Posted on 01/08/2012 10:14:07 PM PST by Sick of Lefties
Nothing makes a secular bigot sputter and vituperate like a Jesus-loving jock. Secularists across the nation are gnashing their teeth this evening over the latest Mile High miracle. Tim Tebow, whose apostolic Christianity has been a thumb in the eye of those who prefer that others keep their religion in the closet, had a big night.
The Denver Broncos defeated the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (along with their bad-boy quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger) 29-23 in a first round playoff game, the first overtime game played under new, stricter rules. It ended on the first play from scrimmage in overtime with an 80 yard touchdown completion from Tebow to Demaryius Thomas.
Tebow finished with 316 yards (204 to Thomas on four receptions) and two touchdowns on 10/21 completions and a QB rating of 125.6. Not bad for a quarterback regularly maligned as artless and lousy.
It was a great game. But that's not the point of the post.
Tebow was a demigod in college at Florida where he won a national championship, and the Heisman Trophy, the first sophomore to win college football's most vaunted prize. In his acceptance speech, he thanked his mother for not aborting him as she was advised to do by MD's.
The following year he withdrew his name from consideration on Playboy's pre-season all American team. It wasn't his type of magazine. He was a virgin, and didn't revel at pictures of naked women.
He later made two pro-life commercials for Focus on the Family, which aired during Super Bowl XLIV. Did Noman mention that he was home schooled as a youngster?
He was drafted by Denver in 2010. The Broncos were 1-4 under Kyle Horton this season (2011) when the reigns were turned over to Tebow. The Broncos proceeded to win seven of eight games, three of them in overtime, most of them in hair-raising, last second comebacks.
Tebowing was the talk of the nation, with one Long Island school even banning the practice among students--the week before Christmas.
Skeptics were quick to declare that God loved Tom as well as Tim when Tom Brady and the New England Patriots thumped the Broncos, ending their miraculous streak. Two more losses including a season finale at home at the hands of Kyle Horton and his new team, the Kansas City Chiefs, put an exclamation point on Tebow's supposed fall from grace.
All that talk seemed to miss the point. The Broncos failed to clinch their division (the AFC West) with a win. But, they clinched it nevertheless with an 8-8 record because their chief competitor for the division crown, the Oakland Raiders, also lost.
If critics wished to infer that God (or the non-existent God) didn't bless Tebow because he didn't win every big game, it was fair for admirers to infer that God did indeed bless him with a division crown in his first year as a starter even though he didn't win every big game, or any game with the title on the line.
God blessed Tebow with the just enough of what he needed in order to show His divine favor. He didn't bless him with invincibility. He merely rewarded Tebow's faithfulness with a division crown. That the Broncos made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth suggests rather than rules out Divine intervention.
Of course, God's favor doesn't always manifest itself in victory and success, as Lot and Jesus himself attest. The practical test of faith is to see God's will in apparent failure, even misery. He doesn't promise to reward faith with perpetual flowers. But, he does promise to reward it. It is the task of the faithful to discover how He does in what He does.
Tim Tebow is an exceptional man of faith who plays a boy's game on a big stage. Athletics magnifies his every accomplishment, and failure. Despite living under a microscope, Tebow unashamedly professes his belief in God, and fearlessly champions the causes he believes it obliges,. He is a courageous man and extraordinary athlete who possesses an indomitable spirit.
Someday when Tebow hangs up his cleats, he'll be in a position to demonstrate his faith on an even bigger stage, the national political one. If he pays as much attention to his mind as he does to his body, and applies it to current affairs, he'll be ready for the challenges and opportunity that his prowess and celebrity give him.
Noman knows that God will not desert him, and suspects that His blessings will be forthcoming. Our challenge will be to see how God sends them regardless of the outcome. Personally, Noman can't wait to vote for him.
Good is Great, Tebow is lucky and nothing is better than watching the Steelers get beat.
And even in the year 2032 Tim Tebow will be ineligible for the presidency.
Horton?
But to me, coincidence is the unseen hand of God moving in people's lives.
Good catch.
Maybe we’ll amend the Constitution by then.
Tim Tebow was born in Makati City, Philippines. Will that be an issue?
In Jan 2033, Tebow will be 44 years of age.
And there you have it! It's six of one, half a dozen of the other.
I will say that I never know who I'm rooting for until I'm watching the game, and this time I did find that I was rooting for Tebow ... er, that is the Broncos.
I goofed. That’s why I usually wait a day or more to re-edit pieces before posting them on FR.
In Overtime, Tebow looked like Moses ... parting the Steel Curtain. Pittsburgh didn’t have a prayer.
The overtime play lasted 11 seconds! It was the shortest overtime win in NFL history!
Kyle Horton hears a Who?
Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow
Ariel and Arioc, and the violence
Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew.
Abdiel would be Tebow, and Ariel and Arioc Brady and Belichek, but what about Ramiel? Well, Milton goes on:
I might relate of thousands, and thir names
Eternize here on Earth; but those elect
Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n
Seek not the praise of men
[ Well now, what about Brady and Belichek? These must qualify as Satan’s palace guard, at least. ]
God vs. Satan.... Now thats a game..
Good point. And don’t forget the nine other guys in Broncos uniforms who were on the field, blocking and giving Tiebow protection to throw the ball. Yes, Tiebow is a good player, maybe even a great one, but Vince Lombardi said it best, “There is no I in team.”
“Well now, what about Brady and Belichek? These must qualify as Satan’s palace guard”....That reminds me of that Ryan Parker song about the Patriots and the Giants Super Bowl Game. But Parker named the Patriots the Legion of Doom...fun parody song (even though it’s dated now.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Wn-MIuAfmE
Demaryius”
I am hoping he uses his popularity to endorse and campaign for Santorum. I can just see the two of them at rallies.
” In his acceptance speech, he thanked his mother for not aborting him as she was advised to do by MD’s.”
This is Tebow’s Alger Hiss moment. The thing that made the Haters see red. I knew there had to be something behind the Hate of yet another Athelete who signs the Cross or genuflects. Didn’t know much about Tebow, so I’d wondered what SPECIFICALLY was behind it. Their Rage is implacable. They will do all they can to take him down.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.