Sunday, September 28, 2008

Slip 5 New York Waterway - New York City Jesus



Yes, New York City is not part of New Jersey, though West New York and Ellis Island are. Jersey is considered New York’s 6th borough so I’ll stretch the point and include the Broadway Blessing here.



Every Fall, Broadway pauses and asks the almighty for blessings on the coming season. Held at the world’s largest (and yet to be completed) gothic cathedral, St. John the Divine, this world’s largest gothic cathedral was missing one thing: an operating restroom. Those B’way performers really know how to hold a note along with their bowels.

The prelude began with the mighty church organ belting out, "Everything’s Coming Up Roses" from "Gypsy" followed by, "There’s No Business Like Show Business" from "Annie Get Your Gun". I wanted to head for the restroom to barf but there was no restroom in the world’s largest gothic cathedral.

One would have thought the prelude would have included, "Phantom of the Opera," since it was going this route…and I could have sworn one of the angels on the pillars began to plead, "Please stop this now." -photo-

A dance troupe performed to, "How Great Thou Art." I was beginning to feel God’s presence through Jesus. I turned around and there in the center of the largest stained glass window in America was
Jesus.

Adam Jacobs sang, "Nothing there to Love" from the upcoming, "Amazing Grace: The True Story" and I began to notice feel more of Jesus’ influence both in song and statue.

Jerry Curry ended the Broadway Blessing with, "I’ll Walk with God," from "The Student Prince" and the event was engulfed with the almighty.


Ezekiel 34:  "I will bless them...I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing."

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Exit 8 NJ Turnpike - East Windsor Jesus


Carol Erickson EAST WINDSOR, N.J. (CBS 3) ― From the outside, an East Windsor home, situated on a wooded lot across the street from a church, looks like a typical New Jersey house. 

Married couple, Jerry and Wendy Divock, said everything was normal until something unique happened. 

An animated virtual spokesperson from the couple's Web site explains:

"Something very unique and spiritual happened in their home in New Jersey."

Ten years ago Wendy felt a soft touch on her cheek. 

"I turned to see if it was my husband, but it wasn't and then looked and I saw this guy," Wendy said. 

The "guy in the door," as they once referred to the image on the door, bares a striking resemblance to Jesus, as artists have depicted him through the ages.

After consulting with the Pentecostal Pastor in the church across the street from their home, Jerry said they learned the image is, "Very significant and that it's authentic."

The couple decided to reveal their Jesus-like image to world and face the skeptics.

"It's not like this is a grilled cheese sandwich with the image of the Virgin Mary on it," said Jerry.

"It's real. It's no phony bologna crap," insists Wendy.

The other door in the home that is now receiving a lot of attention is the ever-revolving front door, bringing the faithful and curious alike who have to see it, to believe it.

http://www.jesusinthedoor.com/

John 10:  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved…”

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Exit 13A NJ Turnpike - Elizabeth Jesus



During the Revolution, the Brits occupying Manhattan and Staten Island realized that Elizabeth was not named after their past queen and attacked the city with due diligence.



Way back in the 1800’s the city was home to not one, but two Electric Car manufacturing plants. Go figure. It is currently home to The Hope Center which is the launching pad for the New York City Relief buses providing bread and soup in the name of Jesus to places in the city few dare to travel.


Saturday, I was offered a rare opportunity to work a little OT. Living in North Jersey, I could surely use the cash. I was also offered the opportunity to feed the homeless in the South Bronx with New York City Relief. Feed the poor, or make some cash? There really wasn’t a choice. My colleagues at work thought I was nuts.


The weather was brutal, wet and windy. Driving down the NJ Turnpike to the Hope Center, I thought of Micah 6:8 and then tried to find an "out clause" for wind and rain – to no avail.


I felt pretty darn sure no one would stand in a nor’easter for a cup of soup. Stupid me.


