Cowboy Church #145

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing Sweet Hour of Prayer. This hymn was written by William Walford. Walford was a wood craver who had little to no formal education. However what he did have was a very close relationship with God. Those who knew him said that he knew the bible by heart and this man was even asked to share sermons at his church. One day around  1845 Pastor Thomas Salmon visited William Walford. Walford asked Salmon to write down a poem he had in his head. Salmon was so amazed by this poem that he right away sought to get it published. After Walford's death, William Bradbury wrote music for this poem and the hymn as we know it first appeared in the 1859 hymnal, Church Melodies. Bradbury had also composed music for such hymns as Just as I Am and He Leadeth Me. This recording comes from Roy and Dale's 1957 album of the same name. This is followed by the Dixie Reelers 1936 recording of I Shall Not Be Moved. Next comes The Statler Brothers with There's Power in the Blood. . This song was written in 1889 by Lewis Edgar Jones while at a camp meeting taking place at Mountain Lake Park, MD. When Bob Dylan made his 1962 debut album (simply titled Bob Dylan), he was not yet known as a songwriter or a poet. Instead he was an interpreter of old folk songs. Though this first album featured two songs written by Bob Dylan, the majority of the album consisted of old folk and blues songs. One of these was the gospel-blues tinged In My Time of Dyin'. The liner notes for the album state, "Dylan had never sung In My Time of Dyin' prior to this recording session. He does not recall when he first heard it. The Guitar is fretted with the lipstick holder he borrowed from his girl, Susie Rotolo, who sat devotedly and wide-eyed through the recording session." This is in my mind one of the highlights off the album and one of my all time favorite vocal performances by Bob Dylan. Despite the many jokes about his voice, there are quite a few times, when he turned in a great vocal performance and this is one of those times. Next is The Petersens with Be Thou My Vision. This hymn began as an Irish poem  that may date clear back to the 8th century. In the early 1900's  Irish scholar Mary Byrne translated this poem into literal prose. This version of the hymn first appeared in Eriú (a journal for School of Irish Learning) in 1905. Eleanor Hull would then adapt this into a versified version. That version would appear in her own   Poem Book of the Gael in 1912. In 1919 this hymn appeared with the melody of the traditional Irish song, SLANE in The Irish Church Hymnal and this is the version of the hymn we know today. This is followed by The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Lord You Made the Cowboy Happy. Today's musical selection ends with Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings singing The Greatest Cowboy of Them All.

Next comes an episode of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch radio show dated July 26, 1942

Next is the C.S. Lewis essay, Religion: Reality or Substitute. 

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Proverbs 30:5

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah 3:17 

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 3:5-6

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. Isaiah 43:2 

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. Proverbs 27:1

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

                                            Psalm 46

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

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.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-be-thou-my-vision

https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/theres-power-in-the-blood/

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-sweet-hour-of-prayer