Did you know you can help the ministry of Teen Challenge just by donating things of value you aren't using anymore?

By donating clothing, furniture and household items to Teen Challenge you are helping them in their efforts of saving lives.

For 32 years, Teen Challenge of the Mid-South has been providing a Christian rehabilitation program to people with life-controlling addictions such as drugs and alcohol. The program is offered at no cost.

Just look for the Red and Grey boxes scattered throughout the J-103 listening area. If you have bigger items call 756-5558 ext 103 and they will pick it up. Your efforts help Teen Challenge provide hope through Jesus Christ.

Golf Tournament to raise money for the Mercy Temple Church of God Youth(Mercy Crusader's). Sponsorship oppurtunities are available. Contact me at 423-316-9791 or at mercytempleyouthpastor@live.com There is a $500 reward to the winning team. A chance to win $5000 for a hole in one. And many more chances to win. Come and put your golf skills to the test.

Camp Big Fish Summer Camp 2010 for elementary age kids at Eastwood Church in Ooltewah TN. Registration date : every Wednesday Night in February and Saturday March 13th 9 am - 1200 noon at the Church. Summer Day Camp starts June 1st, last 10 weeks. Parents can pick the weeks they want to come. Look online at www.campbigfish.org or call Jeremy / Christy at 423-400-1504.

Did you know you can help the ministry of Teen Challenge just by donating things of value you aren't using anymore?

By donating clothing, furniture and household items to Teen Challenge you are helping them in their efforts of saving lives.

For 32 years, Teen Challenge of the Mid-South has been providing a Christian rehabilitation program to people with life-controlling addictions such as drugs and alcohol. The program is offered at no cost.

Just look for the Red and Grey boxes scattered throughout the J-103 listening area. If you have bigger items call 756-5558 ext 103 and they will pick it up. Your efforts help Teen Challenge provide hope through Jesus Christ.

On April 23rd, Ringgold Primary School will be holding a change drive to help raise money for a student in the Severe and Profound Special Education classroom. The money is going towards getting the student a service dog that will help the student in many, many ways! Please drive by Ringgold Primary School and drop off any spare change you can give on April 23rd, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Also, you can go to www.TuckersBuddy.com to find out more information.

Have you ever wondered...Why am I here? What am I doing?  God has placed you here-and now-for a purpose.  Learn to understand God's purpose for your life and how you can live a life of clear direction with true meaning at Precept Ministries' 2010 Spring Women's Conference.  This will be a very special conference, as we celebrate Precept's 40th Anniversary. It will be a celebration of God's Word and God's Son who has called us according to His purposes. 

Women will spend the weekend in an intimate setting with Kay, Precept's teaching staff and other women searching for the same answers.  The conference will be held April 16-18, 2010, at the ministry's headquarters in Chattanooga, located at 7324 Noah Reid Road.  Women are sure to enjoy this weekend full of fellowship, Inductive Bible Study, prayer, and laughter as their lives are transformed to reflect the Lord.  Each woman will walk away having learned how to Discover Truth for Yourself and apply that Truth as a guide in living a life that pleases our Holy God.

For more information or to register, call Precept at 888-678-5660.

For the 5th year in a row Oakwood Baptist Church presents “Easter in the Park” – a special community wide Easter service, Sunday April 4th at 9:30 a.m. near Wilder Tower inside Chickamauga Park. Over the past four years close to 20,000 people have attended this special Easter celebration and this year we expect another large crowd. Oakwood is once again extending an invitation to come and bring lawn chairs or blankets and dressed as you would like to this community wide celebration.

There will be live music featuring musicians from all three Oakwood campuses and a special message from Pastor Darrell Henry of Oakwood Baptist Church. ‘There’s no better place to celebrate the Son rise’, says Pastor Darrell Henry. Oakwood Baptist Church is one church that worships in three locations: Oakwood Street in Chickamauga, GA, Gateway Mall in Fort Oglethorpe, GA and on Germantown Road in East Ridge, TN.

Oakwood has a plan in place to continue the Easter celebration in case of inclement weather. For more information contact Oakwood Baptist Church at 706-375-5760 or visit www.oakwoodbc.org.

Theoutdoor expo consist of vendors relating to hunting I.E Southern Duck Boats, Stan Gross award winning taxidermist, Northeast Alabama Rv, Pro source motorcycles and 4 wheelers,The U.S Army,Party'S Unlimited.The Brother's and Other's Band.The main event Is Speaker Phil robertson aka the Duck Commander.The vendors start at 300pmcst and the band plays at 500pm cst and Phil Robertson speaks at 600pm cst.for tickets or more info call 256-630-2605.

Fund Raiser for LaPauls Family Missions Ministry, Street Ministry for the Homeless Saturday, April 3rd, 6pm To Donate Items: Email Sam Myers at: Brothermyers68@yahoo.com Proceeds to Assist with Homeless Ministry.

Did you know you can help the ministry of Teen Challenge just by donating things of value you aren't using anymore?

By donating clothing, furniture and household items to Teen Challenge you are helping them in their efforts of saving lives.

For 32 years, Teen Challenge of the Mid-South has been providing a Christian rehabilitation program to people with life-controlling addictions such as drugs and alcohol. The program is offered at no cost.

Just look for the Red and Grey boxes scattered throughout the J-103 listening area. If you have bigger items call 756-5558 ext 103 and they will pick it up. Your efforts help Teen Challenge provide hope through Jesus Christ.

The Roueche' Chorale and Chamber Orchestra presents "COLORS OF GRACE" a Lenten program with narration, choir and orchestra. Admission is FREE to the public.

“Ugandan Thunder” from Uganda, East Africa will be appearing in concert at Second Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 30th at 7:00 p.m. This one hour concert features exciting praise and worship both in English and Lugandan, along with great percussion from the native drums. These thirteen young boys and girls (ages 8-12) will speak to your heart as they share about growing up in a land ravaged by a twenty-year war, poverty, AIDS, and malaria. It will be a concert like no other! Don’t miss it! For more information visit www.secondbaptistlafayette.com or call 706-638-2732.

Say it in Sign, a sign language ministry at Metropolitan Tabernacle Church is once again offering free sign language classes. You will learn ABCs, numbers 1-20, basic sign and deaf culture. Classes meet EVERY Saturday in Feb/Mar/April at the church 10 am - 12 noon. Bring a pen and paper and a friend to practice with during the week. Children are welcomed if supervised by the parent. On the 3rd Saturday every month Say it in Sign hosts Deaf Chat, students will meet at Starbucks 2217 Hamilton Place Blvd, same time 10-12 for this class only on the 3rd Saturday. Here you will have an opportunity to use the language you are learning. Contact the church or myself for more information: www.metrotab.net Lisa Fielder 423 645 2284

8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Gates will open at 6:00 for entry's and swap meet vendors) GENERAL ADMISSION: $1* *goes toward a 50/50 drawing. CHILDREN UNDER 12: FREE Car & Motorcycle entry fee: $15 Swap Meet: $10 Proceeds go to benefit the Rhea County High School Vocational Students **MANY DOOR PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN AWAY!!!!!!!!! *Trophies and Plaques will be awarded for car and motorcycle categories. (People's Choice & Top 10)

Come join us as Mimi Neighbors encourages us by telling us about "When Making Disciples--Bloom Where You Are Planted". Mimi is the founder and president of Love Your Neighbor Ministries, Inc. which is a prison ministry. Please come hear her encouraging and insight words of how to serve God where you have been planted. For reservations call 423-698-6262 or email romaine@scwn.org. Deadline is March 23.

Living Word Ministries welcomes prophetic psalmist Keith Sanders to Calhoun Ga, Saturday March 20th @ 7:00PM EST all information can be found at www.kingdomlivingword.com or call 706-980-6243.

Spring Festival Saturday, March 20, 2010 from 9 am to 5 pm at the John A. Patten Recreation Center in Lookout Valley. All proceeds to be directed to the Elizabeth R. Smith memorial fund (www.elizabethmemorialfund.org)to benefit melanoma cancer research. The festival will feature craft & food vendors, singing entertainment, live & silent auction, doorprizes, and activities for children. This will be a fun day for the whole family and help with the fight against cancer! For more information and/or to become a craft or food vendor please contact Angie Powers at 238-5579 or anp217@aol.com

On March 20, 2010 6:00 pm The Fifth Annul Gospel Music Explosion. All proceeds go to benifit the Cumberland County Foster Adoptive Parent Associatiuon. Come join us for a night of music and fellowship Performers - Blood Bought , Greather Faith, Won by One, Lana Selby, Jay Fox, Monica Henson, Sons & Daughters, Brown Brothers & Etc., Carolyn Marsh, Ronnie Perice, & Joennen Kettler Tickets $5.00 advance $7.00 at the Door Children 12 & under $2.50 Advance or $3.00 at the Door Help us to help the Children in our care! For more information Contact Becky Clark 931-200-5070

Want to learn more about the Chattanooga District Senior Olympics? Here’s your chance! A Senior Olympics Information and Training Day will be held Saturday, March 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the North River Family YMCA & Aquatic Center located at 4138 Hixson Pike in Hixson. The event will feature demonstrations and brief lessons by coaches and trainers on various Senior Olympics events, including: basketball free throw, racquetball, swimming (stroke class), softball throw, javelin, shot put, discus and more.

Registration for the Senior Olympics Information and Training Day is appreciated, but not required. Please call Ginny Stone of Senior Neighbors at (423) 755-6114. The Chattanooga District Senior Olympics will be held May 3-8, 2010 in locations across the Chattanooga area. The games will begin with a Torch Relay through downtown Chattanooga and an Opening Ceremony at the First Tennessee Pavilion on Monday, May 3 at 12 p.m.

The Chattanooga District Senior Olympics are organized each year by: Senior Neighbors, an Alexian Brothers ministry and the Chattanooga Parks and Recreation Department. The Chattanooga District Senior Olympics are sponsored by: Alexian Brothers Senior Ministries, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Sunny 92.3. Download a Chattanooga District Senior Olympics registration form at www.AlexianSeniorNeighbors.org or request one via mail by calling (423) 755-6114. Participants who register by March 15, 2010 will receive a $5 discount off the regular registration fee of $30. (Additional fees apply to bowling and golf events.) Registration ends April 2, 2010.

Spice up your Friday night by learning the Tango! Group lesson 7:30-8:30 followed by open group dancing 8:30-11:00 pm. Meet at Metro Tab to caravan to Allemande Hall. No previous dance experience required. Cost: FREE (If 1st time there) Attire: Dressy The Adventurer's Guild is a non-profit social group open to all adults who enjoy the challenge of outdoor activities. The Guild does 2 adventures per month. For more information visit our website: www.AdventurersGuild.info

Presented in Vaudeville style, this spring musical comedy revue promises to bring a smile to all who attend. People of all ages will get a “kick” out of this humorous turn of the century show filled with songs from past musicals and memory lane. You can also expect some audience participation during the parody of a “Frankie and Johnny” Melodrama. A talented and witty cast of singers, dancers and comedians awaits to entertain you. Grab a friend and a sense of humor and join the frolicking follies at LampLight Theatre.

Just as laughter is medicine for the soul, so is Shenanigans 2010 for the heart. Shenanigans 2010 is a show for the whole family. The production will be held two consecutive weekends, March 12-14 and 19-21 with evening performances on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00. Saturday matinees will be held at 2:00 and Sunday matinees at 3:00. Doors will open one hour prior to performances.

The cost for admission to all performances is a suggested donation of $8.00 for Adults, $5.00 for students, and FREE for Children under 6. Reservations are suggested and can be made by calling the LampLight box office at (423) 348-7610, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or online at www.lamplighttheatre.com.

This past weekend, the RV that Addison Road was using on their tour with Sanctus Real, caught fire and burned up destroying much of their clothes, equipment and merchandise. To read more about the incident, follow the link below to Addison Road's homepage and the blog entry on the story.

AddisonRoad.com

• 
  
  When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he
  checks his closet for Chuck Norris.
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them
  down until he gets the information he wants.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of
  creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Outer space exists because it's afraid to be on
  the same planet with Chuck Norris.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law
  and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard.
  There is only another fist.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn't lifting
  himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the
  world and punch himself in the back of the head.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris' hand is the only hand that can beat
  a Royal Flush.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make
  it drink.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch. HE decides
  what time it is.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris
  bites frost.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Remember the Soviet Union? They decided to quit
  after watching a DeltaForce marathon on Satellite TV.
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  Contrary to popular belief, America is not a
  democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.
  
  
  

it's called Warrior Dash and it's coming to the Southeast for the first time. there's barbed-wire you have to crawl under, flames you have to jump over, logs in bogs to swim under and over and plenty of other obstacles as well!

why would i do this you ask? well first of all, you get a super sweet warrior headgear, but also for the challenge! i can justifiably say after a finish this race, that i am a WARRIOR. how cool is that?

(from CMSpin.com)

um...where are you going with this brett?

thank you, i'm glad you asked! this is something i really started to
think about while watching this movie. is it ok to lie sometimes?

gasp!

i know right! i'm just thinking out loud here but this movie really
provoked some spiritual thought out of me (weird i know, especially for a
movie that depicts God and the belief in him as nothing more than a lie
to make people happy). we are brought up our entire lives being told
not to lie, that fibbing is wrong, and i do believe that...i think.

but what about the husband that asks his wife, "am i really
replaceable?" after losing his job to an automated machine or an
overseas worker? clearly the man was replaced, but doesn't the wife need
to overstate the value of her husband in other areas of his life as a
mate, father, spiritual leader and man of God rather than openly
admitting the truthful answer to his question?

in the Bible we find many places where God tells us not to lie, but
we also see cases where lying is condoned and even praised! in the old
testament, Rahab lies to soldiers to protect the spies that Joshua has
sent into Canaan. later we hear that she is justified by her works and
praised for her faith in God for what she did in hiding the spies.

in first Samuel 16, God tells Samuel to take a calf offering into
Bethlehem so as to hide from King Saul his true reason for going
there...to annoint the new king, David. i honestly am openly confused
about this! is God endorsing, encouraging and even helping Samuel here
in a lie?

this is the great thing i'm finding as i read more into things about
the nature of God. he's really not so black and white as we often make
him out to be. personally, i believe the line between sinning and not
sinning when it comes to lies has a lot to do with the heart. God sees
the heart of every human being, and knows everyone's intentions and
processes. i don't believe lying is something to be practiced at all,
especially when motives are to decieve, but i'm also thinking that God
has supplied us with tact and common sense enough to be able to discern
for ourselves in various situations what is best left unsaid, or covered
up in layers of word distractions.

ha, if anyone is left reading after this ridiculously long text, i would love to hear your thoughts on this subject and what you believe God says to you and in his word. these words i've written are just my own thoughts, and i'm hoping discussion could possibly spring from this. you can leave a comment below, or email me at brett@j103.com. in love, thanks!

forgiveness and trust don't come together as a package you know? when
Peter asks Jesus "How
many times should I forgive my brother? Seven times?", Jesus answers
saying "not
seven times, but seventy times seven!" that's 490 times! now Jesus isn't
saying here to keep track and count every single time you have to
forgive someone, and that on their 491st time you say, HA!, can't
forgive you anymore, Jesus said only 490 times! he's saying that
when someone asks forgiveness, we aren't to rub their noses in what
they've done to us from then on, and that this is something we must
continually do, forgive people. Jesus doesn't say however, to
immediately place your trust in that person again.

trust
comes in time. it is the forgiveness that sets the stage for trust to
grow once more where it used to be. while the hurt and pain may rear
it's ugly head again and again even after forgiveness, there has to be a
healing of the heart and mind for trust to come back, which could take
awhile. if you'd like, read the story of Joseph in Genesis. it
starts in chapter 37 and goes to around 50, but is an epic account of
betrayal, forgiveness and trust.

remember
though, just because forgiveness is granted doesn't mean everything is
back to normal. to paraphrase one of bryan duncan's songs: love (trust)
takes time. and while it's not blind to the wrongs made against it, it's
a choice made by both to either  sacrifice the right to remember the
wrong-doings or to sacrifice their pride and endure the time/pain it
takes to stand firm in regaining the trust that was lost.

The song was originally inspired by Superchick guitarist/vocalist Melissa Brock's personal struggle with an eating disorder. Melissa explains, "I know full-well the pressures that society and even friends sometimes place on us to be thin and beautiful. It started for me when I was 15. I know what it’s like to not feel pretty, to feel fat, to feel like no one would ever want to be with you or even be friends with you because you feel so bad about yourself. BUT I also know how it feels to be free from those pressures and feel a love and acceptance that isn’t humanly possible. This week I am sharing my story, the whole story. And I hope that it reaches someone out there who has been or is where I have been. The biggest step is knowing you aren’t alone."
 
