1. A TOWER OF ASHES

Behold the tower
Brick by brick we raise it
Upward to the sky
To reach the heights of heaven
And beyond
With eyes of fire and burning pride
Our power cannot be denied
So god himself can look
At what we've done

Questioning my own intent and motive
Babel, are you really all that far away?
Sometimes i wonder what we'd do
If the applause had died
And we found ourselves performing
To an empty hall upon an empty stage

The eyes of god, or the eyes of man?
No one can serve two masters
In opposing masterplans
But we go our way
And keep climbing higher and higher
But farther to fall
And we build all our strongholds
Behind all our walls
But we stand on the threshold
Of losing it all

All the glory we crave
All the towers we raise
All the pride we build up to the sky
When the vanity fades
The illusion gives way to a tower
Of ashes and lies

Still we seek to build our towers higher and higher
Sometimes when we think
We're so high
The only way to go is down
When it is our pride that takes us
Higher and higher
We watch our towers crumble
And in helplessness we hit the ground

Higher and higher
But farther to fall
And we build all our strongholds
Behind all our walls
But we stand on the threshold
Of losing it all

All the glory we crave
All the towers we raise
All the pride we build up to the sky
When the vanity fades
The illusion gives way to a tower
Of ashes and lies


2. ON EAGLES' WINGS

The tears stream down her face onto the cold hospital bed
Just like a prisoner between four ugly walls
The fear she can't control is running rampant in her head
With every day she spent just waiting for that call
And i will never leave her side
We walk the tightrope between faith and fear
Each moment of our lives
But then the darkest hour of night is turned to day
Another miracle, another act unfolding in this play
And i'm blown away
The wine overflows, and my cup runneth over again
My thankfulness grows
With these blessings i can't comprehend

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles' wings
You life the fallen back on high again to coronate
The king above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to your majesty on eagles' wings

I looked him in the eye and played these words
Over and over in my mind
But that can't be what he just said
I heard it for myself and know that life can be unkind
But can't you see i'm much too young to lose my dad?
But i'm blown away
When you laugh at the odds
For the doctor's cannot know your plans
I'm blown away
You hold the keys to all life and death and all time
In your hands

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles' wings
You life the fallen back on high again to coronate
The king above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to your majesty on eagles' wings

Every tribe and every nation
(life your voices and sing)
[life a song of praise on high on eagles' wings]
All in heaven, all creation
Let the tongues of men and angels
(lift your voices and sing)
[let your heart reach to the sky on eagles' wings]
All ye blessed, all ye thankful, sing!

You raise my spirit to the sky above to fly away
To fly on eagles' wings
You life the fallen back on high again to coronate
The king above all kings
All honor
All glory
Raised to your majesty on eagles' wings


3. LAYING THE DEMON TO REST

As i sit alone and tired, with time to spare
Temptation rears its ugly head
Born from a deceptive dream into a nightmare
It calls to me again
Testing me to see if i will break this time
Or at least how far i'll bend
I can see its glowing eyes and hear its evil cries
"come dance with me, my friend..."

So, the things that i want to do
I find myself not doing
But the things that i don't want to do
I fall into - why?
Why do we struggle with the former things and
Live in our own power below our means?

War
Don't you understand this is war?
War with the principalities and powers
Things unseen that would devour us all
The spirit battles the flesh
And now my wounds are deep
And torn wide open
I'm tired and weary, hurt and broken down

Lead us not
Into temptation
But deliver us
From the evil one
Darkness falls
On my spirit again
Again temptation calls
I can hear it

As the battle rages on and on
I face the things that put my faith to the test
When fallen angels won't leave me alone
Father, come and lay the demon to rest
When my sword has broken off in my hand
I see the dark futility of the flesh
When i'm about to fall, please help me stand
Father, come and lay the demon to rest

[instrumental break]

They're on my back
I run, but i can feel their talons
Digging in my flesh
Blood trickles down upon the earth
And i grow weaker with each breath
Each time i shake one off
Another wraps its teeth around my neck
And every time, the one, the thorn is there
To tear me down again

The angels counterstrike
Their flaming swords slice through
The fallen ones
The demons reunite, attack again
The cycle has begun
Caught in the middle of this present darkness
With nowhere to run
We're in a holy war
As it is written, so shall it be done

Where there's a will, there's a way, they say
But sometimes my will seems to get in the way
So you will have to fight for me today

[repeat chorus]


4. BETHLEHEM

All my life, i've waited and watched
Through the eyes of faith
To see the consolation of israel
And even though the flame of my life
Is now growing dim
I know i'll see the savior of israel
For the spirit of the lord has promised unto me
That i would not see death
Before my eyes have seen him
The promise is alive, for through this little child
God's holy light illuminates jerusalem

