Cowboy Church #215

 Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers singing Wonderful Guest. This song comes from Roy and his wife Dale Evans' 1968 gospel album, Jesus Loves Me.

This is followed by Tennessee Ernie Ford with The Ninety and Nine. The Bible says in Luke 15:7, "In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! I say to you that likewise there will be joy in heaven over one sinner that repents more than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance." No matter what we have done or how far we have strayed from God's word, he is always waiting for us with open arms and will never leave or abandon us. 

Next comes Dale Evans with Here I Am Lord. We spend too much of our lives, running away from the things of the Lord and seeking only to satisfy ourselves. It can be very hard for us to die to ourselves and live only for God. Yet to do so is incredibly rewarding and though it is often not the easiest or the most comfortable road to walk down, nothing is more edifying or comforting than living our lives only for God. It is only in God's will that we can find the things that we have always been longing for whether we knew it or not. 

Afterwards is George Jones with 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.

Now for The Smoky Mountain Sacred Singers with their 1926 recording of Where We Never Grew Old. This song was written by James Cleveland Moore in 1914. This song was written James Cleveland Moore. His father led the singing at his church and when he heard his father's voice failing from age one day at church he went home and wrote this song.

Then comes Loretta Lynn with Standing Room Only. 

Next is The Sons of the San Joaquin with The Lily of the Valley. When Charles Fry wrote this hymn, he was inspired by The Song of Solomon, especially the following, “‘I am the rose of Sharon, the lily of the valleys.’ Like a lily among the thorns, so is my darling among the maidens. Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. In his shade I took great delight and sat down…He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love.” Song of Solomon 2:1-4. After he read these words, he began to write about his relationship with Jesus and what he wrote would become this hymn. It was first published in an issue of the Salvation Army's magazine The War Cry, dated December 29, 1881. This version of the song comes from the group's 1997 gospel album, Gospel Trails.

Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1948 recording of Too High, Too Wide, Too Low. This song was written by Tim Spencer, one of the group's founding members. 

Now for a sermon from S.M. Lockridge.

Now for the next chapter of Gene Autry's movie serial, The Phantom Empire (1935).

If you have trouble reading the following article, click on the pages and use your touch screen to zoom in.

Motion Picture, 1940

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9 

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15

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

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the LORD Almighty. Malachi 1:11

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life's good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy no good—do not all go to the one place? All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind. Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun? Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die. 2 Samuel 2:14

Thanks for joining me. Come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.