Another Legend Passes On

Just received the news that legendary comedian/actor Harvey Korman has passed away due to complications from a rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The Emmy winning actor, who played a versatile role on the "Carol Burnett Show", was 81.

Korman was a regular actor in a number of Mel Brooks movies including "Blazing Saddles" and "History of the World, PArt 1." Brooks says of the passing of Korman, "A world without Harvey Korman - is a more serious world."

His roles on the "Carol Burnett Show" brought the show critical success, and when he departed the show in 1977, the show was never the same. Burnett was devastated by the death of her friend. A spokesperson for Burnett said, "She loved him very much."

Rest in Peace - Harvey Korman

Maria Chapman's Memorial Service

Steven Curtis Chapman, longtime Christian musician, recently lost his 5 year old daughter. The blogosphere has been full of tributes and messages of hope to the Chapman family. The memorial service for little Maria was held recently and this report was truly moving.



There are no clear answers why God saw fit to bring Maria home so soon other than He needed her laughter in heaven.

Morning Show Top 10

Here the Top 10 list for the morning show on WRAF-FM

1. THE SONFLOWERZ/My Adoration (Independent)
2. GORDON MOTE/Don't Let Me Miss The Glory (Independent)
3. KRISSY NORDHOFF/Outrageous Love (Independent)
4. POINT OF GRACE/Heal The Wound (Word-Curb)
5. RICHIE MCDONALD/I Turn To You (Independent)
6. WAYBURN DEAN/Through The Rain (Independent)
7. LAURA STORY/Mighty To Save (INO)
8. JAIME JAMGOCHIAN/Sing Of Our God (Centricity)
9. MICHAEL W. SMITH/So Great (Reunion/Provident)
10. FEE/All Because Of Jesus (INO)

Let Us Never Forget

On this Memorial Day as our troops are all over the globe protecting our freedoms and ensuring the freedoms of others, let us never forget those that gave the ultimate sacrifice - their lives. I would like to thank all of you who have served in our Armed Forces. For those who have lost loved ones, your sacrifice has not been forgotten.

I would also like to say thank you to my Lord and Savior, who also gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we all might spend eternity with Him. When there was no way we could regain our place, Christ gave His life so that we may have the gift of Heaven.

Need Some Help at the Pump?

Just saw a report on this morning's Fox and Friends about saving money at the gas pump. Here are the tips that will help you out this holiday weekend:

1. Fill up the gas tank in the morning - gas is more dense in the morning.
2. Fill up at the half-way mark - you get better gas mileage and a truer tank of gas.
3. Don't fill up when the gas tanker truck is at the station.
4. Put nitrogen in your tires; make sure you keep your tires inflated.

Just a few tips that could save you a couple of bucks a week. Another tip that wasn't mentioned in the report is to watch your speed. I know from experience that traveling at the speed limit or a little slower save a ton of gas. Have a great holiday weekend!!

Sharing the Gospel... The Twitter Way

I just finished reading a blog that challenges the readers to share the Gospel using 140 characters or less. In other words, use Twitter to share the Gospel. What a great idea!! If you would like to enter go to Brian Baute's blog and submit your concept. While you are there read some of the other entries. There are a few creative tweets there. You can see my attempt on my twitter to the right.

Indy Arrives Tomorrow!!

Well, the wait is nearly over. Indiana Jones, after a 19 year hiatus, is back in theaters. Indy 4 survived Cannes and most everyone liked it. I for one cannot wait! I remember seeing the first Indy movie on visit to Chicago back in 1981. I was a young teenager with adventure, fotune and glory on my mind. What an experience! We have all three movies on DVD (the original box set) and my kids love the adventure. They are extremely excited about seeing this movie.

As we wait in line to buy tickets and popcorn what will you be thinking regarding Indiana Jones? I know for me it will be nostalgic; remembering my childhood and dreaming of adventure. Don't let your childhood dreams vanish. Look back on those days and see if any of those dreams came true, and if they haven't work at making them a reality.

Questions from Mark Ramsey to Radio Pros

I just read this from Mark's blog Hear2.0 and thought it to be very thought provoking. Whether or not you are in radio, many of these questions you should answer.

1. What business are you in (answer thoughtfully)?

2. What do advertisers buy from you - really? Why choose you over other ways to reach their consumers?

3. Why do listeners tune you in? How much of the reason is related to your simplicity and ubiquity (both of which will be challenged in the years to come), and how much of it is related to your unique and compelling content?

4. How important is unique content to your continued success? Are you poised to be more or less unique in the future?

5. Why does radio - which helps clients market their wares - invest such a small proportion of its revenue in marketing its own stations? And why have many stations and groups cut their marketing expenditures to favor immediate cash flow, despite the obvious linkage between today's marketing and tomorrow's cash flow?

6. Why are local jocks often replaced by voice-tracked cyber-jocks who are only cheaper and not "better" than the jocks they replace? What does this signal to your audience?

7. Why does radio so abhor risks that it punishes those who take them when they fail? After all, those who fear to fail rarely achieve success.

8. Why is radio virtually alone among major industries in that it lacks high ranking executives with the term "marketing" in their title? An entire industry in the marketing business, but no executive in charge of "marketing"?

9. When was the last time you attended an industry event which had nothing to do with radio and everything to do with advertising or trends or digital media?

10. Why does radio cut its research budget to favor its short term cash flow without making the connection between R&D expenditures and its very future? Do you think Starbucks eliminated its R&D? Do you think GM did, despite their woes? Would Apple ever do this?

