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January 9th, 2012
Tebow-mania… It is real! The man has made a splash in the NFL that very few of the football pundits predicted. In fact predictions were for him to be a bust as a quarterback, but we all know that. “Tebow is a full-back; he has no place in the pro-game as a quarterback,” was the gist of most football-lovers’ conversations. Those conversations have begun to change now and Tim Tebow is indeed beginning to transcend his sport.
I have watched him morph from “No-hoper in the NFL” to “Perhaps a legitimate quarterback who wins games” to “A real spiritual hero and a man who is not afraid to profess his conviction as he wins or loses.”
His overtime game-winning drive against the Steelers last night has prompted discussion all over the media. His 316 passing yards during last night’s game have drawn comparisons in the major media branches to the noted bible verse, John 3:16 (which Tim sometimes writes on his Eye-Black) “For God so loved the world, that he gave His one Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” What a testimony; what a triumph, what a story! Tim Tebow is a servant of God and he is unashamed and even brazen about it. He has drawn significant criticism for his actions as he glorifies his god, Jesus, on and off the field but that has not detracted from his mission to serve his Savior as he performs his craft and exhibits his talent, both in wins and losses.
I have a tremendous respect for the man and for all that he stands for, especially his courage to stand up tall for his beliefs in the face of, at times, significant head-wind. The world and professional sport needs more Tim Tebows! Real hero’s who have spiritual backbones and wholesome values and who are proper role-models are for one and all, especially our young people.
Well this got me to thinking… Who are the Tim Tebows in professional golf? In other words, who are the professional golfers who take a stand for their beliefs? Who are the golfers who make it less about them and more about their spiritual convictions? After much deliberation and a lot of surfing on Twitter, I came up with the following list:
Webb Simpson:
Webb’s @webbsimpson1 Twitter Bio lists: *sinner* loved by a Savior. Bold in his Christian beliefs and active in promoting and talking about Jesus, about 75% of Webb’s twitter timeline includes reference to Jesus and his belief in Him. He also habitually tweets and retweets Bible verses and always makes mention of God in all of his interviews and speeches.
Jonathan Byrd:
Byrd @jbyrdpga is very involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and he entertains groups of young men at his house at various times during the year. Unashamed of his faith, a recent tweet of his was: “May we honor and treasure in our hearts our Lord who will reign forever over everything else that will surely fade!”
Zach Johnson:
Johnson @ZachJohnsonPGA is a devout believer in Christ and often ministers and gives testimonies in churches, most notably his testimonies given annually over Masters week in Augusta, GA. He references Jesus and his faith in God often, an example thereof being a recent tweet he posted to his fellow Christian golfing buddies: Get er done bros! RT @WilliamKane1 @webbsimpson1 @bencranegolf @JByrdpga Praying for you guys today! Glory to the King!
Bubba Watson:
Bubba @bubbawatson unabashedly references Jesus and God in all of his interviews and speeches and he habitually posts Bible verses on Twitter. Most recent being Ephesians 4:24: “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Aaron Baddeley:
Baddeley lists his Twitter @aaronbadds bio as: Christian, husband, father of 2 little girls, pro golfer!! Love playing all sports, being with my 3 girls and just being at home! Be blessed! Peace! Baddeley is very proud of his Christian values and morals and he actively supports all others who share his beliefs.
Davis Love III:
Davis Love @love3d is a friend to all and a mentor to many young people from the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes.) Like Zach Johnson and Jonathan Byrd, at various times during the year, he invites young people to spend time at his home and he hangs out with them and ministers to them.
Larry Mize:
A devout follower of Jesus, Larry lists a Bible verse on every autograph he signs for a fan. He also is a regular speaker at Christian and church events and serves as a mentor and counselor to many young men and golfers. He also counsels young married couples on Godly living and parenting.
Tom Lehman:
A long-time and active member of the PGA TOUR Bible Study group, Lehman is a quiet, yet highly respected athlete and Christian man. Fellow golf professional, Loren Roberts” describes Lehman as follows: “As a Christian, you always want to share your faith and belief before others, not in a bold or flashy way, but in a way that gives a genuine witness. That is what Tom has always done…”
Ben Crane:
Of late Crane, once known more for his slow pace of play, has become popular as one of professional golf’s funny-men. Truthfully though, all of the satire and humor somewhat belies the fact that he is a devout follower of Jesus. Among other things Ben @bencranegolf offers and promotes an e-devotional on his website.
Now maybe these men aren’t Tiger Woods in terms of drawing crowds and making the headlines, but in my opinion they are making headlines in the right way… Being sound role models and standing up for their Christian beliefs in the world of professional golf. Tim Tebows in their own right!
/mi
Tags: Aaron Baddeley, Badds, Ben Crane, Bible, Bubba Watson, Christian, Christianity, Church, Davis Love III, Denver Broncos, Football, God, hero, Jesus, John 3:16, Jonathan Byrd, Larry Mize, mentors, NFL, PGA TOUR, Role models, Sport, Steelers, Tim Tebow, Tom Lehman, Twitter, Webb Simpson, Zach JohnsonCategory: Tip Blog
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