Great Stories by Haven Today

Charles Morris on Living with Post-Polio

"Weakness on one side, fatigue all around." Charles Morris was 18 months old when he contracted Polio. And while the Lord spared him the most debilitating parts of the disease, he's had to live with the effects ever since. Those effects only become more amplified with age.

On a special episode of the great stories podcast, David Wollen speaks with Charles Morris about what his everyday life is like with post-polio and how it reminds him of the Lord's strength when he is feeling weak. No matter what troubles and weaknesses you may be facing today, this episode will keep you looking to Jesus.

Haven Ministries 90th Anniversary Celebration

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.

First Mate Bob Tells the Story Behind the Haven of Rest (repost)

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. 

Dr. David Sunday on Seeing Jesus in the Psalms

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. 

Dennis Johnson on How All the Bible is All About Jesus

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. 

Julie Lowe on How to Shield our Homes and Equip our Kids

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

Joseph Kohm on the Importance of Friendship for C.S. Lewis

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. 

 

Max McLean Gives C.S. Lewis A Voice for Today

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.

Finding Hope in the Middle of Depression with Christine Chappell

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. 

Crossing the Finish Line: A Tribute to Charles Morris

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.