As Heard on the Road Home...the Benefits of Walking

Walking is not just a weenie activity for the nonathletic, says Michelle Look, M.D., national medical consultant to the Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk and a physician who specializes in sports medicine in San Diego, California: "It's good for just about anybody, and the health benefits are particularly significant for women."

Here are 8 reasons to start walking:
1. It's great for the heart
2. It cuts breast-cancer risks
3. It helps you sleep
4. It cuts down on aches and pains
5. It makes you happy
6. It keeps you slimmer
7. It staves off senior moments
8. It protects your bones

Visit the Health website for more information and benefits.

8 Reasons to start walking

8 benefits to walking as heard on The Road Home with Steve Gimbert.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/diet.fitness/06/12/healthmag.walking.health/index.html

Local Ministry Spotlight - Speaking Thru Me Ministries

My name is Leah Adams and I live in Blairsville, GA. I listen to 90.9 and am blessed by the programming. I am part of a group called Speaking Thru Me Ministries. Speaking Thru Me Ministries is a fee-free Christian speaker team that has a heart for providing quality Christian speakers to churches—especially small churches. You can learn more about STMM here. Women are hungry to hear quality Christian speakers speak the Word of God but many of those speakers charge exorbitant honorariums. STMM speakers will speak at churches and not charge honorariums. The only cost to the local church is the travel expenses of the speaker.

I believe that this ministry could benefit many churches in your local listening area and wanted to see if there would be a way to highlight this ministry on WRAF. Thank you for your consideration.

Captured by His Grace,

Leah
http://www.thepoint-leah.blogspot.com/

Program Changes at Toccoa Falls Radio

There have been several changes to our programming schedule that I want to bring you up to speed on.

MoneyLife from Crown Financial Ministries, previously heard weekdays at 3:30 PM has moved to 6 PM. When Larry Burkett hosted the program, formerly called Money Matters, it was a live show sent out across the nation via satellite from Gainesville, Georgia. The staff at Christian Financial Concepts (CFC), as it was known originally, monitored WRAF to make sure their broadcast feed was being properly received by the station which carried the show. On several occasions we were not paying attention to what we were doing at WRAF and background feeds of other programs were going out at the same time as Money Matters and this would send the engineers at CFC into a panic wondering if the problem was on their end. I once remember intentionally allowing the sound of a tape playing in high speed to go out over the air during the show just to keep everyone on their toes, but I digress and have already confessed my transgression. Fortunately our friends in Gainesville promised they would not take back the Crown Radio Station of the Year award they gave us a couple of years back.

For quite some time Crown has pre-recorded the program and made it available to radio stations to play at the time convenient for them. Since WRAF no longer needs to air MoneyLife daily at 3:30 PM to help Crown out we have decided to move it to 6 PM. With the change of hosts from Howard Dayton and Steve Moore to the new team of Chuck Bentley and Dave Ball we wanted them to have the opportunity to find a new audience that may not have been able to listen at the old time. National Public Radio airs a very popular financial program called Marketplace at 6 PM on South Carolina stations and 6:30 PM on the Georgia outlets. Placing MoneyLife at this key time will expose many afternoon commuters to handling finances God's way.

In these tough economic times pray that this change will produce fruitful ministry as we seek to reach people for Christ through teaching them what the Bible says about money and stewardship.

Precepts with Kay Arthur, formerly heard weekdays at 6 PM, is now on at 2 AM and is available "on demand" through the WRAF Wi-Fi Family Radio. Learn more about these radios at myfavoritestation.net or call me and I'll tell you all about it.

The Jody Hice Show is our newest program and it can be heard Monday through Friday at 3:30 PM. Jody is the Senior Pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church near Winder, Georgia and he is also the President of Ten Commandments Georgia -- an organization dedicated to distributing a copy of the Ten Commandments to every home in the state, informing citizens of our country's Biblical heritage and informing them of their First Amendments rights. No matter who wins the White House in November, Christian values and freedoms will continue to be assaulted and The Jody Hice Show will help us confront America's culture war head on.

