Great Stories by Haven Today: Recent Episodes
Haven Ministries
David Wollen is the host and president of the internationally syndicated radio program Haven Today. The Great Stories podcast takes some of his favorite conversations from the daily radio program and presents the full-length interview here with some never-before-heard segments. Occasionally, classic interviews will be plumbed from Haven’s vast archive to feature the voice of former speaker and president Charles Morris. Whether from the past or present, each episode includes guests who come from a variety of backgrounds, including bestselling authors, scholars, musicians, and everyday Christians. No matter who is featured, this podcast is a must-listen for those wanting a deeper relationship with Christ in light of what’s happening in the world.
Did you know that Haven Ministries is celebrating 90 incredible years of ministry?
If you missed our live 90th anniversary celebration, no worries! You can catch all the highlights and heartwarming moments in this episode of the Great Stories podcast. Be encouraged as David Wollen, Charles Morris, Joni Eareckson Tada, and more reflect on Haven’s rich history of sharing the gospel for 90 years … and counting!
Watch the video version of this episode on Haven's blog at haventoday.org.
It all started on an early foggy morning in 1934, when Paul Myers, a former Los Angeles radio personality and station manager of leading radio stations woke up near a wharf in San Diego. Hungover, he heard the sound of a ship’s bell ring out eight times at 4:00 a.m., signaling “all’s well.”
Only one month later, Myers would be back on the radio, but this time, sharing his newfound faith in Jesus. What happened in between is the extraordinary story of how Myers would go on to found a Christian radio program that continues till this day. At that point, it was called “Haven of Rest,” and Paul Myers would endearingly become known as First Mate Bob. Now, 90 years later, that ministry is called Haven Today — the very same ministry publishing this podcast.
Hear Paul Myers tell this story in his own words. It’s also our story here at Haven Ministries. We pray this episode will serve as a reminder that the Lord is in the business of redeeming sinners and using them to go on to do great things for the Kingdom.
God speaks powerfully through the books of the Bible. This is especially true in the Psalms. Not only does it include words to help us express our deepest thoughts and emotions to the Lord, it can also direct our worship and draw us nearer to Jesus.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, David Wollen is joined by one of his good friends and mentors, Dr. David Sunday. After serving 30 years as a pastor, Dr. Sunday is now the president of WordPartners, a ministry that exists to train pastors to teach God’s Word with God’s heart.
In this conversation, Dr. Sunday shares how the Psalms teach us to lament, repent, praise, and thank—all while pointing to Jesus and giving us a path to flee to Him for refuge.
How can all the Bible be all about Jesus when His name doesn't explicitly appear till the New Testament? From Genesis to Leviticus to Esther, it may be hard to see Jesus on the surface of every page, but he's there—in profound and subtle ways.
Dr. Dennis Johnson is a scholar and one of the founding faculty members of Westminster Seminary in California. Today, he joins David Wollen to discuss a christocentric approach to reading and studying God's Word.
If you are new to this way of reading the Bible, we encourage you to be patient. It may take some time to learn to see Jesus on every page, but it's important and worth the effort. Because this is not merely a hermeneutical trick of smoke and mirrors ... it's the way Jesus himself taught his disciples to study and teach the Scriptures.
The data is clear. Our world and culture are shaping our kids in ways that are often difficult to detect. For parents and grandparents, the natural reaction might be to shield them from danger—but this tactic in isolation may end up doing more harm than good. So, what's a well-meaning caregiver to do?
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, David Wollen speaks with Julie Lowe. A licensed professional counselor (LPC) and a registered play therapist supervisor, Julie has over 20 years of experience helping children, teens, and families work through difficult issues. In this conversation, she provides practical, biblical help that, in many ways, runs counter-intuitive to the culture we live in. For many, this episode may serve as a wake up call regarding the types of dangers and issues children and young people are facing every day.
As a thank you for your support of this podcast by Haven Today, we'd love to send you a copy of Julie's recently published book Safeguards: Shielding Our Homes and Equipping Our Kids. To learn more, visit haventoday.org
A lot has been said about C.S. Lewis the writer, the professor, the theologian, the apologist. But what about C.S. Lewis the friend? Joseph Kohm has written extensively about the surprising, yet tragic, friendship between Lewis and his childhood pal, Arthur Greeves.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Kohm joins David Wollen to discuss how Lewis considered friendship to be the chief source of happiness—and his friendship with Greeves lasted for half a century. This conversation also covers Lewis' life story, the unique approach he took to defending Christianity, and how his words continue to speak to us in our modern world.
Whether you are a longtime fan of Lewis' writing or you're just wanting to learn more about his life and work, this conversation will likely shed new light on one of Christianity's most beloved writers.
C.S. Lewis is arguably one of the most quoted individuals from the 20th century. Despite passing away 60 years ago, his thoughts remain timeless. His books, essays, and children's stories continue to resonate, offering prescient insights even in today's world. As a brilliant intellectual, Lewis's apologetic approach to the truth claims of Christ and the Gospel has helped countless people find faith.
It’s surprising to learn that C.S. Lewis, by his own admission, fought vehemently against becoming a Christian. His unwavering commitment to academic and intellectual integrity compelled him to continually reexamine the truth claims of the Bible. Inch by inch, he drew closer until finally, he became a Christian, describing himself as "the most reluctant convert."
In this episode of Great Stories, we welcome award-winning actor Max McLean, who portrays C.S. Lewis in the film "The Most Reluctant Convert." Max will share his experience making this incredible movie, which chronicles Lewis's journey from atheism to becoming a follower of Christ. It's a powerful story you need to hear, reminding us that no one is beyond the reach of Jesus.
Recent polls show that nearly a third living in the United States today are struggling with depression. How many others are suffering silently would surely push that number higher? And, experts say, it’s women who have the higher prevalence of depression—due to a variety of social and biological factors.
On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, David Wollen talks with Christine Chappell. She’s an author, a biblical counselor, and a podcaster, and a mother. But she was shocked a few years ago to find herself battling depression even when life seemed to be going well. On this episode, Christine shares her story and what she learned about how Jesus draws near to those who are struggling with depression and all sorts of mental health issues.
Charles Morris took over as speaker and president of the historic Haven of Rest radio broadcast at the turn of the millennium. For a quarter century, Charles Morris has often quoted Ray Ortlund in likening the production of a daily radio broadcast to a freight train — it doesn't stop until you get off.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, David Wollen shares the recording of Charles Morris' final day on the air. In a conversation between friends, we pay tribute to Charles as he crosses the finish line with one final program to say "well done" to our good friend and brother.
Many are worried about the next generation. Will Gen Z and Millennials follow Jesus? And how do we pray for them? On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, David Wollen meets up with Blake Glosson and Kassie McDowell, two young Christians who help answer these questions and more.
If you’ve ever been concerned about how the church can reach young people with the gospel, this episode is for you. When you listen in, you will not only gain insight into how Gen Z and Millennials go about faith, but you will also find words to pray and be filled with hope that God is at work in the hearts of young people today.
You see them in every church. You might have one in your family. You may even be one yourself. Prayer warriors are faithful saints who lift the needs and requests of others up to the Lord, often serving in the background. They are an invaluable part of any christian community, and we need them now more than ever.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, David Wollen is joined by a man in his church that he looks up to a great deal. Horst Fiebig is an energetic octogenarian with a fervor for lifting others up in prayer, and today he offers insights from his many years of praying daily for countless souls. There is great power in prayer—far more often than we dare to believe—and so it is our hope that this conversation will inspire you to pray for the people in your life.
Originally recorded in 2013, 50 years after the death of C.S. Lewis, Charles Morris had a conversation with Dr. Alister McGrath to shed new light on the most famous atheist-turned-Christian of the 20th century.
Dr. McGrath has written one of the most comprehensive biographies on the life of C.S. Lewis. After reading every surviving document Lewis had ever written—including recently published correspondence—Dr. McGrath challenges some of the previously held beliefs about the timing of the beloved author's shift from atheism to theism and then to Christianity. But he also paints a definitive portrait of Lewis' life as an eccentric thinker who became an inspiring, though reluctant, prophet for our times.
In addition to his work at Oxford, Dr. Alister McGrath is Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and serves as associate priest in a group of Church of England village parishes in the Cotswolds.
Can evidence and faith go hand-in-hand?
When Lee Strobel was an award-winning journalist for the Chicago Tribune, he would have said ‘no.’ This idea led him down a path to investigate the truth claims of Christianity. The result was life-altering.
Many know his story through the bestselling book “The Case for Christ.” Today, Lee Strobel joins Charles Morris to revisit what led him to Jesus and how that reshaped the way he lives out each day. This conversation will give you hope for the atheists and agnostics in your own life who have yet to call Jesus Lord.
An atheist-turned-Christian, Russell Berger has walked the opposite path that we’re seeing so many young people take today. Whether that’s turning their backs on Christianity for good or adopting a progressive version of the gospel, Russell’s story is a helpful reminder that God is in the business of saving His lost sheep.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast by Haven Today, Russell shares how the Lord plucked him from the hopelessness of atheism and brought him into the family of God. You may recognize him as a former senior executive with CrossFit, host of the Defend and Confirm Podcast, or as a featured guest in the American Gospel film series.
Alisa Childers is a former CCM recording artist with the Dove award-winning group ZOEgirl. But once she came off the road in her mid-thirties, she suffered a crisis of faith. The source of her newfound uncertainty and doubt? Her secretly deconstructing pastor.
On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Alisa shares the story of her detour into progressive Christianity, as well as how the Lord delivered her to embrace a vibrant, rational, and informed faith that is grounded in historical Christianity. If you or a loved one is wrestling with doubt or uncertainty, we pray this conversation will help.
Scripture has been interpreted many different ways over the years, but how can you tell the difference between false gospels and the one Jesus lived and taught? On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris and David Wollen are joined by Brandon Kimber, the director and editor of American Gospel: Christ Crucified. Together, they offer a biblical response to the growing deconstruction and progressive Christianity movement in America.
Brandon Kimber created the American Gospel series to take a critical look at some of the distorted, corrupted versions of the gospel circulating in western culture today. In this important and timely conversation, he discusses some of the problematic takes on Christ’s crucifixion and how Christians can respond with grace and truth.
How can Christian parents and grandparents hope to disciple their children amid the struggles of everyday life? Even more, how can we use these often chaotic moments as golden opportunities to lead them to Jesus?
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris and David Wollen are joined by Christian parents, including David's wife, Marci, who share their own unique approaches to raising children to know and love Jesus. Later in the episode, Charles Morris goes on to discuss the tender subject of what to do when your child walks away from the faith.
On this episode, you’ll also hear from two members of the Haven Team. Tamara Chamberlain is an author, podcaster, and mother of three children with her husband, Dale. She also serves as Haven’s director of project management. Troy Lamberth is a filmmaker, podcaster, pastor, co-founder of Five Solas Media, and father of three children with his wife, Melissa. He also serves as Haven’s executive producer.
If we want our children and grandchildren to carry their faith into adulthood, then we ought to help them fall in love with God’s Word. One of the best ways to do that is through music. And so on today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Adam Wright of The Corner Room joins us to talk about the importance of Scripture-based songs for children.
What began as music Adam would write for his church and family has now become a powerful album enjoyed by countless families around the world: Remember and Proclaim: Scripture Songs for Little Ones. It’s our prayer that this episode will not only inspire you to sing God's Word with your little ones, but that it would also help you cultivate an atmosphere of ministry within the home.
Death is a difficult topic. Most look upon it with fear, while others try to ignore it altogether. But one thing is certain ... it’s been on people’s minds more than usual lately.
When Andy McQuitty received his cancer diagnosis in 2009, it felt more like a death sentence. Not only did he have cancer, but he was very likely going to die from that cancer. This set him on an intense journey through the valley of the shadow of death, and he came out on the other side with a new perspective on how Christians can live with purpose—even as we approach life's final chapter. Hear his profound insights and reflections when you listen to today's episode.
How do you have a successful marriage? Whether you are a Christian, skeptic, single, longtime married person, or someone about to be engaged—there are many different ways to answer this question. And yet Tim and Kathy Keller argue that the Bible’s vision for marriage is far greater and more glorious than anything our modern culture would have us believe.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris revisits a conversation from the archives with his old friends Tim and Kathy Keller. Their book, The Meaning of Marriage, serves as a launching off point for this in-depth conversation that covers the gamut of what marriage really means from the Lord’s perspective.
One of the saddest statistics about marriage is its bleak success rate in the western world. Even in the church, marriages end at an alarmingly high percentage. But on today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris turns the tables on this narrative by sharing a story of a marriage that ended ... only to be redeemed later down the road.
Recorded in 2015, Juana Mikels (author of Choosing Him All Over Again) tells Charles Morris about how she reached a point where she was unhappy with her life, and so she decided to leave her husband, house, and friends to search for happiness. Instead of finding a new Mr. Right, she found Jesus. But what happened next? Would her husband take her back? Listen in to hear this incredible story of how Christ’s love can transform the way we love each other.
