Standing in support of Israel, Jews, and believers in all the nations, in the name of Jesus (Yeshua). Sharing biblical truth, encouragement, news and prophecy.
Tim Tebow broke up a recent fight on the football field. (Reuters)
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Tim Tebow's career post-college has been lackluster at best, but a new video has commentators wondering if his professional role is divine intervention.
Tebow now works out with the Philadelphia Eagles, though his spot is not guaranteed after a one-year deal.
When a fight broke out on the field, Tebow stepped in, and the two sides parted like the Red Sea, according to a tweet from Bleachers Michael Tanier.
Ciara Responds to Boyfriend Russell Wilson's Jaw-Dropping Celibacy Announcement
Russell Wilson and girlfriend Ciara at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards. (Reuters)
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There's "absolutely" no sex happening before marriage for pop sensation Ciara and boyfriend Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson.
"It's until the deal is sealed," she told a reporter.
The two have been in the spotlight recently after Wilson told pastor Miles McPherson God asked the two to wait until marriage. Both admit it's been a struggle to remain hands off.
"I think both of us look at each other and we're like—whew!" Ciara says. "But we take it one day at a time and keep it going with each other, and I'm really enjoying every day that we're sharing."
Though their choice has been criticized by some, McPherson has vocalized his support for abstinence.
"There are some in the media (who) claim waiting until marriage to have sex is 'stupid'. I bet you that this would not be a 'stupid' idea if he were dating their daughter. The thought is: The prettier the girl, the more unrealistic it is to wait. It's as though there is no other option," McPherson says. "... To all of you questioning why there is a hole in your heart after all of the sex you've had—it won't go away by having more sex."
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Watson's latest concern: the images that keep flooding our timelines and newsfeeds. He points to men being burned alive or beheaded by masked assassins. He talks of stories of families on the run, fleeing their homes while they are pillaged and burned. He said their testimonies hold a familiar chord: "Convert, Pay or Die!"
"The persecution of Christians is not a new concept. As early as the first century we read about the Spirit-filled boldness of Christians like Stephen and Paul who proclaimed the gospel through beatings and imprisonment, torture and death," he wrote on his Facebook page. "We remember Christ's disciples, most of whom were killed just like their master. Roman emperors like Nero, executed Christians in the most ghastly ways, using them as torches to light the evening sky."
In spite of all this adversity, Watson said, Christianity continued to spread because men and woman, empowered by the Holy Spirit stood strong in the face of certain death; some being delivered and others falling.
"As I sit here in a 21st century United States, I can't help but wonder when we too will face martyrdom for our faith. On this very day nearly 50 countries have laws that restrict or outlaw Christianity, leading to the harassment, imprisonment and death of those who follow Christ," he said.
"On this day, in countries like North Korea and China, Christians gather for church underground to avoid being arrested by police. On this day, in Nigeria thousands mourn the deaths of their loved ones killed by Boko Haram in their quest to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. On this day, in Cuba, Christian ministries continue to risk their freedom as the countries continues to feel the effects of Communist rule."
But, he continued, on this day, Jesus' words in Luke still ring true:
"And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God" (Luke 12:8).
Watson said he trembles with fear at the thought of facing such incredible atrocities for the sake of Christ. How could he stand firm, he pondered, staring down the barrel of a gun, the life of my family in the balance?
"I shudder, thinking of that day," he said. "I feel so inadequate. Rest assured, fellow Americans, if it hasn't already, our day WILL COME."
Watson then offers another Scripture:
"When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say" (Luke 12:11-12).
"My only hope in such trying times is the power of the Holy Spirit. He is the X factor. He will give us the strength, words and vision when our backs are against the wall. Jesus promised the believer many things. Eternal life, abundant life, peace, purpose and forgiveness to name a few. He also promises that they, like Him, WILL be betrayed, hated and persecuted, even to death. (Luke 21:12-19)
"The Internet has brought close what used to be foreign. Shocking, disturbing worldwide news is available in the palm of our hands. As we see these videos and images we must remember in prayer our brothers and sisters who are suffering for Christ. We must support them in any way we can for they are being witnesses to their oppressors.
