In this episode, Ian continues his Christmas series by walking listeners through the journey of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. He explains the historical and biblical context behind Caesar Augustus’ census, which required Joseph to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem, fulfilling Old Testament prophecy. Ian highlights Joseph’s obedience to earthly authority while remaining faithful to God’s plan, underscoring how divine purposes often unfold through ordinary, even inconvenient, circumstances.

Ian then explores the practical and geographical realities of the journey, describing the distance, terrain, and dangers Mary and Joseph likely faced, especially with Mary late in pregnancy. Drawing from Scripture, historical records, and even non-canonical writings like the Gospel of James and Pseudo-Matthew, he discusses ancient travel conditions, desert hardships, and early Christian traditions surrounding Jesus’ birth. While affirming the authority of the biblical account, Ian notes that historical and archaeological evidence supports parts of the Gospel narrative and its setting.

The episode culminates in a reflection on the humility of Christ’s birth in a stable, emphasizing the profound contrast between the divine nature of Jesus and the lowly circumstances of His arrival. Ian reflects on the miracle of God becoming human, born in a manger under the open sky, and the faith of Mary and Joseph amid uncertainty and hardship. He closes by pointing listeners toward the wonder of creation and the meaning of Christmas, setting the stage for the next episode, which will focus on the Magi and the shepherds.

Join us for EPISODE 4 — “Those Who Found Him: Shepherds and Magi”

After enjoying Christmas with your family. If you’re tired of pretending everything is fine, this is the book you need. Confronting Evil in Our Time - Now on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

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After enjoying Christmas with your family. If you’re tired of pretending everything is fine, this is the book you need. Confronting Evil in Our Time - Now on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

The episode opens with lighthearted conversation about Christmas memories before turning to its central message: Celebrate Christmas intentionally. The hosts thank listeners for their support throughout the year and emphasize that Christmas is a constant, an annual reminder of the birth of Jesus Christ. They encourage joy, gratitude, and smiling in a season that can otherwise be rushed or taken for granted, reminding listeners that Christmas holds deep spiritual and cultural significance beyond gifts and routine traditions.

The discussion highlights how Christmas uniquely places Christian truth into public culture through hymns, decorations, and shared traditions. The hosts argue that this visibility is a privilege and an opportunity, something many cultures historically or currently do not have. They defend Christmas customs like gift-giving, lights, caroling, and family gatherings as meaningful reflections of God’s gift in Christ, shaping memory, community, and culture. Christmas, they note, often transcends political and social division, drawing families, neighbors, and even non-believers together around joy, beauty, and shared celebration.

The episode also acknowledges that Christmas can be painful for those experiencing loss, loneliness, or grief. The hosts urge listeners not to withdraw, but to seek community through churches, service, and shared traditions, holding mourning and joy together rather than choosing despair. Serving others, especially during the holidays, is presented as a powerful antidote to sadness and isolation. Ultimately, the episode is a call to reclaim Christmas fully, to lean into its joy, preserve its traditions, use it as a witness of hope, and keep it alive for future generations as a bright and defiant celebration of Christ in a broken world.

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The heart of this story unfolds around two remarkable women, Elizabeth and Mary, whom God chose to carry the most significant children in human history. Elizabeth, long barren and advanced in years, receives a miraculous promise through the angel Gabriel that she will bear a son, John the Baptist. Her husband, Zechariah, encounters the angel while serving in the temple, and though he doubts the message, God’s plan moves forward. Elizabeth conceives and quietly withdraws for five months, overwhelmed by God’s mercy in removing her reproach and granting her a child who will prepare the way for the Lord.

Six months later, the same angel appears to Mary, a young virgin in Nazareth, announcing an even greater miracle, she will conceive Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Though troubled and unable to understand how this could happen, Mary responds with humble obedience: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” When Mary visits Elizabeth, the miracle becomes visible in a powerful moment of confirmation: John leaps in Elizabeth’s womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, instantly recognizes Mary as the mother of her Lord. Their meeting becomes a sacred exchange of faith, joy, and divine purpose shared between two mothers chosen by God.

