This was a song I worked on with the late Rick Elias back in 2010 and released 10 years ago on my album "Tragedies & Miracles." It featured some early members of Rick's old band A RAGAMUFFIN BAND (Rick and Rich Mullins were the founding members).

In Feb 2019, a benefit was held for Rick Elias in Nashville. Rick was battling terminal cancer. Marielle Thomas, who was also a good friend of Rick, had contacted me and asked me to really consider going to show support for Rick. She reminded me that this might be the last time I get to see Rick. She was right. Ironically, it was Rick who put me in touch with Marielle and Rich Mullins’ old ministry teaching music to kids on reservations which Marielle was a part of.

Marielle Brown, myself, even Mitch McVicker and many others drove to Nashville to show support for Rick and his family as he and the Ragamuffin Band performed the entire “Jesus Record” in its entirety for the last time. Afterwards, Marielle and I joined Rick, his wife, and members of his old band for dinner. It was the last time most of us would see Rick.

This wasn't the first benefit concert for a friend who was battling cancer. Less than two years earlier, a friend in the music business John Dizek (The Hassles) had succumbed to terminal cancer. John Roginski set up a benefit concert to help Dizek in his fight. I joined in. Shortly after the benefit my own parents had died of cancer six months apart. I felt I needed to do something to help people fight this disease!

It was also around the time of Rick's benefit that I discovered my friend Trina Eia was in a fight for her life. I shared her story with Mitch and Marielle. Their hearts broke like mine did. And both agreed to help with a couple benefit concerts I put together for Trina. Even though Trina is no longer with us, she still wants us to fight cancer. She even donated her body to science to help in the fight!

In putting together this compilation, I wanted to include "Through the Eyes of Jesus." It is so fitting of Trina and what we are attempting to do with the project... I feel it is a great song to encourage others in joining in the fight! And as a tribute to our friend Rick Elias who made this song possible, I asked Marielle to join me on it! She added not only great backing vocals but a nice flute intro. Thank you Marielle!!!