Religious Harmony in the Middle of New Jersey

Deputy Adam Gussen and Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin

Jews and Muslims Live in Harmony in the Middle of New Jersey - CBS News Video

The following article is from CBSnews.com :

By Dave Price

CBS - Any public discussion about religion can quickly turn into a loud argument these days. Dave Price from The Early Show shows a town that's become an example of how to get along - despite your differences. Far away from the religious strife of the Middle East and the simmering tensions of our post September 11 world, there's an oasis of hope in the small community of Teaneck, New Jersey.

Thirty percent of its residents are Jewish, and their new mayor is a practicing Muslim.

Working together to keep this community not only intact but flourishing, are Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin and his Deputy Adam Gussen - an Orthodox Jew.

Mayor Hameeduddin says Teaneck "is an incubator for understanding." He added, "it's not a homogeneous community - and you want your children in a community where they're going to meet all different kinds of people."

"The things that are most important are the things that we share in common," Gussen added. "Our differences become less important."

Teaneck is like looking through a cultural prism - reflected on "Main Street" throughout its restaurants and shops. The sounds of prayer that ring out from the town form a diverse constituency within a tiny 6 square mile radius.

"Is there a Jewish way to fill a pot hole? Is there a Muslim way to plow the streets," Gussen asks. "The answer is, no."

It's that practicality and synchronicity that are sources of pride for Teaneck's residents.

"There are people of all kinds here, and you should be able to get along with everybody," said Teaneck resident Aggie Siletski.

"So what do you say to the people who say this is a small community in New Jersey - this isn't the rest of the country," Price asked.

Teaneck resident Amber Sheikh replied, "Small little people, small little communities are the ones who get into the world and change it slowly, right?"

This town of 39,000 has often been at the forefront of cultural diversity and change - stretching all the way back to the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's.

In the spring of 1964, Teaneck became the first American town with a white majority to desegregate its schools.

Fast forward 46 years and that mission for equality is still clear.

"Are there things that happen in Teaneck that could happen elsewhere? Yeah, I really think there are," Gussen said.

"It shows that kids can dream a little bigger - that they don't have to worry about all the stereotypes," Hameeduddin added. "Anybody can do anything," he said. "That's what it really comes down to.

Kamal Saleem: A Muslim Cries Out to Jesus - CBN.com

Kamal Saleem heard a voice call his name and saw a vision of Christ. This was miraculous, because up until then, Kamal was a Muslim. Watch the amazing interview from CBN.com and witness the miraculous transformation of Kamal Saleem.

Duane Andrews: A Time for Believing in the Power of Prayer

View the inspiring story of Duane Andrews and his miraculous recovery from all his medical conditions!

Whatever difficulty you may be facing, hand it over to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Believe in the power of prayer!  Trust that God will answer you!

Duane Andrews: A Time for Believing

By Audra Smith

CBN.com – Duane Andrews was relaxing at home when he suddenly began having severe stomach cramps. What started as pancreatitis became something more severe, and Duane wound up in a coma for a month and a half. In the face of grim reports, his wife Sharon decided it was time to pray.

Kent Bryant: A Bad Boy Finds God

The following story of Kent Bryant is from CBN.com.  In the video interview, Kent Bryant says that his life was transformed from "a divine encounter with God."

Kent Bryant: A Bad Boy Finds God

By Michelle Wilson

CBN.com - “With all the success, women and money, it still wasn’t enough. The void was there.”

Kent Bryant worked as a scout for one of the hottest record labels in New York City. But this wasn’t his first career choice. At age 12, he was already 6'3" tall. His dream was to become a superstar in the NBA.

“It was the thrill of a lifetime to play basketball and to have that great competition.”
 
By his senior year, he became high school All-American, which guaranteed a full ride at a number of division one universities. He decided on San Diego State.

“Having the ability to shoot the basketball and to drive to the basket were my specialties. They used to call me ‘K-Swish.’ I used to drop it in that net at all times.”

But instead of focusing on basketball and his grades, Kent turned his attention to other pursuits. By the time he graduated from college, he’d become a drug dealer.

“My friends called me ‘the pharmacist’. I really knew how to dice it up and serve it up well.”

Kent lost his shot at the NBA and with it his dream of super stardom. The thousands of dollars a week he was making as a dealer did little to fill a growing emptiness inside. So he started using the drugs he sold.

