Back in the day when I was in college - my prof. in Philosophy 'threw a monkey wrench' ... in that, "If the Christian/Jewish God is so loving, why does He allow children to suffer of hunger, starvation and such all over the world...?"

The answer came back to her -> God doesn't allow it. Man does. God has given all the means and resources to see to these things - but man in his selfish - greed and lust for power allows it to happen." Then the person went on to ask the Prof. "Ma'm with all due respect, what have you done to help stop this very thing?" She turned very deep red in the face and we suddenly changed the topic.

I think angels are there - but I feel we are suppose to be our brother's keeper .. and help when we can. No I am not talking Socialism or such .. but I am talking Charity - Caring and such. We take care of our 'home' first .. and then as it is available to us - we reach out ...

Example and NO I am not tooting my horn. There are good "Support a 3rd World Child" groups out there - that do indeed "do the job" .. for the past 30 years my wife and I have supported over 14 kids .. and we made it a family project with our kids as they were growing up. They began to see at an early age, just how lucky and blessed they were, when they saw the kids we supported and the life they live. As one of my kids said, "Dad, it's like they live in and on a totally different planet! We really do have it good, don't we?"

Now they are beginning to see, as they can do this, they do. They are still starting out .. but the seed has been planted in them and it will go forth with them as well. Our daughter is even now thinking of ways to get her daughters to see and understand ...

Angels are there .. but .. sometimes "angels" are us as well .... we can be "Guarding Angels" if we choose.

I now step off the soap box .. Sorry for the Preachy tone .. (This is dear to my heart .. )

This is an excellent comment that inspired me to post a comment. Do angels exist? I think so. Looking back on my life, I feel that there were times that I should have died years ago. I don't believe that I ever saw or heard an angel. Still I feel that angels do exist. They might be in human form or they might take over a person's mind to borrow that person's body for a few moments. I also feel that some of the entities in my home may be invisible and silent angels.

I have read a story today in my local newspaper of how a spirit or angel disguised as a nurse in a hospital put a patient at ease. This patient described how the nurse came into his room and eased his worries and physical pain. The next day, the patient asked the other nurses who this kind and compassionate nurse was? None of the other nurses knew who this nurse may be. No such nurse worked the floor or even in the hospital that may have described this nurse.

The patient mentioned above writes a column in my local newspaper. When a reader read the story about the mysterious nurse, the reader sent either a letter or email to the newspaper columnist. The reader who sent the letter described a similar mysterious nurse. The reader (wife) took her husband to the emergency room for a life threatening medical condition. An elderly nurse told the wife that the husband will be fine and that God will take care of the husband. The husband was admitted and the wife went back to the emergency room to thank the elderly nurse. None of the other nurses on duty knew of this elderly nurse. The director of nursing said no such elderly nurse worked at the hospital.

The husband who survived did recall a nurse that looked exactly like the mysterious elderly nurse from years ago. That nurse took care of the husband when he was a teen many years ago. That particular elderly nurse died many years ago.

I have always wondered where angels got their wings from. http://www.the-gospe...els-have-wings/

One of my favorite TV shows was "Touched By An Angel"

The other thing is - your SIL could also just be emotionally distraught over the loss ... I have seen children carry the death's of their parents on for many decades ... also is there a chance the mother, while alive had "high expectations" ... that the SIL could or could not live up to and SIL feels guilty not 'living up to expectations'? Guilt and what parents do when the child is still young can have dramatic 'cause/effect' long into the child's life.

As for Voodoo ... I do not believe there is any power there ...(except suggestion, to those who believe) ... but I also happen to know that these people can get rather "emo" .. and I just soon not deal with the drama queens ... Enough in life without going to seek it out.

Most people would probably agree with you about voodoo, but my husband (who was a huge scoffer once) and I believe that there is something to it. The first time we ever entered a voodoo temple we were on a tour. The tour operator had requested that we be very respectful, as anyone should be when they go to someone else's religious space. Once we were inside, we were asked to sit in a circle on the floor while the Priestess told us a little about the religion. One of the women on our tour was ****ing non-stop about having to sit on the floor because she was wearing new white capri pants. I won't even go into the stupidity of wearing white in the French Quarter of New Orleans because it should be obvious. The Priestess ignored her complaints and kept on going.

