For many years Superbowl ads have been anticipated, watched, and remembered, long after the game has ended. Many tune in specifically for the ads, even above the football. Superbowl 2010 is no exception. Weeks before Superbowl Sunday, excitement was spreading like wildfire about an ad funded by James Dobson and his Focus on the Family organization.
The ad features Heisman Trophy winning Florida Gators quarterback Tim Tebow and the emotionally touching story of his mother's decision to choose against abortion despite the doctor's opinion that the child would be stillborn. The child was healthy, the kid could play ball, and the rest is history!
Now, let me go on record as saying I am happy that Tim was born!
Then, let me move into rougher waters and ask us as the Christian community what it is about this ad that we have so fanatically embraced? Is it love for Tim? Doubtful. (I must admit I didn't even know who he was before the ad.)
Let's imagine for a moment: Wind the clock back to the days before news of this ad had ever surfaced. Imagine with me that, instead of this ad, news began to spread of a different ad, perhaps paid for by one of the groups that is so upset over the Tebow ad. In this pretend ad, we see Jeffrey Dahmer and hear about his mother's choice against abortion. Then we see images of those he murdered and hear stories of his cannibalism. "If only this woman had had an abortion," the pretend ad says, "then all these innocent people might still be enjoying life with their dear families and loved ones." And finally the ad concludes with an appeal that every pregnant woman should be forced to have an abortion.
How would the Christian community have responded to such an ad being aired during the Superbowl? Can you imagine the uproar?! Does a political group have a right to pay for air time for such a controversial message? Probably so, and Focus on the Family has the same right. But is it political propaganda? Let's analyze the real message of the real ad.
Tim Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner. Therefore no woman should have the right to choose an abortion.
Now, before you start throwing stones, I am not pro abortion. (Actually I've never met anyone who is, or even heard anyone on tv say s/he was, to my memory . . .) What I am asserting here is that the message is purely emotional, not logical.
Tim Tebow is a Heisman Trophy winner. Therefore no woman should have the right to choose an abortion.
Jeffrey Dahmer is a murderer. Therefore every pregnant woman should be forced to have an abortion.
The (missing) logic is the same with both statements. Because there is a murderer in the world, or a football player, or an insurance salesman, or a kindergarten teacher, or a homeless man, does not make a case for or against abortion. In my opinion, the ad is unlikely to change anyone's stand on the abortion issue, but it serves as a tool to further pit us brother against brother, sister against sister, outside of the love that Jesus calls us to live for each other. May we as Christ followers enjoy the ad, praise God for Tim's life, keep our chosen views on the abortion issue, but see this ad as the emotional and political facade that it probably is.
A part of my 2010 New Year's Resolution was: a) Resistance/Weight Training once a week b) Timed 5 miles once a week (or 5K or longer race) c) Hill training (1/2 mi.), Sprint training (1/2 mi.), or bicycling (2 mi.) weekly d) Run 300 miles in 2010 (avg. 25 per month) e) Lose weight to 117 lbs.
All My Races (5K unless otherwise noted)
10/31/09 32:18 Tarheel Realty, Statesville F 45-49
10/17/09 30:33 Oktoberfiesta, Sacred Heart 3rd place F 45-49
8/21/09 9:02/23:35/37:58 Miles of Mooresville 1mi./2mi./3mi.. (see blog)
8/15/09 33:52 Tomato Trot, Woodleaf F 45-49.
7/25/09 33:29 Run/Walk for the Greenway F 45-49
5/23/09 31:23 Bare Bones, Greenway F 45-49
12/13/08 31:34 Santa Run for Hunger, Mt. Ulla 3rd Place, F 45-49
7/26/08 31:57 Walk/Run for the Greenway 3rd Place, F 45-49
6/13/08 32:35 China Grove Main St. Challenge F 45-49
5/24/08 31:25 Bare Bones, Greenway 2nd Place, F 45-49
12/8/07 31:45 Santa Run, WRHS 3rd Place, F 45-49.
7/28/07 31:45 Walk/Run for the Greenway 3rd Place, F 45-49. (see blog)
5/19/07 32:40 TWAM, Community Park 2nd Place, F 45-49.
4/28/07 30:44 Healthy Kids, Catawba College 2nd Place, F 45-49.
4/21/07 30:51 Spencer Lions, NC Transportation Museum F 40-49
12/2/06 29:36 Santa Run, Cleveland F 40-44 (see blog)
10/21/06 31:27 North Rowan Cavalier, NRHS 2nd Place, F 40-44
10/7/06 33:18 FUMC Missions, Community Park 21-54
7/29/06 34:35 Walk/Run for the Greenway, Knox Middle F 40-44.
7/16/05 33:20 Walk/Run for the Greenway, Knox Middle F 40-44.
