Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Softly and Tenderly. The song was written by an Ohio businessman named Will Thompson in 1880. As well as writing gospel songs Thompson also wrote quite a few secular songs and parotic songs. When the songs he wrote were rejected by publishers he created his own company, Will L. Thompson & Company. This company would not only publish music by sell musical instruments. Softly and Tenderly first appeared in 1880's Sparkling Gems, Nos. 1 and 2, a collection of songs from the company. When evangelist Dwight L. Moody was on his death bed he told the songwriter, "Will, I would rather have written ‘Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling’ than anything I have been able to do in my whole life." This was appropriate as Will decided to make songwriting his career while at a meeting held by Moody.
This is followed by Loretta Lynn with Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven. This recording comes from Loretta's 2016 album, Full Circle.
Up next comes Johnny Cash with Jesus Was a Carpenter. What I love about this song is that it takes about what happened back when Jesus was on Earth, but it puts it in a modern context even looking at many of today's political and social issues. This shows that the Bible is just as true today and that even after all these centuries we can still apply it to what is going on in our world today. The very idea of praising Jesus in socially conscious folk song, paints a great picture of what Johnny Cash and his music were all about.
Then comes Wanda Jackson with Jesus Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me. This song comes from her 1984 gospel album, My Kind of Gospel. Even this long after the Bible was written, Jesus is still working in and through people just as much as he did back then. All you have to do to notice this is to look at how many lives he changes each and every day.
Afterwards is Glen Campbell 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 lead him to pray much more often and he began to get closer to God everyday. When he was healed he vowed to "stand on the promises of God" and wrote this song.
This is followed by Red Stegall with Cowboy Church. Could you think of a song that is more fitting for these Cowboy Church posts? It is almost like he wrote it for them.
Then comes Bob Dylan with When You Gonna Wake Up. Though many Dylan fans look down on the Christian era of Bob's music (especially those who disagree with its message), I feel that some incredible music came out of this era. His lyrics were still amazing and cause one to stop and think after hearing them. As a Christian, these lyrics have had just as major of an effect on me as the old classic hymns, and touch me as deeply as Christian music can. Yet in true Bob Dylan style, these songs do not feel like anything we could ever hear from any other songwriter doing Christian music.
Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of 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. 1937, the year this recording was made was the last year that Roy Rogers would be an official member of the group. Though he would embark on his solo career, his career and the career of the Sons of the Pioneers would remain very intertwined. They would not only make many recordings together but they would also appear together in many movies. They would also remain great friends.
Next comes an episode of Gene Autry's Melody Ranch radio show that aired on September, 19, 1948.
Now for a message from Greg Laurie.
Motion Picture Herald, 1941
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 7:21
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:15-17
If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. Isiaih 58:10
Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him. Proverbs 14:31
Thanks for joining me come back next week for another servie of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
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