Cowboy Church #159

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

Today's musical selection begins with Riders in the Sky with Cowboy Camp Meeting. This is a cover of a Sons of the Pioneers classic and was written by one of the founding members of The Sons of the Pioneers, Tim Spencer. This version of the song comes from Riders in the Sky's 2011 album, Land Beyond the Sun.  This is followed by Willie Nelson with It's Not for Me to Understand. Willie talked about this song in his book, It's a Long Story: My Life, "The questions raised by the Bible - questions that had been entertained by deep thinkers like Khalil Gibran and Edgar Cayce - had no easy answers. I imagined a blind boy in a school yard, listening to the other children play. Again, the questioning began ... 'It's Not for Me to Understand' became one of the key songs and led to even more pleadings on my part. The sign came in the form of the lyrics. I don't feel that I wrote them. More accurately, I have to say that I felt like I channeled them." This song comes from one of Willie's best albums 1971's Yesterday's Wine. Willie himself would say, "I thought Yesterday's Wine was my most honest album to date." Next comes Faron Young's 1958 recording of I Know Who Holds Tomorrow. This song was written by Ira Straphill a pastor who traveled the United States spreading the gospel. He did much of his traveling with his wife, Zelma. Zelma would however later decide the ministry was not for her and left Ira. She would also succumb to many temptations including addiction and other men, which added much pain to their realtionship in later years. This caused Ira to fall into a deep depression as he tried everything to keep the two's marriage afloat and nothing seemed to be working. He wrote this song in a very dark time for him. He was driving and all the sudden began to hum a tune. Next thing he knew he was singing this song. As soon as he got home, he went straight to his office to write down this hymn. This makes the hymn's meaning all the more powerful. No matter what we face in our lives or how bad things may seem, we can always have hope because we know who holds tomorrow. After this comes Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. This song is the B-side of a 1955 Little Golden Record (which features The Bible Tells Me So as the A-side). The song also has an important message for us. If we are to be true Christians and desire to truly follow God, then we should spend some time each day in his word. This will keep our minds focused on what is truly important in life and keep us knowledgeable about how God wants us to live our lives. Next is Johnny Cash singing Jesus Loves Me. This clip comes from an episode of John's TV show that aired on March 3, 1971. Here he sings the song to a group of children including his own son, John Carter Cash. Many of the network executives tried to dissuade John from preaching the gospel on his show, but John knew that the secret to his success was being open and honest to his audience about who he was, and this included his Christian faith.   Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of Power in the Blood. This is followed by Glen Campbell with Standing on the Promises of God. This hymn was written by Russell Carter in 1886. Working as a sheep herder he developed a heart condition. This led him to pray much more often, and he began to get closer to God every day. When he was healed, he vowed to "stand on the promises of God" and wrote this song. Today's musical selection ends with Third Day with Long Time Comin'. This is country-rock at its best. 

Up next is Helen Scroggins, George Jones' sister, talking about her famous brother.

Next comes C.S. Lewis' essay, Myth Became Fact.

For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. Jeremiah 30:17

And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. Exodus 15:26 

Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. Jeremiah 33:6

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

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8

Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 1 Timothy 6:9

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20

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

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

Resources Used

It's a Long Story: My Life by Willie Nelson and David Ritz

https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/i-know-who-holds-tomorrow/#.Ygh0VpbMK3A

https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/standing-on-the-promises/#.YgiDJZbMK3C