Cowboy Church #220

 Hello my friends and happy Easter. Welcome to a special Easter service of Cowboy Church. 

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing Easter Is A Loving Time. This recording comes from a 1955 Little Golden Record, that the husband-and-wife duo had made. Here they are backed by The Sandpipers and Mitchell (Mitch) Miller & his Orchestra.

This is followed by Tennessee Ernie Ford with a hymn perfect for Easter, 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.

Next is Charlie Daniels with He's Alive. In this video Charlie was a guest worship leader at an Easter Service for the World Outreach Church.

Then comes Wanda Jackson with Because He Lives. This version of this great gospel song comes from her 1976 gospel album, Make Me Like a Child Again. 

This is followed by Gene Autry with his 1954 recording of Easter Morning. I hope that the Lord above spends Easter Day with each one of you. If you ask the Lord into your heart, then he will always spend not only every Easter but every day with you. 

Afterwards is Roy Acuff's 1942 recording of I'll Reep My Harvest in Heaven. If life is tough and hard for you on Earth, all these troubles are nothing compared to the joys you will experience in Heaven. If life seems like it is going perfect for you, these blessings can never even come close to the blessings that await you in Heaven. 

Next is The Chuck Wagon Gang with their 1964 recording of Thank God for Calvary. Make sure this Easter, you take some time to thank God for Calvary. 

Then is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Power in the Blood. 

Afterwards is Ernest Tubb with Love Lifted Me. 

Next is Johnny Cash and The Carter Family with Where You There. 

Today’s musical selection ends with Third Day with Thief. This song is an important reminder to all of us. Jesus may have been innocent when he hung on the cross but the man being hung next to him probably wasn’t. This was a man who must have not only been a criminal but one whose crimes were great for him to be crucified. Yet when he saw Jesus, he knew that he was looking at some one who was far from any ordinary man. It was there he accepted Jesus as his Lord and there Jesus told him that he would see this man in heaven. This shows us that no matter who we are and no matter what we have done, Jesus is willing to meet us right there and then. He is willing to meet us when we are at our lowest and is always willing to save us for the path of sin we have walked down.  

Now for an Easter sermon from Billy Graham.

And an Easter message from S.M. Lockridge. 

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

 

Motion Picture Daily, 1955

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were [b]greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24

We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life! Matthew 20:18-19

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Thanks for joining me, come back in a couple weeks for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy Easter my friends. Happy trails to you until we meet again.