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Worth watching!

 Bobby Bowden to Speak at the Children's Hunger Fund Benefit

April 16th, 2011

Museum of Science and Industry

Chicago, IL.
Bobby Bowden speaks out on his Christian beliefs
 

It doesn't matter whether he is coaching the Florida State Seminoles football team to another national championship, sharing his Christian faith, or helping others through charity—he doesn't do anything halfway.

Any college football fan knows at least a little about Bobby Bowden's success as a football coach at Florida State. Not many know about his other missions in life—sharing his faith and helping others.

Bowden was born November 28, 1929 in Birmingham, Alabama. He has been the head coach at Florida State since 1976. He has coached the Seminoles to national championships in 1993 and 1999 and 12 Atlantic Coast Conference Championships.

The fact he made it that far is noteworthy, because he spent a good deal of his childhood in bed, sick. At 13 he was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and was in the hospital for six months, followed by being bedridden at home for more than a year. He had nothing but a radio and an imagination to pass his time. Listening to the radio gave him an interest in World War II, an interest he has to this day, and a love for football. He listened to the University of Alabama play on Saturday mornings.

Bobby Bowden was an outstanding football player himself at Woodlawn High School in Birmingham and played quarterback at the University of Alabama.

In his coaching career, Bobby Bowden was an assistant track and field coach for Howard College (now Samford University), from 1954-1955, the Athletic Director and head football, baseball, and basketball coach at South Georgia College from 1956-1958, head football coach at Samford, compiling a 31-6 record from 1959-1962, and head coach at West Virginia University, compiling a 42-26 record from 1962-1975. His 359 career victories ranks first among all Division 1-A coaches, active or not.

When he came to Florida State, Bowden took over a team that had won just four games over the previous three seasons. During his tenure, the Seminoles have a 286-75-4 record. He is the only Division 1-A football coach ever to have his teams have 14 straight 10 win seasons. The team also finished in the top five for 14 straight seasons, another unprecedented accomplishment.

Bobby Bowden is nicknamed the "Riverboat Gambler," for his creative trick plays. He is also known for his southern drawl and his statements like, "Dad gummit."

He has a 19-8-1 record and .672 winning percentage in bowl games, the third best all time percentage. Only Joe Paterno has won more bowl games.

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 2004 presented the first National Bobby Bowden Award to honor one college football player for commitments on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.

Bobby Bowden has been so successful that the Florida legislature in 2004 renamed the field at Doak Campbell Stadium, Bobby Bowden Field at Doak Campbell Stadium.

Bobby's son, Tommy, is the head football coach at Clemson University, and another son, Terry, was the head coach at Auburn and was coach of the year in 1993. Another son, Jeff, is the offensive coordinator for the Seminoles football team for his dad. Florida State and Clemson play every year in what has been nicknamed, "The Bowden Bowl." The first time the two teams played with Terry as head coach of Clemson, it was the first time in Division 1-A history a father and son had met as opposing coaches in a college football game. Bobby has a 5-2 record against his son.

Football isn't Bobby Bowden's only interest, nor does he consider it his most important interest. During his 46 years of coaching Bowden has tried to share his faith with the 5,000 men under his authority. His desire is for all his players to be believers in Jesus Christ as God's Son.

When a new recruit signs to play for Florida State, one of the first things Bowden does is send a letter to the player's parents, asking for permission to take the recruit to church.

Bowden takes the team as a whole twice to church during a season. As a rule, one church is predominantly Anglo, and another is predominantly African American.

As recorded in www.bpsports.net, he tells parents he wants his players to continue living the way they did at home, because typically "when kids get away to college, the first thing they do is quit going to church."

Bowden said a man's mission in life is to glorify God in whatever situation God has put him in.

Bobby Bowden encourages all his players, even those who will be drafted by NFL teams, to pray and seek God's direction before deciding upon a career.

One of Bowden's goals is to always shake the hand of the opposing coach at the end of every game, whether his team has won or lost.

Bobby Bowden never minces words, whether talking privately or whether someone from the news media is listening, in sharing what he believes about a faith in God that brings salvation and forgiveness from God. He often speaks at churches, especially when he is on the road with his team.

Besides giving his best at football, seeking to live a pure life, and verbally sharing his faith, Bobby Bowden also shines his light by helping others through charity.

Bowden has been involved with CharitySignings.com, which provides memorabilia to interested people, signed by various celebrities. Each year the money raised from the purchase of various authenticated memorabilia goes to one designated charity.

He was involved in the 2005-2006 Florida Flame Golf Tourney, Auction.

Bowden also autographed a football for the Lord Wedgewood Charity, which tries to raise money to help those afflicted with sudden cardiac arrest. He also played in a golf tournament for the charity.

One more of the many ways Bobby Bowden has helped people is through being involved a "Dinner with Bobby Bowden" for Anchor House Ministries. The ministry tries to provide full-time car to males, aged 10-17. It provides on-site schooling, individual counseling, life skills training, and practical experience, to help young men learn problem solving, make wise choices, and be able to manage their behavior. Those in the program also participate in a variety of fun activities.

