Crowds flock to Virgin 'miracle' tree in New Jersey
[Crowds flock to Virgin 'miracle' tree in New
Jersey by Sebastian Smith West New York, New Jersey: Fervent Catholics
in a crime-ridden New Jersey town are flocking to what they say is the
miraculous apparition of the Virgin Mary's image in a tree trunk] "On
Tuesday, a crowd of several dozen people stood around the tree, praying,
taking photos and swapping stories of what they call a miracle.
West New York, just across the Hudson from Manhattan, has been better
known for crime, a depressed economy and a mayor who along with his son
faces federal computer hacking charges.
But the town's central Bergenline Avenue is now the unlikely setting for
a diminutive Ginkgo biloba tree with a knot that, worshippers claim, has
the form of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The Catholic Church has distanced itself from the supposed miracle and
there's no shortage of scoffers in West New York, a tough place with a
high Latin American immigrant population.
Yet on a sweltering summer's day, worshipers showed no sign of losing
faith.
Boisterous and implacable, they vowed to stay put until the town's
troubled mayor, Felix Roque, protects the tree for good.
"We want to build a monument," said Maria Baez, 35, one of the first to
announce she'd seen the Virgin at the tree and now one of the stalwarts
mounting day-and-night vigils.
Already the base of the tree and an adjacent fire hydrant are draped in
rosaries, votive candles, flowers and pictures celebrating Our Lady of
Guadalupe, a major figure in Mexican Catholicism..." Full text:
Crowds flock to Virgin 'miracle' tree in New Jersey
Ac 17:22, KJV
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "I have heard stories about a figure of Mary on a pane of glass..."
Idolatry is fun (Ex
20:2,3;
Deut 5:7).
"This one fool said that there was something in his taco that resembled the face of Jesus."
It's as I've always said.
I'm looking for my savior
at Taco Bell.
Deut. 4:28; 1
Kin. 18:27 Judg.
6:31; 1
Sam. 5:3, 4. 2
Chr. 25:15 1
Sam. 12:21; 2
Kin. 3:13; Isa.
16:12; 36:18. 2
Chr. 28:22, 23; Psa.
115:4, 5, 8 Psa.
96:5; 135:15–18; Isa.
2:8. Isa.
40:12–26; Isa.
41:23, 24 vs. 26–29.; Isa.
44:19 vs. 9–20.; Isa.
45:20; Isa.
46:1, 2, 6, 7; Isa.
47:13, 14 vs. 12–15;; 2
Kin. 19:18; Isa.
37:19; Zech.
10:2. Isa.
57:13; Jer.
2:28 Deut.
32:37, 38; Judg.
10:14. Jer.
10:5 vs. 3–16;; Jer.
48:13; 51:17; Hab.
2:18, 19. Jer.
11:12; Jer.
14:22; Jer.
16:19, 20; Hos.
8:5, 6 Ex.
32:20; Psa.
106:20. Acts
14:15; Acts
17:22, 23, 29; Rom.
1:22, 23; 1
Cor. 8:4 with 1
Cor. 8:5; 10:19.1
Cor. 12:2; Gal.
4:8; Rev.
9:20 Deut.
4:28; Dan.
5:23.
"...And then there is the one about either Jesus or Mary in a jar
of pickles."
Is that how it works?
See:
How Pickle Juice Changed the World of Sports
"Someone was spreading peanut butter on a piece of bread and lo
and behold there was Jesus again."
He's really into the pre-game routine.
Ok, salt,
light,
Skippy's...
"I guess if you are a mystical Catholic you are just liable to see Jesus
or Mary almost anywhere."
Looking for him
anywhere--but
in his word (Jn
8:31).
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "...At least these people believe in God and Jesus the Christ..."
Wrong (Mt
7:23).
"Roman Catholicism vs. historical, biblical Christianity: "We have
different authorities, we believe different gospels, we worship
different Christs, we are led by different spirits and we are on
different paths to eternity. Compare this with the unity the apostle
Paul described with those who are in one body and one ......Spirit, with
one hope; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, on God and Father of all who
is over all and through all and in all (Eph
4:4-6)...
...According to many Reformers, Satan's crown jewel is the Roman
Catholic religion. It is his most seductive and deceptive form of
counterfeit Christianity in the world. Granted, there are many other
apostate churches, but none compare in the size, power, influence and
wealth to
the apostate church headquartered in Rome. The problem most Catholics
have is they have been indoctrinated from birth with the lie that they
belong to the one true Church. By believing this lie, they have no
incentive to read God's word and therefore they cannot discern truth
from error. I pray you will ask God to reveal His truth to you as you
abide in His Word (Proclaiming the Gospel, Vol 18 no. 4)..." Full text:
No Idolatry & False Teaching
[Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries] "If I asked
you what are the major differences between biblical Christianity and
Roman Catholicism, what would you say? The answer we hear most often is
"the adoration and
role of Mary in the Catholic Church."