Read Melissa's story in its entirety at http://www.superchickonline.com/blog/?p=506. Also--access the free download of "Courage" at http://inpop.com/superchick/courage/. For more information on National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, visit:www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/.
 
The free download is an extension of Superchick's involvement with "Operation Beautiful," an NEDAwareness Week featured organization. "Operation Beautiful" is an international campaign that encourages women to love themselves just the way they are. For more information on "Operation Beautiful," visit: www.operationbeautiful.com.

(from CMSpin.com)

Group of the Year Nominees Include Skillet, Casting Crowns, Gaither Vocal Band, Jars of Clay, Hezekiah Walker & The Love Fellowship Crusade Choir, NEEDTOBREATHE, and Tenth Avenue North.

Kari Jobe, Crystal Aikin, Bluetree, Jonny Diaz, Revive, Sidewalk Prophets and Brian Courtney Wilson Recognized in New Artist of the Year Category
 
Jars of Clay, Skillet, Matt Maher and Jason Crabb, lead the diverse and gifted artists nominated for gospel/Christian music’s highest honor – the Dove Award, with six nominations each. Bernie Herms leads in total nominations of eight, including Producer of the Year. Producers and songwriters Jason Ingram and Wayne Haun follow with seven nominations each. 
 
Of the 43 categories, nominees in 23 categories of the Dove Awards were announced at a press conference today in Nashville for the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards. The event was held at Belmont University’s Curb Café and was hosted by an outstanding list of Dove and GRAMMY nominees and winners including Francesca Battistelli, Jeremy Camp, Jason Crabb, Brandon Heath, Kari Jobe, Michael W. Smith, Ben Tankard and Lisa Kimmey-Winans.  The GMA Dove Awards, gospel music’s biggest night of the year, will feature artists from every style of gospel/Christian music coming together for a night of music and celebration. The 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 at Nashville’s famed Grand Ole Opry House and televised nationwide on gmc (http://www.gmclife.com/), Sunday, April 25, 2010 from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. EST.  While the awards are the  urpose of the show, music performances will definitely share center stage at the GMA Dove Awards, showcasing some of gospel music’s hottest and most diverse artists.   
 
Dove Awards will be handed out in 43 categories.  Dove Awards nominations go to recordings released during the eligibility year November 1, 2008 through October 31, 2009 and voted on by the members of the GMA.  The complete nominations list is available at both http://www.gospelmusic.org/ and http://www.doveawards.com/.

Tickets to the 41st Annual GMA Dove Awards are currently on sale through the Grand Ole Opry Call Center, 1-800-SEE-OPRY/1-800-733-6779, via the web at http://www.opry.com/ or may be purchased in-person at The Opry Box Office located at the Opry House at 2804 Opryland Drive and the Ryman Auditorium Box Office at 116 5th Ave North, in downtown Nashville. Ticket prices range from $25 - $200.
 
About GMA: 
Founded in 1964, the Gospel Music Association serves as the face and voice for the Christian/Gospel music community and is dedicated to exposing, promoting and celebrating the Gospel through music of all styles including Pop, Rock, Praise & Worship, Urban Gospel, R&B, Hip Hop, Southern Gospel, Bluegrass, Country and more. The GMA community consists of more than 2,200 members including agents, artists, church leaders, managers, promoters, radio personnel, record company executives, retailers, songwriters and other industry visionaries. The GMA produces the GMA Dove Awards, GMA Dove Week and IMMERSE.  For more on supporting the GMA or becoming a member, please visit http://www.gospelmusic.org/ or contact the GMA directly at 615.277.1376.

(from CMSpin.com)

Giving users of the world’s largest online Christian community unlimited access to some of the biggest names in gospel music – including TobyMac, Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Amy Grant, Jeremy Camp, Newsboys, Underoath, David Crowder*Band, Thousand Foot Krutch, Matthew West and Bill & Gloria Gaither.

tangle.com is a global technology company that creates social networking tools for the faith-based and family marketplace. As one of the largest providers of Christian content in the world, tangle.com reaches well over two million unique visitors a month, with millions of page views and maintains over 750,000 registered users. Providing a place for Christians to connect, watch and share videos, access  the top artists in Christian music, read the Bible online through the Online Bible, upload prayers to the Prayer Wall and network with friends, tangle has become the largest Christian social network in the world. tangle is owned and operated by Big Jump Media Inc.

Three things in life that may never be lost - Peace, Hope & Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable - Love, Faith & Prayer

Three things in life that are never certain - Dreams, Success & Fortune

Three things that make a man - Hard work, Sincerity & Commitment

Three things in life that can destroy a man - Lust, Pride & Anger

Three things that will never pass awa- Faith, Hope & Love

Three things that are truly constant - Father, Son & Holy Spirit

it's so easy to trust in something that i have some sort of control over (like myself), and to know that i won't cave in and share something i'm not supposed to. it's in that same vein that makes it so hard to give up control and trust someone else to do the right thing with my secrets.

it's like that a lot with God sometimes too. it scares me sometime to give up control and let God take over cause then i don't know what's going to happen. it's out of my hands. when we've got our best laid plans in motion and God comes in and says "actually, i'd like you to do this instead", it can send you reeling, shake you up a little bit and yes, sometimes even piss you off.

but who better to surrender to than the creator of all things? the God that loves you more than anything! i know if i'm going to trust someone, why not go straight to the top and put my faith in the one that strengthens me? to abandon myself to his will? sure that can be scary, but it's also terribly exciting as well.

(PS: LTB means "Like The Beatles"...the title is from one of their songs coincidentally and that's all i could think of after writing it out)

well today i just had more brownies inexplicably show up on my desk area while i was in a meeting? how awesome is that! magical brownies that appear on my desk! can't beat that! but seriously though, did i miss something about brownies being the new fruit cake or something? trust me, i'd pick the brownies over fruit cake any day, i just didn't know that they were all the rage these days.

(by the way, the station address is 5512 Ringgold Road in East Ridge TN if you'd like to send any more brownies to me. haha.)

"Anything that has to do with food" i said. (weird, i know) i waited a couple of seconds, nothing, so i smiled and shook my head, 'what am i doing asking God to prove himself to me?' i questioned in my head, but as soon as i thought that thought that i thought :), a pizza delivery car drove by right in front of me. coincidence you might say? maybe. but i did ask for anything having to do with food, and that was something.

pretty cool if you ask me.

Psalm 46: 10. Be still, and know that I am God…

That's a difficult thing to do, don't you think? Be still, and know that I am God…
After you have done everything to equip yourself, "Stand firm." Perseverance is much more than endurance. Perseverance carries with it the assurance and certainty that what we are praying for will happen.
You might be saying, "But I prayed and prayed for my loved one, and they passed on anyway." And the thoughts always comes back, "What didn't I do, Lord?" "Did I not have the faith to believe?" And a hundred other questions seem to plague your heart with doubt.
Like Job, your friends will surround you and offer their condolences and help, but your answers must come from God. Your peace must come in the arms of a loving Lord. No friend, however close, can possibly answer your questions. Then one day, in an instant, the Lord gives that peace. The peace that assures that your loved one is truly in a better place.
These aren't "be warm and filled" words that haven't been lived out. Losing my mother 4 years ago and my dad just January 2 of 2010 grief has been a frequent companion. Dear friend, God can give you peace even when the storm doesn't go away the very first time you pray "peace, be still."
Be still. . .wait on the Lord. . .stand firm. . .and persevere.

 

Multi-platinum and award-winning band MercyMe is encouraging “All Of Creation” to “love well” with their upcoming studio album “The Generous Mr. Lovewell” (INO Records), scheduled to arrive May 4th nationwide.                                         

“The album, “The Generous Mr. Lovewell,” revolves around a fictional character we created who reminds us that we simply need to love others well,” explains MercyMe frontman Bart Millard. “For some of us, it means that we need to put hands and feet on our ideology and rhetoric. For others, it means that we need to continue in doing well, but to not stop there. We need to let people know why we are called to make a difference. Our prayer is that this album would mobilize the body of Christ to encourage people in word and deed.”

MercyMe recently had the opportunity to share this concept as they personally premiered their first single, “All of Creation” to radio stations across the U.S. The band split up into three teams of two, making stops at major market stations such as K-LOVE, Z88 in Orlando, The Fish Los Angeles, KCMS in Seattle, WCSG in Grand Rapids and dozens more.

Produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala, the project features 11 tracks, and with each member sending regular tweets throughout the recording, photo shoots and more, fans have been able to stay connected to the process.  The band plans to continue this process, and has already posted YouTube videos talking about the idea behind Mr. Lovewell and the new single:

Millard Describes the idea behind “The Generous Mr. Lovewell”-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS4Q8xiP6N8

Millard Introduces “All Of Creation”-
http://www.youtube.com/user/INORecords#p/a/u/0/q-tywXLREik

“We as a band are all very excited about “The Generous Mr. Lovewell,” continues Millard. “And hopefully it will create a movement of encouraging people to make a difference in the world whether it’s helping your neighbor or just loving each other.”

Also this spring, fans can catch MercyMe on the Rock And Worship Roadshow as they travel across the country alongside fellow acts David Crowder*Band, Family Force 5, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, Remedy Drive and Sidewalk Prophets. To see if the tour is coming to a city nearby please visit: www.rockandworshiproadshow.com.

For more information on MercyMe and “The Generous Mr. Lovewell,” please go to www.mercyme.org or www.mrlovewell.com, or via Twitter @MrLovewell.

Source: CMSpin

 

Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning Jennifer Knapp returns from a seven year hiatus with a new album, Letting Go (Graylin/RED/Thirty Tigers) on May 11th 2010.   This spring she will preview her new music on a co-headline tour with Derek Webb kicking off on March 5th in New York City (tour dates below) and she will also join this summer's Lilith Fair tour.  Fans can pre-order the album on tour and receive an exclusive CD of acoustic demos from the record.  Recorded in Nashville, Letting Go is produced by Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Martha Wainwright, Amy Grant) and features ten intimate folk, country tinged rock songs showcasing her astonishing straightforwardness and spirituality.   Click HERE to listen to new music.  

"It is a humbling honor to have such devoted fans that have waited for my return to writing and performing," explains Jennifer Knapp. "For me, it is the refuge of quiet places that has always birthed the depths of sincerity that music unveils. In the end, no song carries it's full voice until it has been shared. It is truly overwhelming to have the opportunity to reemerge with a fresh vision and passion knowing that lovers of music are there to share the joy."
John Huie of CAA adds, "She's like a fine cabernet.  She only gets better with age.  The sabbatical did her good."
 
Jennifer Knapp
Knapp's impressive history includes selling over one million albums with her previous releases Kansas (debut 1998), Lay It Down (2000), and The Way I Am (2001).    The Kansas-born musician toured the globe with artists such as Jars of Clay and was featured on 1999's Lilith Fair tour.  Her music often described as intimate folk, country tinged rock songs showcases her astonishing straightforwardness and spirituality.   Knapp received critical acclaim with The Los Angeles Times calling her "a rising star" and People Magazine describing her as "an uncommonly literate songwriter." Jennifer went on to win her first Dove Award in 1999 for Best New Artist, scored a Grammy nod in 2002 and another Dove nomination in 2003.  With a considerable fan base, critical and commercial successes, Knapp walked away from it all at the height of her career.  After seven years of soul searching and time spent in Australia, Knapp comes full circle in 2010 with a new album, new tour and a renewed love of music.  She willplay on the re-vamped Lilith Fair tour, the first one in 10 years. Since Jennifer played on the last one in '99, being asked to play the re-launch is very special, a reminder of why Jennifer came back to her musical roots.
 
Derek Webb
Singer-songwriter Derek Webb continues to tour in support of his latest album, Stockholm Syndrome (INO/Columbia Records). The most provocative and stirring release of his storied career, Stockholm Syndrome delivers everything listeners have come to expect from Derek Webb: killer pop hooks and lyrics as thought provoking as they are emotionally revealing. Webb co-produced Stockholm Syndrome with former Caedmon's Call bandmate Josh Moore (Bun-B, Slim Thug), a producer who in recent years has lent his ear to hip-hop recording projects. Derek Webb is an innovator in the evolving music landscape from his social network and Twitter followers to his highly publicized 2006 free album downloads. www.derekwebb.com

Source: CMSpin

now i thought nothing beat a cold shower when you're still hot and sweaty after a good long exercise, but i was wrong. nothing beats a good, cold shower after being hot and sweaty when you use that mint body wash from a certain hygiene company. seriously! it was like a tv commercial. i felt refreshed, rejuvenated and reinvigorated...wow, ok, that all sounds pretty pansy-like when i type it out like that, but the experience was worth sounding sissy for. ha, no regrets here.

A new missionary recruit went to Venezuela for the first time. He was struggling with the language and didn't understand a whole lot of what was going on. Intending to visit one of the local churches, he got lost, but eventually got back on track and found the place.
Having arrived late, the church was already packed. The only pew left was the one on the front row. So as not to make a fool of himself, he decided to pick someone out of the crowd to imitate. He chose to follow the man sitting next to him on the front pew. As they sang, the man clapped his hands, so the missionary recruit clapped too.
When the man stood up to pray, the missionary recruit stood up too. When the man sat down, he sat down. When the man held the cup and bread for the Lord's Supper, he held the cup and bread. During the preaching, the recruit didn't understand a thing. He just sat there and tried to look just like that man in the front pew.
Then he perceived that the preacher was giving announcements. People clapped, so he looked to see if the man was clapping. He was, and so the recruit clapped too.
Then the preacher said some words that he didn't understand and he saw the man next to him stand up. So he stood up too. Suddenly a hush fell over the entire congregation. A few people gasped. He looked around and saw that nobody else was standing. So he sat down.
After the service ended, the preacher stood at the door shaking the hands of those who were leaving. When the missionary recruit stretched out his hand to greet the preacher, the preacher said, in English, "I take it you don't speak Spanish."
The missionary recruit replied, "No, I don't. It's that obvious?"
"Well yes," said the preacher, "I announced that the Acosta family had a newborn baby boy and would the proud father please stand up."

the truth comes out.

i love seeing what people are up to! i don't comment too frequently on things directly on facebook, but i've called people and reconnected with old friends over some of the most trivial things that get posted to my feed through facebook. i'm a social person. i love people. i love to make connections, and isn't that what facebook is all about? so yeah, i'd love to be your friend on the social network giant that is Facebook!

will you be my friend? please?

Brett Ritchey | Create Your Badge

 

New Music Video For "Born Again" Already Making Impact On Winter Jam Tour

Combine the strengths of two supergroups that have sold millions of records, achieved an astounding number of #1 radio hits and received numerous Dove Awards. The result? A reborn newsboys. Now that longtime members Jody Davis (guitar), keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips have welcomed the vocal strengths, writing talents and boundless energy of former dc Talk member Michael Tait to the band, this is clearly a good reason to feel born again and in fact, share some new songs. On June 8th, newsboys are eager than ever to release their 15th studio project, aptly titled Born Again (inpop records). 
 
When newsboys announced in 2009 that Tait would take over the lead vocals, the band and their fans began to relish the positives and possibilities of this brand new start. “Tait is great for us because he’s a real team player and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the mix of personalities,” Jody Davis explains. Even though Davis, along with Frankenstein and Phillips, have played together since newsboys first broke through with 1992's Not Ashamed, Tait immediately, and easily, became part of the unique and tight newsboys unit.

"We’re all getting a new lease on life from this," Jeff Frankenstein states. "The core of the band—myself, Jody, and Duncan—is reunited, and Mike is an amazing singer. It’s providential.”

Tait couldn't agree more. When newsboys called he was actually working with the legendary Clive Davis on a solo project in Los Angeles. Yet after a few great concerts together he knew the invitation to join the band was just what he needed.

Now, the foursome is embarking on a sure-to-be momentous year with Born Again, which was produced by The Write Brothers and Mark Heimermann (dcTalk, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith). Thanks to a pre-sale campaign on the band's current co-headlining Winter Jam tour, fans can advance purchase Born Again for only $7 and until the June release date, each fan receives a 5-song EP along with a chance to get the full CD autographed by the band. The campaign has been a successful since the tour kicked off the beginning of January.