Where is Jesus when you need Him most? Whether it’s a chronic condition or a tragic accident, even believers find themselves ill-equipped to handle the myriad of afflictions that often catch us by surprise. That’s why it’s so important to learn now from those who have come before us, people like Joni Eareckson Tada who discovered just how essential it is to practice daily closeness with Christ.
“Suffering has a way of heaving you beyond the shallows of life where your faith tends to feel ankle-deep. It casts you out into the fathomless depths of God, a place where Jesus is the only One who can touch bottom.” —Joni Eareckson Tada, The Practice of the Presence of Jesus
In this conversation with Charles Morris and David Wollen, Joni discusses the many ways she experiences the presence of Jesus in her own daily life—even when overwhelmed with pain and fatigue. Whatever you may be going through right now, we pray this conversation will help you discover new ways to experience Christ daily, even when He seems far away.
This month, Haven Ministries announced its biggest leadership transition in 25 years with Charles Morris "going emeritus" and David Wollen taking up the torch as the fifth president and host in this ministry's 90 year history. On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you'll get to hear a recent conversation they had while taking listener questions over ZOOM.
Recorded live on January 17, 2024, this captivating event provided a unique opportunity for Haven's community to delve into David Wollen’s passion for ministry, his deep connection with Haven, and his fervent desire to keep sharing the great story that is all about Jesus.
War between Israel and Hamas have dominated the headlines for months. And yet news about what Christ is doing, even in the midst of great suffering and conflict, is often overlooked. Here to talk about it, as well as how modern Jews are discovering Christ in Old Testament Scriptures, is the Executive Director of Jews for Jesus, David Brickner.
Three months have now passed since Hamas invaded Israel, sparking a war that continues to rage on today. Following that initial attack, Haven listeners responded by sending more than $200,000 directly to Israel to provide help and hope through Jews for Jesus. On today's episode, David Brickner will also offer updates from the field on how this support has been used to feed Israelis — both physically and spiritually.
All good things must come to an end. But in Christ, there are always new beginnings. On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris introduces Haven Today’s new speaker and president, David Wollen. It’s been almost 25 years now since Charles became the fourth speaker of Haven Today, and as he “goes emeritus,” Charles will still co-host the program with David for a short season. So, join them for a great discussion about Haven’s past, present, and future, and learn more about the work of Christ in David’s life.
A lot can happen in four centuries. Technologies have skyrocketed, new nations have formed, and yet one book has changed very little in as much time . . . the King James Bible.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to a conversation he had with Dr. Donald Brake in 2011 — the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. They discuss how this longstanding Bible translation revolutionized the English-speaking world by exploring the KJV's mysterious beginnings, the men who translated it, and its incredible impact for many generations.
Dr. Brake is an authority on the history of the Bible and has been an avid collector of rare Bibles and manuscripts for more than thirty years. His is one of the most complete private collections of rare English Bibles and Greek New Testaments in North America. He served as President of Jerusalem University College and Vice President and Dean of Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
Even if it’s been years since you’ve read the King James Bible, this episode on the fascinating history of the English language’s longest-running Scripture translation is something every Christian should consider.
You may have heard Corrie ten Boom’s story before. Maybe you read her book The Hiding Place, or even saw the 1975 film adaptation. But you may never have heard it quite like this. Several years ago, Charles Morris got on the phone with Corrie’s longtime companion and assistant Pamela Rosewell Moore to hear from someone who knew her well.
Pamela worked for several years with the team of Brother Andrew ("God's Smuggler") in the Netherlands, before accompanying Corrie to America. As Corrie reached the end of her life, Pam served as a nurse and companion until her death in 1983.
In this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Pamela takes us back to the beginning and walks us through Corrie’s story from start to finish. You’ll also hear excerpts from Corrie herself talking about how the Lord brought her through her darkest moments. Whatever trials you might be facing today, it is our prayer that this conversation will help you cling to the Lord who will never leave you nor forsake you.
Christmas is a time for us to celebrate Immanuel: God with us. But this isn't limited to a single event in history — because Jesus didn't just make a one-time visit to Earth. The first Christmas also looks forward to that final day when he will come again and make all things new.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to a Christmas special from 2018 where he spends time helping us visualize the full scope of the incarnation — God with us then, God with us now, and God with us in the time to come. He'll also be joined by special guests Nancy Guthrie and Rosaria Butterfield to take discuss the the classic Christmas Carol Joy to the World, as well as the importance of hospitality at Christmastime.
As you prepare your heart to celebrate the Messiah this Christmas, it is our prayer that we all will take the time to meaningfully celebrate Christ's birth while also looking forward to when Christmas comes again.
Christmas is usually a time when we look back on stories of ages past. Think of classic tales like A Christmas Carol or the Night Before Christmas or even It’s a Wonderful Life. But what about some extraordinary Christmas stories that we don’t often get to hear. Stories from ordinary people, like you and me, that help us see Christ in Christmas? That’s what this episode of the Great Stories Podcast is all about. These "Christmas Nuggets" (as Charles has been calling them) whisper the name of someone you and I both know and love and we talk a lot about this time of year. And here's a hint; his name isn’t Santa Claus. These are exactly the kinds of conversations we need to hear at Christmas … because they never fail to remind me of my Savior and what he came to do on that first Christmas.
Most online lists covering what children need most include things like education, good health, and self-esteem. These are all good, but something’s missing . . . prayer. Yet when it comes to praying for our children in the midst of our hectic daily lives, it's often difficult to know where to start. That’s where Melissa Kruger comes in.
A Christian author and mother herself, Kruger has many helpful insights on biblical ways to pray for our children — many of which are captured in her book 5 Things to Pray for Your Kids. In this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, she reminds us that our children’s spiritual health comes first. She also offers tools to help the busy parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle begin praying more intentionally for the kids God has placed in our lives.
In Europe during WWII, Ray Whipps served as an infantryman under General Patton in the trenches of Normandy, Paris, and Belgium. Betty was a field nurse in Cherbourg, France. After Ray was injured in a mortar blast, the two met and bonded over their shared faith. As Betty nursed Ray back to health, they fell in love and vowed to marry after the war.
Then things went terribly wrong . . .
Hear Ray and Betty introduce their remarkable story of faith and love amidst the calamities of World War II.
A lesser man would have broken. Louis Zamperini was already a national hero as an olympic athlete, but then his bomber went down in WWII, leaving him adrift for 47 days. There he faced sharks, exposure, and starvation. Finally rescued, he was then forced to face relentless torture as a prisoner of war.
Today's episode recovers an interview Charles conducted with Louis Zamperini just after he turned 90. Hear Louis in his own words describe the incredible events that became a bestselling book and blockbuster movie. This fascinating conversation will keep you on the edge of your seat.
When was the last time you sat down to read a sonnet? Many of us love a good poem, but poetry is rarely ever a significant part of our lives of faith. Malcolm Guite would like to change that.
Author of several books, Malcolm Guite is a Cambridge scholar, Christian theologian, pastor, and poet. On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, he and Charles Morris delve deeply into how the poetry of Scripture — as well as the poetry inspired by Scripture — helps us experience Jesus and engage God’s Word in profound new ways.
The Amish way of life has captured the imaginations of TV viewers and novel readers for decades. The romantic ideal of simple living within one’s own community is attractive, but the one thing that’s often missing is grace.
In 2014, Charles Morris traveled to Lancaster County to host an event featuring current and former Amish people who discovered grace in a world too often dictated by stringent rule-following and legalism. There are many wonderful tenants of Amish life, but today’s episode focuses on a core aspect of faith that too often cultivates a sense that believers must earn their place in Heaven.
Ephraim and Amanda Stoltzfus, who were also featured in the BBC documentary “Leaving Amish Paradise," discuss how they became excommunicated from their church and shunned by family and friends after joining a local Bible study and getting baptized outside of their Amish community. Jacob Dienner and Manny Zook are current members of the Amish church and talk about how they came to an understanding of grace within the Amish church.
It’s the nightmare call every parent fears. For Charles and Janet Morris, the news of their son’s death came on a late Summer night in 2003. Nearly five years later, they sat down to speak with friend and counselor Dr. Dan Allender for a public discussion of their son’s overdose, the courage they've found in the intervening years, and the understanding they've gained that Jesus rescued their son — even through death.
Now twenty years after the incident, we are sharing this vulnerable conversation that has been a profound resource for so many who have also been touched by similar tragedy and grief. Whether you have experienced the loss of a loved one or not, we pray this episode from the Haven archives will bring you hope.
Laura Story and her husband encountered a life-threatening illness early in their marriage. She may have written the song Blessings in just thirty minutes, but she needed to go through five years of ups and downs, trials and grief, to get there. This hit song has now gone on to inspire countless Christians who have been struggling through their own trials in life.
In this interview from the Haven Today archives, Laura talks about the story behind this song, as well as how she incidentally became an award winning singer-songwriter in the first place. She’s appeared on Haven Today several times now, but this 2011 interview was her first time speaking with Charles Morris. It’s our prayer that no matter what you may be going through today, you might experience God’s blessings through this all about Jesus conversation.
Brenton Brown is a smart and capable person. Awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to study politics and philosophy at Oxford University, he would have every reason to believe himself strong enough to conquer every obstacle in life. But in 2003, both he and his wife were diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. A debilitating condition, this also led him to co-write the well known praise song: Everlasting God.
Brenton has worked with just about every big name in Christian music, including the Gettys, Big Daddy Weave, Stuart Townend, Chris Tomlin, and more. He was a high achieving person who’s future was stifled by illness. And yet, for a man struggling through chronic fatigue, Scriptures describing an everlasting God who will not become faint or grow weary were exactly what he needed to get through the day. It turns out, we all need this everlasting God.
In this episode of the Great Stories Podcast (originally recorded in 2013), you’ll hear more of the story behind this song, as well as a conversation concerning the worship wars within the church.
Do you know the story behind your favorite hymn? Whether it’s Rock of Ages, Amazing Grace, or Just As I Am, each hymn has an fascinating story behind it. And it's often once you know this story that the lyrics and melody take on a whole new meaning. That’s what Robert J. Morgan helps accomplish in this new episode of the Great Stories Podcast.
Robert J. Morgan pastored in Nashville, Tennessee, for 40 years and has written popular books, including Red Sea Rules and Then Sings My Soul — the latter of which is the basis for this interview. This episode covers many of the most significant hymns of the church, the story behind how they were written, and the impact they continue to have in our hearts today.
As an Orthodox Jew, Yoel Ben David was challenged to study the Old Testament in addition to the Talmud — this led to questions and more questions. By the time he got to Isaiah 53, all bets were off. It didn’t take long for him to meet Jesus.
Today, Yoel serves as the training director for Jews for Jesus in Israel. On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you'll hear how prayer, patience, and God's Word can change the course of someone's life. Recorded in 2015 shortly after terrorists killed 130 people and wounded 494 in Paris, Charles Morris also speaks to Yoel about how Christians and Jews respond to extremist groups like ISIS.
If someone asked you to retell the life story of Peter or Paul, how would you go about it?
Ray Bruce set out to do this with a documentary film crew and one of England’s most beloved actors, David Suchet. Together, they followed in the footsteps of the Apostles Peter and Paul from Galilee to Jerusalem and beyond, seeking to tell the story behind two of the New Testament’s most captivating figures.
On this episode of the Great Stories podcast, you’ll hear Ray Bruce recount what went into the research and filming of these projects, as well why he finds the lives and ministries of Peter and Paul so compelling.
This podcast was originally published on June 23, 2021.
David Suchet is a British actor known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and captivating portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Inspector Hercule Poirot. But there’s something else that’s even more important to him than his stellar acting career—Jesus.
In this episode, David Suchet talks about encountering Christ late in life, how he approaches acting as a Christian, and what Jesus means to him now. (Repost from December 30, 2020)
Going Deeper
- David Suchet always hoped to one day portray Paul in a movie or play. Instead, he shot a documentary for the BBC following in his footsteps. What the trailer here.
- Click here to get your own copy of David Suchet’s DVD “In the Footsteps of St. Paul.”
Cheryl Smith Broderson is the youngest daughter of Kay and Chuck Smith. Growing up in the middle of the Jesus Movement in 1970's Southern California, Cheryl saw firsthand how the revival got started and spread like wildfire. But there are a few misconceptions she'd like to set straight.
Discover how the Jesus Revolution really took place when you listen to this new episode of the Great Stories podcast. Not only will it give you insight into what the Lord did, Cheryl's story will inspire you to believe he can bring about another great revival today.
It’s the early 1970’s. Greg Laurie has found himself in the midst of a hippie movement that is on the rise and threatening to derail many Christians’ way of life. But rather than taking young Greg away from the church, God used this unique moment to bring about revival in an unlikely turn of events.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie tells his story about how he found Christ during the “Jesus Revolution.” But he doesn’t stop there. When you listen, you’ll also hear Greg draw important parallels with our own time of spiritual apathy and outright hostility, offering hope for the next generation of unlikely believers — because God can always bring about a new Jesus Revolution.
What would it have been like to live in the same house as C.S. Lewis? For many fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, it would be a dream come true. For Douglas Gresham, it became a reality after his mother married Lewis toward the end of her life.
