I made this blog a long time ago... I even have a few half-finished posts saved. those of you who know me know that it's difficult for me write anything personal because part way through I just feel silly and it all seems contrived. I'm much more comfortable letting someone else say what I wanna say in a much better way than I could ever say it (aka the bible). But there are also definitely many other reasons that I limit my expressions and thoughts to bible verses or short one-liners... for one, Im not really a good writer... but the main and much bigger reason I think is because honest expression requires vulnerability- which is something that I'm particularly bad at. But I have made this blog because I am often too easily silenced by my insecurity, by the fear of the judgements and scrutiny of others, too easily coerced into complacency and inaction, too willing to settle for safety rather than risk for great reward. But His grace is sufficient for me, through my insecurities, and through my flawed understanding, through my meager attempts at expressing eternal and mysterious truths, God can proclaim His message through this broken vessel and He can make stones to cry out even when my worship is silenced (that's the title of the blog!!!).

I made this blog as a way to express thoughts and convictions that God has given me and as a way to witness to the work and power of His spirit in my life. I hope that it will serve as a testimony of the  gospel of Jesus Christ, as a message of truth, and an expression of love when I am silenced and made to be ashamed of the gospel, when I am afraid to speak the truth, and when I forget who God has called me to be and walk in a manner unworthy of the gospel He has saved me through. Even in my moments of weakness I want my life to be a proclamation of the Kingdom of God that all who hear it would repent and be saved.

Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown. In your hometown you are often pigeonholed into a characterization of your past-- a humble carpenter, a Nazarite, the son of Joseph. But God has called us out of this world and into the domain of His Kingdom, we are but sojourners in this earth and our real home is in heaven, where our honor cannot be taken from us, our inheritance is secure, and our glory is seated at the right hand of God. I am not the foolish, insecure, lazy, pothead that I once was. Neither am I a perfect, all knowing, has-it-all-together prophet/evangelist/mannagod. "But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (philippians 3:13)