Champions Podcast

 In this episode Blake talks about:how he believed in God as a Kid, but wasn’t discipled and didn’t attend church regularlyWhen Blake was 16 his dad had a great testimony and he started sharing it with Blake and that was huge for him. “Who knows where I’d be now if it wasn’t for my dad.”Dad was a big Hollywood producer. He had everything you could want. Big houses, cars, money. But he was just lost and wasn’t happy. Then he changed. God got a hold of his heart and removed everything from his life. He went broke, lost his house, lost his cars, and surrendered and went on to a life of following Jesus. God needed to strip everything away from him to get his attention.Parents were divorced when he was 2. Lived mainly with mom. She was a single mother working 9-5 and barely getting by. On weekends when he’d be at dad’s he would get anything he wanted, but at mom’s, she was happy to provide food.Even though his dad lost everything he knew God would provide and that has really worn off on Blake.From 20 yea

Grew up in a home where faith was the number one thingMost important role we will have (as parents) in our kids life is to lead them to Christ.Being a parent is part of parenting your kidsTalks about how his dad was bound and determined when he got saved to raise his kids in a Christian home.  When Don was five his dad took all five kids on a fishing trip and this will be the 50th year of the trip. No one has ever missed. It grew from original 7 to 53 and no one has ever missed. Every person that is of age and understands salvation is saved.The most important thing we can give our children is a legacy in Christ and plant the seeds early.Talks about being the Bills first pick in the 1989 NFL DraftTalks about getting boldness

Talks about putting his faith in the Lord at 8 years oldChaplain at Cal State Heyward where Ted played football began to invest in Ted weekly and would give him scripture to memorize and it was at that point that a fire was lit in himTalks about a when his faith came to a crossroads while umping in the minorsTalks about struggles of trying to fit in with the big league umpires and not wanting to be rejected because of his faithShared how at he had testimony cards made up and handed them out at the umpire union meetings and he came home and told his wife that he thought he committed career suicide because no one wants to hang out with the Jesus guy. A month later the crew chief came into town and told him that he was the most requested guy to be on peoples umpire crewsTalks about an umpire retreat he started several years ago where 12 major and minor league umpires attended the first year and now around 60 attend each year.“You think you can’t do it, you’re right but the Holy Spirit can”CFC

Talks about the impact of his mom’s faith was a huge catalyst in his faith journey.Shares about the impact that his Uncle had on his life and how seeing him the hospital lead to Jacquise praying as a 12-year old his first true prayer.He shares about navigating his newfound faith with trying to fit in while in high school and collegeTalks about the struggle of seeing God as a Heavenly Father, without growing up with an earthly fatherTalks about the love and validation that he was searching for in God, he found in sportsSpeaks into how freedom can either be a gift or a curseTalks about his journey to professional football and learning the politics of the NFLTalks about how God is using Empower YOUniversity to reach at risk youth.Link to Empower YOUniversity - https://empoweryouniversity.net/ younversity_ent on Instagram

In the 10th episode of the Champions Podcast, hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by PGA Tour caddie Paul Tesori. Paul currently caddies for Webb Simpson. Here are some notes from the episode. Please rate, review and share the podcast so that more people can hear the amazing ONLY God testimonies.Talks about growing up in the church but how he slowly walked away from faith as he entered college. He calls it the 3 G’s, girls, golf and good times!Working for Shawn O’Hara and he was doing well. He was considered one of the top caddies in the world, but was still feeling completely empty. He had money, homes, relationship with a girl he wanted but nothing filled the whole inside. Summer of 2010 he decided to do something about it. He was the reason for the broken relationship sand broken problems and he was baptized. That was his transformational momentTalks about how once he was saved he thought everything would get better, but it didn’t Talks about how Webb Simpson won the ACC Championship and that w

In episode 9, Mike interviews LaMorris Crawford, the team chaplain for the Cincinnati Bengals. In this episode, LaMorris talks about:Growing up in the projects and his mother being murdered when he was 10 months oldBy 11 years old, he was in a gangThe basketball court was his refuge from a life of turmoil"Christianity is not about behavior modification, but heart transformation""Salvation is not an event but a person""Our job is to believe that God will do His job""There's so much pressure for winning, that coaches aren't being present.""Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase.""Our job is to put the hands of menin the hands of God""The cross was not a tragedy, it was an accomplishment"This is an amazing episode that we trust God is going to do mighty things through. Please subscribe, like, leave a review and share. We want to make sure we get these incredible ONLY God testimonies in places that people can hear and be impacted by. LaMorris' Instagram - @lamorris_crawfordSports Officials S

