Great Stories by Haven Today

#118: Joshua Cooley on the Faith of the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Champs

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. 

#117: Corrie ten Boom’s Story — Told By Her Longtime Assistant

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.

#116: Melissa Kruger Wants You to Pray for Your Children

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. 

#115: Dr. Ben Witherington Responds to Christian Myths About Money

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.

#114: Dr. Donald Brake on the Mysterious Beginnings of the King James Bible

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. 

#113: Lysa TerKeurst Wants You to Crave God, Not Food

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. 

#112: Max McLean on Portraying C.S. Lewis in ”The Most Reluctant Convert” (repost)

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.

#111: Christmas in the Beginning (Feat. Sally Lloyd-Jones, Randall Goodgame, Lee Strobel, and Barry Black)

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).

#110: When Christmas Comes Again

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 World and celebrate Christ's birth while also looking forward to when Christmas comes again.

#109: David Zadok On Preaching the Gospel in Israel

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.