Carrying the Torch

In 1996 Friendship Baptist Church in Clanton started a new event that became an annual event.  The church planned an old-fashioned picnic the Sunday before July the Fourth.  We prepared barbeque, baked beans, tater salad, ice-cold cokes, and homemade peach ice cream.  We planned sack races, pitching horseshoes, and volleyball.

What made this particular Sunday special was we learned that the Olympic Torch Relay would come through Clanton on this date.  Later we discovered that Clanton would be one of the stops for the Torch.

Chilton Baptist Association decided that it would be a great evangelistic event because CNN planned live coverage of the stop.  Every church in the Clanton area agreed to wear a T-shirt with their church logo.  I still have mine even though it is much smaller today seventeen years ago.  It had an eagle, red, white, and blue stripes, and stars.  Most folks commented that it looked like a Harley Davison Motorcycle T-shirt.  Across the back, it had Friendship Baptist Church.  The Association designated June 30, 1996 as “Tennis shoe and T-shirt Sunday.” 

The Olympic Torch coming to town was the talk of everyone.  I did not think much of it until I sighted the Torch.  Something wonderful happened as the torchbearer came running down the hill into the Clanton City Park.  People began cheering and I could feel chills running over my body.  Suddenly I realized that I was part of history.  The torch may never visit Clanton again, but on Day One, April 27, 1996, the Olympic Torch Relay started in Los Angeles, California and On Day 65, June 30, 1996, the Torch rested in Clanton, Alabama for a few moments.  Promoters of the Torch Relay asked our Director of Missions, Charles Christmas, to have a prayer for the Relay.  One of the provisions was there was to be no preaching.  Dr. Christmas had a wonderful plan.  As the CNN cameras scanned the event, church T-shirts were always visible.  Dr. Christmas had one of the most evangelist prayers I have ever heard.  CNN did not know it, but Dr. Christmas presented the Gospel message in his prayer with the eloquence of Peter and his first century Pentecostal message.  “The T-shirt/Tennis Shoe Sunday” was a great evangelist event.

After a few moments of rest, the Torch continued its journey.  The torch’s journey began with the lighting in Olympia, Greece. The Olympic Games Organizing Committee determined the route, as well as the theme, modes of transportation for the torch, and the stops that it will take along its way to the Opening Ceremony.

The torch travels from country to country by plane.  Once it arrives in a city, it usually spends one day going from torchbearer to torchbearer on foot. Sometimes it goes to place by car, boat, bicycle, motorcycle, dog sled, horse, or virtually any other type of conveyance. 

The torch went through my hometown of Jemison before arriving in Clanton.  Jemison folks thought they would get the jump on Clanton folks (you know how towns are rivals).  A crowd gathered in Jemison to cheer the runner hoisting the torch high in the air.  Suddenly, a motorcycle with the torch zipped through town.  Jemison folks, who had not intended to be in Clanton, were in a panic trying to get to the park in Clanton.  A couple of miles before town, the motorcyclist passed the torch to a runner.

“On certain legs of the relay, the torch must be housed in a special container. For a trip across the Great Barrier Reef before the 2000 Olympic Games, a special torch was designed to burn underwater. On airplanes, where open flames are not allowed, the flame is typically stored in an enclosed lamp, much like a Miner's lamp. At night, it is kept in a special cauldron until the relay begins once again the following day.”

It is considered a great privilege to be chosen as a torchbearer. Athletes, actors, musicians, sports figures, and politicians have all carried the flame.

Almost anyone can carry a torch that is at least 14 years old and is able to carry it for at least 437 yards. Handicapped people have been torchbearers.  Some have carried the torch while riding in a wheelchair. The torchbearers are usually persons that have made a significant contribution to their community and because they personify the theme of that particular Olympics.

A caravan accompanies each torchbearer with security personnel, a medical team, the media, and extra torches in case the torch the runner is carrying goes out.  At the end of the relay, the last torchbearer enters the Olympic stadium in the host city. Their identity is usually kept secret until the last moment. The final torchbearer is usually an Olympic athlete, sports figure, or an individual who has made a very special contribution to society. That individual runs around the stadium track once, then lights the Olympic cauldron, signaling the official start of the Olympic Games.  When the competition ends about two weeks later, the flame is extinguished at the Closing Ceremony, marking the end of the Games.