In 2005, as The Chronicles of Narnia reached new heights with the release of Disney's take on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Charles Morris sat down with Douglas Gresham to talk about his late stepfather’s faith, work, and family life. More than a biographical look at the famous writer and apologist, today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast paints a unique picture of C.S. Lewis from the vantage point of a child in his home.
All seven books of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis have captured the imaginations of countless readers around the world. One of these readers took it a step further and created an audio drama out of all seven stories. His name is Paul McCusker, and he joins Charles Morris on today’s podcast to discuss the creative process, as well as how this series points to Jesus around every turn.
Paul McCusker is an American writer and producer. He is best known for his work on the radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, and for his work with Focus on the Family's Radio Theatre, including The Chronicles of Narnia (Collector’s Edition). He has written over 50 books, 21 plays and 4 musicals.
Milton Vincent had been pastoring for ten years before realizing he lost sight of the gospel. He would preach grace and forgiveness from the pulpit but somehow never experienced it himself. The solution? Milton needed to preach the gospel to himself.
Many of us know that Jesus promises to forgive those who believe in him, but what if we you don’t feel forgiven? What if we don’t feel loved or accepted just as we are? This is the struggle Milton Vincent faced as a pastor when he finally realized he needed to preach the gospel to himself … not just his congregation.
In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, you'll hear Milton's story. But you'll also receive multiple strategies on how can follow a daily practice to remember Christ has forgiven you — and is forgiving you — once and for all.
After just two seasons, the hit television show “The Chosen” became the #1 highest crowdfunded media project of all time. Now, with Season 3 released and Season 4 underway, today's episode of the Great Stories podcast revisits a conversation with Dallas Jenkins about how it all began and where it's headed.
Listen in and discover how the first ever multi-season TV show about Jesus got started, the impact it’s had on the world, what it was like to film during a pandemic, and what lies ahead for the final seasons.
Whether you pray regularly or you’re struggling to keep Christ at the center of your life, we can all benefit from a more vibrant prayer life. The problem is, the distracting world we inhabit makes it nearly impossible to make this happen. Paul Miller, author of A Praying Life, illustrates the challenge well:
“We are so busy that when we slow down to pray, we find it uncomfortable. We prize accomplishments, production. But prayer is nothing but talking to God. It feels useless, as if we are wasting time. Every bone in our bodies screams, ‘Get to Work.’”
So how do we turn to the Lord in prayer when so many other things are pulling at our attention? How do we pray without the anxiety that we are wasting our time?
This interview with Paul Miller was recorded in 2009, but its call to cultivate a praying life is more relevant today than ever. Paul is the son of Charles Morris’ old pastor and mentor Jack Miller. Here, he explores how Scripture, coupled with the Holy Spirit and spiritual willingness, gives us the tools we need to commune with God.
Prayer is an essential part of every Christian’s life. It’s also a mysterious and intimidating practice for believers both young and old. What’s the problem? Nancy Guthrie says, “Praying to God is so simple a child can do it, but grown-ups often make it needlessly complicated. God wants an honest conversation.”
To help you get a better handle on what every Christian — both young and old — should know about prayer, Charles Morris invited Nancy Guthrie to join him for an insightful conversation on prayer. Even if you already have a healthy prayer life, this interview will help you gain a deeper understanding of what we are actually doing when we talk to God.
You can also learn more about Nancy’s biblically inspired picture book What Every Child Should Know About Prayer at haventoday.org.
Born in Miami shortly after his parents fled Cuba during Fidel Castro’s revolution, Danny Rojas is a Christ follower with a heart for the Cuban Church. Today, he is now the director and speaker of Haven’s Spanish broadcast to Cuba El Faro de Redención. In this episode, you’ll hear how Danny became the head of this ministry, as well as how he saw Christ on the move in Cuba during his very first trip to the island last week.
Danny Rojas has been serving in pastoral and music ministry for over 25 years. His wife Luann is also from Miami and of Dominican descent. Danny earned a Master of Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Theology. He serves his local church as an elder and worship leader. His passion and heart for El Faro de Redención is to share Christ-centered, grace-focused content along with the voice of the Cuban church, so that many in Cuba, as well as across the Spanish-speaking world, will find life and rest in Christ.
Easter is coming. But unlike the Christmas season, Easter doesn’t have as many of the rich traditions that help us anticipate Christ’s death and resurrection. On today’s episode, Andrew Peterson helps us bridge the gap between what we read in the gospel and how these events have direct implications for how we live every single day. You’ll also hear him talk about how he connects with Christ through music and the sense of feeling God’s presence in historic Christian places that are no longer active today.
As Easter approaches, we encourage you to prepare your heart to celebrate the Resurrection through Andrew Peterson’s album Resurrection Letters, Vol. 1. You can also view a video of one of the most powerful songs on the album here (Is He Worthy?).
There are many Advent devotionals and activities for children to prepare their hearts for Christmas, but Easter is not often given the same level of care and attention — despite it being a foundational holiday for Christians. This is one reason Marty Machowski is rethinking the way families celebrate Easter with his new upside-down family devotional Darkest Night, Brightest Day.
Marty Machowski is a bestselling Children's devotional author and pastor. In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, you'll hear him discuss the creative ways that families can make the days leading up to Easter, as well as the days following, become a cherished tradition that will help the kids in your life carry their faith into adulthood.
To be a follower of Christ, you must believe in grace — grace for yourself and grace for others. The problem is that we sometimes lose sight of this truth when it comes to people who have done despicable things. And yet no matter how far from Jesus some may seem, you never know how the Holy Spirit may be at work to transform their hearts.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris shares two fascinating stories of grace. First, you’ll meet Ken Cooper, a former bank robber who recommitted his life to Jesus. Second, Charles will discuss the turbulent life of John Newton and how he went from slave trader to the hymn-writing pastor who penned Amazing Grace.
On Friday, January 1, 1773, a pastor of a small church debuted a hymn that he wrote to accompany his New Year’s Day sermon. He called it “Faith’s Review and Expectation” — not exactly an exciting title. And yet little did he or his congregation know this humble chorus would go on to be the most-sung song in the English language: Amazing Grace.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris speaks with Bruce Hindmarsh, a professor of Spiritual Theology and Christian History at Regent College Vancouver, a John Newton scholar, and co-author of the new book Amazing Grace: The Life of John Newton and the Surprising Story Behind His Song.
When you listen, you’ll find out how Newton’s life was difficult, utterly sinful at times, and littered with contradictions ... and yet Christ offered him grace and he eventually repented. If you’ve ever been moved by the hymn Amazing Grace, then this episode is for you.
The word 'revival' has been on countless minds over the past month when Asbury University students carried on a multi-week prayer and worship service that brought 50,000 pilgrims to the sleepy town of Wilmore, Kentucky. Though it is now being called an outpouring, Christians around the world have a renewed interest in what revivals are, how God works through them, and what basis they have in Scripture and history.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris is joined by Jeremy Walker to explore these historic movements of God — from Pentecost to present day — as they both also pray for revival to take hold in the hearts of the next generation. Jeremy Walker is a pastor, author, and host of the new documentary Revival: The Work of God.
The Asbury Revival may have officially begun on February 8, 2023, but the roots of this spiritual phenomenon began long before those few students lingered after chapel to pray. On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you're going to meet the Asbury Seminary students who have been diligently praying for this very thing since 2019.
From the living room of New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener, these few seminary students have been holding weekly prayer meetings with one bold request in mind — Lord, bring about a revival at Asbury. They've asked us not to share their names, but they do share their stories, as well as an oral history of how the Asbury Revival began.
If you’ve been watching from the sidelines through news coverage and social media commentary, then this episode will be a wonderful way for you to become intimately acquainted with the roots of the world’s newest spiritual revival — a revival that we hope is only just getting started.
Ivanka and Alexey Volkov were already living abroad when Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, one year in to the war, they have not been able to go home. Friends have died. Family members still living in Ukraine face extreme conditions daily. There are few ways for them to help from the outside, except offer prayers and support for their homeland.
In this special episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris shares his full interview with the Volkovs, a Ukrainian Christian couple who are currently sharing the gospel in Israel. Here, they share their hopes, fears, and prayers as Ukraine experiences the greatest humanitarian crisis Europe has seen since World War II.
An edited version of this interview first appeared on Haven Today’s daily radio broadcast. We are now posting it here in full.
If we didn't have the Old Testament, Christians would live in a state of spiritual amnesia. Rather than having a healthy understanding of who we are and how we got here, believers who neglect the Bible's first 39 books often begin filling in the blanks with their own ideas. Bruce Waltke wants to change that.
A world famous Hebrew scholar with a PhD from Harvard and Dallas Theological Seminary, Bruce Waltke is uniquely equipped to speak about how we can read the Old Testament in light of the New. In this episode, Waltke discusses how the Scriptures contain our memory, history, and even our core identity as believers.
Bruce Waltke is the author of many books, including Old Testament Theology. He was the head of Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary for many years and has also served at Westminster Philadelphia, Regent College in Vancouver, and Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando.
Before the 2018 Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles had never tasted victory at the highest level. When back-up-quarterback-turned-MVP Nick Foles and the rest of the team closed the book on their Cinderella season, many of the players did not bask in their own glory. After winning their close match against the favored New England Patriots, several of the key players gave all the glory to Christ.
As the Eagles now attempt their second ever Super Bowl trophy this Sunday, Charles Morris returns to his 2018 interview with author and sports writer Joshua Cooley to discuss the faith of these team members who reached the pinnacle of their sport. Though many of the players mentioned in this episode are no longer on the Eagles' roster, we pray this episode will bolster your own faith as you prepare to watch North America's biggest primetime sporting event this Sunday.
You may have heard Corrie ten Boom’s story before. Maybe you read her book The Hiding Place, or even saw the 1975 film adaptation. But you may never have heard it quite like this. Several years ago, Charles Morris got on the phone with Corrie’s longtime companion and assistant Pamela Rosewell Moore to hear from someone who knew her well.
Pamela worked for several years with the team of Brother Andrew ("God's Smuggler") in the Netherlands, before accompanying Corrie to America. As Corrie reached the end of her life, Pam served as a nurse and companion until her death in 1983.
In this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Pamela takes us back to the beginning and walks us through Corrie’s story from start to finish. You’ll also hear excerpts from Corrie herself talking about how the Lord brought her through her darkest moments. Whatever trials you might be facing today, it is our prayer that this conversation will help you cling to the Lord who will never leave you nor forsake you.
Most online lists covering what children need most include things like education, good health, and self-esteem. These are all good, but something’s missing . . . prayer. Yet when it comes to praying for our children in the midst of our hectic daily lives, it's often difficult to know where to start. That’s where Melissa Kruger comes in.
A Christian author and mother herself, Kruger has many helpful insights on biblical ways to pray for our children — many of which are captured in her book 5 Things to Pray for Your Kids. In this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, she reminds us that our children’s spiritual health comes first. She also offers tools to help the busy parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle begin praying more intentionally for the kids God has placed in our lives.
New Testament scholar Ben Witherington III joins Charles Morris for a new interview on what Scripture teaches about money. Considering recent food shortages, price hikes, and the looming fear of recession, there may be no better time than now for Christians to consider their relationship with Jesus and their personal finances.
Offering sage wisdom and curt biblical advice, Witherington takes a no nonsense approach to building a biblical framework around how Christians should handle their money. For him, it starts with one often neglected truth — your money is not your own, but the Lord’s.
A lot can happen in four centuries. Technologies have skyrocketed, new nations have formed, and yet one book has changed very little in as much time . . . the King James Bible.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to a conversation he had with Dr. Donald Brake in 2011 — the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. They discuss how this longstanding Bible translation revolutionized the English-speaking world by exploring the KJV's mysterious beginnings, the men who translated it, and its incredible impact for many generations.
Dr. Brake is an authority on the history of the Bible and has been an avid collector of rare Bibles and manuscripts for more than thirty years. His is one of the most complete private collections of rare English Bibles and Greek New Testaments in North America. He served as President of Jerusalem University College and Vice President and Dean of Multnomah Biblical Seminary.
Even if it’s been years since you’ve read the King James Bible, this episode on the fascinating history of the English language’s longest-running Scripture translation is something every Christian should consider.
During the holidays, it’s nice to enjoy turkey for Thanksgiving and cookies at Christmas. But then New Year’s Day rolls around, and with it comes a reckoning. It’s when many of us begin to regret our lack of restraint over the past few weeks and commit to finally dropping a few pounds.
Today's episode of the Great Stories podcast features a conversation with New York Times bestselling author of “Made to Crave” Lysa TerKeurst. Yes, you'll hear Charles and Lysa talk about food cravings and healthy eating practices. But, unlike other podcasts on the topic, you'll also hear them discuss how this is a spiritual issue, not a physical one.
Ultimately, this isn’t about what you should and should not be eating. It’s about the idolatry we have surrounding the things we often love a little too much in life. Lysa helps us remember that craving isn’t necessarily a bad thing . . . the challenge is to realize how God created us to crave something so much more than what’s in the pantry.
If you or someone you know is struggling with unhealthy eating practices, this New Year’s episode is for you.
