Hello, my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, today's musical selection begins with Gene Autry singing Bless This House. God has given us so many blessings, many of which we simply take for granted. This Thanksgiving, let us make sure we take the time to thank God for every blessing we have in our lives and to reflect on how blessed we truly are.
This is followed by Charlie Rich with Down by the Riverside. This recording comes from his 1976 gospel album, Silver Linings.
Next is Johnny Cash with I Won't Have to Cross Jordan Alone. This hymn was written by Charles Durham. Durham's day job was as a postman, yet he found himself often moved by God and wanted to write down what God would speak to him. He carried a paper and pencil with him on each trip, in case a hymn would come to him, while he was on his route. It is believed that he wrote over 100 hymns this way. Later in life he would publish hymn books and organize gospel quartets. His first hymn was published in 1912. This hymn was published in 1934. John's version of the hymn comes from his 1962 album, Hymns From the Heart. This was his second full gospel album.
Now for The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 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.
This is followed by Anne Wilson with This House. This song was written by Anne herself and comes from her debut album, 2022's My Jesus.
Now for The Blue Sky Boys with their 1940 recording of I'm S-A-V-E-D. While we all are going to fall short and sin sometimes, if we are true Christians, we should not gladly or proudly live in sin, but be constantly working towards being more like Jesus and less like this world.
Now join Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie (on piano) as they perform When We All Get to Heaven. This hymn was written by Eliza E. Hewitt. Eliza was a public schoolteacher who due to a serious spinal problem was confined to her bed for a while. During this time, she was moved to write hymns. Despite her situation, these hymns tended to be very joyous and uplifting. This sends a couple of very powerful messages. God is able to use the hard times in life for his glory. At the same time he is able to give us comfort and joy even in our most difficult times.
Today's musical selection ends with Roy Rogers singing Peace in the Valley. The hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey who later explained the origins of this song, “Peace in the Valley,” “It was just before Hitler sent his war chariots into Western Europe in the late 1930s. I was on a train going through southern Indiana and saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley. Everything seemed so peaceful. It made me question, “What’s the matter with mankind? Why can’t men live in peace?” Out of those thoughts came “Peace in the Valley.”
To read the article below, click on the page below and use your touch screen to zoom in.
Film Bulletin, 1960
Next comes S.M. Lockridge with his sermon, Stumbling Over Simplicity.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalms 100:4
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. James 1:17
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. Habakkuk 3:19
Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
Resources Used
https://wordwisehymns.com/2018/07/02/i-wont-have-to-cross-jordan-alone/
https://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/1801-1900/eliza-edmunds-hewitt-songs-from-a-bed-of-pain-11630486.html
https://mediahistoryproject.org/
https://dianaleaghmatthews.com/peace-in-the-valley/#.Y3sRlEnMK3A
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