The dictionary defines loud as “the force on the organs of hearing a sound or sounds of great intensity.”  That is what we generally think of when we hear that word.  Jackhammers, tractors, trucks, music, voices and other high-decibel noises can startle and even annoy us.  Interestingly, Paul’s commendation to the Thessalonians included thanksgiving for their loud lives.  I’m paraphrasing a bit but he wrote that the word of the Lord had sounded forth and their faith had “gone out” so that Paul didn’t even need to speak! He wasn’t referring to the volume, He was referring to their working faith, their love, their hope and their explanation of their transformation.  It was so obvious that the Holy Spirit was living in the Thessalonians that it could be said, “it was loud.”  I don’t know who to credit with the statement, but someone said, “Sometimes your life is so loud I can’t hear what you are saying.”  That can be good and bad.  Often it’s bad.  We may try to share our faith but if our lives are louder than our message we send mixed signals.  When, like the Thessalonians, our lives and our messages line up we have “witness.”  The Holy Spirit can use that witness in the wooing of people to Himself.  Let’s live a loud life, then, when we do speak, we’ll probably have a listener.