As always, let us know what you think about our programming by sending an email to radio (at) myfavoritestation (dot) net.

WRAF Playlist

WRAF Reported Stats Week of Jun 23-Jun 29, 2008

ARTIST/Song (label) SPINS ROTATION

LAURA STORY/Mighty To Save
(INO) (7065) 14 Heavy
THE SONFLOWERZ/My Adoration
(Independent) (7281) 13 Heavy
FEE/All Because Of Jesus
(INO) (6916) 12 Heavy
CURT COLLINS/Another Day
(FSS Records) (7294) 10 Heavy
MARK HARRIS/All For The Glory Of You
(INO) (7171) 10 Heavy
KENT BOTTENFIELD/A Son Of My Own
(IBB Records) (7234) 9 Medium
MICHAEL W. SMITH/So Great
(Reunion/Provident) (7252) 8 Medium
GORDON MOTE/Don't Let Me Miss The Glory
(Independent) (7163) 7 Medium
POINT OF GRACE/Heal The Wound
(Word-Curb) (7348) 7 Medium
WAYBURN DEAN/Through The Rain
(Independent) (7153) 7 Medium
DENNIS JERNIGAN/I Cry Holy
(Shepherd's Heart Music) (7186) 6 Medium
JIM COLE/Christ The Solid Rock
(Independent) (7315) 6 Medium
MERCYME/You Reign
(INO) (7385) 6 Medium
SHANNON WEXELBERG/Hail To The King
(Discovery House) (6683) 6 Medium
RICHIE MCDONALD/I Turn To You
(Independent) (7228) 5 Light
RUSH OF FOOLS/Peace Be Still
(Midas Records) (7182) 5 Light
SANDI PATTY/Through It All
(INO) (7371) 3 Light
BART MILLARD/I Stand Amazed
(INO/Simple) (7515) 2 Light
JUDY MARTIN HESS/Let It Show
(Mission House Music) (7255) 2 Light

Wi-Fi ready radios won't tie you down

The Boston Globe has an article this morning about Wi-Fi Radio that will be of interest to you who like to listen to WRAF over the internet when you are on vacation or in an office that can't pick up one of our FM frequencies.

Wi-Fi ready radios won't tie you down by Hiawatha Bray June 26, 2008

What's more boring than the stuff on AM radio? The stuff on FM radio, of course. No wonder millions subscribe to satellite radio services like XM and Sirius, or sample the delights of Internet audio streams.

According to Arbitron Inc., 33 million Americans listen to Internet audio every week. Most hear the audio streams through computer speakers, but that's a lousy deal when the PC is in one room and you're working or relaxing in another.

Luckily, a solution is at hand: the Wi-Fi wireless networking system that can transmit data over the air to any nearby digital device. And I don't just mean desktop PCs. You can now buy Wi-Fi equipped desktop radios that will let you hear thousands of online audio streams almost as easily as tuning in a Red Sox game. You can also listen to music stored on your computer's hard drive.
I went looking for one or two such radios and came up with four. Read more>>>

See the video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1185143625/bctid1630381510

Learn more about WRAF Wi-Fi Family Radio

Jody Hice Radio Show To Be Heard On WRAF

The Jody Hice program airs over Toccoa Falls Radio beginning next Monday (June 30) at 3:30 PM. Mike Shelley interviews Jody about his show and what you will be hearing on the broadcast.

University of Georgia Research Foundation to acquire WNEG-TV

Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Research Foundation has reached an agreement to acquire WNEG-TV, channel 32, from its current owner, Media General, Inc. Transfer of the license for the television station, which serves Northeast Georgia from studios in Toccoa, is subject to approval by the Federal Communications Commission. The station will be operated by the University of Georgia through its Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.

The commercial station will serve Northeast Georgia with high-quality, local interest programming, built primarily around local news and public affairs programming, and featuring UGA academic, cultural and athletic events.

