pat loughery

I was out to lunch with cow orker and friend yesterday, and when we hang out we talk about faith stuff ‘from the inside’. I was telling him what transitions we’re going through lately, and was talking about I’m enjoying my time studying at Bakke Grad School, especially with its global, urban, practitioner emphasis in its theological training. It’s awesome to learn from teachers and other students who are practicing their theories, and especially from those who are in different cultural contexts.
He reminded me about a song on the new Jars of Clay album and suggested I go back and listen to the lyrics again.
It’s called Light Gives Heat, and below are the lyrics:

Jars Of Clay – Light Gives Heat 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
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
Boys in holes in empty fields
Oh, how good it feels
Lower-class, and understate
Empty promise, empty plate

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

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

Will you teach us how to love?
To see the things you see
Walk the road you walked
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

I’d love to learn more about the context and circumstances behind this song.