THIS OLD HOUSE

FROM KAY, VIA THE INBOX:

Back in the 50's there was a well known radio host/comedian/song >>writer in >>Hollywood named Stuart Hamblen who was noted for his drinking, >>womanizing, partying, etc. >> >>One of his bigger hits at the time was "I won't go hunting with you >>Jake, but I'll go chasing women." >> >>One day, along came a young preacher holding a tent revival. >>Hamblen had him on his radio show presumably to poke fun at him. >> >>In order to gather more material for his show, >>Hamblen 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 probably others who thought the same thing, >>but Hamblen was convinced that he was the one the preacher was >>talking about (some would call that conviction), but he was having >>none of that. >> >>Still the words continued to haunt him until 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." >> >>"But he did invite Stuart in and they talked until about 5 am >>at which point Stuart dropped to his knees and with tears, cried >>out to God. >> >>But that is not the end of the story. >> >>Stuart quit drinking, quit chasing women, quit everything that was >>"fun." >>Soon he began to lose favour with the Hollywood crowd. >>He was ultimately fired by the radio station when he refused to >>Accept a beer company as a sponsor. >>Hard times were upon him. >> >>He tried writing 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". >> >>Then his friend asked, "You liked your booze so much, don't you >>ever miss it?" >> >>And his answer was, "No". >> >>John then said, "I don't understand how you could give it up so >>easily." >> >>And 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." >> >>And as they say, the rest is history. >> >>The song Stuart wrote was "It Is No Secret." >>It is no secret what GOD can do. >>What He's done for others, He'll do for you. >>With arms wide open, He'll pardon you. >>It is no secret, what God can do.... >> >>By the way......... the friend was John Wayne. >>And the young preacher who refused to pray for Stuart Hamblen? >>That was Billy Graham.