Always curious to know what how the Bible speaks to all Christians. It seems that we all have a favorite Bible passage we turn to for comfort or strength. I helped teach a Catechism class last year and even though it felt like getting them to participate in a discussion was like pulling teeth from a Water Buffalo, when we asked them to write down their favorite passage from the bible; what they came up with actually showed great insight and was a surprising picture as to the depth of their faith.

My wife has always turned to a single statement from Mathew. It came from her Basketball days in High School and has stayed with her ever since, "With God, all things are possible."

I've always liked the Sermon on the Mount from Mathew, chapters 5,6 and 7. I always keep Mathew 25 as solid words to live by, but if I had to pick a favorite right now, it seems that I always come back to two passages that came from our lectionary readings. They were part of two readings that came from my Sunday to read.

The first, came from the first part of the book of Jeramiah and it is God speaking to the Prophet, claiming him for the work he had selected him for.

"Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you; before you were born I dedicated you."

It, of course, has obvious implications when we fight our crusade to stop the killing of unborn children, but it speaks to me of the fact that we all are part of God's Creation. All the quirks and foibles that make me who I am, are not something that needs to be hidden or overcome, but they are what God made for me, that I might come to know him.

My second passage, was a part of a reading I was assigned, when I first happened into this chat room, back in April or May of last year. I don't know where it comes from, perhaps you can help me with that. It speaks of the ways of God and the ways of Man. It helps me to overcome the tensions that seem to arise when we try to define our faith and practice it as a community.

"As far as the heavens are above the Earth, are Gods ways above our ways; are God's thoughts above our thoughts."

. . . everyone, whether they be a constant contributor to this forum or just happen to wander in here as part of a search for something, has a passage from the bible which has special meaning or insight to them.

Please share it here, so that we can all gain strength from it's meaning.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), December 19, 2003

Answers

Or on a different note, what would you want to say on your tombstone? That's always been an intriging question for me. I hope I come up with the answer before that time comes. It seems like such a waste to go through life without knowing exactly what I want to say at the end of it.

-- Leon (vol@weblink2000.net), December 19, 2003.

Here lies the MAN OF YAHWEH, A Christian who loved humanity.

-- Elpidio Gonzalez (egonzalez@srla.org), December 19, 2003.

John 6:68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life;

Always loved that, especially in the context from which it is extracted.

-- Glenn (glenn@nospam.com), December 19, 2003.

For me its Acts 13:22 "And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the [son] of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will."

An on my TOMBSTONE - "John Williams, a man after God's own heart".

-- John Williams (rjswilson@netzero.net), December 19, 2003.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

:)

-- Samer Adra (Samer@ku.edu), February 14, 2004.

This, I want on my tombstone:

O God, be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke 18:13

-- (Sinner@earthly.life), February 14, 2004.

Here lies an unworthy person to enter your kingdom. Thank you Jesus for paying the ultimate price for us all.

-- Deb (debsterz3@comcast.net), March 03, 2004.