"All of us at inpop records are thrilled for the upcoming release of the brand new newsboys music," exclaims John Kelly, CEO, inpop records. "It's also been exciting to hear the buzz from the fans at Winter Jam purchasing the 5-song EP. We are proud to be their record label and are truly looking forward to a great year from this stellar band." 
 
THE SONGS
The songs on Born Again were penned by newsboys, The Write Brothers, and Steve Taylor, including a new track by Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline). Living out the album's moniker, thanks to "On Your Knees," the worshipful "We Remember" and the group's first two radio singles, "I'll Be” and "Born Again," both shipping February 12th to AC and CHR radio respectively, each song showcases what is noticeably different about newsboys today: story-led tunes with melodies coupled with more distinguishable piano and guitar performances.

Already a live highlight at their concerts, “Born Again” is where newsboys truly become a band renewed, and they collectively view the song as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year. “We’ve all believed in lies at some point,” Tait says, emoting his testimony. “I had some prodigal years in the past, but I hope the song encourages others to make the same decision I did: I’m giving Him the best of everything that’s left of the life inside this man / I’ve been born again.”

“Born Again” is also the project’s first music video and the perfect match to share footage of newsboys building houses in Mexico’s poverty stricken Baja Peninsula. The video, which can be viewed on the homepage of www.newsboys.com, has already seen by thousands thanks to its airing during newsboys Winter Jam set, is already impacting concertgoers on how they can do something for those less fortunate. For years the band has been serving the people in this Third World setting constructing hundreds of homes, and plans are underway to invite fans there this summer for ministry efforts. Details will be announced as soon as they are available.

Penned with longtime newsboys collaborator Steve Taylor, “Boys Light Up” is a biographical anthem of reignited belief and purpose for the band: I was feeling all overcome / Had a faith gone dim and then some / Got a call from a band of brothers . . . / All the doubters I heard them say “now the band’s gonna fade away” / But the ‘boys are back for a second act / No excuses. We’re lighting fuses.
“It’s a common theme running through newsboys,” Phillips says of the ultra-rhythmic cut with a chorus that declares: When the boys light up you know Who gets the praise, Who owns the show. “It’s like a new version of ‘Shine,’ another song of encouragement.”

With the band's efforts to connect with their audiences of all ages, through meet and greets to social media aspects, Phillips states, "It helps us gauge the pulse of where our fans are at and what they're going through, and I hope they feel a sense of greater reconnection that the band is trying to make." 

In all, newsboys view this new collection of songs  as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year. They are truly Born Again.

Born Again EP Track Listing:
1. Born Again
2. On your Knees
3. When The Boy's Light Up
4. I'll Be (first single )
5. One Shot

www.newsboys.com

Source: CMSpin

Me setting the middle section of the snowman up on his bottom.

Becca holding our snowman's head.

Our finished snowman. He had a soccer cone hat, carrot nose, almond mouth and yes...beenie weenie eyes and buttons. may he rest in peace.

When sending in your suggestion, please include the following:

1.       Person/persons basic contact information:  Name, number, and address.

2.     A brief story about the person/persons.

3.     Why you feel they deserve a new roof.

4.     Condition of the roof:

a.      Does it leak?

b.     Are there missing shingles?

c.      What is the approximate age of the roof?

5.     As many pictures of the roof as possible, both close-up and from a distance, as well as any water damage on the inside caused by the roof.

IF YOU CANNOT SAFELY TAKE A CLOSE UP PICTURE...DON'T!

Please submit your suggestion with all the requirements to AllTimateBlessing@AllTimateRoofing.Com

All suggestions must be received by February 28, 2010. 

1) To Save a Life: a movie with a message i wish i had seen ten years ago. how often do we as people, especially we as Christians, judge those around us? from the man standing with a cardboard sign at the on ramp from I-75, to the woman driving down the road in her Mercedes with the sticker to her gated community on the bumper of her SUV and head held high...maybe slightly higher than we think it should be. people need to be loved, and we as Christians should be the biggest bunch of beatles-esque, love-hippies out there.

2) The Book of Eli: a movie for discerning adults indeed, but touches on such a profound truth. God's Word is beautiful and valuable! God's Word is filled with so much heavenly wisdom, and on top of that is quite poetic, that it is really something we should cherish and allow it's words to influence us daily.

3) When In Rome: i could write romantic comedies for a living. seriously! i'm not afraid to admit Failure To Launch is one of my favorite movies, or that i even liked Sweet Home Alabama, but i could have told you the entire plot to this movie 10 minutes into the thing. come on now...really.

As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. Because of its mass appeal, Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, the New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine (June 7, 2008). For more information on Third Day, please visit: www.ThirdDay.com.

from CMSpin.com

 

As we near the street date for TobyMac’s upcoming album TONIGHT, (Feb. 9/Forefront Records), iTunes® has teamed up with the GRAMMY Award ® winner and 2010 nominee, and is offering an exclusive opportunity to purchase and download a new single every week leading up to the release of TONIGHT.

This week the single is “Get Back Up,” and due to the devastation in Haiti, TobyMac has decided to donate 100% of his artist royalties from first week sales to relief efforts.   Proceeds will be divided up amongst the Hands and Feet Organization, Restore Haiti, and Compassion International.

"The world is responding in a beautiful way to this tragedy haitians are experiencing,” he says.  “If I am going to create art that speaks of compassion than I must live that out.  I wanted my new release "Get Back Up" to benefit Haiti in their tragedy and I am blessed to use my music to help as your purchase becomes our gift. "

To purchase the single go to: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/get-back-up-single/id349759576

Source: CMSpin   

 

Football fever is at a high as the 2010 Super Bowl XLIV nears on February 7, 2010.  Thousand Foot Krutch’s music will be present at the Miami football party as the band’s hot song “Fire It Up” will be used in the arena on the jumbotron to pump up the crowd with a highlights video.  This month, NFL Network has also used the song on NFL Total Access, NFL Nike Rewind and NFL Game Day Morning (see link below). 

“Fire It Up” has also been featured in recent months in the summer blockbuster movie trailer for “G.I. Joe,” ESPN’s NASCAR Nationwide series, the Versus Network IndyCar race as well as a pre and in-game song for various sports teams (New York Islanders, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Seattle Sounders and Seahawks, UFC, and many others).  This single has also brought chart success, giving TFK their fourth Top 20 hit on Active Rock radio including current top 10's in Seattle, WA (KFNK), Santa Rosa, CA (KXFX), Burlington, VT (WLFE), and Denver, CO (KBPI), Chicago, IL (WIIL), Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (KEGL), Las Vegas, NV (KOMP) and Fresno/Visalia, CA (KRZR), and many other stations increasing spins.

As their most recent studio album “Welcome to the Masquerade” catapulted the band with many song placements, radio singles, year-end album mentions and reviews, TFK has also risen to the occasion on the touring market.  With new booking agent Pardiagm Agency, the band has landed a tour with Breaking Benjamin in March (dates below).  TFK is also replacing the Newsboys at the January 29  Winter Jam Spectacular Tour in Cleveland, Ohio. Also, starting March 25th, TFK will start their headlining tour through April 9th including special guests Since October, The Letter Black and Write This Down.

For more information on TFK visit their website (www.thousandfootkrutch.com) MySpace (www.myspace.com/thousandfootkrutch) Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/thousandfootkrutch) and Twitter - @officialTFK. 

Source: CMSpin

there's just something about that CD in your hands. the way the case slightly sticks to your hands when you take the cellophane wrapping off, the trick of unhinging the CD to get those pesky stickers off the edges and of course the pop of the CD as you pull it from it's holder and then looking through the booklet insert while reading the lyrics as you listen along.

this is the kind of stuff digital copies can never reproduce, the "unboxing" if you will. i've also started my vinyl collection in the past year...talk about a listening experience! you have to set aside time to listen to music then. you can't just pop in a CD or hook up your MP3 player. you've got to sit down, set it on the turntable just right and then be near the record player just in case it skips or anything. i love it. music should be experienced every now and then. not always just coldly downloaded and then listened to in the background of your day to day.

From L to R: Ted, Steve, Mike

 

Sparrow Records pop/rock trio Above The Golden State will release its sophomore album, The Golden Rule, Jan. 26, 2010. The follow-up to its critically acclaimed 2008 self-titled debut, The Golden Rule contains a collection of songs that explore the core elements of Christian faith.
 
Living in Portland, a city where much of Christianity, like the music scene, is underground, Above The Golden State went back to the basics. Frontman Michael Watson explains, “I feel like we got a fresh, clean, unbiased start to following Christ and understanding God through his Word, and that’s why we draw from who we are and share that message musically.”
 
The band used “The Golden Rule” as the starting point for its new songs. “The Golden Rule, to love God and your neighbor as yourself, is a commandment we’ve all been given,” says Watson. “Through these songs, we want to encourage the Church to return to that fundamental truth. We are constantly pursuing God upward, serving God within our community and going into the world to share His message.”
 
The Golden Rule is driven by the band’s desire to love the world as Jesus did. The album aims to move listeners beyond mere words to actions that support faith and delivers the message through thought-provoking lyrics. The result is songs that are meant to inspire Christians to live out love to those around them in their own communities, neighboring cities, across the country and around the world.
 
The band addresses authentic Christianity in “The Real You” and couples that with a practical application in “Tragedy,” where the band investigates life’s darker realities that come with divorce, cancer, lost jobs or even loss of faith.
 
Following up the hit singles “Sound of Your Name” and “I’ll Love You So,” the band’s debut single from The Golden Rule, “I Am Loved,” is currently going for adds at Christian AC and CHR radio. The band will debut new music from The Golden Rule on tour with label mate Sanctus Real this spring.

Source: CMSpin  

we have been assured of our eternal salvation, as well as our
forever-home in heaven! not only that, but we'll be hanging out with
the coolest guy to ever walk the face of this earth, the one and only
God-man Jesus!...THE ORIGINATOR AND FACE OF LOVE!

Matthew 6:25-34 is a great part of the Bible to read if you struggle
with depression, anxiety or worry. sure, it doesn't specifically
address every situation that could cause someone to feel or grow
depressed, but there are over 150 BILLION adult birds on this planet at any one time and God provides for each of them every day! why wouldn't God spend time to provide for us in every way when we're his favorite creation? we, the same people who he sent his only son to pay the price for all of our sin, stupidity and evil.

God loves you. He loves me. this is something to be happy about!
it's when we recognize his love for us that we get so excited we can't
keep it in and have to share it. when we share God's love with others,
we're too busy to think about anything going on that could drag us down or depress us. every day is a gift of God's love, so never give up hope, daylight is coming!

(see what i did there? transitioning to the YouTube video below?)

“let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.”  A Puritan prayer

Every human being experiences valleys at one time or another during his or her life.  Even though as Christians we know God cares about our suffering, many of us wonder at times why He allows it.  I’m not very fond of valleys of suffering.  I’d rather spend my life in mountain top experiences.  And often, when I’ve gone through a season of suffering, it has been accompanied by many tears and questioning.

Sometimes my valleys are valleys of discouragement and loneliness.  Sometimes they are valleys that I’ve created as a result of my sin against God.  Other times they are valleys that I’ve been thrown into (losing my Dad, health issues, unexpected expenses, etc).  What matters most is not what type of valley we find ourselves in, but rather, what we do when we’re in the valley.  Do we complain, groan, and allow bitterness to enter our hearts?  Certainly, these are natural feelings.  But God can help us past these places.  He can restore our souls in the valleys of life.

The Puritan writer of the prayer above knew that God’s glory often shines the brightest in the valleys of darkness.  I think the reason for this is that as we stumble through valleys, we learn more of our own weakness.  We realize in a tangible way that we are unable to save ourselves or muster up the strength to fix our situations.  In the valleys of life, we learn that we need a Savior.  So, our response is to look up.  Look up to the One who planned your steps through this valley.  Look up to the One whose glory is shining through your weakness.  Look up to the Savior whose grace is greater than your sins, whose riches are infinitely more than your need, and who will never leave you hopeless in the valleys of life.  As we look up to Him, our hearts will grow in gratefulness for His goodness to us.

You restore my soul. You guide me in the path of righteousness for your name’s sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.  Psalm 23:3-4

 

Knowing that in a disaster, time and resources are of the utmost importance, Essential Records recording artist Third Day is stepping up to speed aid to the people of the earthquake-ravaged island nation of Haiti, and members of the band are challenging its fans to do the same.
 
Third Day has made a $20,000 donation out of its Come Together Fund to World Vision’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, established immediately following the devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Tuesday, Jan. 12.
 
In an open letter signed by all four members of the band and available on ThirdDay.com, Third Day praises the ongoing work done by World Vision, and encourages its fans to give to the charitable organization’s work in dealing with this specific humanitarian crisis.
 
“We have seen firsthand the amazing work that World Vision does around the world,” the letter reads.  “They are first call responders to these kind of disasters, and will immediately maximize our dollars to care for those suffering in this difficult time.”
 
“We would like our donation to serve as a challenge.  We invite you, as Third Day fans and a community of believers, to match our donation to help our brothers and sisters suffering in Haiti today,” the letter continues. “We hope that you will keep the people of Haiti in your prayers, but we also hope that you will be part of God’s answer to their prayers as well.”
 
Fans interested in donating to the World Vision’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund can do so through the band’s website at www.ThirdDay.com or through World Vision’s website at www.worldvision.org.
 
About Third Day:
Over the past decade, the Atlanta-based, multi-Platinum rock band Third Day (made up of members Mac Powell, Tai Anderson, David Carr and Mark Lee) has racked up 27 No. 1 radio singles and sold 6.25 million albums. A recent Georgia Music Hall of Fame inductee, Third Day has garnered 24 career GMA Dove Awards, three GRAMMY Awards (with 14 career nominations including 3 this year), an American Music Award, three American Music Award nominations and multiple ASCAP honors for songwriting.   As a credit to its songwriting, Third Day’s memorable “Call My Name,” off its Revelation project (7/29/08), was selected by country star, Keith Urban as a bonus track on his Defying Gravity project.

As a top-ranked touring band, according to Pollstar magazine, Third Day has played for audiences reaching into the millions. Because of its mass appeal, Third Day has been featured by top media outlets including “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (NBC), “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (CBS), “60 Minutes” (CBS), ABC’s “Nightline,” USA Today, the New York Times, and even graced the cover of Billboard magazine (June 7, 2008). For more information on Third Day, please visit: www.ThirdDay.com.
 
The Fall 2009 “Revelation Tour” continued Third Day’s tradition of “paying it forward” by donating $1 per ticket sold to charitable organizations through its Come Together Fund. Through this fund, Third Day--who actively supports the ONE Campaign--has been able to serve charities such as Habitat For Humanity, Blood:Water Mission, World Vision’s Hope Child Initiative and is responsible for more than a million dollars in donations over the last four years to disaster relief in and outside of the U.S.

Source: CMSpin 

 

Rebecca St. James is adding her voice and national  media presence to those speaking out in favor of January’s recognition as "Sanctity of Life Month.”
 
St. James will be seen tomorrow (15th) on CBN’s flagship “700 Club,” speaking about the heartening acceptance accorded the release of her first starring role on film in “Sarah’s Choice,” –a movie with a strong pro life message.
 
Next week, Rebecca will be in New York for major mainstream media, including a Tuesday (19th) appearance on “Hannity,” on the Fox News Channel.  She will later next week be in Colorado Springs for radio tapings with Focus On The Family as well as the presentation of her music and message at their Sanctity of Life chapel gathering on Friday, January 22nd.
 
Long a passionate and outspoken advocate of abstinence from the global platform of millions of unit sales on her music and a chain of best-selling books, (her self-penned hit song, Wait For Me, has been an anthem for abstinence and birthed a franchise of books worldwide), the Australian born singer has in recent months turned her creative focus to films. Not just any films. Films with messages she hopes will positively impact lives.  
 
The “Sarah’s Choice” story line follows St. James in the lead role of a young career woman on the fast track to success in the corporate world when she discovers she’s pregnant outside of marriage.
 
Rebecca feels that the raw ‘reality of life’ message in “Sarah’s Choice” is one that holds promise of helping young women to choose “life” as the decision of choice in unplanned pregnancy.  
 