11. Why does radio continue to run freebie spots for HD radio when the listeners have already voted their lack of interest, thus assuring that we are spamming their ears with an irrelevant turn-off message? What does the lack of success of these spots say about the effectiveness of radio - and is that fair?

I don't think Mark is done yet.

WRAF - Morning Show Playlist

ARTIST / Title (Label) / Spins / Rotation

LAURA STORY / Mighty To Save(INO) / 15 / Heavy
GORDON MOTE / Don't Let Me Miss The Glory(Independent) / 13 / Heavy
THE SONFLOWERZ / My Adoration(Independent) / 12 / Heavy
WAYBURN DEAN / Through The Rain(Independent) / 12 / Heavy
RICHIE MCDONALD / I Turn To You(Independent) / 10 / Heavy
MICHAEL W. SMITH / So Great(Reunion/Provident) / 8 / Medium
DENNIS JERNIGAN / I Cry Holy(Shepherd's Heart Music) / 7 / Medium
JAIME JAMGOCHIAN / Sing Of Our God(Centricity) / 7 / Medium
KENT BOTTENFIELD / A Son Of My Own(IBB Records) / 7 / Medium
KRISSY NORDHOFF / Outrageous Love(Independent) / 6 / Medium
POINT OF GRACE / Heal The Wound(Word-Curb) / 6 / Medium
SARA GROVES / It Might Be Hope(INO) / 6 / Medium
TWILA PARIS / Live To Praise(Independent) / 5 / Light
CHERI KEAGGY / You'll Always Be My Son(Independent) / 4 / Light
CHRIS RICE / Tell Me The Story(INO) / 3 / Light
RUSH OF FOOLS / Peace Be Still(Midas Records) / 3 / Light
FEE / All Because Of Jesus(INO) / 2 / Light
JIM COLE / Christ The Solid Rock(Independent) / 2 / Light

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Here's Information for Prince Caspian

The Passing of a Legend

Over the weekend, the Christian music community lost a legend; Dottie Rambo was killed in a bus accident in Missouri on her way to a concert in Texas. The bus Rambo toured in struck a guardrail and hit an embankment; Rambo died on the scene. Rambo was 74 years of old.

Even though Dottie Rambo's fame was found in Gospel music, she also wrote for some of country music's best known artists such as:

• Elvis Presley - If That Isn't Love
• Barbara Mandrell - I Will Glory in the Cross
• The Oak Ridge Boys - Sailing Toward Home, He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Need, Mama Teaching Angels How to Sing
• Dolly Parton - Stand By the River
• Mel Tillis - Remember Me Dear Lord
• Vince Gill - Tears Will Never Stain the Sheets of that City
• Larry Gatlin - Sheltered in the Arms of God

Narnia Week Begins!

One of the most anticipated movies of the summer opens this Friday - The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. It's all my kids have been talking about - sure they want to also see the latest Indy installment, but Prince Caspian will be the movie for them. This week I hope to post each day until the big premier.

Today, I want to let you know about Haven Today, a Christian radio program we air at Toccoa Falls Radio. This week they are speaking with Douglas Gresham, the step-son of C.S. Lewis. Gresham will be sharing about his life with Lewis and give some background on the book series that made him so famous. You can check out the daily program by clicking here.

Being Stretched and Encouraged

These last two days have been very encouraging to me. Yesterday I spent the day at the Public Relations Society of America-Georgia chapter state conference and learned quite a bit about social media and how it will be changing public relations and marketing. If you have not yet dived into the Web2.0 world you are definitely missing out on tools and applications that will help your organization or ministry reach a new generation.

This afternoon, I spent two hours with, who I hope to have as a close friend, Rob Glass. Rob used to work with Stein Communications here in Atlanta. Rob's focus is working with higher education in developing communications plans and admissions/recruitment strategies. After a long career with Stein, Rob has decided to go out on his own. One day I will share with you his story on how God moved him into this new venture.

If you have not yet allowed God to stretch your thinking and, as Jabez put it, your boundaries you are truly missing out on a blessing. Don't get me wrong - for the most part this is not fun - but I can see how God will use these experiences for my good. Have a great weekend - don't forget to tell your mom you love her (or a mom in your sphere of influence that she is appreciated).

The Mom Song

Here's a new song for moms from the group Go Fish

There's Nothing Like a Good Mom

I've been blessed to have a great mom. She has been one of my greatest cheerleaders and encourager's. I am also married to a great mom - my wife Kathy. She has a done a great job with my kids, Jon-Michael and Kaity. I don't know what my life would be like with out these two women in my life.

The Boston Herald reported on a study released from salary.com that said mom's in U.S.America deserved a salary of nearly $117,000. WOW!! Talk about some coin. But can we really put a price on the work mom does in our homes and lives? I don't think so. I don't think there is a dollar amount we can assign to her work.

I know, at times, it's hard to buy a gift for mom for Mother's Day. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call just to let her know that you love her and that you appreciate her sacrifice. I know what my wife wants for Mother's Day - Inoko's!!

What a Weekend!!

Sorry for not updating the last few days. Since last Friday the life has been a whirlwind. I accompanied my son on his class trip to Six Flags. Yeah, I already know what you are saying, "That must have been quite a sacrifice!" It was and I enjoyed every second of it. I didn't get to ride much but it was great seeing Jon-Michael having a blast.

The weekend was a full one as well. Jon-Michael had a day long baseball tournament - which his team won by the way - and my wife had to be at a few events to represent the Kids Resource Center. I had a great time just spending time with the family.

But like most stories go all good things must come to an end because on Monday I spent the entire day with over 100 residents of Barrow County waiting to be selected as a juror for one of three trials this week. Thankfully, I was released and I was able to get back to work.