The Tebow experience

I wonder how much interest this topic will generate. I know that many people in the church tend to shy away from sports because 'God' is more important in the more fundamental views of religiousity. This question is posed to those who have an interest in sports and know more than maybe just the surface news about Tim Tebow.

I listen to some sports radio during The day and there are many who love Tebow and those who are still doubters. This week stats were brought forth saying that he passed for 316 yards and had an average of 31.6 yards per pass play. I think I also heard that the viewship was 31.6% with up to 45 million people watching.
Many are referencing the 316 to John 316 as what he used to wear under his eyes in College.

THose who are inspired by him in the broadcast world are constantly talking about John 3:16 but they don't quote the verse. I think they assume people know it but I don't think that is the case at all. Those who still doubt Tebow ask why is he getting all this 'glory' while there are other christians on other teams or point to the sky after touchdowns or great plays. It sort of reminds me of liberal thinking in which they want to repackage something in order to cause it to be less unique for the purpose of 'equality'.

What do you folks think about the Tebow experience? I often wonder if anyone is renewing their faith in God over it. If God is truly using this experience to draw people to himself. Through Tebow he has caused many people to do the 'prayer' statue-similiar to the planking thing that became a fad.

I have also heard that when Tim is criticized for anything and reporters confront him with it he answers in a positive way and take attention off of himself-it becomes about his teammates. One commentator said that Tim has the ability to a bad day and after hearing him for 5 minutes you forget what was so bad about your day or why you were even angry.

What are your thoughts? I think this should give natural open doors for christians to present the gospel to people in such an easy fashion in the sporting world myself.

Personally I like the guy but this latest thing with the Jockey ad has me scratching my head. I'm not judging him for it though, I've done things even while I have been saved that I later regretted.

To be sure John 3:16 is a wonderful, wonderful scripture but in order to get to verse 16 in the 3rd chapter of John you have to first go through John 3:3

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

I am not familiar with the Jockey ad and I have not heard about it from sports radio. Many on sports radio have debated what would bring Tebow controversy. Some joked that it would be being alone with lady.

As far as John 3:3, yes , I agree and this is something that can be introduced to people when the conversation is about Tebow. It all can fit together, just don't want to be intensely religious over it. By that I mean the difference of bring that scripture up and asking people about it vs. quoting and tell telling people they are going to hell without Jesus. Tebow experience is allows for open dialogue right now in the sports community and it is a ripely open door IMO.

So far as I have followed it, I've not found anything that would cause me to think negatively of Tebow. I think it's kinda cool. Though not a big football fan, I recently put an image of Tebow on my desktop at work. It has a Nike swoosh on it that says "We are all witnesses" and a picture of Tebow, in black & white. It's pretty cool. I hope it to use it as a conversation piece if I can, for any coworker who might see it while in my cubicle.

Personally, I'm weary of most Christian sports celebrities. There seems to be an odd "cult of the celebrity" that is found in our Christian circles. We can't wait to baptize somebody famous it seems. Sometimes this isn't a bad thing. Paul was glad the church had representatives serving in Caesar's home. Historically speaking, it seems most notable Christians in pop-culture end up going south after a while in their life and witness.

Tebow, so far, seems to be handling things well. And while I'm not familiar with his personal testimony, it seems like he might be the real McCoy. He is the son of a missionary, and he was homeschooled. From what I understand, his mother almost lost him during her pregnancy with him, for which the doctors recommended an abortion. He appeared in a pro-life Focus on the Family ad last year during the Super Bowl. I read an interview where he joked, after winning the Heisman Trophey, "I'm glad homeschoolers can now be known for something besides winning spelling-bee's". He seems to be living a life that is morally pure, and strikes me as a rather charming and charismatic individual.

I'd imagine that somebody out there is being effected by Tebow's witness. As salt and light, he cannot help but make an impact on somebody. If all else, he's a pretty interesting individual. He's not your typical football player.

While I myself am not a fan my son is and his team is the Denver Broncos. He has shared much of his thoughts on this with me and over all he likes Tebow but admits that Brady overall right now is a better quarter back. Still he would love to see the Broncos take down the Patriots, having watched the Broncos struggle with their defense he is not sure though how the game will turn out. He did watch the last game and thought the overtime play was awesome. Go Broncos!!
(his words)

God Bless
mary

One thing that I appreciated was the interesting 3:16 connection from this weekend's game.

Tim Tebow was coming off of the worst game of his life. He went on to pass for 316 yards. He had a 31.6 pass per yard efficiency. And, the game received a 31.6 rating (reaching approximately 45 Million viewers) in the game (most who saw and heard Tebow thank the Lord during and after the game). Tim Tebow didn't make any issues about the 3:16 references -- the media did.

I also enjoyed the fact that more people seemed interested in the 3:16 reference than celebrating "Tim Tebow." Consider this from Yahoo's homepage on Monday:

http://tinyurl.com/tebowyahoo

If you look to the right of the screen image, you will see a section called TRENDING NOW. This represents the top trended searches from Yahoo's/Microsoft's search engine. You don't see the name "Tim Tebow." However, you see searches for the verse in question. To me, that is exciting!

I thank God that Tebow is serving the Lord on such an international stage. Some sports commentators on the local San Francisco radio station (that I heard in a restaurant) were speaking about Tim Tebow yesterday. They were talking about how his conduct on the field is almost "too good to be true." Instead of partying after the game as many football players would do, Tim Tebow invited a young girl who has endured 73 surgeries and her family to spend the evening with them. He gave her a copy of his book and a new Bible with her name on it and they spent time that evening discussing the things of the Lord.

