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Jun 27, 20216 min read

Cowboy Church #125

Hello my friends and welcome back to another service of Cowboy Church. Today's musical selection begins with the Queen of the West, Dale Evans singing Time to Renew. This song was written by Lynn Keesecker (Yes, Lord, Yes) and appeared on Dale's 1981 album, Reflections on Life. This song address those times that will all have where we move away from the things of God and need to let God become the driving force in our lives once more. This is something that happens so naturally that many of us do not notice it happening and then one day we notice that we are not as close to God as we once were. This is why it is important for us to remain in the word of God and to pray often. Up next is Johnny Cash with The Ten Commandments. This song comes from John's 1968 album, The Holy Land. This album was inspired by a trip that John and his wife, June Carter Cash, took to Israel. The song was written by Lew Dewitt, the high tenor member of The Statler Brothers. Lew can also be heard on this track as the backing vocals are by The Statler Brothers and The Carter Family. Early rock and roll star Carl Perkins joins in on the electric guitar. After this we join John's good friend and fellow member of the country supergroup, The Highwaymen (along with Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings), Kris Kristofferson, with his self-penned song, Burden of Freedom. A Rhodes Scholar and incredibly intelligent man, Kris is one of the best songwriters and poets of the 20th century. The lyrics of this song are a testament to his incredible talent, as they are beautiful and very thought-provoking. This version of the song comes from his 1972 album, Border Lord. He would later record another version of this song for his 2008 album, This Old Road. Though Kris wrote songs like this and Why Me Lord?, he did not wear his Christian faith on his sleeve the way his friend Johnny Cash did. He talked of John as a very religious man, yet at the same time said, "I think John respected people enough to let them do their own deciding about what they do spiritually." He got me to go along on a couple of Billy Graham events and that was enough. I think he respected the fact that I didn't want to talk about it." After this we join Tennessee Ernie Ford with How Great Thou Art. This hymn was written by Swedish pastor Carl Boberg in 1886. Boberg would later tell of how he wrote this song stating, “It was in 1885, and in the time of year when everything seemed to be in its richest coloring; the birds were singing in trees and wherever they could find a perch. On a particular afternoon, some friends and I had been to Kronobäck where we had participated in an afternoon service. As we were returning a thunderstorm began to appear on the horizon. We hurried to shelter. There were loud claps of thunder, and the lighting flashed across the sky. Strong winds swept over the meadows and billowing fields of grain. However, the storm was soon over and the clear sky appeared with a beautiful rainbow. After reaching my home, I opened my window toward the sea. The church bells were playing the tune of a hymn. That same evening I wrote a poem which I titled, ‘O Store Gud,’ (How Great Thou Art).” This recording come from Cousin Ernie's 1967 album, God Lives!. The music continues with the Sons of the Pioneers with their 1947 recording of The Old Rugged Cross. At this time the group was made of Lloyd Perryman, Ken Carson, Bob Nolan, Tim Spencer and Hugh Farr. This hymn was written by Rev. George Bennard in 1912. After spending much time studying the bible praying to God and meditating Bennard would say, “I saw the Christ of the cross as if I were seeing John 3:16 leave the printed page, take form and act out the meaning of redemption.” On another occasion he stated, "I seemed to have a vision ... I saw the Christ and the cross inseparable." When he sang this song for Rev. Leroy and Ruby Bostwick, they were moved and incorporated it into their service on June 7, 1913. Bennard sang the hymn and this was the first time it had been performed in front of a real audience. Though many of Bob Dylan's lyrics have been debated for what their lyrics refer to the lyrics to his Christian songs remain incredibly straightforward and unsubtle. There is no wondering what Bob is saying with When You Gonna Wake Up and perhaps this is part of its power that is so opening challenges the way we live our lives and how we need to turn from those things to God himself. Next we join Gene Autry with his 1945 recording of Silver Spurs (On the Golden Stairs). Our cowboy friend receives co-writing credit on this song along side Cindy Walker ( Bubbles in My Beer, You Don't Know Me, In the Misty Moonlight). Today's musical selection ends with Hank Williams with his 1948 recording of I Saw the Light. 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.








Next is a 1956 episode of The Roy Rogers Show.

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent– the Lord detests them both. Proverbs 17:15 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. John 6:37-40 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. Leviticus 19:18 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good. 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4: 11-14 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. Titus 2:6-8 Thanks for joining me come back next week for another service of Cowboy Church. Happy trails to you until we meet again.

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