First United Methodist Church Winnsboro

When the word torch comes to mind, what do YOU think of?

With the summer Olympic games starting this Friday night, July 26^th, most of us would normally think about the beautiful tradition of passing the Olympic torch from Greece, where the Olympics originally began in 1896, to wherever the games are held in that quadrennial. This year, the first torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay was lit by the sun’s rays on April 16^th during a ceremony in the sanctuary of Olympia, Greece, where the ancient Olympics were once held. The Olympic flame then went to Athens, on a boat across the Mediterranean Sea to Marseille, and from there, it will be carried by about 10,000 different people who were chosen to carry the flame across France to the opening ceremonies. NBC will cover the opening ceremonies at 1 PM this Friday.

This week, however, the expression “passing the torch” has another meaning with the news of President Biden ending his reelection campaign to focus on running the government through the end of his term. I am fully aware that 50% of our country dislikes President Biden and 50% of our country dislikes former President Trump, but these two men have sacrificed a great deal to serve their country, and I have tremendous empathy for what they have been through. I also have been very tuned into the expression “passing the torch” that we have been hearing after 39-year-old J.D. Vance was chosen as Trump’s Vice President, and 59-year-old Kamala Harris has just been endorsed by Biden to be the Democratic presidential nominee.

Passing the torch … we all know what it means, but TheIdioms.com says: “Relinquish responsibilities, a tradition, practice, or knowledge to another. For example, ‘When the company’s founder became too ill to continue, he passed the torch to his nephew.’  This metaphoric expression alludes to the ancient Greek torch race, in which a lighted torch was passed from one runner to the next. A translation from both Greek and Latin, the English version dates from the late 1800s.”

The Olympic committee reports: “The Olympic flame symbolizes the light of spirit, knowledge, and life. The passing of the flame from one person to another in stages (the Torch Relay), symbolizes the handing down of this figurative fire from generation to generation.”  From generation to generation in our country, Presidents have also passed the torch to new generations, and all of this reminds me of the generations and generations of CHRISTIANS who have passed the torch to new believers for more than 2024 years!

I think the Apostle Paul had this idea in mind when he encouraged his young protégé Timothy: “For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).  I love the imagery this passage conveys: it speaks of imparting spiritual knowledge, and passion … it shows a leader in one generation cheering on a torchbearer in the next generation.  Matthew says it this way:

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:14-16, the Message

The call to be a torchbearer is an important call that every Christ follower because we are ALL His torchbearers! How do we do this? We act as “God-colors” in the world by being people of hope, love and grace … we shine the Light of Christ everywhere we can … we have an “open house”, a Church open to all people …  and we are generous with our lives!

If you weren’t in church on Sunday, you may not have heard the announcement I made about Heather … I said it is bittersweet news, bitter for us, but sweet for Heather because she got a great new job at a Rehab Clinic in Mineola and will be starting full-time work there on August 12.  In her new job, she will be making more money AND getting benefits, and since this is what she did before working in a UMC church in Melissa and with us, she’s excited to get back into the healthcare business where she will only work Monday-Friday, 9-5. Heather and I work really well together, and I will miss her tremendously because she’s been an incredible asset to our church, but THANKFULLY, Heather is going to stay with us part-time to do what she was originally hired to do finances.

BE A TORCHBEARER FOR SOMEONE THIS WEEK!

Pastor Debbie

On Saturday, former President Trump survived the closest assassination attempt on a U.S. president since Reagan was shot in 1981. A bullet grazed his ear, and he is a bit bruised from being “covered” by Secret Service agents protecting him with their OWN lives, but he’s otherwise fine and looking forward to the Republican Convention that starts tonight. Sadly, a 50-year-old former volunteer fire chief attending the rally was fatally shot as he “covered” his wife and 2 daughters from the bullets coming in their direction. Two other innocent people were also critically wounded before a Secret Service sniper shot and killed the shooter.

There has been a lot of speculation about why the 20-year-old assassin did what he did and how he got on a rooftop within sniper distance of the former President, and there will be a lot of eyes on the process of answering that question. But as Christians, I think we need to keep our eyes on JESUS!  There is so much political conflict in our country today, there is such a battle between the right and the left! The ability to have natural and normal conversations with people who have different opinions than we have has become a thing of the past because the LOUD voices on the left and the right have hijacked our ability to have intelligent and healthy conversations!

We all encounter various battles in life, you might be in a battle right now: maybe you’re at odds with a family member or friend, things are difficult with a neighbor, or someone you love is struggling with a serious illness or addiction. But behind all the things that are happening on the surface: relational issues, daily trials, and struggles in our minds and emotions there is a very real spiritual battle taking place, but that battle is not against other people or even ourselves. Ephesians tells us who our real enemy is:  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

What does this mean? I addressed this in-depth in the DEMONS to DISCIPLE message a few weeks ago (6/30/24 on Facebook), but it tells us we live in a fallen world! Some people will do bad things, NOT because they’re Republicans or Democrats, but because sin is real, evil is real! So how do we keep our faith strong? How do we keep the armor of God strong around us? The Lord says: Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned. John 15:4-6.   Joyce Meyer wrote: we are “everything-nothings” … we are everything with God but nothing without Him! 

Let’s stay CONNECTED to the vine and leave the other battles to the Lord, but make no mistake: in the battle that matters … THE LAMB WINS!  

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER: For our Country (#820)

Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We

humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people

mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable

industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence,

discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil

way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the

multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with

the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority

of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that,

through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the

nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with

thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail;