Tebowing: The rest of the story
When you want to know if something has become popular just talk to a teenager.
So I asked my daughter last night about “Tebowing” — the new 
phenomena that was the subject of one of my recent blog postings.
To my surprise she had indeed heard of Tebowing. As a matter of fact, she told me Tim Tebow had recently tweeted (because of course Twitter is how the kids find out about everything) that he liked the idea.
If you haven’t heard of Tebowing, here’s my brief explanation: A Denver native created or came up with the word to describe when someone gets down on a knee and starts praying, even if everyone else around them is
doing something completely different.
This apparently was inspired by Tebow, who plays for the Denver Bronchos NFL team, doing that very thing on the sidelines during a football game.
Last week, when I first heard about this, I wondered if perhaps this was something that mocked Tebow and his Christian faith. But now, I”m thinking, who cares if the intent is to mock, this may actually get some folks down on their knees and maybe they will pray.
One can only hope.
Anyway, here are some stories about the issue for those interested in what the rest of the nation is saying about this:
TIME: Tebowing: Football Meme goes from the field to the Internet
Fox Sports: Denver Bronchos QB Tim Tebow sees ‘Tebowing’ phenomena as a ‘blessing.’
USA Today’s Faith & Reason blog: Tim Tebow revives prayer in public debate
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Oct. 31 Today’s Prayer
Lord, let us take comfort knowing You provide guidance even in our darkets times. Amen. 
Tebowing … is this supposed to be funny?
OK, I know I’m doing something a little risky, blogging about Tim Tebow here in Sooner Country, but I can’t help it.
I’ve been following Tebow’s NFL career just because he’s an interesting young athlete who is very upfront about his faith beliefs. He has gotten as much attention for his Christian faith beliefs as he has for his athletic talent.
Of course, he found his way on my radar as a University of Florida football player, but I won’t say too much about that, Sooner fans.
Anyway, it seems that the much-talked-about former Gator has inspired Tebowing. 
What is Tebowing? Glad you asked and remember I didn’t come up with this, I”m just telling about it.
Tebowing, according to Tebowing.com, means ”To get down on a knee and start praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.”
It was apparently started by a Denver native. Tebow (pictured) is quarterback for the Denver Bronchos, if you didn’t already know that.
Anyway, I read an article on CBN.com that said Tebowing was a trending topic on Twitter on Thursday. Follow this link to read the story: “Fun of Offensive?: Tebowing Goes Viral.”
CBN.com asked its readers if they thought this new trend was making fun of Tebow’s faith.
I’m not sure what I think about it at this point. One thing I do know is that Tebow has always attracted lots of attention and that doesn’t seem to have changed now that he’s playing in the big league.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Oct. 27 Today’s Prayer
Dear merciful Lord, let forgiveness be a vital part of our daily lives. Amen. 
Oct. 26 Today’s Prayer
Wednesday, Oct. 26
We realize, Lord, we must shoulder our burdens and follow Your example. Amen.
Oct. 25 Today’s Prayer
Tuesday, Oct. 25
Lord, please be with those who need Your healing powers in their lives. Amen. 
Concert alert: Mary Mary
Here’s another concert on the horizon: “A Mary Mary Christmas Concert.” 
Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell, the sisters who make up the gospel duo Mary Mary will perform in concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Douglass High School auditorium, 900 Martin Luther King Ave.
BLAC Inc. is sponsoring the concert.
Tickets are $35 and $45. They may be obtained at the following locations: Capital Square Station, Charlie’s Jazz Rhythm and Blues Store, Hopkins Hair Care, KM66, Learning Tree Toy Store, Urban Roots and BLAC Inc.
Mary Mary burst onto the gospel music scene with their hit “Shackles” back in 2000 and they haven’t looked back since .
I had a chance to interview them in 2003 when they performed at the wedding of a metro area couple who had a really special love story.
For more information about the Christmas concert, call BLAC Inc. at 524-3800.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Monday in the Barna classroom
I got to work this morning and was pleasantly surprised to learn that Oklahoma Christian University’s Joshua Watson was able to get me an interview today with David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group.
The Barna Group is a Ventura, Calif.-based research company whose research often focuses on the ways faith and culture intersect. 
Kinnaman is best-selling co-author of the book “unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity” (2008). During our brief interview Kinnaman talked about why he wrote the book and some of the lessons Christian churches can glean from it.
Somewhere along the way, I think my “parent” hat and my “reporter” hat meshed together because I began asking him questions from a parent’s viewpoint. At that point, I think our conversation became more indepth than just the typical interview and I came away with some lessons learned about what today’s youths are saying about the Church and the adults who have helped guide their way thus far.
Really interesting information.
If you haven’t already done so, get that book.
I also got to sit in on a youth ministers’ luncheon hosted by OC’s Dudley Chancey, associate professor of youth ministry. At the luncheon, Kinnaman talked about his latest book “You Lost Me: Why Young Christians Are Leaving the Church … and Rethinking Faith.”
Kinnaman expounded some on the research findings detailed in “You Lost Me” and I think it is quite interesting material for anyone who is a parent or church leader or simply someone who loves young people and wants to see them grow in the Christian faith.
I’ll have a story this Saturday about Kinnaman, his research compiled in “unChristian” and how the Church can use this important research data. My story will also include his thoughts on the controversy that arose over the part of the book that dealt with how young people see the Church as anti-gay.
And if you haven’t already heard, Kinnamon will be speaking tonight at 7 p.m. in the Hardeman Auditorium on the OC campus, 2501 E Memorial Road. He’ll be talking about research compiled in “You Lost Me.”
The presentation is free and open to the public.
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
Oct. 24 Today’s Prayer
We ask that our eyes and hearts be open to the needs of others. Amen. 
Dallas pastor Jeffress speaks out
Last week, I talked to a local Southern Baptist leader and a Mormon leader about a political flap that resulted from a remark a Southern Baptist pastor in Dallas said at a political function. 
Controversy arose when the Rev. Robert Jeffress (pictured), pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas, said that Mormonism is a cult. He made the statement at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C.
This week, Jeffress addressed the controversy surrounding his statement through a Washington Post op-ed piece. The op-ed is entitled “Why a candidate’s faith matters.”
Jeffress wrote: “Hearing Mitt Romney’s surrogate Bill Bennett refer to me as a bigot and Jon Huntsman call me a “moron” last week after my controversial comments on Mormonism, amid calls for civility and tolerance in public discourse, reminds me of the exclamation: “We will not tolerate intolerance!” But beyond the personal insults, I am concerned that these men are attempting to prematurely marginalize religion as a relevant topic in elections.”
—
For those interested in reading the full piece, I’m including a link to the op-ed here: “Why A Candidate’s Faith Matters.”
Carla Hinton
Religion Editor
P.S.
I was very appreciative of the local Southern Baptist leader, the Rev. Anthony Jordan, and Mormon leader Kevin Graves, for sharing their viewpoints with me for my Oct. 15 story. This was a touchy subject for a lot of reasons and both men showed why they are in the leadership positions they are in by agreeing to make statements for the story. And a special, special thanks to Mark McClellan from Oklahoma Baptist University. I can’t say enough about his help. His contribution to the Oct. 15 story package gave some much-needed context to the original story, which included the views of Jordan and Graves.
