Cowboy Church #254

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Star of Hope. This recording comes from Roy and Dale's 1967 album, Christmas is Always. 

This is followed by The Blue Sky Boys with their 1939 recording of The Royal Telephone. Too often we take for granted how blessed we are to be able to talk to God anytime we want. The fact the creator of Heaven and Earth actually wants to listen to us is still mind boggling. 

Afterwards is Emmylou Harris with O Little Town of Bethlehem. The lyrics to this hymn were written by Phillips Brooks in 1865. He wrote the words this hymn after taking a group of Sunday school children on a pilgrimage to Bethlehem. The music was written by Louis H. Redner, the church organist. There was originally another verse to this hymn, "Where children pure and happy pray to the blessed Child. Where misery cries out to thee, son of the undefiled; where charity stands watching and faith holds wide the door, the dark night wakes, the glory breaks, and Christmas comes once more." However, Redner objected to the words "son of the undefiled." Brooks briefly changed the line to "son of mother mild" before dropping the verse all together. This hymn appeared on a small leaflet in 1868 and in The Sunday School Hymnal in 1871.

Next comes Carrie Underwood with Away in a Manger. Away in a Manger has also been called Luther’s Cradle Hymn. The reason for this is that it was once believed to be written for Martin Luther, who would have sung it to his children. This proved to be false. It was in fact written for a collection that was meant to celebrate Luther's 400th anniversary. Some think that this rumor was started to help sell the song. It is unknow who actually wrote this hymn. 

Then comes Nat Stuckey and Connie Smith with His Love Takes Care of Me. Though there are many things that we can't be certain of in life, one constant is God's love for us.  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. 

Next is Gene Autry's 1947 recording of Here Comes Santa Claus.  Gene wrote this song's lyrics (the music was written by Oakley Haldeman). He was inspired by a time when he rode, Champion Jr. in Hollywood's Santa Claus Lane Parade. He rode in front of Santa Claus and heard a small boy shout, "Here comes Satna Claus." He knew that this would make a perfect Christmas song. This song became such a hit that many Christmas recordings followed as well as songs for other holidays like Easter and Thanksgiving. 

Now for The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1951 recording of The Lord's Prayer. The lyrics of this song come directly from the Bible (specifically Jesus himself). The music was written by Albert Hay Malotte in 1933. 

Today's musical selection ends with Loretta Lynn singing O Come all Ye Faithful. This hymn was originally written by John Francis Wade, who wrote the song in Latin under the name Adeste Fiedeles. Much later Frederick Oakley and William Brooke credited an English translation of this hymn. Instead of just directly translating the hymn, they also added some new stanzas. This version of the hymn first appeared in 1841 in FH Murray's Hymnal for Use in the English Church.

Now for Johnny Cash's 1977 Christmas TV special. 

Now for a Christmas message from Billy Graham. 

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done. Proverbs 19:17

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

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

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. Colossians 3:14

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 22:36-40

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