This child will cause the falling
And rising of many souls
A sign for all the people of israel
This child will be the way and the life unto every soul
To every generation shall the gentiles tell
For the way has been prepared
In the sight of every man
The son of god himself is born in bethlehem
A sacrifice is made in the temple on this day
Redemption reaches far beyond jerusalem

O bethlehem, your star burns bright tonight
For my eyes have seen the glory of salvation's holy light
Has this little child come to redeem us all?
To save us from the fall
Redemption is in sight
Behold, the son shines bright
Under bethlehem's star tonight

[solo]

O bethlehem, your star burns bright tonight
For my eyes have seen the glory of salvation's holy light
Has this little child come to redeem us all?
To save us from the fall
Redemption is in sight
Behold, the son shines bright
Under bethlehem's star tonight

When all the world was sleeping deep in darkness
A child in bethlehem fulfilled the promise
The ancients prophesied a great deliverer
The one to break the curse of sin forever
He didn't come with any worldly fanfare
No royal treatment, just a dark cross to bear
In bethlehem a brand new dawn is rising
A star to guide the way, forever shining
New hope was born for all creation that night
For though the darkness came the brightest light


5. ABSOLUTION DAY

The stage is set
A courtroom where i stand shackled in chains
No defense to fight the charges
Brought against my name
Guilty on all counts
And the penalty is death

I cannot say a word
Because i have no words to say
For i deserve the final judgment
Brought on me today
Guilty on all counts
And the penalty is death

"wait! No more!"
Suddenly another takes the stand
My advocate
To plead my case, a perfect, blameless man

"i will take his penalty
(i'll pay his price)
Place the judgment all on me
(not guilty)
And let him go free"

Bound in chains
I owed a debt that i could not pay
Standing guilty in every way
When grace and mercy brought absolution
Adonai, i raise my hands to the sky in praise
For you have taken my sin away
Behold, today is my absolution day

Only the death of the one
Could make the sacrifice complete
The lam has sprinkled his own blood
Upon the mercy seat
Absolution day
Burn the stain of sin away

"by my blood
All you heavy laden, enter in
I'll give you rest
So lay your burden down and start again

I've already paid your price
(i've paid your price)
And built a bridge from death to life
To eternal life"

Bound in chains
I owed a debt that i could not pay
Standing guilty in every way
When grace and mercy brought absolution
Adonai, i raise my hands to the sky in praise
For you have taken my sin away
Behold, today is my absolution day

No priest can say i'm worthy
No sacraments or holy laws
Can take my sin away
No church can wash my spirit clean
For the scarlet stain that paints my soul to sleep
Runs way too deep

[solo]

No blessed holy water
Can sanctify me in the eyes of god
The great i am
But he has made provision
To lift me up and wash me in the blood
Of the spotless lamb

For christ alone is worthy
To pay the price to set all sinners free
For even me
When all works fall short and efforts fail
I realize that faith alone's the key
Absolution for all who believe

[repeat chorus]


6. THE WRITING IN THE SAND

As the circle forms tonight
And i take my place to execute my "right"
Call the filthy ones into my sight
Bring the sinners one by one
Stones of judgment shall avenge the things they've done
But then i raise my head and stare into the son

Oh, then i feel my blood run cold
Eyes like the sharpest blade
That penetrate to the bottom of my soul

Words of truth that cut so deep
You write the lines of mystery
I stumble and the stone i held in hand is cast away
When the mirror's shown to me
I see my own hypocrisy
And weep upon the writing in the sand

All the things i try to hide
All the times that i avoid your eyes
Thinking somehow i can live the lie
When the truth becomes too great
And i can't try to clean my rotten, filthy state
Or the hidden sins that doom me to my fate

Oh, i can't hide it from your sight
You search out the secret things, the darkest dreams
And reveal them in the light

Words of truth that cut so deep
You write the lines of mystery
I stumble and the stone i held in hand is cast away
When the mirror's shown to me
I see my own hypocrisy
And weep upon the writing in the sand

[solo]

When the writing in the sand has washed away
I could never turn and walk the other way
For the words are carved into my very soul
And the light exposes everything i know
And all i've ever known
Let him who had no sin
Cast the first stone

When the mirror's shown to me
I see my own hypocrisy
And weep upon the writing in the sand
Words of truth that cut so deep
You write the lines of mystery
I stumble and the stone i held in hand is cast away
When the mirror's shown to me
I see my own hypocrisy
And weep upon the writing in the sand

[repeat chorus]


7. MARTYR

Courage not of this earth in your eyes
Faith from far beyond lies deep inside
With your life you dedicate
With your death you permeate
Frozen hearts and unbelieving minds

Watch the whole world watch
See the whole world see
Courage into sleep
Life and death supremacy

A chosen soul, under control from high above
Shines here below
The final test shall soon be passed
Heaven's pride dwells deep inside
But now will sprout its wings and fly
They see his face shine in your eyes
As the whole world sees
You take the bullet, and take your place
In the gallery of heroes

