Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Todays musical selection begins with The Sons of the Pioneers with He Walks with the Wild and Lonely. This song was written by Bob Nolan, one of the group's founding members and the front man for the band when they appeared in the movies. This recording comes from their 1963 album, Hymns of the Cowboy. This is followed by the one and only Tennessee Ernie Ford singing Nearer My God to Thee. This hymn was written by stage actress Sarah Flower Adams. She had had great success on the stage and was especially praised for her role in a 1837 production of Macbeth. However her failing health made her have to leave the stage. During this time she took comfort in writing hymns and poems. In 1841, her pastor was having trouble coming up with a hymn to fit a sermon about Jacob's Ladder . Sarah decided to write a hymn for this sermon and to get it done in time for the church service she wrote it in just a week's time. Next comes Johnny Cash with God is Not Dead. This is not the Newsboys song that spawned a series of popular movies, but rather an original song written by John himself. This song comes from John's 1969 album, The Holy Land, an album inspired by when he and his wife, June Carter Cash, took a trip to Israel. The back ground vocals on this song are provided by The Carter Family and The Statler Brothers, while early rock and roll star, Carl Perkins plays guitar. Next we join Tammy Wynette with the title track of her 1978 album, Womanhood. This is followed by Bob Dylan with Man Gave Names To All the Animals. This song is based off the book of Genesis in which before partaking of the apple and letting sin into the world, Adam gave names to all the animals and everything he saw. Some have compared this song to a nursey rhyme. While it might seem strange that the man who has been called "The Voice of a Generation" and one of the greatest poets of the 20th century to be singing and writing nursey rhymes, they would later seem to be the basis for his 1990 album, Under the Red Sky. When Johnny Cash was asked about Bob's Christian music period in an interview the Man in Black stated, "I didn't see him during that time. I don't think Bob was ever into organized church religion. Some of the songs were good gospel. I did 'Man Gave Names to the Animals' in a Christmas TV special I recorded in Scotland. I loved 'Slow Train Coming' but in those years I was very much the observer. He lived in California in half seclusion. No one saw him that much. Bob is very much his own person. He is a loner and a very shy person. I can respect that because I like my time alone. I was sick in the hospital over a year ago and I got a telegram from him. That's all I've heard from him in over seven years. I had no influence at all on his religion." Next is Roy Rogers with Lord Have Mercy on My Soul. This song reminds us that even the best of us are sinners in need of a savior. There is not one of us who can be saved by our good works, but only by turning to God and repenting of our sin. Luckily for us God is willing to forgive and wash clean any of us willing to do those two things. This is followed by Pasty Cline with Just a Closer Walk With Thee. The exact origin or songwriter for this hymn is not known, but many believe it to be an African-American hymn and to pre-date the Civil War. Today's musical selection ends with Randy Travis and Mac Powell (lead singer of Christian rock band, Third Day) singing Love Lifted Me. This hymn was written in 1912 by James Rowe and Howard E. Smith. Rowe's daughter would later state, “ I can see them now, my father striding up and down humming a bar or two, and Howard E. playing it and jotting it down…The two huddled together, working line by line, bar by bar, composing this hymn in tandem.”
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. Matthew 6:4
But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:9
If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 1 John 3:17
Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. Proverbs 28:27
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Luke 6:35
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. Proverbs 10:12
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:42
There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28
Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly. John 7:24
When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. Leviticus 19:13
Thank you for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Resources Used
https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org/articles/nearer-my-god-to-thee-history-and-lyrics.html
https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/just-a-closer-walk-with-thee/#.YM4xpvKSlPY
https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/love-lifted-me/#.YM4y2PKSlPY
The Man Called Cash by Steve Turner
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