She was personally deeply impacted by her role in the film, as she noted in a recent interview:
 
“I think the biggest thing the film imparted to me—both in researching the role and in portraying the character—was a real sense of empathy for women who find themselves in the situation my character found herself in,” she commented. "My heart goes out to them as I have seen the extreme amount of pressure and fear that can come from outside sources at a vulnerable time such as this.  Too often, young women choose abortion and subsequently suffer the immeasurable pain that often comes with living with regret and guilt.  I came away from the movie with a real passion to impact this cycle with the message of God’s heart for the unborn,” St. James added.
 
In national screenings of “Sarah’s Choice,” reaction to the film’s message has been consistently powerful.
 
“This is a film that delivers the message of God’s love, forgiveness and grace on a subject matter thousands need to see and hear—it’s a movie that every pregnancy center in America should have in their library and consider showing as a special event,” noted Bill Donovan, executive directorship member of the CPC Pregnancy Center in Anchorage, Alaska.
 
St. James has in 2010 added a series of special presentation events for Crisis Pregnancy Centers to her already busy schedule of concerts and future film interests.
 
The DVD, of “Sarah’s Choice,” which features bonus content, including “The Making Of,” “Trailers,” and “Commentary,” is available from Pure Flix Entertainment at national retail through EMI CMG Distribution.

Source: CMSpin   

 

Dove Award-nominated rock band Remedy Drive is gearing up for a busy spring with a slot on the popular Rock and Worship Roadshow Tour, along with one of Christian music’s biggest names, MercyMe.
 
“We are thrilled to be on the Roadshow with Remedy Drive this spring,” says MercyMe’s Bart Millard. “They bring so much energy and passion to the stage; it’s going to be a great show.”
 
Other special guests include David Crowder Band, Family Force 5, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, and Sidewalk Prophets. The tour kicks off March 18 in Indianapolis, IN and wraps up April 25.
 
Remedy Drive is currently in the studio with producers Ian Eskelin and Otto Price, wrapping up some new songs that will be available soon. If you haven’t yet seen the most buzzed-about live show of the year, catch a sneak peek from the guys’ Lifelight Festival performance here http://budurl.com/HopeEPK.
 
For more information, please visit www.remedydrive.com.
 
Word Records is a part of Word Label Group, a division of Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb Company. The artist roster heralds some of today's top Christian music performers and songwriters including Point Of Grace, Mark Schultz, Diamond Rio, David Phelps, Remedy Drive and Meredith Andrews.  The Word Label Group leads the industry with over 58 years of music-making history.

Source: CMSpin  

 

Myrrh Records’ five-piece worship-focused band Pocket Full of Rocks will be releasing their long awaited new project, More Than Noise on March 2, 2010. Featuring the rising single “Alive”, More Than Noise was produced by Dove Award-winning producer Ed Cash (Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman, Bebo Norman). More Than Noise also includes a recording of “Let It Rain”, a worship standard in the contemporary church, written by frontman Michael Farren and made popular by Michael W. Smith. 
 
Pocket Full of Rocks is currently on tour with 33 Miles and John Waller in preparation for the release of More Than Noise. The band will also be playing a handful of promotional dates with Meredith Andrews and Todd Agnew. Check the band’s official website for a complete list of tour dates (http://www.pocketfullofrocks.com). Additionally, the Dove Award-nominated band is offering fans the opportunity to pre-order More Than Noise on their website in a variety of unique packages featuring exclusive audio and video content for those who pre-order.  
 
For more information, visit http://www.pocketfullofrocks.com or www.wordlabelgroup.com.
 
A leader in the music industry for more than 50 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Diamond Rio, Point Of Grace, BarlowGirl, Mark Schultz, Big Daddy Weave, Group 1 Crew and Francesca Battistelli, and is home to Word Distribution, Word Print, The Breen Agency, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Fervent Records, Myrrh Records and Squint Records.

Source: CMSpin 

from drumming on overturned laundry baskets and bean bag chairs to Phil Collins, holding hands with my high school girlfriend to a Jars of Clay song or playing Rock Band with my college roommates to any number of songs, certain tunes are irreversibly woven into particular memories. i honestly don't think it can be helped!

it just goes to show me the power of music. how certain chords, intros or drumbeats can spark a memory i had long since forgotten about and bring it to mind so vividly. i find it amazing that God has allowed human beings to manipulate sounds into something that at times, is so divinely beautiful. it definitely reaffirms my belief daily in what J103 is doing. the power of music is evident not only in my life with the memories and emotions it evokes or brings back to mind, but also in the lives changed and souls saved that i get to hear about everyday at work.

i love my job!

...and boy do i love music.

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8. Eye Drops Off Shelf
7. Enraged Cow Injures Farmer With Ax
6. Stolen Painting Found by Tree
5. Two Sisters Reunited After 18 Years in Checkout Counter
4. Deer Kill 17,000
3. Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
2. Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge
1. Kids Make Nutritious Snacks

the Sidewalk Prophets honestly were the biggest surprise for me. i did NOT expect them to rock as hard as they did. loved it! the Newsboys sounded great with Tait on lead vocals, and really enjoyed hearing him do an old school medley of past Newsboys hits. Fireflight filled the arena with their rock music and impressed me with their new single For Those Who Wait, and what i did get to hear of Third Day was like going back to that favorite childhood restaraunt and ordering your usual...it just 'felt' right.

now that WinterJam has come and gone, JFest will be the next big thing for us concert-wise at J103. one of the bands we're trying to get is one of my all time favorites too! not Jars of Clay (i wish!), but one of my other favorites. i'm definitely looking forward to it!

Australia's national Christian music charts, The Rock Across Australia (TRAA), today announced Mat Kearney's Closer To Love as the 2009 Song of the Year, and honored 30 year old American singer Brandon Heath as 2009 Artist of the Year.

This is first time Mat Kearney (pronounced Karni) and Brandon Heath have earned TRAA honors.

The internationally acclaimed American singer/songwriter who has toured with John Mayer, The Fray and newsboys spent eight weeks atop TRAA with Closer To Love, the lead single from his City Of Black & White album.

Best known for his 2007 song Nothing Left To Lose which peaked at #41 on the Billboard Hot 100, Kearney regards himself as a mainstream act. His music is included in TRAA because of parallel distribution in the Christian sector.

Brandon Heath garnered Artist honors for three songs - Wait And See, Give Me Your Eyes, and Follow You (a duet with Leeland) - with each landing in the top half of TRAA's end of year chart. His songs spent a total of 56 weeks in the survey with dual listings for some weeks.

Other contenders for TRAA awards this year included Francesca Battistelli. The US singer songwriter was the only act to score two number ones (Free To Be Me, and It's Your Life).

TRAA's annual airplay accolades recognise the artist or group gaining the most airplay on Australian Christian radio, plus the individual song generating the most airplay.

TRAA - published by Woodlands Media - compiles its weekly charts aggregating high rotation activity (derived from playlist reports, and airplay monitoring) across more than 20 stations in capital cities and regional markets.

The Rock Across Australia's 2009 Top 100 Songs and Top 50 Artists Chart are available online here: www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/TRAA-091231-Top100.doc

The Rock Across Australia's analysis of 2009 is available here: www.therockacrossaustralia.com/annual/TRAA-091231-Analysis.doc

The Rock Across Australia has published its national Christian music charts weekly since 1999 at: www.therockacrossaustralia.com.
 
PREVIOUS TRAA HONORS

2008 Song of the Year This Is Home - Switchfoot
 Artist of the Year Britt Nicole

2007 Song of the Year Something Beautiful - newsboys
 Artist of the Year newsboys

2006 Song of the Year Like You Love Me - Nathan Tasker
 Artist of the Year Nathan Tasker

2005 Song of the Year Gloria (All God's Children) - Paul Colman
 Artist of the Year Bethany Dillon

2004 Song of the Year Beautiful - Bethany Dillon
 Artist of the Year Jars Of Clay

2003 Song of the Year (There's Gotta Be) More to Life - Stacie Orrico
 Artist of the Year Stacie Orrico

2002 Song of the Year Purified - Michael W Smith
 Artist of the Year Michael W. Smith

2001 Song of the Year These Thousand Hills - Third Day
 Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio

2000 Song of the Year Shackles (Praise You) - Mary Mary
 Artist of the Year Paul Colman Trio

1999 Song of the Year There's No Power in Pity - Cliff Richard
 Artist of the Year dc Talk

Source: CMSpin   

Here are a few upcoming releases in Christian albums for the first quarter of the year that are relevant to the music played on J103:

January 12, 2010
- All Star United - The Good Album - E1 Entertainment

January 26, 2010
- Various - WOW Gospel 2010 - Verity Records - Provident
- Above The Golden State - The Golden Rule - Sparrow Records - EMICMG
- Deas Vail - Birds & Cages - Gotee Records - Word

February 9, 2010
- tobyMac - Tonight - Forefront Records - EMICMG
- Fireflight - For Those Who Wait - Flicker Records - Provident

March 2, 2010
- Point Of Grace - No Changin' Us - Word Records - Word
- Various - WoW Worship Purple - Word Records - Word
- Pocket Full of Rocks - More Than Noise - Myrrh Records - Word
- Meredith Andrews - As Long As It Takes - Myrrh Records - Word
- Francesca Battistelli - My Paper Heart (Deluxe Edition) - Word Records - Word

March 9, 2010
- Sanctus Real - Pieces Of A Real Heart - Sparrow Records - EMICMG
- Chasen - That Was Then This Is Now - INO Records - Provident

March 23, 2010
- Robbie Seay Band - Miracle - Sparrow Records - EMICMG
- DecembeRadio - Live CD/DVD - CHP - EMICMG 

March 30, 2010
- Amy Grant - Somewhere Down The Road - Sparrow Records - EMICMG
- Sarah Reeves - TBD EP - Sparrow Records - EMICMG
- Remedy Drive - Daylight Is Coming (Re-release) - Word Records - Word

you've seen them swallow adult humans whole...

they now even have begun to absorb our four-legged pals...

SNUGGIES. they latch on to the front of people the world over, and now they have invaded the J103 office!!! i snapped this picture of our sales associate Joel Spivey mere seconds before this leopard Snuggie finished him off.

 

Here is an interview Nappy did with Mark Schultz.

Nappy:  Are you originally from the North Carolina area?

Kansas is where I grew up.  Then moved to Nashville right after college, Kansas State University.  Packed everything up in my Mazda RX-7 and moved to Nashville.  Then I got married three and half years ago. My wife is a doctor OB/GYN, so she went to undergrad at UNC/medical school and doing her medical residency at UNC so we are here at Chapel Hill.

Nappy:  That definitely makes you at Tar Heal over the Dukies!

Mark:  Oh big time, my wife likes to yell at the television when they’re playing Duke.

Nappy:  I was reading on your bio that for some reason you rode your bike over 3,500 miles.

Mark:  Right.

Nappy:  Was that coast-to-coast?

Mark:  I totally did.  I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I went all that way and didn’t see one coast to the next.  We started at the coast in Los Angeles and then road all the way to New Hampshire.  I dipped my back tire in the Pacific Ocean and my front tire in the Atlantic Ocean.

Nappy:  How many miles per day is that?

Mark:  We did the whole thing in about 62 days.  We had about 14 shows in there and I didn’t really ride on those days.  We averaged about 100 miles today.  It was a pretty awesome and a long ride.

Some days it was nice, just put your headphones in and six hours later and you’ve gone 100 miles.  In a weird way it was relaxing.  There was a day when the bus broke down and I just kept pedaling across the state of New York.  I did 200 miles in one day, which is an all time record for me.

It was a great experience and we raised a quarter million dollars for widows and orphans for the James Fund.

Nappy:  That’s awesome.  You rode 3500 miles, what’s next?  An Ironman?

Mark:  Ha!  No, Ironman’s are out for me.  What I might do is the ‘from my house to Starbucks challenge’ and might do that later this afternoon.

It was a great experience for me; I pushed myself harder mentally I thought I could go.  At the end of the day it was neat to have people follow along on the website and raise attention to a cause that’s pretty dear to my heart since I was adopted at two weeks old.  I don’t know if I would have done it just to say I rode my bike across the country.  Riding for those kids was very special and gave me a lot of incentive.

Nappy:  You’ve written a number of number one songs, how do you usually start writing a song?

Mark:  I think in my mind, “let’s write a number one!”  Ha!  Nah, I’m just kidding. 

I sit at the piano and just noodle around and play different chords, I’ll think about what’s going on in my life and stories that I’ve heard.  I’ll tell you when the magic happens is when you play a certain chord a certain way you’ve probably played 100 times before but today it triggers something inside of you.  Whatever the first thing out of your mouth that really melts with that chord and flavor.  That chord brings out an emotion in you and the words just fly out your mouth.  Those things just, mmm, starts to make this stew where it just things start to happen that are special.

I never think to myself, ‘this is going to be a big song.’  You know when someone watches a movie and there is something special that comes on the screen and it just takes you, you get lost in the movie.  I think that’s similar to songwriting for me.  I just play around till something totally grabs me and pulls me into the song.   It’s like the song created it self and I just happen to be sitting there.

Nappy:  What advice would you have for someone wanting to write his or her own songs?

Mark:  First thing I would say is, and I tell everybody this.  There is a book called “The Craft of Lyric Writing.” By Sheila Davis.  I would say I was songwriter, but not a good songwriter until I read that book when I was in Nashville. 

A matter of fact, the first guy I played my songs for in the music industry said, “You don’t play the piano that well, you don’t sing very well, your songs aren’t that good.”  I thought I think I’m better than that, but he told me about the book “The Craft of Lyric Writing.”  I read it and it changed everything for me.  The songs got much better.  At the end of the day, what that book did for me is that it got lyrics that made sense to me but nobody else.  All of sudden I was crafting lyrics that were seemed to speak to everyone else and pull them into the song.   It’s just doing it over and over again and crafting a song with as few words as possible.

Mark’s Favorites

Color:  Blue 

Superhero:  It’s been for a long time Flash Gordon!

Movie (lately):  I really liked the movie, “Life is Beautiful.”

TV Show:  Lost

Ice Cream:  Vanilla Chocolate Chip

Breakfast Cereal:  Cheerios

Food while watching Favorite TV Show:  Pizza

Favorite chair while eating your favorite food while watching your favorite TV show: The couch in our living room.

Thanks again for Mark to take a few minutes to spend with us.  Be sure to check out Mark Schultz’s new album Come Alive, out in stores NOW.

Source: Nappy

Honorable Mentions

Owl
City's Ocean Eyes has been my guilty pleasure of the year. catchy beats
and clever pop hooks drive Adam Young's infectious electronica, and
it's really no surprise the man of Owl City has seen so much mainstream
success this year. As well, the marriage of Jon Foreman from Switchfoot
and Sean Watkins from Nickel Creek produced one of my favorite albums
this year with Fiction Family's self-titled debut. Acoustic indie rock
with pop sensabilities, one can only hope the two men of Fiction Family
opt to recapture the sound of this album in it's follow-up someday.

STAND-OUTS: Owl City - Vanilla Twighlight, Fiction Family - When She's Near

5) Mat Kearney - City of Black and White

Gone are Mat Kearney's rap-laced indie rock songs, and in their
place, with the release of City of Black and White, are solid rock
songs with a folk twist. Touring from the success of Nothing Left To
Lose brought perspective and world music influences into a solid
musical follow up for the man from Nashville.

STAND-OUTS: Closer To Love, Lifeline

4) Switchfoot - Hello Hurricane

Their first album in what seems like forever, Switchfoot's
self-released Hello Hurricane packs a punch while maintaining their
sensitive side as well. Using the freedom that comes from putting the
album out themselves, they took their time with Hello Hurricane, and
the TLC that went into it is very apparent.

STAND-OUTS: Mess of Me, Your Love Is A Song

3) Jars of Clay - The Long Fall Back to Earth

My number 3 and number 2 are pretty interchangable, but i had to make a decision, and Jars of Clay's 8th full-length studio album landed at the #3 position. Capitilizing on their newfound independence and mixing in some 80's nostalgia, Jars of Clay produced The Long Fall with new perspective, and it really shines through on what has become one of my top 3 albums from one of my top 3 bands of all time.

STAND-OUTS: Boys (Lesson One), The Scenic Route

2) NEEDTOBREATHE - The Outsiders

Having been made aware of NEEDTOBREATHE after their album The Heat and the hit single Washed by The Water, the anticipation for their follow-up, The Outsiders, was huge. NEEDTOBREATHE exceeded those expectations and delivered an amazing album of what i like to call "back roads" rock (mixture between southern rock and that indie folk rock sound)! The duet with Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek (one of my all-time favorite bands) further cemented this album as one of my favorites of the year.

