Cowboy Church #160

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers with There'll Be Peace in the Valley. The hymn was written by Thomas A. Dorsey who later explained the origins of this song, “Peace in the Valley,” “It was just before Hitler sent his war chariots into Western Europe in the late 1930s. I was on a train going through southern Indiana and saw horses, cows and sheep all grazing together in this little valley. Everything seemed so peaceful. It made me question, “What’s the matter with mankind? Why can’t men live in peace?” Out of those thoughts came “Peace in the Valley.” This version of the song comes from Roy and his wife Dale Evans' 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By. 

This is followed by Willie Watson and Tim Blake Nelson with When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings. This song was written for the movie, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) and was written by  David Rawlings and Gillian Welch. 

Afterwards is Pete Seegar with Study War No More (Down by the Riverside).

Then comes Cowboy Copas with his 1953 recording of He Stands by His Window.

Now for The Carter Family with their 1941 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.

Afterwards is George Jones with I Know a Man Who Can. With humans, there are a lot of things that are impossible. However, with God everything is possible. Anytime life feels like it is too much for us, God is greater than whatever troubles we face. 

Now for Skeeter Davis with Its Different Now. This recording comes from Skeeter's 1967 gospel album, Hand in Hand With Jesus. 

Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1951 recording of The Wonderous Word. 

Now for a one of Dr. Martian Luther King Jr.'s most famous sermons.

Now for an episode of Roy Rogers' radio show.

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. Colossians 3:12

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. Proverbs 11:17

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

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Luke 6:27-31

Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. 1 John 4:8 

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