The Denver Broncos trailed the Chicago Bears 10-0 deep into the fourth quarter in their Dec. 11 home game. Not surprisingly, Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow said a prayer on the sideline.
But this time, a microphone picked up his petition.
“Dear Jesus, I need you. Please come through for me. No matter what, win or lose, Lord, give me the strength to honor you,” said Tebow in a 10-minute feature from NFL Films that gave an up-close look of the quarterback that game day.
The successful football trail of Tebow, 24, twinned with his outspoken Christian witness, has captured the attention of the nation this fall, also making an impact with Catholics in a range of areas.
The themes of his sideline prayer were met: a dramatic overtime victory against the Bears (13-10), followed by two losses. Now, to make the playoffs, the Broncos must win on Sunday against Kansas City or hope for an Oakland loss.
Broncos fans and Tebow observers nationwide will be looking to see how he handles the biggest game of his professional career.
“With Tebow, you just feel like every play he’s going to do whatever he can possibly do to try to make it happen,” said Kate Faughnan, a married mother of three in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“It just makes for a very unpredictable and exciting game every time.”
The catchword for Tebow news stories this fall is “polarizing,” as he is frequently described as the most polarizing player in the NFL or in sports.
Tebow generates excitement for his running, physical style of quarterbacking and admiration for his Christian witness. His critics take issue with both areas: questioning whether he should be a quarterback at all and if the football sphere is an appropriate place for religious witness.
However, the proportion of fans to critics and the degree of their opinions is unknown.
“To say he’s the most polarizing influence or individual in the NFL, I think is overstating it by a long shot,” said Curtis Martin, the president and founder of the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (Focus).
But Martin, a consultor to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization, called attention to other NFL players’ past brushes with the law and other questionable behavior and suggested such actions were “quite a bit more polarizing than a guy who is standing up for his Christian faith.”
Father’s Ministry
While Tebow spent most of his first season in the NFL as a backup, his football jersey has been the No. 1 seller. Then, this week, a USA Today/Gallup poll named Tebow No. 11 on its annual list of Most Admired Men — ranked higher than the Dalai Lama, but below Pope Benedict XVI and Billy Graham.
Tebow begins his interviews by first thanking his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and then usually his teammates. He is not the first athlete to do so, but this practice can seem unfamiliar to Catholic athletes who might be more comfortable with crossing themselves before or after a crucial play.
Martin said that Tebow is living the American dream with his faith outlook and the freedom of speech. He said Tebow is “taking the podium,” and people of deep faith need to use their own podiums to influence those around them with respect, while honoring a difference of opinion.
He called Tebow’s practice of always thanking Christ during interviews one way — but not the only way — to witness.
“But I would much rather have Tim do it every time than for people of real profound faith doing it none of the time because they think their faith is too private. Faith is not private; it’s personal, but it’s not private,” said Martin.
Faughnan called Tebow’s practice “great and that it needs to be said more.”
“Maybe that can be a challenge for us Catholics to be more of a witness to our faith,” she said.
For Catholics, Tebow has not been without controversy, gauged differently than a secular understanding of the word. His endorsement of Jockey underwear could be deemed problematic, made evident in a short marketing video where an interviewer threw Tebow a question seemingly designed to startle him and Tebow’s misguided response.
Probably more attention has been given to Bob Tebow’s Evangelistic Association (BTEA), the missionary work of Tim’s father in the Philippines.
Yoseph Daviyd, a Catholic blogger, had strong words for the ministry in a blog post, calling BTEA one of a group of false ministries that poaches Catholics.
“The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of Bob Tebow’s converts are poorly catechized Filipino Catholics,” wrote Daviyd.
Gray noted that Tim Tebow is a volunteer and financial supporter of BTEA and questioned whether it was possible to separate Tebow on the football field from his off-season evangelization and support of the group.
Martin — who as an undergraduate was heavily involved with the nondenominational Campus Crusade for Christ and then returned to the Catholic Church — responded to the blog and suggested that BTEA’s activities should serve as a “wake-up call” for better formation of Catholics.
“We need to do a better job of reaching them and caring for them, and if we did, they would be impervious to the outreaches of folks who have a portion of the Gospel but not all of the Gospel.”
Martin said he doesn’t condone anti-Catholicism, but also noted that he would rather have poorly catechized Catholics “embrace evangelical Christianity than Islam, which is what’s happening in other areas of Asia.”
