Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with the Queen of the West, Dale Evans singing Just a Closer Walk With Thee. This old hymn's origin remains a mystery with no one knowing exactly how old it is. However it is believed that this song must date back before the Civil War, because some personal histories have stated that there were “slaves singing as they worked in the fields a song about walking by the Lord’s side.” If this is true it shows the power of God and music as they could sing praise to the Lord even when being oppressed as part of one of the greatest injustices of American history. There is however a song published in 1885 called Closer Walk With Thee which had a very similar chorus. Just a Closer Walk's popularity grew in the 1930's with it being sung at several churches. The arrangement we know today was done by Kenneth Morris in 1940. The following is from Horace Clarence Boyer's book, How Sweet the Sound, “While traveling between Kansas City and Chicago in 1940, songwriter Kenneth Morris got off the train to stretch his legs. While standing on the platform, he overheard a porter singing some of the words to 'Just a Closer Walk with Thee'. Not thinking much about it, Morris boarded the train and went on his way. The words and melody of the song kept repeating in his head and he knew he had to learn the rest of it. At the next stop, Morris got off the train and took the next train back to the previous stop. There he managed to find the porter and Morris persuaded him to sing the song while he copied down the words. Morris soon added to the lyrics and published it in 1940.” Up next is Johnny Cash with his self-penned song, I See Men as Trees Walking. This comes from the soundtrack album of John's 1973 movie, The Gospel Road. Speaking about this film John would say, "The devil has plenty of movies these days ... I felt like I was obliged to make one for Jesus." Shooting this movie a dream his wife, June Carter Cash, had had in 1968 came true. In '68 she had a dream where John was standing on a mountain holding a bible and telling the world about Jesus. When they arrived in Galilee to film June told John, "There's the mountain I dreamed about where you were standing." Next comes Faron Young with Beautiful Garden of Prayer. This beautiful version of the classic hymn (written in 1920 by Eleanor A. Schroll (lyrics) and James H. Fillmore (music)) comes from Faron's 1959 album, My Garden of Prayer. This was Faron's first gospel album and only the fourth full album of his career. Following is Webb Pierce with his 1954 recording of 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. Now we have Ray Stevens with Onward Chirstian Soldiers. Now for The Carter Family's 1929 recording of No Telephone in Heaven. Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of Read the Bible Every Day. This song was written by Tim Spencer, one of the founding members of The Sons of the Pioneers.
Next is an episode of Roy Rogers' radio show.
Next comes C.S. Lewis' essay, Evil and God.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. Matthew 27:54
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isiaih 41:10
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Resources Used
Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon by Greg Laurie and Marshall Terrill.
http://dianaleaghmatthews.com/just-a-closer-walk-with-thee/#.Ykm9INvMK3B
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-leaning-on-the-everlasting-arms?msclkid=d345572ab36211ecaffc5cdfec97796a
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