Cowboy Church #223

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers singing 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 is followed by Barbra Mandrell with Baptism of Jesse Taylor. Like the previous song, this song is about redemption and how God can completely transform any person in the world and how there is nobody in the world who can possibly be past God's reach.

Afterwards is Red Smiley with A Beautiful Life. This hymn was written by William Golden (who also wrote Where the Soul Never Dies) in 1918. It is believed that he based this hymn on the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

Next come Eddy Arnold with Love Lifted Me. This song was written by James Rowe in 1912 and was based on two stories from the book of Matthew. One was asleep in the boat with the apostles during a storm. As the apostles were terrified of the storm, they couldn't understand how Jesus was so calm that he could take a nap. They wake Jesus up from his nap and Jesus simply tells the storm to stop and it does. The other story also involved the apostles, Jesus and the sea. It was about how when his eyes were fixed upon Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but he lost the ability when his faith faltered and he looked away. Still Jesus was a faithful friend and lifted Peter into a boat.

This is followed by Loretta Lynn with If I Could Hear My Mother Pray Again. This song comes from Loretta's 1965 gospel album, Hymns. This song reminds us of the importance of prayer and how important it is to pray for those we love. Too many Christians take prayer for granted, when it is really one of the greatest blessings God could ever bestow on us. The fact that we get to talk to the creator of the Universe is simply incredible to really think about. 

Then comes the Blue Sky Boys with their 1938 recording of Old Fashioned Meeting.


Next comes Johnny Cash performing Greystone Chapel from his legendary 1968 album, At Folsom Prison. This song was written by Glen Sherley, who was an inmate in Folsom at the time. The song was given to John by a minister at Folsom Prision. Glen Sherley also wrote another hit country song, Portrait of My Woman, which was made a hit by Eddy Arnold. After this song's success Sherley would even record a live album in Folsom, while still being in prison. When he got out of prison, Johnny Cash met him at the gates. Sherley would even become a part of John's live shows. However when Sherley would threaten to kill some of those on the shows and similarly violent threats against people, John had to let the singer and songwriter go. Singing background on this song is The Statler Brothers and Carl Perkins can be heard as one of the guitar players. The Statlers and Carl Perkins were both part of John's live shows as well. 

Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1946 recording of Cowboy Camp Meeting. This song was written by Tim Spencer one of the founding members of the group.

Now for a sermon from S.M. Lockridge.

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

If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. Psalm 40:10

“And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed." Josuha 23:14

And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way. Mark 10:52

Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16

 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. Micah 7:18

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 18:23

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