In the past year I guess you could call me a "rebirthing christian."

I often consult to the bible now, in the past year or so, (New testament) when I'm going through a relapse (Cocaine recovery, proazak recoery, PTSD/anxiety disorders since I was 12) or feel one coming on.

It's a book that you can read without being overly religious or overly fanatical or "thumping" about; there's some good advice and perspective in it, I've found.

I come from a rough life, in a rough place with dreams of what it would be like to live in the suburbs either in jealousy or in wonder. I grew up in a place with a lot of hate and a lot of injustice (I'm not telling my whole life story so I won't say where) and a helluva lotta violence. By the time I was 6 i had half my teeth kicked out by a kid who was about 12 than me for a couple of bucks. 6 . years. old.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any favorite citations they liked to read or found offered them a good guidance in the New testament (international version) in particular, why and at what was going on in their lives at the time they read this.

Basically I'm looking for good passages to read, of anything, specific relation to my background or someone who's been in the same boat and found a particular thing they've read useful for them at that time.

[This message has been edited by Ckrimzon (edited 01-11-2007).]

i dont have a FAVORITE bible quote per se, so ill post the one that ive seen mentioned in a lot of films, songs and novels. i mean if they use it, its gotta have some sort of significance in their lives right?

*gets bible out*

psalm 23:4

Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

"Religions are all alike - founded upon fables and mythologies." - Thomas Jefferson

quote:Originally posted by Mantikore:

i dont have a FAVORITE bible quote per se, so ill post the one that ive seen mentioned in a lot of films, songs and novels. i mean if they use it, its gotta have some sort of significance in their lives right?

*gets bible out*

psalm 23:4

Yea, though i walk through the valley of the shadow of death, i will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Ah I love that one, thanks for responding so fast!

A personal favorite of mine (well I have a lot of favorites, i guess I could rephrase that to; particular ones that stand out to me and make me smile) would be Matt 19:18:13;

"Let the little chidredn come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"

It reminds me that the "kingdom of heaven" is open to those who are just beginning their quests through life, religion and their exploration of spirituality itself and that there should be no bias in the world to those who "start moving ahead" at whatever age.

That's my interpretation of it, anyway, or so it should be IMO of any religious text or decoding of one.

Anyone else?

My two faves are attributed to Jesus--"The kingdom of God is within you." Menaing that there is no literal heaven, and that we all share the ability to create our own heaven--or hell, for that matter.

Also--"All these things that I have done, ye shall do also." Meaning the Jesus realized that he was not unique. We are all born masters, but few of us manage to realize that mastery to any great extent.

I like all the "4:20"s because they seemingly have something to do with pot.

All of you should grow up; the bible was written and rewritten over and over to get to the most through-removing, oppressive mindset into it. People don't choose to be religious, they're coerced by conditioning.

ask and ye shal recieve

quote:Originally posted by Prometheum:

All of you should grow up; the bible was written and rewritten over and over to get to the most through-removing, oppressive mindset into it. People don't choose to be religious, they're coerced by conditioning.

Fuck off, it wasn't your views on religion that was asked about. And by the way, the Bible may be a religious book, but everybody has their religious book, their own "Bible." If people find comfort in something, why is that a problem? So what if the Bible was written and rewritten? Should that stop us from reading it? Sure, you can argue that it's a book of fables, but, then again, I've heard of people who have taken lessons learned from works of fiction and incorporated said lessons into their own lives.

Anyway ... my favorite quote for some reason in Exodus - pretty much the first few pages of it.

quote:Originally posted by MisiuOni:

Fuck off, it wasn't your views on religion that was asked about. And by the way, the Bible may be a religious book, but everybody has their religious book, their own "Bible." If people find comfort in something, why is that a problem? So what if the Bible was written and rewritten? Should that stop us from reading it? Sure, you can argue that it's a book of fables, but, then again, I've heard of people who have taken lessons learned from works of fiction and incorporated said lessons into their own lives.

Anyway ... my favorite quote for some reason in Exodus - pretty much the first few pages of it.

I like Exodus 21:20-21

check it out sometime

quote:Originally posted by MoneyBoxers14:

I like all the "4:20"s because they seemingly have something to do with pot.

matthew 4:20

they immediately left their nets and followed him

Mark 4:20

"but these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, those who accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty fold, some sixty and some a hundred

Luke 4:20

"then he closed the book and gave it back to the attendantent and sat down. and the eyes of all who were in the synagogue fixed on him"

john 4:20

our fathers worshiped onthis mountain, and you jews say that in jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship

acts 4:20

for we cannot but speak thingswhich we have seen and heard

romans 4:20

he did not waver at the promise of god through unbeleif, but was strengthened in faith giveing glory to god.

I corinthians 4:20

for the kingdom of god is not in word, but in power

II corinthians does not have 4:20

galatians 4:20

i would like to present you now and to change my tone; for i have doubts in you.

ephesians 4:20

but you have not so learned christ

phillipians 4:20

now to our god and father be glory and forever. amen

Colossians have no 4:20

I thessalonians have no 4:20

II thessalonians have no 4:20

I timothy has no 4:20

Titus has no 4:20

Philemon has no 4:20

I john 4:20

if someone says "i love god" but hates their brother, he i a liar,for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love god whom he has not seen?

Jude has no 4:20

Revelation has no 4:20

psalms has no 4:20

proverbs 4:20

my son, give attention to my words; incline your ears to my sayings

i dont see anything to do with pot here, my good man.

quote:Originally posted by Mantikore:



i dont see anything to do with pot here, my good man.

Search out 4:20 in urban dictionary. Then youll know why he linked it with pot. Anyways...

Mine would have to be Ez 25:17, the one from Pulp Fiction, so it probably cant be considered to come from the bible, but it is based on it.

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.

Luke 22:36

He said to them, "But now if you have a purse, take it. And also take a bag. If you don't have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.

Shuts up Christian anti gun types pretty good.

"For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, so that you will not strike your foot on a stone."

Psalm 91:11-12

quote:Originally posted by Ckrimzon:

By the time I was 6 i had half my teeth kicked out by a kid who was about 12 than me for a couple of bucks. 6 . years. old.

Ouch. Were they baby teeth, or did you lose some of your permanent ones? How many teeth do you have now?

And to contribute to this thread:

"Each one should use whatever gift he has recieved to serve others" - 1 Peter 4:10

psalm 8:14

"and god said let there be celph titled, 45 king drop the beat on em"