STAND-OUTS: Prisoner, The Outsiders

1) Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down

Relient K's seventh full-length studio album is by far one of their best yet. Challenging MmHmm as my favorite of theirs', the entire CD carries the belief, that like the title of the album, there are things in life you can't do anything about, so you might as well accept that God is in control and move on with your life (lead singer Matt Theissen wrote most of the album after his fiance broke their engagement). This deeply personal collection of songs varies in emotions from tragic heartbreak to faithbound optimism, and was by far my favorite from 2009.

STAND-OUTS: Therapy, Sahara, Candlelight

Well there are my top 5 favorite albums of the year 2009. This is very much a personal list, and i'm sure yours is not the same at all. Feel free to let me know what CD's i should give a listen to from 2009 with your favorites from this year. i'd love to know what else i should be listening to before we start 2010!

We went to see my 88 year old Dad, my siblings and their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. What an amazing blessing it was.

Ironically the temperatures in Phoenix weren't much different that here in Chattanooga on Christmas week. Highs were in the upper 50's to low 60's and the overnight lows got down to near freezing. However, there was plenty of warmth. The warmth that can only come from a family sharing laughter, fond memories, a wealth of smiles and tears as well.

What I found is that the Arizona temperatures had nothing to do with the warmth that I experienced. It had everything to do with spending time with family. As we worshiped together celebrating the Incarnation I laid hold of what a great heritage I come from, and even more-so, how wonderful it is to know that as believers we have the entire family of God to call our family as well.

 

Over And Underneath Among Billboard’s Top 10 Christian Albums For Year
 
Tenth Avenue North, the reigning GMA Dove Awards New Artist of the Year, wrapped an incredibly active and successful 2009 with appearances on both the charts and the airwaves, plus news of appearances already scheduled for 2010.
 
Coming in at No. 1 on the Billboard 2009 Hot Christian Songs Artists chart, the band also landed an impressive two songs on the Hot Christian Songs chart, including the No. 1 radio single “By Your Side” at No. 2 and “Hold My Heart” at No. 13.  More impressive is the fact that Tenth Avenue North, still on its first album, ranked No. 3 on Billboard’s overall decade ranking of Christian songs.
 
The band’s debut record, Over And Underneath, finished the year at No. 10 overall on Billboard magazine’s list of Top Christian Albums of 2009, alongside such Provident Label Group rostermates as Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Third Day and Red.  Over And Underneath has surpassed the 200,000 sales mark since its release on May 20, 2008.
 
Tenth Avenue North’s radio reception has been equally impressive, with singles “Hold My Heart” and “By Your Side” both notching in the top 10 on AC Monitored and CHR charts. The band was featured on the nationally syndicated “Total Axxess” program’s first-ever weeklong “Acoustic Christmas” series, together with Jars of Clay, Red and Brandon Heath the week of Dec. 14.
 
Fresh off the success of its own headlining “Inside and In Between” tour this fall – seeing more than half of the shows sold-out – Tenth Avenue North has been tabbed as special guests for two months worth of dates on Casting Crowns’ “Until The Whole World Hears” tour in 2010, paving the way for the release of Tenth Avenue North’s sophomore effort in early summer.

About Tenth Avenue North:
Named GMA Dove Awards New Artist of the Year (2009), Tenth Avenue North was the best-selling and most played new Christian artist of 2008, scoring three No. 1s at radio and crossing the 100,000 sales mark with its debut Over and Underneath (5/20/08) in just eleven months. The band – Mike Donehey (lead vocals/acoustic guitar), Jason Jamison (drummer) and Jeff Owen (electric guitar/background vocals)  – has toured extensively over the last year in support of Over and Underneath (recently crossing the 200,000 mark in total album sales), and recently wrapped an impressive run of shows on its very first headlining tour- “Inside and In Between”. Tenth Avenue North is one of the few debut bands that have experienced enough momentum to headline its own tour with only one album under its belt. For up-to-date information on Tenth Avenue North please visit www.tenthavenuenorth.com or www.providentpress.com.

Source: CMSpin   

Linus does...

Merry Christmas! i hope your Christmas has been amazing, and please don't forget what it's all about.

talk about a white Christmas! we shut down schools, work and roadways at the first flake of snow down here, but those crazy New Yorkers were going about their daily business as foot after foot of snow fell. it was awesome! so now we had our family together for Christmas, all that was missing was the tree and decorations!

for our tree, we had to go with a real one since it didn't make sense to purchase a fake tree for this unusual Christmas in Syracuse, so we packed in the car and headed to the local tree farm. me and my brother threw snowballs at each other, and we ran through the thousands of trees at the farm searching for just the right one. after coming to a consensus on a quality tree, my dad had been given a saw from the tree-farmer and we cut the evergreen down there on the spot, and drug it through the snow as a family to be wrapped and placed on top of the car.

getting back to the apartment my dad was staying at, we unloaded the tree and set it up in a corner of the living room. here was the thing though. we didn't have any Christmas decorations to go on this beautiful, great-smelling Christmas tree! what to do??? well it just so happened that this was the Christmas that McDonalds was giving away 101 Dalmation happy meal toys to coincide with the release of the new live-action movie. do you know that all of those toys could double as a ornanment? i don't think my mom did either.

after much begging and pleading, my mom allowed me and my brother to 'decorate' the tree in black and white. the little puppies covered the tree from head to toe with the collection me and my brother had put together of these spotted dogs from the fast food giant. the theme was definitely different than what my mom was used to, but she was happy to have the family together...even if it was 800 miles away from home and with plastic dalmation puppies on our beautiful Christmas tree.

 

Today, the blockbuster fourth studio album, Until The Whole World Hears from GRAMMY, AMA and five-time Dove Award-winning “Group of the Year,” Casting Crowns (Beach Street/Reunion Records), reaches RIAA Gold status, only four weeks after the Nov. 17 release. This certification, signifying U.S. album shipments exceeding 500,000 units, marks the fastest-selling Casting Crowns album in its unparalleled six-year career.
 
With its sales continuing to demonstrate an upward trend, Casting Crowns is again named Billboard’s Top Christian Album Artist for 2009, for a third consecutive year. The repeated placement at No.1 on the year-end Christian/Gospel chart (12/31/09) solidifies Casting Crowns as the top-selling act in Christian music since 2007.
 
Selling 167,000 first-week copies, the historical debut of Until The Whole World Hears set a sales record for the group as the highest debuting Christian Music artist in SoundScan history (week ending 11/22/09). The album released as the third strongest album debut in the country on Billboard’s Top 200 chart behind John Mayer and Norah Jones. With 44, 845 units sold this week, Until The Whole World Hears is No.1 for a fourth week on Nielsen SoundScan Current Contemporary Christian Album chart. At radio, the title track claimed a third week at No. 1 on Billboard’s AC-Monitored chart, marking a ninth career chart-topping song for Casting Crowns.
 
Last month, the band’s 2008 Christmas album Peace on Earth also certified RIAA Gold. The Christmas album continues a strong run with the week’s 59, 865 units sold, and is named the No. 5 best-selling album of 2009 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums year-end chart (12/31/09). Both Until The Whole World Hears and Peace on Earth remain top performers on the national Billboard Top 200 chart, at No. 31 and 22 respectively, for week ending 12/13/09, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
 
The RIAA Gold certification of Until The Whole World Hears adds a third Gold album to the band’s collection. To date, all of the Atlanta-based band’s projects are RIAA certified, with a monster tally of two RIAA Platinum Albums, two RIAA Platinum DVDs, now three RIAA Gold Albums and a Gold DVD, further establishing its unprecedented six-year career.
 
With lead singer and award-winning songwriter, Mark Hall’s 18 years in youth ministry, the band’s lyrics are born out of real life situations, inspired by the 400 students and families he has led on a weekly basis since 2001, at Eagles Landing Baptist church. Casting Crowns focuses on discipleship through music in its new chart-topping, 11-song album, giving national audiences a fresh, relevant perspective on loving God and loving people.
 
Casting Crowns played to 150,000 fans at multiple sell-out performances on the fall leg of its headlining 41-city “Until The Whole World Hears Tour,” and will continue with a spring run in 41 more cities. For tour dates or more information, visit www.providentpress.com, or www.castingcrowns.com.
 
*Follow the band on Mark Hall’s Twitter at: http://twitter.com/markhallCC. Millions of fans can now stream the band’s entire catalog of music and video from the band’s newly created fan-centric web site, www.crownsfans.com.

Source: CMSpin

it wasn't so much the actual gift, which was awesome mind you, but the story leading up to it. a Super Nintendo cost $200 when it first came out, and me and my brother had been saving up for awhile only to have probably $30-40 between the two of us. we were told by our parents that it was too expensive of a gift for Santa to bring it to us on Christmas morning, so me and my brother determined it would take us 5 years, but we would eventually save up the money to get it ourselves.

that Christmas Eve, me and my brother had gone to bed even through the excitement of the anticipation of Christmas morning. for some reason, i woke up during the night and walked into our family room. there on our tv was the most glorious thing i'd ever seen. the 16-bit, colorful world of Super Mario Brothers as my dad sat in the floor 'testing the system out'. i sat down cross-legged next to my dad and watched him try a few levels, then felt my little heart about jump out of my chest as he let me take a turn at the controller for a little bit.

making me promise not to tell mom or my brother Daniel, i then had to go back to sleep knowing that there was a Super Nintendo wrapped up under the tree waiting for me. talk about not being able to relax and fall asleep!

i really to this day don't know if it was a big sacrifice for my parents to get that video game system for their 5 and 7 year old boys, but at the same time, what loving parents don't sacrifice for their kids all year round, but specifically this time of year. i will never forget though hanging out with my dad that Christmas Eve night playing that video game [probably because i think he's only played video games with me once since then :) ], but it's little bits of Christmas memories like that which really make me smile.

 

With their year-end and decade charts out this week, BILLBOARD has named MERCYME's "Word Of God Speak" the #1 Song of The Decade and the group the #1 Christian Songs Artist of the Decade. MercyMe earns an additional #1 in the Christian AC Song Artist of The Decade category.

“MercyMe’s career has always been about writing songs that we believe will share the love of Christ and make him known,” commented lead vocalist Bart Millard. ”We continue to be blown away by the support radio and fans give us, and strive to continue to write music that can  move your heart toward God. Here’s to the next decade!”

MercyMe has garnered an astonishing 22 #1songs in their career, six of which are reflected on the Billboard radio charts for this decade, continuing to show the impact their songs have on listeners across the country:

#1 Christian songs artist of the DECADE
#1 Christian AC song artist of the DECADE
#1 Christian song of  the DECADE with “Word of God speak” as well  as:
            #16  “Here With  Me”
            #19  “God With  Us”
            #35  “You  Reign”
            #48  “In the Blink of an  Eye”
            #49  “Bring the Rain”

In addition to their radio singles, MercyMe's debut album, “Almost There” captured the 4th Christian Album of the Decade slot, as well as placing MercyMe as the #4 Christian Album artist of the Decade. Also, their 2004 release,“Undone” took #38 on the Christian Album of the Decade chart, with “Spoken For”(2002) not far behind at #46.

MercyMe is currently in the studio with producers Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala recording their sixth studio project, scheduled to release May 4th, 2010.
  
www.mercyme.org

Source: CMSpin   

 

Award-winning singer/songwriter Matthew West sets out to spread some holiday cheer this month with the “Give This Christmas Away Tour,” kicking off tonight in Indianapolis. Additionally, West will perform his current radio single, “Give This Christmas Away,” on Fox News programs “Huckabee” and “FOX & Friends.”
 
The “Give This Christmas Away Tour,” West’s first Christmas tour, will visit 10+ cities through Dec. 19 and feature Christmas classics, new Christmas songs as well as career favorites. The tour will additionally include a special pre-show screening of the brand new VeggieTales Christmas movie, Saint  Nicholas – A Story Of Joyful Giving, for which West wrote and recorded “Give This Christmas Away.” VeggieTales’ signature characters Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber will also be on hand to greet attendees. A tentative tour itinerary follows this release.
 
In the true spirit of giving, the “Give This Christmas Away Tour” will help to raise funds for Operation Christmas Child, a division of the international relief organization Samaritan's Purse. The tour will donate to Operation Christmas Child’s “beyond-the-box” discipleship program, seeking to provide children in developing countries with a New Testament Bible in their local language.
 
“I am so excited to begin the ‘Give This Christmas Away Tour,” says West. “So many amazing doors have opened this season for me to share the message of what I believe Christmas is about: Giving! True joy is found at Christmas when we choose not to get caught up in the chaos, and instead look beyond our own needs to see the needs of others.  That is why we are teaming up again with Operation Christmas Child, and a portion of every ticket purchased will be donated to help OCC purchase bibles for children.” 
In conjunction with the tour and radio single, “most added” this week at Christian radio, West will perform “Give This Christmas Away” live with Amy Grant on the Fox News Channel’s “Huckabee” Saturday, Dec. 5, re-airing Sunday, Dec. 6.  West and Grant will give an encore performance of the song Thursday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 25 on the network’s “Fox and Friends” Christmas special additionally featuring Andrea Bocelli and Kristin Chenoweth. Check your local listings for air times.
 
In keeping with the “Give This Christmas Away” theme, West released a gift book this holiday through Tyndale Publishers, aptly titled  101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away. The book, along with the Something to Say Christmas Edition album featuring “Give This Christmas Away” and three new acoustic recordings, are now available in stores. 
 
West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, “More,” which was the most played Christian AC song of 2003. The multi-Dove Award nominee and sought-after songwriter released two critically-acclaimed recordings, Happy (2003) and History (2005); has been a mainstay at Christian radio with memorable hits like “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know”; and has toured with such artists as tobyMac and Jeremy Camp on the wildly popular 2008 “Boomin’ Beyond Measure” tour. In addition, West has penned songs for Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Natalie Grant and Mandisa, among others. West’s third studio recording, Something To Say, released January 15, 2008 and produced the No. 1 AC radio hit “You Are Everything,” which was also the most played Christian song of 2008, as well as “Something to Say,” which climbed to No. 7 at AC radio. His most recent single, Grammy Award nominated “The Motions,” was No. 1 on Radio & Records’ Christian AC Monitored chart and the Billboard Christian chart for 14 weeks as well as the most downloaded Christian digital track 15 weeks running, according to SoundScan. For more information on Matthew West, visit www.matthewwest.com or www.myspace.com/matthewwest.

Source: CMSpin

 

Singer-songwriter Francesca Battistelli earned her first Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Performance for her hit single “Free To Be Me” from her debut record, My Paper Heart. “Free To Be Me” shattered records when it became the most added song by a female artist in Christian radio history, holding the number one slot for ten consecutive weeks and becoming the first number one song from a female at AC radio since 2005. Additionally, the song was the #4 most downloaded Christian Digital track for 2009.
 
"I am shocked, thrilled, and honored to be nominated for a Grammy award! I started dancing in my dressing room in Boston the night I found out,” Francesca shares. “It's truly a dream come true, and it means so much that a song I wrote in college has resonated with people so deeply.”
 
Francesca was nominated alongside Heather Hadley with Smokie Norful, Jonny Lang, Donnie McClurkin with Karen Clark Sheard, and Third Day in the Best Gospel Performance category. The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards will be held January 31, 2010 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. A full list of Grammy nominees can be found at http://www.grammy.com.
 
“It’s Your Life,” Francesca’s current single, was recently featured on the series finale of TLC's Jon & Kate Plus 8 as part of a dramatic montage recapping all five seasons of the show. “It’s Your Life” is currently the #1 digital track in the Christian market, generating over 23,000 downloads this past week. The song debuted on Billboard’s Hot 100 list this week.
 
Francesca is currently on the road celebrating the holiday season with label mates Big Daddy Weave for Newsong’s “Very Merry Christmas Tour.” The tour is stopping in 19 cities, wrapping up on December 18 in Albany, GA. For a complete list of tour dates and cities, visit www.francescamusic.com.
 
For more information about Francesca Battistelli, visit http://www.francescamusic.com or http://www.wordlabelgroup.com.
 
A leader in the music industry for more than 50 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Diamond Rio, Point Of Grace, BarlowGirl, Mark Schultz, Big Daddy Weave, Group 1 Crew and Francesca Battistelli, and is home to Word Distribution, Word Print, The Breen Agency, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Fervent Records, Myrrh Records and Squint Records.

Source: CMSpin  

 

Songwriter, recording artist and worship leader Matt Maher recently notched another high-profile endorsement of the power of the standout debut single off his sophomore Essential Records project, Alive Again.
 
