Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Today's musical selection begins with Tammy Wynette singing The Wonders You Perform. This lovely gospel song was written by Jerry Chesnut (Tammy's brother in law). Tammy recorded this song and it was released as a single (with Gentle Shepard as its B-side) in 1970. It became a major hit for Tammy and would first appear on a full album a year later on Tammy's Greatest Hits Volume II. Tammy's version was the first recording of this wonderful song, though fellow country singers Jean Shepard and Connie Smith as well as Italian pop singer Ornella Vanoni would have hits with it. This is followed by Merle Haggard with a movingly beautiful version of the gospel standard Where No One Stands Alone. This song was written by Mosie Lister, one of the most influential and important gospel songwriters of the 1950's. Mosie was also one of the founding members of the gospel singing group, The Statesmen Quartet. Not long afterwards he left the band and performing to concentrate on songwriter and that is when he wrote many of his finest compositions, including this one. Next is Skeeter Davis with the title song of her 1967 gospel album, Hand in Hand With Jesus. This is followed by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In. Roy and Dale recorded this as a 1954 Little Golden Record with The Lord is Counting on You as the B-side. Both songs were written by cowboy gospel music great Stuart Hamblin. My fellow cartoons fans may know this song because of The Flintstones episode No Biz Like Show Biz, where Pebbles and Bam-Bam sing it. Next is The Sons of the Pioneers with their 1937 recording of Lord You Made the Cowboy Happy. Today's musical selection ends with the first song Hank Williams ever recorded (his first session took place on December 11, 1946). He recorded it for the New York record label, Sterling Records. This session was seemingly an unimpressive start to the recording career of a country legend as it was for a flat fee with no royalties. Fred Rose arranged this deal and he viewed it as a bad deal, but one that was unfortunately necessary. While Calling You did not become a big hit, it did well enough to get the attention of MGM records. Hank wrote Calling You himself, but it does sound quite a bit similar to the J.M. Henson hymn, Watching You./
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:6
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18
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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