Sermon for September 25th, 2022

Life’s Railway to Heaven

Life is like a mountain railway, with an engineer that's brave;
We must make the run successful, from the cradle to the grave;
Heed the curves, the hills, the tunnels; never falter, never fail;
Keep your hand upon the throttle, and your eye upon the rail.

Blessed Savior, Thou wilt guide us, til we reach that blissful shore;
Where the angels wait to join us in God's grace for evermore.

Will the Circle be Unbroken

I was standing by the window on a cold and cloudy day
When I saw that hearse come rolling for to carry my mother away
Will the circle be unbroken by and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting in the sky Lord, in the sky

Undertaker, undertaker, undertaker, please drive slow
For that lady you are hauling, Lord I hate to see her go
Will the circle be unbroken by and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting in the sky Lord, in the sky
 
Oh, I followed close behind her; tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow when they laid her in the grave
Will the circle be unbroken by and by Lord, by and by
There's a better home awaiting in the sky Lord, in the sky

I was There when it Happened

There are some people, who say we cannot tell 
Whether we are saved or, whether all is well
They say we only can hope and, trust that it is so 
But I was there when it happened and I guess I ought to know

Yes, I know when Jesus saved me; The very moment He forgave me 
He took away my heavy burden; Lord He gave me peace within 
Satan can't make me doubt it; It's real and I'm gonna shout it
I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know

I don't care who tells me, salvation is not real; 
Though the world may argue that we cannot feel
The heavy burdens lifted and the vile sins go; 
I was there when it happened and so I guess I ought to know

Troublesome Waters=

Troublesome waters much blacker than night are hiding from view the harbors bright lights
Tossed in the turmoil of life's stormy seas, I cried to my savior "have mercy on me"
Then gently I'm feeling the touch of his hand guiding my boat in safely to land
Leading the way to heaven's bright shore; troublesome waters I'm fearing no more. 

Troublesome waters around me do roll; they're rocking my boat and wrecking my soul
Loved ones are drifting and living in sin; the treacherous whirlpools are pulling them in
Then gently I'm feeling the touch of his hand guiding my boat in safely to land
Leading the way to heaven's bright shore; troublesome waters I'm fearing no more. 

When troublesome waters are rolling so high; I'll lift up my voice and to heaven I'll cry
My Lord I am trusting; give guidance to me and steady my boat on life's troubled sea
Then gently I'm feeling the touch of his hand guiding my boat in safely to land
Leading the way to heaven's bright shore; troublesome waters I'm fearing no more. 

• Talk about how using opposite philosophy from faith and film -- here I want people to know how important Cash's faith was to him, since most think of him as a "secular" rock/pop/country star.