Apple, Inc.’s iTunes Store, the industry-leading digital music retailer, recently named the song “Alive Again” as the Best Christian & Gospel Single of 2009.  When asked Maher said, “It’s always great as a writer and worship leader when a song you write connects with people at radio and live, and to have iTunes honor it this way is a nice way to end the year.”
 
The single also is currently in the top 10 on two Christian radio formats, No. 6 at AC-Indicator and No. 7 at CRW-AC which translates to more than 250 + million cumulative impressions.
 
As Maher wraps up a busy and successful 2009, including just finishing a tour opening for label-mate Michael W. Smith, he’ll ring in the New Year in Orlando, Fla. at the National FOCUS Conference (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) in front of more than 3,000 students representing FOCUS chapters from all around the country.
 
Looking ahead to 2010, Maher will be part of Break Forth, the largest equipping and renewal conference in North America, in Edmonton, Alberta in late January. Maher will perform alongside Michael W. Smith, Robin Mark, Newsboys, Francis Chan and Lincoln Brewster. More than 15,000 attendees representing more than 1,000 churches are expected for the two-day conference.

Maher will embark on a full touring schedule in the spring of 2010 starting with the “Hold Us Together Tour” (named after his upcoming single, “Hold Us Together”) running January through early April, followed by a co-headline tour with label-mates Leeland and worship leader, Phil Wickham in April and May. Maher will finish out the spring season performing in May as part of the World Prayer Day in Newfoundland Canada and the YC Edmonton event.

Source: CMSpin

i challenge you this Christmas to give love and time rather than gaudy sweaters and fad-like toys. personally, i know there's a few people on my Christmas list now that will be getting something priceless and/or truly heartfelt rather than stuff they may or may not like/use/need/want.

StuffChristiansLike.net - #205. Frisbee - God's Favorite Sport

I can’t prove this, but I think Christians might be better at
frisbee than non-Christians. I know that doesn’t sound very scientific,
but it feels right. Roughly 94% of the Christians I know can really
throw the Frisbee well. They’re good at ultimate frisbee, can play disc
golf, and can even throw a pretty accurate flick or sidearm if you
will. The Christians that can’t throw the frisbee? Probably
backsliding.

I like to imagine Jesus and the disciples out on the shores of the
Galilee playing a game of ultimate frisbee. Robes would be flying,
beards flapping in the wind majestically as they all laughed and played
like that volleyball scene from the movie Top Gun. Of course, Jesus had
to play using “human rules.” He couldn’t have his throws go farther
using the holy spirit or walk on water to catch an errant pass. As the
“Sons of Thunder,” James and Jon would probably be body checking
everyone and of course Judas would be calling hand fouls left and right.

You’ve had that same thought too right? I’m not the only one am I? Maybe I’m weird.

there's plenty of other great posts on his blog, definitely check out the posts on 'side-hugs', 'always sitting in the same seat at church' and 'giving open flames to kids on Christmas eve'. good stuff!

The biggest debate in Christmas music is new Christmas songs verses traditional Christmas songs. As I program music for a Christian radio station, I have that same question to answer, and I can say that it really is a tough one. What I have found is that a combination of the two actually makes sense for most people. The fact is that "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night," "The Little Drummer Boy," and "O Come All Ye Faithful" are great songs; there is no replacing them. However, I also cannot imagine Christmas music in 2009 without "Gloria" by Mercy Me, "This Baby" by Steven Curtis Chapman, or "He Made A Way In A Manger" by Candy Pearson Shelton. So, I think in this day and age it is just a matter of finding the right mix of new and traditional Christmas songs. 

If you were limited to three Christmas albums to listen to this year, I would have to say go with Steven Curtis Chapman's Christmas is All in the Heart, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra's Timeless Christmas, and of course Mercy Me's The Christmas Sessions. Let us take a quick look at all three of those. 

Steven Curtis Chapman's Christmas album Christmas is All in the Heart combines newer and older Christmas songs in such an amazing way.  Steven Curtis has a remarkable, down-home way of singing these songs, and provides the listener with a laid-back way of enjoying twelve Christmas tracks. The acoustic guitar is clearly present in most of the songs on this CD. I would say the highlight on this album is "This Baby." This song describes the early days of Jesus and how he went through many of the same things as little babies do still today-only this baby had come to change the world. What a message and what an honest look at what Christmas is all about. 

Denver and the Mile High Orchestra's CD Timeless Christmas is probably the most fun Christmas album I have heard. For the most part it is upbeat and exciting. Their version of "Joy to the World" is incredible. They are one of the few groups that can take a song that you have heard performed 1000 times by probably 50 different artists and make it special. They have a horn-driven sound that sets them apart from most of the rest of the Christmas music that you normally hear. 

Mercy Me also has a pretty fantastic collection of twelve songs inside The Christmas Sessions. This has all of the qualities of a great album: skilful songwriting, strong vocals, and fabulous instrumentation. This CD, like the other two, has a combination of new Christmas songs and traditional Christmas songs. "Joseph's Lullaby," one of the new tunes, is sung from the viewpoint of Joseph. It is such a touching song and the beauty of it is that it is written from a perspective that most of us do not think about. Mercy Me always comes through with great albums, and this one is no different.

Christmas music sure is great isn't it? There are a lot of great Christmas albums out there; we have merely highlighted three of the best. Check them out and enjoy. 

Justin Wade

Music Director

J103 Radio

You can help a Dalit ("Untouchable") family break the cycle of poverty—with an income-producing gift that will serve as a tangible expression of Jesus' love for them.

You can give a gift in honor of one of your loved ones! Consider adding to your Christmas list ... gifts like chickens, sewing machines, goats, BioSand water filters, and yes, even a water buffalo.

Who are the poorest of the poor? Who are the Dalits?

Literally meaning "crushed" or "broken", the word "Dalit" appropriately describes the people who bear this title. Also known as the "Untouchables," there are 300 million of them in Asia.

About Gospel for Asia

Gospel for Asia's mission is to share the Good News of Jesus with those who have not heard his name. One hundred percent of all contributions designated for use on the mission field are sent to the mission field.

i'm thankful for a wonderful lady which God has brought into my life, my beautiful girlfriend Becca. though i've not always been a pleasure to be around i'm sure, the young lady has stuck around and loves me unconditionally, and i know in her heart she wants to please God more than anything...an excellent quality for a future wife.

my friends are also worth praising. God has placed great Christian brothers in my life that i know pray for me, and would be by my side at a moment's notice were i to need them. friends like these are hard to come by, and i only hope that someday we'll be able to sit on the front porch of one of our houses and have a 'cutest grandbaby' competition in our old age.

lastly, but not 'leastly', i'm thankful for my J103 family. my coworkers are wonderful people who are in ministry for all the right reasons. though we're all human, i'm amazed at the group God has put together here at the station. the J103 listeners also amaze me on a day to day basis. financial support is definitely a large part of my gratitude to our listeners cause i know we wouldn't be here without you responding to God's prompting, but you have no idea the impact your testimonies have had on me. when i answer the phone to hear a story on how God used a song to change someone's life, that uplifts and encourages me so much. just as God uses a Casting Crowns song to bring someone through a rough patch in their life, God also uses the testimony of that person to minister to me as well. i love it!

so i'm very thankful for people. without family, friends, coworkers and J103 listeners, my life would be VERY Different than what it is today. i thank God for all of you daily, and hope you have an AMAZING Thanksgiving.

Steven Curtis Chapman recently shared his story of faith and hope with US Weekly magazine in their Nov. 3 issue in addition to CNN.com, in a story that was quickly one of their most read features of the day. In it Chapman spoke candidly about the emotional journey he and his family have been on the past 18 months since the passing of his daughter Maria. Chapman can also be seen in an upcoming issue of PEOPLE Magazine set to hit newsstands in early December.

(http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/12/steven.curtis.chapman/index.html )

On Thanksgiving Day, the singer/songwriter will be featured on Larry King Live for their HEROES special, where Chapman will be speaking with King and performing his debut single  “Heaven Is The Face” from his latest and most personal album yet, Beauty Will Rise (11/3/09). Other guests scheduled to appear are Mariah Carey, Tyra Banks, Ben Stiller and more. This special episode of Larry King Live will air Thursday, November 26 at 8pm (EST).

In addition, the five-time Grammy Award winner recently taped an interview and gave an impromptu acoustic performance for Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts, in follow-up to the program’s in-depth interview with Chapman and his family last fall.  The interview will air in early December. 

Chapman has also recently shared his story with Gudiepost.com, Christianity Today and Servant Magazine as well as for future covers of Charisma, Outreach magazines and most recently on CCM Magazine’s Digital Issue. Fans can also tune-in to hear Chapman LIVE on Moody Radio’s Midday Connection program on Monday, December 7 at 12pm (CST).
 
For more information on Steven Curtis Chapman please visit www.stevencurtischapman.com.

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33Miles will launch their second annual “Believe“ tour this December with the help of Food for the Hungry and INO Records’ label mate Jonny Diaz.
 
Church worship teams and choirs will join the band on each of the eleven tour stops and take part in the musical line up for the evening.
 
The tour will feature music from 33Miles’ debut Christmas release titled Believe that is available exclusively at Family Christian Stores this holiday season. The band’s third studio album was produced by Nathan Nockels (Passion, Point of Grace, Phillips, Craig & Dean) and includes traditional favorites like “O Holy Night,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel,” along with several original songs including “Finally Christmas” and “I Could Not Come To You.” In addition, “Finally Christmas” and the classic “Joy to the World” will be released to radio during the holidays.
 
“Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year,” says 33Miles’ Jason Barton. “There’s something so beautiful about how the God of the universe stepped off of His throne and came to earth in the form of a baby. The King of all Kings became a servant.  It’s humbling to know that God loves us that much.  We’re excited and privileged to share that message of love this Christmas season on the ‘Believe’ tour with our friend Jonny Diaz.”
 
The “Believe” concerts arrive directly after the band’s first headlining tour, which included multiple sold out shows. The “One Life” tour visited 20 cities earlier this fall. For a full list of tour dates, visit www.33milesonline.com/tour
 
More information on 33Miles:
After logging in over 120,000 miles (not including air travel), performing at over 200 churches, garnering radio hits and a 2008 Dove nomination for “New Artist of the Year,” 33Miles released their sophomore record One Life on Sept. 16, 2007 to much praise. Critically acclaimed One Life entered the Top Christian Soundscan Album Sales chart and the Christian Digital chart at No. 5, while debuting at No. 160 on the Billboard Top 200. Since their debut in 2007, 33Miles’ Jason Barton (lead vocals), Chris Lockwood (guitar) and Collin Stoddard (keys) celebrated one of the highest-selling freshman albums of 2007 with their GMA Dove nominated project 33Miles.
 
More information on Jonny Diaz:
Singer, songwriter and storyteller Jonny Diaz (pronounced dye-az) released his fourth project, More Beautiful You, May 5th - which is actually his first CD release with INO Records. Following in the footsteps of his 3 previous independent projects, More Beautiful You reveals his inspiring lyrics and catchy melodies and instrumentation. Through his songs, the listener will instantly hear a heart that is passionate about reaching his generation with the message of God's love, forgiveness, and grace. The project's first single, "More Beautiful You," was co-written by Diaz and reached #1 at radio, holding the spot for 3 weeks in a row. The song, which was also made into a music video, aims to tell women they were created by God with a specific purpose in mind and continues to generate a huge buzz at radio across the country!

Diaz is consistently on the road performing at churches and conferences and has also had the opportunity to perform at some of the largest Christian music festivals in the country. He has opened in concert for Steven Curtis Chapman, Bebo Norman, MercyMe, and many other top Christian acts. You can visit www.JonnyDiaz.com for more information.

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Our album of the month is What if We by Brandon Heath. What a fun album. It is one of the most rhythmic albums that I have heard in awhile. Actually, my good friend Brett just walked in while I was listening to the album and writing this article, and said, "That's groovin'." What a word to describe a song. It is a word that does not even show up on Wikipedia (except for a song by that name out of the 60's). However, somehow when he said "groovin,'" I knew exactly what he was talking about. So, I'll go with Brett on this one, "groovin'." What if We is an album on which you can expect to feel the beat. This is one of those CD's that, if you popped it into your car's CD player, could leave you looking a little foolish to those driving around you. You know what I'm talking about.  Some of these songs almost mandate a grin and some tapping on the steering wheel (if not fully-involved drumming on the steering wheel, requiring both sun visors to be lowered and used as cymbals). Oh yeah, did I mention that these songs house some of the most touching and compelling lyrics among current albums? Brandon brings a simple yet relevant message to Christian music listeners. 

Brandon says, "I wrote a lot of songs for this new record. 'Give Me Your Eyes' was one of the first that really stuck out. I co-wrote it with Jason Ingram, and musically, it has a hip-hop flavor to it. The song was inspired from the idea that every once in a while, God gives us His eyes. You tend to see a lot of different kinds of people in places like airports. Sometimes, usually only for a few moments, I feel like God gives me true compassion for those people around me. I think that the longer I get to know the character of Jesus, the more compassion I personally have for others. 'Give Me Your Eyes' is saying, 'Jesus give me your eyes so that I can see people the way you see people, so I can love people the way you love people.' One of the core goals of my ministry is focused on striking up conversations about social injustices around the world and being a voice for those who have often been silenced by poverty or lack of influence. I want to challenge people more. 'Give Me Your Eyes' does that. It is one thing to have compassion and quite another to act on it. Most times, it starts with the people around you."

Brandon also shares about "Wait and See," saying, "'Wait and See' is probably the most autobiographical song I've ever written. But I think that anybody can relate to this song, and be encouraged to know that God has a plan for us, even if we still feel like a failure at times. If we come to know Jesus as our Savior, He is going to change our hearts and lead us into a greater existence other than for ourselves. For me, the last verse of 'Wait and See' is really what my journey is all about: 'Now's my time to be a man, follow my heart as far as I can, no telling

where I'm ending up tonight.' Most nights, I am in a hotel room and I barely know where I am, but I know that I'm doing what I am supposed to be doing. I just have to wait and see what God is going to do with the rest of the story. I'm encouraged by what He has done already, but I know that the story will continue to unfold and I'll keep learning more about the purpose of my life."

What if We has all of the elements of a quality Christian album-the music is great, the beats are fun, and the lyrics are relevant and encouraging. Check it out.

This album is available now on iTunes, at brandonheath.net, or in your local Christian bookstores.

Justin Wade

Music Director

J103

TOLD YA THEY WERE AFTER ME!

i killed him though. killed him good.

this Saturday i get to play ultimate frisbee with some of those friends of mine in a 'Turkey Tournament' as it's called. it's a great time for us to get out and run around together and just have fun, plus there's a killer dinner that night that rocks my socks off.

these are some of the times i look forward to most, hanging out with friends and loved ones and just relaxing...whether that's running around all day long throwing a frisbee, or watching movies by the fire...to quote Julie Andrews, 'These are a few of my favorite things!'

 

The most special time of the year is only a few weeks away and the Katinas are helping the celebration begin.

"Sounds of Christmas," the Katinas newest project, releasing November 10th is already receiving rave reviews from radio and media as the classic song "Little Drummer Boy" is being added to playlists.

Creating songs that families could enjoy together has always been the focus of the Katinas music and ministry. "Sounds of Christmas" continues to follow that pattern with such holiday favorites as "O Come All Ye Faithful," "Mary Did You Know," and "Silent Night."

"We have always loved listening to Christmas music of all genres," says James. "Sounds of Christmas gave us an opportunity to make a Christmas record that drew from different sounds both sonically and stylistically. Our hope is that the entire family will be able to enjoy these Christmas Classics with perhaps a different twist."

The Katinas consist of five brothers, James, Jesse, Joe, John, and Sam who are from the Samoan Islands and have been touring and recording for the past 15 years. To find out more about the Katinas, visit their websites at http://www.thekatinas.com or http://www.katinamissions.org.

well i experience that every night before going to bed (well the attack only happened once) thanks to...

COCKROACHES!

i think i see them flittering about the room but i don't...

i think i hear them scampering about the room but i don't...

they're scary little buggers cause you never know where they're going to pop out from. if God decided to wipe every last one of them off the face of the earth...well...he hasn't answered that prayer yet. jus the other day i saw three over the course of two hours and only got one with my shoe. the others either disapeared behind the bathroom sink or got into the air vent before i could smash them.

the postive is i'm moving out of the house when the lease is up November 30th, the bad part is i'm sleeping in a Roach Motel for the next 17 days!

