Real Talk with Ben

In today's episode, I decided to keep with the theme and talk about my journey with media. Specifically, how I decided to create a podcast and where it all started. I couldn't talk about my podcast without starting at the beginning with Resound Radio. If it wasn't for Resound, I don't know if I would be doing this today. To be honest, I had no idea that I loved it until I tried it. I guess my mom was always right when she said, "you never know until you try it!". When I joined Resound it was to do a sports talk show and I fell in love with it. As you can tell probably from listening to this episode, the love for this grew and grew. After some rough patches and starting again from the ground up, it was hard to say goodbye to Resound. Little did I know, that 9 months later I would be starting a podcast. So without Resound, there is no Full Court Press, and without being on the Full Court Press there is no Real Talk with Ben. I thank God for the journey he has taken me on and for the people I have met along the way. Thank you to all those who helped me get here! Love you all!

In today's episode, I decided to talk about something that I should have talked about months ago. The journey of The Bowden Experience brand and how it all began. I was posed the question of "how did you start the channel on YouTube and why?". Honestly, I get this question quite a lot and I have been meaning to talk about it, bit just never did...until now! I hope that this story of The Bowden Experience helps show how great God is and how much WE need Him. If it wasn't for Him, I wouldn't be here making videos or podcasts. I am very grateful! God is good!

In today's episode, I decided to share something else that has been on my heart! I decided to encourage the college students who have been affected by the virus. The students have had to leave school and go home. They have had to start online studying and be pros at it overnight. It has affected us all and I feel close to this because of our BI students having to go home and my alma mater Cedarville. My brother attends there and I have still have friends there. It is hard to see this happen, but what I want to encourage the students with is that Jesus will still be the same Jesus before this and after this! That leads me to sharing another poem from my friend Campbell! I am thankful for these poems in this crazy time! This poem is about our Jesus. Do you know my Jesus?

Do You Know My Jesus

By: Campbell Bortel

"My Jesus is The Creator of the Universe!

And that is a fact

My Jesus weights the mountains on scales,

and directs every bolt of lightening

My Jesus is holy, holy, holy, and is the perfection we all lack

My Jesus will have every tribe and nation sing his name,

the anthems are heightening

My Jesus is the Savior, the Faithful, 

the truth, and the only way

My Jesus walked with sinners, died for sinners, rose

alive for sinners just like me

My Jesus is the Beginning, the Amen,

echoing fulfilled promises still today

My Jesus is love, he cares deeply,

and causes the blinded eyes to see

And My Jesus is knocking, he is knocking,

he is knocking on your door

Why would you not let him in!!??

why not run your fastest to that spot!?!?

Give him entry into your whole life!!

ask him to take it all and more!!

Why would you not give up your lukewarm

complacency, and be cold or hot?

Dear friend drop the act,

your apathy and comfort are far from better

Living half heartedly for Christ,

is just drifting backwards down the river

You could never be self sufficient,

apart from Christ you have nothing

You are pridefully sitting naked, blind, and penniless,

when the riches of Christ are stunning."

My Ministry Page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Bowden-Experience-100784304921877/?modal=admin_todo_tour

Cedarville University Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cedarville/

In today's episode, I decided to talk about something that has been on my heart recently. That "something" is the idea of how are we looking at this week when it comes to our faith. As many of you know, it is passion week and this weekend we celebrate easter. This is something that all of us Christians love to celebrate because it is time to celebrate the birth of our Savior! But in these times we are in, I fear that we have lost the joy of celebrating because maybe we fear God has given up, but friends God IS STILL ON THE THRONE! We should take this week and celebrate what God has done in each of our lives. I shared a poem that my friend Campbell Bortel wrote. It goes along with the passion of scripture he preached about, which is Galatians 5:16-26. I wanted to share this poem with you all! Remember God is faithful, you can trust Him!

The Walk 

By: Campbell Bortel

Walk by the Spirit, this is the primary command.

This is not of personal effort, but by grace in which we stand.

Obedience awakened by Christ, in him abide!

His eyes opened on the third day.

To provide us a chance to walk in tandem stride

With His Spirit in every way.

Be led by the Spirit, this is a willingness to go

Is your heart even listening?

Have you read his Word to know?

Is there a place to where he is leading you,

Would you follow him to death's final blow,

Or do you doubt his Faithfulness stands as true

And listen to flesh call Spirit, foe

Live by the Spirit, you cannot do this on your own. 

It is only by the death of Christ, and the resurrection to 

His throne.

The power of the living God, resides in our hearts today,

What would it look like if we truly did, begin to live that way.

To see the power that conquered death and Hell, and 

raised Christ from soil bed,

Come in our lives, defeat our sin, and bear fruit from

our dirt instead

Keep in step with the Spirit, it is daily,

it is constant, it will grow,

Sanctification is a process, evident in your life to show.

Surrender to the Spirit's work, and walk by him each day

By intimacy first and then obedience, may the Spirit have his way.

Do not work harder to earn the fruit of man, for it is only of our Lord

Surrender, give in, release your grip, from legalism's electric cord.

Praise God for the Christ he sent in love to deliver us by crimson hue,

Adore, and worship, bless his name, Jesus, we love you too.

In today's episode, I decided to talk about the ways we all can be sharing the good news of Jesus even during this social distancing era we are living in! I think many times we take technology for granted or we see it as a bad way to share the Gospel. When actually, now more than ever this could be the opportunity to use it to share the Gospel. There are so many ways that we can use it! From FaceTime, to Zoom, to YouTube, to church service streaming and many more! God has given this gift to us, let's not waste it and use it for His Glory! God is faithful, you can trust Him!

In today's episode, I decided to talk about some of the lessons I have learned throughout this journey of being a missionary. I also decided to talk about getting rid of the why questions. Such as "Why God?", "Why me God?", and "Why now God?". I realized that these questions do nothing, but take away your trust in God. The bigger question we need to ask is "How God?", "How God do you want to use me in this time of uncertainty?". These questions allow us to put our trust in Him. Stop worrying about the unknown and worry about the KNOWN! The known is that God is faithful and we can trust him!

In today's episode, I have a special guest joining me! Diego is a student here at the Word of Life Bible Institute. I have just gotten to know Diego and I realized how much I wanted to get him on the podcast. Diego has an amazing story of God's faithfulness and how God answers our prayers even in ways we can't comprehend. Diego's story is just one of many here at Word of Life Hungary. My hope is that I can share more of these stories with you all! This episode once again reminds all of us that God is faithful and you can trust Him! 

In today's episode, I decided to talk about how I have seen good things come out of this time of uncertainty. I have noticed throughout the past two weeks that when we focus on God everything that we do focuses on Him. God knew this was going to happen and He knows when this will end. He will not leave us, He will forever be there! I also wanted to update my list for what I am looking forward to during this year! Call it a 2.0 list! What I do know is that God is good and that He is faithful to us! Remember, God is faithful, you can trust Him!

In today's episode, I decided to give you all some encouragement in these uncertain times. All we seem to hear about in the news is the coronavirus and everything bad happening because of it. So, I thought I would share some things that I have learned from this time and as well as some encouragement from God's word! Even in these times of uncertainty, God remains the same! God is faithful, you can trust him!

In today's episode, I decided to talk about how the Coronavirus has changed our lives around the world, but specifically here in Hungary! We have had to cancel events, stop some ministries, but most recently we had to send the students home. All of this shook our world, we never saw this coming. I wanted to share how this affected our staff, our students, but most importantly myself. We live in a crazy time, but I have good news! God is faithful and you can trust Him!