Okay so Mapquest is not completely fool proof…I (Anitra) managed to take us on a journey that morphed a five hour trip into a seven hour journey adventure. In my defense…we did meet the Hulk….when we had surrendered all hope…(Jesse here) against my better judgement, we stopped for directions (3 times)… once at Rick’s Gas (you know, my buddy Rick) in scenic Brooksville.  A very large gentleman was standing guard outside the door. It was only as we walked away that we both dissolved into laughter at the realization that he still had green make-up along his hairline (he was obviously quite the hit as the Hulk the night before).

Upon arriving at Journeyfest, we once again realized that they only love us for our car. The given location of our tent was outer Mongolia… until the organizers caught sight of the Reach car (yes, jaws dropped) and suddenly we were right next to the artists’ merch tent (Anitra translates for civilians like me- the place where they sell their T-shirts and CDs).

Talk about shameless marketing…after 5 hours and 642 bands (give or take)…Jesse and Jean (i started trading dares and this is the result.

(Jesse again) So yeah, she got a free CD as payment for the advertising.  I got (which I had not yet received in the above photo) a T-shirt from Remnant Gear (which is killer), and of course I got the shame of looking that ridiculous in the photo now on the web…

Remnant Gear is a great organization that is doing an incredible job of redeeming the media and having a blast doing it.  Please check ‘em out at www.remnantgear.com and support a great ministry.

When is a tent not a tent?

(Jesse here) Okay so when they were manipulating  politely asking me to help with the Reach presence at Journeyfest, I was promised luxiurious accomodations.  Little did I then realize that my definition of luxury is quite different from those here at ReachFM…I was provided with a lovely pop tent to erect beneath the ReachFM tent  (you know for that double weather protection aspect)… Did I mention it was freezing cold and sleeping on rocky ground is just not a good idea, oh and the mosquitos I love ReachFM,  I absolutely love my job here and could not possibly tarnish their glorious name… It’s ok (reference picture above)  I convinced Jean to have a reach tattoo on her forehead.  Enough said…( Anitra  - no…not enough said…you said that you wanted a tent…you got a tent…next time be more specific and ask for sides!

All joking aside (ok maybe not all of it), Journeyfest was a pretty sweet weekend.  We had the opportunity to connect with so many people, and hear countless stories of people who have been listening to us and just didn’t know it was us until now.  We spent time with a number of the bands there, and were so blessed to hear their hearts in their music - how God is using these artists to further His plan.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to making the weekend at Journeyfest an incredible weekend (especially the Hulk of course).

My weekend epitomizes so much of what I love about being part of Reach FM. Friday night, we had a booth at Midnight Madness so we were surrounded by surfers and skaters and everyone in between! Alexander and Call to Glory both played to enthusiastic audiences and I had the chance to meet listeners from up and down the coast.

On Saturday, ReachFM was at St. Andrews in Boca Raton for the Matchpoint Ministries Tennis Marathon! Congratulations to everyone who played 100 games of tennis for a great cause. Several of the tennis players from Palm Beach Atlantic came out with their head coach, Chi, as well as some weekend warriors who managed to persevere. I had some particularly “blonde” moments when I spoke briefly about my co-host Bob being like a partner in doubles and covering my “dropped” shots. Anyone who knows their Federer from their Bryant brothers knows it would be a miracle if I could GET a drop shot.

Thanks to everyone who made it a point to come up and say hi! For a gregarious person, doing a morning show can be a bit of a stretch since its just Bob and I and our guests. I love the thought that we can bring a little encouragement, laughter and even information to your day.

Today Russ Breimeier from Christianity Today reminded me of why I love talking to him every Thursday.

Not only did he chide me for always choosing the same two or three artists when it comes to voting for best (insert category here) of the year, but he also made Orlando’s own Anberlin his pick of the week.

He chose Breathe off of their New Surrender CD while I’m going with The Resistance. Who are you going to agree with? Someone with a tin ear who had to try three times before spelling the name of the band correctly (AKA me) OR a seasoned professional who gets paid megabucks to review music for a living and for money and other employee benefits (aka Russ).

You be the judge!

If you missed this morning’s show, you can replay the interview along with samples of the two songs. Enjoy!

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A home school co-op met recently and they invited me to tag alone. Funny how much you can learn from eight 6-year olds in funny mustaches. Our book was about little Nino and it was supposed to teach me us about “initiative.” The story is of how little Nino’s father had a pizzeria and everyone loved his pizza so much that one day (insert ominous music here) Mr. Conglomerate showed up and offered to buy Mr. Nino out.

