Heisman winner's father speaks to LR group

Tim Tebow's father was quick with a joke while speaking at a luncheon in Arkansas - a few days before his son is scheduled to play against the Razorbacks.

"I started traveling with my Bible 40-some years ago and I don't go anywhere without it, because I need it," Bob Tebow said. "In this crowd I wasn't sure if I would need it to block the things you threw. ... I wanted to have some kind of a shield up."

Bob Tebow spoke for about 30 minutes at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Monday. This weekend, Tim Tebow will lead No. 12 Florida when the Gators play at Arkansas.

Bob Tebow shared how he raised his son, last year's Heisman Trophy winner. Tim is heavily engaged in his Christian faith. He spends much of his spare time going on mission trips, working with underprivileged youth and visiting hospitals and prisons.

The Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association has had a presence in the Philippines since 1985. Tim Tebow was born there in 1987.

"We're doing stuff all around the world," Bob Tebow said. "We're doing some stuff in some unnamed countries that I wouldn't say with the cameras rolling and whatnot. They would be too dangerous to say."

He talked a lot about his faith, and he said the work his son does off the field can help keep sports in perspective. That can be important when things aren't going well on the field - Florida was upset by Mississippi last weekend.

"You don't get out of your difficulty by thinking about yourself," Bob Tebow said. "You get out of your difficulty by thinking about others."

Bob was asked what he'd like his son to be doing about 15 years down the road. He said Tim has his eye on the NFL, but that he also has other priorities in life.

"If I had my druthers, he'd be preaching somewhere and he may take over for our work - and I think that's what he wants to do," Bob Tebow said. "He has said that."

Tim was home-schooled while growing up in Florida.

"Most people quit parenting when their kids get to be 14 or 15, and they quit directing their paths, and they take the path of least resistance. When their teenager says, 'No, I don't want to do that' - too many parents give in," Bob Tebow said. "And if I could say one thing, it's don't give in. I don't care how old your kids are, I don't care what the deal is. You keep parenting."

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