Cowboy Church #157

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

Today's musical selection begins with The Sons of the San Joaquin singing It is Well. 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. This recording of the song comes from the band's 2017 album, One More Ride. This is followed by Johnny Cash with The Junkie's Prayer. This song reminds us that no drugs or anything else this world can offer can ever offer us true peace. Like many sinful behaviors that people use to try and fill the void left in us from a life without God, drugs can only offer us very temporary pleasure and ultimately lead to pain, misery and emptiness.  Only God can fill that void if we let him into our lives as our lord and savior. Though sin is addictive and can easily take over our lives, God is more powerful than any temptation we may come across and he can help us overcome anything. So, whether the sin you struggle with is drugs or something else, with God all things are possible, and he can help pull you through if you are willing to fight. This is followed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus Loves the Little Children. This comes from a 1955 Little Golden Record that also included them singing The Good Lord is Going to Take Care of You.   This song was written by C. Herbert Woolston and is said to have been inspired by Matthew 19:14 ( “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”) The song is to the tune of the 1864 Civil War song, Tramp Tramp Tramp (written by George Fredrick Root). Roy and Dale only sing the refrain of this song as that is all that was commonly used in Sunday schools. However these are not the only lyrics to this song. To see the full lyrics click here. Up next is Red Stegall with The Narrow Trail. This song comes from his 1995 gospel album, Faith and Values. Now Kris Kristofferson sings Burden of Freedom. This version of the song comes from Kris' 1972 album, Burden of Freedom. He would later make another version for his 2006 album, This Old Road. A year before Kris wrote this song he had responded to an alter call and this song and Why Me Lord were responses to what that spiritual experience, one that Kris himself admitted he didn't fully understand yet. Around this time a resurgence was happening with Christian music. A lot had happened in recent years and as many young people had turned to God, they brought along their own types of music, that meant something to them personally. Therefore much Christian music was no longer hymns but mire contemporary sounding music that paid tribute to God while reflecting the world these young Christians had grown up in. Johnny Cash would often play before these audiences as part of concerts mostly made up of the younger artists. Feeling it would be good for Kris to be in such an environment, John invited Kris and his wife Rita Coolidge to perform as well. Kris would play his own songs like Burden of Freedom or Why Me Lord. Yet Kris felt decidedly uncomfortable at these concerts. He would say about the experience, "I was singing songs, I thought were spiritual but people wanted to hear more songs specifically about Jesus. Eventually I had to tell John that I couldn't do these type of shows anymore I felt like a hypocrite." Next is Elvis Presley singing Joshua Fit the Battle. It is unknown who wrote this song but it is believed to date back to the 19th century and to be from Africain American descent. Elvis' very lively version of this song comes from his 1960 gospel album, His Hand in Mine. Afterwards is Gene Autry with There'll Be Jubilation Bye and Bye. This recording comes from an episode of Gene's radio show dated July 4, 1943. At this time Gene was a member of the United States Army Air Forces and his radio show had been renamed Sgt. Gene Autry. Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Lord You Made the Cowboy Happy.  

Now is Charley Pride talking about traditional country music. 

Up next is C.S. Lewis' essay, Dangers of National Repentance.

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

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Matthew 4:17

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

 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them. Romans 4:8

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

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