Cowboy Church #192

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

Today's musical selection begins with Dale Evans with The Light of the World Is Jesus. This recording comes from her and her husband Roy Rogers' 1957 album, Sweet Hour of Prayer. 

This is followed by Roy Rogers with 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.”

Afterwards is Molly O'Day and Lynn Davis with their 1947 recording of Don't Forget the Family Prayer. 

Then comes Johnny Cash with Seal it in My Heart and Mind. This song was written by John himself. It is unknown where John actually recorded this. However, it would be released posthumously in 2006 in a two-disc set called Personal File. This set was made up of previously unreleased recordings that include just John and his guitar. 

Next is Faron Young with his 1958 recording of Traveling On. 

Then comes Roy Drusky with 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. 

Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with He Walks with the Wild and Lonely. This song was written by Bob Nolan, one of the founding members of the group and one of my personal favorite songwriters. When in a 1979 interview fellow cowboy singer and songwriter Stuart Hamblen asked Bob what he thought the best song he had written was, Bob answered that it was quite possibly this song. He explained why stating, "The lyrics and the music were so perfectly wed that I just couldn’t improve on it."

Today's musical selection ends with Eddie Dean and the Frontiersman with two songs, Walk Beside Me and Blessed Are They. Both of these songs were recorded in 1955. Though not as well remembered as Roy Rogers or Gene Autry, Eddie Dean was a popular singing cowboy in the movies. 

Now for the Roy Rogers movie, Under California Stars (1948). 

Now for a message from the Reverend Billy Graham. 

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. Psalm 34:17-20 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 

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

Thanks for joining me. Come back in a couple weeks  for another service of Cowboy Church.