If you’ve ever listened to an audio version of the Bible, chances are you were hearing the captivating voice of Max McLean. A classically trained actor, McLean dedicates his talents for the presentation of Scripture and other Christian material. And though many may recognize his voice as the narrator of multiple translations for the Listener’s Bible, he also received great acclaim for his theatrical presentations of The Screwtape Letters, Mark's Gospel, and Genesis.
In this conversation, Charles Morris speaks with Max McLean about his experience writing, starring, and now filming his newest production: The Most Reluctant Convert. Hear what went into telling this groundbreaking story behind C.S. Lewis' long, heel-digging conversion to Christianity, along with how this film is now touching countless lives around the world today.
When we celebrate Christmas, we usually concentrate on a very specific moment in time when a young married couple traveled to Bethlehem and delivered a child in a manger. But Christmas didn’t start there. We can trace the promises and events of our Savior’s arrival all the way back to the beginning of time.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to Christmas special from 2017 where he traced the line from Christmas to Genesis with Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ), Sally Lloyd-Jones (The Jesus Storybook Bible), Randall Goodgame (Sing the Bible), and Senate Chaplain Barry Black (Nothing to Fear).
Christmas is a time for us to celebrate Immanuel: God with us. But this isn't just limited to a single event in history — because Jesus didn't just make a one-time visit to Earth. The first Christmas also looks forward to that final day when he will come again and make all things new.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to a Christmas special from 2018 where he spends time helping us visualize the full scope of the incarnation — God with us then, God with us now, and God with us in the time to come.
As you prepare your heart to celebrate the Messiah this Christmas, let's follow the example of the classic Christmas Carol Joy to the Worldand celebrate Christ's birth while also looking forward to when Christmas comes again.
David Zadok was born in Iran, rose to the rank of Major in the Israeli Defense Forces, went to Seminary in the U.S., and now shares the gospel throughout Israel. In today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to two fascinating conversations he had with David in 2010 and 2014 that tells the story behind the violence he experienced early in life and what it's like now to minister the gospel in Israel.
As the pastor of Grace and Truth church and the director of HaGefen Publishing, we are confident that David's story will give you a new appreciation for how God is at work in Israel's growing Christian community.
The Christmas season is here. Whether you’re planning your family get-together, buying gifts, or simply reflecting on Christ's incarnation, there is no doubt we are in a season of anticipation. And one of the best ways to help us get in the spirit of anticipating the Messiah every year is through the music of Christmas.
This is what Charles Morris and singer-songwriter Fernando Ortega talk about in a new interview. In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, you’ll hear about the significance behind some powerful Christmas songs, what Christmas was like for Fernando growing up in New Mexico, and what it is about the advent season that so powerfully draws us nearer to Christ. You’ll also hear some segments from Fernando’s Christmas Songs album.
We pray this conversation will help you prepare your heart for the Messiah this Christmas.
We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Thessalonians 1:2,3
How often do we overlook the words of thanksgiving that the Apostle Paul writes to the churches in Asia Minor? Bob Bowman and Charles Morris believe that we too often race past them. And so as we approach Thanksgiving in the United States, we’re bringing back a classic conversation from 2004 on giving thanks.
For anyone who has been around Haven any length of time, Bob Bowman is a name you’ll be very familiar with. A founding member of the Haven Quartet and founder of Far East Broadcasting Company, Bob was also the Friday Speaker for Haven from 1967-1984. On this episode, you’ll learn more about this history, as well as what both Bob and Charles were thankful for in 2004.
This episode also serves as a window into the past. Haven Today sounded much different in the early 2000’s. From the opening jingle to the quartet music that Bob hand-selected for this episode, this is truly a Thanksgiving blast from the past.
As you ponder what you’re thankful for this year, we hope this episode points you to all you have in Christ.
The holidays is often a time for families and friends to gather around the table to give thanks and celebrate the joy of each other's company. But how do you give thanks and celebrate joy when there's an empty chair that would have been filled by a recently deceased loved one?
We don't often discuss grief during the holidays, but it is certainly the time when the loss of a spouse, parent, child, or friend is especially painful. Holiday grief is also something that's experienced more often than we might like to think.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to a conversation he had in 2007 with Dr. Norman Wright. A Christian counselor, Dr. Wright spoke to Charles not long after losing his wife to cancer. With Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching, we pray this raw conversation will be a balm and a resource for anyone facing their own empty chair this holiday season.
You’ve probably heard of John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress.” After all, it’s one of the most significant works of literature ever published (aside from the Bible). But did you know this classic Christian allegory that’s endured for nearly 350 years has a sequel?
On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris is joined by Tyler Van Halteren — author of the adapted children’s books Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey Vol. I & II — as they walk in the footsteps of John Bunyan where he grew up, preached, and spent time in jail. You’ll also hear Tyler discuss "Christiana’s Story," the little-known sequel that delves even deeper into the spiritual truths of John Bunyan’s magnum opus
Now, if you want to see some of the places mentioned in this episode — including the oak tree John Bunyan preached under because he wasn’t allowed to preach in a building — you can watch that on haventoday.org by following this link.
It’s been 8 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. And now, with more than 12 million refugees and another 7 million displaced within the country, the war shows no sign of letting up as soldiers begin to face long, harsh winter. What hope is there?
On this week's episode, Charles Morris speaks with leaders from two organizations doing tireless work on the ground in and around Ukraine today. First, you'll hear from Sergey Rakhuba, President of Mission Eurasia, who shares some miraculous stories out of Ukraine on how the kingdom of God is advancing, even in the midst of war.
You'll also hear from Director of FEBC-Russia & Ukraine Dr. Victor Akhterov. He discusses how the Ukrainian government have given them radio stations, expanding the opportunity for FEBC to share the gospel throughout the war.
This month marks the 505th anniversary of the moment when a little-known monk named Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of human history. It all began when Luther nailed his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Chapel in Germany in October, 1517.
But who is this man who challenged the highest authorities of his day so that the truth of the gospel could be known and preached? And who are some of the others who would impact the faith of millions for centuries to come?
In today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris speaks with several scholars and historians to explore the lives of some of the Protestant Reformation's most influential leaders. You'll hear about Martin Luther, John Wycliffe, John Huss, Katharina Von Bora, Juan de Valdés, and Thomas Cranmer — all of them playing a substantial role in re-centering the church's teaching on Christ and Scripture. Wherever you are in your faith, these people have had a profound impact on the way we all see the gospel today.
He’s a football hall-of-famer with two MVPs and a Super Bowl ring. But before Kurt Warner shot to fame, he had to put the idol of football behind him. On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris shares his conversation with Christian filmmaker Andy Erwin (one-half of The Erwin Brothers who brought you films like I Can Only Imagine and I Still Believe) about their newest film American Underdog that tells the story of Kurt Warner’s rise to prominence in the NFL — as well as his unwavering faith in Christ.In this episode, you will also hear part of Kurt Warner’s testimony from a 1999 Billy Graham Crusade, which was recorded just after he won a Super Bowl championship.
No matter how hard we try to avoid it, tragedy will strike us all. Even Christians are not immune to the trials and sufferings that life presents us. In fact, the Apostle Peter says we should expect it.
So what is a Christian to do when faced with tragedy and loss?
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris speaks with author and pastor Robert Morgan about the themes covered in his bestselling book The Red Sea Rules: 10 God-Given Strategies for Difficult Times. Using the Israelites' story in Exodus 14, as well as several real-life examples, Morgan shares how the Bible offers several effective strategies to help us go from fear to faith.
It is our prayer that this episode will remind you that the same God who walks with you into hardship will also guide you out.
“There is really no Iron Curtain for the brave.” — Brother Andrew
Andrew van der Bijl, also known as Brother Andrew or "God’s Smuggler," spent his entire life ministering the gospel to hard-to-reach people in countries where being a Christian often meant persecution or even death. On September 27, Brother Andrew died and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 94.
In light of his passing, we thought this would be a good time to go deep into our archives and share the interview Andrew did with Charles Morris in 2004. For many years, Andrew took the Good News into the Soviet Union, China, and Czechoslovakia — this interview takes place long after that when he turned his attention to the Middle East and North Africa.
It's our prayer that this conversation will minister to you and inspire you to be a bold ambassador for Christ with your own life.
Jeremy Camp has sold over 4.5 million records with 37 No. 1 hit songs. But before all of this happened, he was a young man in love with a woman who had cancer. Hear him tell this dramatic story in his own words to Charles Morris. The events described here are the basis for the new movie I Still Believe.
How long would it take you to explain the whole Bible from start to finish? On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris sets out to tell the whole story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation in less than 18 minutes.
Just as it’s good to zero in and study Scripture closely, it’s also good to zoom out for the big picture. The Bible is made up of 66 books written by 40 authors in three languages over 1500 years. That's a lot to wrap our minds around. And so it is our prayer that this episode will give you a starting point for your own study of God's Word. We encourage you to look up the passages you find interesting, and then consider them closely within the context of the whole story of redemption.
The results are life changing.
The year was 1953. Queen Elizabeth II had already succeeded her father, George VI, upon his death in February the year before. On May 1, almost exactly a month before her coronation, the Queen began praying every day and reading private devotions that were specifically written for her by the Archbishop of Canterbury to help her spiritually prepare to become the figurehead of the United Kingdom.
On today’s episode, Charles Morris speaks with Catherine Butcher who literally wrote the book on the Queen’s faith in Jesus. Moments after the news of Elizabeth’s death broke, Charles Morris recorded this conversation with Catherine to talk about Her Majesty’s steadfast faith in Christ and the hope she clung to as she went home to be with the Lord.
As this second Elizabethan era draws to an end, we pray this conversation will give you insights on the faith of England’s longest reigning monarch, while also giving you a sense of hope in the knowledge that all believers can look forward to a time when we will reign forever with Christ.
A hundred years ago, no one had ever heard of a hobbit. But you would be hard-pressed today to find anyone who didn’t immediately recognize this short fictional creature with large fuzzy feet. Most amazing of all is the faith behind J.R.R. Tolkien, the man who created the myth behind The Lord of the Rings.
As Amazon Studios launches the most expensive show in history based on the appendices of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, we thought now would be a good time to call professor and historian Dr. Joseph Loconte, author of the NYT bestselling A Hobbit, A Wardrobe, and A Great War, to talk about Tolkien’s faith, wartime experiences, and influence on the conversion of C.S. Lewis. On today’s episode, you’ll get to hear Loconte offer a unique perspective on how the first mechanized war in history affected Tolkien’s faith and led him to write one of the most revered stories of all time.
Have you ever experienced the pain of watching a loved one leave the faith? Even in the most discouraging moments we can be encouraged because God is in the business of leading prodigals home. In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to an interview he did in Philadelphia with his long-time friend Barbara Juliani.
The daughter of a prominent pastor, Barbara decided to leave home at 18 and turn her back on Christianity. Many of the highs and lows of her story parallel the parable of the prodigal son who finally returns home to loving arms. If there’s someone in your life who has run from the faith, Barbara’s story will encourage you to not lose hope that prodigals often do indeed come home.
You may not know his name but you’ve definitely heard and sung along to his music. Known as the father of modern gospel, Andraé Crouch won seven grammies and had a profound influence on the music industry.
Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard are just a few household names who covered some of the several hundred gospel songs Andraé wrote in his lifetime. He worked with Michael Jackson and Modonna, and arranged music for The Lion King and The Color Purple.
But more than all of these accolades, Andraé Crouch loved Jesus. He went home to be with the Lord in 2015, but you can get to know him today when you listen to this musical episode of the Great Stories podcast as Charles and Andraé sit around a Steinway piano to stories and the tune of some of his most powerful music. You won’t want to miss this classic conversation from the Haven Today archive.
There’s something about music that powerfully connects our minds with our hearts. Few people know this as intimately as Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a quadriplegic after a diving accident 55 years ago. She has also battled stage 3 cancer, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic pain. In the moments when it becomes too painful to even string two words together to form a prayer, Joni says that hymns are often her most dependable source of comfort that leads to Jesus.
In this conversation with Charles Morris, Joni discusses how hymns have been a constant companion in her relationship with Jesus. Even in her darkest moments, these “songs of suffering” are what the Lord uses to comfort her, guide her, and give her hope.
Whatever is going on in your life today, we pray this musical and encouraging conversation with Joni Eareckson Tada will help you discover new ways to rejoice in Christ’s peace and goodness, even during your own painful seasons in life.
Summer 2022 has been marked by record inflation, intolerable gas prices, and the question of whether or not the US economy is in a recession. With so much uncertainty surrounding finances, this is a good time for Christians to consider their relationship with Jesus and money.
This week’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast is returning to a 2012 conversation where Charles Morris asked Bible scholar and Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary Dr. Ben Witherington III some hard-to-face questions about money. Questions like:
- What should a Christian do with his or her money?
- What does the Bible say about tithing?
- What are the myths that Christians believe about money?
Whether you have immense wealth or meager means, we pray this conversation will be a great way for you to consider how Jesus would want you to relate to your income, possessions, and the things of this world that moth and rust destroy.