  Lots of cute pictures and several deep moral lessons later including    the tantalizing lure of “bigger” and “cash on the barrel head” Little Nino and his father return to their sweet little family owned store and EVERYONE lives happily ever after!

Who doesn’t look cute in a toque and a handlebar mustache!

Today John Morgan was on the show on his way to the South Florida Promise Keeper’s event. What a nice man, but it was more than a little humbling when he mentioned that although his resemblance to George W. is uncanny, its his daily becoming more and more like Christ that really brings him joy.

Here’s a brief video that he very graciously agreed to shoot for us…Enjoy!

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Two simple words but I learned today on Forgiveness Friday that a lot can stand between me and saying them. During this morning’s show, Pastor Jim Coy reminded me that there are many times when I need to bite my tongue on all the excuses, circumstances and justifications that rise in my heart when confronted by my mistakes and just say- I’m sorry.

So here goes- I’m sorry. Here is the audio of the interview with Trevor McNevan from Thousand Foot Krutch that I have been promising you. Thank you for your patience and I think the chance to hear Trevor share his heart will more than make up for me withholding it from you for so long but…I’m sorry!

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Have I mentioned that you guys are the best?

One of the most amazing things about being plucked from my somewhat normal life as a writer for the church where I attend and plunked behind a microphone to be the co-host of a morning show is how incredibly interactive radio can be.

I was joking with Bob, my co-host and the purveyor of sanity for the show, that my only previous experience with radio was with the show WKRP in Cincinnati. Of course I get to be Loni Anderson (although there has been a groundswell of votes that I am more like a Bailey Quarters) and Bob vacillates between Dr. Johnny Fever and Venus Flytrap.  The listeners were rarely mentioned and never seen. Over the past year, I have come to love the fact that this is not accurate at all.

You guys provide homemade remedies when you hear that I have a cold. You set me straight when you think that I’ve been too hard on Bob and you pray for us (alot!). You’re quick to call in and tell us how God is using Reach FM to encourage you throughout your day. You even help me with this blog. If you were annoyed that all the links led you on a rabbit trail and that it was a struggle to get back to the post from all the places I sent you, you’ll notice that it’s easier now. We need to all breathe a collective sigh of thankfulness to Janet who was kind enough to e-mail me. 

If you see something or read anything that gets you going, please comment. I’d love to meet you from the other side of the radio.

THIRD DAY VS. SWITCHFOOT

So Ruthie J. “lost” the Battle of the Bands between Third Day (championed by Anitra) and Switchfoot (Ruthie’s Choice).

As you can see in the next photo, she was not at all upset by the results since the guys from Switchfoot came by to tilt the balloting in her favor!

The guys from Switchfoot were nice enough to come by and encourage Ruthie J. before she ventured out into the park with her new hairstyle!

Does this qualify as a “bad hair” day for Jon Foreman from Switchfoot or is it just the effects of the East Coast waters after surfing?

What did Paul say about identifying with people whether slave or free, Greek or Hebrew?

I became as a Simpson in order to reach the Simpsons….

…and my head is still pounding! Thanks to everyone who came up to us at Universal Studios during the live broadcast Friday. I promise photos to follow.

I’m still recovering from the realization that my job at various times on Friday was to chat with John Schlitt (former lead singer of Petra), John Cooper of Skillet, Adam from Stellar Kart (thanks again for posting the tie-ending vote and condemning Ruthie J. to an entire evening of being mistaken for Marge from the Simpsons) and the entire motley crew known as Switchfoot!

I think I was equally excited by the chance to meet so many of you. Until Rock the Universe you existed only in my mind as the people on the other side of the radio. Having you stand in front of me, 3-D (without the benefit of plastic glasses like so many of the rides require) and getting to hear about your family, your faith and how these artists had encouraged you in the journey was such an incredible blessing.

Before I collapse into a coma from the sheer joy of seeing 14 bands worshipping Christ in the middle of Universal Studios, I have to give you the answer to the question that everyone seemed to have- Was Third Day incredible? The answer is Yes but then again, so was Jeremy Camp, Skillet, Stellar Kart (without Miley Cyrus singing back-up), Switchfoot, Jars of Clay… I don’t think that I was disappointed in anyone’s live set. Even in the 125 degree heat, everyone rocked our faces off.

Were you at Rock the Universe? I would love to hear about your experiences. Was it everything you expected?