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 Tim Tebow will now be "Tebowing" for the New York Jets.
March 21st, 2012
02:28 PM ET
Denver Christians mourn Tebow’s departure, say they’ll root from afarBy Dan Merica, CNN (CNN) – When star quarterback Peyton Manning signed with the Denver Broncos this week, Denver pastor Jim Mackey signed at the thought that Tim Tebow probably wouldn’t be wearing Broncos blue and orange next season. The Broncos don’t need two star quarterbacks and the New York Jets announced Wednesday that Tebow is now theirs. “It was a topic of conversation last night,” Mackey said in a phone interview Wednesday, describing Tuesday night services at his Next Level Church. “It is an emotional thing and a bit more emotional for people who have connected with Tebow’s expression of faith,” Mackey said. “Rather than just a QB controversy, which is not unique in the NFL, this does seem to have hit more of a personal nerve for those in the Christian community.” Mackey’s church meets Tuesday nights, not Sunday mornings, because Mackey believes Sunday is a day for people to do Colorado things – skiing, hiking and Broncos games. Tebow, who helped turn the bottom-dwelling Broncos into a playoff team last year, transcended sports with his overt professions of faith and his late game heroics, which led some to believe that God was on the young quarterback’s side. CNN's Belief Blog – all the faith angles to the day's top stories Throughout the season, Tebow’s jersey was flying off the racks and “Tebowing” – the act of getting down on one knee and praying while everyone around you does something else – became to be an internet meme and widely recognized symbol. Tebow quickly became the public face of FRS Company and Jockey; for months, it was hard to click on ESPN without hearing his name. “Tim Tebow seems to have won the hearts of not only football fans in Denver but the people here at large,” said Rob Brendle, pastor at the evangelical Denver United Church. “One of the most exciting aspects of last season was that casual sports fans and those who aren’t even interested in football, like my wife, became captivated by the influence of Tim Tebow.” “Around the water cooler and in church, there is sadness at the likelihood of his departure,” Brendle said, a few hours before the Jets announcement. Though Tebow cashed in with endorsements, he also lent his face and celebrity to causes he believed in, many in the Denver area. Like many players, Tebow invited individual fans to his games. In his last game with the Broncos, a playoff face-off with quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, Tebow hugged Kelly Faughnan, a 22-yard old female who had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and whom the Tebow Foundation had invited to the game. Brendle said that Tebow showed that you can be both good at sports and good at giving back. “It is hard not to cheer for the Christian kid,” Brendle said. Jim Daly, president of the Colorado Springs-based evangelical group Focus on the Family, teamed up with Tebow for antiabortion Super Bowl ad last year. The spot illustrated how comfortable Tebow is trumpeting his Christian beliefs, even on a polarizing issue. “I think there is going to be this period of mourning for Tim Tebow’s departure,” Daly said. “I think that that affection that people have for Tebow goes well beyond Denver and his ability to play football.” Daly says Focus still hopes to work with Tebow in the future. “Regardless of where he is, he is a national celebrity and it would be great to work with him again – even if he is in New York,” Daly said. Matthew Ware, Executive and Worship Pastor at Victory Church in Denver, said Tebow fans were hoping for the quarterback to stay local even after the Manning announcement. “I think most people were hoping for a "both/and" instead of an "either/or" situation,” Ware said. “We love the idea that perhaps Manning could ‘disciple’ Tebow into greatness in the next few years.” Many believers in Denver will now have to balance being a Broncos fan with rooting for a New York-based Tebow. “Tebowmania has a magnetism and loyalty that's undeniable,” Ware said. “While most people will ultimately support their home team, once in a while a player comes along that wins your heart. Tebow is that kind of player. He'll have Denver fans no matter where he plays.”
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I used to know an atheist who fell and hit his head on the pavement in my neighborhood during a snow storm a few years ago! The first thing out his mouth was O' my God! I also knew one who was told he was dying of cancer and the first thing he said was Jesus please help me! You atheist out there really think you're atheists? Better think again!
Who is most likely to think they will live happily ever after they die in a magic place where only good things happen:
(a) A seven year-old girl who has just read Cinderella;
(b) a ten year-old boy who has just read Harry Potter;
(c) a Christian who has just read that collection of Bronze Age mythology we call the “Bible”; or
(d) all of the above?
Generalizing from those two examples to encompass all the atheists in the world would be just like someone generalizing that all the Christians in the world are jerks just because you posted a silly comment.
You're judging all atheists by one guy's behaviour....GET REAL!
