Cowboy Church #143

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

Today's musical selection begins 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. Following is The Louvin Brothers with the title track off of their 1960 album, Satan is Real. Unfortunately this album has received a less than great reputation based off of one thing. This is the cover art. Many view it as being silly or corny. Regardless of what you think of the cover art though, this is a top notch country gospel album, that is a must hear for both fans of gospel music and fans of country music. This title track has a powerful but uncomfortable message for us. As much as us Christians like to focus on the happy parts of the bible, it is worth noting that Jesus himself spoke about Hell and Satan. If Jesus spoke about these than there is certainly an importance that must be recognized by anyone who believes in the Bible. Introducing this song is Bob Dylan on his radio show. Next is George Jones with When Mama Sang (The Angels Stopped to Listen). This is followed by Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys with Precious Memories.  Though this is a sweet uplifting song, it was based upon a tragedy. In 1922, John Wright lost his five year old son. Wright would later say about this song, “’Precious Memories’ was born in the midnight hours as I bathed by pillow with tears, likewise all my songs came through life’s severest tests.” Though this is a very famous hymn, John Wright only received $36 for writing it. He would remain a janitor that was always struggling to make ends meet for his entire life. Afterwards is Bobby Bare with Drop Kick Me Jesus. Now Uncle Dave Macon and Sid Harkreader join forces for Jonah and the Whale. Which is followed by Gene Autry's 1946 recording of When It's Roundup Time in Heaven. This song was written by Jimmie Davis, who is best known today for writing You Are My Sunshine. As well as a songwriter and singer, he was also the governor of Louisiana from 1944 to 1948 and then again from 1960 to 1964.  Today's musical selection ends with Johnny Cash singing I'm Just an Old Chunk of Coal. In the liner notes for John's Unearthed boxset, producer Rick Ruben wrote, "I always saw Johnny as being, personally, a work in progress. He was always tryin to improve himself in anyway he could. If you said something to him or made a suggestion, he would never say anything but he would take it away and think about it and work on it. So the words of 'Old Chunk of Coal' really fit John as a person. Plus its a song about coal and he really loved coal and minning songs."

Next is an episode of The Roy Rogers Show entitled, Ranch War (1955). 

Up next is C.S. Lewis' essay, The Psalms.

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

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. Leviticus 19:33

 Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. Proverbs 6:20

So we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:5

He and his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. Acts 10:2

 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5

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

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