As we were leaving, the Priestess carefully chose certain beads for each of us. The lady who had complained so much was given an especially nice strand of red beads, which kind of annoyed us because we had been very respectful and she'd been such a pill. Within 5 minutes of leaving the temple, the white capri woman stepped on a ketchup pack which squirted all up her pants and then someone dropped a hurricane (red drink) from the balcony above her which soaked her pants but didn't splash on anyone else. We all had a good laugh and learned right then and there not to mess with Priestess M. /laugh.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

My ex-SIL always has to be in a war with someone and it's always nuclear war. After I went to Priestess M she left my brother alone and went back to fighting with her step-mother. I don't know how voodoo works, but I think that it really can.

My ex-SIL has now been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which explains a lot. She met another man soon after I met with Priestess M and is now in the process of divorcing him, the poor ****.

The strangest part about the New Orleans story is that I had been directed to the church by a Voodoo Priestess who I had consulted about my psycho ex SIL. I truly thought she was evil but Priestess Miriam told me that she was just "ridden" by her mother, who died of MS when my SIL was 6. Apparently, she was living the life she felt cheated out of through her daughter. Not sure about any of that, but I really like Priestess M and think she's genuine. She did a binding spell for me and gave me some other advice before I left.

On the way to the church, I was standing on a street corner waiting for the light to change when I was suddenly pushed into the street. I fell so hard that it tore the knees of my jeans and skinned both my hands. I got up to confront whoever had pushed me but there was no one around at all. Fortunately the street was empty too or I might have fallen right in front of a car. So I'm pushed by something mean and then see this "woman" in the church. Wonder if God was trying to tell me not to mess with voodoo priestesses because he was in full charge? /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':blink:' />

The other thing is - your SIL could also just be emotionally distraught over the loss ... I have seen children carry the death's of their parents on for many decades ... also is there a chance the mother, while alive had "high expectations" ... that the SIL could or could not live up to and SIL feels guilty not 'living up to expectations'? Guilt and what parents do when the child is still young can have dramatic 'cause/effect' long into the child's life.

As for Voodoo ... I do not believe there is any power there ...(except suggestion, to those who believe) ... but I also happen to know that these people can get rather "emo" .. and I just soon not deal with the drama queens ... Enough in life without going to seek it out.

On the way to the church, I was standing on a street corner waiting for the light to change when I was suddenly pushed into the street. I fell so hard that it tore the knees of my jeans and skinned both my hands. I got up to confront whoever had pushed me but there was no one around at all. Fortunately the street was empty too or I might have fallen right in front of a car. So I'm pushed by something mean and then see this "woman" in the church. Wonder if God was trying to tell me not to mess with voodoo priestesses because he was in full charge? /smile.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />

When I was living in Scotland, there were a lot of young street kids. Most of them were drug addicts, of course, and all of them were dirty, disheveled and frankly, they were very unpleasant in every way. Before I lived there, I always gave money to beggars, there but for the grace of God and all that, but these kids really pissed me off. They were too lazy to even ask for money and weren't grateful at all for any money you gave them. Plus, they always had dogs, which really bothered me. If you can't take care of yourself, why would you take on an animal? Clearly you can't afford to take care of it properly. But I digress. Let's just say that I was not enamored with these street kids.

One day my friend and I were leaving a grocery store and we passed a young man sitting on a bench. He was clearly homeless and very dirty, but for some reason I felt drawn to him. I actually resisted my urge until we got to the car and then went back to talk to him. I asked him if he needed help or money, and he gave me the most amazing smile I have ever seen. It truly lit up his face - it seemed to me that he actually glowed with a golden light for just an instant, like he was lit from within. He radiated pure goodness. I can't explain it any better than that. I literally felt like I was looking at an angel or a being of light. He never spoke a word, just smiled at me with that incredible smile. It shook me so much that I couldn't even ask him any questions or offer him a meal, which I intended to do when I walked over. I gave him the money in my hand and walked away. To this day, I don't know what or who he was, but if there are truly good people on this planet, I think I met one.

I think I may have encountered another angel once, in a church in New Orleans. I went into the church to get holy water for my Catholic grandmother who was having surgery for colon cancer. The church was dedicated to St. Peregrine, the patron saint of cancer. When I went into the tiny church, I didn't see a soul. I forgot to bring a container for the water and I said something aloud, like well how the heck do I get the holy water? and then suddenly noticed a woman standing behind me to my left. She was a 30ish African American woman and she had huge tears silently running down her face. It looked like she had been crying like that for a long time. I felt like she was crying for the sins of mankind or something. I don't know how to explain it. It was more than just normal tears, if you know what I mean. She silently pointed to doors on the right side of the church that I hadn't seen.