He said later he believes if Tim or his father encountered Catholics with a love and trust of Jesus Christ and who could articulate their faith, “some of the prejudice and misunderstandings of Catholicism would evaporate.”
Gateway to a Conversation
Thomas Wurtz is the director of Varsity Catholic, a division of Focus that works with collegiate athletes and is based at the University of Nebraska.
He said that Tebow has served as a model for Catholic and Christian athletes to follow, inspiring them with confidence “to do something similar with their faith.”
“It’s a phenomenal example for men to see an athlete that’s competing and at the same time is telling his opponent, ‘Nice play, good job, nice game,’” said Wurtz, referring to the NFL Films feature where Tebow talks to Bears defenders after taking a pounding.
“He’s doing what heroes are supposed to do, right? Heroes are supposed to inspire and motivate us to a higher level,” said Wurtz, who finds Tebow showing classic virtues.
Longtime Broncos fan Tom Thomason works at Denver East High School with special-education students and is not sold on Tebow as a quarterback just yet, recalling that many of his Broncos wins have been in overtime.
However, he does find Tebow’s witness to be a “stepping stone for a conversation” about Catholicism.
“Somebody can come to me speaking (about) Tebow, and I can filter my belief through that initial content,” said Thomason.
“He very clearly puts his beliefs out there, and it’s an opportunity to expand on that,” he added.
When asked what advice Martin would give Tebow, he said that he would first befriend him and invite him to his house for dinner, winning favor with his kids, who are fans of the QB.
“If I could encourage him in anything, I would want to introduce him to the growing number of vibrantly committed Roman Catholics that I have come to see,” he said.
Kate Faughnan will be watching the upcoming Broncos-Chiefs game with her family — including her 3-year-old son Eli who yells the popular catchphrase “Tebow Time” on Sundays.
“This is a huge, huge game for us, so that maybe after two losses, we can come back and regroup as a defense and get our offense going again,” said Faughnan.
As for Tebow, he made no predictions for victory in his press conference on Christmas Eve, recorded on video after the Broncos’ loss to the Buffalo Bills.
When asked how he was handling the loss — which a reporter thought was the worst game Tebow had at any level — the quarterback recalled his mother once teaching him to give both successes and disappointments to the Lord, and that’s the primary way he could deal with it.
“Because tomorrow, you know what,” Tebow said, “I still get to celebrate my Savior’s birth, and, ultimately, I don’t know what the future holds. But I know who holds my future, and that is something that gives me a lot of peace and a lot of comfort when there might be a lot of turbulence around me.”
Register correspondent Justin Bell writes from Boston.
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I think it’s worth examining that so many people find Tebow polarizing for expressing his faith… whether it’s a prayer, or pointing heavenward, or the ‘Tebow half genuflection’ stance.
I had a discussion with a guy, (Catholic) who said he didn’t like it… that it seemed like posturing, that he’s doing it for attention and for the wrong reasons. I say… it’s likely he started by doing something that came naturally, before there were 20 cameras on him to pick apart his actions. But now that cameras are aimed at him, and people are critical of his actions… he’s between a rock and a hard place. If he continues to do it, he’s posturing and if he quits, well, then he caved.
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To the people who say it’s inappropriate on a football field… I say, you’ve got other athletes who, when they make a great play or score… dance in the end zone or beat their chests… more or less claiming the glory for themselves. But when Tebow gives the glory to God, it’s somehow inappropriate?!!
Give me Tim Tebow any day.
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and by the way… a lesser known Bronco player, guard, Russ Hochstein is Catholic and from my Catholic High School. He’s been very generous to our alma mater and the community.
This is nothing new. African American athletes have been doing this for years.
Mr. Tebow displays the Militancy that we Catholics once possessed. He always conducts himself with dignity and displays charity but never apologizes. The “World” imposes itself on us 365/24/7. We Catholics would do well to emulate Mr. Tebow by heeding the May 2010 counsel of the Holy Father: “We impose nothing, yet we propose ceaselessly.” Mr. Tebow would make a remarkable Catholic… I pray that he will one day know the fullness of the Faith and the sublime beauty of the Sacramental life. God Bless all in 2012, Michael
“I don’t know what the future holds. But I know who holds my future, and that is something that gives me a lot of peace and a lot of comfort when there might be a lot of turbulence around me.” I like this quote, there is much truth in it.
@ mrsceesee - why do you think Tebow gets so much attention over it as opposed to African American athletes?
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I don’t follow sports much - so I’m only guessing ... is it because people see Tebow displaying his faith AND being an upstanding guy? Not hooching around with women etc?