Standing in the windblown rain outside that soup truck on a vacant lot on 148th Street, I witnessed it. People came, lots of them, individuals at first, then whole families and extended families. They came for a slice of bread, a cup of soup and a little bit of Jesus. For a fleeting moment, I couldn’t comprehend that this slice of NYC is America for many, many people.


During the course of the day I was speaking with an ex-gang leader recently released from jail. He explained how he once ruled this part of the South Bronx dictating who got mugged, robbed or knifed. He told me his buddies call him Lucifer, the Devil, Satan and Evil and that those names now brought him down.


I remembered a video at Liquid Church where the screen showed individuals who were downtrodden and negative descriptions of them were flashed on the screen only to have their faces appear again with words of how God sees them – loved. I told him to cast out those names and replace with how God sees him Worthy, Loved, God’s special child. It was a bit remarkable but then he began focusing on some of the positive things he’s done for others and what others have done for him.

I'll tell you what it means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of the prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives. Isaiah 58

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Exit 159 GS Parkway - Saddle Brook Jesus



Except for the occasional flood, not much ever happened in Saddle Brook since it was inhabited in 1716. All that changed when in late 2004 Gary Brolsma sat at his PC in his bedroom to lip-sinc the first Numa Numa video:



800 million views later, we have:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7si10ipel0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ysz8HqoE-k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1M-sWWonjo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXleQldbFFE&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOor0OLIbFc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAfPzUy8Gz0&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3med-8reH8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puVmKfCwb4M&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHJjY0Lj1oA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKcm8oPqs4k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5FXD56LGnY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHShKhCnjY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwGCaxJP5AI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aMaAM_B37s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_pMN-R2IGQ&feature=related

In addition to one very addicting video, Saddle Brook is home to one of the few Walmarts in North Jersey. This retailer caused quite a stir last Christmas as it offered Christian toys during the holiday season. Well here in Saddle Brook, this Walmart has been quietly selling Jesus candles since, well, forever. For less than a cup of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee, the light can shine through the Sacred Heart of Jesus candle and the Jesus Crucifixion candle. For twenty cents less than Jesus, one can pick up the Lady of Guadeloupe.


I wonder if Margaret Mary Alaoque could have ever imagined that the vision of Jesus she saw in 1671 would be retailing for $1.55?


"I could plainly see His heart, pierced and bleeding, yet there were flames, too, coming from it and a crown of thorns around it. He told me to behold His heart which so loved humanity. Then He seemed to take my very heart from me and place it there in His heart. In return He gave me back part of His flaming heart."

Beautiful words, really. I would have never thought to literally paint the exact picture and put it on a candle and sell it a Walmart but hey.


John 3:"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son …..whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Monday, September 1, 2008

Exit 15W NJ Turnpike - Kearny Jesus






In 1668, it was known as "New Barbadoes." A few centuries later the town leaders realized "this place looks nothing like Barbadoes" and renamed it after the local Civil War hero, General Philip Kearny. Dubbed, "Soccer Town," Kearny is best known for what is now gone.



Satriale's Meat Shop*-gone.
Scottish Pipers-gone.
Western Electric-gone.
Bunny Land Zoo-gone.
Schuyler Mansion-gone.
West Hudson Hospital-gone.

The orphanages: St. Anthony’s, Sacred Heart and Boystown-gone.
St. Anthony’s is now a Montessori School. Scared Heart is now apartments and houses. Boystown is primarily houses with a church and Catholic service center. Boystown, however, still has its Jesus sculptures along Belgrove Avenue for all to see. There’s the larger-than-life Sacred Heart of Jesus and huge crucifix reminding the locals that he loves them and died for them.

















Cultural and economic changes account for the disappearances of many things in this town -except for the orphanages. They can be attributed to one thing: Rowe vs. Wade.

I wonder if Rowe vs. Wade  is overturned, will Christians be prepared rise to their calling to care for the children? Sadly, I’m not so sure.

Matthew 18 :In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.


*Satriale's pork store photo used by permission, ::: Luca Brasi :::