"TIM TEBOW'S FIELD OF DREAMS - PLAYING BALL, SERVING JESUS" - by Eric Metaxas and Stan Guthrie, Breakpoint.org, July 13, 2018;http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/07/breakpoint-tim-tebows-field-of-dreams/ [AS I SEE IT: Some might accuse Tim Tebow of being "divisive" - either you love him or you can't stand to hear about him. So silly. It's obvious that a lot of it has to do with his openness about his Christian faith. I for one am not ashamed to say I am a BIG Tebow fan, not so much for his love to participate in team sports but for the great example he consistently is of living the Christian life. Yes, like most, I started out admiring his skills on the football field as a Florida Gator (which I became 22 years ago here in Florida) but I quickly became a fan of his off the field example of living ones faith. May every Christian be as consistent in living out their faith as Tim. P.S. - I love it that another Gator Heisman trophy winner (given to the best college football player of the past year in the sport) was Danny Wuerffel, another outspoken Christian. - Stan]
He’s back on the field, and as always, Christian sports star Tim Tebow knows what’s truly important.
Tim Tebow is one of the most beloved—and belittled—men to fasten his chin strap on a football field. About a decade ago, Tebow helped the Florida Gators win two national championships with his vocal leadership and his rugged physical play. He also picked up a Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football—maybe ever. But there were always the naysayers, citing his awkward delivery or his run-first mentality, which “would never work in the pros.”
Many of them, truth be told, despised Tebow’s unabashed Christian witness and pro-life beliefs—he wore eye black with a John 3:16 Bible reference, for instance—and his habit of kneeling to honor his Savior became a verb: “Tebowing.”
Tebow, however, proved his critics wrong, taking the Denver Broncos on a miraculous run—in sports terms—of improbable, last-minute victories and a shocking overtime playoff win. Then Tebow’s football fortunes changed again. A couple of years later, he was out of the league.
But Tebow refused to give up and go away as his critics no doubt had hoped. Instead, he continued using his platform as a major cultural figure to further his gospel witness.
The Tim Tebow Foundation, for instance, sponsors an annual Night to Shine. The most recent one provided 90,000 boys and girls with disabilities, who otherwise might be forgotten, with a prom night experience, centered on God’s love. Some 537 churches with 175,000 volunteers in the U.S. and 16 other countries participated. If you’ve never seen Tebow and Night to Shine in action, please come to BreakPoint.org to watch an extraordinary video. And bring a box of Kleenex.
A former doubter, David Ramsey of the Colorado Springs Gazette, calls Tebow “the rare athlete more about life off the field than on the field. He’s one of America’s highest-profile—and most authentic and admirable — Christians. Tebow isn’t one to talk all the time about his devotion to following Christ. He’s too busy actually following Christ.”
Well, he’s also back on the playing field—but this time the field is a baseball diamond. Tebow has dusted off his bat and glove and has been toiling in the minor leagues, honing his swing and looking to earn his chance at being called up by my beloved New York Mets. No doubt the Mets know Tebow would boost attendance in New York, but Tebow is earning the opportunity, and even more amazing, silencing some of his critics. He’s now playing for the Class Double-A Rumble Ponies in Binghamton, New York. Tebow, wearing his iconic No. 15, earned a spot in the Eastern League All-Star game, where he went one for four with a double.
Those who think Tebow has returned to pro sports for glamour and glory do not understand Tim Tebow. Washington Post sports writer Barry Svrluga described Tebow interacting with baseball fans on a long, hot dusty day in Hagerstown, Maryland: “When Tebow arrived, [at the ballpark] he embraced anyone who approached. He called people by name. He took a picture with one kid, spun 180 degrees to take a picture with another, spun back and smiled for the next frame. One girl held a sign adorned with her prom picture and sparkly words that read, ‘Thank you, Tim Tebow. From Princess Sarah. Night to Shine.’
“You’re so welcome,” Tebow said time and time again. In fact, the Mets staff had to drag Tebow away from the crowds so the team could start the seven-hour bus ride to the next game.
“If I’m not remembered for baseball, that’s OK,” Tebow told People magazine. “If I’m not remembered for football, that’s OK, too. Actually, it’s fine if I’m not remembered at all. What I want is to serve God by helping people who are less fortunate. That’s what’s important, not playing a sport.” Amen to that.
And Tim, I hope to see you again in New York!
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES - Let’s be busy with what really matters—as Tim Tebow demonstrates—the work of actually following Christ. For more information on Tim Tebow as well as the foundation he started, click on the links in our Resources section.
