The Stephen Mansfield Podcast

I want to encourage you to take some time this season to really read. Here are seven books I recommend that you get, give, and read. From contemporary politics to history to soul-ennobling literature, these are books that should be on your shelf (or under your tree). You can find Amazon links below. Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward The Vanishing American Adult by Ben Sasse Faith of My Fathers by John McCain To the Last Man by Jeff Shaara One Small Candle by Thomas Fleming A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens The Day Christ Was Born by Jim Bishop

“You reap what you sow.” It’s a broad principle of life, and we’re seeing it play out now in the wake of the midterm elections. Since his campaign, Donald Trump has pushed hard against women and Democrats. Now there are more women in Congress than ever before and the Democrats have taken the House. As a political science professor of mine once said, “The electorate bounces.” Undoubtedly, we are seeing the electorate’s elasticity in action. So begins a season of payback. For the next two years, President Trump will reap the fight he’s sown. "Señalización de lugar de votación en California. 2008.." by “Tom Arthur“ Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 13 November 2018. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Voting_United_States.jpg

As you know, a caravan of migrants is headed toward the Mexico/U.S. border. At the same time, President Trump has stated his intention to ban birthright citizenship. In this episode, Stephen looks into the 14th amendment, which provides U.S. citizenship to persons born on U.S. soil. Is it time we revisit the meaning of the 14th amendment in the 21st century? And to speak more broadly, how can the United States be a beacon to the world, welcoming people, while reforming an immigration policy that currently offers entitlements to those who enter illegally?

Last Friday night, for the first time in my life, I attended a Jewish Shabbat service at the invitation of Rabbi Daniel Lapin. It was a wonderful experience and lovely to learn about some of the traditions and requirements that come from the root of my own Christian faith. Of course, the very next morning, a man who claims to be a Christian entered a different synagogue a few hundred miles away and murdered 11 people. My friends, to be a Christian is to actively engage and love all people – people from different walks of life, ethnicities, and religions. There is certainly no sanction for antisemitism or the denigration of any people groups. I hope you’ll join me in a desire to live larger than our times, beyond narrow politics and narrow viewpoints. The world needs this now more than ever.

You’ve certainly heard of Jamal Khashoggi, the journalist who entered the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Istanbul and never came out. The Saudi Arabian government initially denied the death, then said Khashoggi died in a fistfight in the embassy. Others say he was dismembered inside. Whatever happened, it’s clearly been a colossal political failure (not to mention a moral one, of course). It’s especially a shame as there’s a new, innovative generation on the rise in Saudi Arabia – one that’s advancing solar technology, liberating women, and democratizing the nation. So, how do we hold these two opposing narratives: one of corruption and one of progressivism?

We are constantly being bombarded with negative news. It’s easy to become disillusioned, our beliefs about ourselves, our people, and our country suffering along the way. In this podcast, Stephen offers a solution through recommending a few books and videos. May these restore your peace, hone your vision, and ennoble your soul. Patriotic Grace: What It Is and Why We Need It Now by Peggy Noonan What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism by Dan Rather and Elliot Kirschner Listen to David McCullough on YouTube (you pick the video!) This episode was originally published on December 13, 2017.

Commenting on the Kavanaugh/Ford controversy, Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas, said on Fox News, “This is not a battle between Republicans and Democrats. It’s a battle between good and evil — between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.” Sadly, many Americans think in these types of dichotomies. In this episode, Stephen argues that we need moderation now more than ever. When we speak in these polarizing terms, we do damage. "Robert Jeffress speaking at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC on October 7, 2011." by “Gage Skidmore“ Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC-BY2.0). Accessed 09 October 2018. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Robert_Jeffress.jpg

The Kavanaugh hearings highlight a trend in our nation toward the politics of personal destruction. What we see often now is that when a group can’t win by virtue of a vote, they will use other tactics to get their way. Of course we want the truth to be known, but Stephen argues in this episode that Kavanaugh’s opposition chose to handle the accusations against him in a way that would cause a national scandal rather than following the rules of the Senate.

A Russian plane was shot down in the Middle East by Syrian aircraft missiles, and the Russians spun out by accusing Israel. What could these rising tensions mean for the future? In this episode, Stephen urges listeners: keep your eye on significant world events and don’t be distracted by window dressing and short-term political issues in the United States.

The first time Stephen met Pastor Joel Hunter, it wasn’t pleasant! However, this man is a hero. His story and his example both have a great deal to offer to our generation, particularly to religious people in America. The former spiritual advisor to President Barack Obama, Dr. Hunter has now retired from his Senior Pastor role at Northland Church and is giving himself to the cause of homelessness. Learn more about his remarkable story in this episode. Northland church Pastor Joel Hunter trades pulpit for nonprofit to aid homeless