Have a Tebow Thanksgiving!

Well, well, well, what do know about that? It seems ALL the football experts have egg on their faces after last Thursday's night pro football game between the Denver Broncos and the New York Jets. If you have not been following the career of Denver quarterback Tim Tebow or the recent ascent of the Denver Broncos in the NFL standings, it may be understandable if you know nothing about football, like my lovely wife. For the rest of us alpha males, sports junkies, and  football crazies - what is going on in Denver is nothing short of incredible!

Last year, Tim Tebow was drafted in the first round by the Denver Broncos after an amazing football career at the University of Florida. He won numerous awards and recognition from every nook and cranny around the sports world. He was heralded as a winner and as an example as to what college sports should be about. Overlooked or ridiculed by much of the media was his strong commitment to Jesus Christ and his religious beliefs. The son of missionaries to the Philippines, Tim was home schooled as a youth and received an outstanding education from his parents.

When Tim was drafted by the Denver Broncos, he was ridiculed by football "experts" as lacking in quarterbacking ability and technique. He had come out of a gimmicky college "spread" offense at Florida and was supposedly ill-prepared to manage a "professional" style offense in the NFL. Criticism included improper throwing motion, lack of accuracy, and an inability to make quick and proper check downs required in the pro passing game. Tim spent his first year as an understudy to the starting quarterback and hardly played during the course of the 2010-2011 season. When the pre-season started this year, Tim was third on the Denver Bronco depth chart. Many pundits were calling for Tebow to be traded or released because he just did not posses the "it" required by professional quarterbacks.

But something unimaginable happened to the Broncos on the way to the AFC Western Division basement and on the way to being designated a perennial whipping boy for opposing teams this year. Enter Tim Tebow! The Denver Broncos started the season off with one win and four losses. The season was quickly spiraling down the toilet when the head coach of the Broncos made a very controversial decision. He had decided that he was going to give Tim Tebow the starting job at quarterback and see if ANYTHING could awaken the lethargy of his floundering football team. Criticism poured in from all "experts" over the coaches decision, but he was not deterred! In his first professional start, Tebow rallied the Broncos in the final quarter to the surprise of almost everyone. In his second start, he was man handled by the Detroit Lions and it looked like the Tebow experiment was turning out badly! In his third start, the Broncos rallied once again in the final quarter for a win, but the criticism only increased. "Lucky," "unsustainable," "fortunate" and many other derisive descriptive terms were thrown Tebow's way. Tim handled all the criticism with class and good humor and made no excuses for his on the field performance. Also during this time, a hilarious craze began to sweep the country which was called "Tebowing." "Tebowing" is name for a position which Tim assumes after he scores a touchdown. Tim would get down on one knee, bow his head and give thanks to Jesus Christ. The fad went viral on the internet and soon everyone was "Tebowing" and submitting pictures to the "Tebowing" website! Needless to say, Tebow was criticized for this craze when he had absolutely NOTHING to do with it other than being the poster boy for it because he knelt to give thanks after a Denver Bronco touchdown! 

 

 

What is Tebowing?  (vb) to get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different!

 

Over the course of the last five games that Tim has started as quarterback, the Broncos have gone 4 and 1 and are making a run for first place and a playoff position! A season that seemed doomed to despair is now pregnant with possibility! The national sports media cannot believe what is happening with Tebow's performances, but his teammates have rallied around him and have feed off his enthusiasm and faith! The entire city of Denver has been revitalized by their football team in the face of such incredible odds and the entire country has now been captivated by his fourth quarter exploits. The leadership exhibited by Tim is remarkable for a man as young as he is and even the head coach must have rubbed his eyes a couple of times with disbelief and even "Tebowed" at his quarterback's inspiring performances.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving this week, let us be reminded and thankful for all of the things God has blessed us with in our lives. The scripture tells us in Ephesians 5:20:

...always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; (NASB)

Also, Romans 14:11 says:

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" (NIV)

May we emulate the example of Tim Tebow and give thanks and bow before God always for the seemingly small or the big things that God has so graciously given to us. May we stand tall in the face of doubt and unrelenting criticism and continually represent what we profess and believe. May we always be mindful of the precious gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, who gave his life so we could have eternal life and fellowship with the Father. And finally, may everyone have a "Tebow Thanksgiving!"- I know I will!

Stay Holy, My Friends!

Pastor Don

P.S. For more hilarious "Tebowing" pictures, go to:  http://tebowing.com    Enjoy!