Religion: A Pastor Ponders

It’s No Secret

by Pastor William Jenkins

February 4, 2006

Back in the 50’s there was a well known radio host/comedian/song writer in Hollywood named Stuart Hamblin. Stuart was noted for his drinking, womanizing, partying, etc.

One day along came a young preacher holding a tent revival. Stuart decided to invite the preacher on his radio show, with the intent of having some fun at his expense.

In order to prepare for his show, he showed up at one of the revival meetings. Early in the service the preacher announced, “There is one man in this audience who is a big fake.”

There were others there who probably thought the same thing, but Stuart was convinced that he was the one the preacher was talking about; but he would have none of it. Still the words continued to haunt him.

A couple of nights later he showed up drunk at the preacher’s hotel door around 2 AM demanding that the preacher pray for him. But the preacher refused, saying, “This is between you and God and I’m not going to get in the middle of it.”

The preacher did invite Stuart in and they talked until about 5 AM, at which point Stuart dropped to his knees and cried out to God. Stuart quit drinking, womanizing, and all the things he had considered fun before. He began to loose favor with the Hollywood crowd and eventually lost his job at the radio station.

Hard times were upon him. He tried to write a couple of “Christian” songs but the only one that had much success was “This Old House”, written for his friend Rosemary Clooney.

As he continued to struggle, a long time friend named John took him aside and told him, “All your troubles started when you ‘got religion’. Was it worth it all?” Stuart answered simply, “Yes.”

His friend asked, “You liked your booze so much, don’t you ever miss it?”
Stuart answered, “No.”

John then said, “I don’t understand how you could give it up so easily.”
Stuart’s response was, “It’s no big secret; all things are possible with God.”
To this John said, “That’s a catchy phrase. You should write a song about it.”

The song Stuart Hamblin wrote was “It Is No Secret What God Can Do.” If you haven’t heard the song lately, it’s worth finding and listening to. It came to Stuart by way of a friend named John Wayne and a revival preacher named Billy Graham.

League City United Methodist Church is located at 1411 Main Street (FM 518), one block east of Interstate 45. For information, call the church offices at 281-332-1557 or visit the website at

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