"All-Star Tim Tebow continues to play by his own standards" - Dan Wetzel | Yahoo Sports | July 11, 2018; https://sports.yahoo.com/star-tim-tebow-continues-play-standards-130021029.html
"This is what Tim Tebow mania looks like up close" - Michael Kaplan | New York Post | July 10, 2018; https://nypost.com/2018/07/10/upstate-new-york-cant-get-enough-of-tim-tebows-second-coming/
Tim Tebow Foundation - website - https://www.timtebowfoundation.org/
"Tim Tebow is headed to Baseball Heaven ... and the Mets" - David Ramsey | Gazette.com | July 5, 2018;https://gazette.com/sports/david-ramsey-tim-tebow-is-headed-to-baseball-heaven-and/article_0f1f8492-808c-11e8-9a1b-d7bd80c4b939.html
"Official 2018 Night to Shine Worldwide Highlight Video" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRz2rWkMTnM&feature=youtu.be
Tim Tebow is one of the most beloved—and belittled—men to fasten his chin strap on a football field. About a decade ago, Tebow helped the Florida Gators win two national championships with his vocal leadership and his rugged physical play. He also picked up a Heisman Trophy as the best player in college football—maybe ever. But there were always the naysayers, citing his awkward delivery or his run-first mentality, which “would never work in the pros.”
Many of them, truth be told, despised Tebow’s unabashed Christian witness and pro-life beliefs—he wore eye black with a John 3:16 Bible reference, for instance—and his habit of kneeling to honor his Savior became a verb: “Tebowing.”
Tebow, however, proved his critics wrong, taking the Denver Broncos on a miraculous run—in sports terms—of improbable, last-minute victories and a shocking overtime playoff win. Then Tebow’s football fortunes changed again. A couple of years later, he was out of the league.
But Tebow refused to give up and go away as his critics no doubt had hoped. Instead, he continued using his platform as a major cultural figure to further his gospel witness.
The Tim Tebow Foundation, for instance, sponsors an annual Night to Shine. The most recent one provided 90,000 boys and girls with disabilities, who otherwise might be forgotten, with a prom night experience, centered on God’s love. Some 537 churches with 175,000 volunteers in the U.S. and 16 other countries participated. If you’ve never seen Tebow and Night to Shine in action, please come to BreakPoint.org to watch an extraordinary video. And bring a box of Kleenex.
A former doubter, David Ramsey of the Colorado Springs Gazette, calls Tebow “the rare athlete more about life off the field than on the field. He’s one of America’s highest-profile—and most authentic and admirable — Christians. Tebow isn’t one to talk all the time about his devotion to following Christ. He’s too busy actually following Christ.”
Well, he’s also back on the playing field—but this time the field is a baseball diamond. Tebow has dusted off his bat and glove and has been toiling in the minor leagues, honing his swing and looking to earn his chance at being called up by my beloved New York Mets. No doubt the Mets know Tebow would boost attendance in New York, but Tebow is earning the opportunity, and even more amazing, silencing some of his critics. He’s now playing for the Class Double-A Rumble Ponies in Binghamton, New York. Tebow, wearing his iconic No. 15, earned a spot in the Eastern League All-Star game, where he went one for four with a double.
Those who think Tebow has returned to pro sports for glamour and glory do not understand Tim Tebow. Washington Post sports writer Barry Svrluga described Tebow interacting with baseball fans on a long, hot dusty day in Hagerstown, Maryland: “When Tebow arrived, [at the ballpark] he embraced anyone who approached. He called people by name. He took a picture with one kid, spun 180 degrees to take a picture with another, spun back and smiled for the next frame. One girl held a sign adorned with her prom picture and sparkly words that read, ‘Thank you, Tim Tebow. From Princess Sarah. Night to Shine.’
“You’re so welcome,” Tebow said time and time again. In fact, the Mets staff had to drag Tebow away from the crowds so the team could start the seven-hour bus ride to the next game.
“If I’m not remembered for baseball, that’s OK,” Tebow told People magazine. “If I’m not remembered for football, that’s OK, too. Actually, it’s fine if I’m not remembered at all. What I want is to serve God by helping people who are less fortunate. That’s what’s important, not playing a sport.” Amen to that.
And Tim, I hope to see you again in New York!
[italics and colored emphasis mine]
RESOURCES - Let’s be busy with what really matters—as Tim Tebow demonstrates—the work of actually following Christ. For more information on Tim Tebow as well as the foundation he started, click on the links in our Resources section.
"All-Star Tim Tebow continues to play by his own standards" - Dan Wetzel | Yahoo Sports | July 11, 2018; https://sports.yahoo.com/star-tim-tebow-continues-play-standards-130021029.html
"This is what Tim Tebow mania looks like up close" - Michael Kaplan | New York Post | July 10, 2018; https://nypost.com/2018/07/10/upstate-new-york-cant-get-enough-of-tim-tebows-second-coming/
Tim Tebow Foundation - website - https://www.timtebowfoundation.org/
"Tim Tebow is headed to Baseball Heaven ... and the Mets" - David Ramsey | Gazette.com | July 5, 2018;https://gazette.com/sports/david-ramsey-tim-tebow-is-headed-to-baseball-heaven-and/article_0f1f8492-808c-11e8-9a1b-d7bd80c4b939.html
"Official 2018 Night to Shine Worldwide Highlight Video" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRz2rWkMTnM&feature=youtu.be
The story by this article is encouraging - it's good that Tebow hasn't given up after all that's happened to him. In fact, his quote at the end of the article is very inspiring: "Actually, it’s fine if I’m not remembered at all. What I want is to serve God by helping people who are less fortunate. That’s what’s important, not playing a sport." That's how I want to live.
ReplyDelete-herb