Light Gives Heat

Southern Baptists devote Christmas time to raising awareness and funds for the unfished task of missions, and this year, the focus is on West Africa. A few months ago, Jars of Clay, who is by far my favorite band, released their latest and best album to date, Good Monsters. One of the last tracks is called "Light Gives Heat" and tells a haunting tale of failings in ministry, but it does so with hope that the Gospel will yet prevail. It features the African Children's Choir and is nothing short of haunting. You can listen to (and legally download) the song here, and as you listen, read along with the lyrics.

Catch the rain empty hands
Save the children from their lands
Wash the darkness from their skin
Heroes from the west
We don't know you, we know best
But this is not a test

You treat me like I'm blind
Setting fires around houses on the hill
But light gives heat
You segregate my mind
Burning crosses from your fears
The light gives heat

It's not the way to light their way
Poison holes in empty fields
Oh, how good it feels
Lower-class, understate
Empty promise, empty plate

You treat me like I'm blind
Setting fires around houses on the hill
But light gives heat
You segregate my mind
Burning crosses from your fears
The light gives heat

Will you teach us how to love?
To see the things you see
Walk the road you walk
Feel the pain that you feel
At your feet I kneel
I want to see you shine
See your light not mine
'Cause light gives heat
Your light gives heat

If you've got some time to kill this break, check out the following sites. Meet International Mission Board missionaries in West Africa and the people they love at http://ime.imb.org/wpim/default.asp. You can learn more about the physical needs of Africa and how you can help meet them at http://www.bloodwatermission.com. (Blood:Water Mission is a group started by Jars of Clay and supported by the likes of Derek Webb and Donald Miller. Even one dollar makes a difference.) If you've never really gotten to know Dan, Matt, Stephen and Charlie, get to know them better at http://www.jarsofclay.com.