What is the Bible all about? If this isn’t your first time visiting Haventoday.org, then you may already know our answer: Jesus.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, you’ll get introduced to Dr. Michael Williams, author of How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens. In this conversation, he explains that Scripture comes into much better focus when we realize how every book of the Bible has an identifiable theme that is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus.
By the end, you’ll know how to easily find Jesus in challenging books like Joel, Ruth, Hosea, Daniel, Isaiah, and Philemon.
Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, tech worker, or tradesman, most people feel overworked and unable to find quality rest. Because there’s not just work to do—there are appointments, home improvements, recitals, family commitments … the list goes on. And when you’re not doing the things that need to be done, free time is often spent in front of screens. Spend too much time scrolling social media and you’ll be riddled with guilt for not completing your overly ambitious to-do list that keeps getting bigger every day.
If any of this sounds familiar, this podcast is for you.
Dr. Matthew Sleeth (author of 24/6: A Prescription for a Happier, Healthier Life) is a former emergency room physician and no stranger to the kind of busyness that can slowly chip away at your wellbeing. When he found Jesus and began reading the Bible, it was only then that he discovered how much he truly needed a day of rest in his week. In this conversation, you’ll hear how making a few simple changes in your life can allow you to make that sabbath become a weekly reality — a time for you to truly rest in the Lord. Originally recorded in 2013, this conversation is just as relevant today as it was then.
Fifteen years ago, Sally Lloyd-Jones was tasked to write a children’s Bible that was all about Jesus. What later became The Jesus Storybook Bible would go on to sell more than 3 million copies, making it the most popular kids Bible on the market today. But the most amazing part of this story isn’t about book sales, but the lives of both children and adults who have discovered for themselves that God’s love for them is a “never stopping, never giving up, always and forever love.”At the time of this publication’s tenth anniversary, Charles Morris caught up with Sally in New York City so that she could tell how the Lord led her to craft this book, and how He continues to use it to bless millions of hearts around the world today.
First basemen for the Saint Louis Cardinals, Paul Goldschmidt (a.k.a. Goldy) might be the greatest slugger in Major League Baseball today. Already a favorite for MVP, he’s also a golden glove winner and multiple time MLB all-star player. But more than any of the achievements or accolades, Goldschmidt is a follower of Christ.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, we’re bringing back an interview we did back 2018 when Goldschmidt played for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Listen in and discover how the only thing in Goldy’s life to match his fervor on the field is his steadfast faith in the Lord.
It all started on an early foggy morning in 1934, when Paul Myers, a former Los Angeles radio personality and station manager of leading radio stations woke up near a wharf in San Diego. Hungover, he heard the sound of a ship’s bell ring out eight times at 4:00 a.m., signaling “all’s well.”
Only one month later, Myers would be back on the radio, but this time, sharing his new-found faith in Jesus. What happened in between is the extraordinary story of how Myers would go on to found a Christian radio program that continues till this day to share the great story that’s all about Jesus. At that point, it was called “Haven of Rest,” and Paul Myers would endearingly become known as First Mate Bob. Now, that ministry is called Haven Today — the very same ministry publishing this podcast.
Hear Paul Myers tell this story in his own words. It’s also our story here at Haven Ministries. We that this will serve as a reminder that the Lord is in the business of redeeming sinners and using them to go on to do great things for the Kingdom.
Have you ever heard it said that you have to be a fool to believe in God? John Lennox has come toe-to-toe with many of Christianity’s harshest critics, some of them colleagues at Oxford where he is a Professor of Mathematics (emeritus). Many of those critics argue that science and faith are like two ships passing in the night — John Lennox wholeheartedly disagrees.
Charles Morris conducted this interview with Lennox at C.S. Lewis’ old home, “The Kilns,” which seemed an appropriate place to have a conversation about how those who believe in God can absolutely live and work in the world of science. It’s an inspiring conversation that proves how science and belief have more in common than meets the eye.
If you’ve ever listened to an audio version of the Bible, chances are you were hearing the captivating voice of Max McLean. A classically trained actor, McLean dedicates his talents for the presentation of Scripture and other Christian material. And though many may recognize his voice as the narrator of multiple translations for the Listener’s Bible, he also received great acclaim for his theatrical presentations of The Screwtape Letters, Mark's Gospel, and Genesis.
In this conversation, Charles Morris speaks with Max McLean about his experience writing, starring, and now filming his newest production: The Most Reluctant Convert. Hear what went into telling this groundbreaking story behind C.S. Lewis' long, heel-digging conversion to Christianity, along with how this film is now touching countless lives around the world.
For years, Malawi has been among the handful of African countries where political corruption and questionable elections have become the norm. But this East African nation made history in 2020 when it became the first country to elect an opposition leader following the annulment of the previous election due to vote tampering. The newly elected president? Theologian-turned-politician Dr. Lazarus Chakwera.
On this week’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris hands the microphone to ministry partner Jim Grams who recorded this interview with Dr. Chakwera before he was elected president. In this conversation, you won’t hear the typical posturing you might expect from a politician. Instead, Dr. Chakwera speaks primarily about his deep love of Jesus.
From Tom Cruise to Paddington Bear, Queen Elizabeth II had no shortage of famous guests last weekend to celebrate her 97th birthday and 70th year as the longest reigning monarch in British history. But if you look past the A-list actors and classic characters, you would find one of the Queen’s chaplains, James Newcome, the Bishop of Carlisle.
Originally recorded in 2016 ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday celebration, the Rt Rev'd Newcome spoke with Charles Morris about Her Majesty's personal faith in Christ. Also known as “The Clerk of the Closet,” Newcome gives insight into how serving the ultimate King of kings informs the way the Queen lives and rules, offering a fascinating look into the spiritual life of England’s longest reigning monarch.
The year was 1953. Queen Elizabeth II had already succeeded her father, George VI, upon his death in February the year before. On May 1, almost exactly a month before her coronation, the Queen began praying every day and reading private devotions that were specifically written for her by the Archbishop of Canterbury to help her spiritually prepare to become the figurehead of the United Kingdom.
On today’s episode, Charles Morris speaks with Catherine Butcher who literally wrote the book on the Queen’s faith in Jesus: Our Faithful Queen. As the U.K. celebrates her Platinum Jubilee this week, we thought it would be good time for us to look at the ways Queen Elizabeth has shed light on her steadfast faith in Christ.
MAY 2, 2022 — Politico released a leaked draft opinion that gave an unprecedented preview of what is likely the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. This would have major implications in every state. But even as the law of the land concerning abortion is on the brink of change, what about the hearts those who support it?
On today’s episode, Charles Morris shares an interview he did in 2019 with Carey Solomon, Chuck Konzelman, and Chris Jones, the filmmakers behind the hit movie “Unplanned.” It tells Abby Johnson’s story of how she went from the youngest Planned Parenthood director in the country to an ardent pro-life advocate. But even as the movie was gearing up for release, the project was hit with an R rating by the Motion Picture Association that the filmmakers say was an unfair attempt to keep the movie from reaching a wide audience. Find out how the Lord used this to reach many more people.
As a bonus, you’ll also hear a short interview with the real Abby Johnson. The movie about her life story has given her a unique platform to help women and children all over the world.
Almost 50 years ago, to avoid impeachment, Richard Nixon resigned as President of the United States. At that same time the former legal counsel to Richard Nixon had already gone to jail for his participation in the Watergate scandal. His name was Chuck Colson, and this is exactly what the Lord used to bring him to faith in Jesus Christ.
In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, Chalres Morris returns to a classic conversation he had with the late Chuck Colson about how he went from a Watergate felon to born again Christian. Listen in as Chuck shares the story behind the scandal, his conversion, and the ministry he founded to minister to prisoners and their families.
You may not know his name, but you’ve definitely sung his music. Known for writing songs like “In Christ Alone,” “How Deep the Father’s Love,” and "The Power of the Cross," Stuart Townend has given the church many modern hymns that will draw believers closer to Jesus for years and years to come.
In this conversation, you’ll hear him discuss what goes into writing a memorable hymn that is theologically sound and has the power to resonate in the hearts of worshipers of every generation around the world.
The sound of a child’s little feet pitter-pattering across the linoleum floor can bring so much joy to our hearts. But what about those times when that same sweet sound is accompanied by your child running a marker along the wall while he toddles away from you?
On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris returns to his conversation with author, blogger, mother, and missionary Gloria Furman. Having written books like Treasuring Christ When Your Hands are Full, Glimpses of Grace, and Missional Motherhood, she has many life-giving words for Christian moms who never quite feel like they have enough time or energy to develop their own spiritual health and well being. It is our prayer that this episode be an encouragement to you and the moms in your life, as you prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend.
Is there enough joy in your life? What about the lives of your children? When we turn to the book of Philippians, we’re struck by two things: it’s all about Jesus. And it’s all about joy.
On today’s episode, Charles Morris has a conversation with Randall Goodgame, creator of Slugs & Bugs and the catchy Sing the Bible albums. Randall has been writing music for more than a decade to help kids know the Bible better. Here, Randall talks about the joy he has found in Jesus, as well as how he wants to help you and me and the kids in our lives experience this joy as well.
The most startling claim of Christianity is that Jesus rose from the dead after being brutally executed on a Roman cross two thousand years ago. Could it possibly be true? And if it were, what difference could it make to us today?
Dr. N.T. Wright, a leading New Testament Scholar and retired Anglican Bishop, joins Charles Morris for a special Easter episode of the Great Stories podcast. In this conversation about the historical resurrection of Christ, you’ll hear one of the best explanations for why we can be certain Jesus really rose from the dead and why that matters today.
This interview originally aired on the Great Stories Podcast on March 31, 2021. Find out more about N.T. Wright's Resurrection DVD at haventoday.org.
In a special Easter episode, we’re digging deep in our interview archives to a 2006 conversation Charles Morris had with Metropolitan Opera singer Jubilant Sykes. A classically trained baritone singer, he’s also a follower of Christ. In this episode, Sykes talks about some of the challenges he's faced singing spirituals and hymns in secular spaces. He also talks about his upbringing, his faith in Christ, and the power that sacred music has—even in a room full of unbelievers. As Easter approaches, you'll also hear Sykes talk about the significance of Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, along with samples of him singing "Were You There" and "Deep River."
Hymns seem old fashioned to many in the modern church. So how in the world did a “modern hymn” become one of the most popular songs sung in churches around the world?
20 years after Keith Getty and Stuart Townend wrote “In Christ Alone,” the song has not diminished in popularity. From Lauren Daigle to Shane & Shane, it’s also been covered by many leading Christian musicians at work today. But how did it come about? And what does it mean to the two people who first brought it to a global audience?
On today’s episode, Charles Morris returns to a conversation he had with Keith and Kristyn Getty at the 10th anniversary of “In Christ Alone.” Sitting at a piano in an empty church, they discuss topics ranging from music and worship to parenting and what it takes to live the Christian life. They also discuss the release of their album “Hymns for the Christian Life,” which we still have available for your gift to Haven Ministries at haventoday.org.
No book of the Bible is so controversial, so polarizing, and so Christ-centered as the book of Revelation. And as war continues in Ukraine, many people are suffering and praying the words, “How long, O Lord?” That’s why Charles Morris is returning to a conversation he had in 2009 with Karen Heimbuch, who memorized the entire book of Revelation and recited it dramatically for thousands of people over the years.
In the very beginning of Revelation, John promises that anyone who hears or reads its contents will be blessed. It is our prayer that this conversation with Karen Heimbuch will help you gain a better understanding of the Bible’s most intimidating book.
The song has been sung by tens of millions of people all over the world. A song about heaven, wondering what it will be like. "I Can Only Imagine" was written by Bart Millard for his band, MercyMe. It wasn't a huge hit at first, but the Lord had plans for this special song.
On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you'll hear an interview that Charles Morris did with Bart at his home in eastern Texas back in 2006. And you'll hear first hand how the song ended up catching him and his band by surprise. Bart also opens up about other challenges he's faced in life and how Jesus has been his comfort through it all.
Three weeks into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, more than three million refugees have made their way out of the country. In today’s episode, Charles Morris speaks with evacuees moments after they make it over the border into Poland, along with the churches and volunteers who are helping them find food and shelter. In this episode, you’ll hear how God is at work, even in the midst of war and devastation.
For more up-to-date information as the conflict unfolds, visit Haven's Live Faith Updates page with specific ways you can pray and get involved. You can also click here to find out how you can support Mission Eurasia as they work around the clock to provide food and assistance to families inside and outside of Ukraine.
While Charles Morris is traveling in Poland to capture the stories unfolding out of the Ukraine crisis, we wanted to go back to a podcast we aired last year that has become one of our most listened to podcasts. Next week, Charles will be back on schedule with a brand new podcast with many of the stories coming out of Central and Eastern Europe.
Today, strength is applauded while weakness is seen as a defect. For the Christian, this should be the other way around.
Having collided with a bread truck as a child and receiving brain surgery that left him with an indented skull, the late J.I. Packer (Knowing God) is well acquainted with weakness and frailty. In this conversation he tells how this shaped his life and led him to depend on Christ for strength. Throughout, he debunks the myth of self-sufficiency, laying out a path for us to follow from discouragement to freedom in light of our all-sufficient God.