 Through Operation Christmas Child, the world’s largest Christmas project, Chattanooga residents are packing shoe box gifts for children in more than 100 countries suffering from natural disaster, war, terrorism, disease, famine and poverty.  From Chattanooga, the shoe box gifts will be sorted and sent using whatever means necessary—sea containers, trucks, trains, airplanes, boats, camels, even dog sleds—to reach suffering children around the world.

 “Everyday, kids around the world are just hoping that something good will happen,” said Bartlee Norton, Relay Center Coordinator for Operation Christmas Child.  “Kids facing poverty, war, and disease need to know that they aren’t forgotten.  Packing a shoe box is a unique way we can reach into the lives of children living in some of the most desperate places around the world and let them know, their life matters.”   

 Operation Christmas Child uses tracking technology that allows donors to “follow your box” to the destination country where it will be hand-delivered to a child in need.  To register shoe box gifts and find out what country they are delivered to, use the EZ Give donation form found at www.samaritanspurse.org.

'Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you!

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.'

Matthew
7:1-5...LOVE IT! i remember learning this passage as part of my Bible
Team in elementary school at Berean Academy in Hixson (in the KJV
though)! the pastor at Silverdale Baptist where me and Becca visited
today spoke on the importance of not judging others, and it's something
i think EVERY Christian should hear and understand if they don't
already.

so many people outside of the Christian life believe Christians are nothing but hypocritical, self-righteous and judgemental people,
and a lot of times we are. even just today, i caught myself at Walmart
noticing the different 'types' of people in the store and sizing up who
i believed them to be in my head. while that's more of an outward
judging, many time we compare our sins to the sins of others as well to
make ourselves, "feel better" about ourselves.

i'm going to choose to start this week off in humilty knowing God forgives me of my sins, even the ones i choose to repeat over and over again, and loves me even though i'm a repeat offender. i challenge you as well to see others as Christ would see them this week. not just as a lost soul in need of repentance of their sins, but as a sinner just like ourselves who God is waiting to forgive and love unconditionally.

At J103, a steady stream of calls, letters and emails resound the praises of God for encouragement, light and even eternal salvation found while listening to J103.  The 877-Need-Him line averages 100 calls per month of hungry hearts seeking a personal relationship with the Lord, and for this we are thankful. 

The J103 Team is especially thankful for you, this season.  Just a couple short months ago, the future of J103 looked uncertain as corporate sponsors, and individual partnerships were both substantially down.  Subsequent downsizing of the staff and other financial cutbacks were initiated, but the deficit and monthly shortfall would take a miracle to turn around.

We went on the air announcing our situation and the J103 staff began to pray together every day.  Then God began to move on the hearts of many.  Over a two month period close to 2,000 wonderful friends stepped forward to help J103 begin to turn the tide. 

Since August the ministry has made budget each month and the deficit has begun to get reduced.  We rejoice in God's faithfulness and, again, are very thankful for the generous response and sensitivity to His Spirit's prompting of our Friends.  Thank you for your part in this miracle! 

Have a blessed Thanksgiving season and know that your J103 family is thankful for you!

 

Title Track Soars to No. 1 this week on Billboard’s AC-Indicator
Radio chart; No. 2 on National Audience chart with
8.1 Million Weekly Impressions

Fans Get an Early Listen to New Music as CrownsFans.com Releases Six Song Preview Leading Up to Exclusive Yahoo! Music “Early Edition” Feature Nov. 9

In an unprecedented six-year span, with 4.5 million career album sales, Casting Crowns readies for the Nov. 17 release of its fourth studio album, titled Until The Whole World Hears. The five-time Dove Award-winning “Group of the Year” remains focused on discipleship through music with its new 11-song collection, featuring boldly-honest lyrics from lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall, giving listeners a fresh, relevant perspective on loving God and loving people. With Hall’s 18 years in youth ministry, the band’s message remains rooted in the student services he has led on a weekly basis since 2001, at Eagles Landing Baptist church near Atlanta.

Hall says, “The songs start out as our messages to the 400 teens and families we see each week at Eagles Landing. Our goal is to live our lives telling others about Jesus – until the whole world hears – those simple words are a challenge to be intentional with the way we live our lives.”

This week, the title track and first single jumps to No. 1 on Billboard’s AC-Indicator radio chart marking a ninth career chart-topping song for Casting Crowns. The hit song also moves up to No. 2 on Billboard’s National Christian Audience chart gaining 8.1 million weekly impressions. 

Scott Smith, Assistant Program Director for the national KLove Network, states, “I am so glad we finally have a new Casting Crowns song to play! It’s smokin’ and the message challenges us as believers to fulfill the Great Commission until the whole world hears!”

Millions of fans can now hear full-song previews exclusively on the band’s newly created fan-centric web site, www.crownsfans.com. A new track releases each Tuesday, counting down to the full 11-song album stream launching exclusively Nov. 9 – 16, at Yahoo! Music, tallying over 9 million daily impressions. Yahoo! Music will be the first place to hear the entire record prior to street date.

Both Verizon and AT&T will feature new ring tones from Until The Whole World Hears in November.  Verizon hosts Casting Crowns for an exclusive artist feature as the only carrier with ring tones of “Glorious Day” and “To Know You,” while AT&T positions Casting Crowns with a full artist feature offering selected new ring tones. Both campaigns run Nov. 5 – 19.

Casting Crowns is currently headlining the 41-city “Until The Whole World Hears Tour” with special guest Matt Redman. For more, visit www.providentpress.com, or www.castingcrowns.com.

Until The Whole World Hears will follow the platinum-selling band’s historical debut at No. 2 on The Billboard 200 chart with 130,000 first-week copies sold of its third album, The Altar and The Door.

cmspin.com

nothing is worse than standing next to a friend unable to stop their hurt. my best friend all throughout middle school, high school and to this day
has just been in a situation just like that for a while now. not too
long ago, his dad was diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease. ALS
is a severely dibilatating disease, one that basically disables your
brain's ability to control your body. your conscience and mind are
perfectly sound, but your body slowly loses strength.

it's been tough to feel his hurt and be unable to stop it or help
solve it. all i could do, and all he ever asked me to do was to pray.
his dad passed away early Monday morning and i know 100% for certain that his dad is in heaven with an awesome new body and hanging out
with Jesus. that excites me, and i know God will use this to bring Him
glory. doesn't necessarily always make it easy for his family and
friends here on earth, but the assurance of salvation, and the promise
of that future family reunion will give hope.

i was listening to a cd i bought recently by a band from Nashville
named Cool Hand Luke. they have a song called The Greater Dance on this
short collection of songs, and some of the lyrics really spoke to me in
their beautifully simple view of part of God's promises:

God didn't take the snakes away

he said raise a pole the snakes will stay.

it will remind you look to this and you won't die.


and through the fires of life we tread,

God calls us to life up our heads

to be reminded of the cross he raised to the sky


it's not over now, we live to see another day

it's not over now, this is the day the Lord has made.

it's not over now, we let us do His suffering.

it's not over now, so let's turn this mourning into dancing.

God doesn't promise us that he will take away our pain, suffering, temptations
and the like until heaven. what he DOES promise us though is that he'll
never throw more at us than we can handle and that he will be right
there with us through it all. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that no test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what
others have had to face. just remember that God will
never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit;
he'll always be there to help you come through it.

that is what i want you to remember when life seems to be throwing everything and the kitchen sink at you. God may not choose to take you out of that situation, but he is ALWAYS in control, and will never leave your side.

God took Brian Skelton away from his suffering on November 2nd, and
while there will always be questions and answers left unexplained, God
is big enough to handle those questions, and reminds us of the promise
that He will never leave our side.

Singer/songwriter and Male Vocalist of the Year Brandon Heath added another highlight to a breakout year with his first American Music Awards nomination, announced yesterday in Los Angeles.  Heath will vie for the title of Favorite Artist in the Contemporary Inspirational category at the 37th AMA Awards, set for live broadcast Sunday, November 22 (8:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC.
 
For the third year, winners will be determined by online voting at www.amavote.com.

“I’ve been watching the AMA’s for years -- never thought I’d have the honor of being a nominee. I consider myself very blessed to do music for a living,” Heath said upon learning of the recognition.

After kicking off 2009 with three GRAMMY nominations, Heath was a five-time nominee at this year’s Dove Awards, winning three trophies: Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song for “Give Me Your Eyes,” from his GRAMMY-nominated sophomore album What If We. To date, the album has delivered back-to-back No. 1 singles with “Give Me Your Eyes,” which captured 14 weeks at No.1 on Billboard’s Hot Christian AC radio chart plus 27 weeks at No. 1 on iTunes Christian Song Chart, followed by “Wait And See” topping Billboard’s Christian AC Indicator chart in July.
 
Heath is currently co-headlining the 40-city “Follow You” tour with Leeland and special guest Francesca Battistelli.  For tour dates, and more information, please visit www.brandonheath.net, www.providentpress.com, and follow Brandon on Twitter at twitter.com/brandonheath.
 
About Brandon Heath: 
Nashville native Brandon Heath was featured on the “CBS Evening News with Katie Couric,” while also spotlighted in the Sunday edition (2/8) of The New York Times as a GRAMMY-nominated newcomer “that shouldn't be allowed to slip through the cracks.”  Heath released his breakthrough sophomore album, What If We, in Aug. 2008, featuring back-to-back No.1 singles “Give Me Your Eyes” and “Wait and See.” Heath’s five total nominations for the Gospel Music Association’s 40th Annual Dove Awards included Male Vocalist of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song, and Special Event Album for his recording of Patty Griffin’s “Heavenly Day” on Billy: The Early Years Official Motion Picture Soundtrack.
 
What If We follows Brandon’s debut album, Don’t Get Comfortable (2006), and first chart-topping radio song, “I’m Not Who I Was,” nominated for Song of the Year at 2008 GMA Dove Awards and contributing to his win in the New Artist of the Year category. Off stage, Heath seeks opportunities to merge his public platform with his heart for community, regularly working with Young Life, Blood:Water Mission, Restore International and unofficially volunteering for many other human rights agencies on a global scale. Heath is a respected songwriter in the Nashville music community and first began writing at age 13.

www.cmspin.com

but really on further viewings, was the first land of Oz as magical as i thought it was. two wicked witches basically running the world with a cowardly wizard hiding behind smoke and mirrors, crazy flying monkeys that steal you away and a bunch of line stomping blue faced guys chanting monk songs!? not everything was a bed of roses for that time in the land of Oz either.

Oz intrigues me though, and i'll be sure to watch the rest of it soon. fantasy worlds like that often can have fascinating parallels with our world as well as our spiritual lives and struggles.

Lifeway Christian Bookstore-Hixson and Chattanooga

Abba's House Bookstore

Hixson Transmission and Total Car Care

YMCA - Hixson

DQ Grill and Chill - Hixson

Bits of This and That - Ringgold, GA

Fast Access Health Care - Hixson

Flicko's Video Workshop - Fort Oglethorpe, GA

Joyland Christian Daycare - Fort Oglethorpe, GA

On Point - Hixson

Studio 360 - Hixson

well this weekend i'm driving around looking at houses. that's right, for the first time, i may become a home-owner. got a few places to look around, but hopefully it will all work out since i'm out of my current rental by the end of November. i'm just praying all will go well this weekend, rain or shine!

OH, and happy 23rd birthday, Becca!

side note, for those of you that leave comments on J103 and have been wondering how to get your pretty face to show up next to your comments, check out GRAVATAR.COM to do just that. you can see the comment i left below with my goofy mug to see how this works. feel free to test it out below, and watch the video on their website to see how the whole thing works!

i do love this time of year, the weather is slowly getting cooler, yet you can still sport a short-sleeve shirt and not icify yourself when you're outside.(pronouned: ICE-UH-FI...yeah, that's a new word i just made up) just being outdoors this time of year is amazing, but especially the east tennessee mountains! how blessed are we to have some of the most beautiful scenery and countryside just a short drive away! or some of us might even be living in a Bob Ross painting with all those 'happy little trees' and 'bandite brown' rooftops spread across the view from our front porch.

i want to encourage you to get outside this weekend! sure, there may be some drizzling rain here and there, or it may seem a bit nippy in certain places, but really take time this weekend to appreciate the TN Valley! i know i will as i drive through the foothills of the Smoky Mountains this weekend. maybe i'll even get to stop at a temporary roadside waterfall, i love those things!

my cloudy view from Mt LeConte this past summer

i'm a very practical person, so i'd like to get a practical gift, but those aren't always as 'special' as superfluous gift given soley for the thoughtfulness. i dunno, i have at least a few ideas but most of them don't seem very birthday-ish to me even though i know she could use them. hmmm, decisions decisions decisions.

(and ted, don't say an engagement ring! haha, that will happen eventually, but not in time for this birthday. :P )

In 2008, nearly 8 million shoe box gifts were collected in the United States and ten other nations. Children all over the world are hearing the Good News of the Savior in the follow-up programs overseas and many are coming to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord-all because you take the time to pack a shoe box full of toys, school supplies, hygiene items, hard candy, t-shirts, hats, flashlights, and other gifts. Once these items are collected, Samaritan's Purse will add a Gospel booklet in the particular child's language and make sure it gets into their precious hands.

J103 has heeded the call and has set a goal of collecting 500 shoe boxes this year. You and your family, church, or small group can pick up the "How to Pack your Shoe Box" brochure and labels at the J103 studios. Put together your boxes and drop them off at J103 no later than 1pm on Monday, November 23. Ted and the J103 staff will transport them to the regional drop-off location in Cleveland to get them on their way around the world and into the hands of young children who need to know Jesus Christ. Will you pray for all of the children who will receive these boxes of Good News? Will you do your part to help J103 exceed 500 boxes? Together we can reach around the world to places where the J103 signal does not reach and J103.com is not accesible.

You can begin dropping off the shoe boxes right now through 1pm on Monday, November 23rd. Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all the children of the world.

What is some of your favorite Christian music?

well to answer that, here are my top 5 favorite christian music CD's ever. in no particular order mind you:

1) DC Talk - Jesus Freak

2) Jars of Clay - (self titled)

3) Vroom - Throws Like A Girl

4) All-Star United - (self titled)

5) PFR - Them

i could go into MUCH detail on the significance of these albums through my life, but my girlfriend Becca is here and insisting I keep it short so i did (she's soooooooo demanding :D ). thanks for induldging me this week with my Q&A and have a great weekend! peace!

By now I'm sure you have all heard that the first half of 2009 was challenging to say the least.  We were ending each month with a bigger deficit.  After painful budget cuts and many friends joining us financially, we are pleased to tell you that we broke even in both August and September.  God also blessed us with many great calls and pledges during our Friend Raiser.  Please stand with us in praying that everyone that called in to make a pledge follows through with their gift.  It is critical that we not only continue to break even each month, but that we can start paying off the debt that was accrued during the first half of this year.  I and the entire J103 staff would like to say a special thank you to everyone that has stood with us financially during these tough times.  The team effort of over 1705 friends working together to meet the need has been such a huge blessing and encouragement.

Bob Lubell

Founder and President of J103

Patty Capps asks: Who is your favorite female in the Bible and why?

hmmm, tough one. Queen Esther though is at the top of the list i
would say. talk about a rag to riches, Cinderella story. from poverty
to Queen of the largest empire at the time, she was faithful to God and
was able to use her power to save her people. always liked Esther.

Nate Johnson asks: Who do you think serves the best burgers in Chattanooga?

mcdonalds. whoa, just kidding there! this one is a tough one cause i
like-a da food and am usually an equal oppurtunity eater. the easiest
answer would be to say Cheeburger Cheeburger (which is amazing by the
way), but i'm going to have to go with Armando's. great burgers not
frozen patties, and to-die-for bacon and cheese. North Chatt Cat on the
north shore is a close runner up for me too.

so there you are, my favorite female Bible Hero and my favorite Chattanooga burger. for more questions, leave a comment of EMAIL ME what's on your mind! peace!

Jeff Greer asks: What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

now i've never really had a 'life verse'
per se as Ted does with Phil 4:13, but i do indeed have a favorite
verse (if for slightly weird reasons, but still my favorite). my all time favorite verse from the Bible is Mark 11:14, but to give a little context, here's verses 12-15 as well.

