Great Stories by Haven Today

Christmas is usually a time when we look back on stories of ages past. Think of classic tales like A Christmas Carol or the Night Before Christmas or even It’s a Wonderful Life. But what about some extraordinary Christmas stories that we don’t often get to hear. Stories from ordinary people, like you and me, that help us see Christ in Christmas? That’s what this episode of the Great Stories Podcast is all about. These "Christmas Nuggets" (as Charles has been calling them) whisper the name of someone you and I both know and love and we talk a lot about this time of year. And here's a hint; his name isn’t Santa Claus. These are exactly the kinds of conversations we need to hear at Christmas … because they never fail to remind me of my Savior and what he came to do on that first Christmas.

As winter sets in, so does the darkness. The sun sets earlier and rises later. It's also when we celebrate the moment Jesus came into the world as a light in the darkness to redeem his people. 

On today's episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris returns to a Christmas special we aired on Haven Today ten years ago. When you listen, you'll hear how the Old Testament people of God looked forward to the promises of a coming king who would free them from their sins. You'll also have a chance to reflect on how the people of God today can look forward to the Christ's return when he will make all things new. 

As we approach Christmas this year, it is our prayer this episode would help you anticipate the celebration of the birth of Christ, as we also look forward to his future return.

There’s no shortage of kingdoms in children’s movies and books, and yet all of them pale in comparison to the Kingdom of God. But then why is it so often difficult to teach our kids that all of life and all of Scripture points to our one true king? Storybook author Tyler Van Halteren has some thoughts about how we can help the children our lives become more engaged in God's Word.

Tyler Van Halteren is the author of the new Kingdom of God Bible Storybook. You might also recognize him for his work on the popular storybook adaptations of Pilgrim's Progress called Little Pilgrim's Big Journey. On today’s episode of the Great Stories Podcast, Charles Morris speaks with Tyler about how some of the Bible’s most often skipped over stories are also the ones that help children and adults begin to pray “Thy Kingdom Come.”

As we prepare for another Thanksgiving in the US, Charles Morris is returning to two conversations he had with two special people who have done tremendous work in helping children learn about Jesus: Sally Lloyd-Jones, bestselling author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, and Phil Vischer, creator of VeggieTales, the What’s in the Bible? DVD series, and the new Laugh and Grow Study Bible. 

In this episode that originally aired in 2020, Sally and Phil talk about the history of Thanksgiving and what it means to them. Rather than celebrating the gift of food and excess, they challenge us to draw our attention to something greater … the gift of knowing Jesus. 

Though these interviews were recorded well before entering a pandemic, the message of giving thanks to the Lord in good times and bad is especially poignant as travel and safety restrictions hinder the opportunity for families to get together this year.

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.

Jon Erwin is 1/2 of the Erwin Brothers, a two-person team of Christian Filmmakers committed to telling profound and Christ-honoring stories in cinema. You may have seen one of their movies: “Woodlawn,” “I Can Only Imagine,” or their newest project “Johnny Cash: The Redemption of An American Icon.”

In this interview, Jon discusses the story behind some Erwin Brothers movies, his hopes for the future of Christian filmmaking, and the vital role Jesus plays in his life and work.

What would it be like if a classically trained actor approached Scripture reading in the same way he would Hamlet or Macbeth? The result is soul stirring. And it’s exactly what Ted Staunton did to ten of the most dramatic stories of deliverance found in the Old Testament.

Bringing decades of experience from the stage to a brand new Haven-produced project called Experience the Old Testament: 10 Stories of Deliverance, Ted focuses on something he loves more dearly than any of his previous scripts: God’s Word. On today’s episode of the Great Stories podcast, he discusses how he approached this unique project, what it means to him, and why reading Scripture aloud is one of the most powerful ways to experience the Word of God.

Charles Morris recently hosted a live Zoom Holy Land briefing with the President of Jews for Jesus, David Brickner, and their country director, Eli Birnbaum, in Tel Aviv.

On the call, they discussed recent events like the attack by Hamas in Israel and the hospital bombing in Gaza. They also talked about how Jews for Jesus is helping displaced people with both physical needs as well as ways they are sharing the gospel in Israel.

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!

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!

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.