"Secondly, we must WAKE UP from our slumber, be on guard and stand firm. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Spiritual unity in the body will help us weather the coming storms. We must REMEMBER that as terrible as things are and will become, they are simply signs pointing to one thing; His Imminent Return."
Watson ended his post with Luke 21:28: "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III was told to remove his "Know Jesus, Know Peace" t-shirt before a press conference, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Reporter Michael Phillips posted on Twitter that Tony McGee, a NFL uniform inspector made Griffin turn the shirt inside out because it wasn't a Nike product.
NFL bylaws bar players from wear clothing that sends a personal message on game days.
"Throughout the period on game-day that a player is visible to the stadium and television audience (including in pre-game warm-ups, in the bench area, and during post-game interviews in the locker room or on the field), players are prohibited from wearing, displaying, or otherwise conveying personal messages either in writing or illustration, unless such message has been approved in advance by the League office," NFL bylaws state (Section 4, Article 8).
However other players, like Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, wore t-shirts with other brands without incident. Kerrigan's t-shirt displayed a logo for Five Four Clothing.
CSN-Washington reports the Redskins denied they forced Griffin to flip his shirt and that he did so to avoid a possible fine.
Seahawks Quarterback Russell Wilson on Win: 'God Is So Good'
By Shawn Brown, CBN Sports Reporter Feb. 3, 2014
The Seattle Seahawks have won their first Super Bowl Championship in franchise history, routing the Denver Broncos in a lopsided 43-8 victory.
It was a big upset after the Broncos had become the highest-scoring team in history during the season, making them the #1 offense in the NFL.
But the Seahawks, with the #1 defense in the NFL, managed to shut down Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning. In fact, the Broncos didn't even smell the end zone until the very end of the third quarter.
After the Broncos got off to a rough start with a bad snap that ended in a safety, the Seahawks struck with two field goals. Then Kam Chancellor picked off a Manning pass, leading to a Marshawn Lynch touchdown, putting the Seahawks up by 15 -0.
With 3:36 left in the first half, Manning's short pass to Knowshawn Moreno was picked off by Malcolm Smith, who took it in for the TD. At the half, it was Seahawks 22 and Broncos 0.
On the opening kickoff for the second half, Percy Harvin rubbed salt on the Broncos' wounds with an 87-yard return for a touchdown.
The Broncos tried to fire back but turned the ball over. The Hawks capitalized when Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson connected with Jermaine Kearse for a 23-yard touchdown pass.
Then, with 3 seconds left in the third quarter, the Broncos finally put some points on the board. But even after the 2-point conversion they still had a long way to go.
With 11:55 left to play, the Seahawks struck again when Russell Wilson connected with Doug Baldwin for 10 yards and a touchdown. With the score at 43-8, the Broncos were finished off and the Seattle Seahawks became Super Bowl champs.
"You know it's just frustrating to get this far and lose like this. I mean it's embarrassing," Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker said after the game.
"You tell it was too out of hand. We weren't getting anything going. Offensively… defensively…we could tell it was coming to an end," Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said.
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said, "This is the highest level of competition in this sport and this is the greatest challenge, the ultimate challenge in the game. And to accomplish this for everybody that took part in it, it's very, very special."
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson not only led his team to victory, but as the game ended with confetti raining down on them, he also led fellow Christians to kneel and pray on the field, giving glory to God.
"I told the guys, 'Why not us?'" Wilson said. "It's only my second year, but I believe in the guys that we had. I believe…in the coaching staff…it's just God is so good. He brought me a really long way. It's unbelievable. It's kind of surreal to be honest with you. Sitting there holding that trophy up and I'm looking up, I'm just so thankful for everything that I've been given."
Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse called the team's win "amazing."
"It still hasn't hit me yet. I'm still kind of in shock," he said.
Seahawks offensive tackle Russell Okung also gave thanks to God.
"The Lord allowed me to be here," he said. "And I keep saying that all the time, man. With Him there's purpose man. I'm not just here to exist, I'm here to live. And I'm glad He's going to use me this way through my platform to bring glory to Him."
Some members of the team will play the game to the glory of God.
Recently, some of the Seahawks players and a coach were kind enough to sit down and talk with me about their faith in Jesus Christ and how it intersects with life on and off the football field.
