Traveler’s Tales

The Apostle Paul famously used the imagery of a Roman soldier while listing the armor of God in Ephesians 6: the helmet, breastplate, shield, sword, belt, and even shoes. But he leaves out one famous piece: the spear. Perhaps this omission is intended to remind Christians that the battle is already underway! This Traveler's Tales with Greg Dowdy examines this topic in more detail. Join us! Christi...

On a moonlit Civil War night, a Union soldier singing “Savior, Like a Shepherd, Lead Us” was spared by a Confederate soldier who was about to fire on him. Miraculously, the same two men met 14 years later when the famous singer Ira Sankey sang the same hymn aboard a steamboat. The event that nearly brought death to one man resulted in the other finding eternal life in Christ, years later.  Be sure...

This episode uses the spring wildflowers of Israel and Isaiah 40:6-8 to illustrate the brevity of our lives and the eternal nature of God’s Word. Spring in the Holy Land is gorgeous, with the rains causing even the deserts to suddenly bloom with flowers. One remarkable flower is the poppy, the national flower of the modern nation of Israel. They carpet the hills with red, but the burst of color is...

This episode visits the Sorek Valley to tell Samson’s story—a man chosen by God who repeatedly ‘went down’ toward the Philistine plain, surrendered to temptation, and was ultimately captured after Delilah uncovered the secret of his strength. We find also the great significance in the geography and symbolism of his decline. Join Greg Dowdy for this Bible story Travelers Tales.  READ MORE HERE STUD...

Amy Carmichael had one childhood wish: blue eyes, instead of brown. Yet, it seemed this simple prayer went unanswered. In the wisdom of God, Amy became a lifelong missionary in India. What seemed like disappointment allowed her to blend into Indian culture and rescue scores of children from horrendous temple exploitation. Her unanswered prayers became an avenue to answer the prayers of hundreds of...

Pastor Edward Hopper ministered to 19th-century New York sailors and anonymously wrote the hymn "Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me," using nautical word pictures to illustrate that Christ will be their Guide through life’s uncertain journey. The hymn spread beyond the harbor and became an enduring comfort for believers facing storms and uncertain days. Jesus will pilot His people safely - all the way home....

In this episode of Traveler's Tales, Greg Dowdy recounts 1 Samuel 7, when Samuel set up the stone Ebenezer after God's miraculous deliverance of  Israel from the Philistines at Mizpah. Samuel named the stone as a lasting reminder of God’s help.  We also find a wonderful parallel to Christ as the greatest Ebenezer, at Calvary and by the empty tomb. Click HERE to read or cite the full article on Enj...

This episode explores John 1's brief but powerful encounter where Jesus tells Nathanael, "When thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee," explaining the fig tree as a symbol of peace, faithful waiting, and intimate devotion in a biblical context. Read More About This Account HERE Biblical Account: John 1:45-51 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the...

John Leland, an 18th-century Baptist preacher, championed religious liberty. He was instrumental in securing those freedoms for the United States. Leland argued that the gospel does not need (and should not wield) government power to succeed. Rather, that they should enforce laws for society while recognizing the Spirit's work within the human heart. No power can legislate regeneration.  Many peop...

Is your heart's longing to draw nearer to God or simply to escape the challenges you are facing?  This episode shares the life and ministry of Fanny Crosby , a blind hymn writer who composed thousands of hymns—including "I Am Thine, O Lord." Fanny Crosby, although blind from infancy, memorized vast portions of Scripture and served among the poor and addicted while traveling and ministering across...

Journey back to the Mayflower and meet William Bradford, a Pilgrim leader whose life was shaped by Scripture, steadfast faith, and a willingness to endure hardship and grief for the sake of the gospel and those following in his footsteps.  From the perilous ocean crossing and unbelievable losses to decades of leadership in the early days of Plymouth, Bradford trusted in God’s providence and obeyed...

Do you need God to increase your vision? Think again. You need God to be your vision. To guide your heart into alignment with His. In this Traveler's Tale, Greg Dowdy shares the origins of the hymn "Be Thou My Vision," telling the story of Dallán Forgal, a blind Irish poet, and how his ancient prayer was translated and set to verse centuries later. Since then, it has become the beloved and convict...

