I have also had the opportunity to meet and interview several of the artists that I play on the show every week. Some of the highlights have been going to GMA Week for the first time, my first radio interview with Julian Drive, the 40 Day Fast series of interviews and promoting concerts with Shaun Groves, Wavorly, High Flight Society and more.

It has been quite a ride. Behind the scenes, I first took this time slot because it was available and I thought it would be good to have both Christian music shows back to back. Along the way that turned out to be a great blessing with the friendships I have made with Nancy, Thomas, Cristy, and others through that community.

I have been trying for the past 2 years to get a later time slot on the station, but to no avail. I feel the need to reach a bigger audience, but it is a very hard thing to do on Thursdays from 2-3. I know that most days with work schedules it is hard to tune in, somedays I can’t even tune in myself.

I have been seeing the podcast subscribers growing steadily with every episode with half of the promotion I do for the radio show. I have decided that I am going to renew for 1 more season in hopes that I can get a “prime time” slot. I hope to still be able to re run the current show during the regular time. (There are other shows on the station doing this) Honestly speaking, it can be mentally frustrating to put all of the prep and recording into the radio show and be the only listener.

I know that ultimately, I do this show for an audience of One, but yet it is also a blow to the ego to see all of the work go out and no one listen to it. I guess what it really boils down to is that I am wondering if the radio show continues to be a viable ministry as it is and continue to try for a prime time slot, or if I should pay more attention to the podcast since it is showing signs of rapid growth. One thing I do know is that one way or another, I will still be doing Cross Driven Radio, the question is radio, podcast, or both.

I would like to know what you the listener think of this post. Every comment will be entered into a drawing and I have some cool prizes to give away as well. So, radio, podcast, or both?

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For today’s Positive Post Tuesday, I want to tell you a little story about some good friends from Alberta, Canada and tell you about their festival.  For those of you that may read this and don’t know, I am an Engineer by day and have a radio show a podcast, and this blog called Cross Driven Radio.  I have a passion for anything music, specifically Christian music, and using that passion to serve God.  I started promoting concerts a couple of years back, and at the urging of Nancy Tyler, I started going to GMA 3 years ago.  

GMA is the annual convention so to speak of the Christian Music Industry, basically everyone that is anyone in the “CCM” industry converges upon Nashville in April.  Its inevitable that in  April you see alot of blog posts like this.  2 years ago I met some of the most wonderful people and we became instant friends.  They were telling me there vision for a festival that was 2 years in planning and last weekend was the first Believe Festival.  I was so bummed that I couldn’t be there, but yet I knew that God had something great in mind for these great people.

 So on this Positive Post Tuesday, I take off my Stetson to Gerald, Sandra, Kelly, Steven and all of the people who dedicated over 2 years to bring a one of a kind festival to a one of a kind venue.  I am already waiting for Believe Festival 2009.  I’m going to apply for my passport this week!  (Pictured Left to Right: Steven, Me, Gerald, Sandra)

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Looking on their website thay have received rave reviews form John Cooper of Skillet, Bob Herdman from Audio A, and Dave Pelsue from Kids In The Way (RIP).  Most recently, they were the opening act for Hawk Nelson’s Green T Tour.

One of the things I enjoy about this band is their sense of humor.  They know their audience, and performed a special cover song as shown in this clip from the Hawk Nelson tour.  Their CD is out on July 8.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aRS84uQiFA]

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In my life, it has always been amazing to me how much God will do with just a mustard seed of faith.  There have been numerous instances that I can point to where I have felt God leading me in a certain direction, and when I obeyed and followed that path it was amazing to me the blessings that came from it.

The one in particular for today’s post is about Radio.  I am a shy and somewhat introverted person, not the typical person you would expect to be a boss radio jock.  So much so, that when people hear me on the radio they can hardly believe that I am the same person.  The story of how I got into radio is on the ABOUT CDR page on the blog.