J.I. Packer went home to be with the Lord in 2020. This conversation was originally recorded for the Haven Today radio broadcast in 2013. The message of Christ’s power being made perfect in our weakness is just as true today as it was then.
Much has happened in the last week. The world watches from the sidelines as Russian troops continue to encircle Kyiv and other major Ukrainian cities.
To get a better handle on the situation, this episode of the Great Stories pocast takes a step back to look at what happened in the last few days as Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine. You’ll hear from pastors and radio broadcasters in the path of the conflict, as well as a call for all of our listeners to pray.
To stay up to date as the conflict unfolds, visit Haven's Live Faith Updates page with specific ways you can pray and get involved.
Prayer is an essential part of every Christian’s life. It’s also a mysterious and intimidating practice for believers both young and old. What’s the problem? Nancy Guthrie says, “Praying to God is so simple a child can do it, but grown-ups often make it needlessly complicated. God wants an honest conversation.”
To help you get a better handle on what every Christian — both young and old — should know about prayer, Charles Morris invited Nancy Guthrie to join him for an insightful conversation on prayer. Even if you already have a healthy prayer life, this interview will help you gain a deeper understanding of what we are actually doing when we talk to God.
You can also learn more about Nancy’s biblically inspired picture book What Every Child Should Know About Prayer at haventoday.org.
Will Russian troops invade Ukraine? Or will they pull back? Are we on the verge of a great war in Eastern Europe? Or are tensions beginning to cool. Only time will tell. But one thing remains certain ... Christians on both sides of the border are praying for peace — and for each other — as they hold strong to the gospel.
On today's episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris speaks with two FEBC broadcasters, one in Ukraine and the other in Russia. As you continue to hear news and updates of what seems like imminent war in Eastern Europe, this conversation will help you remember the millions of Christians stuck in the middle as their countries verge on the brink of large-scale conflict.
One of the saddest statistics about marriage is its bleak success rate in the western world. Even in the church, marriages end at an alarmingly high percentage. But on today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris turns the tables on this narrative by sharing a story of a marriage that ended only to be redeemed later down the road.
Recorded in 2015, Juana Mikels (author of Choosing Him All Over Again) tells Charles Morris about how she reached a point where she was unhappy with her life, and so she decided to leave her husband, house, and friends to search for happiness. Instead of finding a new Mr. Right, she found Jesus. But what happened next? Would her husband take her back? Listen in to hear this incredible story of how Christ’s love can transform the way we love each other.
Depression and anxiety. Two words that are all too familiar for so many of us. And the statistics have only gotten more bleak in recent years. But what is the depressed or anxious Christian to do? Do we pray? Seek help? Take a prescription? Christian counselor Ed Welch and clinical psychologist Tim Sisemore join today's episode to offer practical advice and tangible hope for anyone struggling with one or both of these debilitating conditions.
Ed Welch, M.Div., Ph.D. is a counselor and faculty member at the Christian Counseling and Education Foundation. He's written a number of books and articles about depression, fear, and biblical counseling. Today, he speaks with Charles Morris about anxiety and how Christians suffering with this condition can find relief and heed Jesus' command: "Do not fear."
Dr. Tim Sisemore is a clinical psychologist who served as Professor in the PsyD program at California Baptist University, and now works as a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. In this conversation, he speaks with Charles Morris about how Christians struggling with depression can find hope in our constantly changing world.
Evangelism. There are few words in the English language that have sparked as much fear — in the hearts those on the giving and receiving end — than this common Christian practice. And yet Jesus calls all believers to share the good news.
But what if it didn’t have to be so intimidating?
On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris returns to a conversation he had at Regent College with Dr. John Dickson, a scholar and an author from Australia with a heart to engage unbelievers with God's Word. In this interview originally recorded in 2015, Dickson shares what he believes is the best kept secret of Christian mission.
If you've ever wanted to share your faith with others but have been too intimidated to start, then you’re not going to want to miss this podcast on how you can share the gospel with more than your lips.
Spiritual growth is an important part of any Christian’s journey of faith. But how does it actually happen? Some believers think it is a product of better behavior, intellectual pursuits, or felt experience. Dane Ortlund argues that all three are good, but real growth transcends them all.
In today’s episode, you’ll hear how Christians grow when they go deeper into the gospel and fix their eyes on Jesus. According to Dane Ortlund, to experience this, you must bring what you do and say and even feel into line with what, in fact, you already are — united with Christ.
To learn more, visit haventoday.org to request your copy of Dane Ortlund’s newest book Deeper: Real Change for Real Sinners.
Scripture has the tendency to change people’s lives in unexpected ways. For those who have read the Bible from cover to cover, the benefits are endless. In today’s episode, Charles Morris speaks with several people who started and finished the ambitious, but doable, challenge to read the Bible in 90 days. When you listen, you'll hear about their struggles and triumphs as they read through all of Scripture in just three months. You'll also hear how taking in God's Word quickly and consistently changed their lives forever.
If these conversations inspire you to make 2022 the year you read the Bible all the way through, will you consider joining us in reading the Bible in 90 days? You can visit haventoday.org to sign up to receive the reading plan and get weekly encouragement along the way. You can also get your own copy of the print edition of the Bible in 90 Days while you're there.
Ted Cooper was an agnostic who decided to put the claims of Christianity to the test by doing what so many have tried and failed to do—read the Bible all the way through. Knowing how many who attempt Bible reading plans often abandon their goal, he devised an ambitious, yet doable plan to make it from Genesis to Revelation in 90 days. This is his story. It's also the story of a Scripture reading movement being born.
If you want 2022 to be the year you read the Bible all the way through, will you consider joining us in reading the Bible in 90 days? You can visit haventoday.org to sign up to receive the reading plan and get weekly encouragement along the way. You can also get your own copy of the print edition of the Bible in 90 Days while you're there.
Scripture has been interpreted many different ways over the years, but how can you tell the difference between false gospels and the one Jesus lived and taught?
Brandon Kimber, the director of the American Gospel documentary series, argues that the gospel is simple, but we sometimes like to make it complicated by adding on to what Jesus said and did. He also discusses how the modern gospel being preached within the prosperity gospel (the Word of Faith movement) has become corrupted with promises of “the American dream” of health, wealth, and prosperity.
In this interview, you'll hear Brandon Kimber describe his own experiences within this movement and why it’s important to hold firm to a gospel that simply comes down to Christ alone.
Why do the gospels of Luke and Matthew begin with someone’s family tree? Why is it so important that Jesus come from the line of David?
Looking at the gospels as well as the prophets of old, Charles Morris seeks to answer these questions about the lineage of Christ. The stunning answers show us that Christmas isn’t just something that happened unexpectedly — it was planned by God, foretold in the Old Testament, and fulfilled by Jesus.
When we celebrate Christmas, we usually concentrate on a very specific moment in time when a young married couple traveled to Bethlehem and delivered a child in a manger. But Christmas didn’t start there. We can trace the promises and events of our Savior’s arrival all the way back to the beginning of time.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to Christmas special from 2017 where he traced the line from Christmas to Genesis with Lee Strobel (The Case for Christ), Sally Lloyd-Jones (The Jesus Storybook Bible), Randall Goodgame (Sing the Bible), and Senate Chaplain Barry Black (Nothing to Fear).
Hundreds of years before the Messiah arrived in Bethlehem, Isaiah prophesied about him many times. And when modern readers turn to this Old Testament prophet, passages related to Christmas can’t help but leap from the page. Prophesies about a great light, a child born, someone named Immanuel, a suffering servant, the lamb of God, and, of course, the prince of peace.
To help unpack this book of Christmas prophecies, Charles Morris speaks to Ray Ortlund Jr., Old Testament scholar and son of Haven’s third Speaker. If you are a longtime listener to Haven, his voice will be immediately recognizable. A pastor to pastors, Ray is the perfect person to help you reflect on the powerful themes of Christmas and the cross in the book of Isaiah.
Jesus said that all of Scripture points to Him. One of the best places to verify this is in the writings of the Old Testament prophets. In fact, though the book of Zechariah is often neglected by casual readers, it is quoted no fewer than 67 times in the New Testament.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Dr. Iain Duguid, currently professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary, sheds some light on this minor prophet. Here he discusses what the book of Zechariah has to teach us about living out our faith in a difficult world, while also examining some of the book's most prominent prophecies about the Christ of Christmas.
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are known as a time that bring friends and families together with attitudes of thankfulness and joy. But it's hard to have a heart of gratitude when food is burning in the oven. When things start to go wrong — as they inevitably do — that's when we resort to one of the most natural human experiences: grumbling and complaining.
To help you get through the holidays with a heart of contentment centered on Christ, Charles Morris returns to his interview with author Ronnie Martin on a topic many of us would like to avoid. But it's a message we all need to hear.
Christians throughout history have faced countless trials and tribulations. You might even feel like we’re living through a moment like that right now. But one of the greatest benefits of having multitudes of Christians come before us is that we can benefit from the treasure trove of wisdom they left behind. One such treasure is John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress.
On today’s episode, Charles Morris speaks with author and missionary Tyler Van Halteren about this classic story that touches on many of the highs and lows of the Christian life. It also conveys our lives a journey with a glorious destination. All of that is captured in a new, beautifully-illustrated storybook Tyler published titled Little Pilgrim’s Big Journey, which helps even the youngest readers learn from the timeless truths embedded in this literary masterpiece.
Listen in to hear Tyler’s story of being a missionary to Cambodia, a young father, and a Christian with a heart to bring Pilgrim’s Progress to a new generation.
Music has the power to lift us up and bring us down. Just changing one note in a chord can alter the entire meaning of a subject or story in an instant. Dr. Jeremy Begbie, a professional musician and systematic theologian, knows this well and has found a unique way to share the gospel through music.
In this episode, you’ll find out how hearing just a few notes on the piano can raise the curtain on the drama of the gospel and even help us understand the nature of God. Originally recorded in 2010, Charles Morris and Jeremy Begbie sat down in a large hall with a steinway grand on the premises of Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. You may have heard the gospel presented in many ways, but we’re willing to bet you’ve never heard it quite like this.
One of the best ways for kids to learn is through play. Kristin Vasquez and Hannah Santi believe that the Advent and Christmas seasons create a perfect opportunity them about Jesus in a fun, interactive way through the children’s book and traveling nativity set called The Manger Mission.
In this conversation, executive producer Troy Lamberth steps in for Charles Morris to discuss what is at the heart of this new book and activity created by Kristin and Hannah. They also discuss how our family Christmas traditions are important opportunities for the whole family to anticipate and encounter the living Christ in meaningful and memorable ways.
Do you believe in the devil? Most Americans would say no. Might as well believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. Others believe in the devil so much that they attribute every bad thing that happens to Satan himself.
What is true? What does the Bible actually say about the devil?
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Mike McKinley gets to the heart of what the Bible actually says (and doesn’t say) about the devil. According to McKinley, the devil is a real character who lies, fights with God’s angels, prowls, plans to outwit believers, and blinds unbelievers. The question is, what are we supposed to do about it?
They were friends with two things in common — great literature and a great war. C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien both fought in World War I, which profoundly influenced their writings and drove them to Christ.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Dr. Joseph Loconte joins Charles Morris to discuss the beloved books written by both authors in light of the spiritual crisis sparked by the conflict in WWI. Loconte has spent years exhaustively researching how these two men’s traumatic experiences in the first world war shaped their faith and their writing . . . and the way millions would later read and be influenced by their work.
After just two seasons, the hit television show “The Chosen” is the #1 highest crowdfunded media project of all time. After creating “The Shepherd,” for his church, a short film about one of the first witnesses of Christ's birth, Dallas Jenkins started down the road to filming the first ever multi-season TV show about Jesus. Here, he discusses how the show got started, the impact it’s had on the world, what it's like to film during a pandemic, and what lies ahead for the next five seasons.
In 2005 Time Magazine awarded John Stott a position on their iconic “100 Most Influential People in the World” list. This was the same year Charles Morris interviewed him for the radio program Haven Today. Little did we know then that this would be the last interview John Stott ever gave.
Going home to be with the Lord in 2011, John Stott would have been 100 this year. He served All Souls Church, Langham Place, for 66 years, wrote more than 50 books, and did much to spread and cultivate Christianity throughout the global church.
In this final interview, the conversation revolves around one of John Stott’s favorite topics: the Bible. The parting words he shares here for the church are a fitting sendoff from one of the last century’s spiritual giants ... as it brings us back to Christianity in its most basic form. For Stott, any conversation worth having about the Scriptures must have Jesus at the core. We wholeheartedly agree.
According to Time magazine, Chris Tomlin may be the “most often sung artist anywhere.” Whether in a contemporary church service or over the radio, you’ve probably sung along to some of his most well-known songs, including “How Great is Our God,” “Our God,” Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies),” and Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).”
This interview was recorded after he released the album Love Ran Red (2014), which premiered the single “At the Cross.” Listen in as Chris describes what goes into writing and performing songs that bring people around the world closer to Jesus.
Can evidence and faith go hand-in-hand?
