Great Stories by Haven Today

#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.

#8: David Suchet Reflects on His Acting Career and Encountering Christ 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.”

#7: Veiled in Flesh: The Haven Today Christmas Special

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.

#6: The Forgotten "Spirit" of Christmas (Feat. Laura Story and Costi Hinn)

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. 

#5: Ruth Smith & Sarah Bardwell: The Unlikely Story Behind Handel's Messiah

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 

#4: Phil Vischer On the Rise and Fall of VeggieTales, Christmas, and What He’s Doing Now

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.