Cowboy Church #240

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

Today's musical selection starts off with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing The Lord is Counting on You. This song was written by another legend of cowboy gospel legend, Stuart Hamblin, who also wrote This Ole House, It is No Secret (What God Can Do), and Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In). Hamblin was also an actor and had played the villain in one of Roy's movies, The Arizona Kid (1939). This version of the song comes from Roy and Dale's 1959 album, Jesus Loves Me.

This is followed by Don Bester and his orchestra with their 1933 recording of The Last Round Up. Neil Buckley is singing lead on this recording. 

Afterwards is Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard with Sing Me Back Home on a 1969 episode of TV's The Johnny Cash Show. This song was written by Merle and was based off a true story that happened while he was in San Quentin State Prison for attempted robbery. It was the title track of his 1968 album. 

Next comes one of the most popular country gospel songs performed by the man who wrote it. The song is I Saw the Light and the singer and songwriter was Hank Williams. Hank wrote this song as he was heading home from a dance in Fort Deposit, Alabama. His mother was driving him home and told her son "Hank, wake up, we're nearly home. I just saw the light" (she was referring to the light near Dannelly Field Airport). Hank wrote the song on the rest of the way home. The song melody-wise strongly resembles Albert E. Brumley's He Set Me Free, but I Saw the Light has certainly taken on a life of its own apart from the earlier song, heavily through the powerful and inspiring lyrics that do what Hank did best as a songwriter, convey something powerful and moving in a way that seems so simple and unpretentious. Hank recorded this song on his first MGM recording session (April 21, 1947). However, even though he was the first to record this song, his version was not the first released. Producer Fred Rose gave it to two other singers (Clyde Grubbs and Roy Acuff), both of whom had their versions released before Hank. 

Then comes Glen Campbell with I Surrender All. This song was written by Judson Van de Venter in 1896. A schoolteacher, who was being called to become an evangelist it took him five years to surrender and leave his teaching job for what was his true calling. This song reflects this brave and faithful action. 

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 Anne Wilson with Til the Road Runs Out. This song is from her 2025 EP God Story.

Now for the fourth chapter of the Buck Jones movie serial, The Red Rider (1934). 

Now for a message from the Reverand Billy Graham. 

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. 1 Peter 4:10-11

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32

Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:13

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times." Matthew 18:21-22

 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

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