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That's how we are viewing and approaching our gift of life and the new year of 2008. When I think of the multitude of gospel music patriarchs, matriarchs and legends who have penned their last lyric, graced their last stage and sung their last song we are humbled that God has provided us the blessing of yet another year to serve him in this regard. What an awesome honor and privilege it is to lift His name in praise each time we make our way to the platform or stage provided and we are able to step to a microphone to deliver His message in song.

Just this morning, I had the privilege of indulging in a lengthy phone visit and conversation with one of my favorite performers over the last fifty years plus. Not only is he still a great performer, arranger and producer, he is included in my list of very special friends. I often find myself indulging in some activity that brings me pleasure, when memories and thoughts of his brother comes to mind. As I partake of whatever pleasure it is that has made me appreciative of the moment, moments that I must admit I sometimes take for granted, I think of him. Oh yeah, I forgot to identify the parties to whom I am referring, Ben Speer and his big brother (and one of my hero's) Brock Speer. Now back to the blessings I was describing. I am not thinking of anything "spectacular" or record setting, just some of life's little pleasures that we have all taken for granted from time to time such as going for a walk on a sunny, autumn day and holding my beautiful wife's hand, as our Lab, "Snickers", trots along beside us or eating a hot dog or singing a song that ministers to a receptive heart… and you know it has because you see the tears flowing down their face or you witness the joyous expression they exude.

I remember traveling with the Speers and observing all these things and more with Brock and Faye. How he loved to take a walk while holding his sweetheart's hand, his favorite food was a good hot dog and he never stopped loving to share his talent and gifts in song. I still miss him terribly but each time I think of the legacy he left behind I am thankful that God has allowed me yet another year to take the walks, eat a hot dog and sing the songs with Elliott and Scott in Three Bridges.

We saw 2007 come to a climax joining in a unified effort of praise with the Damascus Road Trio, Jerry Smith and the Smith Family and Three Bridges at the Glory Land Church Of The Nazarene in Carroll, OH. What a wonderful way to usher in the new year. We then enjoyed a noonday celebration of the new year at the home of our wonderful friends, Rick and Leah Curnutte. A wonderful meal of northern tradition was prepared and presented for our dining pleasure, consisting of pork loin and sour kraut. I now understand why I have yet to experience abundant financial prosperity, I've been eating the wrong food on New Years Day. In Texas we always had to be sure and partake of a goodly portion of black eyed peas and hog jowl for prosperity. The Ohioans didn't prepare even a meager helping of those southern traditional foods. How is it they have failed to be educated on something of such importance and necessity? Don't they know? Remind me to let you know how successful the new fare proved to be, when I reflect on my accomplishments at years end.

We continued kicking off the new year in a great way at Jersey Baptist Church in Pataskala, OH with the help of a great promoter and dear friend, Dave Long, a fairly new quartet, Side By Side and The Andy Brannam Family Singers on the 5th of January and then at the Pinkerington Church Of The Nazarene in Pinkerington, OH on Sunday January the 6th. We extend a special thanks to the dynamic married duo of pastor Phil Manson his bride Kathy along with their wonderful staff, for the gracious hospitality and spirit of love extended to Three Bridges.

We believe that God has many wonderful things in store for the ministry team of Three Bridges in 2008, one of which is sure to be the completion of our first recording together. We are diligently searching to find the right songs for this presentation and we fully intend it to be Three Bridges best offering to date. We are excitedly awaiting the day that we can announce to our friends and family of fans that the recording is available to them, be listening for the good news of it's release.

As we exalt your name in praise, we thank you God, for another year,,, another blessing.

Eddy Bolton
Three Bridges
http://www.threebridges.net

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