God sometimes leads His people into hard, unfamiliar places. Jacob sought God's guidance at Beersheba and received the comforting promise, "I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again."  God's greatest gift is His presence, not an easy journey. Sometimes His purpose takes you into hardship, but He sees and knows; He is with you.  The episode connects this promis...

G. Campbell Morgan was one of the greatest Bible teachers and preachers of his time. He spent years immersing himself in Scripture and let that one Book shape his preaching and every other area of life.  His classic response to how he found such rich truth in the Word of God was: "Work. Work. Work." Just as Morgan loved and studied God's Word, so must every believer. It has the power to renew our...

George Whitefield, an insecure Oxford convert, wrestled with fear and unworthiness before surrendering to God’s call to preach. Despite initial resistance, his obedience sparked powerful outdoor revivals across England and America - ultimately, God used George Whitfield to be a key instrument in The Great Awakening. 

Nothing is in the Bible by chance - even the Almonds have an eternal lesson for us. This edition of Traveler's Tales explores Jeremiah’s vision of an almond branch and its connection to Aaron’s budding rod, illustrating how God watches over and fulfills His promises even amid delays.  Learn to recognize God’s faithfulness, respond to His call, and trust that His word will always come to pass. Read...

Traveler's Tales explores the true story behind the famous hymn "When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder." The account begins with what seemed like a chance encounter in a Williamsport, Pennsylvania, alley in 1893. Youth pastor James M. Black met a poor girl named Bessie, whose brief life and faithfulness inspired a song that has comforted Christians for over a century. If you are not sure that your sal...

This episode explores why God often meets his servants in the wilderness — from Moses and David to Elijah, John the Baptist, and Jesus — and how barren places become meeting places where God speaks to His servants.  If you’re walking through a difficult season, the wilderness may be where God refines and speaks to you; open the Word of God, quiet your heart, and listen for His voice in your wilder...

This episode tells the story of Raymond Lull, a 13th-century scholar and missionary who was transformed by Christ and devoted his life to preaching the gospel among hostile peoples in North Africa, enduring imprisonment and ultimately martyrdom. It challenges listeners to love like Jesus—reaching out to those who oppose or reject us—and points to practical resources to help share the gospel with c...

On his deathbed, pastor Henry Francis Lyte wrote the hymn "Abide with Me," a simple prayer for Christ's presence as life’s shadows fell. The hymn, born from his final sermon and struggles with illness, has comforted generations in churches, hospitals, and at funerals. This episode tells Light's story — his faithful ministry, his last sermon, and the enduring message that when earthly strength fail...

After the flood, God sets a bow in the clouds as a lasting sign of His covenant, transforming a weapon of war into a symbol of mercy. This episode explores how the rainbow threads from Genesis to Revelation, reminding us of God's faithfulness and the meeting of judgment and grace in Christ. Even amid life's storms, the rainbow reminds us to trust in God's unchanging promises.  Browse more Traveler...

This episode tells the true story behind Fanny Crosby’s hymn "Saved by Grace" — how a blind hymn writer, encouraged by Moody and others, found a once private, encouraging poem became a beloved hymn after being shared at a conference and set to music. Now the profound truth of that timeless hymn has wafted across continents, reminding us that we are saved only by His grace.  HYMN LYRICS: Saved By G...

Noah Webster spent decades shaping the American language and education, but his deepest conviction was that a society must be grounded in the Word of God. This episode traces his 38-year labor on an American dictionary and the faith that guided his life and work. Listen to his clarion call to return as a nation to the truth of God's Word. We can no longer afford to treat the symptoms of sin in our...

On a Sunday in 1865 at Monument Street Methodist Church in Baltimore, a choir member, Mrs. Hall, was so moved by a sermon on the crucifixion that she wrote a hymn in the margin of her hymnal. Her words were later paired perfectly with a melody by their church organist John Grape, creating the classic hymn "Jesus Paid It All." Christ paid the full penalty for sin and that fact calls believers to gr...

On Mount Carmel, the prophet Elijah confronted 450 prophets of Baal in a dramatic showdown recorded in 1 Kings 18. After repairing the neglected altar of the Lord and drenching the sacrifice with water, Elijah prays simply, and God answers by sending fire from Heaven, proving He alone is God and turning the hearts of the people back to Him. Read more about this HERE. Study the life of Elijah with...