NEW Book "The Devil's Story of Christmas" on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r9xXPS

In this interview, author Ian Faith discusses the inspiration behind his book, The Devil’s Story of Christmas, and why he believes the spiritual significance of Christmas has been lost in modern culture. Following his previous book, Confronting Evil in Our Time, Ian wanted to explore the connection between Old Testament prophecies and the birth of Jesus Christ through a fresh and provocative perspective: telling the story from the viewpoint of the demonic forces working to prevent Christ’s arrival. Inspired by C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, John Milton’s Paradise Lost, and elements of Tolkien’s storytelling, the book combines biblical events with fictional demonic perspectives to illustrate the ongoing spiritual battle behind the Christmas story.

Ian explains that evil rarely operates through dramatic, obvious attacks. Instead, it works through subtle distortions, doubt, distraction, temptation, and the gradual erosion of faith. He believes these tactics can influence relationships, families, and our understanding of truth, often without our recognizing what is happening. Throughout the interview, Ian describes how researching Scripture more deeply revealed connections he had previously overlooked, including the significance of Old Testament prophecies and the heavenly host appearing at Christ’s birth. His greatest challenge was ensuring that the fictional narrative remained faithful to biblical Scripture. Ultimately, he hopes readers will recognize the reality of spiritual warfare, reconsider how they approach their faith, and discover the deeper biblical story connecting Genesis to the Gospels.

At its heart, The Devil’s Story of Christmas is intended to be more than a seasonal novel; Ian sees it as a ministry and an opportunity to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. He hopes the book will resonate with committed Christians, readers who are questioning their faith, and even secular audiences who may initially approach it simply as an engaging story. His central message is that Christmas must be about more than presents, decorations, and commercial traditions. It celebrates God's rescue mission through His Son, whose birth ultimately leads to the victory of Christ over sin and death. Ian encourages readers to return to Scripture, explore its deeper meaning, and make Christ central to their Christmas celebrations and everyday lives.

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NEW Book "The Devil's Story of Christmas" on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r9xXPS

As we remember October 7 and the lives forever changed by the massacre in Israel, we’re revisiting this important conversation with radio host, writer, policy and communications expert Seth Leibsohn.

In this episode, Loren, Greg, and Ian sit down with Seth to examine cognitive dissonance and the difficult questions surrounding America and Israel’s fight for survival. The conversation asks us to confront what happens when deeply held beliefs collide with facts that are difficult or painful to accept.

What happens when the basic facts themselves become contested? How do our communities, media, ideologies, and personal biases shape the way we understand events? And how do we reconcile our convictions when people or movements we support commit acts that challenge those convictions?

The discussion explores the aftermath of October 7 and the war in Gaza, the future of Israel and Gaza, America’s role, the media’s portrayal of the conflict, and the influence of competing ideologies. At its heart is a larger question: What does it mean to pursue truth when truth is uncomfortable?

On this October 7 commemoration, we return to this conversation not simply to revisit the events of the past, but to consider how we understand them—and what our response to them reveals about our commitment to truth, morality, and one another.

We remember those who were murdered, those who were taken hostage, those who continue to carry the wounds of that day, and the families whose lives were changed forever.

Bonded Voices seeks to foster meaningful conversations, particularly among men, about truth, responsibility, faith, family, society, and the difficult questions of our time.

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NEW Book "The Devil's Story of Christmas" on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r9xXPS

In this episode, Ian takes up a question that came out of a recent men's group: what does repentance actually mean? Drawing on the Greek word metanoia and on Matthew 3:1-12, he explains that repentance is a turning back toward God rather than simply feeling guilty. He distinguishes worldly sorrow from godly grief, which goes beyond regret to a real change of direction, and he ties this to John the Baptist's call at the opening of the kingdom message. The point is aimed especially at newer believers, for whom a clear, direct definition matters.

He then turns to C.S. Lewis, drawing on Mere Christianity, The Screwtape Letters, The Problem of Pain, and The Great Divorce. Lewis shows that repentance is not a polite apology but the unlearning of self-will and self-conceit. Ian highlights Lewis's paradox that only a bad person needs to repent while only a good person can do it perfectly, which is why Christ's willingness to share in our suffering matters. He also draws on Lewis's observation that we overestimate our own goodness, and on the ghosts in The Great Divorce who are offered heaven but must release attachments like pride and lust. Ian adds a distinction between personal and national repentance, using slavery as an example of how national repentance can slide into placating sins rather than producing real change.

Ian closes by arguing that repentance is foundational to a relationship with Jesus Christ, and that many churches skip over it. Citing Luke 5:32 and Luke 24:46-47, he shows that repentance and remission of sins are central to the Great Commission. He frames repentance as confession, forgiveness, and a return to closer fellowship with God, echoing the picture of God walking with humanity in Genesis. Listeners are encouraged to explain repentance plainly to others as turning back to God with a changed heart.

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The discussion revolves around the topic of friendship and how to build meaningful friendships. The participants touch upon various aspects, such as the importance of physical connection, the evolution of friendships, the value of consistency in communication, and the flexibility needed in maintaining relationships. They emphasize the significance of making an effort to connect with others and listening as a way to build respect and relationships. The conversation encourages people to take the initiative and start building friendships over coffee or simple gatherings.

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"A spiritually intense, imaginative retelling of the Nativity from the perspective of Hell’s failed campaign against the coming of Christ."

What if Christmas wasn't Heaven's greatest surprise, but Hell's greatest fear?