Bring it on Tim Tebow…a young man unafraid of showing his faith, heck we should take heed and follow what he does without fear! Your parents must be proud of you, I certainly am!
God is good!!
Catholics say the same prayer during mass. Tim Tebow should follow that example. May God upon his eyes and that of his family to the fullness of the truth.
I am more challenged by those I attended mass with today where we all prayed prayers similar to Tebows in the presence of our Saviour body, blood soul and divinity. I challenge Tim Tebow to ask the difficult questions that are keeping him from entering into the fullness of the Truth. A truth that will lead him deeper into that relationship he has started and craves. Its waiting for him in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
“The successful football trail of Tebow, 24, twinned with his outspoken Christian witness, has captured the attention of the nation this fall, also making an impact with Catholics in a range of areas.”
## “Christian witness” ? - or doing what this does not encourage ?:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you…” - http://niv.scripturetext.com/matthew/6.htm
STM Jesus may have had a point here. And not just because He has some connection to Christianity, & thus, to how Christians are supposed to live. “You are my friends, if you bin my teaching and do the opposite” is not in any NT I’ve ever seen.
@Renae, so all African American athletes “aren’t upstanding” and “hooch around with women”. Wow! No wonder people have such a bad impression of Catholics.
Amen sista :)
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Tim Tebow is a gift from God to all of us! Would that every Christian, whether Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant, would stand up unabashedly with love for God the way Tim does! And the fact that millions of people love what he’s doing tells me that the desire to do just this is in the hearts of millions of people - praise God!
Well, there really is no challenge to Catholics here since Tebow is not a Catholic, just another evangoprotty catching notice since he lives in Americas most visited tabernacle on Sunday (the NFL on TV). Note to Curtis Martin our new leading authority on what is Catholic (God help us). Evangoprottys are anti-catholics by the nature of there existence (see protestant revolution circa 1517). By not condemning any and all of there heretical activities you do condone anti-catholicism.
Kudos to Tim Tebow. For a young man of 24 he has remarkable poise, confidence and courage. He is already a true role model for our youth. God bless him.——anyone ever notice how many major leaguers bless themselves before they bat or after getting a hit or pitching a strikeout and then point toward heaven. It is done all the time. Never hear a word about that.
The Sign of the Cross by a Catholic athlete is a condensed act of Faith in the Holy Trinity and the Salvific Act of Love by Jesus laying down His Life on the Cross. The Sign of the Cross began in the Roman arena where Christians were being killed for the crime of being Christian. The martyrs made the Sign of the Cross to let the crowd know that they were dying for the Christian Faith. Today, Catholics use the Sign of the Cross as a public act of Faith. Jesus said, “Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 10:32)
Tim is just doing his job by fulfilling his job description according to Col. 3:17 (I’ll let you all look it up, give you something to do besides wasting God’s time that He has given you to be worshiping Him on Sunday, not, the god of the living room T.V. set that so many Catholics worship nowadays). This is the same job that He has given to each of us. Now let us keep praying that Tim will come to the know the complete Truth & join the one & only True Church that Jesus gave us. Have a very happy & wonderful New Year. +JMJ+
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@JMJ - don’t know about the rest, but I don’t watch football on tv or any tv for that matter - just see things on the Internet about Tim - though the internet can be as equally addictive as tv! ;-) Peace to all for the New Year!
@Renae - there’s no excuse for your comment, period.
Tebow’s attention simply came with timing, talent and the consistency of his character. Tim is no better than anyone else and I’m certain he’d tell you that. He’s a sinner like the rest of us. Thank God for using Tim’s position in HIS timing to inspire so many people. Tim never claimed perfection, didn’t seek fame, he just did what he does and people noticed. I really don’t see any reason to change his behavior just because it’s been noticed.
Most of us would have given the same attention if Tebow were an athlete of any color. It has nothing to do with Tebow’s skin color, it’s his example people appreciate. Those who wouldn’t definitely have an issue they should deal with.
There are so many athletes that have displayed their faith through the years. One is Rosie Greer, another is Gayle Sayers, when you’re speaking African American. There are a lot of every color that have fallen and even elevated bad behavior.
Let Tim be Tim and do what he does.
@mrsceesee - why do you think Tebow gets so much attention over it as opposed to African American athletes?
@Renae - I don’t follow sports much - so I’m only guessing ... is it because people see Tebow displaying his faith AND being an upstanding guy? Not hooching around with women etc?
