Hello my friends and welcome back to another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Have You Read the Bible Today. This recording is the B-side of a 1955 Little Golden record, Roy and Dale made. The A-Side was The Bible Tells Me So. Roy and Dale are backed by The Ranch Hands and Mitch Miller and his Orchestra on this song.
This is followed by The Statler Brothers with This Ole House. This version of the song is from their 1966 album, Flowers on the Wall. The song was written by Stuart Hamblin, who was a major name in cowboy and gospel music. His most famous gospel composition was It is No Secret (What God Can Do).
Next is Don Edwards with Amazing Grace. This hymn was written by John Newton in 1772. It is no coincidence that John Newton wrote this hymn, as he was someone who badly needed God's grace. Looking at his life before he gave it to God, there is not much to find that is admirable and in fact some of what we see is downright horrific. He played a part in one of the darkest (if not the darkest) parts of American history. He was a slave trader. To say that slavery in the United States (and in any country at any time) was a tragedy and a horrible part of our history is an incredible understatement, and this man was a part of that horrific system. Later he even admitted that he treated the human beings that he was bringing over harshly. If there is anyone, we in our humanness would think is beyond God to reach it would be this guy. Yet God did reach him and being God completely changed him. He not only abandoned his job, but he gave his life to God's ministry and helped fight slavery every step of the way. If God could do this with him who is to say that any of us or anyone we know could possibly be out of God's power to reach. This version of the classic hymn comes from his 2009 gospel album, Heaven on Horseback.
Now comes Johnny Cash with In the Sweet Bye and Bye. 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.
Afterwards is The Chuck Wagon Gang with Standing on the Promises of God. This hymn was written by Russell Carter in 1886. Working as a sheep herder he developed a heart condition. This led him to pray much more often, and he began to get closer to God every day. When he was healed, he vowed to "stand on the promises of God" and wrote this song.
Then comes Anne Wilson with Mansions. This song comes from her debut album, 2022's My Jesus. Too often as Christians, we get too focused simply on this life here and now that we forget about the fact that we are going to spend an eternity in heaven after we pass from this life. If your life here is hard, a day will come when you fully experience the joy of heaven and the beautiful grace of our lord. However if everything is going great for you in this life, it is nothing compared to the blessings you will receive in Heaven. This should affect your whole outlook on life and make it so you are pleased to spend this life living fully for God.
Next is Bob Dylan with What Can I Do For You. This comes from Bob Dylan's 1980 Christian album, Saved. Though many tend to overlook Bob's Christian songs, they just as much show us why he is such an incredible songwriter as any of his secular songs. The lyrics of this song are especially powerful and have an incredible message for all of us. If you are a Christian, you should definitely take the words of this song to your heart.
Now for a message from the Reverend Billy Graham.
Now for the 4th chapter in the Gene Autry movie serial, The Phantom Empire (1935).
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9
But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:25
Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced His perfect love. 1 John 4:18
See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know Him. 1 John 3:1
If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. Deuteronomy 7:9
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
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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