1. Continue Reading Through the Bible: Ezekiel (by end of Feb.) 1 John 2 John 3 John Daniel (by end of Mar.) Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah (by end of Apr.) Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi (by end of May) Revelation (by end of June)
2. Fitness/Running a) Resistance/Weight Training once a week b) Timed 5 miles once a week (can substitute 5K or longer race) c) Hill training (1/2 mi.), Sprint training (1/2 mi.), or bicycling (2 mi.) weekly d) Run 300 miles in 2010 (avg. 25 per month) e) Lose 3 lbs. to return to 117 lbs.
3. Read at least 8 other books (besides the Bible reading)
How I am doing
January ü1) read Ezekiel 1-27 2) üa) 4 times üb) 4 times üc) 4 times üd) 28.88 miles e) 121.5 lbs. 3) none
February March April May June July August September October November December
A Look Back at 2009: Highlights: Ran 300 miles Competed in 6 races (May, July, Aug., Oct.) Met Paul Childress (Mar.) (See my blog #109) Gave Invocation & Benediction at RCCC graduation (May) Asheville vacation (July) Moved from 9-months to 11-months at work (beginning in Aug.) Began 2nd 3-yr. term as deacon (Sept.) Spoke at CMC (Nov.) Spoke at EMU (Nov.) Bought 2010 Honda Civic (Dec.) Wrote 23 blog posts on mychurch.org Joined Netflix in June (for 3 movies per month)
Movies watched in 2009: The Ultimate Gift (2006); *Prayers for Bobby (2009); *The Secret Life of Bees (2008); *Milk (2008); Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961, repeat); In the Time of the Butterflies (2001, repeat); *For the Bible Tells Me So (2007, repeat); Mona Lisa Smile (2003, repeat); Slumdog Millionaire (2008); *Yentl (1983, repeat); Doubt (2009); Seven Pounds (2008); 1776 (1972); *Sally Hemings - An American Scandal (2000); Trembling Before G_d (2001); The Scarlet Letter (1995); Eleanor Roosevelt: American Experience (1999); In and Out (1997), Chocolat (2001), *The Kite Runner (2007), Glass Menagerie (1973), Grease (1978, repeat), Les Miserables (1978), Boys Don't Cry (1999), Moonstruck (1987), *Not for Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony (1999), One Woman, One Vote: American Experience (2005), *Iron Jawed Angels (2004), Little Women (1994), Holiday (1938), Goya's Ghosts (2006), Sylvia Scarlett (1935), Julie & Julia (2009), A Christmas Story (1983); It's Complicated (2009); TOTAL: 35
Books read in 2009: Same Kind of Different as Me (Hall/Moore/Vincent); Orlean Puckett: The Life of a Mtn. Midwife, 1844-1939 (Karen Cecil Smith); Helen Barrett Montgomery (Kendal Mobley); Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and her Path to Power (Marcus Mabry); The House at Pooh Corner (A.A. Milne); Poems from the Women's Movement (Honor Moore 2009); Stranger at the Gate (Mel White 1995); The Red Tent (Anita Diamant 1997); TOTAL: 8
Movies 2010: Butterfly (1999), The Philadelphia Story (1940), It's in the Water (1998)
Yesterday my workplace held its annual holiday lunch social. Surprisingly, although I work in a state-supported college, our holiday employee gatherings have always shared a blessing before the meal, and our holiday party has always included singing Christmas carols. Yesterday all this changed.
Instead of a blessing, we shared a "moment of silence" to "give thanks in our own ways," and although there were Christmas songs, none of them were about Jesus. We sang songs like "Jingle Bells," "Silver Bells," and "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire."
I understand separation of church and state, and I am not surprised about this new development in our work celebration. What surprised me, however, was my own reaction to it. I slipped out halfway through the singing, and was deeply troubled for a couple of hours afterwards. There was a deep hollowness in singing something called CHRISTmas songs, and leaving out every mention of the Christchild without whom there would be no holiday!
I found myself wishing that all that pertained to Christmas be left out rather than watered down to meaninglessness. What is the point in singing? What is the point in a shared "moment of silence"? Would it not be more meaningful for those of us who want to pray to do so voluntarily before we begin to eat?
As I prayed through my pain, I started to wonder if God is at work in all this. What if hundreds of other Christians felt like I felt yesterday, and millions across the country in other parties? What if we all began to find deeper meaning in the carols we heard and in our privileged opportunities to pray to the Father? What if Christmas becomes more real to us, as we deal with the pain of the Baby Jesus being left out of our celebrations? What if we make a meaningful place for Him in our churches, our homes, and our hearts and commune with Him this Christmas like never before?
Come, Lord Jesus, Come!
2:11a and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts . . .
Sharing my worship time with my MyChurch friends . . . Desiring to be fully surrendered to the Potter's Hand:
18:6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the LORD. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.
Follow this blog
