Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Gene Autry singing Silver Spurs (on the Golden Stairs). Gene co-wrote this song with Cindy Walker (You Don't Know Me). This clip is from a 1951 episode of his TV show entitled Revenge Trail. Next comes Bob Dylan with his self-penned Property of Jesus. This song comes from his 1981 album, Shot of Love. This was the third of his three Christian albums and the only one of the three to feature both religious and secular music. Though it was panned by critics, Bono (of U2 fame and a Christian himself) has cited it as one of his favorite Bob Dylan albums. This is followed by The Cass County Boys performing Ezekiel Saw the Wheel in a clip from the Gene Autry movie, Barbed Wire (1952). It is unknown who wrote this, however it is believed that it began life as an African-American spiritual. The song is referencing Ezekiel 1: 15-21, "As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the ground beside each creature with its four faces. This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: They sparkled like topaz, and all four looked alike. Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went. Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When the creatures moved, they also moved; when the creatures stood still, they also stood still; and when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels." Many bible scholars believe that the spirit of each living creature is in the wheels and that the eyes around the wheels represent God, who sees us wherever we turn, good or bad. The wheels within the wheels is said to represent the spirit of God giving direction to the wheels. Up next is Woody Guthrie singing, Old Time Religion. This is followed by Roy Acuff with Hold To God's Unchanging Hand. Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. This hymn was written Lewis Edgar Jones in 1889 while at a camp meeting at Mountain Lake Park, Maryland. It was first published in Songs of Praise and Victory the same year and Gospel Praises. Though he had written well over 100 hymns to his name (including I’ve Anchored in Jesus and We Shall See the King Some Day), this remains his most popular hymn. We continue with Johnny Cash and U2 with The Wanderer. This song was written by Bono in 1993 (under the working title The Preacher). The song was inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes, but takes place in a future time with a narrator who is worried about the lack of God in society. It is considered to be one of Bono's best songs, but for some reason whenever he tried to record it himself, it didn't work for him. Then he came up with the brilliant idea of having Johnny Cash sing the song (this idea came to Bono when he learned Johnny was going to be in Dublin). Bono would say that Johnny would teach him a lot about how to deliver a song like this during this recording section giving advice about how to put over each word effectively. Johnny told a reporter, "I don't know if it will ever be released or even what it's called." The song would be released on the U2 album, Zooropa (one of U2's most experimental albums) and John would state that this song gave him a sense of artistic renewal. Today's musical selection ends with Hank Williams Jr. singing How Can You Refuse Him Now. This song was originally written and sung by his dad and remains one of the great country gospel songs. This comes from Hank Jr.'s 1969 gospel album, Sunday Morning.
Up next is an episode of Roy Rogers' TV show, Money is Dangerous.
Here is Cowboy Preacher, Jason Taylor speaking about hay fields and what God can do with your life.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
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
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man co meth unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown. Revelation 2:10
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Deuteronomy 7:9
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. Deuteronomy 32:4
do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly. Psalm 40:10
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. Proverbs 16:28
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. John 12:48
Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips. Proverbs 24:28
He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31
By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him? My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him. 1 John 3:16-19
Thanks 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.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-ezekiels-vision-of-the-wheel-actually-mean.html
https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/theres-power-in-the-blood/#.YWJ8VWLMJPY
Johnny Cash: The Redemption of An American Icon by Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill
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