I didn't want to disturb her by talking to her, even though I wanted to ask her where she came from and why was she crying like that, so I just walked to the doors. I realized I hadn't said thank you, so I turned back to her but she was gone. Poof. She couldn't have gone out the church doors because she would have let light in and it would have made noise. I couldn't find any other exit, so I don't think there is a normal explanation for how she disappeared.

She may have been a ghost, but she didn't feel like one. She felt very different to me from anything I have ever encountered before or since. It was weird. She steered me right, though. The office outside those doors not only had bottles for holy water but also a card with a prayer to St. Peregrine that my grandmother actually put under her body during the surgery. The doctors didn't expect her to recover but she did.

what i find so frustrating, upsetting and just downright evil is like the case of the couple who beat their 3 yr old to death because he'd pee'd himself, beat him for over an hour...then ordered pizza and put in a dvd to watch whilst the little one just laid dying...

i think i want, if angels exist, for there to be an avenging angel, one who could off beasts like this at the beginning of their monstrousness. some sort of tangible goodness, i guess.

I know just how you feel. I wish there were angels like the ones in the movie Legion - warrior angels with big swords who terminate bad people (like those parents) in really horrible, painful ways BEFORE they commit their terrible deeds. Wow, I could really get behind that.

I agree w/this emphatically. Isn't there an expression about "earning your wings"? If there ARE angels perhaps there's a system in place for them to do just that? It's frustrating to think that if THERE ARE "Guardian Angels" out there (and i'm not talking about Curtis Sliwa either here) how do these atrocities and injustices continue.

The answer came back to her -> God doesn't allow it. Man does. God has given all the means and resources to see to these things - but man in his selfish - greed and lust for power allows it to happen." Then the person went on to ask the Prof. "Ma'm with all due respect, what have you done to help stop this very thing?" She turned very deep red in the face and we suddenly changed the topic.

I think angels are there - but I feel we are suppose to be our brother's keeper .. and help when we can. No I am not talking Socialism or such .. but I am talking Charity - Caring and such. We take care of our 'home' first .. and then as it is available to us - we reach out ...

Example and NO I am not tooting my horn. There are good "Support a 3rd World Child" groups out there - that do indeed "do the job" .. for the past 30 years my wife and I have supported over 14 kids .. and we made it a family project with our kids as they were growing up. They began to see at an early age, just how lucky and blessed they were, when they saw the kids we supported and the life they live. As one of my kids said, "Dad, it's like they live in and on a totally different planet! We really do have it good, don't we?"

Now they are beginning to see, as they can do this, they do. They are still starting out .. but the seed has been planted in them and it will go forth with them as well. Our daughter is even now thinking of ways to get her daughters to see and understand ...

Angels are there .. but .. sometimes "angels" are us as well .... we can be "Guarding Angels" if we choose.

I now step off the soap box .. Sorry for the Preachy tone .. (This is dear to my heart .. )

On another note...

There is a person around my area that does Angel Readings. A friend of mine is going to have one done this week.

She had one done before by this woman.....and she said she has 3 angels around her.....

So now my friend wants to go back and find out some things.

Will keep you all posted....

Raven

Well my friend had an hour reading. It was quite interesting. She told her things that she could not have known.

Told her how to handle certain situations for the future. My friend is having some financial issues and she told her how to handle it. (Than answer should actuallly happen today) But she told her to ask her angels for help. WHich she did.

Also told her some things about her kids....(all true)....

She didn't predict anything like a psychic would do.....it seemed like it was very therapeutic for her.

If this particular situation works in favor of my friend today, I would be very surprized...

Keep you all posted....

Raven

PS.. On another note....it does make you wonder why bad things happen to children....etc.

thank you for understanding what i was trying to get at, kurius.

what i find so frustrating, upsetting and just downright evil is like the case of the couple who beat their 3 yr old to death because he'd pee'd himself, beat him for over an hour...then ordered pizza and put in a dvd to watch whilst the little one just laid dying...

i think i want, if angels exist, for there to be an avenging angel, one who could off beasts like this at the beginning of their monstrousness. some sort of tangible goodness, i guess.

'suffer the little children' indeed.

I know just how you feel. I wish there were angels like the ones in the movie Legion - warrior angels with big swords who terminate bad people (like those parents) in really horrible, painful ways BEFORE they commit their terrible deeds. Wow, I could really get behind that.