“The acquisition of WNEG is the foundation for development of a Center for Advanced Media, out of which the university plans to distribute its rich content statewide through multiple platforms ranging from satellite to cable to Web,” said E. Culpepper Clark, Grady College dean. “Our first goal, however, will be to provide quality local television programming to Northeast Georgia.”

UGA President Michael F. Adams noted that by acquiring WNEG, the University of Georgia joins a handful of flagship universities nationwide that own commercial licenses. “This provides a winning combination of strengthening local markets by emphasizing local interests, while offering a real-world opportunity for faculty and students to work in research, development and teaching in media,” Adams said. “The revenue produced by this commercial venture will strengthen the operation of the television station while enhancing the research and outreach mission of the university.”

Clark estimated that FCC approval likely would occur this fall. He said the first year of ownership would focus on programming and technical transition, during which the station would continue to operate out of its Toccoa studios until transferring to studios at the Grady College building on the UGA campus. The new UGA-oriented programming is expected to commence in fall 2009, utilizing professional broadcast staff supported by UGA students and their faculty instructors.

“The new WNEG will provide students and faculty with new ways to experience and use media,” Clark said. “Indeed, all units that comprise the university will have at their disposal the means to create and distribute programming that informs, entertains and inspires the best – in short, media as we know it can be.”

Writer: Tom Jackson, 706/542-8090, tjackson@uga.edu

Contact: E. Culpepper Clark, 706/542-4989, cully@uga.edu

As Heard on the Road Home...the Treadmill Desk

Lose 57lbs while working at your computer.

Dr. James Levine of the Mayo Clinic came up with the idea of a "Treadmill Desk." His research revealed that on the average his subjects burned 100 extra calories every hour while walking slowly -- at 1 mile per hour -- than while sitting in a chair.

Visit the Treadmill Desk website.

Please Get That Bumper Sticker Off Your Car

A new study from Colorado State University found a link between road rage and the number of personalized items on or in people's vehicles. "The number of territory markers predicted road rage better than vehicle value, condition, or any of the things that we normally associate with aggressive driving,' says psychologist William Szlemko.

What's more, only the number of bumper stickers, and not their content, predicted road rage... Szlemko suggests that this territoriality may encourage road rage because drivers are simultaneously in a private space (their car) and a public one (the road). 'We think they are forgetting that the public road is not theirs, and are exhibiting territorial behavior that normally would only be acceptable in personal space,' the researcher says.

Coffee Could Extend Your Life

I filled in today for Mike Shelley on "Praise In The Morning" and was very pleased to hear of a new study about the health benefits of my favorite morning elixir.

Read the story or watch the video below.

WRAF Playlist

WRAF Reported Stats Week of Jun 9-Jun 15, 2008

ARTIST/Song (label) SPINS ROTATION

LAURA STORY/Mighty To Save(INO) (7065) 15 Heavy
THE SONFLOWERZ/My Adoration(Independent) (7281) 13 Heavy
FEE/All Because Of Jesus(INO) (6916) 11 Heavy
KENT BOTTENFIELD/A Son Of My Own(IBB Records) (7234) 11 Heavy
GORDON MOTE/Don't Let Me Miss The Glory(Independent) (7163) 9 Medium
MICHAEL W. SMITH/So Great(Reunion/Provident) (7252) 9 Medium
MARK HARRIS/All For The Glory Of You(INO) (7171) 7 Medium
POINT OF GRACE/Heal The Wound(Word-Curb) (7348) 7 Medium
RICHIE MCDONALD/I Turn To You(Independent) (7228) 7 Medium
WAYBURN DEAN/Through The Rain(Independent) (7153) 7 Medium
CURT COLLINS/Another Day(FSS Records) (7294) 6 Medium
DENNIS JERNIGAN/I Cry Holy(Shepherd's Heart Music) (7186) 6 Medium
KRISSY NORDHOFF/Outrageous Love(Independent) (7081) 5 Light
RUSH OF FOOLS/Peace Be Still(Midas Records) (7182) 5 Light
SARA GROVES/It Might Be Hope(INO) (7372) 5 Light
JIM COLE/Christ The Solid Rock(Independent) (7315) 4 Light
MERCYME/You Reign(INO) (7385) 3 Light
SANDI PATTY/Through It All(INO) (7371) 3 Light
JUDY MARTIN HESS/Let It Show(Mission House Music) (7255) 2 Light
SHANNON WEXELBERG/Hail To The King(Discovery House) (6683) 2 Light

