Great Stories by Haven Today

#18: Andy McQuitty On Living in the Shadow of Death

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. 

#17: J.I. Packer On Weakness, the Myth of Self-Sufficiency, and Finding Strength in Christ

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)

#16: Andraé Crouch: Stories and Songs from the Father of Modern American Gospel Music

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.

#15: Dane Ortlund On Discovering How the Heart of Christ is Gentle and Lowly

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.

#14: Dr. Gary Chapman Returns to The Five Love Languages

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. 

#13: Dr. John Lennox Answers Challenging Questions About God and COVID-19

• 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.

#12: Ed Welch On Depression and Finding Lasting Deliverance from Sadness, Grief, and Despair

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.

#11: David Hanke on Preaching the Gospel to Republicans and Democrats in Washington D.C.

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.

#10: Paul Miller On How to Love Like Jesus in Divisive Times

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.

#9: Ted Cooper: How Reading the Bible in 90 Days Led Him from Agnosticism to Faith

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.