God moments of the World Cup

Christianity Today offers a list of moments when players acknowledged God's role in their lives at World Cup in a post here.

Christian golfer rejoices after second Masters win

Golf champion and professed Christian Bubba Watson is praising God after winning his second Masters jacket in three years. Read more at Christianity Today.

'Sports Chaplains' Bring The Gospel To Olympic Village

There are probably fewer American fans in Sochi than at previous Winter Games, partly because of concerns about security, and partly because of the time and expense it takes to get to the Russian resort town on the Black Sea. But Americans are represented there, with gusto, by a group of evangelical Christians who call themselves the International Sports Chaplains. Members of the group have been going to the Olympic Games since 1988.

Read or listen to the full story at NPR.

Baptist churches bet on college footbal

Two churches made a bet on the outcome of the BCS National Championship game. The First Baptist Church of Auburn and First Baptist Church of Tallahassee agreed to travel to the other's city if the opposing team won the game. Since Florida State beat Auburn, a group from the Auburn church will travel to Tallahassee for a summer mission trip.

Half-time challenge

A student at Mars Hill Bible School won $100k to pay for college during a halftime event at the SEC championship football game today in Atlanta. Brooks Bergman is a cancer survivor. Read the story here.

Oprah challenges Atheist

Long distance swimmer Diana Nyad told Oprah Winfrey she's an atheist who believes in “awe” and “wonder.” Winfrey told the 64-year-old swimmer that she isn't really an atheist because she couldn't believes in those things and not believe in God--because "that is what God is."

Symbols removed at baseball stadium

Christian symbols at Busch Stadium are being removed and replaced. A fan complained about the a cross and a "Jesus fish" drawn in the dirt on the pitcher's mound, so the St. Louis Cardinals have decided to get rid of them. A member of the grounds crew etches them on the mound before most home games.

Girl Kicked off Football Team

A Christian school kicked a 12-year-old girl off the football because, school officials say, she will cause the boys to lust after her if she plays. Maddy Paige had four sacks to her credit as a starter last season playing defensive end, before Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove, Georgia cut her. WXIA-TV has a video report below.

Judge: Bible Verses on Banners OK

A Texas judge says Bible verses on banners at public school football games are fine. Judge Steven Thomas ruled it is constitutional for cheerleaders at Kountze High School to display run-through banners with messages like "If God is for us, who can be against us." The judge decided the messages on the banners are the protected private speech of the cheerleaders. The Freedom From Religion Foundation complained about the banners last fall, claiming it amounted to school endorsement of Christianity. The ruling may be appealed. Here's a video report from WRCB-TV.

WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather

Pastor Calls Tebow a Whimp

The pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas is taking a swipe (as the Washington Post calls it) at Tim Tebow. Robert Jeffress has posted a 10 minute video (below) in which he responds to the controversy that led the sports star to cancel his planned April appearance at the Texas church. Although Jeffress doesn't mention Tebow by name, he rebuked those who haven't stood with him. Jeffress says “I am grateful for men of God like these who are willing to stand up and act like men rather than wimping out when it gets a little controversial and an inconvenient thing to stand for the truth." Jeffress has received negative publicity for his remarks about gays and other religions. Here's the video:

Tebow's schedule

Tim Tebow may have cancelled his appearance the First Baptist Church of Dallas, but he is keeping his planned visit to Trinity Christian Academy for a fundraiser during his April visit to north Texas. He will also appear at a Gala for Involved for Life which supports the Downtown Pregnancy Center, Uptown Women’s Center and Sonograms on Site. The pastor of the megachurch, Robert Jeffress, has told news outlets that Tebow called him personally to cancel, saying he needed to "lay low" and apparently the First Baptist appearance was too high profile for him--but he might come later. TMZ reports that Tebow was pressured to back out.

Tebow Cancels

Tim Tebow has decided not to speak at the First Baptist Church of Dallas. He was scheduled to take part in April services at the megachurch's new $130 million building. The church is pastored by Robert Jeffress, whose comments on other religions and homosexuality have drawn criticism. Tebow didn't explain his decision but did say in a press release:

While I was looking forward to sharing a message of hope and Christ's unconditional love with the faithful members of the historic First Baptist Church of Dallas in April, due to new information that has been brought to my attention, I have decided to cancel my upcoming appearance. I will continue to use the platform God has blessed me with to bring Faith, Hope and Love to all those needing a brighter day. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless!

Tebow to speak at Texas church

Tim Tebow's plan to speak at the First Baptist Church of Dallas in April is catching some criticism. The church's pastor, Robert Jeffress, has been in the news for making controversial comments on gays and other topics. Among them:

Gays shouldn’t be allowed in the military because "70 percent" have AIDS.

Islam, Mormonism and Judaism came “from the pit of hell”

Obama’s reelection “would lead to a rise of the Antichrist”

Gay activists try to hide “the link between homosexuality and pedophilia.”

The church is completing work on a new $130 million campus. It should be open by April.

Bible study for sports stars

Christian sports legends Bubba Watson, Tim Tebow, and Ben Crane gathered together this week for a Bible study in Phoenix. Read the story here.

Banner Controversy

NBC News offers this reports on a story we told you about last week - run-through banners at football games at a Texas school.

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Bible Verses on Banners Banned at TX Football Games

Texas educators are telling cheerleaders to stop putting Bible verses on banners for high school football games. The Texas Association of School Boards told the Kountze Independent School District to get rid of the verses after a resident complained that the banner one of the teams runs through at the start of games has a Bible reference. The cheerleaders say no school money was involved and the signs were not designed on school property.

Gabby lets her faith be known

Right after she became the first black woman to win an Olympic all-around individual gymnastics gold medal, Gabby Douglas told a television a
udience, “I give all the glory to God. It’s kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me.” She had blogged for ESPN, “Gotta give God the Glory! Thank you everyone for praying for me! It means so much to me!” During the first round of competition, one of the NBC commentators said one of ways she prepares for the pressure is “meditating on Scripture.” After the contest Douglas tweeted, “Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me.”

Linsanity Comes to Texas

Jeremy Lin is now a Houston Rocket. The outspoken NBA player who made a splash last season in New York with his clutch play, plans to wear the number 7 because he says it represents God to him. At his introduction press conference, Lin said, "I want to make sure I play hard and I play for God. Everything else I can be OK with. I just want to make sure as a person and as a player I'm consistent in what I believe in. The biggest thing for me is waking up every day trying to glorify God. The only thing I can really promise is I'm going to give my best effort. I'm going to do my best to be a great playmaker, a great decision-maker. I'm gonna try my best to be a humble leader and serve my teammates."

Tebow Gets Award

The Professional Football Writers of America has given Tim Tebow its annual Good Guy Award for the way he has handled intense media scrutiny. The group gave its George Halas Award for overcoming adversity" to New England Patriots Chairman Robert Kraft. He played a significant role in the collective bargaining negotiations between the NFL and the NFL Players Association while his wife battled cancer.

Tebow Encourages Fathers

CBN offers a video report on Tim Tebow's Sunday talk in San Diego that brought out more than 26,000 people.