Website Down For The Weekend

Our website at http://www.toccoafallsradio.org/ will be down for scheduled maintenance this weekend. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Here are the URL’s for our Streaming Audio stations. Click the links or copy and paste them into your audio player or wi – fi radio:

THE FALLS - http://63.247.192.115:8016/listen.pls

WRAF MP3 - http://63.247.192.115:8014/listen.pls

WRAF Windows Media - mms://c1.liquidviewer.com/wraf

MyFavoriteStation.net (All Music Channel) mms://63.247.193.2/SAM_WMA_5A (128kbs stream)
mms://63.247.193.2/SAM_WMA_5A-L (32kbs stream)

Stephens County Baseball Video Seen On FOX TV

Heather Payne Retires from Point of Grace

I'm sad to say that Heather Payne is leaving Point of Grace. She's been with the group since the beginning, is known for her amazing "whistle tone" range, and sang the lead on "How You Live" and multiple other Point of Grace songs.

Here's a letter she wrote to her fans.


My Dear Friends,
This is a letter I knew I would probably have to write sooner or later. A little over a year ago, I sat down with the girls and told them that I was pregnant again (with Ava). I knew at the time it would make traveling a little harder than it already was. I told the girls that I would give it my all to keep up the pace. Well, I have given it my all and in the process I have realized that I can’t do it all. As much as I have tried to be super-wife, super-mommy and super-singer, my efforts came up empty. I now know that I haven’t been excellent at any of it. The girls have sacrificed and I have sacrificed, but mostly my family has sacrificed, and to continue like this is not God’s will. We all desire to be great at everything we do, however, in this world where there are so many things to do, we end up being average at those things instead of being excellent at the most important things. Right after I had Ella, I memorized Deuteronomy 6:4-9. This passage has been a constant reminder of the mandate that we have to raise our children in a way that they can watch us living out every day and therefore desire to emulate us as they grow older. It says:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates” (vv. 6-9).
As we prayed about what to do, this passage in Deuteronomy kept coming to mind. Every time I got to the part about teaching our children “diligently” and at all times, I started feeling uncomfortable. I haven’t been diligently teaching my children, I have been getting by. I am incredibly blessed with a husband that has supported my ministry. He had three of our kids many weekends by himself when I traveled and he embraced that time. Now, my role is to support him in his ministry. I will also be able to be actively involved in our home church. As believers we are members of the body of Christ. When a member is missing (as I often was) the body dosen’t function correctly. All of this to say, the Lord has been slowly preparing me and it is time. So, with no regrets but with overwhelming sadness, I am retiring from Point of Grace.
This has been a very difficult decision, but it is the right one. There are some very exciting things ahead for POG. As hard as it is for me to swallow, I won’t be a part of those exciting things…at least not in the same way I was. From now on I’ll be on the sidelines with you, cheering them on. I love Shelley, Denise and Leigh in a way that I could never describe. We have been on an amazing journey together and as I see it, this is where our road splits. They continue on their exciting journey and I begin a new one. They will always be a part of my life as well as my family. I support them 110% in all that they do and wish them only blessings. It’s funny, I haven’t really had a good cry about all of this yet (I haven’t had time with four kids nor has it really hit me yet), however, the only times I have been teary-eyed were when I was thinking of you, my fans. You have no idea how much I will miss seeing you. You have been faithful and encouraging throughout my almost 18 years with POG and I truly do consider you my friends. Hopefully, God will allow our paths to cross along this new journey. By the way, I will sing again. Not in this capacity, but by the grace of God I will continue singing.
I pray God’s richest blessings upon you all through the grace of our crucified and risen Christ in whom we have salvation. ‘Til we meet again.
Grace and Peace,

