Cowboy Church #206

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Near to the Heart of God. This hymn was written by Cleland McAfee, a pastor and choir leader at the Presbyterian Church at Park College in Parkville, Mo. This song came about after his two infant nieces passed away from diphtheria. His daughter recounted in her book, Near to the Heart of God, “The family and town were stricken with grief. My father often told us how he sat long and late thinking of what could be said in word and song on the coming Sunday.... So he wrote the little song. The choir learned it at the regular Saturday night rehearsal, and afterward they went to Howard McAfee’s home and sang it as they stood under the sky outside the darkened, quarantined house. It was sung again on Sunday morning at the communion service.... The hymn was first included in The Choir Leader, October, 1903.”

Afterwards is Vernon Delhart with his 1928 recording of Ring Dem Bells.  

Next comes one of the most popular country gospel songs performed by the man who wrote it. The song is I Saw the Light and the singer and songwriter was Hank Williams. Hank wrote this song as he was heading home from a dance in Fort Deposit, Alabama. His mother was driving him home and told her son "Hank, wake up, we're nearly home. I just saw the light" (she was referring to the light near Dannelly Field Airport). Hank wrote the song on the rest of the way home. The song melody-wise strongly resembles Albert E. Brumley's He Set Me Free, but I Saw the Light has certainly taken on a life of its own apart from the earlier song, heavily through the powerful and inspiring lyrics that do what Hank did best as a songwriter, convey something powerful and moving in a way that seems so simple and unpretentious. Hank recorded this song on his first MGM recording session (April 21, 1947). However, even though he was the first to record this song, his version was not the first released. Producer Fred Rose gave it to two other singers (Clyde Grubbs and Roy Acuff), both of whom had their versions released before Hank.

Up next is Chris Tomlin, Russell Dickerson and Florida Georgia Line with Sing. This comes from Chris Tomlin's 2020 album, Chris Tomlin and Friends. This album featured the Christian singer performing various songs with popular country singers.

It is hard to believe that a song like The Man Comes Around was so late in Johnny Cash's career. Most of the time singer/songwriters don't release and certainly don't write their best music in their sixth decade, but as all music fans know Johnny was one of the rare artists with such a long career, who left this world at the top of his game musically.  At this time John was on fire for the lord. No longer was he the wild crazy man he had been in the 1950's and 60's, instead by this time he had become a true man of God and wanted to do all he could for the lord before he passed away. He knew he had wasted too much of his life being controlled by sin and finally wanted to be a servant to God instead of to his own fleshly desires. At this time, he was also seeing a musically resurgence, where he was more popular than ever, and young audiences were embracing his new music just as much as they did any younger artist of their generation. What he wanted to do was to create a modern-day gospel song that would speak directly to this younger audience and The Man Comes Around more than fit that bill. Because this song was so near and dear to him, he spent more time writing it than any other song he had composed. In his book, Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon, Pastor Greg Laurie wrote "Personally I think it is the strongest song Johnny ever wrote. It is both biblical and personal, powerful and poetic."

Now for a song that perfectly represents everything cowboy gospel music should be. So, enjoy Rex Allen singing The Range in the Sky. 

Today's musical selection ends with the Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of The Touch of God's Hand. This song was written by one of the group's founding members, Bob Nolan. As is true of many of Bob's best songs, the lyrics here bring very beautiful and vivid images to one's mind. Though he often times doesn't get credit for it, Bob Nolan was one of country music's greatest poets. The group recorded this song on December 16, 1937. It features Bob Nolan on lead vocals, Lloyd Perryman and Karl Farr on guitar, Sam Koki on steel guitar, Pat Brady on Bass and Hugh Farr on fiddle. This recording was made shortly after Roy Rogers left the group for a solo movie career. 

Now for a sermon from Martin Luther King Jr. 

Up next is Roy Rogers appearing on Letterman on June 22, 1983.

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. Psalm 119:50

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28

Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. Isaiah 49:13

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.