When Lee Strobel was an award-winning journalist for the Chicago Tribune, he would have said ‘no.’ This idea led him down a path to investigate the truth claims of Christianity. The result was life-altering.
Many know his story through the bestselling book “The Case for Christ.” Today, Lee Strobel joins Charles Morris to revisit what led him to Jesus and how that reshaped the way he lives out each day. This conversation will give you hope for the atheists and agnostics in your own life who have yet to call Jesus Lord.
Gospel music may seem like an antiquated genre, but there are some younger musicians breathing new life into this age-old style of singing about Jesus. The Erwins are among the best up-and-comers the industry today. A grammy-nominated group, here they discuss with Charles Morris how they grew up on the road singing gospel songs with their traveling evangelist father. They also perform some of their music a cappella on this special episode of The Great Stories Podcast.
20 years after the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, many of us can remember the seeing the events unfold like it was yesterday. Others alive today weren’t old enough to experience the news firsthand. So as we approach this significant anniversary of 9/11, Charles Morris is turning his attention to stories of hope that came out of that tragic day.
In this episode, you’ll hear from Christian artist Makoto Fujimura on his experience in lower Manhattan. You’ll also hear how George Slay, Lolita Jackson, and Tom Joyce made it out of the Twin Towers and Pentagon alive. Pastors Jim Cymbala and Tim Keller also join Charles to speak about parishioners who they knew worked in the World Trade Center.
However you plan to observe the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, this episode will encourage you with powerful stories of hope and faith in Christ.
When’s the last time you tried to memorize God’s Word?
The Bible teaches that there is value in hiding God’s Word in our hearts, but it’s an undertaking many of us don’t attempt very often. The good news is that once you finally commit to memorizing Scripture, you quickly discover it’s easier than you think and the benefits are endless.
On today’s episode, Aaron House joins Charles Morris to discuss the benefits of memorizing Scripture while sharing some of his best tips on getting started. As the founder and Executive Director of Piercing Word, a ministry of theatre professionals focused on performing Scripture in dramatic and musical presentations, Aaron has memorized enormous sections of God’s Word, including the entire New Testament.
Have you ever experienced the pain of watching a loved one leave the faith? Even in the most discouraging moments we can be encouraged because God is in the business of leading prodigals home. In this episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris returns to an interview he did in Philadelphia with his old friend Barbara Juliani.
The daughter of a prominent pastor, Barbara decided to leave home at 18 and turn her back on Christianity. Many of the highs and lows of her story parallel the parable of the prodigal son who finally returns home to loving arms. If there’s someone in your life who has run from the faith, Barbara’s story will encourage you to not lose hope that prodigals often do indeed come home.
Did you know Charles Spurgeon, one of history’s greatest preachers, suffered from what he called “the minister’s fainting fits.” Today, we just call it depression. On this episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris talks with pastor Zack Eswine, who is also the author of a book called Spurgeon’s Sorrows. Charles and Zack have both struggled with depression at various times in their own lives. Listen in as they discuss realistic hope for Christians going through dark times.
If you or someone you know is struggling through loneliness, grief, or depression, we’ve put together a resource page to help. Click here for additional blogs, books, and music that will help you recenter on the God who loves you and accompanies you in good times and bad.
Jeremy Camp has sold over 4.5 million records with 37 No. 1 hit songs. But before all of this happened, he was a young man in love with a woman who had cancer. Hear him tell this dramatic story in his own words to Charles Morris. The events described here are the basis for the new movie I Still Believe.
Francine Rivers is one of the most prolific Christian novelists at work in the field today. But before she wrote stories of redemption, she was known for a very different kind of writing. On today’s episode, hear how Francine went from writing steamy romance novels to stories of redemption. You’ll also hear how the Lord led her to write her most popular work: Redeeming Love.
Gender and sexuality have become some of the most controversial topics facing the church today. Far from new, these issues continue to be hotly debated in the church.
Why is this conversation so pressing today? And how can Christians engage the issue with compassion and truth? M.D. Perkins is a researcher, director, and producer for American Family Association. Today, he joins Charles Morris to talk about his new movie In His Image: Delighting in God’s Plan for Gender and Sexuality, while also digging into Scripture, research, and why this issue isn’t going away any time soon.
We live in a world that often tells us that it’s foolish to be a Christian, which begs the question: Can a smart person believe in God?
Dr. Michael Guillen is a physicist, three-time Emmy winning science journalist, and former editor for ABC News. He’s also a great example of how a scientifically-minded person would not only believe in God, but love Jesus with his whole heart. In this interview, Dr. Guillen talks about how he came to believe in God—not in spite of science—but in harmony with what he’s learned about the physical world.
In Europe during WWII, Ray Whipps served as an infantryman under General Patton in the trenches of Normandy, Paris, and Belgium. Betty was a field nurse in Cherbourg, France. After Ray was injured in a mortar blast, the two met and bonded over their shared faith. As Betty nursed Ray back to health, they fell in love and vowed to marry after the war.
But then things went terribly wrong. Hear Ray and Betty introduce their remarkable story of faith and love amidst the calamities of World War II.
A lesser man would have broken. Louis Zamperini was already a national hero as an olympic athlete, but then his bomber went down in WWII, leaving him adrift for 47 days. There he faced sharks, exposure, and starvation. Finally rescued, he was then forced to face relentless torture as a prisoner of war.
Today's episode recovers an interview Charles conducted with Louis Zamperini just after he turned 90. Hear Louis in his own words describe the incredible events that became a bestselling book and blockbuster movie. This fascinating conversation will keep you on the edge of your seat.
What is the Bible all about? If this isn't your first time listening, then you may already know Charles' answer: Jesus. On today's episode, you'll get introduced to Dr. Michael Williams, author of How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens. He explains that Scripture comes into much better focus when we realize that every book of the Bible has an identifiable theme that is ultimately fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus. By the end, you'll know how to easily find Jesus in Joel, Ruth, Hosea, Daniel, Isaiah, and Philemon.
If someone asked you to retell the Apostle Peter’s life story, how would you go about it?
Ray Bruce set out to do this with a documentary film crew and one of England’s most beloved actors, David Suchet. Together, they followed in the footsteps of the Apostle Peter from Galilee to Jerusalem and beyond, seeking to tell the story behind one of the New Testament’s most captivating figures.
On this episode of the Great Stories podcast, you’ll hear Ray Bruce recount what went into the research and filming of this project, as well why he finds the life and ministry of Peter so compelling.
Rosaria Butterfield was a tenured English professor at Syracuse University, happily partnered to another woman, and a leading thinker in queer studies. All of this changed when a Christian couple welcomed her into their lives, slowly sharing the gospel through inclusive hospitality. She’s now a pastor’s wife in North Carolina and mother to four adopted children. In this episode, Rosaria recounts her story as an unlikely convert and discusses how Christians can begin engaging their lost friends and neighbors—even the ones we’re afraid to approach—in a more gospel-centered way through regularly practiced radical hospitality.
What if God’s primary intent for your marriage isn’t to make you happy . . . but holy? And, what if your relationship isn’t as much about you and your spouse as it is about you and God?
Gary Thomas is a bestselling author and international speaker who specializes in bringing people closer to Christ and closer to others. In this conversation, Gary and Charles delve deeply into how marriages can become a doorway to a closer walk with Christ and each other. Rather than wasting time with how-to steps that are “guaranteed” to give you a happy marriage, Gary makes the case for friendship, hard work, and holiness. Whether you’re in a relationship or want to be in one, this episode is for you.
Are your kids as brave as Daniel, as wise as Solomon, or as humble as Ruth? The answer is probably no on all counts, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris is joined by gospel teacher, parent, and author Jack Klumpenhower. He wrote a helpful Christ-centered book called Show Them Jesus on how to effectively teach the gospel to children in a way they can internalize it and carry their faith into adulthood. He also has some great insight into how adults can preach the gospel to themselves every day.
One of the best ways to find relief from anxiety and stress is through music. Jay Stocker knew this, which led him create a series of lullaby albums meant to help children escape nightmares, get a better night’s sleep, and hide Scripture in their hearts.
After nearly eight years without a new installment in the Scripture Lullaby series, Jay Stocker is releasing the fourth volume of Hidden in My Heart: A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture focused on how we can all find hope in the Lord, even in a world of uncertainty. Charles Morris caught up with Jay in his home in Fort Collins, Colorado, to talk about how kids, parents, and grandparents alike use this music to find much-needed peace and trust Jesus.
You can listen to the full interview right now or watch the video version here.
The Bible offers guidance on many issues. But when it coms to issues like divorce and remarriage in the church, there are still many questions that don’t have quick and easy answers. Questions like …
- Is adultery the only grounds for divorce?
- Is remarriage considered adultery?
- What should you do if your spouse walks away from the marriage?
Dr. David Instone-Brewer helps clear things up on these issues that continue to remain controversial in the church today. Originally recorded in 2013 on the grounds of Tyndale House in Cambridge, England, today's episode of the Great Stories podcast is packed with answers to some of the toughest questions surrounding divorce and remarriage, along with helpful insights on what is actually said in the Bible and how the church should respond.
Dr. Instone-Brewer is the author of several books, including Divorce and Remarriage in the Church. He is also a research fellow at Tyndale House, which is a research library in biblical studies located in Cambridge, England. He previously served as a Baptist minister.
Going Deeper * Take a deeper dive into the research behind Dr. David Instone-Brewer's conclusions by getting a copy of his book on the topic. * Read some excerpts from his book in this short blog titled 4 Questions you were scared to ask about divorce and remarriage.
Too many of us live each day under the tyranny of the urgent. Not only is this frenetic pace of the 21st century unsustainable, it’s not the way God intended you to live. On today’s episode, Fernando Ortega makes the case for slowing things down and making time for God in our daily lives. If you’ve ever heard him sing, you know the sound of his voice is unmistakable. Here, he talks about how worship is more than what we sing on Sunday. It’s a way of life that happens ever day. The question is, who — or what — do you worship?
- Why does God allow suffering in the world?
- How could a loving God send people to Hell?
- How can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”?
- Why have so many wars been fought in the name of God?
These are questions Dr. Timothy Keller has been fielding from doubters in New York City for the last 30 years. On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Tim answers some of the toughest questions that often come up about Jesus and the reason for God. By the time he's finished, you’ll have a better understanding of how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief, held by thoughtful people of intellectual integrity with a deep compassion for those who truly want to know the truth.
As a young boy, Nabeel Qureshi wanted to be just like his father—a devout Muslim. Eventually, he started studying the claims of Christianity and found the historical evidence for Jesus to be more strong and credible than his own religion. This led him on a journey to know Jesus.
Recorded just a few years before his death, Nabeel Qureshi sat down with Charles Morris to talk about this journey from seeking Allah to finding Jesus, the events that took him down this road, and what it meant for his close-knit family.
Click here to learn about a documentary called American Gospel: Christ Alone, which features segments of Nabeel's story as he faced life's final chapter.
Wealth. Luxury. Comfort. Who wouldn’t want these things?
Costi Hinn is the nephew of one of the most famous prosperity preachers in the world, but he no longer works for his uncle. After growing up in a life of luxury, Costi found Jesus outside the Word of Faith movement. In what became our most listened-to interview of 2019, he tells his story, while also explaining what the prosperity gospel gets wrong about Jesus.
- To hear more from Costi in a new documentary, watch American Gospel: Christ Alone.
- To read Charles Morris’ article on this topic, read What’s wrong with the prosperity gospel?
- Get your own copy of Costi’s book God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel.
- Get the audiobook version of Costi’s book here.
Where do we go when we die? What will heaven be like? Who goes there? How do we live each day in light of our eternal home?
Elyse Fitzpatrick wrote one of the best, most comprehensive and biblical books on Heaven called Home: How Heaven and the New Earth Satisfy Our Deepest Longings. On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, she joins Charles Morris to help us peek through the cloud of uncertainty surrounding the topic of Heaven by looking at what Scripture actually says about our eternal home.
Elyse holds a certificate in biblical counseling from CCEF (San Diego) and an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary. She has authored 25 books on daily living and the Christian life.
The prayer of Jabez. God’s Formula for Success and Prosperity. Your Best Life Now. These are just a few of the many books out there on how to achieve the abundant life. If you pray hard enough, give enough money, or have enough faith, you too can break through to the blessed life. But that’s not the way Ann Voskamp sees it.
In this conversation that originally aired as a live webcast from her farm in Ontario, Canada, Charles Morris and Ann Voskamp discuss themes from her recent book, The Broken Way. Unlike the previously mentioned books, Ann believes the only path to abundance is in the shape of a cross.
- Click here to watch the live webcast version of this episode.
- Click here to learn more about The Broken Way.
The most startling claim of Christianity is that Jesus rose from the dead after being brutally executed on a Roman cross two thousand years ago. Could it possibly be true? And if it were, what difference could it make to us today?
Dr. N.T. Wright, a leading New Testament Scholar and retired Anglican Bishop, joins Charles Morris for a special Easter episode of the Great Stories podcast. In this conversation about the historical resurrection of Christ, you’ll hear one of the best explanations for why we can be certain Jesus really rose from the dead and why that matters today.
