Cowboy Church #106

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

Today's musical selection begins with The Louvin Brothers singing There's No Excuse. This song was written by the Louvins themselves and comes from their 1957 gospel album, Nearer My God Thee. This was the Brothers' first gospel album, though they had released quite a few gospel singles before this. The song has an important message for all those who here God's word. As humans we tend to hear God's word and try to come up with some excuse as to why it doesn't apply to us or why we shouldn't follow it. Yet in the end all these excuses are simply nothing but a waste of good time we could be spending in the joy of God's word. This is followed by Gene Autry and Dinah Shore with their 1950 recording of In The Garden. This song was written by C. Austin Miles (who also wrote Dwelling in Beulah Land). As well as a hymnist, Austin's hobby was photography. He wrote this song in 1912 while waiting some film to dry in a cold and leaky basement. Miles had discovered earlier that he could read the bible in the red lighting of his darkroom and often did. This day he was reading John 20. He read about how Mary went into the garden to see Jesus' tomb. Her heart was full of sadness, but when she learned that Jesus had overcome the grave she was moved to great joy. This passage moved Miles as he read it, and this song started to come to him. Miles originally intended this song to be an Easter song and for it to be from the point of view of Mary Magdalene. Miles would later say about this song, “This is not an experience limited to a happening almost 2,000 years ago. It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian’s life.” Learning this story has made this song all the more powerful for me and I hope it enhances the power of this great hymn for you as well. The same day Gene and Dinah recorded this song (April 20, 1950), they also recorded a lovey version of The Old Rugged Cross. Next comes Tom T. Hall with his self penned song, Me And Jesus. This song comes from his 1972 album, Ballad of Forty Dollars. After this comes Nickel Creek with The Hand Song, from their 2000 self titled debut album. The song was co-written by the band's own Sean Watkins (with David Puckett). His sister and bandmate Sara Watkins takes lead vocal. The album was produced by bluegrass great Alison Krauss. Next is Sonny James with Does Jesus Care from his 1966 album, Till The Last Leaf Shall Fall. The answer is yes by the way. This is followed by George Jones singing Old Brush Arbors. This was the title track of his excellent 1965 gospel album. Next we join the King of the Cowboys with a beautiful version of Peace in the Valley. This recording comes from a 1952 episode of his radio show entitled The Rene Eigen Case. This song was written in 1937 by Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey. Dorsey's music had not always been so based in Christianity. During his teens he fell in love with jazz and by 17 he was a nightclub owner and a writer of jazz and blues music. He was living a life that may have been satisfying to his love of music but made him feel that he was leaving his Christian beliefs behind for a life that God had not meant him for. This is what lead him to leave this life behind and write hymns of which this is one of the most famous. Later he would talk about the creation of this song saying,  “It was just before Hitler sent his war chariots into Western Europe in the late 1930s. I was on a train going through southern Indiana and saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley. Everything seemed so peaceful. It made me question, “What’s the matter with mankind? Why can’t men live in peace?” Out of those thoughts came “Peace in the Valley.” Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms. This hymn began creation with a man named Anthony Showalter. As a fan of gospel music and an elder in a Presbyterian church, he held many "singing schools" at various churches in the south. One day he received two letters from former students who were struggling after their wives had passed. To respond to these letters, Showalter consulted scripture. He came across Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." After reading this verse lyrics for a song chorus went through his head and he wrote down, "“Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.” After using this in the letters to his former students he sent this chorus to his friend hymnist, Elisha Hoffman. In the letter he also wrote, “Here is the chorus for a good hymn from Deuteronomy 33:27, but I can’t come up with the verses.” Hoffman then wrote the rest of the lyrics to which Showalter put to music. The hymn was published in 1887. 

                                                   

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9


So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

 May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Psalm 119:76

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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

 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John  3:36

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. Acts 20:21

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1  Corinthians 10:13

For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:37

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

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