Together, Elizabeth and Mary represent a unified miracle, two women linked not only by family but by destiny. Their stories highlight God’s faithfulness, the fulfillment of ancient prophecy, and the personal courage required to embrace His calling. Elizabeth’s long-awaited child and Mary’s virgin conception stand as twin testimonies that nothing is impossible with God. Their obedience, trust, and shared journey form a powerful prelude to the coming of Christ and the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan for the world.

Join us for EPISODE 3 — “The Journey: Bethlehem and the Birth of Jesus”

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EPISODE 1 — “Longing for a Savior: Old Testament Prophecies”

This special four-part Christmas series opens with the story behind the story: the sweeping line of Old Testament prophecies that all point to the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Tracing the narrative from the Garden of Eden, through God’s covenant with Abraham, and on to the promises made to King David, the episode shows how Christmas is not an isolated event, but the fulfillment of a plan God announced from the very beginning. Listeners see how the manger is already in view in Genesis, Samuel, and through the prophets.

From there, the episode dives into the most beloved prophecies about Christ’s coming, Isaiah’s promise of a virgin who will bear a son called Immanuel, the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace,” and Micah’s stunning prediction that a ruler whose origins are “from of old” would be born in Bethlehem. Along the way, the teaching connects these ancient words to the New Testament accounts in Matthew and Luke, revealing how carefully and precisely God kept His promises in history.

Finally, the episode invites listeners to see the Christmas story with fresh eyes: not just as a sentimental nativity scene, but as the climax of a centuries-long war between the seed of the woman and the serpent, and the turning point of all human history. By the end, listeners will better understand why the genealogy lists matter, why Bethlehem was chosen, and how Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection complete the picture painted across Scripture. It is both a rich theological journey and an accessible, heart-level preparation for Christmas.

Join us for EPISODE 2 — “Two Mothers, One Miracle: Elizabeth and Mary”

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If you’re tired of pretending everything is fine, this is the book you need. Confronting Evil in Our Time - Now on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

BREAKING: The Screwtape Letters Podcast: Confronting Evil in Our Time announces their Man of the Year: Charlie Kirk, a man whose life, work, and faith shaped countless people. They reject the term “assassinated,” insisting he was murdered for what he stood for, and portray him as Christ-centered, family-devoted, and tireless in his political and ministry work. They emphasize the deep roots of his faith, his drive, and his willingness to confront evil ideas in a world they believe increasingly opposes Christian truth.

“Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point.”

— C. S. Lewis

Ian and Galen recount Kirk’s achievements, character, and legacy. They highlight his founding of Turning Point USA at a young age, his rapid rise to national prominence, his massive media presence, and his reputation for hard work and discipline. They portray him as a unifying Christian voice who kept theological essentials central, and they repeatedly frame him as a “martyr” whose final public words affirmed the core claims of the Christian Gospel. The hosts also address criticism of his polarizing nature, arguing that standing for truth necessarily creates opposition.

The episode concludes with reflections on Kirk’s influence and inspiration. They read the dedication from their book Confronting Evil in Our Time to him, discussing how his courage and conviction shaped their own work, and express hope that his legacy motivates listeners to live boldly and faithfully. They also note a commemorative Martyr’s Red wine project (See link below) supporting Turning Point USA and encourage listeners, especially during the Christmas season, to remember Kirk’s life, emulate his courage, and continue the mission he championed.

https://www.homecomingwinery.com/martyrs-red

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If you’re tired of pretending everything is fine, this is the book you need. Confronting Evil in Our Time - Now on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

This episode talks about C. S. Lewis’s Journey of Faith. The Screwtape Letters: Confronting Evil in Our Time podcast hosts Ian Faith and Galen Balinski unpack each of C.S. Lewis’s letters to expose how demonic forces work to separate people from God today, encouraging listeners to reject these schemes and center their lives on Jesus. Ian highlights current events including Thanksgiving week in the United States, C.S. Lewis’s birthday and Reading Day. Ian will be appearing on the “Pints with Jack” podcast, and he talks about the strong early reception of their Christian devotional book Confronting Evil in Our Time, including an Amazon Kindle giveaway and high rankings in Christian social studies. Their aim is to invite listeners into an ongoing journey of spiritual formation through Scripture, Lewis’s work, and contemporary discussion.

