{"id":2897,"date":"2011-12-23T11:34:39","date_gmt":"2011-12-23T18:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/fromlaw2grace.com\/?p=2897"},"modified":"2011-12-23T11:34:39","modified_gmt":"2011-12-23T18:34:39","slug":"tim-tebow-impacts-muslims-in-denver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/fromlaw2grace.com\/?p=2897","title":{"rendered":"Tim Tebow Impacts Muslims in Denver!"},"content":{"rendered":"

While he continues impacting (albeit at times unconventionally)\u00a0the Broncos and the entire NFL this season, Tim Tebow\u00a0has also found a way (perhaps unbeknownst to him, although I doubt it) to impact people in Denver and throughout the country in ways that no other player could.\u00a0 One family in particular that Tebow\u00a0has impacted is\u00a0a third-generation Colorado family, the Suleimans.\u00a0 Tebow, the devout Christian known for his public expressions of faith, has become a hero to this Muslim-American family.<\/span><\/p>\n

You see, it\u00a0was the\u00a0Suleiman brothers — Tariq<\/a>, Ali<\/a> and Mohammad<\/a> — who<\/span><\/p>\n

are responsible for \u201cthe Sign,\u201d the towering electronic billboard that captured national attention when it began running messages in September urging the Denver Broncos<\/a> to start Tim Tebow<\/a> as quarterback.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Washington Times has a wonderfully uplifting story\u00a0(“Three Denver Muslims Lead Cheers for Tebow”)<\/a>\u00a0of how Tim Tebow, the football player, found a way into the hearts and lives of these brothers and their entire family.\u00a0 But, it’s not just Tebow’s role as quarterback that has impacted their lives.\u00a0 It’s also his faith:<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s been suggested that he needs to tone down his expressions of religious faith, but the Suleimans disagree.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt gives him encouragement, so it\u2019s good,\u201d said Ali<\/a>, 28. Added Tariq<\/a>: \u201cThat\u2019s where he gets his strength, so he should keep it up because it\u2019s good for Denver.\u201d<\/p>\n

They also appreciate Tebow<\/a>\u2019s squeaky-clean image. \u201cIt takes a lot of courage for Tebow<\/a> to go out there and say he\u2019s a devout Christian<\/a>,\u201d said Mohammad<\/a>. \u201cTebow<\/a>\u2019s the kind of guy you want representing your city and team.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nobody has commented on the juxtaposition of Muslim fans leading the bandwagon on behalf of the uber-Christian Tebow<\/a>. Well, almost nobody. \u201cJust reporters,\u201d said Mohammad<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The brothers\u2019 support for Tebow<\/a> shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise, he said. \u201cMuslim players play with Christian<\/a> players in the NFL all the time,\u201d said Mohammad<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The impact that Tim Tebow’s\u00a0football and faith has had\u00a0on the Suleiman’s cannot be overstated.\u00a0\u00a0 If Tim Tebow can\u00a0impact people named Boomer <\/a>or three Muslim-American brothers named\u00a0Tariq<\/a>, Ali<\/a> and Mohammad<\/a>, then we should be able to impact our neighbors — regardless of their faith (or no faith at all) — with the Good News this Christmas season and in 2012!\u00a0 After all, the message of Christmas\u00a0is God’s “glad tidings of great joy which shall be for all people.”\u00a0 <\/em>There are no loopholes in “all” and everyone is our neighbor.\u00a0 I’m pretty sure that Jesus had something to say about that!<\/p>\n

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