“Drugs kept me numb. Drinking and smoking and sniffing cocaine. Living a crazy lifestyle and blacking out. Meeting a girl at a club or at a bar and going home with her...”

One day, Kent was introduced to Sean “P. Diddy” Combs who was in the beginning stages of starting Bad Boy Records. Kent joined the company as a scout to develop and promote new music artists. Working with Diddy brought a new kind of high.

“Music industry, Bad Boy Entertainment was fast paced. A lot was coming at you all the time. A lot of success. A lot of fame. Working with artists such as the Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, Craig Mack. The list goes on and on. You can throw a party, have your artists come, charge at the door and make up to $30,000 $40,000 on a given night.”

Kent’s tenacity and ability to develop new talent earned him the name “Topp Dwagg”. He loved the lavish lifestyle that came with the title, but one morning after an all night party, he came face to face with how bankrupt his life had become.

“This suicidal thought came to me. Here you are everything that you felt that you desired with drugs, money, women, notoriety, but yet there was still this emptiness. I grab this rail. I’m looking over, and I’m ready to jump. Then I heard a voice say, ‘I have a plan for you. I have work for you. No, you don’t want to do that,’ and it was as if hands were pushing me back from the rail.”

Less than a month later, Kent became seriously ill. In two days, he lost 22 pounds.

“The destructive lifestyle that I led, sleeping with so many different women and having unprotected sex... I thought I had the AIDS virus. I thought I was dying.”

At the hospital, Kent discovered that he didn’t have AIDS, but a bad case of food poisoning. While recovering at home, his friend Steve paid him a visit.

Steve recalls, “I told him that I got saved. He really didn’t understand what saved meant. He thought maybe I had some beef on the street. Then I explained to him that Jesus saved me from my sins. I gave my heart to the Lord, and I’m going to church now.”

Kent says, “He had a Bible in his hand. He opened the Bible up, and he read John 3:16 to me. He started reading other scriptures. Steve, the same guy I used to do drugs with and run with in the music industry, is talking to me about Jesus.”

Steve says, “I was like, ‘Kent, God is real and He loves us. He wants you to know Him.’ I told him that God had me praying for him and he started to listen.”

Kent quit his job at Bad Boy Records and began to read the Bible. He says, “Here is a thug, a dude from the music industry and a drug addict, and I left all of that behind. I’m reading the Bible now, staying up all night reading book after book, studying and looking up words.”

Then one Sunday, Kent went to church and surrendered his life to God.

“I went straight to the altar, and I remember getting ready. These two brothers approached me, and they laid their hands on me. They started to pray, but I started to pray for myself. I lifted my hands. I said, ‘God, if You can take away this lust within me, I will give You my life.’ I had a divine encounter with God right there. The Holy Spirit filled me, took away my sin, my shame, my guilt, everything that I was struggling with, forgave me of everything that I did. It was as if God Himself embraced me. I was different, and I was changed right there in a moment.

“Nine and a half years later, [I am] happily married and God has so kept me. I can tell you this. The Lord is so awesome. I’ve never cheated on my wife. Never. From the lifestyle that I led, that is the most powerful part of my testimony to me.”

Today, Kent is in full-time ministry. He travels around the country with Urban Impact sharing his testimony and holding basketball clinics for at risk youth.

“Jesus has a plan for our lives no matter what rock you crawled out from up under, no matter what lifestyle that you were in, how much sin you committed. God is big enough and strong enough to forgive you and to show you His plan for your life.”

Praise the Lord: Psalm 148

Psalm 148

Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD from the heavens,

praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels,

praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon,

praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens

and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for he commanded and they were created.

He set them in place for ever and ever;

he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,

small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens,

old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

He has raised up for his people a horn,

the praise of all his saints,

of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the LORD.

The stained glass window detail was photographed inside
St. Virgil Catholic Church, Morris Plains, New Jersey, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

                                                     

A Sign of God's Protection: Robber Flees in the Name of Jesus

The YouTube video is from Inside Edition

Frisco store owner uses name of Jesus to stop robber - News for Dallas, Texas Dallas Morning News

The following excerpt is from an article By JESSICA MEYERS/The Dallas Morning News:

Marian Chadwick used the heftiest weapons she could find when a man tried to rob her Frisco shop Monday night (January 13, 2010), her finger and the power of God. And they worked.

