Cowboy Church #164

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

Today's musical selection begins with The Sons of the Pioneers singing How Will I Know Him (When He Walks By). This song was written by Bob Nolan, one of the group's founding members and one of my favorite songwriters. This song comes from the band's 1963 gospel album, Hymns of the Cowboy. This is followed by The Statesmen Quartet with Faith Unlocks the Door. Singing lead at the start of this song is Jake Heiss, who was one of Elvis Presley's heroes. Elvis always gave credit to Jake Heiss for inspiring the way he sang ballads and gospel songs and anyone who is even slightly familiar with Elvis will be able to see where this influence lies. Next is Glen Campbell with What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Despite being Joseph Medlicott Scriven's most famous composition, when he made a collection of his writings entitled  Hymns and Other Verses it did not appear. It has been assumed that the reason for this is that he probably wrote it for his mother when she was sick and not for the public. It is believed that it is through his mother that the hymn reached the public. This is followed by The Grascals with Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.  This hymn began 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. Next is Johnny Cash singing Welcome Back Jesus. No matter how long we walk in the Lord, we are still living in this body of flesh. Because of this we have still have the temptation to sin and will even sometimes fall into these sins. The Bible states that with the help of God we can overcome any temptation and this should give us a lot of hope to know we have the strength of our father in heaven on our side. Yet this does not mean our battles against temptation will always be easy. Satan is crafty and knows how to hit us where we are the weakest. So if we have a failure, it is important to realize that Jesus still loves us and that we are still a work in progress. When these failures make us feel like we are incapable of receiving God's salvation, we must realize that these thoughts are nothing but lies and God is always willing to help us overcome any failure and we are still his beloved children. Afterwards is The Carter Family with their 1930 recording of On the Rock Where Moses Stood. This is followed by The Sons of the San Joaquin with God Leads His Dear Children Along. Today's music selection ends with Roy Rogers singing The Cricut Riding Preacher. Circuit riders were real men back in the late 1700's and 1800's. They were part of the Methodist Episcopal Church and rode on horse across the early United States, preaching the gospel. Naturally this was a perfect subject for Roy to sing about as the lore was similar to that of the cowboy and Roy was a Christian. This song is set to the tune of The Battle Hymn of the Old Republic with a few choruses of Leaning on the Everlasting Arms inserted in there.  

Next is one of the all-time classic short films, The Great Train Robbery (1903).

Next comes the C.S. Lewis essay, The Grand Miracle.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:7-8

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments. Psalm 119:66

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

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Hebrews 2:8

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:12-14

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