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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.” soundoff (1,423 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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It isn't Tebow's religion alone that made him obnoxious to many Coloradoans, it's the fact that conservative christianity is all entangled with conservative (Republican) politics. If Tebow had been a liberal Christian Democrat, no one would have asked who he supported for president. Football is supposed to unite the community. Mixing politics and religion with football can only divide. Tebow alienated many good, solid, knowledgeable, supportive Bronco fans, even as he attracted the shallow and easily distracted evangelical Christians Republicans.
Rooting Tebow from afar? Maybe Christians use a 900 number for that, or just their hands.
"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.
"
Isn't the whole idea that God doesn't interfere in our lives like that? What about the teams he plays against? Do they lose because they didn't pray as hard as Tebow? Why did Tebow lose the playoffs if "God is on his side"? How hard is it for people to just commend Tebow for being a good person and strong in his faith? Why do they feel they have to make the ignorant assumption that "God must be on his side" helping him win games. It's just silly.
Yes, thinking that God takes sides in football games is pretty silly. (I doubt Tebow is saying this.) There are far more imprtant things in life – like how to get out of life ALIVE.
Problem is, Don, there's no evidence that you can get out alive, and reason points to the contrary position. Make the best use of the one life that you've got, and stop kneeling to a fictional creature who can't possibly need your supplications anyway.
Ask the questions. Break the chains. Join the movement. Be free of religion in 2012.
http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/
Good point. The players that lost to Tebow won't get a better contract and may get cut so their familes suffer. Little children who never did anything wrong and now they have to live in a pup tent at a city park. Sad. he works his wonders in mysterious ways.
Atheism is not healthy for children and other living things
"Prayer changes things"
~`You've been proven a liar over and over again on this blog. A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested Friday morning...
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.
Plus don't forget. 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!!~`
his screen name is prayer changes things.. but he doesn't way which way. lol
I go along with movie line bill murry had when asked if he believed in god.. yes, but only for the bad things.
well i was a jets fan.................I'm in no mood for this a*s*s
Prayer changes things .
– ~You've been proven a liar over and over again on this blog. A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested Friday morning...
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.
Plus don't forget. 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!!
well doesn't god already have a plan? how high and mighty we are to ask him to change it to better suit our needs
I wish I could understand what the writer is talking about, however american so called football is nonsense. I'm only interested in soccer which is the real foot ball. Again, america used to be a christian country, now from mormon to atheism soon it will be your destruction just like sodom
All atheists consistently miss the purpose of prayer. Prayer is not a gimme,gimme from God. Prayer is talking with God. Prayer is a way of abundant life.
Expecting someone who does not pray to understand prayer is slightly nutty.
"Prayer is not a gimme,gimme from God. Prayer is talking with God. Prayer is a way of abundant life."
~`You've been proven a liar over and over again on this blog. A great example of prayer proven not to work is the Christians in jail because prayer didn't work. For example: Susan Grady, who relied on prayer to heal her son. Nine-year-old Aaron Grady died and Susan Grady was arrested Friday morning...
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.
Plus don't forget. 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!!~`
"Prayer is talking with God"
Ok, so what does he sound like?
Is he all Morgan Feemany, or is it more like Richard Simmons?
Seriously, christians often mention "talking to god".
Does he talk back?
If so, what does he sound like?
Ih he does not talk back, then aren't you just talking to yourself?
Soccer is like watching paint dry or grass grow.
Jason: As opposed to American Football, which is 15 minutes of action (at best) jammed into a 3 1/2 hour broadcast?
To: Christians
Matthew Chapter 6, Verses 5-6...
Please keep your faith in mind when you "root" for this hypocrit. Read your bible...
Sincerely,
No you don't
@just sayin
My what a compelling counter-argument.
/sarcasm
tebow breaks a commandment every single game he plays on sunday
Sunday is not the Sabbath.
Tebow is sinning everytime he touches a pigskin football.
Only to Muslims and they don't count.
jason: footballs are made out of cowhide
Wish you the well Tebow, Love ya!
Tebow is a Christian. Tom Brady is God.
lol ! There's a real football fan.
Any team that would prefer Tebow over Manning is suicidal or just plain stupid
There are groups of people in America who don’t want the public to see Christians tying the success that they achieve in their professional lives to their personal spiritual beliefs because it gets in the way of their anti-Christian agenda. How does a former Heisman trophy winner, 2-time BCS National Championship winner, 2-time SEC Championship winner, AP Player of the Year…etc…etc…who just took the flailing Denver Broncos to the NFL playoffs suddenly only rate a 2nd or 3rd string position on the bench? Tim Tebow has been the victim of gratuitous criticism and sinister underhandedness.
No worries, tall13 and crew know it all...
Right,
75% of the population of the country claims Christianity as their religion.