While this is significant, there are several more
gravely consequential differences
that divide the two faiths. Catholics submit to a different authority,
worship a different Jesus,
believe a different Gospel and, as a result, travel on a different path
to eternity (Mat.
7:13-14). People who preach or believe
another gospel are not biblical Christians; they remain under the
condemnation of God until they
repent and believe the true Gospel
(Gal.
1:6-9;
1 Cor. 15:1-4).
Evangelicals that allege Roman Catholicism is a valid expression of
Christianity are not only blatantly wrong, they are also discouraging
anyone from evangelizing its members. Have they forgotten the
Reformers who were brutally tortured and
savagely burned at the stake for
refusing to submit to the authority of Rome and embrace its false
gospel? It was Paul's great fear that we would put up with counterfeit
Christians who preach another Jesus and another gospel (2
Cor. 11:4).
While there may be some Christians in the Catholic Church, the Spirit of
Truth will eventually set them free from
the bondage of religious deception
as they abide in the Word of God (John
8:31-32). Evangelicals can expedite
this process by being obedient to the Great Commission and making
disciples of them, teaching them to observe all that our Lord commands (Mat.
28:18-20). To view a short video clip
of Dr. Dave Reagan and Mike Gendron discussing differences between the
two faiths
click here."
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "We don't really hear and believe half of what we're taught."
That's usually what Catholics say, Well, I
don't believe that.
Still, their church
teaches it so one must ask, why do you stick around?
[Exposing
the Vatican-Islam Alliance Proclaiming the Gospel
Ministries] "The Vatican hailed the decision to grant special status to
the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem a "diplomatic victory" for
the Palestinian Authority. The United Nations approved the Palestinian
bid to place Jesus' birthplace on its list of sites of World Heritage in
danger. Israel called the decision "absurd" and "a sad day." The
Palestinian agenda is the de-Judaization of the land of Israel by
Islamicizing the holy sites. Vatican institutions are collaborating with
the Palestinian autocracy. The Vatican already declared its support of
waving a Palestinian flag over the Temple Mount in ancient Jerusalem.
Next in line is Rachel's Tomb near Bethlehem, Judaism's third most holy
site.
Read more."
Response to comment [from a Christian]: "[They] stick with [RCC] because they want the comfort of the familiar, and are plagued by doubts instilled in years of brainwashing when they try to think or act in response to the Holy Spirit's voice."
It takes courage to challenge all that you've been
taught (Re
3:17).
They have too much to loose--namely, their sin (Jn
3:19).
[From Darkness to Light Proclaiming by Mike Gendron] "While we were in
Europe last month, VCY America did a rebroadcast of an interview with
me. I joyously gave the testimony of God's grace in delivering me out of
the spiritual darkness of Roman Catholicism. The program generated
hundreds of letters, e-mails and
phone calls requesting resources for sharing
the Gospel with Catholics. Responding to the requests has been a labor
of love! What a joy it has been to minister to so many people who have a
heart for the lost. One of the calls was from a devout Catholic. She
said she was very moved by the program and wanted more information.
After talking with her for about 25 minutes, she asked me where she
could find a good church that taught the Bible because she did not want
to be deceived any longer.
Hear the interview."
[Christian Music Has Ecumenical Tone Proclaiming
the Gospel Ministries]: "Lifest, a Christian music festival celebrating
its 14th anniversary drew more than 15,000 visitors to the Sunnyview
Expo Center in Oshkosh, WI. Attendees were able to chose between three
worship services, including a Catholic Mass with Bishop David Ricken. He
officially approves of the Marian Apparitions at the
Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in northern
Wisconsin. The apparition appeared saying, "I am the Queen of Heaven."
This clearly identifies the apparition as a "lying sign and wonder" of
Satan since the only Queen of Heaven in Scripture is an idolatrous
goddess that was condemned by the prophet Jeremiah (Jer.
7:18). On hand were popular CCM groups
such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, Switchfoot, Newsboys,
Underoath, Building 429 and Norma Jean. Enthusiastic fans celebrated
ecumenical unity through the sensual power of rock and roll.
Read more."
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: [It takes courage to challenge all that you've been taught (Re 3:17).] "It certainly does."
Your religion (Rev.
3:14–22) teaches lies.
"You nullify the Word of God by your traditions that you have handed
down (Mk
7:13)."
See:
Roman Catholic Traditions
"That's what made it so difficult to give up on Protestantism."
Snob Approach (argumentum ad populum) 1 Jn 2:19