As a longtime Pats fan, I RELISHED watching this over-the-top overpaid Christian jock meet the BEST TEAM AND FRANCHISE IN FOOTBALL. Hmmm, what did Jesus say about being overly showy with one’s faith?
Pats sure beat the pride out of him.
All his sanctimony couldn’t help him worth a hoot a few weeks back.
RE: JMJ
There is a big difference between worshiping sports and using sports to ‘rest’. Remember that Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) I pray that Pope Benedict will soon bring the Church to realize that worship (Mass) is not entertainment and entertainment is not worship. Have a holy and blessed New Year.
+ Art
Will you some of you people get a life and think about what this guy is pulling in for playing a boy’s game? It’s amazing that we’ll dig into our pockets to pay higher taxes so more stadia can be built where these multimillionaires can make their obscene salaries, but oh, watch what happens when stories get published about public school teachers paying for their pupils’ boxes of crayons, pencils and art supplies because their respective local school committees (possessing the spines of mush) keep kowtowing to the local “How dare you raise my property taxes!” anvil choir that seems to plague far too many communities large and small across the land.
We have to have our football; we have to have our Tebows. Hey kiddos, do you know what the adults’ priorities are? Maybe you do for some of our more mature and considerate ones are when you see them at your local office supply stores buying your class’ crayons, pencils and art construction paper.
Let them get to know more h.s. coaches who give up their free time for little or no pay to simply help kids learn how to play the game as a team instead of building huge mega-buck programs like the college systems that are little more than a glossy farm system for the NFL.
Never mind the show-boating of Tebow (who, like so many other walking billboards in pro-sports today) these are the adults modeling the kind of character we all need our kids to watch on display more often till their local political powers that be grow up and learn what the term meeting adult responsibilities is all about.
And if I never hear again, another word about the glories of home schooling it’ll be too soon. Having attended public schools, parochial schools, USAF schools and graduated from a Catholic college, on the whole, I’ll take the public K-12 products any day over all the rest.
Get a life folks. There’s more to it than football and slickly packaged sanctimonious jocks.
How about more hoopla for Catholic father of 4/5 children Phil Rivers?
@ MrsCeeCee
you say: “so all African American athletes “aren’t upstanding” and “hooch around with women”. Wow!”
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Did I say ALL? No, I did not. I was legitimately asking what YOU thought was the difference between the attention Tebow gets vs the African American players YOU brought up. But you couldn’t simply answer my question. you had to instead attack the hypothetical example that I presented. Nice.
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Perhaps I presented my hypothetical less than charitably, but while we’re on the topic, how many NFL players (of any race or religion) have ever hinted at their own virginity? Or the value of anyone’s chastity?
@manticore: The problem with your post is that Jesus was speaking of hypocrites who pray for “show.” Tebow is not some fraud. When the press come to him and ask about his faith do you expect him to deny Jesus is Lord? I’ve heard him. Tebow does not ask for a microphone or soapbox. The press keep asking questions and he answers them with consistency. Whatever the outcome of the game —it’s for the Lord’s glory, win or lose. It’s not for Tebow’s personal glory. Tebow is aware the Lord is not taking sides *for Denver* against Christian or Catholic athletes on the other teams who also pray. If you have attended any NFL games, you know that many Christian and Catholic players kneel on the field at the end of each game from *both* teams thanking the Lord for His safe protection against injury and to give Him the glory. This prayerful event is not shown on TV but it happens at the end of every NFL game. Why must we always be looking to tear people down?
@tradtrub: so, it is heretical for a Protestant to praise God and thank Him in public? Your comment shows hatred for Protestants, since you see them as unworthy of even praising God the best they know how. Think about the actual dynamics of how one gets to be a certain religion: most people are born into it. If being a Lutheran or Episcopalian is all you’ve ever known, how would you make the leap into accepting Catholicism, when Catholics are often lapsed, mum, or don’t know what we’re talking about?
Curtis Martin, whom I’ve met and whose group I have personally supported since graduating college, is a remarkable man. Of the ~300 priests under the age of 30 in the US, 270+ of them come through FOCUS. It is an evangelizing powerhouse and personally saved and nourished my faith. But I guess we should diss this group because they aren’t exclusive and judgmental enough.
http://lettersto.us
I admire Tim Tebow as a football player, and as a Christian man. I was always happy when he pulled out those last-minute or overtime victories for Denver. And I did get rather annoyed with the condescending or snide remarks on sports call-in shows (for instance, ESPN).
