Cowboy Church #234

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

Today's musical selection begins with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans singing In the Sweet By and By. This song came about because of a friendship between composer, Joseph Webster and poet, Dr. Sanford Fillmore Bennett. One day Webster was depressed and Dr. Bennett recognized this. Dr. Bennett asked his friend what was wrong. Webster replied, "Oh nothing. Everything will be alright by and by." These words brought up an idea in Bennett and he wrote down three verses and a chorus to this song as soon as he could. He handed it to his friend saying, “Here is your prescription, Joe.” Webster loved the lyrics and wrote music for them in practically no time at all. Dr. Bennett later said, “It was not over thirty minutes from the time I took my pen to write the words before two friends with Webster and myself were singing the hymn.” The hymn was first published in 1868 and went on to great fame since. This version of the song comes from Roy and Dale's 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By.

This is followed by Jean Shepard with Crying Holy. 

Afterwards is Loretta Lynn with Harp with Golden Strings. This recording comes from her 1968 gospel album, Who Says God is Dead. 

Next comes Kris Kristofferson with Burden of Freedom. This version of the song comes from Kris's 1972 album, Border Lord. He would later make another version for his 2006 album, This Old Road. A year before Kris wrote this song he had responded to an alter call and this song and Why Me Lord were responses to what that spiritual experience, one that Kris himself admitted he didn't fully understand yet. Around this time a resurgence was happening with Christian music. A lot had happened in recent years and as many young people had turned to God, they brought along their own types of music, that meant something to them personally. Therefore, much Christian music was no longer hymns but mire contemporary sounding music that paid tribute to God while reflecting the world these young Christians had grown up in. Johnny Cash would often play before these audiences as part of concerts mostly made up of the younger artists. Feeling it would be good for Kris to be in such an environment, John invited Kris and his wife Rita Coolidge to perform as well. Kris would play his own songs like Burden of Freedom or Why Me Lord. Yet Kris felt decidedly uncomfortable at these concerts. He would say about the experience, "I was singing songs, I thought were spiritual, but people wanted to hear more songs specifically about Jesus. Eventually I had to tell John that I couldn't do these type of shows anymore I felt like a hypocrite." (quotes from The Man Called Cash by Steve Turner). 

Now for the Witney Brothers Quartet with their 1910 recording of Jesus Saviour, Pilot Me.

Then comes Kitty Wells with The Footsteps of my Lord. This recording comes from her 1962 gospel album, Singing on Sunday. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk. Loudermilk was a cousin to The Louvin Brothers. Though he was a recording artist himself, Loudermilk is best known for songs he wrote that were performed by other artists. Some songs that he wrote include Indian Reservation (a hit for Don Fardon in 1968 and for Paul Revere & the Raiders in 1971), Ebony Eyes (a 1961 hit for the Ebony Brothers), Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye (a hit for the Casinos in 1967 and Eddy Arnold in 1968), Abilene (a 1963 hit for George Hamilton IV), Talk Back Trembling Lips (a 1963 hit for  Ernest Ashworth), Waterloo (a 1959 hit for Stonewall Jackson), I Wanna Live (a 1968 hit for Glen Campbell) and Bad News (which Johnny Cash recorded on his 1964 album, I Walk the Line). 

Afterwards is Ernest Ashworth with When I Sing for Him. 

Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1947 recording of The Old Rugged Cross. 

Now for a message from the Reverend Billy Graham.

Now for the 8th chapter of the Buck Jones movie serial, The Red Rider (1934).

 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. Psalm 3:3-4

Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5

I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

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