Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with a bluegrass gospel classic. This is The Osborne Brothers with Jesus Sure Changed Me. This fun recording comes from their 1969 album, Favorite Hymns. Next comes Connie Smith with an absolutely beautiful version of In The Garden. This song was written by C. Austin Miles (who also wrote Dwelling in Beulah Land). As well as a hymnist, Austin's hobby was photography. He wrote this song in 1912 while waiting some film to dry in a cold and leaky basement. Miles had discovered earlier that he could read the bible in the red lighting of his darkroom and often did. This day he was reading John 20. He read about how Mary went into the garden to see Jesus' tomb. Her heart was full of sadness, but when she learned that Jesus had overcome the grave she was moved to great joy. This passage moved Miles as he read it, and this song started to come to him. Miles originally intended this song to be an Easter song and for it to be from the point of view of Mary Magdalene. Miles would later say about this song, “This is not an experience limited to a happening almost 2,000 years ago. It is the daily companionship with the Lord that makes up the Christian’s life.” Learning this story has made this song all the more powerful for me and I hope it enhances the power of this great hymn for you as well. Connie Smith's version comes from her 1966 gospel album, Great Scared Songs. Next comes a cowboy classic with Roy Rogers and the Sons of the Pioneers, Blue Shadows on the Trail. They originally recorded this song for the Pecos Bill segment of the animated Disney movie, Melody Time (1947). It was written by two great movie song writers, Johnny Lange and Eliot Daniel. Johnny Lange might be familiar to cowboy music fans as he had written plenty of songs for old B westerns starring the likes of Tex Ritter, Gene Autry and Fred Scott. His most famous composition is Mule Train. The version in this post is a single version released the same year that Melody Time was released. Next comes The singing cowboy himself, Gene Autry with his 1945 of Silver Spurs (on the Golden Stairs). This is followed by The Purple Hulls with Love Lifted Me. This song was written by James Rowe in 1912 and was based on two stories from the book of Matthew. One was asleep in the boat with the apostles during a storm. As the apostles were terrified of the storm, they couldn't understand how Jesus was so calm that he could take a nap. They wake Jesus up from his nap and Jesus simply tells the storm to stop and it does. The other story also involved the apostles, Jesus and the sea. It was about how when his eyes were fixed upon Jesus, he was able to walk on the water, but he lost the ability when his faith faltered and he looked away. Still Jesus was a faithful friend and lifted Peter into a boat. Today's musical selection continues with Roy Acuff with his 1946 recording of That Glory Bound Train. Last up is Johnny Cash with Belshazzar. John wrote this song when he was still an newcomer trying to make it in the music business. He played this song for Sun Records head, Sam Phillips. Sam simply told John that he couldn't sell gospel music. John would audition for Phillips again later, but this time as a country / rock and roll singer rather than gospel and with such he would get his first record contract. John recorded very few gospel songs for Sun Records, but he was later allowed to record and release Belshazzar there. This version comes from a 1971 episode of John's TV show.
Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights in giving you the kingdom. Luke 12:32 No one has greater love than to give up one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13
Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because the Lord your God is the one who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and he won’t abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6
Throw all your anxiety onto him, because he cares about you. 1 Peter 5:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 1 John 4:20
But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7
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
When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? Psalm 56:3-4
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. Psalm 9:18
Thanks for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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