Today's music selection begins with Gene Autry's 1949 recording of Bible on the Table. After this is Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass boys with a lively version of the gospel classic, I'm Working on a Building. It is unknown what the origin for this song is, but it is believed to date back to the 1920's and it is possibly originally an African American spiritual. What can be said is that thanks to The Carter Family and Bill Monroe's recordings of this song overtime it has become bit of a bluegrass standard. This is followed by Sonny James singing If I Have Wounded Any Soul. This recording comes from his 1966 gospel album Til The Last Leaf Shall Fall. This song reminds us of the responsibility all of us Christians have. We are supposed to be representations of who God is to those who don't know him. We are supposed to live as Godly as we can so that others may see Christ in us. This is something many of us struggle with and I admit there are times I fall far short of what I should be. Still I strive to be the type of person who people can look at and see God's work in me. This song should challenge us and make us check and make sure we are doing all we can in this respect. Johnny Cash certainly saw Jesus in Sonny James as John would ask Sonny, how he managed to be a Christian despite the temptations of the road. Sonny responded that he was a Christian first and an entertainer second. These words would stick with John and although he let these temptations rule him for many years, he would eventually overcome them and be able to say the same thing Sonny told him. It is important to remember that what ever else we are, we should be Christians first. Next comes Johnny Cash singing God Ain't No Stained Glass Window. Despite the silliness of the title this song has a great message about how God is always there for us no matter what. Next is The Hee Haw Gospel Quartet (Buck Owens, Roy Clark, Grandpa Jones, Kenny Price) singing Angel Band. The lyrics were written in 1860 by Jefferson Hascall as a poem entitled My Latest Sun Is Sinking Fast. The tune was later written by William Batcher Bradbury who also wrote the tune to Jesus Loves Me. Overtime it has become a southern gospel standard. This is followed by the king of the cowboys. Roy Rogers, the queen of the west, Dale Evans and the finest cowboy band of all time, The Sons of the Pioneers performing The Place Where I Worship. Today's musical selection ends with The Statler Brothers singing How Great Thou Art. This song started off as a poem by the Swedish pastor Carl Gustaf Boberg. He was taking a walk when all of the sudden there was a thunderstorm. After the storm ended he looked and saw that the bay was completely clear and then heard a church bell. The words immediately came to him and he wrote them down. The poem was first published in 1891. In 1949 it was translated into English by Stuart K. Hine.
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. Thessalonians 3:13
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jerimiah 29:11
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:14-15
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:24-26
You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor, but shall not incur sin because of him. Leviticus 19:17
Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:24
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he. Proverbs 16:20
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James 15:13
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4
Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1
Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10
Thank you for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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