Cowboy Church #163

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing 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 version of the hymn comes from Roy and Dale's 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By.

This is followed by Patsy Cline with Dear God.  

Then comes Kitty Wells with How Far is Heaven. This is as a pure of a heartbreaking country music song as there could ever be. If this song does not emotionally move, you I don't know what will. The song was written by Jimmie Davis and Tillman Franks. Jimmie Davis was a successful country singer in his own right, with quite a good catalogue of music. However, he is best remembered for being the writer of one of the most famous country songs of all time, You Are My Sunshine. He was also the governor of Louisiana from 1944 to 1948 and 1960 to 1964. Tillman Franks had worked as a bassist with such greats as The Bailes Brothers and Johnny Horton. He and Johnny Horton co-wrote such classics as Honky Tonk Man, Sink the Bismark and North to Alaska. Solo, he also wrote Johnny Horton's hit, When It's Springtime in Alaska (It's Forty Below).

Next comes Cowboy Copas with The Stone Was Rolled Away. This song was written by Mac Odell, who wrote quite a few country gospel classics including Four Books in the Bible, Purple Robe, The Battle of Armageddon and Thirty Pieces of Silver. 

Afterwards is The Carter Family with their 1934 recording of Working on a Building. 

Then comes George Jones with A Man I Always Wanted to Meet. This song was written by Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman, the duo who wrote George's signature song, He Stopped Loving Her Today. This recording come from George's 1974 gospel album, I a Gospel Way. 

Next is The Weavers with I've Got a Home in That Rock. 

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.

Now for an episode of Roy Rogers' TV show. 

Now for a sermon from S.M. Lockridge. 

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

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

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

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

 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Deuteronomy 31:6

 My grace is all you need, for my power is the greatest when you are weak. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the people of God who keep his commands and remain faithful to Jesus. Revelation 14:12

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