Timmy has been criticized for several years...and the main reason for it has been his faith. He was born on the mission field (in the Philippines) where his parents served as missionaries. When they returned, Tebow and his family moved to a farm. He was home-schooled by his parents. The state of Florida passed a law (referred to as the Tebow Law) allowing homeschooled children to participate in athletics at local schools in the district that they reside. He led his team to a Florida state championship while in high school -- winning one game with a broken leg. He played football at college on two NCAA national championship teams and won the Heisman Trophy during his sophomore year. Every time they won, Tim shared his faith in Christ.

I thank God for this public declaration of faith. I thank God that it is bringing glory to Christ more than Tim. He does remind me so much of Scottish Olympic champion Eric Liddell. It is great to compete for the prize -- but there has been a higher opportunity for both. Liddell went on to serve as a missionary in China. Tebow has returned to the Philippines several times and he is currently funding missionaries and the construction of a mission field hospital there.

http://tinyurl.com/ericliddell001

My wife and I were surprised when we saw a Broncos game online. We watched it streamed online from a television station in the U.K. During the breaks, the commentators were showing images of young people "Tebowing" (which is what they call getting on your knee in prayer or while giving thanks to God) as Tebow does during games. Young people in London were taking pictures of themselves doing this.

In a way, I think that Tim Tebow is using his talents on a very public national and international mission field. I pray that his testimony gives the glory to Christ. I suspect that Tim may one day return to a foreign mission field (perhaps the Philippines) -- just like Eric Liddell. As such, I pray that he will continue to follow and be used by God.

Rather this "Tebow experience" means as much as a grain of sand, I will take it. "Some" Christians seem to have a problem accepting these little tidbits in life as anything from God. Even if it's not from God "and no one know for sure it wasn't" just seeing the 3:16, number one on the "Trending Now" in Yahoo, just made my year. Look, does Jesus Christ have to come down and yell from the mountaintop to let us know he is with us? or can these "Tebow experience's" be little assurances/reminders?

The only thing I see catchin on in hockey is that certain players are saying, "If I score, I'm gonna do the Tebow." This is where unbelievers are at today in regards to this.

mrBillpro

I would agree that some christians and some in sports media are having a problem accepting the little tidbits of what Tebow is producing and the God factor involved in it.

I can understand about the sports media part of it but on the christian side of it, sometimes I wonder if it may be the same crowd that believes that God doesn't perform miracles anymore?

I am not a Broncos fan and I am definately not a Florida Gators fan. I am a Florida State Seminoles fan and he cleaned out clock for 4 years. Yet in his own life and in the media he brings about a cheerfulness. He isn't giving all these empty monotone answers and he turns all attention away from himself in the process. Many of the other 'christians' who are playing sports usually are doing the opposite and therefore really aren't getting that attention.

Tebow is also one who seems to separate himself from others in character and always talks about meeting kids before games and visiting them in the hospitals. He says that these kids are the biggest heroes in life because of what they are going through, he uses his 'star' power to bring it to life.

In the end I think this situation is a golden opportunity to talk to people about the gospel without feeling you are being religious about it. Nope, talking about sports and the gospel is what this situation is bringing.

I watched twitter while the Broncos game was going on and there were people who were literally preaching the gospel as a result on twitter albeit in a hilarious way, at times,and I am sure there are some who are going to take the serious road and say the gospel is meant to be serious. Sure, lets suck on a lemon and get serious when we preach the gospel that way the lost people will want what we have- a bad attitude while being saved?

I hope the Tebow experience will make it another week and beat the Patriots because the talk will be extended and it will be great for gospel talk on twitter, on FB, on discussion forms, in personal relationships.
Have you talked to your friendly athiest, agnostic, who is a rabit sports fan and been able to talk to them about the gospel in a way that wouldn't resemble politics as a result of Tebow? Tebow is only the instrument bringing forth the message.

I wonder, how many kids are doing 'tebowing' and as a result are actually praying or someone in the group used it to start to pray? These may be questions/statements that we may never hear about but it doesn't mean the reality thereof isn't happening.

mmmmmm. Could this be a call for christians to pray this week for people hearing the gospel through the Tebow experience? Wow, this just came to me. Let's pray for the sports world that many would come to know Jesus through this and those who are already christians would be inspired to lift up their own voices as well within sports media...........

"The national nightmare continues. Hey, listen, I like Tim Tebow but there comes a point, he had a great game. He's supposed to have a great game," Barkley said.
Missanelli then asked Barkley if he has had enough of Tebow.
"I think the world has," Barkley replied.
______________________________________

Barkley needs to be speaking for himself, but this is usually the normal response of folks that put their fame and careers before God.

I just read this article on Tim Tebow.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/story/2012-01-11/tebow-exclusive/52518122/1

He seems like a very loving and kind brother who walks in the spirit. This article on him really warmed my heart.

Reminds me of how a fellow "Christian" employee told me one time at work that I need to leave Jesus at home. He doesn't belong in the workplace. And to think, that I was under the impression that work is exactly where I need Him.

I am going to try to watch his next game.

Pilgrim

Tim's mother had become pregnant with him and very early one she became ill. She had to take strong antibiotics and I think some other medicine. The doctors said that the child would likely have physical deformities at birth or be mentally challenged or both because of the excessive medicine she was taking that would likely effect the fetus within her. This is at the time the fetus was one inch long in her womb. Because of her faith Mrs. Tebow said NO! to the doctors and eventually Tim was born. Go figure.

Tebow. Another fine example of what HomeSchooling produces!

Yahoo news said: Tim Tebow runs out of miracles as New England easily moves on to the championship game.

Hey, at least they believe in miracles, but the down side is, Yahoo probably don't realize what they said. Lol