It’s just too bad that he’s not a Catholic, and that his father’s evangelistic association is luring Catholic Filipinos away from the Faith. I really wish he wouldn’t do that.
One NFL player who is Catholic (at least, I think he still is) is Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. One time I saw a photo in Sports Illustrated of him meeting Blessed Pope John Paul II. Thought that was pretty cool!
And it would be nice to see other NFL players emulate Tim Tebow in not being ashamed to show their faith. Does anyone know if Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints is a Catholic?
Wake up and smell the coffee in your thermoses (or kitchens)instead of imbibing in the NFL’s version of kool aid. The league has been, for several years, run by a very liberal pro-PC cadre and it’ll go along with Tebow’s open gestures of gratitude towards God for his and his teamate’s successes…UP TO A POINT.
The moment he opens his mouth on any hot-button topic, offends a woman’s organization or pro-LGBT activities, or even makes a statement in defense of the one-percenters and their (deservedly so) politically precarious stations in political life, he’s going to be facing a treatment of the likes that’ll make him wish it was only the Patriots’ defensive line repeating what it gave him as his real “welcome” to the NFL. With apologies to a man I’m sure happens to be a Houston Texans fan,
Rep. Ted Poe, R-TX, I too, will conclude my remarks by adding, “And that’s the way it is.”
Tim Tebow is an admirable young man, and a good role model. We could use more like him!
Claudia Satori-I forgot about Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers! He’s a Catholic! I saw him on EWTN’s ‘Life On The Rock’ not very long ago. Thanks for the reminder!
He’s another one of the ‘good guys’ in the NFL, an upstanding young man, enthusiastic about his Catholic Faith. He and his wife have a foundation that helps youth. He talked about it when he was on ‘LOTR’. There was even a video of him throwing a football with Father Mark!
Although I’m not a scripture scholar, I seem to remember disciples coming to Jesus complaining other people were doing good works in Jesus’ name. Jesus’ response? Not a problem. If they are truly with us, how can they be against us?
If Tim Tebow is proclaiming Jesus is his savior and gives glory and praise to God…..and is sincere? Not a problem.
Thanks, Claudia, for bringing attention to Phil Rivers and the work he and his wife do for youth in honor of their Catholic faith. I saw the EWTN program, too.
Recently we heard on the news about a group of high school athelets who got in trouble at school for blocking the hallway when they knelt to their knees. They said they did it to “honor their hero, Tim Tebow.” If I recall corectly, when asked if they knew why Tim Tebow kneels, they didn’t know why Tim Tebow kneels or who he was honoring when he did; they just wanted to honor their hero. Hopefully someone told them.
A more astounding Christian witness would be for a talented athlete to give up a NFL career so as not to work on Sundays. That would be radical.
Ever see how the catholics behave in the parking lot after church?
@D.Ben: I’ve attended many Patriots’ games in the old Schaeffer-Sullivan-Patriots Stadium (whatever they wound up calling it by the time they moved into their new digs a decade ago. The situation you just brought up as food, or libations for “thought” has seldom been a pretty sight for parents concerned for what passes from the raw realities of life in New England on a Sunday along Rte. 1 in Foxboro, MA through the tender prisms of their children’s youthful and innocent eyes, (not to mention ears.)
Yes, the ahhcents are harsh enough to bear (I hail from the more civilized western portions of MA)... but the combination of swears and cuh-sses, are mighty WICKED indeed.
That said, I still hope n’ pray that my Pats (cleanly) beat the living hell out of the Broncos and the stuffings out of that overly pious Tebow. Because if they don’t, it’ll be mighty wicked ugly for Bob Kraft’s Pats to live down another first home game playoff loss in which the team was favored. In that event, it won’t make a bit of difference who’s left on the parking lots. The townsfolk of Foxboro might actually start thinking a planned casino-resort would be the more civilized alternative for revenue enhancement purposes. LOL!
Yes, I love to poke fun at the excesses of some fellow New Englander’s (mis)behavior, traits of which I shared in my far-back younger and more irresponsible years, but I’m still not gonna cut Tebow any slack.
GO PATS, ESPECIALLY THE GUYS WHO DO THE SACKING!
@Sarah: So you would then also prefer that Jesus would not heal the sick or raise the dead on Sunday? Likewise, Catholic and Christian Police, Firemen, Hospital workers and Military should also not work on Sunday?
