Why I'm Glad I Married a Celibate 'Tim Tebow' - LEILANI HAYWOOD Charisma Magazine

My husband pledged himself to purity when he was 21-years-old. (Reuters)

Why I'm Glad I Married a Celibate 'Tim Tebow'

12/1/2015 LEILANI HAYWOOD Charisma Magazine

Former Miss Universe and Miss USA Olivia Culpo broke up with NFL star Tim Tebow because he reportedly wouldn't have sex with her. This has made the headlines but I believe she has no idea what she just squandered. She may be beautiful but sexually clueless.

Here's why I think she is sexually clueless:

Marrying a man who pledges himself to purity is an incredible adventure after you say "I do." I know because I married one. My husband, Jerome Haywood, pledged himself to purity when he was a brand new Christian at 21-years-old. He was a sexually active college athlete and knew that this area could be a stumbling block. He was zealous in his newfound faith and wanted to seek the kingdom of God first in every area of his life.

Jerome was a track star training to be a part of the U.S. Olympics team. He stopped pursuing the Olympic dream because he thought it was an idol. He kept that pledge to purity until he met me at 35-years-old. When I say he kept the pledge to purity, let me add that I was his first date after 13 years of celibacy. He was handsome, young and funny. There was nothing wrong with my husband and his friends had tried to set him up on blind dates. But Jerome also pledged not to date until he met his future wife.

Marrying a man who pledges himself to purity says that you're more valuable to him then temporary gratification. We're going into our 23rd year of marriage and I'm so glad that he waited for me. Jerome's season of waiting showed me and my sons how valuable I am to him.

Marrying a man who pledges himself to purity says that you have no competition. I had no competition on our wedding night and he had no baggage from past sexual relationships. There were no old girlfriends that I had to compete with or memories of past sexual escapades. We started with a clean slate.

I applaud Tim Tebow for taking a stand in this area. He is an example, with my husband, to my sons of a man who can commit himself to purity in the face of a sexually-obsessed culture. Ms. Culpo may get 10 seconds of notoriety for calling out his virginity but she has no idea the example she's setting for her future children or the girls that are watching her now.

I thank God that there was a man like Tim Tebow. I didn't think they existed. But I believe they are a lot of men like Tim and Jerome who have committed themselves to their future wives by taking a stand for purity now.

When we got married, we gave ourselves to each other without reservation. Our relationship with God was the foundation and today that foundation has stood the test of financial storms and raising a child with special needs. Tim is setting a strong foundation for his future wife.

Whoever that special amazing woman is in Tim's future will be well worth the wait. My husband showed me how he valued me by waiting for me. I thank God that I married a "Tim Tebow."

Leilani Haywood is the online editor for SpiritLed Woman and frequent contributor to Charisma. She is putting the finishing touches on her first book, Ten Keys to Raising Kids That Love God. When she isn't trying to find her purse, she is writing her next book. Follow her on Twitter or Facebook.

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Israel's Beauty Awes American Pageant Queens

By Annika Kopp and Julie Stahl

CBN News Middle East Bureau

Friday, December 19, 2014

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Jewish sages say that 10 measures of beauty were given to the world and Jerusalem took nine.

Recently, a little more beauty was added to the city when former American beauty contestants came for a visit.

Pageant winners usually take the spotlight. These beauty queens traveled to the place that's often at the center of the world stage.

The trip is intended to show the real face of Israel to celebrities with the hope that they'll spread the truth about the holy land.

"Through this experience visiting Israel, including this delegation, [they] understand what is the connection of the Jewish people to this land," said Ariel Bulshtein, with The Face of Israel, the group that organized the tour.

The trip to Jerusalem was a first visit for the group. For some it was a profoundly moving experience.

"Actually, right now I feel like I'm in a state of euphoria, like my hands feel tingly. I feel weightless still. I was just at the prayer wall and it was just really emotional," said Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009, from North Carolina.

"So far Jerusalem has been transforming, cleansing, by far the most beautiful experience in my whole life," said Alicia Blanco, Miss Arizona, USA 2009.

Bulshtein said the world values the opinions of people with titles.

"People who win those titles, Miss America or Miss United States, they are very important because they are media [in themselves]," Bulshtein told CBN News. "They have hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter, on Facebook. Their opinions really matter."

The beauty queens said the trip had changed their perspective of the country and now they're going back with a new message.

"Nobody really knows the truth and really what is over here," said Cassandra Kunze, Miss California, USA 2014. "So I'd like to be able to go back and talk about it, (to) say, 'No, you need to go and visit. You need to go see it. You shouldn't be so afraid.'"

"I grew up in Alabama where I never feared for my safety going to school every day, never even seen a bomb shelter. So being here was very eye-opening and I think now that all of us have experienced it, we understand that there's so much more going on in this country besides that," said Mallory Hagan, Miss America 2013.

The highlight of the trip was praying at the Western Wall for the first time.

"I'm a Christian so just like feeling the stones where Jesus has been and I just like felt His presence there so much, knowing that He's a miracle worker and our prayers are important to Him," Dalton told CBN News.

"So many tears -- I'm going to start crying now. It was the most beautiful experience in my whole life and I just wish more people could come here," Blanco said through her tears.

"You can see the number of prayers that are put in there. And then you look around the whole wall and you realize that actually the hopes and prayers of the whole world are here in this place," said Carrie Manthas, Miss Florida, USA 2003.

And what affected them most?

"Israel is a different world and it's taken me by surprise," said Cassidy Wolf, Miss Teen USA 2013. "And definitely something that's changed my life is getting to see all of this amazing stuff that you've always read about and heard about but now actually getting to see in person."

"It's really something I'll remember for the rest of my life," she told CBN News.

"Today's been the most life-changing experience that I've had," Hagan told CBN News. "Christianity is something that is very new to me in the last year or so, and so to be here [is] only furthering those beliefs to see the Bible come to life in front of your eyes. It's just something that you can't explain."