The Beatitudes.......Take IV

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. 
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

My Bible classes began working on the Beatitudes recently. The statements of Jesus at the outset of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's chapter five are familiar to Christians but are often foreign to the way we act. How are we supposed to rejoice and mourn concurrently? Who feels good about being mistreated? Philip Yancey translated these teachings as Lucky Are The Unlucky. Our class periods centered around our own translations of these contradictory, to the non-believer, words of truth from the lips of the Savior. Each student was assigned the task of recreating the Beatitudes in ways that made sense to them in twenty-first century Houston, Texas. What follows is a sampling of the theology of my students. Tonight, I'm sharing the thoughts of my sixth period Gospels class. Girls are in pink, boys are in blue.

Blessed are the scared for they will be protected by God. 
-Ben
Blessed are the poor for they soon will be on streets of gold.
-Robert
Blessed are those with scars for God looks at them as beauty marks.
-Amber
Blessed are the mentally challenged for they are the children of God.
-Kaleb
Blessed are the blind for there is eternal light in heaven.
-Jvon
Blessed are the starving children for their stomachs will stay full in heaven.
-Cassie
Blessed are those who can't speak for God understands what they are saying.
-Ruby
Blessed are the farmers for heaven is all of our homeland.
-Zak
Blessed are the patient for they will not have to wait in heaven.
-Clayton
Blessed are those who make mistakes for they will be motivated to do better.
-Justin
Blessed are the ignored for God will have open eyes and ears for them.
-Jacob
Blessed are the single for in heaven  you will find your soul mate.
-Dustin
Blessed are the clumsy for God will always catch you when you fall.
-Laura
Blessed are the slow to speak for they are the wisest among many.
-A.J.
Blessed are the betrayed for God will never leave their side.
-Jose
Blessed are the abused for in heaven, no weapon formed against them shall prosper.
-Stephen
Blessed are the fatherless for their Father lives in them.
-Jackson
Blessed are the blind for their eyesight will be 20-20 in heaven.
-Jordan
Blessed are the crippled for they will run into the kingdom of God.
-Chege
Blessed are the hungry for they won't miss a meal in heaven.
-Joshua
Blessed are the bored for there is entertainment in heaven.
-DeAngelo

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com