Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing In the Sweet By and By. This song came about because of a friendship between composer, Joseph Webster and poet, Dr. Sanford Fillmore Bennett. One day Webster was depressed, and Dr. Bennett recognized this. Dr. Bennett asked his friend what was wrong. Webster replied, "Oh nothing. Everything will be alright by and by." These words brought up an idea in Bennett and he wrote down three verses and a chorus to this song as soon as he could. He handed it to his friend saying, “Here is your prescription, Joe.” Webster loved the lyrics and wrote music for them in practically no time at all. Dr. Bennett later said, “It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn.” The hymn was first published in 1868 and went on to great fame since.
This is followed by The Statler Brothers with Oh Happy Day. This hymn was written by Philip Doddridge, a non-conformist minister from England in the 18th century. That means that he rejected the church of England. His original title for this hymn was Rejoicing in our Covenant. Engagement with God. While I think it is obvious why this is not the title for the song today, it does very much show what was intended with this song. The hymn was written in 1775, however it rose to the incredible popularity it knows today when The Edwin Hawkins Singers recorded the song with the arrangement we know today in 1967. After that recording it become a gospel standard recorded by pretty much anyone who recorded gospel music.
Now for Ralph Stanley with Are You Washed in the Blood.
Then comes The Blue Sky Boys with their 1936 recording of Take Up Thy Cross. When Jesus called the 12 he asked them to leave everything behind them and follow him. This is still exactly what we should do today. While this may not mean for us to leave behind our jobs, our money and our homes, we still need to leave behind our anger, our sin, our anxieties, our fears and our old way of living. God wishes to make us into a new creation. This does not mean we will lose what makes us unique or our interests (unless these interests are sinful and against God's word), however it does mean that we will be living in a new way and that that way will be for God.
It is hard to believe that a song like The Man Comes Around was so late in Johnny Cash's career. Most of the time singer/songwriters don't release and certainly don't write their best music in their sixth decade, but as all music fans know Johnny was one of the rare artists with such a long career, who left this world at the top of his game musically. At this time John was on fire for the lord. No longer was he the wild crazy man he had been in the 1950's and 60's, instead by this time he had become a true man of God, and wanted to do all he could for the lord before he passed away. He knew he had wasted too much of his life being controlled by sin and finally wanted to be a servant to God instead of to his own fleshly desires. At this time he was also seeing a musically resurgence, where he was more popular than ever and young audiences were embracing his new music just as much as they did any younger artist of their generation. What he wanted to do was to create a modern day gospel song that would speak directly to this younger audience and The Man Comes Around more than fit that bill. Because this song was so near and dear to him he spent more time writing it than any other song he had composed. In his book, Johnny Cash: The Redemption of an American Icon, Pastor Greg Laurie wrote "Personally I think it is the strongest song Johnny ever wrote. It is both biblical and personal, powerful and poetic."
Now it is time for Charley Pride with This Highway Leads to Glory. This song comes from Charley's 1971 gospel album, Did You Think to Pray.
Then comes Anne Wilson with Devil. This song comes from her 2022 debut album, My Jesus. Anne stands as one of my favorite modern-day singers.
Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of The Old Rugged Cross. The song itself dates back to 1913 and was written by evangelist, George Bennard. Actually the first verse was written in 1912. It was written while Bennard was a part of a series of revival meetings in Albion, Michigan. He was worried about the complete disregard for the gospel around him and wrote this verse as a repose. Of writing it Bennard said, "I seemed to have a vision ... I saw the Christ and the cross inseparable." The song wouldn't be completed for several months, when he was leading meetings at a local church in Pokagan, Michigan. He played it for Rev. Leroy (the sponsoring pastor) and his wife, Ruby Bostwick, both of whom found themselves moved to tears. It was then incorporated into a service at that church on June 7, 1913. The song has the same effect today as it must have back then.
Now for a sermon by S.M. Lockridge.
Now for the 4th Chapter of Gene Autry's movie serial, The Phantom Empire (1935).
The Film Daily, 1949
When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1
Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the needy from the hand of evildoers. Jeremiah 20:13
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32
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 58:11
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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