Chadwick owns Extravagant Necessities, a crafts boutique near Stonebriar Country Club. She was finishing a sale with her last customer of the day when a hooded man walked in, pointed a gun at her and demanded money.

Chadwick told him she had none. He pounded the gun twice on the counter.

"I got mad," said the 57-year old, pursing her lips. "The Texas part of me was challenged. So I pointed my finger and said, 'In the name of Jesus, you get out of my store. I bind you by the power of the Holy Spirit."

The gunman took a step back and told customer Kathy Vereen to drop to the floor. After she refused, Chadwick pointed her finger at the man and continued to chastise him. He walked out of the store cursing. He took nothing.

Chadwick ran out to look for license plates while Vereen called 911. The whole thing was caught on tape.

"We experienced the power of God; that's why we weren't scared," Vereen told Chadwick as they processed the incident two days later.

Chadwick said her faith stems from a Christian upbringing in Dallas. Her life continues as a series of missions, said her husband. Chadwick finds local female artists and helps sell their goods in her store.
 
To read the complete story, visit the following link: Frisco store owner uses name of Jesus to stop robber

Prayer for the Immaculate Queen of Peace

Prayer for the Immaculate Queen of Peace - Prayers - Catholic Online

Most holy and immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our loving Mother, being his Mother, you shared in his universal kingship. The prophets and angels proclaimed him King of peace. With loving fervor in our hearts we salute and honor you as Queen of peace.

We pray that your intercession may protect us and all people from hated and discord, and direct our hearts into the ways of peace and justice which your Son taught and exemplified. We ask your maternal care for our Holy Father who works to reconcile the nations in peace. We seek your guidance for our President and other leaders as they strive for world peace.

Glorious Queen of peace, grant us peace in our hearts, harmony in our families and concord throughout the world. Immaculate Mother, as patroness of our beloved country, watch over us and protect us with your motherly love. Amen.

Our Lady, Queen of Angels

August Queen of Heaven!
Sovereign Mistress of the angels!
Thou who from the beginning
hast received from God
the power and mission to crush the head of Satan,
we humbly beseech thee
to send thy holy Legions,
that, under thy command
and by thy power,
they may pursue the evil spirits,
encounter them on every side,
resist their bold attacks
and drive them hence into the abyss of eternal woe.
Amen

Perpetual Help Hymn

Come let us follow
Where God himself led.
Unto the image of her
Who has said:
I am your own Perpetual Help.
Come, sick and troubled
With stories untold,
This is your mother,
Look up and behold,
She is your own Perpetual Help.

***

Devotional Prayers

The photograph of the stained glass window was taken inside the
Church of Saint Michael, Netcong, New Jersey, USA.

Photograph Copyright 2010 Loci B. Lenar
Lenar@christian-Miracles.com
Christian-Miracles.com

The Miraculous Healing of Ethan Stacy

The following inspirational story of God's miraculous healing of Ethan Stacy's leukemia appeared on the Christian Broadcasting Network:

CBN.com - By the time Ethan’s parents took the long painful walk through the cemetery to see the place where they would bury their son, Ethan Stacy was within days of death.

Ethan was already under the care of a hospice nurse. His body was rapidly shutting down.

According to Dr. Melissa Rhodes, Ethan had AML, an aggressive type of leukemia. She serves in the oncology unit at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital in Nashville, Tenn., where she was one of Ethan’s physicians.

“Children who are actually born with leukemia don’t usually do very well,” Dr. Rhodes says. “The best that we could offer was to put Ethan through difficult chemotherapy and still not know that he would make it through.”

In fact, chemotherapy is so toxic for newborns that doctors gave Ethan’s parents the option not to treat their son. After two weeks in the hospital, Chad and Mandy made the painful decision to take their son home.

 “The chemo could kill him,” Chad says. “There are all kinds of risks.”

“We came home and I remember lying in bed and praying,” Mandy says. “We said, ‘God, give us an answer’. We both woke up the next morning and both said, ‘Nope, we’re not going to put him through it’.”

Most doctors at Vanderbilt supported that decision. “We figured if Ethan truly had the kind of leukemia that we felt he had, then even with full treatment he may not do well,” says Dr. Rhodes. “For that reason we felt it was right to honor the family’s decision.”