We’ve got some great content, and I’m hoping they make it all the way to the Super Bowl, giving us some weeks to roll it all out. Until then, here’s a preview of that lengthy interview:
Please pray for our brothers as they step into the national spotlight. Go Hawks!
In this video (part one in a forthcoming series), starting quarterback Russell Wilson tells his story and shares some of the ways that Jesus influences his life.
Published on Jan 10, 2014
Leading up to the Seattle Seahawks 2014 playoff run, Pastor Mark Driscoll sat down with a few of the players and one of the coaches to talk about their faith in Jesus Christ and how it intersects with life on and off the football field.
By Paul Strand
CBN News Washington Sr. Correspondent
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
WASHINGTON -- Hostility against Christian Americans is growing at an alarming rate, according to a new survey from the Family Research Council and Liberty Institute.
The Liberty Institute's Jeff Mateer noted that while last year's survey was based on 600 cases, "this survey that we're releasing right now is almost 1,200. So we've almost doubled in just one year."
Audrey Jarvis
One such case involved college student Audrey Jarvis, who was asked twice to remove her cross, or at least hide it, at a student orientation.
"My supervisor came up to me out of nowhere and asked me to remove my cross necklace because he thought it would be offensive to incoming freshmen," she recalled.
Jarvis received an apology from her college, but couldn't forget how hurtful the man was who found her cross so objectionable.
"I think he was just kind of ignorant to the fact that his words could offend me in attempting to not offend somebody else," she said.
In another case, Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Phillip Monk got in trouble with his lesbian commanding officer when she ordered him to answer how he felt about gay marriage.
"This is about religious freedom because I expressly stated that I had a religious conviction that wouldn't allow me to answer the question the way it was posed to me," Monk said.
Former NFL running back Craig James found himself a victim of growing anti-faith sentiment when just one hour into a new job as a FOX Sports analyst, he was booted off the air.
James and the Liberty Institute insist it was because a top network manager disapproved of a statement James made about gay marriage 15 months before in a political debate.
"They knew who I was, what I stood for," James told CBN News. "And I'm being punished -- I was fired -- for my religious beliefs."
FOX says James just wasn't a good fit, but Liberty Institute is fighting to get James his job back.
"This is not about Craig James," the former NFL running back said. "This is about an American who had a job and someone came back -- a big corporation -- and said, 'Hey, we can't allow you on our network because of your belief and definition of what marriage is.'"
With some 1,200 cases like these documented in the new Religious Hostility Survey, Mateer says he's frightened for his country.
"The threats are increasing at a dramatic rate, and this survey demonstrates that," Mateer said.
Mat Staver's Liberty Council also fights for the rights of people of faith.
"What we're seeing is instead of religious liberty being protected as it is affirmed by the First Amendment, people of religious faith, particularly Christians, are finding themselves the targets of discrimination," Staver said.
Sgt. Monk says now when Christians facing hostility must hold steady, mostly for other believers.
"They need to see us stand firm in our faith," he told CBN News. "And when they see that, I think we'll see a turn of events."
Mateer noted that when believers fight back, they almost always win. So only by meekly accepting defeat will they let the enemies of religion triumph.
"They've stated their objective is to remove God from our public life. Well, if we remain silent, that's going to happen," Mateer warned.
FOX Sports Southwest hired former NFL running back Craig James as an on-air analyst only to fire him days later. The move came after statements he made on gay marriage while campaigning for the Senate resurfaced.
"People choose to be gay," he said during an April 2012 campaign stop. "I think it's a choice, I do. Same-sex marriage, if someone chooses to do that, that's done. And God's going to judge each one of us in this room for our actions. And in that case right there, they're going to have to answer to the Lord for their actions."
James said it was those sincerely held religious beliefs that led to the Sept. 2 firing.
"I was shocked that my personal religious beliefs were not only the reason for FOX Sports firing me, but I was completely floored when I read stories quoting FOX Sports representatives essentially saying that people of faith are banned from working at Fox Sports," James told Breitbart.com.
"That is not right and surely someone made a terrible mistake," he said.
While one statement from FOX Sports seems to confirm James' suspicions, another contradictory statement said the former running back was let go because he wasn't a good fit for the position.
Now James is pursuing legal action against the network.
James talked more about his case against FOX Sports on CBN Newswatch, Oct. 11.
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