Peace not understood by human minds
Of origin beyond the realms of time
Silent strength and fervency
Living faith for all to see
Legacy of glory left behind

Watch the whole world watch
See the whole world see
Turn their eyes above
Omnipresent end of mockery

A chosen soul, under control from high above
Shines here below
The final test shall soon be passed
Heaven's pride dwells deep inside
But now will sprout its wings and fly
They see his face shine in your eyes
As the whole world sees
You take the bullet, and take your place
In the gallery of heroes

Speak no wrath in silence make your mark
Light piercing this all-consuming dark
Salt, to preserve and create thirst
Life continues, freedom from the curse
Crowned with a holy crown, my friend
Race completed, faith kept to the end
See the millions who have faced this fate
Greet you in your glory at the gate

Unashamed
Speak the name
Life fulfilled
Heaven gained
Edify
Testify
Standing tall
Glorify
Life laid down
Martyr's crown
Greatest friend
Soul unbound
Broken chain
Christ proclaimed
Hold the torch
Raise the flame

Pure soul flying free
Legend now to be
Closing helpless eyes
As the temple dies
Glorified in love
You turn it all above
Power not of you
Courage shining through

Watch the whole world watch
See the whole world see
Courage into sleep
Life and death supremacy

[repeat chorus]


8. MIRROR OF SOULS

[i. The house of mirrors]

Listen to the tale i tell
A haunting dream i know so well
When walking home alone one night
My path revealed by candlelight
Ahead i see an open door
With no idea what's in store
I glance inside the door to see
A hall of mirrors beckons me
I take a breath and step inside
A tale of love and shattered pride
The door slams shut, i start to run
And it seems my journey has begun...

I run and turn from side to side
With fear and panic in my eyes
The vastness overwhelming me
Mirrors far as the eye can see
I see myself in every one
I see the things that i have done
A thousand forms of flattery
The fear soon turns to haughtiness in me

Different mirrors, different shapes
My different strengths accentuate
Each mirror has a name and face
And all reflect me in some way
I look at them to see myself
To judge my life by someone else
The metaphors within replete:
The mirrors are the people that i met

Look at the man you see - in the mirrors
The things you can be - in the mirrors
The glory of me revealed in the mirror's eye
The mirror never lies
The fire in my eyes - in the mirrors
The vanity rise - in the mirrors
The power of pride comes alive in the mirrors

Gazing in the mirrors i behold
All the greatest chapters of my story ever told
In the mirrors
The world is turned to gold

[orchestral section]

At the end of the hall of mirrors
I behold a golden door
I imagine all the beauty
The other side must hold in store
So i quickly reach out my hand
To enter the next room in this promised land
I pull the giant door open
To continue my journey, i step inside
But it slams shut behind me, and i'm back outside
The pouring rain welcomes me
Into the arms of the coldest, blackest night

[ii. The stranger in the storm]

The light of the mirrors has faded away
Into distant memory
As the rain keeps coming down
My candle extinguished
I struggle to walk a path i cannot see
And the rain keeps coming down

The darkness grows with every step
I could cut it with a knife
As the rain keeps coming down
I can't see a thing and i've never felt
So alone in all my life
But the rain keeps coming down...

Caught in the fury of the storm
(the darkness suffocates)
Body and soul weary and worn
(another twist of fate)
Never been so afraid before
(the ending of this tale?)
Never should have opened the door
(from euphoria to hell)

I question my fate, my end
To die in this storm
Maybe this was the plan
Back from the day i was born
But in the hall of mirrors i had felt so high
I cannot walk another mile in this flood
So resigned to my fate, i just collapse in the mud
If i cannot go on, i'll just lay down and die

Suddenly a light i see, shining in the distance
I make my way toward it with my fading hope reborn
As i draw near, the light is clear
Though the rain beats its resistance
But i press on and pray this is a shelter from the storm
Advancing now toward the light
I'm quickly moving forward
This hope has given me new strength
I thought i'd never know
But i take a step, and fall right back
For the ground's gone beneath me
And i behold, illuminated in the light's warm glow
A dark chasm, a great abyss
A vast expanse of nothingness
A pit that has no bottom as far as the eye can see
It spans the whole horizon, and there is no way across
My lonely heart is shattered and all hope i had is lost

I'm startled to feel a hand on my shoulder
I turn to see a shadowed figure standing in the rain
But somehow i'm not afraid of him
Even when he speaks my name
And somehow i can tell that he means me no harm
Just by the peace that i see in his eyes
And even though i've never even seen him before
It's like he's known me all my life
"why are you crying?" the stranger asks
As i wipe away the tears
I point toward the great abyss
The source of all my fears

"i must get across and get to that light
For it represents my only hope tonight
But when i saw the chasm, all that hope was lost
I've spent so long in the dark and the rain
That the sight of the light made my heart sing again
But the gulf's so wide, and there's no way across"