Condemnationalisms do not become a Christian parloring to Religious euphanisms,,,,,,,,,,,, 🙁
I know i'm an atheist even if you can't wrap that around your diminished intellect
"O' my God! I also knew one who was told he was dying of cancer and the first thing he said was Jesus please help me! "
Prayer is useless. The statistical studies from the nineteenth century and the three CCU studies on prayer are quite consistent with the fact that humanity is wasting a huge amount of time on a procedure that simply doesn’t work. Nonetheless, faith in prayer is so pervasive and deeply rooted, you can be sure believers will continue to devise future studies in a desperate effort to confirm their beliefs
Plus there was an article in the Journal of Pediatrics examined the deaths of 172 children from families who relied upon faith healing from 1975 to 1995. They concluded that four out of five ill children, who died under the care of faith healers or being left to prayer only, would most likely have survived if they had received medical care.
geee, united, someone you knew had this reaction, so all of us must believe the same thing. great logic.....
Its just a figure of speech..it doesnt mean you actually believe it. I say o god all the time but am also an athiest. Its just a phrase...dont read too much into it
Colin- the answer is certainly not e) people who feel guilty enough about all the crap anger and wrong in their life to feel they aren't possible good enough to get in to such a place so it much more comforting to group rationalize their future and own predicament out of existence.
MikeMazzla – If you are an ATHEIST, at least learn how to spell it. Also, I agree there is no god.
O' my God is an expression of surprise and is not a literal prayer to god. any 4 year old could tell you that. the Cancer thing i think you made up.
Tebow couldn't read defenses and has a weak, inaccurate arm throwing to the outside. His percentage was close to the lowest in the league.
This was a football decision, and had nothing to do with him doing his 'Hari Hari Hari Krishna' chant or whatever the Christians are always saying at the airport trying to sell those books.
And trust me, I have nothing againest religious folks, but I'm not so sure I want to see NFL players shouting 'Allah Akbar God is Great' after every 5 yard gain. And that's kinda what was happening ...
Everytime a team gets a first down,
there should be a revival and prayer meeting.
Hallalujah, praise da lord.
what a devout christian church ... saving the sabbath for football ... omg are you serious?
Loh here it is and see there it was and will ever be, aspirations of socialized rants as to what a pillar of sportage once was and will maybe become are but tribal sinuations of leavened chemistries in dogmatisms that shovels spit-filled acts of why do I care philanthropicals.
okay, i just put down the bong and that is too much to take......
Take your meds!!!!!
Oh for crying out loud get a life. THe bible is pure fiction anyhow.
Yeah the Bible is pure fiction followed by the weak minded.
That's why many refer to that novel put together at the behest of Emperor Constantine as "the Babble":
Religion belongs in Football like Salmon belongs in ice cream. Tebow sucked last season. God had nothing to do with it.
You are correct!!
I have some delicious salmon cream cheese on a bagel.
i rather like salmon ice cream...
This question is to all atheists;
If you were on a deserted island, never had contact with the outside world, do you think you'd believe in God, or some higher power, or would you think that your life is all there is, and hence be an atheist?
I would use science and engineering to build a GD boat
It would depend on how I was brought up. 99.9% of people are indoctrinated with one god or another as children, taught it is wrong to question this supernatural belief and never do so. Very few people have both the brains and guts required to break free from the silly nonsense of religion.
Why would a change in my geographic position suddenly provide me with evidence that a deity exists?
It seems you didn't think your question thru before you posted it. If I never had contact with the outside world, that means I would never know the concept of "god." Does that answer your question?
OK, I understand now having read the other responses. All children are born atheists simply because you have to put the idea of an omnipotent, omniscient deity into their heads. Having had three kids and being around a lot of others, it's very profound when you see a small child tell another that there is a god and the other (mine) would say prove it. The only thing the other kid can do is the same that his/her parents do – that's what my mom says, or the bible tells me so, etc. Kids are born with blank slates and it takes a real sadistic culture to tell them that they're full of sin because of original sin and they may burn in hell for eternity, etc.
I sure as hell wouldn't sit around waiting for some imaginary guy in the clouds to come help me. I would use the brain in my head and the knowledge therein to help myself. A lot of people die on their knees waiting for so called miracles. I am a doer not a wisher.
I'd probably believe, but that doesn't make it right. It just means I'd try to make sense of the things that happen around me. If a storm appeared I'd probably as.sume some kind of being was angry because I wouldn't understand pressure systems. My point is, the only reason I would believe is because I'd be ignorant of how things really worked and would make up my own explanation.