After only a few days at home, Ethan’s baby acne, which is common in newborns, had become infected. So they went back to the hospital. That’s when the tumors began to show up…

“We noticed a lump in his calf,” says Mandy. “We paged the doctor, and they told us that it could be a blood clot or a build up of the leukemia cells, which is called chloroma.”

Tumors started popping up in other places such as Ethan’s feet, hands, and his forearm.

“Leukemia itself means cancer of the blood; it’s a blood disease,” explains Dr. Rhodes. “But in this particular kind of leukemia it can also go out into the tissues. That’s what we believe was happening with Ethan. He actually had leukemia in his skin, in his hands, his feet, and his legs, as well as in his liver and spleen which is more common. So he was showing that he had a very advanced disease at that point.”

Ethan was now about three weeks old, and his condition really started to decline. He stopped eating and began to experience sleep apnea.

“The nurse told me that he might develop what’s called sepsis, which would be a total body infection, and that he would go peacefully or he might hemorrhage,” Mandy recalls. “I would see blood in his diaper or maybe coming out of his ears. I was so scared to open up his diaper to even change it.”

When the hospice nurse arrived, Chad and Mandy knew they were near the end but Chad, Mandy and their friends continued to pray… believing God for the impossible.

“I remember rocking him and singing, ‘Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. I want to see you’,” Mandy says. “I knew that if I just focused my mind on Christ that’s the only way that I could make it through.”

The night that Ethan faced his greatest medical crisis, something happened. “Mandy late that night started feeding, and he started taking his bottle a little bit at a time,” Chad says.

The next day, Ethan was a little stronger… But was he having one final rebound before death?

 Mandy says, “I remember sitting at the kitchen table and saying, ‘I believe God’s healing him. I can see God working.’ Then he just gradually started getting better. And over the next week, we were back up to six ounces of formula every three hours.”

Over the next two weeks, Ethan improved! And when Mandy took him back to Vanderbilt to check his blood counts? “His platelets level was like 415,000 -- in normal range, where it had been 39,000 at his lowest point.”

This stumped Dr. Rhodes and her colleagues. “Ethan had gotten about as sick as a baby could possibly get and then spontaneously got better. So we wanted to look. We did the bone marrow test, which showed no evidence of leukemia. The tumors gradually went down over a period of probably a week or so. It was just remarkable to witness it.”

Chad and Mandy knew they had witnessed a miracle when they repeated the bone marrow biopsy in July with the same results.

Today, Ethan Stacy is a strapping two-year-old, who loves playing with his dad and big sister Kaylee. It goes without saying that the Stacys are thankful.

"The prayers of my friends and church members meant everything to me,” Chad says.

Mandy agrees. “It’s just awesome that we have a God like that… I just can’t get over the miracles. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for him because I know it’s going to be big.”

To view the inspiring story on video, please visit the following link: Stacy Family Witnesses a Miracle in Their Son

Medjugorje Message from Our Lady Queen of Peace

YouTube - Medjugorje Message 25-11-09

Message of Our Lady Queen of Peace given to the Medjugorje visionary Marija Pavlovic on November 25, 2009.

"Dear children! In this time of grace I call you all to renew prayer in your families. Prepare yourselves with joy for the coming of Jesus. Little children, may your hearts be pure and pleasing, so that love and warmth may flow through you into every heart that is far from His love. Little children, be my extended hands, hands of love for all those who have become lost, who have no more faith and hope. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Infant Jesus of Prague

Prayers to the Infant Jesus

The following prayers to the Infant Jesus are found on Catholic websites and are used for petitioning for help in financial matters, health, family, schools, children, liberty and peace, and for safety while traveling. Please visit The League of the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague for history regarding devotion to the Divine Child.

Novena to the Infant Jesus of Prague in Urgent Need

(To be said for nine days or nine consecutive hours)

O Jesus, Who said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knockand it shall be opened to you," through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother,I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be answered.
(Mention your request.)

O Jesus, Who said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask Your Father in Your Name that my prayer be granted.
(Mention your request.)

O Jesus, Who said, "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word shall not pass,"through the intercession of Mary, Your most holy Mother,I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.
(Mention your request.)

Amen

Prayer to the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague

PRAYER REVELATED BY OUR LADY

To the Venerable Father F. Cyril OCD

O Infant Jesus, I have recourse to You and ask You through the intercession of Your Holy Mother to help me in my need, ( mention it here) for I firmly believe that Your Divinity can help me.