Ian discusses C.S. Lewis’s journey from a Christian upbringing in Belfast through deep atheism, wartime trauma, and rigorous academic life at Oxford, to his eventual surrender first to belief in God and then to faith in Christ. The episode traces key influences: the loss of his mother, his harsh school years and World War I experience, his immersion in classical and atheist literature, and then the slow “hunt” of God through books by George MacDonald and G.K. Chesterton and friendships with Christian thinkers like J.R.R. Tolkien and Hugo Dyson. Pivotal moments include the late-night walk on Addison’s Walk where Tolkien reframed myths as pointers to the true myth of Christ, and Lewis’s quiet realization, illustrated by his trip to Whipsnade Zoo, that he had moved from mere theism to full Christian belief.

From Lewis’s story, Ian draws on pastoral applications for listeners about God’s relentless pursuit, the importance of honest intellectual wrestling, and the role of Christian community in someone’s conversion. He stresses the primary gospel truths, Jesus as the Son of God who died and rose again, as the core that should unite Christians beyond secondary disagreements, tying Lewis’s conversion to broader themes of spiritual warfare that the podcast and book explore. The episode closes with reflective questions about listeners’ own journeys of faith, encouragement to be a “Tolkien or Dyson” in someone else’s life, and a prayer thanking God for pursuing sinners and for the way Christ fulfills the deepest longings of both mind and heart.

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Get Confronting Evil in Our Time on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

Ian and Galen celebrated their book’s achievement of reaching #1 in an Amazon category, recognizing the significance to the Christian marketplace. They used this success as a springboard to deepen their podcast’s focus, tackling the profound biblical themes of heaven and hell inspired by C.S. Lewis’s "The Screwtape Letters." Their discussion centered around how heaven rejoices when a sinner repents, contrasted with the demonic inability to grasp God’s love, positioning these ideas as essential concepts for their audience to explore and understand.

The hosts examined Lewis’s literary inversion in Letter 31, where the agony of hell contrasts the joy in heaven at the salvation of a believer, a theme paralleling biblical passages like Luke 15. Ian detailed the depiction of the saved soul’s entrance into heaven, surrounded by the angelic host and the Trinity, while Galen reflected on the instant clarity and fulfillment of faith experienced by the believer in that moment. Their dialogue connected Lewis’s narrative strategies with broader theological teachings on spiritual warfare, salvation, and the eternal implications of human choices.

Delving into the topic of death, Ian and Galen emphasized that for believers, death marks a triumphant return to Christ, though it remains tinged with sorrow for those left behind. Drawing on scriptures like Psalm 23, they asserted the meaningfulness of every life and the responsibility to influence others for good while living. The duo also explored the demonic perspective: demons are locked eternally in their choices, whereas humans retain agency until life’s end, a notion reminiscent of Faust and other literary figures. Ultimately, they encouraged listeners to face the reality of loss with prayer and hope, grounding themselves in the assurance of eternal life.

https://www.homecomingwinery.com/martyrs-red

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Confronting Evil in Our Time - Pre-Order Book Today and Save! 🙏

Reserve your signed, first edition copy Limited availability. Bless a friend with a copy.

https://screwtapeletterspodcast.com/confronting-evil-in-our-time-the-book/

Ian opened the episode by explaining the document-signing process for their upcoming book and introducing The Screwtape Letters Podcast, which explores confronting evil in today’s world. He invited listeners to watch the video version on Rumble, where the podcast delves deeper into spiritual and cultural challenges through a Christian lens.

He announced that there is just one week left to order signed copies of Confronting Evil in Our Time, the 306-page devotional he co-authored with Galen Balinski. Ian shared their excitement about the book’s final proof copy and upcoming release, encouraging viewers to visit Rumble.com for updates. The book will soon be available in multiple formats, including paperback, e-book, and hardcover, with additional language editions in development.

Reflecting on Season 2 of the podcast, Ian highlighted powerful discussions on spiritual warfare, sexual sin, and divine healing, featuring guests like David Smallbone. Looking ahead, Season 3 will tackle theology and world issues with a Christ-centered focus, including a collaboration with Pints with Jack for C.S. Lewis Reading Day. Ian closed by urging listeners to order the book before the offer expires and to share prayer requests through the website.

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