Tebowed

December 13, 2011 by · 1 Comment

I grew up a Florida Gator fan because my dad is a UF alum.   Even though I graduated from the University of South Carolina, I still am a huge Florida Gator fan.   But even if I wasn’t, I would still be a huge Tim Tebow fan.  The guy is just good and he has a workmanship, determination, and lifestyle that we should all strive to have.     Its been interesting to see him grow in his faith.   I’ve read his book and it is amazing to see his faith for God.  But it is even more amazing to see how he really is.

Tebow is a great man of God and a pretty good football player.  The man won a Heisman, won 2 BCS titles, and is a starting QB in the NFL.  Say what you want about his throwing motion or that isnt a pocket passer, but he’s still getting things done in Denver.  He has led the Broncos to the most road wins since his boss John Elway.

But most don’t see him like that.  Every “expert” mocks him for his throwing motion and can’t wait for him to have a bad game or fail at a comeback.  They are waiting for him to get frustrated and drop the F word.  They have a problem with him showing his faith like he did in college with putting scripture on his eye black.

When he was a Gator, I couldn’t believe the hate that was on the Gamecock and Georgia message boards.  I know that the people hate a winner when that player is beating their team, but to knock a mans Christianity when you are a Christian yourself.  It was sad to see the witness some people had knocking him for his passion when UF loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game and the number of said Christians that joined in posting “Tebow Wept” in reference to John 11:34 “Jesus Wept”.

Now the trend is Tebowing.  Its really hard to see if it was started out of honor or out of mockery.  But its the new planking.  So what it is tebowing?

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

 

Now they mock him by Tebowing after they sack him, or after the score a ouchdown against Denver.  Our culture is more about lifting up the bad role models who commit crimes, fail drug test, and curse on camera.  Instead of lifting the man up and saying, thats someone we should model our life after.   Even if you disagree with his belief in God, He still is a great role model in his work ethic, morals, and character.  I’m glad to see that Tebow isn’t listening to the experts and is continuing to live the life he has been called to be.  I’m glad that he doesn’t let the Tebowing mockery get to him.

If you haven’t read the his book, Through My Eyes, pick it up today.  It is amazing to hear his entire story and see who he really is on and off the field!

 

Filed Under: church, Friends, Gamecocks, just sayin · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Car Flag Theology

November 30, 2011 by · 1 Comment

When you are driving around your town a few days after a college football team wins and you see a car flag flying from a window…I’m usually one of those fans!  On any given Saturday in the fall you will see me driving around Columbia or in another SEC football town flying my South Carolina Gamecocks car flags!  Thats only to show you that I’m proud to be a fan and an alumni!  But if I didn’t have the flags, you would still know by the stickers on my rear window, my vanity plate, my tag plate border, and my USC South Carolina Tag!  What can I say…I’m proud to be a Gamecock.

As I was driving around town the past two days I’ve noticed there are no orange Clemson car flags around town.  It could be because Clemson fans are ashamed of their teams performance or it could be that some of them are just happy with their Clemson Car Tags and stickers on their cars.  But at the beginning of the year, the car flags for both school were all over, no matter what day of the week it was.

Now I’m not trying to rub it in to my Clemson friends, but thought it to be interesting.   I was thinking that its kinda like our relationship with God.  When things are going good, we are praying, in full worship, and most people can tell we are Christians.  Other people sometimes only pray or attend worship when things are going bad and they are looking for God to help them.  That is kind of like when people put their car flags up or their favorite schools clothing on only on game day.  They are hoping for something good to happen, but it if it doesn’t go their way, then they’ll just put it away until the next week’s game.

It shouldn’t matter if you are winning or losing, but you should always wave those flags with pride.  Just like when things aren’t going great with God, don’t hide from Him, but turn to Him.

Just a thought as I was driving today…

 

 

 

Filed Under: church, Gamecocks, God, just sayin, misc, stuff, UMC, Youth Ministry · Tagged: , , , , , , , , , ,

Nov. 14, 2007 David Crowder Concert

November 23, 2011 by · Leave a Comment

Four years ago on November 14, 2007 I met up with my brother and one of my best friends Scot Herring at Carolina Wings in Columbia, SC.  At the time my brother was finishing his last semester at the University of Georgia.  Part of his last semester he had to do a project and have an “internship”.  Well being the great liked minds, he had the idea to “intern” for his older brother in youth ministry for the semester.  My brother and I talked weekly.  He helped me organize my fall retreat and do some videos for me during the semester.  He was also helping me and Scot start our retreat company Ignition Retreats.  That night was our second official meeting to work on our upcoming ski retreat and middle school retreat.  The next day we were to go to Camp Longridge to check it out and possibly book it for our middle school retreat in the spring.  Well it just happened that one of our favorite bands was in town,the David Crowder Band.

I bought two tickets for the concert, because originally Scot was not going to be able to make it.  So we debated about going to the concert, because we had heard it was sold out.  We had 4th row tickets and didn’t think we could get all of us in the same row.  As we walked up to the Township Auditorium, a guy came up to us and asked us if we needed an extra ticket.  And surprisingly he just gave it to us.  And it just happen to be two rows behind us.

It was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to in my life.  DCB played more than they had the past couple of times that we had seen them live in concert.  It was an awesome time of worship.  I remember looking over at my brother during O Praise Him and Never Let Go and saw my brother worshiping like I never have in our lives together.  It was really cool to see my little brother grown up in his faith.

After the concert we went to our hotel and stayed up like always chatting and watching TV.   The next day, we went and toured Camp Longridge and decided that was the place for our retreat.   A week later, our family had Thanksgiving at my parents house.  A week after that my brother passed away.   This past weekend I got to worship two more times with the David Crowder Band at NYWC in Atlanta.  DCB is on their final tour as they are stepping back from their public touring.  Over the past three years I have had the opportunity to talk with David Crowder and most of his band about that last night of worship my brother and I shared with them. I’m sad to see them “retiring” because Every time I hear any song by David Crowder, my heart and memories go back to that last night we hung out together as Brothers, in worship.

Filed Under: family, God, UMC, Youth Ministry · Tagged: , , , , , , ,