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This weekend we drove the bus for the youth of Pentecostal Worship Center in Spring City, TN.  Taking them to JfestTN 2019 in Chattanooga, TN. I don't know the official count but I heard there was somewhere around 12,000 people on the grounds.

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The prevailing memory was it was HAWT!!!!!!! Miserably, crazy out in the middle of the desert HOT!!! OK, so maybe I am exaggerating a wee bit but the sun roasted us and made life almost unbearable. But we endured and enjoyed the music and the festival atmosphere. 

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Everyone smelled of sunscreen and the flushed faces were wilting in the blazing sun. We did our best to not have too much envy for those who had the foresight to bring tents to shield from the blistering sun. Vast quantities of fresh squeezed lemonade and iced tea was consumed.

I knew I was in the middle of a different generation when despite their desperation to cool down, one is required to take a picture of their food before it can be consumed. Right Leah?

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Riley Clemmons was the first performer with some really good songs and song writing. While trying to bring energy in the mounting heat. A young talent with a desire to go somewhere clearly.

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Following Riley was Ryan Stevenson living just down the road in Nashville. His song "No Matter What" struck a chord in hearts and they reached up into the heat to connect with heaven. I actually really liked "The Eye of the Storm".

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Building 429 was next up and I will confess as an "Old" guy I had never heard of them but they clearly were a seasoned and talented band that knew what they were about in taking the splintered and spread out crowd along with them on a journey. Some serious abilities there. I resonated with their song "This Is Not Where I Belong".

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While the music was going on, kids world and rides was happening in the midst of the fair like atmosphere.

_W8A9077 I confess my favorite artist of the day was Tauren Wells. A talent after the mode of Bruno Mars with a flavor of MJ in the early days... His talent didn't need to be autotuned and his energy was infectious as he took us to church in the midst of a festival.

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_W8A9473 Seriously is there any instrument he doesn't play? What an amazingly anointed talent.

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Following that dynamo was another incredibly talented musician/singer in Matthew West. Unfortunately I was drained by the summer sun and had to go get some sleep in the bus so I could drive the kids home. They were all adamant they wanted to stay till the very last.

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I wasn't there for the last act in Lecrae. I am not a huge rapper fan so it was the one I was least interested in but kids were very moved by what he had to share and had glowing comments about him.

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Fireworks were the nightcap on a wonderful day full of memory making and good times.

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Despite the painful sunburns and the worn out bodies. The weary smiles were genuine.

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That was JFestTN 2019 and we were all happy we went and experienced it together.