T’is (almost) the night before Christmas: Stephen finishes up a two-part historical series on the lore and traditions behind our nation’s most beloved holiday. Who is “Santa Claus,” and where did he come from?

Listen to part 1 here: http://stephenmansfield.tv/the-story-of-christmas[button size=’large’ style=” text=’SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2′ target=’_blank’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=’normal’ font_weight=” text_align=’center’ margin=‘’] [custom_font font_family=’Open Sans’ font_size=’11’ line_height=’26’ font_style=’none’ text_align=’left’ font_weight=’300′ color=” background_color=” text_decoration=’none’ text_shadow=’no’ padding=’0px’ margin=’0px’]Merry Old Santa Claus by Thomas Nast[/custom_font]

In our era of religious confusion and error, it’s easy to become confused about Christmas. Is it a religious fabrication? Did the early church celebrate it? Is it an invention of corporate America? In this calm, reasoned podcast, Stephen tells the history of Christmas and makes some recommendations for your own celebration.

 [button size=’large’ style=” text=’SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2′ target=’_blank’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=” hover_border_color=” background_color=” hover_background_color=” font_style=’normal’ font_weight=” text_align=’center’ margin=‘’]  

[custom_font font_family=’Open Sans’ font_size=’11’ line_height=’26’ font_style=’none’ text_align=’left’[read more]

Recently, politicians including President Obama, Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush have mentioned their religious beliefs as a basis for legislation they either passed or supported. Yet none of these have offered details about their personal faith. Do we as voters deserve to know what these and other politicians believe before they take office?

In Ask The Question: Why We Must Demand Religious Clarity From Our Presidential Candidates (available February 2nd, 2016), Stephen makes the case for transparency in the arena[read more]

December 2, 2015: It is the 336th day of the year, and as this episode is published, news is coming in of another mass-shooting, this time in San Bernardino, CA. It is (at least) the 352nd of the year, meaning that in 2015, more of these incidents have occurred than days of the year. Last week in Colorado Springs, CO, Robert Dear killed three people outside of a Planned Parenthood facility, in an apparently politically-motivated act of aggression against the facility’s abortion services. Unfortunately, some pro-life activists have endorsed[read more]

In this special Thanksgiving podcast, Stephen simply tells the thrilling story of the First Thanksgiving. He recounts the tale of that dissenter congregation in England almost four centuries ago, the congregation that lived in exile in Holland for twelve years before sailing to the New World aboard the Mayflower. Do you think you know this story well? You’ll be surprised at some of the hidden details and moving side stories that Stephen surfaces. Listen to this podcast and then[read more]

Given the recent terror in Paris, Stephen answers the question the Pope raised in a recent speech: Are we now in World War III? How do our present crises compare to the start of World War II? Of World War I? Stephen gives answers to these questions and offers wisdom for how we ought to live in light of what is likely coming in our world.

 [button size=’large’ style=” text=’SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES’ icon=” icon_color=” link=’https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/stephen-mansfield-podcast/id433416409?mt=2?mt=2′ target=’_blank’ color=” hover_color=” border_color=”[read more]

In the first of a three-part series, Stephen urges us to look a little more deeply into the history and traditions of Thanksgiving— and to recapture some of those traditions for our own holiday celebration. Of course, he urges us to enjoy all the food and football we like!

[custom_font font_family=’Open Sans’ font_size=’11’ line_height=’26’ font_style=’none’ text_align=’left’ font_weight=’300′ color=” background_color=” text_decoration=’none’ text_shadow=’no’ padding=’0px’ margin=’0px’]Landing of the Pilgrims by Michele Felice Cornè, circa 1805[/custom_font] [button size=’large’ style=” text=’SUBSCRIBE ON ITUNES’ icon=” icon_color=”[read more]

November 8th, 2016 is Election Day, which means there is almost one year to go. While the media has shed more than enough light on the myriad presidential candidates, one thing, for whatever reason, is lacking: religious clarity. Ben Carson is a 7th-Day Adventist. Hillary Clinton is a Social Gospel Methodist. Marco Rubio converted from Mormonism. But what do the American people know about the nuances of these belief systems, or how they might influence a person’s decisions in the Oval Office?

 

Pre-Order Ask The Question: Why[read more]

The phrase “Band of Brothers” now has special meaning in our language. It comes, of course, from the Agincourt Speech in Shakespeare’s Henry V. Its words and its sentiments have echoed through the great battles of history and galvanized the hopes of both men and women for comrades who share life and struggles together. In this podcast, Stephen tells the story of the words “Band of Brothers” through history, and he does so on the anniversary of the great[read more]

In the midst of a dispute over a site in Jerusalem referred to as “The Noble Sanctuary” by Muslims, or the “Temple Mount” by Jews, Israeli-Palestinian violence has surged out of control over the last few weeks. Stephen breaks down the details of the conflict in terms of how the West plays a part, how some aspects of the conflict have proven difficult for the media to explain, and how a misguided statement to the press by Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn’t help matters at[read more]