We believe it is a blessing to be counted amongst the poor
                       for to such belongs the kingdom of God;
It is a blessing to go hungry now
                       for then we will know satisfaction;
It is a blessing to weep now
                       for then we will learn how to laugh;
It is a blessing to be hated by people,
                       excluded, insulted, rejected by them because of the Son of Man,
                       for that is how they treated the prophets.

       We believe it is not a blessing to be rich
                       for this is all the comfort we receive.
               It is not a blessing to be well fed now
                       for we will soon hunger.
               It is not a blessing to laugh now
                       for we will mourn and weep later.
               It is not a blessing to have all people speak well of us
                       for that is how they treated the false prophets.

       We believe in loving our enemies and
               doing good to those who persecute us;
               blessing those who curse us and
               praying for those who mistreat us.

       We believe in turning the other cheek,
               giving away that which others would take from us
               doing to others as we would have them do to us,
               lending to ‘sinners’ without expecting to get anything back.

       We believe in being merciful,
               being kind to those who are ungrateful and wicked,
               for our reward in heaven is enormous.

       We believe in refusing to judge, lest we in turn be judged,
               refusing to condemn, so we will not be condemned,
               forgiving as we have been forgiven
               giving as we have received.

       We believe in attending to our own blindness
               before addressing the short-sightedness in others,
               bearing good fruit
               and putting the words of Jesus into practice.

Garry Hills (from Luke 6:20-49)