Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Little Jimmy Dickens singing Alone With God. Though Jimmy Dickens is best remembered today for his joking around and novelty songs like May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose, he could deliver a powerful emotional song with the best of them. Listening to his vocal treatment of this song it is hard not to the notice the pure emotion in his voice. This is followed by Hank Snow singing My Religion's Not Old-Fashioned (But It's Real Genuine). This recording comes from his 1966 gospel album Gospel Train. The song was written by one of the true giants of cowboy gospel music, Stuart Hamblin (It's No Secret What God Can Do). This song has a message that is just as important to us today (if not more so) than when Hank recorded this song. Being a Christian should not become something old fashioned. The world often tries to look at it as such, but the word of God is just as true today as it always has been and therefore God is always relevant regardless of what is happening in the world around us. Speaking of Stuart Hamblin, up next is one of his most popular compositions, This Ole House. This is the very first recording of the song, sung by Stuart himself in 1954. Later the same year Rosemary Clooney would record the song and take it to number 1 on the charts. The story goes that Stuart was inspired to write this song when he and John Wayne went hunting and came across a hut with a dead man inside but a dog outside still faithfully guarding the place. This is followed by Roy Rogers with A Cowboy's Sunday Prayer. This recording comes from his (and his wife Dale Evans') 1959 gospel album Jesus Loves Me. Next is Johnny Cash (joined by The Carter Family and the Statler Brothers) on a 1971 episode of The Johnny Cash TV Show, performing a medley of gospel songs ( Old Time Religion, The Fourth Man and The Old Account). Despite how many tough outlaw songs he recorded, gospel music was always the music closest to Johnny's heart and when he decided to become a singer professionally, he wanted to be a gospel singer. When he got his own TV show, he wanted to make sure that gospel music played a prominent part. This was not something the networks and executives were happy about, but Johnny made sure that all throughout his shows run there would be gospel music mixed in with the country and rock and roll. Today's musical selection ends with The Sons of the Pioneers singing, He Walks With the Wild and the Lonely. This recording comes from their 1963 gospel album Hymns of the Cowboy.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense ; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. Proverbs 16:20
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Isaiah 12:3
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions. Mark 11:35
For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. Matthew 6:14-15
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13
My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:1
If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink Proverbs 25:31
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you Matthew 5:44
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. Romans 12:17
Thank you 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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