This one is a guest post, written by my former co-pastor, Kathryn Hunter. Pretty proud of her pebble throwing.

This past weekend Nebo Crossing, a large church in Marion, NC hosted the North Carolina Faith and Freedom Coalition. 

The speakers and presenters list included Kristi Noem (She was a no show), Michael Whatley (Trump’s handpicked candidate for US Senator from NC); Dr. Ben Carson; a variety of Fox News and Newsmax personalities, Turning Point speakers, Support Israel groups; and many Republican candidates in mid-term NC races. They had the audacity to call it “The Salt and Light Conference.” 

As one who has lived my life with a desire to follow Jesus Christ, and to be salt and light in the world, I was quite frankly, repulsed. I signed up to join the protestors. 

We were a very small group, no more than ten at any given time, and with many different agendas; climate control, healthcare, budget, vote for the Democrats, etc. I appeared to be the only one motivated by the desire to stand against the co-opting of Jesus. 

My signs read:  “Jesus said, ‘Love your neighbor;’” “Choose Kindness;” and “Jesus said, ‘Feed the Hungry.’” In addition to one slightly more political, “Stop Starving the Palestinians.”

I went to both days of the event. When I got there Saturday,  the first sight, in the church parking lot, was a large Vote for Trump bus covered with anti-abortion messages and pictures of fetuses. And of course, a huge American flag flying above it. That afternoon, most of the car traffic passing us were large, black,  SUVs with tinted windows, and government tags. The kind of cars driven only by the rich.

Sunday was an open- to -the- public worship service. Before then, all events required tickets, so, the feel was different. It seemed that most were regular church attendees and the cars that passed were med-sized SUVs and trucks with Jesus stickers, mixed with Trump stickers. Most folks waved and smiled at us. They wanted us to know that Jesus loved (even) us. They offered us water and invited us to come to church. 

For the most part, we were treated politely, even by the self-professed MAGA woman who tried to save us and almost gagged when she read my t-shirt that  said, “Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.” 

She also felt it necessary to tell me that pastors with MDivs are morons. Hard not to take that personally since I’m a pastor and have a Master of Divinity degree. 

One, very kind woman, with large American flag earrings, came and offered us beaded bracelets. The one she gave me says  “JOY.” We had a good conversation, and her faith in Jesus is real and deep. As I told her, you could see the Spirit shining through her. 

My heart breaks  for those whose faith is being abused and manipulated for others’ hunger for power and gain. She most likely does not know that her church is a White Christian Nationalist Church, or even what that is. 

Not all the actions were kind. We were called “Baby Killers.” Some waved fists and yelled “Power to Israel.” Some rev’ed their trucks and blew past us as we sat two feet from the road. I did not feel threatened, but the police were searching everyone who entered the church for weapons, so evidently they felt threatened

I feel like I tossed a very tiny pebble into a very large pond. Perhaps its ripples will have some effect on others. I pray so. But, for me it was the toss that was important. As has been said by others when asked why they protest – “it will most likely not change them, but I do it so they do not change me.”  

If you are feeling worried, anxious, or fearful about what is happening in our country, I invite you to toss some pebbles – you will feel better.

If there wasn’t a Bible, what would build your faith and guide your life?

That was the question a friend and I kicked around for an hour or so the other day. I think our conversation was podcast worthy.

As we shared our thoughts, both of us were stretched a little because we approached the question from different places. He attends a church that leads with “Bible Believing” when describing itself. I identify more as a Christ follower. While there is some overlap in those positions, there is a difference.

Of course there is another camp that wasn’t represented that day. This third camp is actually the one that inspired the question. The camp of good, moral, loving people that would have trouble locating the 23’rd Psalm. How were they formed into good, moral, loving people? I don’t think it is because they know us folks that can find all 150 of the psalms.

Full disclosure, I approached this time of dialogue firmly believing that the Spirit is speaking through and in all of life. Yes, we know we are loved because the Bible tells us so, but a lot of other stuff does as well.

It’s worth noting that Jesus didn’t say, “After I’m gone there will be a book to guide you.” He said the Spirit will lead us into all truth, and show us some things he hadn’t got around to yet. (see John 16:12&13)

So that was my starting point. After an hour, I came away with the following affirmations.

First of all, the Bible truly contains words of life, words to live by, words like: “God is love,” “Do for others what you’d have them do for you,” “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “God so loved,” “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “God with us,” “In God we live and move and have our being,” “Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly,” I could go on for a while.

But, the Creator is not contained in a book any more than in a holy building or a denomination. This ordained Christian pastor would even say that God is not contained by Christianity. I love that CS Lewis said that Aslan the lion, the Christ figure in The Chronicles of Narnia, was not a tame lion. A theologian named Anselm said, “God is beyond that which can be grasped.” The universe itself does not contain its Creator.

So I would add that along with sacred writings, Spirit also speaks within our very selves. We have a moral compass, we know what it is to love, our being alive connects us like an umbilical cord with the Lord of life. The One who molded us, imprinted us with a divine spark. That’s why that list of passages I typed a minute ago feel more like reminders than new ground when we read them. We remember who we are. We hear the sacred whisper from a place inside us deeper than our bones.

I would also add that same One who speaks to us from deep within ourselves, speaks to us from outside of ourselves. We hear/feel/see/sense the voice of the sacred in all creation. The oceans’ water, the dirt of the ancient mountains, fat clouds, bright sun, gleaming moon, rooted things, four legged things, multi legged thing, no legged things, they all sing the song. Every single one of us has heard/felt/seen/sensed their hymn of praise.

Almost every morning I pray a version of this affirmation:“For God’s Word in scripture, in creation, in relationships, for God’s Word that is in all of life, even in me, thanks be to God.”

So, I invite you to take a deep breath.

Pay attention to each of your five senses. They are conduits of the holy. Listen to your heart. Savor a second and third and fourth deep breath. Allow yourself to be open to the truth that all you are taking in is a sacred gift. I’d be willing to bet a sizable amount that you will hear/feel/see/sense the ever humming Hymn of Love.