Beliefnet's Interview with Joan Wester Anderson

I am in love with a movie, not well known ,but one of my favorites. It is called Finnigan begin again. In the movie Robert Preston sings the little ditty; There was a man named Michael Finnigan, he had wiskers on his chinagain, he shaved them off and they grew back in again, poor old Michael Finnigan, Begin again. Very simple , cute little song. One evening I was walking home and singing to my self this same song. I stopped dead in my tracks and realized that that was the name of my gardian angel. It is , by the way, one of my favorite names, David is the other. I have never shared this story with anyone and have not thought about it for years. Thank you for reminding me. :)

re lARRY: "Why should G-d care?
Frankly, that's the oldest uestion in the world and can and is applied to many things on a daily basis. But I DO believe that He cares about us even down to the minute details of our lives and understanding "why is indeed (as Wisdum says his early religious trainers said) indeed a mystery. Oh, I don't think he cares whether I gt the space ahead of the indibvidual coming from the opposite direction who is also searching frantically, but since I know He can "number the hairs on my head" I fervently believe that He intervenes in my life daily to create the best possible outcomes for me in every situation, weven if i sometimes think He's miscalcilated. As for 9/11, I think the fact of free will enters into that equation as it does into all others. The hijackers had the free will to decidde to carry out their plan, the trapped had free will to decide whether they would help their fellow "trapees", and the responders had free will to enter or not enter those blazing infernos (public service oaths notwithstanding) It was a horrific day for all of us..perhaps the most horrific day of the twenty-first century (time will tell! and DEFINITELY one of those days every American will forever remember what s/he was doing when it happened. But in perspective, it was probably no more hofrrific than specific days during the crusades to "rescue" the Holy Lands during medieval times or specific days during the operation of Auscwitz during WWII in terms of human loss and man's inhumanity to man. We could--and many do--ask where G-d or the angels were THEN as well.
For me the answer is simplistic. G-d cares because he LOVES me! He knows, understands and bears with me all of my peculiar afflictions, challenges, hardships, and he celebrates with me my victories and acheivements no matter how minimal IF I ALLOW HIM TO! ( the free will thing again; I can chose to banish him from my life if that's my desire) Back when I was commuting fifty miles each day to and from work, I would say a prayer before driving onto the highway and ask G-d to be with me andthe other drivers on the expressway to protect us from all hurt, harm or danger. That was my free will in action! I guess in a way I was circumventing the free will of others on the road by including them in my prayer, but it is, nonetheless, the prayer I sent up. It was heartfelt, too, but in all honesty not nearly as heartfelt as the "Thank you, Jesus!" which exploded from my lips when I pulled off the highway at the other end of my journey! In fifteen years of that commute, I suffered only one flat tire, one mechanical breakdown, and one into-the-snow drifts-along-the-road incident, a record which any commuter in Southwestern Michigan would gladly claim, especially given our winter wheather here. It doesn't mean i didn't have my moments of fear or anxiety or that I didn't see others experiencing difficulties--I DID!--But it DID give me an even stronger than usual desire to stop and offer whatever assistence I could provide to total strangers. Now, believe me, I'm no angel, but I believe God dealt with me on those occassions to compel me to help..a ride, a shelter from the wind in my toasty vehicle, a blanket or other suppkly from the "emergency kit" I carried in my hatchback...not much, at least SOMETHING. I also think those episodes were "karmic" in terms of others holding out a helping hand to me later in life (founder totally different circumstances ) even though I'm not honestly a believer in Karma. I'm more inclined to believe it's a "reaping" of what we've sown" Now that my life circumsyances have brutally changed, I have xperienced the beauty of others reaching out to help me in my own need..an old estranged-for - years friend who appeared at my hospital bedside after hearing about my stroke and who know frequently brings me my evening meal on her days off..even the caregiver/friend whom I met in a very unorthodox manner but is virtually the reason my sisters, son and ex-therapists agreed to allowing me to resume independent living as opposed to their oversight in THEIR homes which was my lot when I was first released from the nursing hometo the ominous portent"You can never live alone again...you'd be dead in six months." Thankfully, i've lived alone again now for thgoing on three years and still have life in my body!

Yes, there are magical men in loin cloths with wings that let them fly (ignoring the laws of physics of course) who are lead by a racist, homophobic, misogynist, genocidal, tyrannical Great Juju God that will send everyone that doesn't conform to the absolute LETTER of his revealed religion (though which one is still up for debate in the form of mass slaughter) into the depths of an eternal fire... But he loves you!

It makes soooo much sense!

Sung to the tune of "Jingle Bells"...DECK THE HALLS...SHOPPING MALLS...PARKING SPACES RARE.....IT'S NO MEAN FEAT TO HIT THE STREET...AT CHRISTMAS IF YOU DARE...OH!!! I think someone had an interesting point..sorry fuzzy brain prevents recall...That God is Love and Love cannot be forced or it is'nt Love. That's free will. So in that vein...if free will does'nt exsist than neither does Love..and if Love does'nt exist than neither does God...and if God does'nt exsist then WHAT THE HELL ARE WE DOING HERE???

Margaret:

I luv ya, but be careful about where you're going with this theological argument.

Because if G-d cares who gets the parking spot in front of the mall, why doesn't G-d care about the guy shooting up the mall in Omaha yesterday?

I know the traditional Christian answer -- it's tragic, but it's a manifestation of free will. And G-d does care to comfort the survivors and the families of the victims. OK.

But if the shooting IS a manifestation of free will and the parking spot dilemma ISN'T a manifestation of free will, IMHO, G-d has His priorities seriously scr*wed up.

Another time with the angels: I was sleeping and suddenly woke up to a thought "Pray for Cindy". I looked at the time. 2:30AM. I prayed that she be safe and for God to do what was needed for her (I didn't have a clue). Then back to sleep. I noted the time on a piece of paper. The next morning I asked her what was happening around 2-3AM. She said she was on her way back to our home(she shared with me). A car load of guys stopped her at the top of the mountains between LA and Bakerfield, California. She panicked, prayed and was able to drive around them and get away. A car behind her called the police and she was able to get home safely. Her angels were on duty.

Anderson's views of angels seem well rooted in Scripture and within the parameters of Orthodox Christianity. I must admit, though, it is a bit kooky, though, to name your angel. And why must an angel be assigned to one person? Couldn't they share? Maybe work in shifts?

You are not supposed to talk to angels but to God only. It is not Angel who enligtens you but Holy Spirit who is indwelling in you. It is Holy Spirit who is being given to you as you had repented of your sins and baptized in the Name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Angels cannot guide you too, because they are the messangers and workers of God.
A simple example I like to give you. You want a guidence in your business or in your family life or personal life. To whom you would approch? Is it to your servant in your home or a postman or an adviser who can give you advice. Can I tell you a secret? We are much more greater than angels because we will be judging them one day.
So pls come to Jesus Christ of Nazerth and get hold of the infinte wisdom in all areas because HE is the counselor.
George Koshy Yahwaekeen@yahoo.com