Cowboy Church #152

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with The Cowman's Prayer. Next is the Bluegrass Martians with their 2013 recording of In the Sweet By and By. This song came about because of a friendship between composer, Joseph Webster and poet, Dr. Sanford Fillmore Bennett. One day Webster was depressed, and Dr. Bennett recognized this. Dr. Bennett asked his friend what was wrong. Webster replied, "Oh nothing. Everything will be alright by and by." These words brought up an idea in Bennett and he wrote down three verses and a chorus to this song as soon as he could. He handed it to his friend saying, “Here is your prescription, Joe.” Webster loved the lyrics and wrote music for them in practically no time at all. Dr. Bennett later said, “It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn.” The hymn was first published in 1868 and went on to great fame since. This is followed by The Carter Family with Diamonds in the Rough. The group had recorded this song on February 15th, 1929 along with 4 other songs. The other songs recorded that day included Engine One Forty Three, Bring Back My Blue Eyed Boy to Me and The Foggy Mountain Top. Next is Hank and Audery Williams with their 1949 recording of Something Got a Hold of Me. This is definitely one of the more obscure hymns that Hank recorded and one that was fairly recent at the time he recorded it. It was written by Warren Caplinger and Andy Paterson, who were two thirds of the musical group Cap, Andy and Flip, a group that was very popular on radio in the 1930's. The writers never made an actual recording of this song, but country music fans might know that the Carter Family had recorded it in 1941. Hank and Audery most likely based the sound of this and other gospel recordings they made together off of husband-and-wife evangelists that they grew up hearing. This is followed by Waylon Jennings with his self-penned I Do Believe. After this comes Ernest Tubb with Love Lifted Me.  This song was written by James Rowe in 1912 and was based on two stories from the book of Matthew. One was asleep in the boat with the apostles during a storm. As the apostles were terrified of the storm, they couldn't understand how Jesus was so calm that he could take a nap. They wake Jesus up from his nap and Jesus simply tells the storm to stop and it does. The other story also involved the apostles, Jesus and the sea. It was about how when his eyes were fixed upon Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but he lost the ability when his faith faltered, and he looked away. Still Jesus was a faithful friend and lifted Peter into a boat. Next is The Louvin Brothers with Nearer My God to Thee. This hymn was written by stage actress Sarah Flower Adams. She had had great success on the stage and was especially praised for her role in an 1837 production of Macbeth. However, her failing health made her have to leave the stage. During this time, she took comfort in writing hymns and poems. In 1841, her pastor was having trouble coming up with a hymn to fit a sermon about Jacob's Ladder. Sarah decided to write a hymn for this sermon and to get it done in time for the church service she wrote it in just a week's time. Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1946 recording of Cowboy Camp Meeting. This song was written by Tim Spencer who was one of the founding members of the band. 

Next comes an episode of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch Radio Show (which aired on November 15, 1952).

Next comes the C.S. Lewis essay, On the Reading of Old Books.

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31

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

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19

 He will love you and bless you and increase your numbers. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the crops of your land—your grain, new wine and olive oil—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you. Deuteronomy 7:13

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:18-19

Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks. Philippians 4:6

Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all. James 1:17

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