I hope, in complete trust, to obtain Your holy grace. I love You with all my heart and with all the strength of my soul. I am truly sorry for all my sins, and beg You, O good Jesus, to give me strength to conquer them. I shall never offend You and I am ready to suffer rather than to cause You pain.

From now on I want to serve with complete faithfulness and for love of You, O Divine Child, I will love my neighbour as well as myself. Omnipotent Child, Lord Jesus, again I implore You, help me in this need of mine (mention it).

Grant me the grace of possessing You eternally, with Mary and Joseph and of adoring You with the holy angels in Your heavenly court. Amen

The stained glass window of the Infant Jesus of Prague is found inside Saint Mary's Church, Myers Avenue, Denville, New Jersey, USA

Photograph Copyright 2009 Loci B. Lenar

Christian-Miracles.com

Miracle of the Sun Witnessed in Medjugorje During Apparition of Blessed Mother

A Great Cry Bursts Forth From The Thousands During Mirjana’s Apparition Today, August 2, 2009 - Medjugorje.com

Medjugorje.com reported that on August 2, 2009, a crowd of over 50,000 people at Apparition Mountain in Medjugorje, witnessed the Miracle of the Sun while the Blessed Mother appeared privatley to visionary Mirjana Soldo and gave her a message. The apparition took place at a nearby location known as Blue Cross.

The following excerpt is from Medjugorje.com:

Mirjana came early today, around 8:35 a.m. The apparition of Our Lady began at 8:45 a.m. and lasted approximately 4 ½ minutes. Shortly after the apparition began, cries of surprise, shock, deep emotion and awe were heard rippling through the crowd from different directions, growing in magnitude. While Mirjana was enraptured in her own vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary, something had happened. A commotion in the crowd was paralleled by something that the pilgrims could not have known, by what Mirjana had seen, and Mirjana, on the other hand, while in ecstasy could not have known what the pilgrims were seeing during the apparition. During the apparition, Mirjana herself saw the sun behind Our Lady. When she came out of ecstasy, Mirjana had to be surprised at what was taking place.

As for the pilgrims themselves, they had also seen a miracle. The sun became a miraculous sign for them. More and more people began looking where the first ones were pointing—at the sun. Many were seeing the sun “dancing” or “spinning,” others saw a cross illuminated in the sun, still others saw different colors within or streaming out of the sun. Tears were streaming down many faces, others stared in wonder, others in joy. And there were those who did not look up at all, so intense in their prayer as the apparition was still taking place. It swept through the crowd what the early days of Medjugorje were like when physical miracles abounded. It was very moving as the people knew what a chance of a lifetime it was to see the actions of God take place right before their eyes. To know after the apparition that Mirjana also had the sun in her apparition behind Our Lady confirmed the pilgrims’ “vision,” and the pilgrims confirmed Mirjana’s vision that the miracle was wed to each other.

The following message was conveyed to Mirjana by the Blessed Mother, Our Lady Queen of Peace:

“Dear children, I am coming, with my Motherly love, to point out the way by which you are to set out, in order that you may be all the more like my Son (Jesus); and by that, closer to and more pleasing to God. Do not refuse my love. Do not renounce salvation and eternal life for the sake of transience and frivolity of this life. I am coming to lead you and, as a mother, to caution you. Come with me.”

To read complete story, please visit Medjugorje.com.

For news story regarding the Miracle of the Sun being witnessed on October 13, 2008 at the National Blue Army Shrine in Washington, NJ, please visit the following links:

Christian Miracles.com

Angels, Wonders, and Miracles of Faith

Catholic Online

Medical Miracles through Faith

Medical Miracles WSPA

Do you believe in medical miracles? The following excerpt is reprinted from a story written by Carrie Davis from WSPA regarding Bill Pitts, who is living proof that miracles do happen:

According to some people, Bill Pitts shouldn’t be here. He’s walking a life path he never thought possible and he’s been given a second chance to try a passion he’d only ever dreamed about.

Bill Pitts says, “I appreciate every day and I thank God for each day he gives me. I look at life a lot different today than I did in earlier years.“

You see Bill Pitts has stage four colon cancer. Three years ago he stopped all his treatments to live out his last days enjoying time with his family and his art.

Pitts says, “When I first got the news I was devastated. Medically speaking I am not supposed to be here, but here I am.“

According to his doctor, Dr. Steve Courso, Pitts is a medical miracle.

