Posted on 02/16/2010 12:40:42 PM PST by Pyro7480
It is hard to know whether Monday was a very bad day or a very good day for Lance Cpl. Andrew Koenig.
On the one hand, he was shot in the head. On the other, the bullet bounced off him.
In one of those rare battlefield miracles, an insurgent sniper hit Lance Cpl. Koenig dead on in the front of his helmet, and he walked away from it with a smile on his face....
The only injury: A small, numb red welt on his forehead, just above his right eye....
Gunnery Sgt. Shelton, a 36-year-old veteran from Nashville, said he had never seen a Marine survive a direct shot to the head.
But next to him was Cpl. Christopher Ahrens, who quietly mentioned that two bullets had grazed his helmet the day the Marines attacked Marjah. The same thing, he said, happened to him three times in firefights in Iraq.
Cpl. Ahrens, 26, from Havre de Grace, Md., lifted the camouflaged cloth cover on his helmet, exposing the holes where the bullets had entered and exited.
He turned it over to display the picture card tucked inside, depicting Michael the Archangel stamping on Lucifer's head. "I don't need luck," he said.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
“...some “St.” that ostensibly has powers similar to God, but sits in heaven doing the work of God...”
Whatever you have against Catholicism, at least get your facts straight.
Now here is a reasonable question. The answer is, yes, of course he must still do God's bidding.
The extrapolation from this position to the apparent Catholic position that we therefore should be calling on the angels and the departed believers to help us is the stretch that borders on idolatry. Nowhere can we find an admonition, command or even permission to call, pray, ask, speak to any of these beings to request help or protection. The Scriptures are clear that it is God, alone, that brings the events in our lives to us. We are directed to cast all of cares upon Him, because He cares for us. It is not upon agents (angels), departed believers, or Mary or anyone else who protects. If He chooses to use an angel, fine, but that is not for us to presume and certainly not praise. How this all arose is purely from Rome's departure from the Scriptural message.
And where, pray tell, does Scripture tell you this nonsense?
Also, in the Book of the Apocalype/Revelation, it talks about angels serving as the intermediaries between God and His creatures. "And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel" Apoc. 8: 3-4.
But scripture tells us that God will send down his angels to protect us.
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. Psalms 91:11
Thanking God for the protection of His angels seems no more wrong than thanking Him for the multitude of His other blessings. While the Marine, no doubt, would prefer to have been able to attend an organized church service, standing with hands folded while the choir sang and thanked God more formally, infantry combat tends to prohibit such practices. The card at issue was a constant reminder that God would protect him and no more an idol than the little fish thingy that lots of folks put on their auto bumper.
Besides, Marines and God have a special relationship. He not only uses them to guard the streets of Heaven, but he hears their silent prayers.
I prayed every day for his safety while he was there. It wasn’t the medal itself, but the intercession of the saint it represented.
Buzz off.
No and yes. No guards necessary in heaven. God's will prevails. But, Rom. 8:26, 27. We don't even know how to pray properly, but the Spirit handles all that and more with groanings too deep for words. So, the Marines are not alone in that respect.
As I have noted before...the technical Catholic response was something like, "Nanner, nanner, nanner".
This doesn’t have anything to do with the discussion.
[snicker] Yeah, and you just OOZE originality! One could almost program a Dutchboy88 automatic-response generator, using buzzwords like “Rome,” “superstition,” and “cult.”
What do you mean? You are condemning “unbiblical” Catholic practices, and I’m pointing to you to the Bible verses.
Awesome bump!
About 7 pics down on my homepage is a pic of my nephew holding his helmet that took a direct hit, also. I won,t post it on this thread to avoid confusion with this Marine.
The young Marine's prayer was powerful, notwithstanding that someone else may think their method of prayer to be superior.
Okay, so answer my questions.
I normally only read the comments on caucus threads, I learned long ago not to respond to them because if you notice, the most egregious ones are just doing it to get attention.
My son who is getting ready to enlist, goes to MEPS on Friday, just read a great book called the More Elite Soldier, great book even if you are not in the military.
I’m going to get that book for him to read.
See prior post for technical response.
And do continue to buzz off with your baiting.
mmmm Don’t sweat it all too much.
35 some years ago My Marine Buddy whose name sadly is lost to time.. one day as we sat in our room after herding privates at the Recruit Depot he simply stated his Mormon vestment stopped a bullet during his adventure as “Commo-Man” in Vn. The round after hitting in the chest lay smoking in the mud at his feet. One of the most faithful Christians I have ever known..he was much abused, left a Corporal because he made others uncomfortable due to his quiet but unmistakable faith. I (Not a Mormon) know in my heart he spoke the truth.
I think there is a need to give everyone here a break.. including these young Jar Heads. The Boss’s Son apparently does..(Triniatrians? don’t get worked up)
“Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.
“For he who is not against us is on our side.
“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward. “
Somewhere in the Book.
I myself suspect the One true Living God.. really could care less if you pray to Saint Peter or St Michael, Mary or to his Son the Christ.
I don’t even think the one true Master of the Universe gets excited that the Catholics Cross themselves to the left first and the Orthodox to the right..(Or that Roman Catholics think their Johnny Come Lately sect is the only one out there) lol (Hint to Roman Catholics.. Catholic is a Greek word.. The Orthodox in Greece were practicing Catholocisim 300 years before you all even thought about a Church in Rome.. (That ought to get some other folks riled up).
I don’t see the Boss getting all worked up that the Penticostals wave their hands in the air do you?
How about the Mormons claim that Christ showed up in the Western Hemisphere and spoke to their head honcho?
If he can wrassle with Jacob? one night just cause.. he’s that kind of God.. he’s likely to do what he pleases, when he pleases, how he pleases...N’est-ce-pas?
I think the One True Living God kind of likes this place , likes the American people. Based upon the blessings we have recieved seems reasonable.
After all we are a Christian Nation as uncomfortable and irritating as that may be to some.lol
Take a look at the political miracle which is happening before our eyes today in the United States. In our Darkest Hours he manifests his will on our behalf repeatedly.
Taking the silly things and using them to make fools of the most wise. (Is something like that in the Book?)mmm,
Changing things for the better before our very eyes.
I suggest we need only look to see it. (It likely does not hurt to work a bit on his behalf as we look).
As Christians are we not all imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ. The Sons and Daughters of God? (Great Gig).
Oh...Jews? (Tough Gig stuck in the Law) Cousins... flawed like ourselves... whose doubts made a way for us to enter the house of the Lord. (Says that in the book too somewhere I think)
Sort of like my Uncle Charlie. He smelled of Cigars. A little loud and pushy with bad breath at times... paid me very little for a lot of work when I was a kid and he was proud of that fact.. lol. Tough to take at times, a little self centered (Like us all? Well me then, Ok)... but still part of the family and we stood with him all his life.
Just as we as Christians stand with the true Jews of Israel today. (Think the Boss said something about him wanting that as well).
Make Sense?
W
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