On this Good Friday, I think it would be good for Christians and non-Christians alike to reflect a bit on the words of Jesus Christ.
Please list as many inspiring scripture as you like. All are welcome. You don't have to be a Christian to appreciate the teachings of Jesus. They are universal in application for mankind, faithful or faithless.
I'm Anglican and prefer the King James Bible. It's the Bible I grew up with, but its also rather poetic. I'll list some of my favorite words of Jesus:
From Matthew 11:28-30
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
From Mark 8:34-36 on the folly of greed:
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Madoff may be thinking to himself right now, "You know...that Jesus guy may have been on to something."
And of course, The Golden Rule from the Sermon on the Mount:
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Poor folks have always found comfort in Jesus. Hell, if it wasn't for Jesus, I doubt most of my ancestors would have made it through slavery! I remember there was a gospel song my mother used to sing on Sunday morning. Back in those days, black folks would play gospel on the radio loud enough for everyone in the projects to hear. It announced that today was the day everyone should go and repent for all the things they did the night before!
Like most boys, I was dreading having to get up and put on shoes that were too tight and wear a clip-on tie. Sunday Church was an all day event and I used to dread the long day spent in a polyester suit. As I readied myself for breakfast, I would hear her singing loudly from the kitchen and it went something like this:
Because the Lord is my shepard
I have everything I need
He lets me rest in the meadows grass
And he leads me beside the quiet stream
He restores my failing hands
And helps me to what honors him the most
Thats why im safe
Thats why im safe
Thats why im safe
Safe in his arms.
After she died i learned this song was from Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Choir of Chicago and is titled "Safe in his Arms" a brief clip of which you can hear here. That song always makes me tear up. It's amazing how such things from childhood that seem so insignificant then, become so meaningfull when you grow up and those voices are no longer heard, except in memory.
UPDATE: I found a video from 1986 of Pamela Crawford singing with the Thompson Community choir.