I don't think you are being snarky at all. You ask a very valid question, one that most people probably struggle with. It's the age old question: if God and his angels exist, why are so many bad things allowed to happen?

After thinking about this for many years, I now believe that some things truly are meant to be, ie are fated. I believe that if angels exist, and I am not completely convinced that they do, they are only allowed to interfere in cases that would negatively impact something that was meant to be. For example, if a person is destined to do something in 2012, they can't be allowed to die in a car accident in 2011.

When it is a person's time to die, I believe that even angels, guardian spirits, whatever they are. cannot change the course of events. They can be with the person during their death and help the person pass on to the next life, but they can't change a person's fate.

Do I accept this with complacency? No way. I don't really understand why horrible things are allowed to happen, especially to children. In fact, every time a child dies it shakes my faith. In order to keep my sanity, I just have to believe that there is order in the universe even if I can't see it. It usually works for me, but only because I believe in reincarnation and because I believe that we have a hand in pre-arranging the events of our lives.

Just my two cents, for what it's worth.

thank you for understanding what i was trying to get at, kurius.

what i find so frustrating, upsetting and just downright evil is like the case of the couple who beat their 3 yr old to death because he'd pee'd himself, beat him for over an hour...then ordered pizza and put in a dvd to watch whilst the little one just laid dying...

i think i want, if angels exist, for there to be an avenging angel, one who could off beasts like this at the beginning of their monstrousness. some sort of tangible goodness, i guess.

'suffer the little children' indeed.

i guess my only question is: where are all the angels when terrible, terrible things are happening to children all over the world. i do not mean to denigrate anything reported here, and i am NOT asking in a snarky manner.

i just have to wonder...if angels exist, can they do no more than wring their hands in despair? yet, jjb mentions being pushed out of the way...it confuses me. are some angels better at being angels than others? i am seriously asking here, folks. /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

I don't think you are being snarky at all. You ask a very valid question, one that most people probably struggle with. It's the age old question: if God and his angels exist, why are so many bad things allowed to happen?

After thinking about this for many years, I now believe that some things truly are meant to be, ie are fated. I believe that if angels exist, and I am not completely convinced that they do, they are only allowed to interfere in cases that would negatively impact something that was meant to be. For example, if a person is destined to do something in 2012, they can't be allowed to die in a car accident in 2011.

When it is a person's time to die, I believe that even angels, guardian spirits, whatever they are. cannot change the course of events. They can be with the person during their death and help the person pass on to the next life, but they can't change a person's fate.

Do I accept this with complacency? No way. I don't really understand why horrible things are allowed to happen, especially to children. In fact, every time a child dies it shakes my faith. In order to keep my sanity, I just have to believe that there is order in the universe even if I can't see it. It usually works for me, but only because I believe in reincarnation and because I believe that we have a hand in pre-arranging the events of our lives.

Just my two cents, for what it's worth.

i just have to wonder...if angels exist, can they do no more than wring their hands in despair? yet, jjb mentions being pushed out of the way...it confuses me. are some angels better at being angels than others? i am seriously asking here, folks. /unsure.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you had a witness for your peace of mind.

The fun thing is that we still keep in contact since that event ... we've become good friends. I would have missed this friendship otherwise .. so I guess there were to blessings that day!

This happened about 15 year ago....

I was waiting for a bus, when this guy walked up to me and seemed to be waiting for a bus too. He was dressed in blue jeans, T-shirt and leather jacket. Nothing exceptional .. just a 'dude'.

Then the bus turned the corner and was pulling up to the bus stop when this guy pushed me (out of the way) .. the bus went out of control and would have smacked dead on with me ...

Then the guy helped me up to my feet and said, "I hope that I didn't hurt you?" Then a flash of light and poof, gone.

Now the bus driver had a stroke, thus the loss of control ... one of the passengers saw the guy help me to my feet and saw the flash and the guy was gone.

He said, "I'm not sure, but I think you were with an angel?" I had to agree ... I have no other answer ... and I was certainly glad for me that the passenger saw this too ...

He also said, "Up to this point, I thought angels were myth. You know, religious stories for little kids. I think I now believe."

I do too .. but always have.

Thanks for sharing your story. I'm glad you had a witness for your peace of mind.

There is a person around my area that does Angel Readings. A friend of mine is going to have one done this week.

She had one done before by this woman.....and she said she has 3 angels around her.....

So now my friend wants to go back and find out some things.

Will keep you all posted....

Raven