Cowboy Church #221

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In). This song was written by Stuart Hamblin. This was appropriate as Stuart Hamblen had been a singing cowboy on radio since back in 1926. Probably his most famous compositions were It is No Secret (What God Can Do) and This Old House. This recording of the song comes from a Little Golden Record Roy and Dale recorded in 1954. The B-side of this Little Golden Record was The Lord is Counting on You, which was also written by Hamblin. Cartoon fans might recognize this song from the Flintstones episode, No Biz Like Show Biz (1965) which features Pebbles and Bam Bam singing the song. 

This is followed by The Cockman Family with Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. This comes from the bluegrass gospel band's 2006 album The Promise.

Afterwards is Alison Krauss and Union Station with On Heaven's Bright Shore. This recording is from their 1989 gospel album, Two Highways.

Next comes Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings with The Greatest Cowboy of Them All. This is a song about heroes and all of us have our heroes. While these heroes may be entertainers, writers, political figures, intellectuals and humanitarians, when you put any of them up against Jesus Christ, they simply pale in comparison. This because even someone who is great by human standards is nothing when compared to the glory of God.  

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."

Then comes Blind Willie McTell with his 1928 recording of Ain't It Grand to be Christian.

Afterwards is The Carter Family with their 1930 recording of When the World's on Fire.  

Today's musical selection ends with Melba Montgomery with A Better Life is Waiting. This comes from her 1966 gospel album, Hallelujah Road.

Now for an episode of the Hopalong Cassidy radio show. 

Now for a message from Billy Graham.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me. Micah 7:7 

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

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25

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

Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 1 Peter 3:9 

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. Luke 6:28

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