Cowboy Church #73

 Hello my friends and welcome to another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's music selection begins with Charley Pride's recording of This Highway Leads to Glory. This song was written by Lassaye Holmes, who also wrote a Christmas song Charley recorded called Christmas in My Home Town. This recording comes from Charley's first gospel album 1971's Did You Think to Pray. Next comes the Queen of Rockabilly herself, Wanda Jackson with the song Jesus Cares For Me. This comes from Wanda's 1973 album Country Gospel. For this album, Wanda leaves behind her rock and roll to do some gospel songs in a pure country style. She proves that she is just as great at country ballads as she is at fast rockers and singing this type of music you quickly realize just how great her voice really is. This is followed by Alan Jackson singing How Great Thou Art. This classic hymn was originally based on a poem by Swedish Pastor Carl Gustav Boberg. He wrote this poem after walking home one day and a sudden storm came. When the storm stopped he saw the clear bay in front of him and heard a church bell in the distance. This inspired him to write the poem. He first published it in 1886. When he published it again in Witness of the Truth (A Newspaper he edited in 1891, it included both words and music. The English language version we all know was translated by missionary Stuart K. Hine. This is followed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus Loves the Little Children. This comes from a 1955 Little Golden Record that also included them singing The Good Lord is Going to Take Care of You.   This song was written by C. Herbert Woolston and is said to have been inspired by Matthew 19:14 ( “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”) The song is to the tune of the 1864 Civil War song, Tramp Tramp Tramp (written by George Fredrick Root). Roy and Dale only sing the refrain of this song as that is all that was commonly used in Sunday schools. However these are not the only lyrics to this song. To see the full lyrics click here: http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/j/e/s/l/jesloves.htm . This is followed by The Sons of the Pioneers performing Suddenly There's a Valley from their 1963 gospel album, Hymns of the Cowboy. Today's musical selection ends with Johnny Cash singing I Talk to Jesus Everyday. This recording comes from his 1971 album Man in Black. It is important for us Christians to remember that God is not just our Lord but our friend and we can and should have a personal relationship with him. This is a true blessing that the Lord and creator of everything should want to be our friend and spend time with each one of us. At the beginning Johnny talks about how all superstars pale in comparison with Jesus Christ. As much as anyone who reads a blog like this loves great entertainers and as much as I love them, there is only one God and he is infinitely greater than all of the great entertainers put together. 

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The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. John 4:18

Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.' Mark 10:27

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:3-6

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. Proverbs 10:28

Happy are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:15

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

 Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out. Acts 3:19

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

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

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-Michael J. Ruhland