He says, “He was here just last month and he looks great. we can’t see any signs of the cancer in him.“

Dr. Courso says no one can figure out why these miracles happen. They are unexplainable by modern science.

Dr. Courso admits, “I don’t have a medical explanation. I just simply smile and realize God’s presence is in these patients.“

Bill Pitts says, “At some point they have done all they can do and at that point I believe is when God takes over in your life and that is the point I am at right now.“

At Spartanburg Regional Medical Center, Chaplain Carson Rogerson says he’s seen cases like Bill Pitts before. He says he believes the miracles may occur when a persons mind, body and soul all get in line.

Chaplain Rogerson says, “ There is evidence to say a person who has practices of their faith whether it be prayer or meditation or some kind of worship attendance tend to have stronger immune systems. They certainly have a hope that would sustain them in difficult times.“

A study done at Pacific College of Medicine found that people who received prayer were six times less likely to be hospitalized than those who didn’t have someone praying for them.

(In Matthew 21:22, Jesus said, "Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.")

The complete story can be read with a video interview at the following link: http://www.wspa.com/spa/lifestyles/health_med_fit/medical/article/medical_miracles/16792/

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Miracle on the Hudson - US Airways Flight 1549

Survivors seek meaning, new purpose after 'miracle'

Charlotteobserver.com - David Sanderson (center) and Don Norton (right), who were passengers on US Airways Flight 1549, pray with Pastor Rob Singleton (left) on stage at Southbrook Community Church in Weddington during the Sunday morning service. (Photo and caption by Robert Lasher)

According to the article posted on CharlotteObserver.com, many of the passengers prayed before the aircraft 'landed' in the Hudson and believe a miracle was responsible for everyone surviving. Passenger, Lori Lightner, who turned 36 on Sunday, said it was a miracle.

In my opinion, the Lord saved the passengers and crew of Flight 1549 by answering their prayers. Clearly the pilot’s actions were heroic and his experience cannot be disputed for making a brave decision to land the jet into the Hudson River. However, in scripture, we read about God’s divine hand in changing circumstances into our favor. Isaiah 65:24 states, “Before they call, I will answer, while they are yet speaking, I will hearken to them.”

Prayerful Healing for Children

Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;

for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these."

Matthew 19:14

Prayerful Healing for Children

Heavenly father
from the moment of creation you've

predestined the salvation of your people

through the resurrection of your

divine Son Jesus

in order for all to believe.

Through his miraculous words,

Lazarus has risen,

eyesight is restored,

leprosy healed,

demons flee;

transformed drinking water into wine,

wonders for all to witness by God's design.

Merciful Father

We humbly petition thee to heal and save our children from illness

beseeching for the grace of deliverence on behalf of all who suffer

from infirmities of the mind, body, and soul.

Almighty God

We thank thee for hearing our pleas
and restoring our children to health

through tender mercy and healing grace

from your divine Son Jesus

Amen

© Loci B. Lenar

-----

Prayerful Healing is written for anyone in need of encouraging words, especially families with children. I was inspired to write the prayer as a result of what I believe is a miraculous healing through Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ of a heart ailment and from years of suffering painful headaches. Through the blessings and grace of God, I was healed of a heart arrhythmia known as Atrial Fibrillation. The medical condition is treated with Lanoxin, a cardiac medicine. However, I've not used the medication for over ten years. I was treated by Dr. Gilbert Mandel of Denville, NJ, for the disorder. Additionally, I was healed from years of suffering painful headaches after countless visits to physicians with treatments that went to no avail.

Through power of prayer and Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, God's healing grace cured me. The healing sacrament is administered through the church. I was anointed with the healing sacrament by Father Richard Tartaglia of Saint Mary's Church, Denville, NJ.

In James 5, Verse 14-15 the following is noted: "Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven."

I give praise, glory, and thanks to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for all the spiritual gifts and blessings.

(The beautiful stained glass window of Jesus with children sitting on his lap was photographed in Saint Mary's Church. The window is small but very captivating when seen. The church is located on the corner of Route 46 and Myers Avenue, Denville, NJ).

