pages 13-19 Christian Higher San Diego County Edition Education Guide Vol. 30, No. 2 February 2012 www.christianexaminer.com Chuck Colson Courts Community Morality and the Marine widow seeks to San Diego’s creation FREE economy: No save Camp Pendleton museum broadens its separating the two memorial cross offerings page 7 page 9 page 11 Knee-ding Jesus QB Tim Tebow’s faith generates Internet buzz, praise, criticism By Lori Arnold of our prayer circle. It’s what God is using.” OCEANSIDE — For nearly three Since mid-October when Tebow decades San Diego Chargers chap- was named starting quarterback lain Shawn Mitchell—the longest for Denver, gridiron miracles have tenured team pastor in the Nation- been the stuff of legend. And, at al Football League—has taken a the end of each game, regardless knee with some of the game’s most of the outcome, Tebow dropped prominent Christian players. to his knee in prayer, a pose that But none of the holy huddles has been replicated thousands of drew as much attention as the Nov. times online in a practice known as 27 home game against the Denver “Tebowing.” Broncos. Days after the Chargers Tebow mania has manifested lost the game to their divisional itself well beyond the normal fan rivals, USA Today ran a photo of base, with a recent Zillow poll show- Mitchell on his knees with play- ing that the quarterback topped the ers from both teams. Holding the list of celebrities the public would chaplain’s right hand was Denver most like to have as a neighbor. He quarterback Tim Tebow, whose received more votes than Angelina every move was being captured Jolie and Brad Pitt, Jennifer Anis- by the national media. The game ton and Justin Theroux, Jennifer PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW VENTURE CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP against the Chargers was the fourth Lopez, and Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Following the Nov. 27 NFL game between the San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos, players and coaches of faith straight win for the Broncos with “I can’t be more excited with gather for a post-game prayer led by Chargers’ chaplain Shawn Mitchell. Such prayers have been a common occurrence Tebow as starting quarterback in what’s happening with that Bron- throughout the NFL for many years, but only this season have received media attention because of the hype surrounding what became an eventual six-game co,” Mitchell said of the 24-year-old Tim Tebow and his open display of his faith. winning streak. rookie quarterback. “I don’t think Even with the Broncos’ poor fi cials said Tebow, whose record championships and a Heisman Tro- “This is the fi rst time in my nearly there’s been this much excite- showing in the second-round play- was 8-5, including one playoff win, phy with the University of Florida 30 years of being a chaplain that it’s ment about the things of God since off game against the New England will return to training camp as the Gators, Tebow has been the target made it to this degree of coverage,” 9/11.” Patriots, which ended their fai- starting quarterback although they of persistent naysaying by football said Mitchell, senior pastor of New “It’s silly, it’s fun,” Mitchell said of rytale season, Tebow is expected will seek out others through free insiders who insist his exceptional Venture Christian Fellowship, an the hype. “Here’s a guy that needs to remain in the limelight as his agency and the draft. rushing skills can’t overcome his Oceanside megachurch. “I’ve nev- our prayers. He’s got a huge target viability as a long-term quarterback Since being drafted by Denver er seen more media in the midst on his back.” in the NFL is scrutinized. Team of- in 2010, after winning two national See TEBOW, page 2 No room at the inn Victim of homeless killing spree couldn’t get apartment By Lori Arnold far from the Highway 91 underpass he routinely used for his nighttime arie Middaugh woke up just shelter. before midnight to go to the “I wonder now if that was the Mbathroom, a fairly routine time his soul left him,” Marie said practice for a woman of retirement of her love tap on the door. age. For whatever reason this night, though, she tapped lightly on the ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ door of a spare room her grown son would occasionally use and said, Lloyd “Jimmy” Middaugh, 42, was “Oh, Jimmy.” described by his family as a “gentle “I don’t know why I did that,” she giant” who was mentally slow. He said of the gesture. grew up in Imperial Beach, where Jimmy Middaugh did not hear his grandfather served as a pastor at his mother’s tap because he was Good Tidings and Encanto