NeonKnight – Our faith does not teach that kids, or adults even, will need to burn in hell because of original sin. Despite of original sin, God so loved the world that he gave us his son Jesus Christ (God himself taking on human form). He came into the world to offer himself as a sacrifice precisely so they wouldn't be damned to hell but have eternal life. In other words, his death and ressurection provides a plan of salvation by restoring what was originally intended when the world was first created.
if you were on a deserted island, you would like not have anyone pushing the idea of "god" upon you. i would think that you would feel that this is life as it is.
spa knight: it seems to me that "sin" being the default setting contradicts the idea of a loving god. instead, it points to a petty, petulant being.
Im not sure what the point of that scenario is anyway. Is that supposed to make me believe in God ?
Sam Stone – "it seems to me that "sin" being the default setting contradicts the idea of a loving god. instead, it points to a petty, petulant being"
I'm not sure I understand why you believe sin to be the default and why that contradicts having a loving God. Do you have children? If so, consider this. You love your child very much but because of their nature they sometimes disobey you. If you love them, why would they think to disobey their parent. As a parent you may love your children but you must allow them the freedom to love you back or not. If they do not, do you stop loving them or do you continue to love them even to the point where you would sacrifice your own life for them. Sin is not a result of God but of man's disobedience. However, the good news is that God the Father loved human kind so much that he took on the form of a man in order to sacrifice his own life to repair the disobedience of his children (his creations). Once you experience that forgiveness, you are more likely to love back. Consider it.
What does being stranded on an island have to do with deities anyway? and if any god...why the christian one? If i were to pray to any god(s) it would be one like....Poseidon. In short, no arbitrary situation would solidify in me a belief in god(s), and if it did happen...sure wouldn't be the christian one.
“ If so, consider this. You love your child very much but because of their nature they sometimes disobey you. If you love them, why would they think to disobey their parent. As a parent you may love your children but you must allow them the freedom to love you back or not. If they do not, do you stop loving them or do you continue to love them even to the point where you would sacrifice your own life for them. Sin is not a result of God but of man's disobedience. However, the good news is that God the Father loved human kind so much that he took on the form of a man in order to sacrifice his own life to repair the disobedience of his children (his creations). Once you experience that forgiveness, you are more likely to love back. Consider it.”
The problem with your analogy is that parental love is supposed to be unconditional that means if you break the rules you’re still loved. Your god doesn’t do that if you break the rules you go to hell for eternity that is NOT unconditional love. The other problem with your analogy is what parent in their right mind would create an evil person to try to trip the child up so the parent has to discipline them, then when the child falls for the evil person condemns to hell. No, your god isn’t a loving god, your god is a monster and a dictator, not a loving “parent.”
well considering i was never raised a christian or with any knowledge about a god.gods i would say yes. i would still be atheist.
As a Christian, I must thank all you atheists on here. I thank you because your hatred, vitriol, and clear hypocrisy only further proves that Christianity is real. Funny how you guys fulfil Bible prophecy as you go around screaming that it's not real.....quite ironic actually.
And which Bible prophecy would that be?
amen. One who rallies against hate with hate proves we don't have the cure. The cure for our mistakes we are searching for is Jesus
I'm a non-believe and don't really care what people believe. Just because someone doesn't share your beliefs doesn't make them a hater. Just the same way I don't think if all Christians like those that take it to the extreme, or Muslums who do as well. Generally, I do see people use religion to express their hatred in others more than those without religous beliefs.
http://www.2christ.org/prophecy/
Sorry Yup, but you are living in denial of reality. Grow up. Religion is a lie. But, you seem to caught up in your stupidity to see through the fog of lies you beleive.
Rule number one when you spin a lie,
1) Predict the detractors. If you tell people you are lying to that "people will say this is a lie", the gullible will say "see it was right."
I would rather be an outspoken atheist than a hypocritical christian.....ever hear the phrase "judge not lest ye be judged?" Guess you missed that page in your bible.
LMAO. oh yeah we're proving your silly book's "prophecy"? How? with imaginary "persecution" no doubt. i'm so glad to be an atheist and done with the likes of christian nuts like you
I dont hate anybody, i just think that Christians should,
S T F U.
Thats all.
They never take the hint.
I hate you.
Yup, I don't hate Christians. I am amused by some of them, though. Some I know are very fine people. I just do not share their belief systems. So, shove your persecution complex up your a$$
Anything we can do to help Yup just ask
Rett- Rule number #2: When debunking supernatural truth with human understanding...oh, never mind nuff said!
wrong. thast only proof that the raping pillaging goat herders that wrote the bible were smart enough to know people wouldnt buy their BS and said that there will be naysayers as if it wasnt obvious. how stupid to you have to be to fall for that?