Inspired by the imaginative tradition of C. S. Lewis, John Milton, and J.R.R. Tolkien, The Devil's Story of Christmas tells the greatest story ever told from the perspective of God's greatest enemy. Through a series of confidential dispatches, a seasoned commander in Satan's army chronicles Hell's desperate attempts to thwart God's redemptive plan while exposing the lies, temptations, and strategies that continue to deceive humanity today.

As the centuries unfold, he arrives at a growing and terrifying realization: every prophecy, every covenant, every seemingly insignificant event in Scripture has been pointing toward one child they cannot stop.

More than a retelling of the Nativity, this is the story of the unseen war behind Christmas. It is a journey through Scripture that reveals the astonishing precision of biblical prophecy, the unwavering faithfulness of God, and the moment Hell finally understood the importance of that baby lying in a Bethlehem manger.

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NEW Book "The Devil's Story of Christmas" on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r9xXPS

In Episode 11, we explore how our past experiences with authority can become lenses through which we interpret God, other people, and even the church. Drawing from C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters, especially Letter 2 and the “man in the next pew,” we examine how irritation, disappointment, and projection can redirect our attention away from God and toward the flaws of the people around us. A flawed representative, however, is not necessarily evidence of a flawed God.

The episode then turns to Scripture and asks a deeper question: Can I separate what happened to me from who God is? Experiences with parents, teachers, pastors, coaches, bosses, or other authority figures can shape expectations such as “correction means rejection” or “authority means danger.” But Scripture presents a radically different picture of God—as a Father who knows us, a Savior who sympathizes with our weaknesses, and an authority we can approach with confidence. Romans 8 contrasts bondage and fear with adoption and relationship, while Hebrews 4 invites us to approach the throne of grace boldly.

Ultimately, this episode is about vision correction. Trauma and past experiences may help explain why we react a certain way, but they don't make every interpretation true. Spiritual maturity isn't pretending the past didn't affect us; it's allowing Christ to reshape the way we see the present. God's character is steady even when the authority figures in our lives were not. The question is whether we're responding to what is actually happening—or reacting through a lens formed long ago.

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Living as a Mature Christian. Colossians 3:15 - Calvary Chapel

Tim Phelps’s message focuses on Christian maturity and the deliberate decision every believer must make to grow in Christ. Drawing primarily from Colossians 3, he explains that becoming mature in Christ is not simply something that happens with time—it requires intentionally setting our hearts and minds on the things of God. Tim shares how a missions trip to Mexico challenged him to realize that, although he had applied himself wholeheartedly to his career, he had not been applying that same commitment to following Christ. That conviction became a turning point: if Christ has changed us, we must consciously choose to live like the new creation He has made us.

The message then contrasts the old life with the new life in Christ. Believers are called to put to death sinful desires and behaviors—including immorality, greed, anger, malice, slander, abusive speech, and lying—and to “throw them off” rather than continue carrying them. In their place, Christians are called to put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. Tim emphasizes that trying to live with one foot in the world and one foot in Christ leaves believers miserable because the world can no longer satisfy them. True transformation comes from deliberately choosing Christ over the desires and compromises of the flesh.

At the heart of the sermon is the repeated challenge from Colossians 3:15: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” Tim explains that “rule” can also carry the idea of an umpire or referee—Christ should have the deciding voice in our thoughts, decisions, words and actions. Whether facing traffic, long lines, financial difficulties, temptation or everyday frustrations, Christian maturity means allowing Christ to govern our responses rather than allowing the flesh to take control. Mature Christians continue growing, encourage the spiritual growth of others, live under Christ’s lordship, and allow His Word to dwell richly within them. The message ends with a simple call: set your mind on the things above, be who you are in Christ, and let the peace of Christ rule in your life.

NEW Book "The Devil's Story of Christmas" on Amazon https://amzn.to/4r9xXPS

The episode marks the return of The Screwtape Letters Podcast after the summer break, with Ian and Michael continuing their Lenses series by examining emotional repression and spiritual numbness. They explore how numbness can appear to be maturity when it is actually a form of self-protection. Suppressing pain may feel safe, but it also suppresses joy, connection, and spiritual awareness. Both hosts emphasize that true Christian joy is deeper than temporary happiness—it comes from knowing Christ and being content in His presence regardless of circumstances.

A major theme is the connection between emotional health, relationships, and spiritual life. Ian and Michael discuss how childhood experiences can teach people to suppress emotions rather than process them, eventually leading to isolation and difficulty being vulnerable with others. They point to David as an example of someone who experienced the full breadth of human emotion while continually turning back toward God. Social media is also examined as a potential source of emotional and spiritual numbness, providing temporary dopamine hits and external validation rather than the lasting fulfillment that comes from God. The episode encourages listeners to honestly examine what they may be avoiding or numbing rather than allowing small problems to grow into larger spiritual strongholds.

The conversation ultimately challenges Christians to pursue a fully engaged, seven-day faith, rather than treating Christianity as something reserved for Sunday or church. Spiritual awareness means being present with God, present with other people, and willing to enter into their struggles, joys, and pain. The hosts encourage listeners to move beyond isolation and self-focus, build genuine brotherhood, examine their hearts, and recognize that ministry happens everywhere—in workplaces, families, friendships, and everyday conversations. The goal is not simply to avoid pain, but to endure it with Christ and rediscover the deeper joy and peace that come from knowing Him.

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