Tim Tebow back in the news

So Tim Tebow is back in the sports headlines . . .

Yes, the man that many love to hate and lots of the ladies love to love - Tim Tebow.  The guy that continued to amaze many by his lack of skill but ability to keep on winning.

Tebow was chided for a while by sports snobs who gave him the same status as The Bieb.  He was a phenom who didn't really have the staying power as elite in his field.  

But he kept winning because he had faith. 

It didn't hurt that he had a really good defense on the Broncos as well, but some of those wins you had to chalk up to miracles.

Unlike Bieber, however,  the guy has mountains of character.  Nothing against The Biebs.  I am sure he will eventually turn it around . . . maybe . . . but there is something so compelling about someone who is mostly cake rather than mostly icing (and not the other way around).  Tebow is more likely to spend his time bedside in a pediatric cancer ward than in the clubs.  This is not just praise, this is literally what the guy did.  When everyone else was jawing off to a reporter, Tebow was giving a kid the walkaround at the stadium.  He was the first guy at the practice facility and the last guy to go home.  Tim Tebow is the real deal.  

And people are fascinated with the real deal.

It is inspiring to us because it is his faith that fuels his legitimacy.  He doesn't talk about his faith he lives his faith and lets that speak for him.

Athlete?  Yes.  Devoted?  Yes.  Supportive teammate?  Yes.

But the heart of it all is wrapped up in his faith in Christ.

And that is why he is showing up again.  No, not because he is a Christian - far from it.  Not necessarily because he is a great athlete - which he is.  It is because his faith drives him to be the best that he can be and people take notice of that.  Bellicheck wanted him in the room because he is an infectious leader.  When your faith speaks for you, it changes the way you are perceived.  People want to be around you when you are authentic.  

Here is the thing - people are often distracted by Christianity but drawn to Christ.  There is something different about the person that moves through life the way Christ did - you want that person in the room . . . you can't stop talking about him or her.

And that is the reason why he is still being talked about.  

Listen, he will probably not play football in the NFL, but people will still be talking about him because there is something different about the way that he moves through life.

He isn't a moral crusader.
He isn't a Bible thumper.
He isn't a political figure.

He takes seriously what he wants to do and impresses the heck out of the people as he does it.  If only we all could take seriously Paul's suggestion to live as :

" 'temporary residents and foreigners' to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world." 1 Peter 2

So it would be really interesting to see Tim back in the NFL, but it is even more inspiring to see him still making news because the faith that fuels him is authentic.

I want to be like that.