Thursday, August 1, 2024

Gravity Bound

 By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©1975, 2024 

1 Corinthians 4:4

 

So many people say they’re Christians today

But they don’t know all that they say.

They don’t read God’s Word or do what He’d say.

They say, “Hey, we’re all Christians! It’s the American way.”

 

But, oh, my friend, are you gravity bound?

Would your faith be enough to lift you off the ground?

Do you look to Jesus where your strength can be found?

Or are you just stranded? Are you gravity bound?

 

Lying, drinking, stealing, cheating, having your way

Seems to be the style, or so they say.

Your problem is sin and someday you’ll pay.

It’s up to you to decide if you fry or you pray.

 

Oh, my friend, are you gravity bound?

Would your faith be enough to lift you off the ground?

Do you look to Jesus where your strength can be found?

Or are you just stranded? Are you gravity bound?

 

We’re gonna fly so high

When the Lord appears in the wink of an eye.

The Risen Lord is coming to take us away.

It’s you to decide, “Do you fly or stay?”

 

So, my friend, are you gravity bound?

Would your faith be enough to lift you off the ground?

Do you look to Jesus where your strength can be found?

Or are you just stranded? Are you gravity bound?

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Looking For a Miracle

 By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©May 26, 2024

Would you know a diamond hidden in a chunk of coal?
Would you know a black sheep hidden in the white, white wool?
Could you explain the flight of a bee?
Could you explain what holds back the sea?
Well, if you’re looking for a miracle just look at you and me.

Could explain how Je-sus turned the water into wine?
Or how He raised the dead and gave sight to the blind?
Or how He walked upon the sea?
Or why He died for sinful you and me?
Well, if you’re looking for a miracle, then look at you and me!

When Jesus walked among us
He came to set us free.
But why He’d die for sinful us
Now, that’s the mystery.
Yet, He gives victory!
So . . .

Would you know a diamond hidden in a chunk of coal?
Would you know a black sheep hidden in the white, white wool?
Could you explain the flight of a bee?
Can you ex-plain that Gospel mystery?
‘Cause if you’re looking for a miracle just look at you and me.

Could you explain the flight of a bee?
Could you explain why Jesus died for you and me?
Well,  if you’re looking for a miracle just look at you and me
!

Thursday, January 26, 2023

Cooky and the Circuit Ridin' Preacher and the Snake

By Michael L. Alumbaugh, © Oct. 16, 2010, 2023 (Words to Amazing Grace by John Newton (1725-1807) Artwork "Apache Ambush" by Frederic Remington (1892)

This song is dedicated to all those “real” cowboys who are man enough to admit they’ve fallen short of God’s standards and come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. May your lives reflect Him in your character, actions, words and deeds. May you be true heroes of faith for your children and your children’s’ children’s’ children.

 

1.      When I was just young pup

Still wet behind the ears

I found great grandpa's letter

That'd been lost for many years.

The pages, aged and dog-eared,

Let me know it was no fake

About Cooky

And the circuit ridin' preacher

And the snake.

 

2.      Well, it was on a cattle drive

Pushin' stock down to the rail.

And the men and herd had a ways to go

So Cooky hit the trail.

He'd filled up the old chuck wagon

With about everything he could take

But he didn't plan

For the circuit ridin' preacher

And the snake. 

 

Now Cooky thought himself to be

A purdy self-made man.

And didn't take too kindly

To people or their plans.

But higher things were cookin' up

As he drove out that gate

For Cooky

And the circuit ridin' preacher

And the snake.

 

3.      A few days out of Pecos

Just north of the old Salt Draw

A rowdy band of rustlers

Wanted what they saw.

They'd round up all the cattle

With no man to tell the tale

Along that barren piece of land

Called the Goodnight-Loving Trail. 

 

Well, the bandits waited in the rocks

Till the herd was in the draw.

Then they all commenced to shootin’!

Cowpokes began to fall!

But before they knew what happened

Like a miracle, it came.

A mean west Texas cloudburst

Packing lightning, wind and rain.


4.      Now the biggest bolt of lightning

Anyone had ever seen

Struck a lonely tree behind them

In the middle of its beams

And like exploding dynamite

Flaming chunks fell at their feet

Sending bandits and their horses

On a fiery retreat!

Well, the sound of that explosion

And the firing of the guns

Sent the lead cow and the cattle

On a hard stampeding run.

But in all of the confusion,

No one could really see

What flipped that old chuck wagon

Or broke it's double tree.

 

5.      Well, old Cooky took a flying leap

Landing face down in the dirt

He had no time to think about

Whether he was hurt

'Cause that rumbling of hooves

Was headed straight his way.

Now he could stay there and be trampled

But it wasn't Judgment Day! 

 

So he picked himself right up

And made his way toward some rocks.

He grabbed himself a lasso

Layin' next to a broken box.

But what he saw inside the lid

Made his spirit quake!

'Twas his mothers' beloved Bible.

He'd been running from her faith! 

 

6.      Well, it wasn't time for prayin'

So he left that treasured book.

He looked at the situation

And forgot he was the cook!

He figured he'd rope the lead cow

Like he'd seen some rounders do

And stop that herd from scattering

From El Paso to Saint Lou'! 

 

Well, he strung out his riata

As he raced along the trail.

Then made his throw

But the loop went slack

And caught the lead cows tail.

Well, that critter began to beller

And Cooky began to reel

'Cause the other end of the thrown rope

Wound round his boot and heel. 

 

7.      Now, not too far in the distance,

As if upon some lark,

A circuit riding preacher

Had wandered off his mark.

He saw the lead cow stumble

And heard somebody yell

So he breathed a prayer and spurred his mount

For to save a soul from hell.

 

8.      Well, in all of the commotion

Local varmints couldn't rest.

So wouldn't you know an ornery rattler

Got shaken from his nest.

But as Divine appointments go,

(Others just might call it fate!)

These three hardluck strangers

Had a purdy solid date! 

 

9.      Being dragged around behind a cow

Made Cooky's temper flare

He'd had his fill of dirt and rocks

And sharp old prickly pears!

So when the throwin’ rope let go

He'd had all that he could take!

Till that final roll put old Cooky

Staring straight up at that snake. 

 

10. Now just in time

Our circuit ridin’ preacher lumbered in.

Well that horse got spooked

And threw his rider end over end!

But when that preacher grounded

Cooky found himself not dead,

'Cause that preacher'd landed on his heels

And crushed that serpent’s head! 

 

11. Well, Cooky, he just laid there

Dirt and tears upon his face.

He recalled his mother's last words,

How God's Son had took his place.

So there in his humility

He paused, . . .then said "Amen!"

And that circuit ridin’ preacher

Saw a grown man "born again!" 

 

12. Well, every bluff and rim rock

Echoed with a glad refrain

And all the scattered cowpokes

Tho't they’d heard something strange.

Like angels singing in the distance

Filling earth and space

So they bent their knees and bowed their heads

To the sound of "Amazing Grace!" 

 

13.Now some say if you are riding

Around the old Salt Draw

On certain nights when the wind is still

And the night birds fail to call

You can hear a lone and haunting sound

Some say it's your spurs that ring.

But I know for certain

You can still hear old Cooky sing! 

 

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see."

 

"T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed."

 

"Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home."

 

 "The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine.
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine."

 

"The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures."

 

"Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace."

 

"When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun."

Gravity Bound

  By Michael L. Alumbaugh, ©1975, 2024  1 Corinthians 4:4   So many people say they’re Christians today But they don’t know all that...