Assem- miles away sleeping under a free- bly of God churches. Preaching was way overpass as he had been doing a family legacy with uncles on both for months while he waited for an sides of the family in the ministry. apartment to become available. “We come from a very strong Her son died without the com- Christian background,” Marie, her- fort or safety of that apartment. self a 65-year-old widow, said. Dead Sea Scroll exhibit visits La Mesa church Jimmy was victim number two Jimmy accepted Christ as a teen- in an Orange County serial kill- ager but lost his way as he struggled LA MESA — Students at Cal- rangements with Professor Scott were a 24-foot scroll of the book of ing case that took the lives of four with hyperactivity and a bipolar dis- vary Chapel of La Mesa’s Chris- Moffett of Biola University to Isaiah, a commentary on the book homeless men before a suspect was order. tian school and members of the share pristine facsimiles of the of Habakkuk, and a legal document arrested Jan. 13. At age 18, while living with his church were recently treated to a historic documents. They were on called “Order of the Community.” According to offi cials, Jimmy was family in the coastal neighborhood rare exhibit of Dead Sea Scrolls. view in December and January. Moffett also provided a lecture stabbed 50 times during the early of South San Diego County, he Pastor David Riley made ar- Among the documents on display on the scroll’s signifi cance. morning hours of Dec. 28. He was found on a trail in Anaheim not See JIMMY, page 4 For information about advertising, subscriptions, or bulk delivery, please call 1-800-326-0795 2 • CHRISTIAN EXAMINER • February 2012 SD www.christianexaminer.com vocal faith. about his throwing abilities. Even TEBOW… “It really does show us we are liv- so, the post-game talk centered Continued from page 1 ing in the middle of a culture war,” not on the accomplishment but, he said, adding that people with instead, people seemed to be more weakness as a thrower. strong morals are often ridiculed. fascinated that the number repre- His detractors have been equally It’s because of his character, being sented John 3:16, the same Scrip- vociferous about Tebow’s public a high quality human being outside ture reference he wore through- displays of faith. of the sporting world. However, out his college career. As leader During a Jan. 3 interview with he is vilifi ed and it’s solely because of the Florida Gators, Tebow wore ESPN, Baltimore Ravens lineback- of his clear, bold witness for Jesus the John 3:16 reference in his eye er Terrell Suggs took an unpro- Christ. It shows a polarized society.” black. The NCAA later joined the voked shot at Tebow, two days after NFL in banning the practice of al- the Broncos lost their last regular Elevating John 3:16 lowing messages in eye black, which season game to Kansas City by a Despite all of his detractors, is used to reduce glare. score of 7-3. The Broncos still made Mitchell said he believes Tebow’s In addition to the overall yard- the playoffs thanks to the Chargers grassroots popularity has surged be- age, Tebow averaged 31.6 yards per who defeated Oakland, Denver’s fi - cause of the authenticity of his life pass. And Sports Business Journal nal obstacle to post-season play. both on and off of the fi eld. He fre- reporter John Ourand published in “With all due respect we don’t quently visits prisons, does missions a blog that a portion of the nation- need God on our sidelines,” Suggs work and is building a hospital in ally televised game logged a 31.6 said. “Once again God had to save the Philippines. percent market share. Tim Tebow and the Denver Bron- The curiosity has led to unprec- According to an article by Times cos. He couldn’t even give them edented witnessing opportunities. magazine sports reporter Glen two drives? Seven to three?” After the Broncos upset the heavily- Levy, the top three hot searches on Other criticism has been launched favored Pittsburgh Steelers in the Google Trends the Monday after by former NFL quarterback Jake Plum- fi rst round of the playoffs, the big- the Steelers game “were, in order, mer and comedians Bill Maher and gest online story was not the game the 3:16 passage (‘For God so loved Conan O’Brien. Saturday Night Live itself, but an unusual focus on the the world that he gave his one and also mocked the quarterback in a skit numbers. only Son, that whoever believes in in which Jesus asks Tebow to “take it During the game, Tebow passed him shall not perish but have eter- down a notch.” for 316 yards, an impressive feat nal life’), followed by Tebow and Mitchell said he is not surprised for any quarterback, but especially Tim Tebow.