Lifespring! All Shows

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Shuggs

Another “Milestone”

Wow. 200 shows.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time waxing poetic at this point about the past 200 shows, but I would like to express my thanks to those of you who are a part of the Lifespring! family. You’re awesome.

And I want to thank God for calling me to this labor of love all the way back in October of 2004. November 13, 2004 was the first episode, and in that time I’ve had the privilege to have gotten to know many of you via email and various social media sites, some I’ve met in person, and some I’ve talked to via telephone.

Thank you all for your friendship and prayers.

I thank God. Not just for giving me this show, but for how He has brought my family and I through so much over these past nearly six years now since the show began. Some really great times, and some not so great. But through it all, He as been our rock.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Free Flying Lesson

Listen to the show for my conversation with Bryan Duncan in which we discuss a recent event involving a motorcycle, Shuggs, and a free flying lesson. Oh, and Hogwash!

Music

Only For Good
Love You With My Life

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Introducing a new format for the show that (I hope) will allow me to get back to a more regular schedule.

Today

My friend, Kenny Metcalf, is involved in an exciting new venture called “Elton- The Early Years“. I interview Kenny on the show and play the band’s version of “Border Song”. It’s amazing!

By the way, here’s the interview I did with Kenny in 2008.

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Sponsored by:

The Music

Common Ground ….Drive

Small Town Sleeper…Song For The Summer

Jimmie Bratcher…Drive

Asleep At The Wheel featuring Willie Nelson…Truck Driver’s Blues
Asleep at the Wheel, Leon Rausch
“Truck Driver’s Blues (feat. Willie Nelson)” (mp3)
from “It’s a Good Day”
(Bismeaux Records)

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Matthew Ebel…Drive Away

Brett Mikels….Drive

Kelly’s Lot…Drive

Johnny Rawls And The Rays…Long Black Car

Kevin Bilchik…Long Ride

John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers…Road Dogs

Greg Federico…Pacific Coast Highway

Border Song…Elton: The Early Years

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Carl Boberg, a 26-year-old Swedish minister, wrote a poem in 1885 which he called “O Store Gud” (“O Mighty God”). The words, literally translated to English, said:

When I the world consider
Which Thou has made by Thine almighty Word
And how the web of life Thou wisdom guideth
And all creation feedeth at Thy board.
Then doth my soul burst forth in song of praise
Oh, great God,
Oh, great God!

His poem was published and “forgotten”, or so he thought….

Listen to the show to hear the rest of the story.

Today’s Music

Instrumental Version

Judson Hurd

Vocal Version

Steve Amerson
“How Great Thou Art/Be Exalted” (mp3)
from “Hymns and Gospel Songs”
(Amerson Music Ministries)

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The memorial service for Kevin Thomson was sad, joyful, moving, reflective, nostalgic, encouraging, and rocking.

I saw people whom I had not seen in nearly forty years, met people whose music I have listened to for those thirty plus decades, and of course, made some new friends.

Of course, the focus was on Kevin Thomson. Speakers with personal reflections included Pastor Bob Probert, a long time friend of Kevin’s, Pastor Oden Fong, friend of Kevin and member of early Jesus music group Mustard Seed Faith, Duncan Bryan, of the Sweet Comfort Band, and Kevin’s two sons, Elijah and Joshua Thomson.

The words of Bob, Oden, and Bryan were primarily memories of Kevin as a friend. Elijah and Joshua’s words were of a dad, and I was moved to tears upon hearing them tell about growing up with him.

A wonderful video of Kevin’s life, produced by Troy Lamberth, was shown. I loved the way it started with the video of the Sweet Comfort Band at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, circa late 1970s, with Kevin preaching just before the band goes into his favorite SCB song, “Get Ready”. We got to hear Kevin doing the two things he loved most…telling of the love of Jesus, and rockin’ on his bass. The video also showed photos while the music played. Very well done video.

Bob Bennett, one of my all time favorite singer/songwriters, sang “(I Know That) My Redeemer Lives”, accompanying himself on acoustic guitar. Bob is a wonderful musician, highly intelligent, soft spoken, and a gentleman.

Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa gave the message.

The Sweet Comfort Band, plus some friends, played four songs after the eulogies and Pastor Chuck’s message. Musicians were:

Drums: Kevin’s brother, Rick Thomson
Guitar and vocals: Randy Thomas
Vocals and keyboard: Bryan Duncan
Guitar: Joshua Thomson
Bass guitar: Eli Thomson
Harmonica: Darrell Mansfield
Keyboard: (sorry, I didn’t get this fellow’s name)

Songs played:

“I Love You With My Life”
“Searching For Love”
“Get Ready”
(There was one more, but for the life of me I can’t recall which song it was.)

After the service, a reception was held at Mariner’s Church, where there was food and more talk of Kevin.

I’m so glad I was able to attend. As I said in my last post, I feel like Kev was a friend I never met. Listening to so many memories of him makes me so sad I never did get to meet him face to face, but I know that I will see him in Heaven. As Pastor Chuck said, “Kev just got there ahead of us.”

I have posted several videos that people made at the service on my Facebook page.

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(Left to right: Kevin Thomson, Randy Thomas, Bryan Duncan, Rick Thomson)

Take a saint, and put him into any condition, and he knows how to rejoice in the Lord. —Walter Cradock

Today is the funeral of Kevin Thomson. I never met Kevin face to face, but my life has been greatly impacted by him. One of my most treasured friends is in my life, in large measure, because of Kevin. Without Kevin’s boldness in asking a talented but virtually unknown college student to sing in his band, I would most likely not know Bryan Duncan today.

Kevin was the founder of the ground breaking Sweet Comfort Band. He was the bass player, and up until about four years ago, was as strong as a bull.

Four years ago, Kevin became a quadriplegic. With little warning, his reliance on his own strength was stripped away. In the blink of an eye.

What happened? An auto accident? No. A diving accident? No. What was it?

He just…collapsed. He was on a vacation with his wife, and as he was about to put their suitcases in the car one morning he put the key in the trunk lock and then just…collapsed. He never moved again under his own power.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I would be having some really big questions for God if this happened to me. Like “WHY???” “Doesn’t the fact that I played bass for You in front of millions mean anything?” “How about all those people I preached to, telling of Your love? Doesn’t that count for something?” “Why don’t you heal me?”

But in a conversation I had with Kevin’s brother, Rick Thomson, he didn’t do that. He took the loss of the use of his arms and legs in stride. He didn’t have anger, resentment, feelings of self-pity…none of that. As a matter of fact, the doctors thought there must be something wrong with him. They kept waiting for the shoe to drop. They figured he would go through the stages of grief that is expected and normal for “victims” of such loss.

It never happened. In the four years from this loss, to his passing on May 30, 2010, the shoe never did drop.

Why?

Because his faith was not in his own strength. His faith…his trust…was in Jesus. He knew that his life was not his, but God’s, and whatever God intended to do with or through or for or to him, He had the right. And Kevin was fine with that. Completely at peace with that.

I’m not sure I have that level of faith. I hope that if God were to test me with something this big my response would measure up, but wow, I just don’t know.

What about you?

From Bryan Duncan’s Facebook page:

“Well Kevin’s funeral is wednesday, We will sing “I love you With my Life” , “Somebody Loves You” “When I was alone”. 1pm service at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, where we played so many wonderful concerts.”