Tim Tebow Brings John 3:16 to the NFL
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/27/2012
Martinsburg, WV – As a die-hard New England Patriots fan I am accustomed to being the only one rooting for my team. As with other great dynasties, if you are not a fan you have no trouble rooting against the dominating team. One team I have never been a fan of is the Denver Broncos. It is easy for me to root against them and enjoy watching them lose. Until recently…
I have to admit that I am an unashamed Tim Tebow fan. I love his competitive spirit and never-give-up attitude. But most of all I love how he refuses to separate his faith from his public life as a football player. He is a Christian first and a football player second. He boldly shares his faith whether he wins or loses and does so without apology. Even when the critics bash him – for his faith or his football – he smiles and gives all the glory and credit to his “Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
So when the Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first play of overtime during their first playoff game this year I was jumping and screaming like a crazy man. Then it hit me, they were headed to New England for a round two matchup that would be epic. And I was okay with that because either my team would win, or Tim Tebow would continue to write a Cinderella story that God is authoring in the life of this bold Christian.
And while some people would eagerly claim that Tebow has had no effect on the NFL and his lasting legacy would not be one very well remembered, such a claim, for me, came crashing down during the Patriots/Broncos game when I saw a commercial of a bunch of kids reciting John 3:16. I can’t begin to share all the amazing things about this video and the fact that it aired on national television during one of the most watched games of the entire year. (For more coverage on this amazing story please see this article or this one.)
But when cirtics of Tebow and his faith start railing against this young man that simply desires to live out his faith in a real way I get a little hot under the collar. The fact is, this is what we all should be doing, boldly sharing our faith with anyone and everyone that will listen. And just in case you think it doesn’t make a difference take a look at these quotes Focus on the Family received as a result of the commercial:
“Both my sons just saw your commercial and gave their lives to Christ as a result…Thank you. #John316.”
Similarly, another woman said:
“Thanks for running the John 3:16 ad during the Broncos/Patriots game. My husband is not a believer, but he was so taken by those precious kids that he became emotional watching it. Thanks for reaching out in such a warm, compassionate way.”
The religious freedom we enjoy today is a direct result of bold Christians that fought for the right to express their faith in every facet of their life, public and private. Tim Tebow is merely a visual reminder of how every Christian should be living out their faith. That visual reminder is threatening to those that oppose religious liberty and the religious convictions that many Americans hold dearly.
In a world where liberals and atheists are seeking to remove all mention of God from the public sector – like schools, sports leagues, clubs and the work place – Tim Tebow is a threat. His boldness is inspiring millions to exercise their faith and that just won’t do for religious suppressors.
Watch the video below and be inspired by one of the most famous verses in the Bible. But, be reminded of the fact that we as Christians are supposed to be “salt and light” in a dark world. Be reminded that we can’t be either if we suppress our convictions or allow threats to stifle the grace and truth that lives in us. (If the video doesn’t appear please refresh your browser).
As for Tebow’s impact on the NFL, when was the last time you saw the Bible read during primetime television? Enough said.
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No Room for Pro Lifers in the Girl Scouts
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/26/2012
Former Girl Scout volunteer Renise Rodriguez proudly wears her pro-life shirt.
Martinsburg, WV – I’ve been criticized for articles like this one, linking the Girl Scouts and the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Well intentioned people have tried to convince me there is no such link and that I am simply misplacing my disdain for abortion onto a “very well respected organization.”
Whatever.
Trying to deny the concrete relationship between the Girls Scouts and Planned Parenthood is like trying to nail jello to the wall; futile. There is absolutely no doubt that a partnership between the two organizations exists and that the Girl Scouts are now advocating for abortion. Brochures with the Planned Parenthood and Girl Scouts logos are being distributed, their annual convention features pro-abortion speakers, and even the former Planned Parenthood CEO admits that a partnership exists. So denying it just makes someone look naïve or under-informed.
Here’s another example of the Girls Scouts advocating for abortion while suppressing the message of life. Recently a 21 year old pro-life volunteer went to her local Girl Scout office where she regularly serves as a Girl Experience Associate. She was wearing a pro-life t-shirt as she went in to prepare for a meeting. It would be her last day as a volunteer.
Renise Rodriguez never imagined that she would be told by a supervisor that in order to stay in the office or take part in any troop activities she would have to turn her t-shirt inside out. Stunned, she did what many in her situation would do; she complied and compromised her beliefs.
Oh wait, Renise did what many in her situation wish they would have done – she quit in order to stand up for her belief that life is sacred. Renise recounts her experience:
Is Rick Santorum “The Man” for Conservatives to Support?
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/24/2012
Martinsburg, WV – The race to be the GOP presidential nominee is heating up. News broke last week that by all appearances Rick Santorum had indeed won the Iowa caucus and was building momentum heading into South Carolina. And while Gingrich gained some steam ahead of the SC debate it seems most the air was let out of his balloon by the “bombshell” interview of his ex-wife. Ron Paul seems to be fading into the background very fast, Rick Perry and Michelle Bachmann both wisely bowed out, and Romney is still being hit hard on his abortion flip flop, Romneycare, and his tax returns.
