Cowboy Church #147

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

Since Thanksgiving has just passed, it is officially Christmas season. Because of this, today's musical selection begins with a Christmas song. That song is the old favorite Silent Night sung by our good friend Roy Rogers. This recording comes from 1940 and Roy is backed by the Jimmy Wakely Trio, who also appeared with Roy in the movie, Saga of Death Valley (1939). Next is Emmylou Harris singing Light of the Stable. Emmylou recorded this song in 1975. She would later state "Light of the Stable is one of my favorite tracks we ever cut. It was the jelling of the original recording group, the combination of Brain's [Brain Ahern] production and how incredibly creative those guys were was perfect. There is almost more space on the track then there are notes and I always loved that." The song would become the title track of her 1979 Christmas album, which I personally consider one of my favorite Christmas albums. This is followed by Johnny Cash with These Hands. This recording comes from his 1962 gospel album, Hymns For The Heart. Afterwards is Josh Turner singing I Serve a Savior, the title song off of his 2018 gospel album. Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with 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. This is followed by one of my Christmas favorites, Waylon Jennings' version of Away in a Manger. Waylon's voice fits this hymn so perfectly and there is no other version of this song that quite matches the power of this one. Away in a Manger has also been called Luther’s Cradle Hymn. The reason for this is that it was once believed to be written for Martin Luther, who would have sung it to his children. This proved to be false. It was in fact written for a collection that was meant to celebrate Luther's 400th anniversary. Some think that this rumor was started to help sell the song. It is unknow who actually wrote this hymn. The music continues with George Jones with In a Gospel Way. This is the title song of George's 1973 gospel album. Today's musical selection ends with a true Christmas classic, Gene Autry's 1949 recording of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. After Gene had a hit with Here Comes Santa Claus, it seemed natural that he needed a Christmas follow-up. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ended up being that follow-up. Rudolph as a character made his debut in a children's book by Robert L. May, that was a free booklet that was handed out to kids at Montgomery Ward. The song was written by May's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks. Marks would later say about writing this song, "I thought about it for a while and sat down to write a song about it. That song was easily one of the worst songs ever written. Then about a year later I was walking down the street when a new melody came to me. It's the only time that ever happened to me, and I have to admit it is a great melody." When this song was sent to Gene, he was originally hesitant to record it. He was not a fan. However, his wife Ina loved the song. It is widely believed that Ina talked Gene into recording this song. With all the recordings of this popular Christmas carol over the years, Johnny Marks said Gene's version was his favorite. In 1961 he told Gene, "What I sent you in 1949 were ink dots on a piece of paper. You had to translate this into a sound, lyrically and musically, that people would like. How many great songs have been lost because of the wrong rendition? Many people have said 'Any one could have had a hit with Rudolph.' My answer has always been: 'We'll never know. I only know that Gene Autry did do it, and that all the other followed."

Next is an episode of Roy Rogers' TV Show.

Next is the C.S. Lewis essay, Must Our Image of God Go?

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 6:4-5

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

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6-7

Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. Romans 15:7

Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. Romans 14:1

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. Job 8:7

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. Ecclesiastes 3:11

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

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

Resources Used

Public Cowboy no.1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry by Holly George-Warren

https://christmascarols.us/history/away_in_a_manger.aspx

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-leaning-on-the-everlasting-arms

Light in the Stable liner notes.