Cowboy Church #257

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

Today's musical selection begins with the King of the Cowboys and The Queen of the West, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Jesus in the Morning. This song reminds us that we are not only to leave a small part of the day with Jesus as our focus but all day long as well as everyday. We should wake up each morning with Jesus on our mind and go to bed each night the same way. While few of us will succeed with this every day, we will find that each day we do it will be an enriching day that will makes us grow as a person. This song comes from Roy and Dale’s 1973 gospel album, In the Sweet By and By.

This is followed by NEEDTOBREATHE and Carly Pearce with Fall On Me. 

Afterwards is Johnny Cash with This Train is Bound for Glory. This wonderful recording comes from John's 1979 album, A Believer Sings the Truth. This was a double length gospel album and Columbia Records felt that such an album from John could never be successful. However, Columbia allowed John to release the album on its own and it was successful earning a spot in the Country Top 50. A shorter version of the album called I Believe would be released in 1984, which would feature a select few songs from the double album. A Believer Sings the Truth would not find its way to CD until 2012.

This is followed by the Turney Brothers (Frank Luther/Carson Robison) with their 1929 recording of At the Cross.  This song was written by Issac Watts. Issacs was a church pastor in the 1700's and often wrote hymns and poems to go along with his sermons, and some of the hymns (including this one) are still known today with the most famous being Joy to the World. Though little is know about the origins of these songs, we do know that Issac was an influence on another one of the great hymn writers, Fanny Crosby (Blessed Assurance, Draw Me Nearer), who after hearing one of Issac's hymns at a revival meeting in 1851 gave her life to the Lord and began writing her great hymns. 

Then comes Cowboy Copas with Wreck on the Highway. This song was written Dorsey Dixon. The song is Dixon's most famous composition; however, he received no royalties from it. He tried to sue Roy Acuff (who had a massive hit with the song) over it. This was eventually settled out of court. Cowboy Copas' version comes from his 1963 album, Beyond the Sunset. 

Next is  The Sons of the Pioneers with The Woodsman Prayer from their 1963 album, Hymns of the Cowboy. This song was written by Stan Jones. Stan is best known for writing the cowboy music classic, Ghost Riders in the Sky. He also wrote the theme song for John Ford's The Searchers (1956), which The Sons of the Pioneers sang in that film. 

Today's musical selection closes with Tammy Wynette with He's Got the Whole World in His Hands. This comes from her 1969 gospel album, Inspiration. 

Now for the first episode of TV's The Lone Ranger.

Now for a sermon from the Reverand Billy Graham.

Psalm 57

For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave.

1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me,

    for in you I take refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

    until the disaster has passed.

2 I cry out to God Most High,

    to God, who vindicates me.

3 He sends from heaven and saves me,

    rebuking those who hotly pursue me—

    God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.

4 I am in the midst of lions;

    I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts—

men whose teeth are spears and arrows,

    whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.

6 They spread a net for my feet—

    I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path—

    but they have fallen into it themselves.

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast,

    my heart is steadfast;

    I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul!

    Awake, harp and lyre!

    I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;

    I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

    let your glory be over all the earth.

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