As believers, we carry the Torch of Jesus.  Passed from generation to generation, we hold it today preparing to pass it tomorrow.   As COVID 19 paralyzes the world, we as believers must continue to carry the torch of Christ and hope.

The Psalmist says, “We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.” 

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us Hebrews 12:1.  

"Stupid People Can't Read"

THIS DOOR IS NOT A RESTROOM DOOR.  IT IS AN EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR!  It was an odd sign, especially since it had yellow safety tape all around it and a big red exit sign on it.  It even had an illuminated EXIT sign above it.  Even with all this, I could tell there was a problem.

Since you want to know, I will explain by starting this article over.  I had stopped at the Waffle House on I-59 near Ashville for dinner.  Afterwards I went across the road to a Shell station for gas.  I filled the car with gas and decided I needed a “pit stop” before continuing home.  In my haste to find the men’s room, I looked for the restroom sign.  Seeing the restroom sign, between fountain drinks and coolers of beer, I saw a square bronze plaque with men on it.  I noticed it was bronze and had a large white arrow pointing down toward it.  As I got to what I thought was the men’s restroom door, I noticed it had a poster on it.  I realized it was NOT the restroom door, and saw the men’s restroom door to the right.

Returning I had to stop and read the poster on the door at the end of the restroom hallway more closely.  What I did not see in my haste was that the white arrow pointing down had fire extinguisher printed on it and there was indeed a fire extinguisher there beside the bronze men’s sign.  The door frame had yellow safety tape with CAUTION written on it attached on each side and around the top.  The poster said, THIS DOOR IS NOT A RESTROOM DOOR.  IT IS AN EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR!

By the large number of hand prints on the door and poster, I could tell there had been a problem with people going outside through the door.  Being from the country, if I had gone through the door and to the outside, I would have looked for the OUTHOUSE, which would have been along side of I-59.

Now, I, as have you, have read signs when entering stores.  There is the No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service sign.  Then there are the NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED and CASH ONLY signs. I like this one. I WILL NOT WAIT ON YOU IF YOU ARE ON YOUR CELL PHONE sign.  These are self-explanatory.

One time in Thorsby, a Swedish town back home, a service station there had NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO SLACKS, NO SERVICE SIGN.  Well, I had to ask the cashier about that one.  She said a lady, I use that term loosely, stopped and read the sign that had “No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service” sign and calmly went into the women’s restroom, removed her pants, got a soft drink and bag of chips, approached the counter, paid and left wearing her shirt, panties, flip-flops.  Well, as the old saying goes, “Here’s your sign.”

So, as I went to pay for a diet Sunkist for a caffeine fix, I commented to this big burly fellow with a snarled look on his face standing behind the counter of the Shell station, “I see by the sign and safety tape that you have had a problem with folks going out the exit.”  He snarled saying, “Stupid people can’t read.  Every time they go out the door, the alarm goes off.” 

I have to admit that the sign was confusing, especially if you “gotta go” in a hurry.  I didn’t ask, but I wondered how many had an accident after the alarm sounded.  He was not too amused with my questioning.

Signs, like the Shell one can be confusing and misleading.  I am reminded of an old rock and roll song by Five Man Electrical Band:  Signs, signs, everywhere a sign. Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind Do this, don’t that, can’t you read the Sign?



With the COVID -19 pandemic many stores have signs directing you to social distancing.  At the grocery store the signs are green footprints staggered to stand the mandatory six feet.  At the automotive parts store the clerks demand you stand behind the red stripe.  Since stupid people can't read and with the influx of foreigners, modern signs use universal symbols, but that is not a new trend.  Look at Isaiah.



And the Lord said, Like as my servant Isaiah hath walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia (Isaiah 20:3 KJV). 



I did not do as Isaiah did, but I did wear a sign one day.  While on a Disaster Relief trip to St. Joseph Missouri, I wore a sign.  I was unaware that my “so called friends” that I will withhold their names but they know who they are and a new friend Steve, manager of a co-op in Marshall County, posted a sign on my back.  You know the kind that high schoolers get placed on their back saying, KICK ME.  My friends set the plot and Steve did the dirty work.  Steve patted me on the back and told me he was proud of my being a Chaplain.  I was feeling pretty good, but I noticed people were snickering at me.  One of Steve’s friends, not one of mine, felt sorry for me and clued me in on the scheme.  Steve had placed a sign on my back that said, “WILL WORK FOR FOOD!” 



Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign (Matthew 12:38-39a KJV)



O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3b KJV)

USED

Used.  Used conjures many different notions.  Most people think of used cars.  I have a football teammate from high school that started selling used (junker) cars and today has transformed his business to a very respectable pre-owned dealership.  In the beginning, he would sell these very used cars very cheap to customers that were financially strapped and that did not have a good credit record.  He described to me the process.  An individual, poor or an immigrant, would buy a car for about $1500 with monthly payments of $200.  After about six months, these people would fall behind on payments, be arrested for driving without a license, or be illegal.  My friend would pull the vehicle and then sell it to another poor person.  Six months at $200 per month equals $1200.  My friend could make several thousand dollars with one old used car selling and reselling it.  It makes you think about the person buying the car.  As my friend made more money, he was able to purchase better used cars, I’m sorry I meant pre-owned vehicles.

There is a big market for used furniture and other materials used in building industry.  I had the privilege of visiting a home that was built with used signs, lumber, bricks, and tin.  In fact, the used tin was the ceiling in the kitchen area.  It is a beautiful place built with used material.

There is a market for used clothes.  When I grew up, we called them hand-me-downs.  Now there are consignment shops that sell used clothing.  What one cannot give away, people will buy at yard sales, bargain boxes, or flea markets.

If it had not been for used stuff when I was growing up, we would have never owned anything.  My kids quizzed me about how did I know how to “fix” stuff.  My answer was my family had to repair used stuff making it useful.  That’s how I learned to work on old vehicles, repair clocks, and reuse nails.  You ain’t ever lived unless you have had to pull, straighten, and drive used nails.

Let me shift gears, no pun intended, on the subject of used.  In 1983, I went with the Chilton Baptist Builders on a mission trip to Kemmer, Wyoming.  If that name rings a bell, Kemmer is the home of the first JC Penny store.

On this trip I, along with another couple, had the privilege of staying in an apartment complex when normally we, builder volunteers, would stay in the church where we were on mission.  The luxury of spending a week in a nice apartment came at the expense of a church member named Wayne.

One night after one of devotional services, Wayne said he wanted to talk with us.  I had preached that previous Sunday, Wayne had heard me, and he had attended the devotionals.  Thinking he was wanting to spend some time with us concerning spiritual friendship and fellowship, we agreed to meet.

After a few minutes, our friends and I realized that Wayne was not interested in spiritual things, but wanted us to use our influence to become part of a pyramid scheme something a kin to AmWay.  He was trying to elevate himself by having us and the potential of influence the rest of the mission team, and folks back in Alabama under his scheme. I will never forget the sick feeling we had thinking that we had been used.

I wish I could say that I have always recognized that people were trying to use me.  I constantly try to guard against being used.  I have had folks that have tried to use my influence as Director of Missions to profit them in some agenda or another.  They say things like, “Our company provides online broadcasts of church services.  Could you provide us with a list your churches where we can contact them?”  I guard my list and they don’t get it.

Preachers that are desperate to find churches call and say, “Dr. Hopper can you give me a list of your churches that are without pastors?”  I reply, “If you send me a resume, I will glad to pass it along.”  They usually do not send me one.

No one likes to be used.  When I worked with the utility crew at the cement plant, I got stuck for several weeks on a sandblasting job.  When I asked if I was the only one that could operate it, I got a reply something like this: “Hopper, the other guys don’t work as good as you do.”  I responded with, “I thought it was your job to make them work.  I’d send them to the house if they didn’t want to work.”  Then the reply, “Well, if you got a good mule, you work him.”  NO ONE LIKES BEING USED!

When I think of the spiritual ramifications of being used, I am reminded that many people in church work have thankless jobs.  So many believers feel used by the church and the joy of serving vanishes to be replaced discouragement.  When the Lord utilizes us, it brings honor to Him and encourages us.  I had rather be engaged in the work of God than used by people or the devil.  Here is a case in point.

Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.  And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him unto them.  And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money.  And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray Him unto them in the absence of the multitude (Luke 22:3-6 KJV).

Old Judas was seized with remorse when he realized he had been used to betray the Savior.

