Wednesday Writing...8/22/18...""Friend of Sinners"

"Friend of Sinners."

This weekend I was riding in the car listening t0 a song. As the lyrics continued I began to feel more and more convicted of my  tendency to be opinionated about what I believe. I think that people need to hold their preferences and beliefs. However, we need to respect others for their traditions. The words to this song tell it much better than I ever could. I am working on my habit of being closed minded at times. I think I can be a better person if I do. Even iff we feel that some things or people are out of step,we still must avoid negativity. The life of Jesus is a model for us to follow in this area. He never looked with condemnation on sinners; He welcomed them and taught them what to do. Hence, He has been described as "Friend of sinners."

                                                                  City On the Hill
                                                                       Casting Crowns

Did you hear of the city on the hill
Said one old man to the other
It once shined bright, and it would be shining still
But they all started turning on each other

You see the poets thought the dancers were shallow
And the soldiers thought the poets were weak
And the elders saw the young ones as foolish
And the rich man never heard the poor man speak

But one by one, they ran away

With their made up minds to leave it all behind

And the light began to fade

In the City on the Hill, the City on the Hill

Each one thought that they knew better

But they were different by design

Instead of standing strong together

They let their differences divide

And one by one, they ran away

With their made up minds to leave it all behind

And the light began to fade

In the City on the Hill, the City on the Hill
And the world is searching still

But it was the rhythm of the dancers

That gave the poets life

It was the spirit of the poets

That gave the soldiers strength to fight

It was fire of the young ones

It was the wisdom of the old

It was the story of the poor man|

That needed to be told/

But one by one will we run away
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade in the City on the Hill

One by one will we run away
With our made up minds to leave it all behind
As the light begins to fade in the City on the Hill
The city on the hill

And the Father's calling still
(Come home)
To the city on the hill

(Come home)

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Your struggle is your strength. If you can resist becoming negative, bitter or hopeless, in time, your struggles will give you everything.
— Bryant McGill


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