Hello my friends and welcome back for another service of Cowboy Church.
Since Thanksgiving is over and Christmas time is upon us, these Cowboy Church posts will feature some Christmas music over the next few weeks. Up first is two of this blogger's favorites with a great song reminding us what Christmas is truly about. This is Roy Rogers and Dale Evans with their version of A Christmas Prayer. This lovely song comes from their 1967 Christmas album, Christmas is Always. Next comes Randy Travis singing O How I Love Jesus, from his 2005 gospel album, Glory Train: Songs of Faith, Worship, and Praise. Next comes the one and only Hank Williams performing Farther Along on his Mothers Best Radio Show in March of 1951. Hank once stated that he knew this song his whole life and sings it as if it were a part of him and not someone else's composition. Truth is no one could wring out all the emotion from a song while making it feel so natural better than Hank and this is near country gospel perfection. The only complaint I can make is that it is too short, as I could have listened to this much longer. No one knows for sure where this song comes from but some historians trace it back to 1911 and a poem by preacher, W.A. Fletcher. Now to return to Christmas, next is one of my favorite Christmas recordings ever. This is Waylon Jennings' recording of Away in a Manger. Of course countless singers have recorded this Christmas classic, but no one has ever done it better than Waylon in mind. His voice is perfect and fits the material so well. Adding to that just how amazing this song works when it is rearranged to sound like one of Waylon's ballads. It is like the song was always meant to sound like this and in my mind it never sounded better. Next comes Johnny Cash's version of Rock of Ages. This comes from Johnny's 1975 gospel album, Johnny Cash Sings Precious Memories. This album does not feature the typical Johnny Cash, Boom-Chicka-Boom sound and instead uses a more traditional and orchestral sound that fits these old hymns perfectly. Though many people do not refer to this part of Johnny's career as one of his best eras, there still are some Johnny Cash gems to be found from this time period and this album is certainly one of them. The album was dedicated to Johnny's brother Jack who had died as a kid and whose death had left a huge impression on Johnny for the rest of his life. This is followed by The Sons of the Pioneers preforming Star of Hope on their 1963 gospel album, Hymns of the Cowboy. Today's musical selection ends on a Christmas with Charley Pride singing Christmas In My Hometown, the title song of his 1970 Christmas album.
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 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. John 4:18 Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16–18 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Romans 6:15 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. James 4:8 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:10 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord. Acts 3:19
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Proverbs 8:11
The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. Proverbs 8:13
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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