No Showbiz for Jesus

When former television host Phil Donahue started as a young television reporter, he was sent to cover a mine disaster. It was late at night. Snow was on the ground. It was cold and the rescue team was deep down in the mine shaft. Worried relatives and friends gathered at the opening to the mine, waiting anxiously for some word of hope. Ant then someone began to sing, “What a friend we have in Jesus.” Other people sang, “All our sins and griefs to bear.” Still, more voices joined in, “What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.” Then it was quiet.

A minister stepped out of the crowd and said, “Let us pray.” It was a brief, moving prayer. Donahue said it was such a moving scene that he got goosebumps. The only problem was that it was so cold that the television camera froze up, missing the scene. Donahue held the camera against his body and rubbed it to get it…