Heather

Dear Friends,
We wanted to take a moment and tell each of you how much your support has meant to us for the past seventeen years of our ministry. As you read in Heather's letter, she is coming off the road with Point of Grace after 17 wonderful years. It is unbelievable to think we have been together and traveling for that long. We have literally "lived" together, grown together, loved together, laughed and cried together, through the many ups and downs, twists and turns in this journey called "Point of Grace." People often ask us if we are truly as good of friends as we seem to be. We always joke that we have been together for 17 years and we actually still like each other!! But honestly, that is an understatement. We are more than good friends, our connection runs deep-we are sisters. Something special has happened in our relationships with one another, something that cannot be fabricated, something that can only happen over many years of walking the same road together. We have a chemistry with one another, onstage and off, that we not only acknowledge, but treasure. After much prayer and consideration, this has lead us to the decision to not "replace" Heather. Some would say that no one is irreplaceable, but we would have to respectfully disagree. Our precious sister Heather, in our opinion, is indeed irreplaceable. We are excited to continue with our ministry for as long as God allows, and it will be as a trio. We have been asked to do an expanded version of our latest project, "How You Live." We are in the studio now working on three new songs for that project which will be released in September. This will be our very first recording as a trio. We would love for you to check back really soon as we will put up samples of our new music on our site . We absolutely covet your prayers during this time of transition and thank you in advance for the unwavering support you have always given so freely to each of us.
As for Heather, we will miss her more than words can say. We continue to talk and communicate with her everyday, and our friendship will continue to grow just like it always has. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and we love her with all our hearts.
We are excited to see all of you on the road this summer.

Love and blessing to you all.
...and then there were three,

Shelley, Denise, and Leigh

Stephens County Baseball Video

When Cody Martin took the mound Saturday for a state championship baseball game, he probably didn't imagine his high school would be fined and disciplined because of one of his pitches. But that's what happened.

Was a baseball pitch at a high school game designed to injure the umpire?

A single play from Georgia's 3A high school state championship game became the subject of national media speculation this week after it appeared that Martin and Stephens County High School catcher Matt Hill conspired to hit the home-plate umpire with a pitch.

In a video we have posted below, Stephens County catcher Hill is seen apparently set up to catch Martin's pitch, only to move his glove downward just before the pitch reaches the plate, missing the ball completely and causing it to hit home plate umpire Jeff Scott squarely in the facemask.

The incident occurred in the third and final game of the championship series between Stephens County and Cartersville, with Cartersville leading 8-1 at the time of the beaning, on the way to a championship-clinching 13-1 victory.

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Mercy Me

If you've ever wondered what Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" would sound like sung by Mercy Me, watch the video below...

Catalyst Conference - Atlanta GA - Oct 8-10

Catalyst is pure leadership adrenaline. You can always expect powerful worship, an unprecedented attendee experience, and inspiring and practical content from today's thought leaders. Plan to be there this year on October 8-10 in Atlanta.

For more information on all speakers and their topics, check out the website.