Change and the New Normal

May 18, 2013 Union Springs Baptist Church of Randolph, Alabama celebrated 100 years of ministry.  The church celebrated by reminiscing through testimony, pictures, song, and preaching.

April and May in the South is a time for decorations and homecomings.  Union Springs does neither.  I will never forget while in Seminary hearing some preacher friends speaking of Decoration Day.  They were not too fond of them.  Having grown up in a church that did not observe this day, I had to ask what Decoration Day was.  I did not want to appear dumber that I am, I tried to listen long enough to try and figure out what it was.  I finally garnered enough nerve to ask my friend Hugh.  Hugh, very blunt and needing a few more classes on tact, said, “Worship of the dead, dummy.”

I did not know what worship of the dead was.  Hugh and others gave me a quick lesson the 1001 ways that churches celebrate Decoration.  They could not believe that my home church did not observe it.

Union Springs stopped observing Homecoming in the mid 1960’s.  The first time I remember a celebration was a 75^th Anniversary and then a 90^th one.  There have been plenty of changes.  I remember that in the Seventies the church voted to hide the Peavey speakers behind some speaker cloth because Peavey looked too rock and roll.  The only musical instruments were the piano and the organ.  Guitars, drums, taped music, and trumpets were prohibited.  To applaud after a special was sacrilegious.  To raise a hand, say amen or hallelujah guaranteed a stern look and grunt from a deacon or two.

That era is gone after one hundred years.

It was good to see some changes, but the biggest change was people.  Yeah, women with two first names such as Betty Mae, Betty Jo, Betty Jean, Sara Nell, Patsy Ann, Mary Jane, and Judy Kay were there and folks talked of Fannie Ruth, Kitty Sue, Dorothy Faye, and Ruby Nell’s passing when seeing their pictures.

Many have passed in 100 years.  I remember Brother Arch Crumpton.  For many years he and the preacher were the only men in the church.  Brother Arch would walk to church, about four miles, start a fire in the pot-bellied stove, return home, and bring the family to church on a wagon.  The church honored his daughter Myrtle at the Anniversary as the oldest member of the church.

I remember having Ms. Myrtle as my junior (I think that would be 3^rd and 4^th grade today) Sunday school teacher.  I remember stepping over stacks of boards used for flooring the newly built Sunday school room in her class.

Had it not been for the faithful women of Union Springs Baptist Church, there would be no church today.  Myrtle Hayes, Callie Plier, Adderene Pate, Tommie Mitchell taught me the Word of God.  I remember while in Seminary, classmates would ask, “Where did you learn that?”  I responded very slowly, “S U N D A Y  S C H O O L.”

As men were saved, guys like Bill Langston and Heedy Hayes taught me missions through the RA’s (Royal Ambassador).  Union Springs was one of the top supporters of the Cooperative Program, the Alabama State Board of Missions, and Chilton Baptist Association.  Union Springs was very instrumental in preparing me to be a Director of Missions.

I remember international, North American, and state missionaries sharing their work during times of worship.  I remember crying the night Union Springs showed the movie, Bill Wallace of China.  We got so involved in missions that we had a crew of men travel to the Mobile area to repair a roof of a church destroyed by Hurricane Fredrick.  One of our members, Wayne Dutton, went on a building mission’s project to Bogotá, Columbia in 1980 and set in motion the beginning of building mission trips that continues today.  Union Springs helped initiate the Chilton Baptist Builders.

My involvement with the Chilton Baptist Builders led to my call into the ministry.  My first recall of being at Union Springs was when we first moved back to Alabama from Illinois in 1960.  The little white church did not have Sunday School rooms, but they did have wires, which crisscrossed the auditorium.  Red curtains help to separate four areas designated for classes.  I do not remember who preached or the sermon topic, but I remember singing a song about a worm and a cross.



Alas! And did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?



Union Springs called me as an RA leader, a Sunday School teacher, and as a deacon.  Union Springs licensed me to preach, and ordained me into full time ministry.  They gave me a scholarship for college and members such as Tac, James, and Callie helped finance me early in my ministry.  I am fortunate to have been part of the 100 years of Union Spring’s ministries.

The Psalmist says it best when I am asked, “Where is your God?”



When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday Psalm 42:4 KJV.

I wonder what the new normal will be after the COVID - 19 virus has run its course and people start to gather again.