Great Stories by Haven Today

#151: Israel at War - Hear from Impacted Believers Near the Gaza Border

Israel caught by surprise. The invasion came by land, sea, and air. Bulldozers punched through the border wall making openings for fleets of terrorists on motorcycles racing to small towns along the Gaza Strip. Terrorists paragliding across, others landing by small high-speed boats. One person described it as a sea of bodies — those randomly shot and killed along the way. Hamas snatching the old, the young, the disabled, carting them back to Gaza as hostages, parading them through streets filled with cheers. 

In this new episode of the Great Stories Podcast, you will first hear from pastor's wife Esther Zadok near the Gaza Border. During the conversation recorded less than 24 hours after the invasion began, she kept receiving messages from members of their church — including a marine being called up for duty and a young family who endured 15 hours in their safe room/bomb shelter as Hamas repeatedly tried to break through. 

Later in the episode, you'll hear from Director of Jews for Jesus Eli Birnbaum, as well as Darya Short, a tour guide who had to help her international tour find safety in the midst of the attack.

How you can help: Haven Ministries is partnering with Jews for Jesus, the largest Christian ministry operating in Israel, who is responding to the crisis quickly by providing food, blankets, clothing, toiletries to those displaced by the invasion — all in the name of the Messiah. Visit haventoday.org to find out how you can provide help + hope today!

#150: Paul McCusker on Turning The Screwtape Letters into an Audio Drama

The Screwtape Letters is C.S. Lewis’ satirical book of letters where Hell is imagined as a gruesome bureaucracy and demons labor in a vast enterprise to lure and deceive humans away from the "enemy", a.k.a. God. Among Lewis’ best-known works, Paul McCusker brought the source material to life when he turned it into a full-cast audio drama starring Andy Serkis as Screwtape.

On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, McCusker joins Charles Morris to discuss how this project came about, how he adapted a book of letters into a compelling drama, and how this story brilliantly conveys the subtleties of darkness while reinforcing a biblical perspective that leads to Jesus.

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 Screwtape Letters and The Chronicles of Narnia (Collector’s Edition). He has written over 50 books, 21 plays and 4 musicals.

#149: Aaron House on How to Memorize Scripture Simply and Effectively (repost)

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 Bible passages 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.

#148: Messianic Jews on Finding Jesus in the Jewish High Holy Days

The Jewish High Holy Days begin at sundown mid-September with Rosh Hashanah, commemorating God’s creation of man. Faithful Jews often greet each other by saying “L’shanah tovah,” which means “for a good year.” It also includes the blowing of the shofar and the eating of apples, honey, challah bread with raisons.

But these days come to an end ten days later with the highest of all the high holy days: Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when practicing Jews ask forgiveness for their sins against God and against their fellow human beings. Back in the Temple days, the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies only on this Sabbath of Sabbaths with two sin offerings: a bull for his house and a goat for the people. The priest would then lay the sins of the people on a second goat, chosen by lot as the scapegoat and released into the wilderness.

But why are these Jewish holidays important for Christians? First, it’s a great reminder that Yeshua (Jesus) is the Messiah — the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Unlike the scapegoat, the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross is good for all time. Second, these holy days out of Leviticus also offer profound insight into the roots of our faith.

On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, Charles Morris is joined by three Messianic Jews who tell their stories of faith in Christ against the backdrop of the Jewish High Holy Days — all of which are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

#147: Melissa Kruger Wants You to Pray for Your Children (repost)

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. 

#146: Ray and Betty Whipps Tell Their Story of Faith and Love in World War II (repost)

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.

#145: Louis Zamperini: Story of an Olympian, WWII Hero, and Unbroken Follower of Christ (repost)

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.

#143: Malcolm Guite on the Importance of Poetry in the Life of the Believer

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.

#143: Amish Stories of Grace: Finding Jesus in Lancaster County

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.

#142: Charles & Janet Morris on Finding Courage When Death Rescued Their Son

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.