Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
With Christmas not being too far off, I am going to start incorporating Christmas music into these posts. First up is a favorite for me Roy Rogers singing Silent Night. This recording comes from 1940 and it is part of a session he did with The Jimmy Walley Trio where they recorded a few Christmas songs together.
Next comes Charley Pride with They Stood in Silent Prayer. This version of the song comes from Charley's 1970 Christmas album, Christmas in my Hometown.
Now for Tennessee Ernie Ford with It is Well (With My Soul). Though this is a hymn of hope and peace it was written in a time of great sadness. The song was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. He had planned a European trip for himself, his wife and four daughters, however because of his work he was unable to go, and he let his family go without him and after he finished his work, he would meet them there. However, the ship was hit and quickly sank. Though his wife was saved all four of his daughters had gone down with the ship. Amazingly he wrote this hymn when approaching an area near where his daughters had sunk.
Afterwards comes Willie Nelson and his sister Bobbie Nelson (on piano) with Are You Washed in the Blood. This hymn was written by Elisha Albright Hoffman (Leaning on the Everlasting Arms, Glory to His Name) in 1878. It first appeared in his book, Spiritual Songs for Gospel Meetings and the Sunday School. Yet it was strangely dropped from later versions of this book. This version of this classic hymn comes from Willie and Bobbie's 1996 gospel album Just as I Am. This album consisted of hymns and gospel songs that the two have known and held dear to them since they were small kids.
Then comes The Carter Family with their 1932 recording of Church in the Wildwood. This hymn was written in 1857 by a music teacher named William S Pitts. On a stagecoach ride to meet his fiancé, he stopped in Bradford, Iowa. While there he took a long nature walk. Seeing an especially beautiful valley near Cedar River, he began to picture a church building here. The idea became engrained into his mind and even after he was back home in Wisconsin, he still couldn't stop thinking about it. He later stated that only after he had written this hymn, was he at peace with himself. In 1962 the songwriter and his now wife, had visited the spot and found a church right there, even the same color he mentioned in the song.
Now for Anne Wilson with O Holy Night. This hymn was written in 1847. The lyricist for the song was Placide Cappeau. Cappeau was a poet who rarely wrote about Christian subjects, however the local priest asked him to write a poem for Christmas mass. He didn't know what to write so he looked at the story of Jesus' birth in the book of Luke and tried to place himself there. He then asked his friend Adolphe Charles Adams (who had composed over 80 operas) to write some music. This hymn would gain controversy in France, when the church learned of its writers. Cappeau had left the church and joined the socialist party. Adams was not Christian, but rather Jewish. The idea that neither of the writers of a Christian hymn were in fact Christian, upset many church leaders. These church leaders denounced the song and deemed it not fit to sing in a church. Yet despite this the hymn was one of the most popular Christmas songs in France at the time.
Gene Autry continues the musical selection with his 1956 recording of Everyone's a Child at Christmas. This song was written by Johnny Marks, who also wrote Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, a song that Gene would help turn into a Christmas classic.
As today's musical selection ends, The Sons of the Pioneers ask the theological question, Will There be Sagebrush in Heaven in a classic 1947 recording.
Today's movie trailer for Hop-Along Cassidy (1935). This is the first of 66 films in which William Boyd, would play the famous cowboy character. The last of these films would be Strange Gamble (1948). To say this movie series became a major success is a huge understatement. Hop-Along Cassidy movies would become a sensation, capturing the hearts and imaginations of all red-blooded American boys. Though the character had existed since 1904 as the star of a series of books written by Clarence E. Mulford, from this point on the character would be associated mainly with William Boyd. As if playing the character in 66 movies wasn't enough Boyd also played the character in a radio show that ran from 1948 to 1952 and a TV series which ran from 1949 to 1952. Boyd's version of the character owed little to the book character. Boyd's version was much more clean living and a role model for young kids. Few of these movies, radio episodes and TV episodes borrowed anything from the books for story material.
If you have a hard time reading the following page, click on it and use your touch screen to zoom in.
The International Photographer, 1937
Now for a sermon from S.M. Lockridge.
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
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Salvation belongs to the Lord; your blessing be on your people! Selah Psalm 3:8
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Galatians 6:8
Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” Joshua 10:25
Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
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