WRAF Playlist

WRAF Reported Stats Week of Jun 2-Jun 8, 2008

ARTIST/Song (label) SPINS ROTATION

LAURA STORY/Mighty To Save(INO) (7065) 16 Heavy
GORDON MOTE/Don't Let Me Miss The Glory (Independent) (7163) 14 Heavy
THE SONFLOWERZ/My Adoration (Independent) (7281) 14 Heavy
KENT BOTTENFIELD/A Son Of My Own (IBB Records) (7234) 10 Heavy
RICHIE MCDONALD/I Turn To You (Independent) (7228) 10 Heavy
MICHAEL W. SMITH/So Great (Reunion/Provident) (7252) 9 Medium
FEE/All Because Of Jesus (INO) (6916) 8 Medium
KRISSY NORDHOFF/Outrageous Love (Independent) (7081) 8 Medium
POINT OF GRACE/Heal The Wound (Word-Curb) (7348) 7 Medium
SARA GROVES/It Might Be Hope (INO) (7372) 7 Medium
WAYBURN DEAN/Through The Rain (Independent) (7153) 7 Medium
DENNIS JERNIGAN/I Cry Holy (Shepherd's Heart Music) (7186) 6 Medium
RUSH OF FOOLS/Peace Be Still (Midas Records) (7182) 5 Light
MARK HARRIS/All For The Glory Of You (INO) (7171) 4 Light
CURT COLLINS/He Will Pull You Through (FSS Records) (6540) 3 Light
JIM COLE/Christ The Solid Rock (Independent) (7315) 3 Light
SANDI PATTY/Through It All (INO) (7371) 3 Light

The American Gospel Countdown

The American Gospel Countdown can be heard every Saturday at Noon on Toccoa Falls Radio.

The top 20 Southern Gospel songs in the nation are showcased with insight about the artists who perform them. Your host, Rodney Baucom, has an entertaining way of presenting the music while remaining ministry-focused.

In addition to the Top 20 songs, you'll also be the first to hear the new releases in Southern Gospel.

Check out The American Gospel Countdown this Saturday Noon – 2 PM on WRAF.

Stephens County Republican Debates

Stephens County Republicans to hold Political Forum and Debate June 14th at 1pm at Henderson Falls Park in Toccoa.

If you’re trying to decide who to vote for in the July primary, you’ll want to attend the the Stephens County GOP’s Political Forum and debate, June 14th at 1 o’clock at Henderson Falls Park in Toccoa.

The event will begin at 1 o’clock and will include a FREE Georgia‐Barbeque meal provided by the Stephens County Republican Party. Conservative Talk Show Host and nationally acclaimed author Martha Zoller will moderate the debates which will begin with Stephens County Commission races between incumbent Kenneth Peeples and challenger Jonesy Haygood (Post 3) followed by a debate between Dean Scarborough and Bill Good for the newly formed Post 5. Gary Donahue and Tim Quick will debate issues pertaining to Clerk of Court, followed by a debate between Woody Blasingame, Dene Hicks, and Alan Smith for Tax Commissioner. The final local race will include a debate between Dennis Brewer and Jimmy Mize for who should represent the Republicanparty to run for Sherriff in November.

After the local races, State Senator Nancy Schaefer will face challengers Jim Butterworth and Terry Rogers, and Georgia State House Whip Barry Fleming will square off against the newly elected Paul Broun as they seek to represent the 10th district in Washington in the seat formerly held by Charlie Norwood.

If you have questions you feel should be addressed to the candidates, please fax them to 706.886.8718.

Party Chairman Jimmy Harris extends an invitation to everyone in the community. “I hope everyone in the community will plan to come to this event to get a better idea of how these republican candidates line up against one another. It is very important to us as a party that people have the opportunity to meet the candidates face‐to‐face and have their questions answered – especially since this year a number of important races will be decided in the Republican primary”.

WRAF World's Greatest Dad Contest

What makes your dad a great dad? What are the qualities of your dad that says he is great? Enter the WRAF World's Greatest Dad Contest, tell us why your dad was / is a great dad, and you could win. We have prizes from Focus on the Family including the entire Focus on the Family Radio Theater production of the Chronicles of Narnia. Each week day until Father’s Day we will pick several “Great Dad” descriptions, read them on the air and the fathers selected will win a gift from us here at Toccoa Falls Radio.

Click here to enter your father in the World's Greatest Dad Contest.