Quiz: Which set of fans appear more clueless – Denver fans for preferring Tebow over Manning, or GS Warriors fans for preferring to be in the lottery each year rather than winning?" (in reference to them crying over ... get this ... Monta Ellis?).
Call me old fashioned, but I prefer my sports teams to win ... it's nice to have loveable losers ... but loveable winners are preferable.
"Tebow, who helped turn the bottom-dwelling Broncos into a playoff team last year, transcended sports with his overt professions of faith and his late game heroics, which led some to believe that God was on the young quarterback’s side."
Even among people simple enough to still believe in sky-fairies, based on Iron Age Palestinian mythology, this is pretty stupid.
Most people believe in a god or even gods. I suspect no one believes in sky faeries. How simple do you have to be to believe in nothing?
The opposite is true, it takes education and common sense to rise above religion.
Who is most likely to think the world began 6,000 years ago with one man, one woman and a talking snake:
(a) illiterate tribesmen from Yemen who have never had the benefit of even a fifth grade education
(b) Homeless people who have never read a science book
(c) About 65% of Christians; or
(d) All of the above?
Ahh Colin, again I propose E) someone who has read and learned just enough of human logic to think he has got it figured out (and I might add believes surely someone is trying to oppress and sham him in order to...?)
Why not cheer him on from afar. Jesus is billions of miles away and that doesn't stop them from being His fan.
So you know where Jesus is? That is great, many people have been searching for him their entire lives. So where exacly is this guy so I can send a letter?
Wow he didn't think they needed 2 star QB's is he seriously attempting to put Tebow in the same category as Manning, he must believe in miracles
🏈 TeBLOWS!!
away both his opponent and doubters! Someone get me the Vegas odds of him ringing his finger before Peyton!
Peyton already has a ring. Tebow will likely never have one. Tebow would need a miracle, and I don't see that happening.
Brek, with 12 TDs 12 turnovers 1700 yards and a 47% completion %, he is garbage.
Ah the End Times are approaching. Nobody knows when but the birth pangs are definitely getting stronger and closer together. The atheists will be shocked when they see the anti-Christ, and there's obviously something more to this planet. Unfortunately since none of them are believers in Christ, they will all turn to the anti-Christ as their saviour and he will devour them. I'll pray for each and every one of you.
Don't worry, I have my End Times party mix all queued up. Snacks at my house, guys! What should be on the menu when the world ends?
sorry boyo. No place for a return on Earth's schedule. No 3rd Temple, Armageddon is all hacked up due to Archaeology. And Tebows praying panties are at the pawn shop.
You should write movie scripts, you almost had me going!
I'm thinking that Italian food would go best with the end-of-times, a full range of various dishes, kind of an end-of-times smorgasbord.
And no good end-of-times would be complete without a nice creme brulee and a vintage Napoleon Brandy.
Why would anyone fear the end of the world?
Stop to think about how many MILLIONS of teenage virgin chicks are up there in Heaven. And NO LAWS!
Man, I will break Wilt the Stilt's record within weeks.
And you think we're AFRAID of that? Looking forward with anxious anticipation!
If atheists don't believe in Christ, then why would they believe in another deity?
Due to an early mistranslation of the Bible, there actually is no Anti-Christ. The correct translation is actually Aunty Christ, a kindly woman who has a bingo addiction and who actually has rum in her tea cup. She doesn't battle to end the world; she struggles to get off her sotted derriere and clean the kitchen.
Yes, it's Aunty Christ, not Anti-Christ. Bad translation, just like the "carpenter" thing. A carpenter in the barren desert is about as useful as a flame thrower on a firetruck.
Nutjobs like this have been saying these words almost verbatim since the dawn of time. Since this is actually the most peaceful and least brutal time in human history, with unprecedented prosperity, justice, and freedom compared to any previous time, I'm interested to know exactly which "birth pangs of the end times" this clown is talking about? Things have never been so good, and that's a historical fact.
The last days are approaching?!? Wow, no one has ever predicted that before.
LMAO. the "end times" have been approaching for as long as i can remember. One day even brainwashed xians may figure out it's a cruel fairy tale
*** since none of them are believers in Christ, they will all turn to the anti-Christ.
Now, here be some real good Christian logic at work.....
What the Fu....................