With all that’s taken place in the last month I want to make sure you are caught up on some key endorsements and where the field currently stands.
Just over a week ago I took part in a media conference call as Family Research Council president Tony Perkins shared the results of a meeting of nearly 170 conservative leaders. The purpose of this meeting was to come to an agreement on one candidate for these influential leaders to support. During the call Perkins told us ‘The group believes, after hearing the platforms of each candidate, that Santorum best represents the values and beliefs of the group.”
How did the group arrive at this decision? Each candidate’s representative was given the opportunity to speak after which three key positions were evaluated. Perkins shared the three key issues the group was most heavily concerned with:
- Repeal of Obamacare
- Reducing the national debt and reigning in government spending
- Supporting the pro-life platform
What Did You Do? How Did You Celebrate Life on SOHLS?
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/23/2012
How did you celebrate?
Martinsburg, WV – Yesterday was Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. It was a day dedicated to celebrating life and the universal truth that life should be defended from conception to natural death. It was also a day to remember that millions of people were not part of the celebration because their lives were taken from them as a result of abortion.
Since the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision approximately 50 million lives have been lost worldwide thanks to abortion. And, as I recently heard Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life America lament, “we don’t know who we’ve lost.” Maybe we’ve lost another Einstein, or Martin Luther King, maybe an Abraham Lincoln or Amelia Earhart. One thing is for sure, we have “legally” murdered far too many people in America.
We hope you took the opportunity to celebrate life in your church, small group, home or family. We hope the resources we provided were a helpful tool that equipped you for the day. Our goal is to be a partner with you and provide excellent tools and resources to you. With that said, will you do something for me?
Will you text, comment, or email us and let us know what you did to celebrate life in your church, small group or otherwise? Please tell us exactly how you remembered life, advocated for life, or celebrated life; including what resources you used and found most helpful.
We do our best to partner with churches and provide tools and resources for churches to use. So we would really like to know what resources provided by the FPCWV your church used. We would also like to know if your church used resources from another organization and what those resources are. We want to provide the best possible tools and resources to our partners and churches and knowing what you most enjoyed will be a great help to us.
On behalf of all of us here at the Family Policy Council of West Virginia I want to say thank-you for taking a few moments to celebrate life and remember those lost to the atrocity of abortion. We are seeing victories every day in the fight for life, and with continued vigilance we will one day see the end of legalized abortion.
We look forward to hearing from you about your Sanctity of Human Life Sunday celebration.
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Judge Tells Church to Allow Homosexual Couple to Use Wedding Facilities
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/23/2012
Martinsburg, WV – People often want to know how legalizing same-sex “marriage” will affect them individually. Frequently I will hear someone complain that allowing homosexuals
to marry won’t have any immediate or lasting impact on our society so we should just let them marry and be done with it. Such thinking is not only patently wrong, it is prolonging a debate that should have been settled a long time ago.
If anyone needs proof of what impact, immediate impact allowing homosexuals to “marry” will have on our society you need only to read this article about a church in New Jersey being told how to use their own private property.
A federal judge has decided to tell the church it is not allowed to “discriminate” against a homosexual couple by denying them the use of their facilities. The church is arguing that forcing them to allow the couple the use of their wedding services and facilities violates their civil rights, and their moral and religious convictions.
Here is where we have come as a society; we have federal judges telling churches how to use their own private property. Where are Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton now? Why aren’t they decrying the horrible judge for violating the churches’ civil rights? Where’s Barry Lynn and Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. To me, this is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause as the government seeks to intervene in church affairs and dictate what the church must do/allow.
Would Jesus March in the Gay Pride Parade?
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/19/2012
Would Jesus lead this?
Martinsburg, WV – Perhaps no issue is more polarizing, hotly debated, fiercely fought, or conversed about than that of same-sex “marriage” and homosexual rights. On one side are those advocates that believe sexual orientation is the same as the color of a person’s skin; something no one chooses. Therefore homosexuals should be treated like every other person and given the same rights as every other person; including the right to marry.
The other position, traditionally held by evangelicals and conservatives, is that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice that, if affirmed and legalized (read: marriage) will severely limit the free speech and religious freedoms of other people. To say homosexuality is a sin used to be easy and carry no repercussions. Those days, in the political and public sectors are long gone. To make such a statement, even in one’s personal time, on a blog, Facebook, or any place else that another human being might see or hear it, has serious consequences.
This is becoming very obvious as we run full speed into the 2012 presidential election. Candidates are being asked directly about their view on homosexuality, whether marriage, military service, or otherwise, by likely voters as they encounter people in public across the states.
A recent article by the National Journal illustrates the varied encounters GOP candidates are having along the campaign trail with comments by everyone from Rick Perry to Mitt Romney.
A GREAT Video for Churches on SOHLS
As I hope you know, we have the privilege of being associated with Focus on the Family. Their commitment to defending the rights to life is legendary and we are grateful we can stand on their shoulders and carry on the tradition of speaking for those who have no voice.
