Movies With Michael : Cowboy Church #150

Sunday, December 19, 2021

Cowboy Church #150

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with A Christmas Prayer. This song comes from their 1969 Christmas album, Christmas is Always. This is followed by The Louvin Brothers with Are You Washed in the Blood. This hymn was written by Elisha Albright Hoffman (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Glory to His Name) in 1878. It first appeared in his book, Spiritual Songs for Gospel Meetings and the Sunday School. Yet it was strangely dropped from later versions of this book. This version of the song comes The Louvin Brothers' 1956 gospel album, Nearer My God to Thee. Next comes Joanne Cash with It is Well With My Soul. Though this is a hymn of hope and peace it was written in a time of great sadness. The song was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. He had planned a European trip for himself, his wife and four daughters, however because of his work he was unable to go, and he let his family go without him and after he finished his work, he would meet them there. However, the ship was hit and quickly sank. Though his wife was saved all four of his daughters had gone down with the ship. Amazingly he wrote this hymn when approaching an area near where his daughters had sunk. Like her brother Johnny Cash, Joanne had spent much time backsliding from God's word before truly giving her life to him. She had been a drug addict and alcoholic. Pastor Greg Laurie's excellent Johnny Cash biography Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon quotes Joanne as saying "After I asked Jesus to come into my heart, I prayed, and I felt this heat come up my body to the end of my fingertips. I knew I was born again I knew I was saved. I knew I was gonna go to Heaven. I knew I would get to see Jack again (her brother who had died at 15 years old in a sawmill accident). I was just elated ... I then started praying for Johnny." Though she may not be as well-known as her big brother, she has spent much time sharing the word of God through her music. This recording comes from her 2008 album simply titled Gospel. This is followed by Red Foley with Put Christ Back into Christmas. This song is interesting today, because many assume saying "Happy Holidays" around this time of year instead of "Merry Christmas" is a rather recent development, but here Red Foley is singing about this in 1953 and he doesn't seem so happy about it. Next is The Petersons with Come Thou Long Expected Jesus. This song was always intended as a Christmas carol since Charles Wesley orinignally wrote it in 1774. He looked at the times he was living in including the situation for orphans and the class divide in Great Britian. After reading Haggi, 2:7, “Born Your people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now Your gracious kingdom bring. By Your own eternal Spirit, rule in all our hearts alone; by Your all sufficient merit, raise us to Your glorious throne. Amen,” he began to write this hymn. This is not the only Christmas carol Charles Wesley wrote as he also wrote the more famous Hark the Harold Angels Sing and here is Johnny Cash singing that song. Wesley's intentions as a hymnist were to teach the poor and illiterate what God had said. The Sons of the Pioneers join in the fun with Christmas on the Plains. We Continue with Gene Autry singing Everyone's a Child at Christmas. This comes from Gene's 1956 album, A Gene Autry Christmas. Today's musical ends with The Hee Haw Gospel Quartet with His Boundless Love.

Up next is an episode of Roy Rogers' radio show.

Next is C.S. Lewis' essay, Religion and Science.

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9-10

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

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

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

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Psalm 136

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

2 Give thanks to the God of gods,

for his steadfast love endures forever.

3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,