Welcome in to Brothers and Sisters at Daily Kos....I'm Greg in TN & I'm your "host" this evening (for lack of a better word). Brothers and Sisters was originally started by Pastor Dan & continues in it's Sunday night spot through the help of a wide variety of kossacks. Everyone is welcome and all we ask is that you're respectful of one another.
Hope.
That word got tossed around a lot during the election last year. It was part of President Obama's theme. It struck a chord with a lot of people, because the world has felt increasingly hopeless for many people. 9/11, 2 wars, hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters, housing loans gone bad, banks failing...etc...etc... This list could go on and on. The last 9 years or so have seen so much sadness and very little hope. That was one big reason why so many people voted for Obama. He inspires hope.
Hope.
We can find hope in various places. One of the places I turn to for hope is the bible. Specifically, the words of Jesus Christ. One of my favorite passages of scripture is the Sermon on the Mount or The Beatitudes. The Latin word for blessed is beatus, from which we get the word beatitude.
The beatitudes are found at Matthew 5: 3-12.
"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.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
This version is the New International Version.
Hope.
Other verses of hope from the bible:
My soul, wait in silence for God only, For my hope is from Him. Psalm 62:5
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the Lord. Psalm 31:24
Resources if you'd like to read more:
"Hope" by By: J. Hampton Keathley, III
Beatitudes--Their Significance And Meaning
Despite the sadness of this story, it also offers me hope.
Christian janitor died saving Muslim students
"Between 300 to 400 girls were sitting in there," said Professor Fateh Muhammad Malik, the rector of the university. "[Pervez Masih] rose above the barriers of caste, creed and sectarian terrorism. Despite being a Christian, he sacrificed his life to save the Muslim girls."
Whenever people of different religions stand together, it always makes the world better. Whenever a believer and a non-believer stand together, our world is improved.
These weekly diaries are proof of this. So many people coming together each Sunday night. To fellowship together, to laugh and cry and pray. To offer compassion and yes to offer hope to each other.
Thanks for being here.