Another 13% claim an Abrahamic faith
There's god on our money
Christian bookstores in almost every town over 10,000 in population
Bibles in every motel room
Moments of silence (prayer) before public events
A christian church every 6 blocks in cities over 500,00 in population
Christian evangelists on TV and radio 24/7
Christian TV networks
Whether or not a Presidential candidate is christian plays a huge part in the elections
Please.............. enough of the woe is me persecuted christian whine line. It's weak and dishonest.
"75% of the population of the country claims Christianity as their religion.
Another 13% claim an Abrahamic faith
There's god on our money
Christian bookstores in almost every town over 10,000 in population
Bibles in every motel room
Moments of silence (prayer) before public events
A christian church every 6 blocks in cities over 500,00 in population
Christian evangelists on TV and radio 24/7
Christian TV networks
Whether or not a Presidential candidate is christian plays a huge part in the elections"
Are just few of many signs/things showing/proving what AMERICA really IS.
SO Please..............atheists, enough of the woe of shoving under my throat whine line.
@ Sybaris,
I'm sorry…I forgot that only certain groups are allowed to be "victim merchants" and that they are the only ones that can monopolize that share of the market. Consequently, it's always "open season" on Christians. But, that does not excuse people like you who work 24/7 trying to disparage, diminish, replace and/or remove the things that you enumerated in the name of "equality" with your own distorted world view(s). Spare me your self-righteous tone and blatant hate pathetically disguised as measured reasonableness. I don't buy the cheap hustle – sell it to the other ignorant and arrogant malcontents on the left.
i love when athletes and public figures tie god to their success....it means when they inevitably fail, god turned his back on them
@AMERICA is a CHRISTIAN country, The world used to believe the stars were gods and the earth was flat and sitting on the back of a giant turtle. Just because the majority of people believe in a fantasy doesn't mean that the minority shouldn't try everything in their power to weed out the delusion.
"Tim Tebow has been the victim of gratuitous criticism and sinister underhandedness"
Or maybe he just sucks so badly that no NFL GM thought he was worth anything more than a 4th round pick.
When the old man they traded him for ends up warming the bench, the rest of Denver will miss him too.
It'll be okay. There are plenty of mediocre quarterbacks available to Denver who can play just as well or better than Tebow, should future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning be unable to play.
Don't worry. They'll be other gloriously self-righteous servants of the gridiron god to show us all what faith is all about.
Oh please! Denver can have him back!!!!!!!!
I am a huge Broncos Fan, a huge Tebow Fan and NOT a christian. This trade has depressed me deeply. I think the organization is thinking very small minded by getting Manning and trading Tebow. He may win us some games for the next few seasons but then we will be back at square one. No QB.... I can not express my utter disaappointment in the Broncos administration and especially John Elway for making this very narrow minded decision. Good Luck Timmy I'll always be a fan!
Tim is an entertaining player. It's a shame he does what the bible calls public hypocrite praying. He was brainwashed, as most fundamentalists, as a credulous child.
Tim Tebow can barely throw the ball. Mannings is a top 5 QB in the history of the game. Wow.
John Elway never put much of a veil over the fact that he was jealous of Tim Tebow and really just hated him as a human being. Now he doesn't have to deal with someone he dislikes, though I wonder how long his ego can handle people cheering for Peyton instead of his self.
I always disliked Elway anyway, but that might have something to do with bleeding blue and green, having been born a Seahawks fan.
There are more than two quarterbacks in the NFL. Besides Manning, the Broncos have Adam Weber. There are also quarterbacks available through trade, free-agency and the draft.
Tebow really isn't that great a quarterback. What he had last year was a season where his team put together solid performances against some of the lesser teams in the league. Tebow got the press and the credit because his on-field religious gestures attracted the spotlight, while his team mates (who did the bulk of the heavy lifting) were pretty much ignored.
Denver will be fine without Tebow. Denver will likely be better without Tebow.
Well said. Tebow will turn out to be a really good QB with time and grooming. Elway was the perfect candidate to do that but instead he's got a QB whose team didn't even want to take a chance on him. Even if by some chance Denver does win a Super Bowl and Manning and Elway get the rings they so covet, Tebow will have his integrity intact.
@Agree!
I guess that Elway's limited experience in football doesn't allow him to see what your more experienced eyes do. He probably thinks that a passing game is important or something, but heck! What does Elway know about pro football, anyway? Who needs a multidimensional quarterback when you have one like Tebow, whose limited ground game has already been solved by the better defenses in the league?
tebow was last in the league in passing yards per game and completion percentage. He sucks. He can't hit the broad side of a barn.
The Redskins just gave up three number one picks for RGIII. There was not one single team in the league that though Tebow was even worth a third round pick. All of you people sucking Tebow's d i c k must be smarter than every general manager in the NFL because they all think Tebow is not worth much.
im sorry, "th1nk3r", geeez, i need to go back to school...i know, you know it all...
WHY IS EVERYONE MAKING A BIG THING ABOUT THIS ASS HOLE?
Jealous?
how about buying a life since your thoughts are free, mr thinker...
Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed...
Talking about yourself and your self-righteousness, oneday?
oneday:
I bet that actually made sense in your head.