Since I started the show over 3 years ago, I have had several opportunities given to me that I never expected.  From getting music provided by record labels to going to GMA Week and talking about fishing with my friend Eric from Decemberadio, to riding an elevator with Rush of Fools and watching them laugh when I told them my worship leader couldn’t get UNDO out of his head.  Oh man, Keith is going to kill me if he ever sees this.  The point I’m trying to make is that a quiet, mild mannered cable guy could be doing these things is amazing to me.

Recently, I had been getting somewhat frustrated with radio because I have had a hard time building a larger audience and it just wasn’t happening.  I must say though that I do have some very loyal friends from the show like Cristy, Thomas, and of course Nancy.  But, in that frustration, I still had hope and a desire to serve the Lord through radio.  It was then that I was offered a spot voice tracking the Friday night show on Renegade Radio in Reno.  That filled me up and revived my passion for radio.

And then, last night I did an interview that took that passion to another level and opened another door.  You can look at my previous post to hear about meeting one of my blogging heroes and sources of inspiration.  I am 10 days away from my time to blog for the 40 Day Fast, and do I have a story to tell.  If you want to have your heart broken, and then filled up with hope and inspiration for what just 1 person can do to make a positive impact is someone life somewhere in the world, then I encourage you to follow the stories shared in the 40 Day Fast.

When we all put our mustard seeds together, the world will become a better place for our children to inherit. More importantly, that would mean that we will have turned our collective faith in God to bring HIM glory and that we as a generation are living for HIM.  I think Jared Anderson says it pretty well!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQAPMRpNoe8&feature=related]

~CIAO

Charley

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~CIAO

Charley

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M868fciCag0&feature=related]

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Eowyn’s Silent Screams CD is really good.  I like it more every time I listen to it.   I noticed this before with other people, but it is always interesting to me how when you meet a singer, sometimes their singing voice is not much different than their speaking voice.

  Shaun Groves,  Bart Millard, Carrie Underwood, Sheryl Crow and Dolly Parton are a couple of examples off the top of my head that would fit into the singing voice is similar to the speaking voice category.  But then you get Eowyn,  Sara Acker, and Marc Martel who’s singing voices are different than the speaking voices.  I love and have great respect for all of those artists, but it is just something I have observed.

Here is a video of Eowyn to get you ready for tomorrows show.  CIAO!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aDrp1bGNJE]

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Yesterday I got back from GMA and I am back at work today.  Everyone I have seen today has asked me how my vacation was.  I explain to them what the week was all about and I got some pretty interesting responses ranging from OH!  That’s Great to oh and walking away with kind of a blank stare.

GMA Week is a very tiring week because the seminars go from roughly 8:00-5:00 and there are showcases at various venues around town that go on until 11 or 12:00.  I don’t rent a car because everything is so close, but this part of Nashville is very hilly, so you are always battling a hill, and unless you are a runner it is murder on your lower legs.

It is also pretty tiring because you meet so many people and trying to remember all of those names is very hard for me.  There is also all of the seminars and other interests trying to get your attention. 

I came away from this GMA with a renewed passion for doing radio and concerts.  I met, interviewed, and heard so many new artists and their enthusiasm and eagerness to serve The Lord and minister is very encouraging to me.  I have met some amazing people and you will be hearing them on the podcast very soon.  You will notice that there was a couple of days I didn’t blog, but don’t fret, I did record a series of 4 podcasts talking about my experiences and thoughts.  They will be online by the end of the week.  I also have some exciting news about the podcast coming soon!

I think this passage from Isaiah sums up GMA Week for me pretty well.  I was weary from the full days and late nights, but found it very encouraging talking to Gerald, Sandra and Steven about Believe Festival, Paul about Awakening Fest, Listening to Third Day  give a sneak preview of the new CD and story behind the songs, to Darren and Platform Management/DCB and bringing their booking in house to try to find a better way to make things better for all parties in the Christian Concert business, and Bread Of Stone, and the work they are doing to minister here with music and the distribution of thousands of cassettes in a Muslim country.

  These are just a few great examples of what the Christian Music Industry can be and some of the people who make the Christian Music industry something we can all be proud of, and I am honored to be partnering and along side them.

 GODSPEED!!

Charley

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