In episode 8, Mike and his guest co-host and wife Shannon share the second part of their interview with former LSU soccer star Mo Isom. Some of the notes from part 2:Mo shares about a year of depression and anxiety and how she was searching for, "Any sin sized piece to fill the God-sized hole in my heart."She shared how God literally used wrecking her to capture her heart.Psalm 46:10- "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."Jesus didn't die on the cross for my sins. He died on the cross BECAUSE of my sins"She shares about how one of the ways the enemy can distract us is by not allowing us to face any adversity so it causes us to not understand a need for God, Jesus or the still small voice."At the core, I am a sinner in need of a savior"One question many of us ask is what does the faith walk cost me? It doesn't matter cause look at what I gained.One of the places Mo gained community was through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)"We a

In episode 7, Mike and his guest co-host and wife Shannon interview Mo Isom. Mo is a former LSU soccer star, and NY Times best selling author. She travels the world speaking and is also a blogger. Mo’s testimony is so incredible that we had to break this up into two parts. In part one, she shares how she handled the pressure of being a student-athlete at one of the top college programs in the country. The shares about the crazy highs and lows of her freshman year at LSU that included a 90-yard goal that landed her on SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays and the lows of her father taking his life while she was home for Christmas break and much more. Give it a listen, share with a friend, and please, leave a review!

In the sixth episode of the Champions Podcast hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Ritchie Palacios, former Towson University baseball player and current member of the Cleveland Indians organization. Ritchie shares what it was like during draft day, how his faith grew during college, the benefits of having a brother who plays in professional baseball as well (Josh, with the Toronto Blue Jays organization), how he has relied on his faith while recovering from a torn labrum. We also have another edition of Eli Wants to Know and Coaches Corner!

*To learn more about FCA www.fca.org*To financially champion FCA in Southwest York County, PA my.fca.org/mikerubin

In the fourth episode of the Champions Podcast, our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Tessa Daniels of the reigning National Champion Florida State Seminole softball team. Tessa shares her incredible faith journey and how despite not dressing for the National Championships, she was able to use her platform and make a tremendous kingdom advancing impact. We get our third segments of "Eli Wants to Know" and Coaches Corner.  Some interesting nuggets from the show:  - Exodus 13 Sometimes God will lead us in a roundabout waySometimes we have obstacles in life but on the other end of those obstacles, God is glorified.- Tessa was the NCAA Elite 90 Award winner at the National Championship opening banquet. - Numbers 20      - When the Holy Spirit commands you, don't strike the Rock. Trust God even in your fear - ""This life is not about us - "Jesus tells us, you follow me and you will be met with persecution and that means you are doing it right." - Luke 9:23 - "And he s

In the third episode of the Champions Podcast, our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Luke Wollet, former Kent State and New Orleans Saints safety. Luke shares his incredible faith journey, and talks about the career-ending battle with drug addiction. We get our second segments of "Eli Wants to Know" and "Coaches Corner". Some interesting nuggets from our conversation with Luke: *"I am thankful that God transformed one of the greatest pains and darkest times into a purpose." * He talks about how one "innocent" decision to take a percocet to help with pain, turned into a full blown heroin addiction. * He talked about running to the bathroom to get high during a workout with the New Orleans Saints. * "The football mentality of handling your own problems. You got yourself into something, you get yourself out." * "The number one thing the enemy wants is for us to be isolated" * Coach Phil shared the mindset of many coaches, "We don't want to know as coaches, we want to win and if I know, then I have to

In the second episode of the Champions Podcast, our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil are joined by Washington Redskins punter and University of Oklahoma graduate Tress Way who shares his faith journey. We also get the first segment of “Eli Wants to Know” and “Coaches Corner”.  Some interesting nuggets from our interview with TressHe shares how he navigated temptation in high school“God’s Word is a giant love letter”He shares the athletic accomplishment that he is most proud of.“People often compare their realities with other peoples highlights He talks about the importance of getting on your knees and crying out to GodHe talks about the role FCA played in keeping him out of trouble“If they claim their identity is in Christ, then everything should follow suit with that.”The Bri and Tress Engagement video- Click this linkWhat’s Your Bid game - Currently sold out of Amazon. Keep your eye out for version 2.0 coming soon.  To learn more about FCA, visit www.fca.org To financi

In the first episode of the Champions Podcast, we introduce our hosts Mike Rubin and Coach Phil, and describe what the show will be about. Coach Phil shares his testimony, and we tease our first interview. Financially champion FCA in York County, PA - my.fca.org/mikerubinTo learn more about FCA - www.fca.org