Snyder Than You

Hard - Rich Mullins

Well I am a good Midwestern boy 
I give an honest day’s work if I can get it 
I don’t cheat on my taxes
I don’t cheat on my girl 
I’ve got values that would make the White House jealous 

Well I do get a little much over-impressed 
‘Til I think of Peter and Paul and the apostles 
I don’t stack up too well against them I guess 
But by the standards ‘round here I ain’t doing that awful 

Lord it’s hard to turn the other cheek 
Hard to bless when others curse you 
Oh Lord it’s hard to be a man of peace 
Lord, it’s hard
Oh, it’s hard 
You know it’s hard to be like Jesus 
Don’t you know it’s hard
Oh, it’s hard
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be like Jesus 

And it’s hard to step out on them waves 
Hard to walk beyond your vision 
Oh, Lord it’s hard to be a man of faith 
Oh, it’s hard (hard)
it’s hard (so hard)
Oh, Lord it’s hard to be like Jesus 
Don’t you know it’s hard (hard)
Oh, it’s hard (yeah hard)
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be like Jesus 

Well His eye’s on the sparrow 
And the lilies of the field I’ve heard 
And He will watch over you and He will watch over me 
So we can dress like flowers and eat like birds 

And it’s hard when your soul had been stripped bare 
Hard to lift your eyes toward Heaven 
Oh Lord, it’s hard to be a man of prayer 
Lord, it’s hard
Oh, it’s hard 
You know it’s hard to be like Jesus 

Lord, it’s hard to be a man of peace 
But it’s hard (so hard)
Ain’t it hard (hard) 
You know it’s hard to be like Jesus 
Don’t you know it’s hard (hard)
And it’s hard (yeah hard)
(Oooh, like Jesus
To be a man of peace (hard so hard) 
But it’s hard to be like Jesus 

And I try, try, try
(Oooh, like Jesus) 
Oh Lord I try so hard 
Don’t you know it’s hard 
Oh glory
oh gracious 
But ain’t it hard to be like Jesus 

Well I am a good Midwestern boy 
I give an honest day’s work if I can get it 
I don’t cheat on my taxes I don’t cheat on my girl 
I’ve got values that would make the White House jealous

*(He wrote this during the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal)

You who live in heaven
Hear the prayers of those of us who live on earth
Who are afraid of being left by those we love
And who get hardened by the hurt

Do you remember when You lived down here where we all scrape
To find the faith to ask for daily bread
Did You forget about us after You had flown away
Well I memorized every word You said

Still I’m so scared, I’m holding my breath
While You’re up there just playing hard to get

You who live in radiance
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in skin
We have a love that’s not as patient as Yours was
Still we do love now and then

Did You ever know loneliness
Did You ever know need
Do You remember just how long a night can get?
When You were barely holding on
And Your friends fall asleep
And don’t see the blood that’s running in Your sweat

Will those who mourn be left uncomforted
While You’re up there just playing hard to get?

And I know you bore our sorrows
And I know you feel our pain
And I know it would not hurt any less
Even if it could be explained

And I know that I am only lashing out
At the One who loves me most
And after I figured this, somehow
All I really need to know

Is if You who live in eternity
Hear the prayers of those of us who live in time
We can’t see what’s ahead
And we can not get free of what we’ve left behind
I’m reeling from these voices that keep screaming in my ears
All the words of shame and doubt, blame and regret

I can’t see how You’re leading me unless You’ve led me here
Where I’m lost enough to let myself be led
And so You’ve been here all along I guess
It’s just Your ways and You are just plain hard to get

— Rich Mullins
Psalm 77:7-13, Isaiah 53:4, Isaiah 55:8-9
Matthew 5:4, Matthew 6:11, Luke 22:41-45
Romans 7:18-19, Romans 7:24-25

Well, who’s that man who thinks He’s a prophet?
Well, I wonder if He’s got something up His sleeve
Where’s He from? Who is His daddy?
There’s rumors He even thinks Himself a king
Of a kingdom of paupers
Simpletons and rogues
The whores all seem to love Him
And the drunks propose a toast

And they say, “Surely God is with us.
Well, surely God is with us.”
They say, “Surely God is with us today!”

Who’s that man who says He’s a preacher?
Well, He must be, He’s disturbing all our peace
Where’s He get off, and what is He hiding
And every word He says those fools believe
Who could move a mountain
Who would love their enemy
Who could rejoice in pain
And turn the other cheek

And still say, “Surely God is with us,
Well, surely God is with us,”
Who’ll say, “Surely God is with us today, today!”

They say, “Surely God is with us
“Well, surely God is with us”
They say, “Surely God is with us”

Blessed are the poor in spirit
Heaven belongs to them
Blessed are those who make peace
They are God’s children
I Am the Bread of Life, and the Way”
You hear that Man, believe what He says!

Tell me, who’s that Man, they made Him a prisoner
They tortured Him and nailed Him to a tree
Well if He’s so bad, who did He threaten?
Did He deserve to die between two thieves?
See the scars and touch His wounds
He’s risen flesh and bone
Now the sinners have become the saints
And the lost have all come home

And they say, “Surely God is with us (Surely God is with us)
Well, surely God is with us,”
They say, “Surely God is with us today!” (Today!)

They say, “Surely God is with us
Well, surely God is with us”
They say, “Surely God is with us today”

— Mark Robertson and Beaker
Matthew 1:23, Matthew 5:1-12, Matthew 13:54-57
Matthew 21:10-11, Matthew 27:50-54, Luke 7:34-35
Luke 23:33, John 6:14, John 6:35-43
John 7:37-41, John 8:19, John 20:26-29