In Which I Pause to Look Both Ways

On my way to the midweek service at our church I have a left turn that I must make.  Several month back I resolved to make sure that I look both ways before I take advantage of the green light.  This time it paid off.

It is a T-junction controlled by a signal.  The signal sometimes seems to be in nap time so it is not uncommon to get frustrated.  I still make it a habit to check cross traffic.  This time the traffic from the left was slowing visibly.  On the right, however, there seemed to be a different pattern.  As I paused a full sized pick up blew through the red light without a hiccup.  He sailed through and kept going.  If I had been in a hurry it would have been my last left turn.

I guess God still has something for me to do in life.  I thanked Him and my guardian angel and proceeded to church.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-558: Uncharted Revelation: Church Angels

As I have previously written Revelation is not my favorite book . Also, as I have previously written, it is in the Bible, which means it has something to say to us if we can just find it.  I’m not overly impressed with the idea of beasts with six wings and eyes all around.  I’m sure that has some profound meaning but I also believe that there’s no way we can know what it is.

However, I did notice some things.  I’m going to try and lay a few of them out.  To some of the things you may say, “Aha.”  Other things you may want to brand me as a heretic.  It’s your choice.

My first thought emerged in looking at the first three chapters of Revelation.  I think this section is totally separated from the rest and is worth study on its own.  I think there are many things we can learn from it.  One of the things that I found interesting is something I’ve seen before but never thought about.

Did you notice that there are seven angels, seven lamp stands, and seven churches?  Of course you did.  My question is, “Does this mean that every church has an angel assigned to it?”  I don’t mean just in Revelation.  I mean every church, everywhere.   I don’t want to make too much out of this because it’s easy to take something and blow it out of proportion.  At the same time it’s true here that each church has one and notice John speaking was to the angel of the church and not the church itself.

(Rev 2:1 KJV)  Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

This happens each time.

I like the idea.  Of course I like the idea of guardian angels also.  There’s at least one verse that would give me a reason to think that God has assigned angels to guard us.  Here I think that perhaps there’s an indication that He also assigned Angels to each church.  That means that your local church regardless of how big or small would have an angel assigned to you.

I’m not sure what the Angel would do for us.  Perhaps he would be a guardian angel.  He might be working somehow with the Holy Spirit to create a spirit worship in the service.  He might quiet babies down a little bit, or he might stir them up, depending on our needs and his mood.  Don’t count on him to mow the grass, fill the communion cups, or make the pastor notice that he already spoke 10 minutes past his slot.

I like to thank my guardian Angel on a regular basis.  I might start doing the same thing for my church Angel.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-557: Advent Calendar: Day 6, Gabriel

Most people know that an angel appeared to Mary and announced she would have a baby.  Many of those people know that his name was Gabriel.  A few less know that he appeared to Zacharias to announce the birth of John.  People into prophecy might know that he also appeared to Daniel.  That sums up his appearances.

His name means “man of God” or “warrior of God”.  His title, “angel” means messenger.  

One bit of good news that might occur to you when you read this part of the Christmas story is that God communicates with His people.  You may not get an angel but you have immediate access to the word and can always seek the leading of the Spirit.  Often when we don’t know what God wants us to do it is because we are too busy on Facebook to pay attention to what He has to say.

Have you noticed how often the first words out of an angels mouth are, “Do not be afraid”?  Be glad that you don’t need to come face to face with a being that can stand in the presence of Almighty God.

Merry Christmas.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-425: Higher than the Angels?

If my memory serves me correctly, the book of Hebrews says that we were created higher than the Angels.  I could have that backwards, it doesn’t matter.  At least it doesn’t matter to me.  It may matter to the angels....I checked and I did have it backwards.

Which brings me to my thought.  When God created man in His own image, the implication is that this was a unique step.  It made me wonder if He had created the angels in His image.  I don’t see any reference to that.  It got me to thinking about the differences between us and the angels.

Angels by definition are powerful creatures.  They will be a large part of the heavenly host in the final battle.  I like the picture that Rose is Rose has of the guardian angel when he puts on his armor.  He is a fearsome and awesome creature.  He has power.  He can move between heaven and earth.  I’d have to look and see all the different things that Angels do, but are they created in the image of God?