© 2008 Loci B. Lenar

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Miracle of the Sun Witnessed by Visitors at New Jersey Shrine

On October 13, 2008, some visitors at the National Blue Army Shrine of the Immaculate Heart of Mary were blessed to witness the Miracle of the Sun. I would estimate over a thousand faithful came to celebrate the 91st anniversary of the Fatima apparitions. The Catholic shrine is located in scenic Warren County on Mountain View Road, Washington, NJ. The shrine has the distinction of being known as the World Apostolate of Fatima, USA.

In 1917, the Blessed Mother appeared in Fatima, Portugal to three shepherd children and conveyed God’s message for salvation and conversion. Remarkably, the three children, Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta, were told by the Blessed Mother that God would provide a miracle in order to validate the apparitions and message of Fatima. On October 13, 1917, over 70,000 people witnessed the Miracle of the Sun in Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady also disclosed that an era of peace would eventually be granted to the world through prayer. For additional information about the Fatima message, please visit the website of the National Blue Army Shrine at the following link: http://www.wafusa.org/fatima_message/fatima_message.html

The anniversary celebration included a rosary procession with display of the Pilgrim Virgin Statue of Our Lady of Fatima. A speech was given by Reverend Lawrence Joseph Schroedel while Father Andrew Apostoli spoke on the sanctity of life for the unborn. Other events included Holy Mass with Father Anthony M. Sirianni as well as Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament with farewell prayers and brown scapular enrollment.

A short time after the celebration, I walked into the parking area and observed numerous people appearing in awe as they looked directly at the sun. Margie Penkala of Hopatcong, NJ, said she was “watching the sun dance and change colors.” The time was between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. Margie also took an interesting photograph of the Cross of Reconciliation.

Although not seeing the solar phenomena; however, I did walk over and introduced myself to two priests standing nearby, and recognized Father Frederick Otieno Nyanguf, AJ of the Blue Army Shrine. I brought the matter to their attention and gave them some details on what people were observing. Both did not see any sun phenomena but agreed to look into it.

I am reminded of John 20: 29, when Jesus said, “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.” On a personal level, I witnessed the Miracle of the Sun on September 8, 1991 in northern New Jersey. Recalling my own experience, faith does not necessitate seeing the same sign over again. However, for many people a sign from Jesus and the Blessed Mother is an affirmation of God’s continued love for humanity. Moreover, I have seen other signs and wonders from our Lord Jesus Christ. For information regarding my personal testimony on the matter, please visit the following link: http://lenarpoetry.blogspot.com/2007/11/miracle-of-sun-testimony-of-spiritual_13.html

In order to corroborate the recent sun phenomena, I called Fran Zucchetto of the Immaculate Conception Rosary Society. She helped organize a pilgrimage to the shrine from the parishes of the Immaculate Conception and Assumption Church, both located in Tuckahoe, NY. Unavailable at the time; however, her Husband Vincent allowed me to speak to Tina, their 20 year old daughter. Tina Zucchetto confirmed that she attended the shrine with her sister and mother, part of a group of 30 from both churches. She said the group all observed the "sun dancing and changing colors.” She described the colors as “changing from pink to yellow and blue to green.” Without question, the Lord provides a special grace in order to allow people to observe the solar event without creating eye injury. However, eye contact with the sun should be avoided otherwise.

I also contacted Betty DeFusco; she coordinated a trip to the shrine through Saint Anne Church, Fairlawn, NJ. She indicated that no one in her group noticed any solar phenomena.

However, my telephone conversation with Lina Sumanga of Our Lady of Fatima Holy Rosary Crusade confirmed that she saw a visual phenomenon. She conveyed that a group of 40 came to the shrine on October 13, 2008 from the Sacred Heart Church, Mount Holly, NJ. Lina said her entire group saw the “sun dancing or spinning while changing colors.” She also gave details about her daughter Roxanne using a cell phone camera to photograph the sun and described the subsequent image appearing as the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

I followed up with a phone call to Judi Ritchie, a supervisor at the National Blue Army Shrine; she confirmed "sporadic" reports of some visitors observing a phenomena.

The following scripture is conveyed in Luke 8: 16-17, “No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.”

We are witnessing signs, wonders, and miracles in order for God to create a reaction in society for constructive change and hence prepare the world for an era of peace.

The story with an additional photograph is posted on the following link:
http://www.christian-miracles.com/njvisitorswitnessmiracle.htm

(A press release circulated through Catholic Online has been beneficial in spreading the news of the miracle to the public).

Copyright 2008 Loci B. Lenar

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