he wears his faith on his sleeve — and head

[Yahoo News]

John Kitna has worn baseball caps emblazoned with a cross since 1996, when he signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent. Several years ago, while playing in Cincinnati, he started ordering 500 at a time to give away. Kitna gathers his teammates for a prayer circle after every practice and game, and about a dozen of them come over each week with their wives and girlfriends for Bible study.

Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer said Kitna brought teammates closer by sharing his faith.

“He’s a guy you want to talk to, you want to be around, you want to listen to, because he’s full of knowledge,” Palmer said Wednesday. “You know he knows any religious question you can bring to him. A lot of guys have different questions, whether it be about the Bible or about any religion. You feel comfortable going to him because he’s not going to give you a one-sided answer. He’s going to give you the truth.

Even though Kitna is a self-described “Bible-thumper,” the subtle signs of his religious beliefs inside his home match up with how he acts around his teammates.

“He’s not a prophetizer with his words,” Lions president Matt Millen said Tuesday. “Jon offers his life as his testimony. I think he does that because he’s been there. The reformed are usually the best examples because they understand.”

Read about it here.

[From me]

This is the way all believers should act around their friends, co-workers, families and neighbors.  INVEST & INVITE.

What do you think?

Southern Christian Leadership to honor Michael Vick.

[AJC]

When the Southern Christian Leadership Conference gathers this week to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., and the promise of Barack Obama, the presence of at least one more major figure will loom large – Michael Vick.

During a press conference announcing the opening of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference’s 49th annual convention to celebrate the organization’s 50th year, president Charles Steele noted that the organization would find some way to honor and recognize the embattled Falcon’s quarterback who is under federal indictment on dogfighting charges.

Read about it here.

[From me]

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King and Barack Obama are one thing. But why “honor” Michael Vick?” I’ve been a huge Falcon’s fan most of my life. I have seen Michael Vick in person and I’ve never seen a more game changing player. However, there is nothing for the SCLC to honor about his life. What has he done compared to Dr. Martin Luther King or Barack Obama or for that matter my next door neighbor? Michael Vick is another spoiled athlete who has thrown away his life by his own poor choices. The SCLC needs to pray for Michael Vick but he does not deserve any “honor.”

What do you think?

More tolerance for Christian beliefs?

[From Christian Post]

The wife of a professional indoor football player has accused the team’s management of benching her husband over his religious beliefs.

Troy Vermillion, a wide receiver for the Colorado Ice and upfront Christian, had a disagreement with his coaches over a pornographic-like film that would be played during a bus road trip, which his wife Hilda said has led to his release from the team roster.

In an interview with Concerned Women for America (CWA), Hilda Vermillion said the couple feels that their rights have been violated over the incident, and that her husband’s benching is biased.

The problem that sparked the controversy occurred during a bus trip to an away game for the Colorado Ice. According to Vermillion, the coaches on the team had brought on questionable material, including pornographic magazines. The wide receiver decided not to say anything, however, since it was their decision.

When the squad had decided to put on the uncut version of the movie Wedding Crashers, Vermillion decided to speak up since he would be forced to watch. He disagreed with the nudity in the film, and asked the coach if they could watch something else and had agreed to watch Invincible instead.

Following a break, however, the team ended up starting the Wedding Crashers DVD. The Christian football player, who was sitting in the back of the bus, then called his coach in the front twice by phone confronting him about the movie and what they had agreed on. The coach instead cussed Vermillion out.

The wide receiver then asked if he could get off the bus and catch a ride from another vehicle since they were riding in a caravan. The coach refused, however.

Read about it here.

[From Hollywood.com]

A lawsuit has been launched against a school teacher who showed Brokeback Mountain to a class of young students. Twelve-year-old Jessica Turner and her grandparents, Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking $500,000 against the Chicago Board of Education after the homosexual cowboy movie was shown at Ashburn Community Elementary School.

Read about it here.

[HT: Stuart Delony]

[From me]

I guess only Christians should be tolerant– not the other way around. Why couldn’t the coach let the player off and let him catch another ride? More hypocrisy from the Political Correctness police.

I wouldn’t want my children watching Brokeback Mountain! It is OK to watch sexual immorality but smoking cigarettes will get an “R” rating-what is up with that?

It is becoming hate speech if we tell people what the Bible says but we try to live Holy lives without sexual immorality and tolerance is out the window.

What do you think?

Will they ever grow up?

[From Yahoo sports]

Former NFL rushing champion Ricky Williams tested positive again for marijuana last month, which will delay his return to the league until at least September, a person familiar with the case said Friday. Williams sought to end a one-year drug suspension last month when he asked to rejoin the Miami Dolphins.

Read about it here.

[From WSLS]

Michael Vick has distanced himself from an alleged dog fighting operations.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback refused today to discuss the case, and he has reportedly sold the house in Virginia that was the center of the dog fighting controversy.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell already met with Vick and could impose a suspension if it’s shown that he knew about dozens of mistreated dogs that allegedly were used for fighting.

The animals were found at a home owned by Vick in Smithfield, though he said previously that he rarely went to the house. He has had drug issues too.

Read about it here.

[From me]

I dreamed of playing in the NFL but there wasn’t much need for a slow white cornerback. The pro athletes are given so much money it is amazing. They don’t know what to do with their fame and money. Josh Hancock of the St. Louis Cardinals was killed 2 weeks ago in a car accident. Turns out he was drunk and had marijuana in the SUV he was driving. Sad.

Will these athletes grow up and realize the privilege they have in playing pro sports? What a waste of talent.

What do you think?

I watched some game last night…

Last night I watched some athletic game at my church.  We charged no admission and watched the game on 54.999999999999999999 inch screen.  We never said the words “super” or “bowl.” The No Fun League is really trying their best to make sure that we can’t enjoy some football game that is played at the end of the season.

Nevermind that both head coaches are strong followers of Jesus as is James Brown of CBS.  We could go to a bar and watch the game on a 55.1 inch screen and that’s OK. But not at church.  Next year we may watch some game again, it just will be called:

“Come to our watch the last game of the major pro football league party on a less than 55 inch tv screen that is absolutely free!”

I’ll bet that will bring people in droves!

Tony Dungy at Super Bowl Breakfast

Athletes in Action is a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. My brother-in-law and sister worked for them for several years. David is now in the business world living in Ft. Lauderdale, FL with my sister and three neices. He bought a table to this morning’s Super Bowl Breakfast. It is an evangelistic tool to share the love of Jesus Christ. Dale Jarrett went one year with Joe Gibbs and that is where he gave his life to Jesus.

My dad who also works for Campus Crusade’s Military Ministry was at the breakfast this morning. Here is a clip of Tony Dungy at last year’s breakfast. It is powerful!

Here is the story of this year’s breakfast.

Does God care who wins?

[From Christian Post]

Peyton Manning said he sought some divine intervention before the New England Patriots’ final drive in Sunday’s AFC Championship game, which ended with an interception thrown by New England quarterback Tom Brady.

“I said a little prayer on that last drive,” Manning said after the Colts’ 38-34 victory earned them a trip to the Super Bowl in Miami. “I don’t know if you’re supposed to pray for stuff like that, but I said a little prayer.”

Religious experts said Manning’s prayer was appropriate as a gesture of faith, but they don’t agree on whether the Colts’ victory was the answer to his request.Read about it here.

[From me]

The Bible does say pray without ceasing.  I just don’t think God picks who wins.  If he did Bama has been on God’s bad side the last few years!

What do you think?