Jars of Clay is a band that I have known about and enjoyed since I can remember. Bands like this, for me, make it hard to know if they're really a great band and produce good music, or if I like them because I've always known them. I may never know, but their first album Flood is really the only album that I absolutely am still in love with to this day. I think there's always a first album magic that happens with bands.

Anyway, for reasons I can't list in public, I was having a rough night. On my way home from work late tonight I listened to JOC very loudly whilst singing loudly as well. I've gotta admit I broke down as the song "Worlds Apart" came on. I have been on the verge of tears for at least a week now and it was a good release.

In a time for me when I feel like my world is steadily falling apart, to sing to the Lord "TAKE MY WORLD APART" seems so backwards...but it is what we must be willing to do to follow Christ. We must be willing to allow God to unravel our lives and piece it back together, or else we don't believe He's really sovereign. Piece by piece, I feel bricks in my self-built wall crumbling down- stability, income, tangible friends, stable housing, a supportive church, support raising- all these things which I'm lately losing the battle on obtaining or keeping. I know God won't let my whole wall crumble at once past the point I can bear it, but I'm feeling the weight of it. Anyway, I wasn't going to say any of that cause it's complicated...but whatever.

Here's what I wanted to post- the lyrics to Worlds Apart, and the video if you wanna see it. The video is a very long and different version than the CD, but it's not bad. The breakdown at the end starting with "I look beyond the empty cross..." is my favorite. Sorry there's a lot of lyrics.

"Worlds Apart"

I am the only one to blame for this
Somehow it all ends up the same
Soaring on the wings of selfish pride
I flew too high and like Icarus I collide
With a world I try so hard to leave behind
To rid myself of all but love
to give and die

To turn away and not become
Another nail to pierce the skin of one who loves
more deeply than the oceans,
more abundant than the tears
Of a world embracing every heartache

Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart

I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
and wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
More and more I need you now,
I owe you more each passing hour
the battle between grace and pride
I gave up not so long ago
So steal my heart and take the pain
and wash the feet and cleanse my pride
take the selfish, take the weak,
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
the sin-soaked heart and make it yours
take my world all apart
take it now, take it now
and serve the ones that I despise
speak the words I can't deny
watch the world I used to love
fall to dust and thrown away
I look beyond the empty cross
forgetting what my life has cost
so wipe away the crimson stains
and dull the nails that still remain
so steal my heart and take the pain
take the selfish, take the weak
and all the things I cannot hide
take the beauty, take my tears
take my world apart, take my world apart
I pray, I pray, I pray
take my world apart