Hello friends, this will be my final post of the year. Sunday night I was hit with the notion to stay offline for the majority of the week. After last night, I understand why I was given such a notion… but we’ll get to that in just a few.
It’s unbelievable how fast this year has passed by and yet, somehow hobbled along from time to time. There’s nothing I can say about 2020 A.D. that you more than likely do not already know nor have not already felt(not that I’d want to spend my final post of the year rehashing the slap in the face called current year).
I would like to take this moment and use it for reflection, and this post, a space for gratitude. I’m overwhelmed at the thought that anyone has taken an interest in the work that’s been put into this website; but not only this website, the extensions of it as well. As I’ve said many times over the year, wading into these waters of online discourse and putting myself out there, in form of thought and spirit, is still new to me. Even though April is the anniversary, I feel that sealing up the year on this site with the fading of 2020 and starting fresh in the coming year will be a welcome centering(in light of being active online).
I’ve definitely had a bit of a time adjusting to the world of online. It is very different than real life. Sure, I’ve been reading, watching, listening, studying, and basically researching things online for what feels like forever; but throwing my hat in the ring was a different experience altogether. I’m not sure I could convey this difference properly, mainly due to most everyone else seemingly being fully engaged online for so long through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or any of the many avenues one has. I’ve spent conscious time over many years avoiding joining those pits. I would simply search twitter or watch videos from a search engine but never “engage”. This was me avoiding the “trappings”(which now, years later, I’m pretty glad I did; not only due to the alarming shutting down of unpopular or unapproved speech(the Bolsheviks are coming!), but also the observant standpoint has served as an education… one that I wasn’t aware I needed but has come very much in handy as I am now in the snake pit.
Yet, even as I began this journey, I’ve avoided the sites I’ve mentioned and I chose the non-establishment social sites to aggregate, mainly because they are a thumb in the eye of the thought and speech police. I’m thankful for those mediums. I’m a liberty guy and a very unapologetically one at that.
I’ve discussed my online travels a time or two in video, so I won’t keep tapping that button here. However, as for this vehicle in the coming year and with now having a small slice of experience in my belly, I hope to only improve: In conveyance, in material, in speech, in technology proficiency… in all things.
As Christmas draws near I’m reminded of the driving force behind this site and reminded of the moments and experiences that led me here. All at once I find myself humbled and lifted up. My soul reverberating the phrase of praise…
“Glory to God in the highest”
…this brings me back to the topic of this week and my taking some time away from the noise. If there is one thing you are in a better position for when staying out of the online onslaught, it’s finding true and pure quietness in soul and spirit, and in turn opening the door to that secret place for heartfelt prayer and communion with God.
Even after only a half-day, I could feel the effects of stepping back and as this is my final work for the week, I very much look forward to that which I’ve unwittingly neglected.
This is something I have to be even more mindful of in 2021.
Starting the engine, getting off the ground, and getting some experience under my belt in all things “stonetheprophets” took more of my time than I should have allowed this year. I read the scriptures, I pray, I am mindful in my step… yet and still, something remains undone. I feel it in my chest just as sure as my fingers feel this screen I’m typing on. Without a doubt, I must not let myself get so wrapped up in the “fight”, in the work and busy-ness that I let the most vital thing slip right between my fingers.
Christ must needs be my life.
Finding a balance and a rhythm to this dance of everything in my life, everything real and digital, automatically goes up the ladder of priorities. I see this very clearly.
It makes sense for this to burden now as we head into a new year. I have some things in the works that I had previously thought were ready to fly months ago, only to have roadblock after roadblock be thrown in the way. So I pushed those things neatly to the side and kept chugging along.
I’m not sure what the coming year holds. Who does? I would like to think I’m going to be able to see the things I’ve started in my personal life come to fruition, particularly the project I’ve just now mentioned.
After this year, nothing about our current way of life feels too certain, though.
However in the meantime, I will fight to keep heading in the direction of victory in all things. I will pursue the things that are right, good, and true having peace.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:28-32
As for my current view on America as a nation…
While I know that God’s will towards his children in Christ is righteous and true, I’m not naive enough to believe that He will bless a nation in open rebellion against him as a whole, a people of which might very well be said, He knew not. In fact, it would be easy to think that we’ve long been witnessing exactly what takes place in a land when the hand of His blessing has slowly pulled away.
Yet we know that he is long suffering and that his mercy endures forever…
With that said, if you would, please join me in making a steady prayer starting right now but flowing throughout the coming year for a mass return to his will and way, repentance on a scale never before seen, and a true national brokenness which leads God to look on us with eternal mercy and grace. A prayer that bears the fruit of a nation acknowledging our ways, accepting forgiveness, and glorifying Jesus Christ as our King.
…that we may again be able to say with assurance, God bless America.
Have a very merry Christmas, my friends.