"The end times" read your history, people have been predicting teh end of the world 5 minutes after the first monkey formed a thought.
put.....sorry, but empty proxy threats do nothing to convince those who do not believe
sam: i am thinking some wine and a bunch of high quality halluncinogens
I went to an antique shop yesterday and found a book from the 1950's saying that the "end times" were right around the corner...siting increased tornadoes, communism and increased crime rates as the tell tale signs...
The religion that cried "end times" is a lot like the boy who cried "wolf". Nobody gives a crap anymore.
Hey, but as a Florida grad, I at least hope Tebow makes something of his career. If not, he's got other options.
Tebow lost, his praying had no effect, and Christian god obviously doesn't exist. Get over yourselves already and get with the last century at least.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Be free of religion in 2012. Join the movement.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
bob: doesn't you post imply that you what he was praying for?
Sam: what? Would you like to try that sentence again?
Yes, I'm sure he was praying for world peace and a cure to cancer on those football fields and locker rooms.
Ooooops! Those didn't happen either.
World peace is about to happen.
ha if you base your belief, or lack there of, by the results of a football game and a public figure then you're one sad individual. You already know what you want your belief to be (i.e. no God) and therefore seek anything to confirm that belief. Try starting from scratch with an open mind.
@ truth,
That usually leads to atheism. That's how I became one.
@best – interesting because that's actually how I became a Christian. Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Iamthebest: Sorry, did not proof read it. It was meant to read that it would imply that bob knew what tebow was praying for. the comment bob made was that tebow's loss meant that his praying had no effect, which implies that he knew what tebow was praying for.
He is going to Jets now. Tebow is not a good QB, but is probably better than the one the Jets had.
Nah, not really; the Jets just have TWO quarterbacks that can't throw.
I can't see Tebow's act playing particularly well in NYC.
Yeah Tebow may not get along well with Plaxico Burress who likes to carry guns around.
I can't imagine why the jets WANT Tebow. They had a dysfunctional locker room before. Now they will have millions of screaming bible thumpers DEMANDING Tebow (even if the other guy is better).
If Peyton Manning never plays a down, He saved the Broncos from a decade of Tebow mediocrity!
Hey, look at me! I'm Christian! Give me money and endorsements and attention! I'm pretty mediocre as a football player, so I have to showboat my Christianity to get fame and money!
You're so far from actual truth that it's sad and comical at the same time.
Wow, just wow...
He probably has more money than most of the bashers on here! And he's a great person and probably could care less what you are all saying because he has class!! oh and morals!
Actually he was pretty rude/ disrespectful in person, very pushy...just saying
Obviously theyll be a better football team, but theyre sad at the loss of someone they felt close to. For many, having a positive role model like that outweighs how good/bad the team is. Some would say that he is one of the very few who has priorities right and understands what's really important in life (i.e. visiting a sick child as opposed to fretting over a lost game).
Well said.
Truth....pick upi your bible and go to Matthew 6....NOW READ IT AND GET BACK TO US.
Good. Riddance.
Sorry, but if you're a fan of football and don't care to drag the dogma into it, you'll be saying the same thing. In two years' time nobody will even remember Tebowmania.
I agree. Real football fans are excited.
Who cares, he's a mediocre qb who brought his faith onto the field where it didn't belong. Sure, I'd be sad if my team lost their qb but I'd be more excited about the new better one that showed up.
You just don't get it, probably never will. Perhaps you should read the article as to why they care.
I know why they care, I did read the article. But he was more of just a novelty than a football star. I'm not a broncos fan but anyone who is should be happier about getting manning than sad about tebow leaving. Like I said, he was just a mediocre qb, he just had a good team to back him up.
@Best. You may have read the article but judging from your comments, you didn't understand why the people of Denver will miss Tim Tebow. He isn't a novelty but a sincere and caring young adult that wants to do more with his life than play football. When Christians pray, it isn’t always to “get what they want” but many times is for the strength to do their best and be thankful for their opportunities. When his football career is over, he will still be trying to make a difference in people’s lives without endorsements or commercials. Why do you have to insult his religion. No one is insulting you being an atheist. That’s your business and if you believe so strongly in atheism that you want to profess it in public, you should be able to do that without being shunned and ridiculed. It never ceases to amaze me how cynical and mean spirited people can be towards others.
The problem is I am shunned and ridiculed. I live in nc, I've lost good friends and been ridiculed by many Christians for my belief. Once I can go public without any fear of retaliation, then I'll stop pointing out how stupid I think Christians are and telling them to keep it at home.