There’s a part of me that would like to think so.  I am so grateful for what I considered to be my guardian angel that I want the best for him.  At the same time, I can’t make it a statement of fact, unless I have some scripture to back it up.

I think that humans are unique in the fact that we are created in the image of God.  Since I believe that angels rejoice in the presence of God and know what joy is and what worship is I can’t say that image is all there is.  Perhaps there’s a different word used in the angels’ language about their nature.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-399: Angel Vector

While driving down the highway listening to the song “Oh God ,you are my God” I noticed that it talked about following him “all the way”.   Somehow that got me to thinking about my guardian angel and wondering if he were cruising ahead of me on the highway.  I could almost see him slicing a wedge of peace, tranquility and safety.  I wonder how many accidents he has prevented.  I wonder if part of the promise of scripture is that if we are on the right path, the highway of holiness, our guardian angel is clearing the way for us.

I know he has been working overtime keeping my body in one piece.  I tripped on a curb recently and although there were enough scrapes and boo-boos to make me more careful I was able to walk away with only a handful of tissue for first aid.  I keep wishing I could leave him a plate of cookies or something.

I miss the old hood ornaments:  Pontiac, looking into the future, airplanes, bulldogs, all kinds of great things.  If they were still allowed I would want one that looks like an angel.  I realize that the absence of hard pointing things on the hood might save a life some day but I don’t think those people should be in the middle of the street anyway.

Sometimes my imagination gets away from me.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-143: Do I Know You?

Would I recognize an angel if one appeared to me?  When you read Bible verses and an angel or God Himself in a theophany appears to someone and is recognized, how did they know?

When God visited Abraham in his tent, there is no mention of anything that would make Him stand out, but Abraham knew it was the Lord.  When Joshua saw God, standing with a sword in His hand on the hill above Jericho, he knew it was the Lord.  Moses had a clue in the burning bush.  

How would we know?

Hebrews 13:2 (KJV) Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

I am not sure we will.  That is one reason why we are not to be respecters of persons and be impressed by the elites of life.  We are treat everyone like a child of God.  That even includes (some) Democrats (maybe).

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-206: Angels from the Realms of Glory

I believe that guardian angels exist.

(Psa 91:11 NAS77) For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.

That seems simple and direct.  Of course it leaves a lot of questions.  I sometimes wonder if there is one angel assigned to each person or whether they have neighborhoods assigned.  Or the other extreme, maybe there are several keeping an eye on me.  I have no idea but I like the idea that they exist.  I sometimes remember to thank them

I think there is a lot of confusion over what angels would look like if we could see them.  I like the bit of artistic slight of hand used in the comic strip Rose Is Rose.  Pasquale has a guardian angel who usually appears as Pasquale with wings and a halo.  Every once in awhile the cute cherub gets a bit vexed and appears in his real form with is a macho warrior from the middle ages.  I like that.  I have noticed that when an angel appears to someone in the Bible they usually start off with, “Don’t be afraid.”  

At the same time there seems to be the ability to blend in.  Notice this verse,

(Heb 13:2 KJV)  Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.  

It would seem that we don’t always know.

I look forward to meeting my guardian or guardians at a time when we can sit down over a cup of coffee and share my stupidest moments.

homo unius libri

Opus 2022-007: Angel Report

I am staying with my grandchildren and as I was being thankful this morning my guardian angel came to mind.  I am a believer in guardian angels.  

Psa 91:11  For He will give His angels charge concerning you, To guard you in all your ways.

This is repeated in Luke 4:10.  I used the NASB because it uses the word “guard”.  When I think of my guardian angel my mind takes a squirrel moment.  For instance, how do you leave your guardian angel cookies?  Do they like cookies?  And so forth.
Since I have a guardian angel it follows that my grandchildren have them too.  It occurred to me that they are doubling up, mine came with me and theirs is here.  It brings a whole bunch of squirrel questions to mind.

I wonder if they have ever met.  Do they need to be introduced?  Do all guardian angels know each other?

I assume that we were assigned the best available.  Or it could be that they are genuinely equal, after all God did make them.

I wonder if it will give them time off as they share vigils.

I wonder if my imagination is running away with me.

It is a great way to have it happen.

Happy New Year.

homo unius libri