Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of The Touch of God's Hand. This song was written by one of the group's founding members (and one of my favorite songwriters), Bob Nolan.
This is followed by Uncle Dave Macon's 1928 recording of Jesus Lover of My Soul. Uncle Dave was a faithful member of Haynes Chapel Methodist Church in Kittrell, Tennessee. Before becoming famous he was even a Sunday School teacher and took the pulpit when the pastor was unavailable. Naturally he also helped out with the music. Gospel songs would play a major role in his live shows. Yet for a while he didn't perform them on the Grand Ole Opry. His oldest son convinced him he should perform these songs there. So in the early 1930's he performed Shall We Gather at the River. This was met with huge applause and gospel songs would soon become a part of his Opry performances as well.
Now for Glen Campbell with Softly and Tenderly. The song was written by an Ohio businessman named Will Thompson in 1880. As well as writing gospel songs Thompson also wrote quite a few secular songs and parotic songs. When the songs he wrote were rejected by publishers he created his own company, Will L. Thompson & Company. This company would not only publish music by sell musical instruments. Softly and Tenderly first appeared in 1880's Sparkling Gems, Nos. 1 and 2, a collection of songs from the company. When evangelist Dwight L. Moody was on his death bed he told the songwriter, "Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life." This was appropriate as Will decided to make songwriting his career while at a meeting held by Moody.
Now we join The Gatlin Brothers with Do Lord. This song was first recorded by The Garner Brothers in 1924. However it is believed to be an African American song dating back to the 1860's.
A Singer of Songs in my mind gets down to the essence of Johnny Cash and honestly when I first I found out I was surprised he had not written it. What is interesting is that when interviewed about this recording for the Unearthed Box set, Johnny stated, "Good song but I don't know whose it is." Producer Rick Rubin in comments for the box set stated that he felt this was "one of the most touching and emotional of all the songs." However, he admitted "I have no idea where it came from. I don't even remember recording it." He wondered how he could have possibly missed putting this song on one of the albums he and Johnny did together. Johnny's song John Carter Cash however shed light on where this song came from. "Every once in a while, I'd bring in a song or two - he knows instantly, when he hears a song, whether it will work out for him or not. This was written by Tim O'Connell." This song was recorded during the sessions for Johnny's third album for Rick Rubin, Solitary Man. Johnny was a heart simply a singer and a storyteller and he knew that there was no greater story than that of Jesus Christ.
Now we join Randy Travis for the wonderful old hymn, Are You Washed in the Blood. While I believe that water baptisms are important in the life of a believer, nothing matters more than being washed in the blood of Jesus. This means to let Jesus be Lord of your life and to live said life for him. As wonderful as water baptisms are they mean nothing if you are not also washed in the blood of the lamb.
Next is the King of the Cowboys Roy Rogers with The Circuit Riding Preacher. For someone who was a Christian and often preached the gospel, and whose career was steeped in the lore of the old west, there is no surprise that a song about circuit riders would appeal to him. Back in the days of the old west circuit riders were preachers who would ride across the U.S.A. preaching the gospel as he traveled. A circuit rider would especially preach in densely populated and rural areas, where there may not be a regular church for people to visit.
Today's musical selection ends with The Petersens with Near the Cross.
Today's movie trailer is for Winchester '73. This film stars James Stewart and is directed by Anothony Mann. These two worked very well together and the films they made together are legendary. Those films include Bend of the River (1952), Thunder Bay (1953), The Naked Spur (1953), The Glenn Miller Story (1954), The Far Country (1954) and The Man from Laramie (1955).
Now for Dr. Ralph Bell speaking about Billy Graham.
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31
And the crowds asked him, “What then shall we do?” And he answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.” Luke 3:10-11
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. 1 John 3:17-18
...because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6
A voice cries: In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Isaiah 40:3-4
Thank you 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: Unearthed box set liner notes.
https://bluegrasstoday.com/20-things-you-didnt-know-about-uncle-dave-macon/
http://folkslingers.com/do-lord/#:~:text=Do%20Lord%2C%20Do%20Remember%20Me%20was%20first%20recorded,song%20for%20adolescents%20but%20grownups%20love%20it%2C%20too%21
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-softly-and-tenderly-jesus-is-calling
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