Where is God when bad things happen? What about when things go from bad to worse?
Bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst joins Charles Morris on today’s episode to talk about a season in her life when she faced one difficult moment after another … until the words, “God won’t give you more than you can handle,” just seemed empty and naive. And yet, the Lord was there all along.
If you’ve ever gone through hard times, you’re going to find a friend in this interview who knows what it feels like to walk through deep devastation and heartbreak while still standing on the reality that God is good.
Click here to read a transcribed version of this interview.
Easter is coming. But unlike the Christmas season, Easter doesn’t have as many of the rich traditions that help us anticipate Christ’s death and resurrection. On today’s episode, Andrew Peterson helps us bridge the gap between what we read in the gospel and how these events have direct implications for how we live every single day. You’ll also hear him talk about how he connects with Christ through music and the sense of feeling God’s presence in historic Christian places that are no longer active today.
As Easter approaches, we encourage you to prepare your heart to celebrate the Resurrection through Andrew Peterson’s album Resurrection Letters, Vol. 1. You can also view a video of one of the most powerful songs on the album here (Is He Worthy?).
Death is a difficult topic. Most look upon it with fear, while others try to ignore it altogether. But one thing is certain ... it’s been on people’s minds more than usual lately.
When Andy McQuitty received his cancer diagnosis in 2009, it felt more like a death sentence. Not only did he have cancer, but he was very likely going to die from that cancer. This set him on an intense journey through the valley of the shadow of death, and he came out on the other side with a new perspective on how Christians can live with purpose—even as we approach life's final chapter. Hear his profound insights and reflections when you listen to today's episode.
Today, strength is applauded while weakness is seen as a defect. For the Christian, this should be the other way around.
Having collided with a bread truck as a child and receiving brain surgery that left him with an indented skull, the late J.I. Packer (Knowing God) is well acquainted with weakness and frailty. In this conversation he tells how this shaped his life and led him to depend on Christ for strength. Throughout, he debunks the myth of self-sufficiency, laying out a path for us to follow from discouragement to freedom in light of our all-sufficient God.
J.I. Packer went home to be with the Lord in 2020. This conversation was originally recorded for the Haven Today radio broadcast in 2013. The message of Christ’s power being made perfect in our weakness is just as true today as it was then.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Cor. 12:9)
You may not know his name but you’ve definitely heard and sung along to his music. Known as the father of modern gospel, Andraé Crouch won seven grammies and had a profound influence on the music industry.
Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Elvis Presley, and Little Richard are just a few household names who covered some of the several hundred gospel songs Andraé wrote in his lifetime. He worked with Michael Jackson and Modonna, and arranged music for The Lion King and The Color Purple.
But more than all of these accolades, Andraé Crouch loved Jesus. He went home to be with the Lord in 2015, but you can get to know him today when you listen to this musical episode of the Great Stories podcast as Charles and Andraé sit around a Steinway piano to stories and the tune of some of his most powerful music. You won’t want to miss this classic conversation from the Haven Today archive.
Longtime listeners of the Haven Today radio broadcast have a fond appreciation for the ministry’s third speaker: Ray Ortlund. A trusted voice on the radio, Ray also served as a mentor to Charles as he took the helm about twenty years ago. Today, Charles goes full circle and interviews Ray’s grandson, Dane, about his journey to discover the heart of Jesus. The result became a profound little book called Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers, which is quickly becoming a staple for Christians wanting to draw nearer to Christ today.
Dane Ortlund (PhD, Wheaton College) serves as senior pastor of Naperville Presbyterian Church. He is the author of several books, including Gentle and Lowly, and the editor of the Knowing the Bible series and the Short Studies in Biblical Theology series. Dane lives with his wife, Stacey, and their five children in Naperville, Illinois.
With Valentine's Day around the corner, Charles Morris returns to one of his favorite interviews on the topic of love with Dr. Gary Chapman. You might recognize him as the author of The 5 Love Languages. Written more than two decades ago, this is one of those rare books that is consistently found near the top of every bestseller list year after year.
So why does this concept of five love languages resonate with so many people — both Christians and unbelievers? And what do they have to do with how we relate to God and others?
Charles and Gary answer these questions and get to the heart of how to better communicate and receive love in this special Valentine's Day conversation.
- If God is all loving, why did He allow the Coronavirus Pandemic to spread?
- If God is all powerful, why doesn’t he eradicate Covid-19 right now?
- How can my faith in Christ help me cope with this new way of life?
- How is the Lord actually making a difference right now?
These are not easy questions to answer. In this conversation, Oxford mathematics professor Dr. John Lennox (author of Where is God in a Coronavirus World? and Has Science Buried God?) examines the coronavirus in light of various belief systems and shows how the Christian worldview not only helps us to make sense of it, but also offers us a sure and certain hope to cling to.
Have you ever experienced feelings of sadness, grief, isolation, or despair? You are not alone.
An estimated 17.3 million American adults experienced depression in 2019, up 2 million from the last five years. It’s not hard to imagine how much higher this became in 2020 during the pandemic. And the rates are continuing to rise as COVID-19 persists into the most depressing time of year—midwinter.
In light of the diminishing mental health many of us are experiencing in the midst of a pandemic, we thought this would be the perfect time to revive one of our best interviews on the subject with Christian Counselor Dr. Ed Welch. Instead of offering simple platitudes or unrealistic “cure-all” formulas, he addresses the complex nature of depression with compassion and insight, applying the rich treasures of the gospel, and giving fresh hope to those who struggle.
Edward T. Welch, M.Div., Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He has counseled for over twenty-five years and has written many books including Depression: Looking Up From the Stubborn Darkness; When People Are Big and God Is Small; Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave; Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest; Crossroads: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Addiction; and When I Am Afraid: A Step-by-Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety. Ed and his wife Sheri have two married daughters and four grandchildren.
It’s tough being a pastor in Washington D.C. right now. David Hanke knows this more than most as he preaches at Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington, VA, just across the Potomac from the U.S. Capitol. His congregation includes government officials on both sides of the aisle.
As one administration leaves the White House and another arrives, political division throughout the country remains. On a special edition of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris wanted to get a current perspective from a pastor in the Washington D.C. area who can point us to Jesus ... no matter where you fall on the political spectrum.
As 2021 began, many of us hoped this year would be better than the last. But it hasn’t started off the way we hoped. With the chaos at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and the FBI’s warning of more possible insurrections on Inauguration Day, it seems our divisive times are here to stay. With that in mind, Charles Morris believes this is a time for all of us to pause and reflect on what it means to love one another. To love like Jesus.
This interview was recorded in 2014, but its call to love is even more relevant today. Paul Miller is the son of Charles Morris’ old pastor and mentor Jack Miller. His book, “A Loving Life,” serves as a springboard for this conversation as he explores how the Old Testament book of Ruth teaches us about hesed (unconditional) love. May this conversation inspire you to love your neighbors, even if they disagree with you.
Ted Cooper was an agnostic who decided to put the claims of Christianity to the test by doing what so many have tried and failed to do—read the Bible all the way through. Knowing how many who attempt Bible reading plans often abandon their goal, he devised an ambitious, yet doable plan to make it from Genesis to Revelation in 90 days. The results were extraordinary.
Going Deeper
- If you want to read the Bible in 90 days yourself, click here to view the reading schedule and make 2021 the year you read God’s Word all the way through.
- For your own copy of the official Bible in 90 Days Bible, click here.
- And, in case you missed it, you can click here to tune in to last week’s episode of the Great Stories podcast and listen to David Suchet’s interview on acting and meeting Jesus late in life.
David Suchet is a British actor known for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and captivating portrayal of Agatha Christie’s Inspector Hercule Poirot. But there’s something else that’s even more important to him than his stellar acting career—Jesus.
In this episode, David Suchet talks about encountering Christ late in life, how he approaches acting as a Christian, and what Jesus means to him now.
Going Deeper
- David Suchet always hoped to one day portray Paul in a movie or play. Instead, he shot a documentary for the BBC following in his footsteps. What the trailer here.
- Click here to get your own copy of David Suchet’s DVD “In the Footsteps of St. Paul.”
What comes to mind when you think about God? It’s hard to fathom someone who is infinite, all-powerful, and in all places at once. But on that first Christmas, God became veiled in flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. In today’s special Christmas episode, Charles Morris reflects on this Christ of Christmas and what it means for Jesus to be both fully man and fully God.
Featuring both music and message, this episode departs from our typical interview format and challenges you to consider this divine mystery as you prepare to celebrate the greatest gift of all this year—God with us.
Going Deeper
- Want more Christ-centered Christmas content? Listen to last week’s episode on the Forgotten Spirit of Christmas.
- Watch this Christmas video from Charles Morris about how this biblical event is ultimately about promises made and promises kept.
On today's episode, Charles Morris talks about someone who was a significant part of the first Christmas, but who often overlooked—the Holy Spirit. The arrival of Jesus is the “main event,” but none of it would have been possible without the third person of the Trinity. Today, we're going behind the scenes of the typical nativity story to give you a more complete view of that first Christmas.
This special Christmas podcast also features conversations with Grammy, Billboard, and Dove winning singer-songwriter Laura Story and former prosperity gospel preacher Costi Hinn. As we all begin to celebrate a very different and, for many, a very lonely Christmas, we pray this episode will help you prepare your heart for Christ this season.
For many, Handel’s Messiah is what people listen to most at Christmastime, but did you know it was originally written for Easter? The scope of this musical masterpiece spans the entirety of Scripture with the central point resting on the birth of our Savior and culminating in God’s ultimate victory over sin.
On today's episode, Charles Morris returns to two interviews he did in London to learn more about the story behind George Frideric Handel's most famous work. Dr. Ruth Smith, a widely respected Handel historian, and Sarah Bardwell, director of the Handel House Museum in London, discuss the theological purpose of Messiah, the controversy it created, it's first performance at the Foundling Hospital, how Handel wrote the massive score in three weeks, and why it's gone on to have such a lasting legacy today.
To watch the mini-documentary mentioned in the podcast touring Handel's House, visit https://haventoday.org/a-visit-to-handels-house-gsp.php
To see a list of all the lyrics and Scripture references that make up the famous libretto, visit https://haventoday.org/handels-messiah-lyrics-verse-references-gsp.php
And, finally, to get your own copy of the 2-CD set, we'd love to send it to you as our thanks for a donation to Haven Ministries. Learn more (and listen to samples) here: https://haventoday.org/handels-messiah-gsp.php
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. The creator of VeggieTales knows this all too well. So why did he rejoice after the Lord took his beloved cartoon creation away from him? In this new interview, Phil Vischer discusses with Charles Morris how he went from building a Christian cartoon empire to losing it all and finding something even greater as a result.
On this episode, you’ll hear how Phil came up with VeggieTales, how it rose and fell, how this taught him a valuable spiritual lesson, and how his work is much different today as he focuses each project on the great story that’s all about Jesus. In the interview, Phil also shares how those facing a lonely Christmas this year can use it as a unique opportunity to draw nearer to our Redeemer.
As we prepare for a very unique 2020 Thanksgiving in the US, Charles Morris is returning to two conversations he had with two special people who have done tremendous work in helping children learn about Jesus: Sally Lloyd-Jones, bestselling author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, and Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, the What’s in the Bible? DVD series, and the new Laugh and Grow Study Bible.
In this episode, Sally and Phil talk about the history of Thanksgiving and what it means to them. Rather than celebrating the gift of food and excess, they challenge us to draw our attention to something greater … the gift of knowing Jesus.
Though these interviews were recorded well before entering a pandemic, the message of giving thanks to the Lord in good times and bad is especially poignant as travel and safety restrictions hinder the opportunity for families to get together this year.
Originally recorded in 2013, 50 years after the death of C.S. Lewis, Charles Morris had a conversation with Dr. Alister McGrath to shed new light on the most famous atheist-turned-Christian of the 20th century.
Dr. McGrath has written one of the most comprehensive biographies on the life of C.S. Lewis. After reading everything Lewis had ever written—including recently published correspondence—Dr. McGrath challenges some of the previously held beliefs about the timing of the beloved author's shift from atheism to theism and then to Christianity. But he also paints a definitive portrait of Lewis' life as an eccentric thinker who became an inspiring, though reluctant, prophet for our times.
In addition to his work at Oxford, Dr. Alister McGrath is Senior Research Fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, President of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, and serves as associate priest in a group of Church of England village parishes in the Cotswolds.
U.S. Senate Chaplain Barry Black holds a Bible study with senators and their staff every week, always pointing to Jesus and never taking a side politically. As the United States remains divided after a heated presidential election, Barry Black’s conversation serves as a reminder for American Christians to pray for their nation and neighbors—no matter what side of the aisle they’re on.
Barry Black has been serving the US Senate as chaplain since July, 2003. Before this, he served as a United States Navy Chaplain. Rising to Rear Admiral, Black ended his career as the Navy’s Chief of Chaplains. More recently, Black wrote the forward for the One Year Pray for America Bible that includes non-partisan prayer prompts and inspirational prayers.
To hear more from Barry Black, watch his powerful 2017 National Prayer Breakfast speech that sparked cheers and brought thousands of attendees to their feet.
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