Cowboy Church #165

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

Today's music selection begins with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of Lead Me Gently Home. This hymn was written by Will L. Thompson in 1879. Thompson had trouble selling his songs early in his career. After being turned down by a music publisher, he would start his own publishing business, which would become one of the most successful American publishing businesses in the 1880's. Some of the other songs he wrote during his career include Softly and Tenderly, There's a Great World Coming and Jesus is all the World to Me. This is followed by Dottie West with How Great Thou Art. This classic hymn was originally based on a poem by Swedish Pastor Carl Gustav Boberg. He wrote this poem after walking home one day and a sudden storm came. When the storm stopped he saw the clear bay in front of him and heard a church bell in the distance. This inspired him to write the poem. He first published it in 1886. When he published it again in Witness of the Truth (A Newspaper he edited in 1891, it included both words and music. The English language version we all know was translated by missionary Stuart K. Hine. This version of the Hymn comes from Dottie's 1967 gospel album, Dottie West Sings Sacred Ballads. Next is The Sons of the San Joaquin with How Big is God. This song was written by Stuart Hamblen, one of the greats of cowboy gospel music. Hamblen was one of radio's great singing cowboys starting in the 1920's and as well as his career on radio he would even appear in a few western movies. However, at this time he was living anything but a Christian life. He drank, got into fights and often found himself in jail. In 1949 he would give his life to Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade. This would lead to a complete change within him, and he would give up drinking and live for Christ. His career would change as well, he would start writing gospel songs (including This Ole House and It is No Secret (What God Can Do)) and he would start a Christian radio show called, The Cowboy Church of the Air. This version of Hamblen's song comes from The Sons of the San Joaquin's 2017 album, One More Ride. Then comes The Carter Family's 1936 recording of No Depression In Heaven. Afterwards is Johnny Cash with Jesus in My Soul. This lively song comes from John's 1979 album, A Believer Sings the Truth. This was a double length gospel album and Columbia Records felt that such an album from John could never be successful. However Columbia allowed John to release the album on its own and it was successful earning a spot in the Country Top 50. A shorter version of the album called I Believe would be released in 1984, which would feature a select few songs from the double album, including this one. Strangely A Believer Sings the Truth would not find its way to CD until 2012. Next is Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. This is the B-side of a Little Golden Record from 1955 (the A-side was The Bible Tells Me So). Here Roy and Dale are backed by The Ranch Hands and Mitch Miller and his orchestra. Today's musical selection ends with The Statler Brothers singing 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. 

Next is the silent short film, Broncho Billy and the Western Girls (1913).

Now for a few words from Billy Graham.

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15

For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. Galatians 5:5

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6

If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Isaiah 58:10-11

For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? Matthew 6:27

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

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