I am rooting for Tebow and he’s no doubt a breath of fresh air. As Catholics we should be thankful for someone like Tebow to be having success while openly professing his love for Our Savior. Now if we can arrange a meeting or two in the off-season between Tebow and Philip Rivers so we can work on his “Catholic side”! ;)
@D.Ben: How could I have forgotten this when it comes to Catholics in parking lots! This is a doozy, LOL! Nearly fifty years ago my dad was stationed in Wiesbaden, when the Hessian capitol city was host to the Air Force’s European Headquarters. One would think our esteemed engineers way back in the 50s would’ve come up with a bigger parking lot to accommodate the needs of all the Christian faiths using the main chapel and the combined h.s./jr. h.s. located across the street in the Hainerberg Housing Complex. Had the slide rule gang in VA relied more on local and better German engineers, the lot’s size would’ve been much bigger. After all, every weekend, when the Catholic would have to crawl into the lot for our Masses, the Methodists would be taking their sweet time to mosey on out and as you can guess, there wasn’t much “Christianity on display,” at least from what the Germans could tell if they took the time to watch this weekly display of very plug ugly Amis trying to negotiate a small lot with the big cars they hauled over on Navy transports.
“I hope the Germans never catch on to this spectacle,” my mom said one morning (after hearing a chorus of honking horns and loud American voices yelling back n’ forth at each other to get the hell outta the lot and damn soon. “They’ll, think we restarted the Thirty Years War for them.”
And I’ll bet the worst offenders were Irish Catholics from Bahston. Having lived in that ever-so brainy area for four years ten years later, it didn’t take long to become forever convinced there are drivers that are worse than the Germans. (And I can at least understand German better than Bahston ahhccents. After all, the topper for rudeness came one Easter morning when I nearly bumped into a car in a horribly designed complex rotary near the old Boston Garden. The driver then sharply pulled his car in front of me forcing me to stop. He then got out of his car and right in front of his family on the Morn of Christ’s Resurrection, he let the Devil get back in the game by loudly telling me what I could do with myself and my driving: right in front of his kids.
If I wasn’t so shocked, I would’ve probably put up my hands in mock bewilderment and said, “Was ist los, mein freund?”
@Steven: Your distaste (and distrust) of Tim Tebow is rather evident and lacking in Christian brotherhood. As a Catholic, I support Tebow. I also give glory to the Lord in all things, win or lose. What do you think occurs when Catholics and Christians alike on both teams pray for success? As for being overly pious, no doubt you would then support stopping the irreverance made of the “Touchdown Jesus” mural at Notre Dame.
Tim Tebow’s antics are nothing more than a cynical, attention grabbing display. God put humans here to do things, hnot spend every minute praying. To spend your time in such constant prayer, in fact , is to be divorced from the will of God. Dropping down and praying after every touchdown, among other things, seriously interferes with the pace of the game. It is patently gratuitous and insincere, because sincerity means not only to God but to yur fellow man and if you are playing to provide them action, you must see yourself as robbing them by breaking up the action. he is insulting God, using “devotion” as a ploy.
From the blog post by David Gray: “
Even though over 80% of the population of the Philippines is Catholic, the BTEA says this on their website:
The Philippines, a country comprised of over 7,100 islands, has historically been an area of abuse and conquest. Of the 86 million Filipinos, we estimate that over 65 million have never once heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Also according to their website, the goal of BTEA is to continue to attack the Catholic Church by dividing and fragmenting the people of God with their false teaching:
Our PLAN is to preach the Gospel in every village in the Philippines in the next few years. The task is great, but God specializes and delights in doing the impossible! We intend to increase our staff of national evangelists to 60. By dividing the country into theaters of operation, with each evangelist assigned to a specific area, and working extremely hard, we intend to preach the Gospel in every village. The plan includes providing theological training and guidance to help national pastors to conduct the best possible follow-up.” In my opinion, Catholics do not need this kind of evangelization. Just sayin’.
“I don’t know what the future holds. But I know who holds my future, and that is something that gives me a lot of peace and a lot of comfort when there might be a lot of turbulence around me.”
“It’s a phenomenal example for men to see an athlete that’s competing and at the same time is telling his opponent, ‘Nice play, good job, nice game,’” said Wurtz, referring to the NFL Films feature where Tebow talks to Bears defenders after taking a pounding.
——Tebow is a class act for someone that is playing football. He’s making me want to watch sports again! Good luck to Tebow, win or lose, you will still be a winner to me and Christ at your craft.
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