The stranger smiled, and took my hand
He said, "but you are wrong, my friend
You cannot cross the gulf yourself, that's true"
He led me down toward the edge
And pointed just over the ledge
And said, "behold, i built a bridge for you"

[solo]

I cross the bridge toward the light
The stranger saved my life tonight
I turn to try to thank him, but he's gone
A long way to the other side
I'll make my way without my guide
No time to waste, for i must carry on

The bright light shines forth from behind
A door beyond description
Blood and scratches mark the door from ages of abuse
I'm confused no more, for above the door
Is a weathered, old inscription
"all who would see reality, enter the hall of truth"
And so i do

[iii. The truth revealed]

As i step inside
I can see another mirror
A mirror so bright
That my eyes must turn away
A mirror so high
I start to question all the others
And as i stand there in the hall of truth
My heart can only say:
"show me the truth, i don't know what to believe
For the mirrors all showed something different to me
And my pride has given way to misery
I've spent so long in the dark and the rain
That the sight of the light made my heart sing again
And the stranger built a bridge across for me"

"behold thyself" a voice rings out
In paralyzing thunder
It echoes all throughout the hall
And sends me to my knees
When the voice calls my name
I'm overcome with fear and wonder

As i slowly start to rise
And face the great mirror in front of me
When i open my eyes, i have to close them again
But still the image is burned into my mind...
A face with eyes as black as night
A terrifying sight
The flesh rotting away in sickness and decay
It's mangled by disease
I'm unable to breathe
Tell me what manner of creature this could be
'Cause it's not me

I run away as fast as my feet will carry me
Back to the door leading into the night
Even the storm that almost claimed my life
Was better than this
And so i throw open the door and see a man
(the figure of a man)
The stranger from the storm returns again
(to save me once again?)
I see understanding in his eyes
(he's seen this all before)
Maybe he can tell me what i saw behind that door

"tell me what i saw in the mirror
Before i ran away
Tell me what i saw in the mirror
That face of sickness and decay
Tell me what i saw in the mirror
That left me terrorized
With the lifeless, blackened eyes?
Was it a demon
From the fiery waves?
Was it the undead
From beyond the grave?
Oh the face that i beheld in the mirror
Left me paralyzed
Won't you tell me what i saw
In the mirror on this night?"

"the light from the mirror you saw from afar
The mirror of souls shows all men as they are
You entered the hall and you asked for the truth
The man that you saw in the mirror was you"

"no! Don't show me the truth
'Cause i don't want to believe
What the mirror of souls
Has revealed unto me
And the face i saw reflected cannot be me
Dying and lost in the arms of decay
I do not recognize the face i've seen today
And if you say that's my face i must disagree"

The meaning of these things i saw:
The mirror is the holy eyes of god
The truth unveiled before me
With these words of the stranger:
"the mirrors you saw in the hall long ago
Were mirrors of lies, not reflecting the soul
When you look unto others to see what they see
You see an illusion, deception, false reality"

I have seen my soul in the mirror
And it has broken me
I have seen myself so much clearer
Than i had ever seen
"can't you take away all this sickness
From my soul and set me free?
You can save me...i believe"
And then he said, "arise, my child
Our faith has made you reconciled
Now gaze into the mirror once again"
We walked together through the door
And i looked in the glass once more
But the only one reflected back was him
Somehow the only one in the mirror saw was him

Gazing in the mirror of my soul
Staring at the man who took my place
And made me whole
In the mirror
The mirror of my soul


9. WAGES OF SIN [bonus track]

Sin ripped apart my family like a jackal on the carcass of a beast
Exposing all the vultures who were waiting in the wings to join the feast
Descending like spiders, preparing to poison your prey
You smile on the outside while planning a way to make the guilty pay
But the payment is made

Who would feast upon disgrace?
Well i don't know, i don't wanna know
Blackened hearts will try to raise the wages of sin
Death has kissed the lives we knew
So isn't that enough for you?
The price was paid, and no one has to pay it again
For the payment is made
The payment is made

Death and devastation are the natural consequences of sin
Enough for any man to bear, even without your thinly-veiled revenge
You hand a glass of water to a man who's beginning to drown
You reach out your hand like you care, but only push him further down
But the payment is made

Who would feast upon disgrace?
Well i don't know, i don't wanna know
Blackened hearts will try to raise the wages of sin
Death has kissed the lives we knew
So isn't that enough for you?
The price was paid, and no one has to pay it again
For the payment is made
The payment is made

Restoration, lifting up the fallen
Edifying is our higher calling
If we fail to reconcile our brothers
Then we only serve to tear each other down

Death has kissed the lives we knew
So isn't that enough for you?
The price was paid, and no one has to pay it again
For the payment is made
The payment is made