Mystical Angels

Bible verses I could use and critiques please, it's a faith statement.?

This is the essay, see added details for my question C.S. Lewis once defined faith as “the art of holding on to things your reason once accepted, despite your changing moods.” Though I still have many things to learn there are some beliefs that I have always clung to. There are that big ones that all Christian’s believe, such as the fact that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, how much he loves us, heaven, hell, etc. Though I strongly believe in all of those things, I think the base of my faith comes purely from observing the world around us. With everything in such a perfect balance, I can’t fathom all of this perfection forming from a tiny bacteria or stardust. Aside from evolution, the big bang, and other scientific theories as to how the world was created, I have found most science to only be a further confirmation of my faith. I don’t understand how scientists can study how plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen while we humans do the exact opposite, along so many other completely perfect systems in place on this earth, and not acknowledge that some greater thought had to have gone into it all. It is easy to look at all the suffering, from global wars to problems in our family and ask, “How could a loving and all powerful God allow people to die of starvation when all they needed was a little rain and food?” But another belief that I have clung to that no matter how hard a circumstance you are faced with, is that God has a plan and reasoning behind everything, no matter how incomprehensible it may be. In a book I recently read called The Case for Faith, by_____, the author interviewed _____who told a story that put this into perspective for me. He spoke of a hunter who comes across a bear in a trap. In order to calm it so that he can help it he is forced to tranquilize the bear for a short time, then push it further into the trap in order to get it out. The bear would assume that the hunter is only trying to hurt the bear but when he awakens later to be free he will find he was wrong. In this metaphor the hunter is like God and we are the bear. Sometimes our limited intelligence is unable to comprehend why God would put us through some hardships we go through. Looking back on my life so far I have no regrets. Everything that I have gone through so far has eventually worked out for the better, or led me closer to God. Through out a good portion of my life my relationship with God was based on my need. When I needed him I would ask but otherwise I was very independent. There was camp and church retreats, which always brought me to those spiritual highs but they only lasted so long. It wasn’t until my parent’s relationship started to get rough that I really discovered my need for his love and power. I vividly remember one night after a bad fight. As I heard my mom’s car drive away I went down to my room and cried out to God asking him to bring her home, twenty minutes later she was back. Each night I prayed that God would work in their relationship and heal it. Well God is truly omnipotent for their relationship is now stronger than ever. During this time I didn’t understand why God would put my family and I through such turmoil, but now I see how he has used it to bring us all closer to Him as well as each other. I have found that when we are at our weakest we are more open to God’s presence. I understand that the troubles that I have faced in life are nothing compared to the suffering that some have gone through. I feel guilty that I was privileged enough to be born into a privileged Christian home while others have never heard of Jesus’ love and are forced, each day, to wonder if they will find enough to eat to last them another day. This consciousness has driven me to my love for serving others. I have been on a few missions trip and was on the service team at my church last year in which we planned and attended weekly service events. My ultimate dream would be to spend at least a month on a mission’s trip in Africa. We are called to teach Gods children of his love for without it we cannot truly live. Now that I have learned that I cannot get through life without God I am looking for the next step. I am looking for an environment that will help me to be successful after graduation by providing me with the skills I need to make a difference in people’s lives, but one that will also give me lifelong relationships and experiences that will strengthen my relationship with God. I feel that is the perfect place for that. I'm applying to a baptist christian university and this is the statement I was asked to respond to. -Describe your relationship with Jesus Christ, sharing experiences and/or influences that are contributing to your spiritual development. We are interested in both the sum of your thoughts and the way in which you articulate them to us. This personal statement adds to our picture of who you are and is crucial to our evaluation of your application. (A typical essay will be at least two to four paragraphs in length.) I have been told the first quote doesn't work so I was wondering if you know of any bible verses or quotes that i could use that would connect to my essay. I need tips on my organization and flow, and formatting, and even content. I don't really know what I should put in here and what I shouldn't.. K itll take 2-3 mins to read tops, i seriously need critiques

Public Comments

1. Yeah, no one's going to read that. If you need Bible verses, Bibletab.com is a great online reference source.
2. Consider Hebrews 11, the whole chapter. Lewis is fun to read, but he isn't perfect, his theology and ideology has some holes in it. Lord of the Rings was great, BTW.
3. Nobody here wants to read your essay.
4. 1 Corinthians 9:16 " For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" 2 Corinthians 4:5 "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake."
5. Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. I feel guilty that I was privileged enough to be born into a privileged Christian home Take out the second "privileged" I feel guilty that I was privileged enough to be born into a Christian home. Maybe put in the word "loving" instead - to be born into a loving Christian home.
6. You are really into it. I could be cruel and say TL-DR. Too long- didn't read. Why don't you go to your local video or bookstore that sells DVDs? Pick up a DVD of "Jesus of Nazareth" Watch the movie and try to ferret out the Biblical references in the movie. You may also need to go back to the book store and get a few more Bibles. Get a Children's Bible. Get a "The Bible for Dummies" if one exists. Atheists will tell you that The Bible is written for dummies. Again, I don't mean to be cruel. I think you need to reflect upon what has inspired you to be a Christian. Have you ever experienced God trying to communicate to you? Have you ever had a moving, religious experience? Then you need to match your feelings by academic citations. Find chapter and verse from the Bible taht matches your feelings. My cousin is a retired priest. He worked in a mission in Nigeria. He would probably talk you out of doing what you want. He referred to black people as apes and he worked with them for years. He is Irish. We have this ideal that priests and ministers are Christlike. In reality they are just ordinary people with faults and prejudices just like every one else. I would say that you can start by volunteering doing social work in your area. You might be disheartened. Only if you are really tough, will you keep the faith.