Mark 11:12-15

12) On the next day, when they had left Bethany, He became hungry. 13)
Seeing at a distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to see if perhaps He
would find anything on it; and when he came to it, He found nothing but
leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14) He said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again!" And His disciples were listening. 15)
Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to
drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and
overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who
were selling doves;

when
i originally remember hearing Mark 11:14, i cracked up. here Jesus is
walking down the road and He gets hungry. seeing a tree that is
supposed to have fruit on it, He thinks this may be His lucky day and
probably had to go out of His way to get to this tree to hopefully grab
a fig or two to eat. Jesus gets up to the tree, and seeing no fruit
curses the tree to never bear fruit again!

this
always cracked me up as i thought it was a perfect example of the 'man'
side of Jesus as God! i have since learned that if you read a little
further in Mark 11 you can see where Jesus uses the fig tree to
illustrate faith to the disciples, and the Bible as well draws a
comparison between the Church of that day and the fruitless tree.

But
Mark 11:14 is my favorite verse in the Bible, cause i could always just
picture Jesus getting frustrated at the foodless tree and telling it to
never bear fruit again as a curse for not feeding him. :)

so
whats your favorite Bible verse? want to ask another question? the
questions i don't answer this week, i'll hold on to and answer later,
but feel free to EMAIL ME your questions still or leave me a comment here. peace!

We would like to congratulate Covenant Life Worship Center for being the church of the week this week.  They are located at 7001 Lafayette Rd. in Chickamauga, GA.  On Sundays they have Morning Prayer from 7-8am, Worship Services at 9am and 11am, and Covenant Studies from 10:10 - 10:50am.  On Tuesdays they have a Pivotal Prayer meeting at 7pm.  On Wednesdays they offer a Bible Study at 7pm, and on Thursdays they have a Blended Families class at 7pm.  For more information contact them at 706-375-5286 or www.covenantlifeworship.com

The Outsiders includes 14 of the most creative songs I have heard in awhile. One of the great things about NEEDTOBREATHE is that they bring something a little different to the table. Some of their songs even have a little bit of a Gospel feel. It is truly refreshing to hear a different sound in the Christian Music genre. So far, the only radio single they have from this album is "Lay 'Em Down." This song has already broken the Top 10 in national charts and is one of Chattanooga's favorite Christian songs. "Lay 'Em Down" is a song that is touching people everyday and I have no doubt it will continue to do so. But the quality of the album goes far beyond the first single-every song on this disk is great.  Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek even joins boys from NEEDTOBREATHE for the song "Stones Under Rushing Water".

The band's lyrics seem to always be about something close to their hearts. "Our music is supposed to reflect who we are," says singer/guitarist/pianist/songwriter Bear Rinehart. "From what we've seen, people respond to you caring about something, singing passionately about whatever it is you're passionate about. If your subject matter is something that's important to you, whatever it is, that comes across to the audience." The guys typically write about things that they have lived, through giving insight that can only be gained with life experience. "There are moments in music-maybe it's a whole song, sometimes it's just a portion-that when you hear it, it just breaks you down," Rinehart says. "We really wanted to get those kinds of moments on this record. We wanted this record to hit people in a really strong way."

This is a must hear. If you like their previous songs like "Lay 'Em Down," "Washed by the Water," and "Signature of Divine (Yahweh)," you will love The Outsiders.

This album is available now on iTunes, at needtobreathe.net, or in your local Christian bookstores.

Justin Wade

Music Director

J103 Radio

you can leave a comment below the blog post with your question, or EMAIL ME as well. i'll answer three questions over the course of next week, but i'll get other employees here at the station to pick out the questions just so you don't think i'm handpicking those i want to answer. we'll see if this works well though, and thanks for listening!

we're cleaning up here at the station now (well i guess i'm not since i'm writing this...oops!) but then i'm headed over to Red Bank Baptist for a late basketball league game. fun indeed! hope you all enjoy the weather thats been hanging out in the chattanooga area lately and get outside some this weekend. me? guess what i'll be doing?

if you guessed frisbee, i'd say you're a smart person. :) have a good thursday night and thanks again!

one of my friends has a dog who chases flying discs and can even catch them out of the air (something my family's dog has never been able to grasp), but these dogs are miniature acrobats! they do ninja flips for crying out loud! let me repeat that...dogs doing ninja flips! what else do you need to know? ha, seriously though, have a great weekend, and say hey to me if you see me walking around with a disc in my mouth trying to fit in.

for more information you can check their website for a schedule.

yeah, i fall into the latter category right now as i meander about my house trying to work up some sleepiness. counting sheep? saying the alphabet backwards in my head? none of those work. oh well.

music!

i need some good old fashioned orchestra music. maybe even classical guitar! that's what i'm doing sometime tomorrow then, it's settled...gotta find some "sleepin' music" so i can get some better rest.

any fellow night owls out there got anything that seems to work for them to get them tired and/or sleepy?..and don't tell me chasing a 2 year old around the house! :P

As many of you have heard on the radio we are being affected in a big way by the economy, so I would like to take just a few minutes and let you know exactly what is going on. First of all, please keep in mind that our ministry is funded in two ways: we have individual and corporate supporters, and we have corporate advertisers. Our advertising revenues have taken quite a hit since the beginning of the year. When most companies start facing financial hardship, the first thing they cut back is their advertising budget. This lack of advertising revenue is creating a deficit each month here at the radio station.

Obviously this state of affairs greatly impacts the way that we do ministry. In the last three months we have had to lay off 25% of our staff. We had to make these cuts to be able to keep broadcasting the gospel in a four-state area. After all, that's what it's all about. That's why God raised up this ministry almost fifteen years ago-to broadcast the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio waves. We have been able to do just that, but it will be difficult to continue doing so with limited resources in terms of both staff and funding.

I truly believe in this ministry. Almost every day we receive phone calls, emails, and letters about how J103 is touching people's lives. We hear everything from, "I was at the end of my rope and J103 helped me put everything back in perspective," to, "I gave my life to Christ while listening," to, "the music you play everyday helps me keep Christ the focal point of my day." This feedback is confirmation that J103 is being used in a big way to further the Kingdom.

There are two ways you can help us during these trying times. First, you can pray for us. Please join with us in thanking God for all that He does for us each day, and pray that He would help turn our financial situation around. Second, you can also get involved financially. It is those people who are faithful to give twenty and thirty dollars per month who are keeping us on the air right now. Click here if you would like to make a contribution.

If you have any questions or concerns, we would be more than happy to address them. Feel free to call us at 423-892-1200. Thank you for your love and support of J103!

Bob Lubell

Founder and President of J103

Click here for Today's Current Financial Report

all that said, i do love the rain. there's nothing like sleeping to the sound of the rain on the roof, or just watching the rain fall from the shelter of our car port on the back of my car. rain intrigues me. sure it's all very easy to explain, it just cracks me up how God chose for the water we need to survive to fall from the sky. how wonderfully silly of our awesome God! he sure does have a beautiful sense of humor though.

make sure you drive carefully in this weather, but get out and enjoy the rain this week everyone! splash in a puddle, hold your hand out under a large waterfall or best yet, close your eyes as you face the skies and grin!

a little background first: i've played sports all my life. soccer,
basketball, baseball...you name it, i've probably been in a league for
it or taken classes in it (except for volleyball, never really had the
legs to play that). my only involvement with Ultimate Frisbee up until
my freshman year of college was the crazy twenty-on-twenty,
take-three-steps-after-you-catch-the-disc, church-youth-group
frisbee-playing that had done nothing for me but lead to 10 stitches
above my right eye. the first week of my freshman year at UTC though, a
couple of my friends i had just met invited me out to play some
Ultimate Frisbee at the far end of UTC's campus. Upon arrival at
Challenger field, the guy in charge had us run a lap to warm up, and it
was then that my friends left ('whoever heard of running laps just to
play frisbee?' they said) and my life was forever changed.

the ultimate that i grew to learn on Challenger and Chamberlain
fields over the next few years is played 7 against 7, with endzones
like in football. the frisbee disc is advanced around the field by
throwing to your teammates since you can't run with the disc, but must
slow to stop to throw after catching it. you have ten seconds to throw
the disc to a teammate when someone on defense is guarding you, and not
throwing it to a teammate in that time, having the disc intercepted
when you throw it or making a bad throw and having the frisbee touch
the ground all result in a turnover and the defense becomes the offense
and vice versa.

my favorite part about the game of Ultimate Frisbee though is it's style of self-refereeing. i
believe this does keep the game from growing to an ESPN style sport,
but it's also why i love the game so much. unlike most sports you see,
in Ultimate Frisbee, players call their own fouls, turnovers and the
like. this self-governing of fouls is employed from Sunday afternoon
leagues, all the way up to national competitions held each year for
college, men's, women's and mixed teams. yes, there are ways for teams
to take advantage of certain situations with this self-refereeing, but
the majority of teams are out there to compete at their highest
possible level, but never at the expense of mutual respect among
competitors, adherence to the agreed upon rules or the basic joy of
play.

THAT is why this sport appeals so much to me. sure it may be
a sport invented by a bunch of hippies, but keeping this spirit of the
game alive in my competitive play is something i see as an awesome
challenge to me as a Christian. people should be able to tell that
there is something different about me when i'm out there on the
Ultimate Frisbee field. sure, i can still disagree with other people's
calls, but it's how i handle the situation that will truly show my
character. don't i want people to see 'the Jesus Difference' in me?

so that in a large nutshell is a little bit about Ultimate Frisbee
and why i love it so much. not to mention that i met my beautiful
girlfriend of almost four years (this december) on the ultimate frisbee
field as well as my three roommates i'm currently living with (and will
be a groomsman in one of their weddings this coming March). if you have
any questions on Ultimate Frisbee, mountain dew or just life in
general, always feel free to email me at brett@j103.com or leave a
comment below. i would love to hear from you and seewhat things you're passionate about and how God uses you through those things to bring glory to Him.

till next time, keep it clean.

As many of you have heard on the radio we are being affected in a big way by the economy, so I would like to take just a few minutes and let you know exactly what is going on. First of all, please keep in mind that our ministry is funded in two ways: we have individual and corporate supporters, and we have corporate advertisers. Our advertising revenues have taken quite a hit since the beginning of the year. When most companies start facing financial hardship, the first thing they cut back is their advertising budget. This lack of advertising revenue is creating a deficit each month here at the radio station.

Obviously this state of affairs greatly impacts the way that we do ministry. In the last three months we have had to lay off 25% of our staff. We had to make these cuts to be able to keep broadcasting the gospel in a four-state area. After all, that's what it's all about. That's why God raised up this ministry almost fifteen years ago-to broadcast the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio waves. We have been able to do just that, but it will be difficult to continue doing so with limited resources in terms of both staff and funding.

I truly believe in this ministry. Almost every day we receive phone calls, emails, and letters about how J103 is touching people's lives. We hear everything from, "I was at the end of my rope and J103 helped me put everything back in perspective," to, "I gave my life to Christ while listening," to, "the music you play everyday helps me keep Christ the focal point of my day." This feedback is confirmation that J103 is being used in a big way to further the Kingdom.

There are two ways you can help us during these trying times. First, you can pray for us. Please join with us in thanking God for all that He does for us each day, and pray that He would help turn our financial situation around. Second, you can also get involved financially. It is those people who are faithful to give twenty and thirty dollars per month who are keeping us on the air right now. Click here if you would like to make a contribution.

If you have any questions or concerns, we would be more than happy to address them. Feel free to call us at 423-892-1200. Thank you for your love and support of J103!

Bob Lubell

Founder and President of J103

Click here for Today's Current Financial Report

We would like to congratulate Parkway Baptist Temple for being the J103 church of the week.  Come celebrate over 30 years of ministry with Parkway Baptist Temple in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia. They will have Gospel recording artist The Nelons; along with their Parkway choir and a message from pastor, Dr. David L. Sampson. Parkway is located at 65 Stuart Road in Fort Oglethorpe, GA. Come join the celebration at 10:45 AM and come see how Parkway Baptist Temple is Changing Lives ONE Verse at a Time.

To submit a birthday for the Dairy Queen birthday cake giveaway on the Morning Show, follow the 'On Air' button at the top of the main. As you mouse over the button, a drop down menu will...well...drop down, and you can click on The Morning Show With Ted at the bottom of the menu. Scroll down the page past 'Today's Topics' and the 'Monday Morning Chuckle' video, and right there beneath the day's current birthday cake winner is the form to submit a birthday to the Morning Show!

For instant gratification, the link is included at the bottom of this article. Thanks for spending your time on j103.com, and thanks for listening!

Submit Your Birthday for the Morning Show with Ted

well
last night was my first basketball game in the men's league at Red Bank
Baptist. i didn't do bad, but i didn't do amazingly well either. it's
been so long since i've played a 'real' game of basketball...probably
since UTC intramurals in the fall of '06! (wow, i guess my sport of
choice really has become ultimate frisbee.)

i do love this time
of year though when it comes to sports. you still have baseball
finishing up, college football is already underway and pro football has
just gotten started. not to mention the high school sports going on and
winter league for ultimate frisbee starting up in October for me (yay!).

the
weather is just perfect for outdoor sports this time of year! it's
cooling down, but once you get out and about moving around, it becomes
quite comfortable. so get outside and enjoy yourselves while you can!
well maybe not today since it's raining kittens and puppies, but you
get the picture.

Matthew West is an amazing songwriter, and he did not hold back with Something to Say.  He has an interesting characteristic in his songwriting—Matthew is one of the few people that can write a song that is lyrically challenging and has a good, foot-tapping sound.  The music on Something to Say is great! The album includes the radio hits “Something to Say,” “You Are Everything,” and “The Motions.” 

Just before recording this album Matthew had quite a trying time in his life. He had a medical problem with his vocal cords and could not speak for about two months. Matthew explains, “Prior to this experience, I only had a glimpse of what these songs had to say, but having literally nothing to say for two months, it was as if I understood what these songs were trying to communicate all along. It’s like writing messages or taking notes and then taking the test to see if you really ‘get’ what you’ve written. Sometimes you’re given the message before you know what it means. Then the test comes, and you can see how God intended everything to be.”

It was a miracle that Matthew was able to record this album, and I have no doubt that God is using these songs in a big way. Besides being filled with a message that all believers should hear, they’re just catchy and fun to listen to, the kind of songs that you almost can’t help but tap along with on the steering wheel when you hear them in the car.  I would recommend that you check out this album. After all, it includes one of Chattanooga’s favorite Christian songs.

This album is available now on iTunes, at matthewwest.com, or in your local Christian bookstores.

Justin Wade
Music Director
J103 Radio

As the music progressed and times changed, many of these artists were abandoned by Christian radio.  I believe we owe them a special place of honor for the trail they cut for the rest of us!  That's what the Weekend Rewind is.  It's a place of honor for dozens of great artists and hundreds of great songs that forged the way for today's Christian music.  Many of these songs are interwoven in the lives of some of you (and me). I pray as you listen to the Rewind that you will be touched again by songs that touched and changed you years ago.  If you're new to Contemporary Christian Music....give the Weekend Rewind a listen. You might be surprised by what you hear! And visit my blog again soon. I'll share some stories and experiences from 25 years of Christian radio and great music...right here! 

Brett raced through the branches and briars holding him back from the clearing, breaking through the shadowy dusk of the forest and into the bright sunshine that bathed the clearing in an early morning glow. Making his way to the downed airplane, he climbed up the remnants of the left wing to what once was the pilot's cockpit and searched the interior, fervently exploring the driver's seat and surrounding areas. His hands fumbled beneath the worn and tattered canvas of the chair till his fingers grazed a wooden box.

Brett's eyes gleaming at his discovery, he unconsciously held his breath as he gently tugged the wooden box from the cockpit and walked it over to an aged stump. Setting the box on the stump, he ran his fingers across the smooth crease of the lid and pulled the leather straps that held the box shut gently apart. Brett took one last breath as he propped the worn wooden box open and gazed upon his treasure. It was everything he had hoped for and more, it was....

THE NEW J103 WEBSITE!

well for those who are unsure of who i am, my name is Brett and I am the midday man on J103. i started working full time at J103 a little over a year ago, and started out on air with Crossroads, then overnights, then evenings and now middays. my favorite hobby is playing ultimate frisbee or meeting up online to play some Xbox with my good friends from Cleveland TN to San Fransisco CA.

i have a lovely girlfriend named Becca who is going to be a great teacher someday, and an awesome family who have pushed me to succeed my whole life in everything from athletics to my walk with God. be sure to check my blog regularly for more randomness like the aforementioned story. have an ever-so-pleasant day!