Cowboy Church #244

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus in the Morning. This recording comes from the husband-and-wife duo's 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. This song has a very important message for all of us. Jesus shouldn't only be someone who we think about when we go to church or when we read our Bibles. Instead we should be spending personal time with Jesus all day every day and take him with us and talk to him no matter where we are and what we are doing. Jesus should not just be a part of our lives but he should be the driving force of our lives. 

This is followed by Porter Wagoner with What a Friend We Have in Jesus. Despite being Joseph Medlicott Scriven's most famous composition, when he made a collection of his writings entitled Hymns and Other Verses it did not appear. It has been assumed that the reason for this is that he probably wrote it for his mother when she was sick and not for the public. It is believed that it is through his mother that the hymn reached the public. It first appeared in 1865's Social Hymns, Original and Selected credited as anonymous.

Then comes Connie Smith and Nat Stucky with Crumbs from the Table.  This is from a 1970 gospel album the two country singers did together that is called Sunday Morning with Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith. This was the second album that the two made together. The first was 1969's Young Love. The idea to pair the two come from the record company, as both had recently had major hits and the company believed that their two voices would blend very well together. 

Afterwards is The Monroe Brothers with their 1938 recording of When Our Lord Shall Come Again.

Next is Johnny Cash with He'll Understand and Say Well Done. This comes from John's second gospel album, 1962's Hymns from the Heart. This album, while still sounding like a Johnny Cash album has a much more traditional gospel sound than his first gospel album, 1958's Hymns by Johnny Cash.  

Then comes Randy Travis with We Fall Down. This recording comes from his 2003 gospel album, Worship & Faith. 

After comes Anne Wilson with a new song, Rain in the Rearview. Anne is still one of my favorite modern-day singers. 

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.

Next comes a message from Billy Graham. 

Now for an episode of Gene Autry's TV show. 

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:6

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6 

He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.  Matthew 18:2-5 

And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.  Mark 10:16

 Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. Jeremiah 17:7

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Ephesians 1:3

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27

Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. Proverbs 19:17 

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