Movies With Michael : Cowboy Church #232

Sunday, July 9, 2023

Cowboy Church #232

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

Today's musical selection starts with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Take My Hand Precious Lord.  This song was written by Thomas A. Dorsey after the passing of his wife and newborn son in 1932. Though Dorsey had given his life to the Lord and was moving away from his career as a blues singer instead writing gospel songs and even pastoring churches. Still after the death of his beloved wife and child, he began to question his faith. Instead of giving up his faith he turned to prayer. He prayed that God would lead him through all the troubles of life. He put his prayer to music (George Allen's Maitland), and this turned out to be one of his most popular songs.

Next comes Leroy Van Dyke with He'll Understand and Say Well Done. We are all called to do God's will in this world. This includes to spread the gospel and talk about the love of God. Many times when we do this, what we say will not be accepted by others and the reaction may not be the one we were hoping for. However God will still bless us and reward us for doing his work.

Then comes The Haydn Quartet with their 1906 recording of Old Time Religion.

Now for a very fun song from Bob Dylan, Man Gave Names to All the Animals. This song comes from his 1979 album, Slow Train Coming. This was the first of his three Christian albums. I especially love the ending of this song.

Afterwards is Johnny Cash with Keep Me From Blowing Away. This song is in many ways a prayer. As much as Christians love God dearly, we are all human and it is so easy for us to go astray. This is because there are times when even the smallest things can build up and become something bigger. And before you know it, we are no longer living according to the word of God the way we once were. I think it is important that we all take some time to pray that God will keep us from blowing away.

The Stanley Brothers will then treat us to their rendition 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.

Then comes The Sons of the San Joaquin with It is Well.  Though this is a hymn of hope and peace it was written in a time of great sadness. The song was written by Horatio G. Spafford in 1873. He had planned a European trip for himself, his wife and four daughters, however because of his work he was unable to go, and he let his family go without him and after he finished his work, he would meet them there. However, the ship was hit and quickly sank. Though his wife was saved all four of his daughters had gone down with the ship. Amazingly he wrote this hymn when approaching an area near where his daughters had sunk.

Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1947 recording of The Sea Walker. This song was written by Tim Spencer, one of the founding members of the group. Not only did Tim write this song, but he also sang lead here. Hugh Farr is a real standout on this track though with both his bass vocals and wonderful fiddle playing.