an angel.