Traveler’s Tales

Hymn History: Jesus Paid It All

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 grateful surrender. This account reminds us that ordinary, surrendered lives can leave an extraordinary legacy of faith.

Bible Stories You Should Know: Elijah on Mount Carmel

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. [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/mount-carmel/] Study the life of Elijah with Scott Pauley HERE  [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/a-man-like-us-in-times-like-ours/] Browse more Traveler's Tales HERE [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/travelers-tales/] Visit enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/] to learn more about knowing Jesus. To support this ministry, visit enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/]

The Man Behind 'Holy, Holy, Holy': Reginald Heber's Story

Discover the story behind the beloved hymn "Holy, Holy, Holy" and the devoted life of Reginald Heber, who penned it for a special Sunday while writing hymns to minister the truth to his church family. Learn how Heber’s faithful ministry in England and his missionary service in India turned song into a life of worship. Surrender your life to the thrice-holy God. Visit enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/] to learn more about knowing Jesus. Read more about Reginald Heber HERE. [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-holy-holy-holy/] Browse more Traveler's Tales HERE [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/travelers-tales/] To support this ministry, visit enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/]

J.C. Penney: The Golden Rule is Not Enough!

Join host Greg Dowdy on Traveler’s Tales as he retells the surprising spiritual journey of James Cash Penney — the man behind the J.C. Penney empire. This episode traces Penney’s early life in Missouri, his family’s faith influence, and the founding of his first store in Kemmer, Wyoming, which grew into a national chain built on the Golden Rule: “As ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” The episode covers Penney’s extraordinary rise in business, the establishment of the J.C. Penney Company in 1913, and the devastating 1929 crash that wiped out his fortune, damaged his health, and exposed a deeper spiritual void. Penney realized he had been living off "spiritual capital"—the inherited faith and moral principles of his upbringing—rather than maintaining an ongoing, personal relationship with God. But that all changed! Visit enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/] to learn more about knowing Jesus. Read more about J.C. Penney HERE. [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/christians-you-should-know-jc-penney/] Browse more Traveler's Tales HERE [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/travelers-tales/] To support this ministry, visit enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/]

A Trunk, A Railroad Disaster, and Sacrificial Love: The Story of "I Will Sing of My Redeemer"

This Traveler's Tales episode tells the story of Philip Paul Bliss, a humble teacher and hymn writer who, shaped by family faith and encouraged by D.L. Moody, devoted his music to pointing people to Christ and penned the words to "I Will Sing of My Redeemer." Bliss died in the 1876 Ashtabula River railroad disaster while seeking to rescue his wife, yet his hymn survived in a trunk, spread worldwide, and was even among the first songs recorded by Thomas Edison. This episode recounts his life, sacrifice, and the lasting call to sing and live out the grace of the Redeemer. Visit enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/gospel/] to learn more about knowing Jesus. Read more about P.P. Bliss HERE. [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-i-will-sing-of-my-redeemer/] Browse more Traveler's Tales HERE [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/travelers-tales/] To support this ministry, visit enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/ [https://enjoyingthejourney.org/donations/]