As you also probably know, thus Sunday is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. Nathan did well to highlight several of our resources that we hope you will use corporately to highlight this important issue. Jenny also has a nice post on topic. You can find more resources at www.FamilyPolicyWV.com/sohls.
Just now, I received word about this great resource, a lovely video your congregation can download and use to focus your time this coming Sunday. You can download it here, or just watch it below:
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday: Resources for Every Person to Celebrate Life
These free resources are provided for your benefit as you celebrate life.
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/17/2012
Martinsburg, WV – This Sunday is the “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday” across the nation. It marks the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the day America began legalizing killing our unborn. Since that day more than 50,000,000 unborn children have been murdered “legally” on American soil.
The “Sanctity of Human Life Sunday” is a day to remember those that have been killed and to resolve ourselves to fight harder in the coming year to see the end of abortion. It’s a day to spend time praying for an end to abortion, praying for the unborn that could possibly be robbed of a chance at life, and praying for lawmakers that have the ability to protect the unborn to take the steps needed so every child is protected.
Here at the Family Policy Council of West Virginia our goal is not just to keep you informed about these special days, or even simply to ask you to take part, our goal is to be a partner with you that will equip you to stand and be a voice in your community and your church. With that in mind we have several resources we want to offer to you free of charge in order to serve you as Sanctity of Human Life Sunday approaches.
Here is a church-friendly Bulletin Insert with messages from Jenny Entsminger (FPCWV Associate) and Jeremy Dys (FPCWV President and General Council). Simply download the Bulletin Insert PDF, print it out, then distribute the copies inside your Sunday bulletin or worship folder. (Be sure to visit our Sanctity of Human Life Sunday web page for more information.)
Your Kids May Be Learning THIS in School Soon
by Nathan A. Cherry, 01/17/2012
Martinsburg, WV – Earlier I wrote an article commenting on an author’s recent query of “What more do these people want?” It references the battle taking place in New York between a state worker’s religious convictions and a lesbian couple wanting to get married. It is without a doubt a key religious freedom case to be watched closely (and I will do my best to do just that). But the author’s question is valid, and one I believe many people are beginning to ask.
The answer might be hard to swallow.
A recent article from California might hold to the answer to the “what’s next?” question and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture. It seems a major California teacher’s union is beginning to push its members toward promoting and advocating “gender liberation” in the public schools.
Robert Tyler of the California based law firm Advocates for Faith and Freedom, explains just what this means:
“In other words…‘gender liberation’ means, male-female distinctions must be eliminated in order to ‘liberate’ children from unnecessary ‘stereotypes.’ This is not a movement seeking ‘equal rights,’ but a movement seeking to obliterate our God-given distinctions between male and female.”
Believing that gender neutrality is ideal for society these groups will seek to eradicate gender lines and “stereotypes” by teaching “gender liberation” to kids in elementary schools. And just as California has made sex-education courses mandatory, regardless of parental objections, they will no doubt seek to make “gender liberation” classes mandatory as well. In other words, they will have unfettered access to children’s developing minds over and beyond parental objections.
Engaging the Issues: Dr. Erwin Lutzer
Dr. Erwin Lutzer, our first guest on, 'Engaging the Issues.'
Today, the Family Policy Council of West Virginia is pleased to launch a new service to our statewide network of families, two actually.
First, is our latest podcast: Engaging the Issues, West Virginia’s only program dedicated to engaging conversations about the issues affecting your family. We hope to produce this show at least twice a month, with occasional special episodes on topics of current importance.
We have tried to strike a balance between in-depth (beyond the talking points) conversations and brevity. Hopefully, that lands in the sweet spot between 15 and 25 minutes in length. Our intent is to feature everyone from politicians to theologians to moms and dads to (if we cannot find anyone else) lawyers!
Our first broadcast is with Dr. Erwin Lutzer, pastor of the historic Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Lutzer earned his B.Th. from Winnipeg Bible College, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, an MA in Philosophy from Loyola University, an honorary LL.D. from Simon Greenleaf School of Law, and an honorary DD from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary.
Dr. Lutzer is the featured speaker on three radio programs including “The Moody Church Hour”, the popular evening program “Songs in the Night,” as well as the daily broadcast called “Running to Win”. These programs are heard on more than 700 radio stations in the United States and some foreign countries.
Dr. Lutzer is an award-winning author of numerous books including: Making the Best of a Bad Decision, When a Nation Forgets God, Oprah – Miracles and the New Earth, Is God On America’s Side, Slandering Jesus, The Vanishing Power of Death, Cries from the Cross, Christ Among Other gods, One Minute After You Die and Hitler’s Cross, which received the Christian Bookseller’s Gold Medallion Award.
I asked Dr. Lutzer to join me to discuss the important topic of Christian citizenship. It’s a great conversation that you can listen to below:
Engaging the Issues
Advancing, defending, and equipping WV's families.
Our second resource will always accompany the first: Engaging the Issues @Home (click to download; opens PDF copy), a companion tool to our Engaging the Issues Podcast for families to use around the kitchen table to help start an engaging conversation about how their faith connects with the world around them.