Football is only one of the many interests of Bobby Bowden, coach, Christian, humanitarian. Bobby has been married to his wife, the former Ann Estock, since April 1, 1949, and has six children and 21 grandchildren. 

Bobby Bowden announced his retirement on December 09, 2009 after 34 years with Florida State University.

-article from Associated Content Mike White August 2006

I am Here on Earth for Just a Little While

Life can be described as

a mist

a breath

a wisp of smoke

There are only 2 certainties we can count on in life:

Life is brief.

Life is temporary.

So don't get too attached!  We are just passing through.  Scripture says, "All they think about is this life here on the earth.  But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives".  Folks, we are not living for the here and now, giving in to the temptations around us.   The Bible clearly states, "You're cheating on God.  If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way." 

Knowing this should change your values radically.  Your life in eternity should be changing how you shape your life and your decisions.

Life has nothing to do with material abundance!!  In God's eyes, we are heroes if we faithfully serve Him.  It is NOT in wealth, success and power. 

Why are we spending time on things that are so temporary?

I ask you this:

How should the fact that life on earth is just a temporary assigment change the way you are living right now?

We are Christ's ambassadors and this world is not your home.  Don't get to comfortable here.  And don't trade your soul for your ego.

While you are on this temporary assignment, I encourage you to think about how you are spending your time and your money.

What legacy are you leaving behind?

Join Help Me Help You Help Them and leave a legacy behind of what it really means to step out and live this brief life meaningfully.  Join us on a mission trip.  Join us in sharing God's love to others.  Show your children, family and friends that what you do through God's strength and direction is what matters. 

Live that legacy you have always wanted to leave behind.  Now is the time!

Dress rehearsal before the real production

Have you ever thought about our life here on earth being a dress rehearsal?  A preparation for eternity?  Sir Thomas Browne said "The created world is but a small parenthesis in eternity" in Christian Morals Pt:3 :29.  God wired our brains so that we long for immortality.  That's for a reason my friends!  We were made to live forever!  Our bodies are referred to as "tents" many times in the bible.  But the bible also refers to our future bodies as a "house".  Your tent will be torn down one day and your future is an eternal home with the Lord. 

Are you ready to realize there is more to life than the here and now?  If you view life in this way, I promise you, you will begin to live differently.  Activities and goals will seem petty and not a lot of time will be spent on them.  The key is, the closer you are to God, the smaller everything else appears.  Your values will change, your relationships will change, even the way you spend your money will change.

The bible says, "No mere man has ever seen, heard, or even imagined what wonderful things God has ready for those who love the Lord".  Are  you ready to take the plunge and see what wonderful things God has in store for you?  Help Me Help You Help Them has made that commitment.  Please join us on this great adventure!  Remember, our time on earth is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever.

Our slogan is not the popular, "this is the first day of the rest of our lives".  It is "taking care of the business of every day to prepare for our final day".

I need friends!

Let me start off by saying that I was NEVER into vitamins, exercise or nutrition.

I was always naturally on the thin side and I figured that if I still looked good in my clothes, all was well in my world. I deserved a little “tire” around my waiste. Hey, I birthed 4 kids!

Then, I felt the calling. A calling to go out and travel to countries that were underdeveloped. I had dreams of feeding starving children and comforting mothers who were trying to cope. I even started taking classes toward a degree in social work.

Now the opportunity had finally arrived. A mission trip was on the horizon and I was going!

After watching video clips of mission groups back packing through the mountains of Peru and hiking through “The Bush” in Africa, I knew I was in trouble. I couldn't even climb to the top of our kids sledding hill without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack! How was I ever going to keep up with my group on a mission trip? I was pretty sure there weren't many mission trips where you could sit around all day on a lawn chair by the scenic ocean and pass out food and vitamins.

I was determined to lose 15 lbs. and exercise 20 minutes every day. I even threw in some USANA vitamins, protien bars and shakes to help me kick the sugar and pop habit. I figure as long as I am going to be distributing USANA vitamins to these underdeveloped countries, I might as well be taking them. I didn't want to be a fraud while trying to get donations.

So far I have lost 5 lbs this week! I feel great! My husband is proud of me. My jeans are getting looser around my waiste and I have more energy and less anxiety. I feel good! So, now I can safely say, I love this new health kick of mine and think I will stay with it.

My next goal is figuring out how to encourage people to donate vitamins to The Children's Hunger Fund. Feel free to give me your ideas. I want to hear from you! Is there anyone out there who has a heart for children living in poverty and the broken hearted? I need friends that will be on FIRE for this cause and keep me encouraged! Leave your comments for me!

I will now go back to studying my social work pre-requisite-Cultural Anthropology. Can't wait to hear from all my new friends!

Our Mission

 Our mission is to use our relationships to impact our communities and change lives by challenging, encouraging, and supporting each another to help those in need.

Driving Through the Slums of Peru