In this insightful interview, host Doug Apple welcomes Mike Sharman to explore external perspectives on the United States, comparing historical observations with contemporary analysis. The conversation begins by recalling Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th-century Frenchman whose "Democracy in America" remarkably captured the essence of the nascent nation. De Tocqueville famously observed that America's greatness was tied to its goodness, noting its immersion in a biblical worldview and the self-reliant, armed citizenry that contributed to its early success.

Sharman then introduces the contemporary insights of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, an English Orthodox rabbi and member of the House of Lords, whose 2017 speech offered a similarly potent assessment of America. While de Tocqueville saw America's inherent goodness, Rabbi Sacks pointed to concerning trends that, even in 2017, were emerging: "the politics of anger," "competitive victimhood," "identity politics based on smaller and smaller identities," the "politics of grievance," the "silencing of free speech in our universities," and "public discourse polluted by fake news and the manipulation of social media." These observations, Sharman notes, have only intensified in recent years.

Despite these challenges, Rabbi Sacks, drawing from the "Hebrew Bible" (Old Testament), highlights what he calls America's "Judeo-Christian heritage" as the root of its democratic capitalism. The discussion takes a fascinating turn as Sharman elaborates on Sacks's analogy between the political history of biblical Israel and the United States. Sacks distinguishes between a "contract" and a "covenant." He points to biblical Israel's request for a king as a "social contract" – a willingness to surrender certain rights and freedoms (like property taxes and various other levies described) to a central power for the sake of internal rule of law and external defense, much like modern governmental structures.

Crucially, Rabbi Sacks argues that Israel's first founding document was not a contract but a covenant made with God at Mount Sinai. Unlike a contract, which is an exchange of interests, a covenant is "a bond of loyalty and trust to do together what neither could have done alone," focused on "us" and "identity" rather than individual interests. This, he states, is epitomized by the American ideal of "we the people." Sharman emphasizes Sacks's brilliant observation that the United States possesses this same dual founding: its social covenant in the Declaration of Independence (1776), which speaks of unalienable rights endowed by a Creator and the purpose of government to protect them, and its social contract in the Constitution (1787), which outlines how that government will operate. The interview concludes by underscoring the critical importance of remembering the Declaration of Independence as America's foundational covenant, a document that still legally and spiritually binds the nation.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

"We want churches to be able to say, 'We are the most dominant entity in America. We ought to be able to have a voice about what goes on in the culture of America.'"

--Mike Sharman

Join host Doug Apple and legal expert Mike Sharman as they dive into the complexities of the Johnson Amendment, a seemingly obscure 1954 addition to the IRS tax code that has profoundly impacted churches and pastors. Sharman traces the amendment's origins back to Senator Lyndon Johnson's personal vendetta against politically active nonprofits, explaining how a single, vaguely worded phrase was inserted into the 501(c)(3) law, effectively limiting the political speech of all tax-exempt organizations.

Despite its broad application, the Johnson Amendment has historically been weaponized against churches and pastors, often by atheist and anti-Christian groups, to silence their voices on electoral politics. Sharman highlights the crucial development of a recent joint motion for consent judgment in a federal court case involving the National Religious Broadcasters and the IRS. This landmark agreement clarifies that churches and pastors can, in connection with religious services and through customary channels, speak on matters of faith concerning electoral politics "viewed through the lens of religious faith," including endorsing or opposing candidates.

Sharman says that this ruling marks a significant victory for religious freedom, effectively dismantling what he calls a fiction, a hallucination that has cowed the church since 1954. He emphasizes that the Johnson Amendment had no constitutional basis and that the recent legal development will restore the church's ability to engage in the marketplace of ideas, advocating for moral and biblical worldviews. He connects this to the foundational principles of American liberty, referencing the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the First Amendment, asserting that these historical documents underscore the inherent right to religious and free speech that the Johnson Amendment sought to suppress. The conversation concludes with a brief mention of Share Healthcare, a Christian healthcare sharing ministry, presented as another way Christians can exercise their freedoms and live out their faith principles.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

A recent headline in the Washington Examiner reads, “Marijuana use doubles risk of heart disease…”

A new study (published in the Heart journal) found alarming risks associated with marijuana use, including more than doubling the rate of heart disease, in addition to raising the risk of strokes, lung cancer, and heart attacks.

The study used medical data from around 200 million people.

In a Carnegie Mellon University report last year they said that, for the first time ever, daily marijuana users outnumber daily alcohol drinkers.

Many people think marijuana use is “safe” and “natural.”

Meanwhile here in Florida, powerful forces continue to try to legalize recreational marijuana. There is so much money to be made by getting more people buying marijuana that these people just won’t give up trying to make it legal. I’m sure many of our Florida listeners have been hit up in parking lots and parks by these signature collectors with their spiel about how great marijuana is.

Meanwhile, the more we study it the more we realize what should seem obvious on the surface, that pumping a psychoactive drug into your population is a problem, so we dive into this subject today with Mike Sharman.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

What appears to be a spontaneous public outburst is often far more complex and organized than it seems. In this detailed analysis, Mike Sharman peels back the layers of recent riots and protests, arguing that they are frequently not grassroots movements but carefully coordinated events. He presents evidence of paid protesters—from "Rent-a-Crowd" ads during the Charlottesville events to modern Craigslist postings—who serve as an incendiary core for larger demonstrations.

The episode looks into a specific case study of an ICE raid in California that was leveraged by activist groups and political leaders into nationwide outrage. Sharman then uncovers a primary economic driver: the immense pressure from foreign governments in Mexico, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, whose economies heavily rely on billions in remittances sent from immigrants in the U.S. This financial dependence creates a powerful motive to resist any form of immigration enforcement. Contrasting the violent reality of the riots with the rhetoric of local officials, Sharman concludes with a firm constitutional defense of federal authority, using historical precedent like the Whiskey Rebellion to affirm the president's duty to uphold the supreme law of the land when states fail to maintain order.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

A new study is out showing what various clergy members believe, and how certain they are of their faith. You might be surprised at some of the findings! Then we need to ask these questions of ourselves. Then how are we applying what we say we believe?

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

And that's saying something since the satisfaction level was already low. As a contrast we present Share HealthCare.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

Chaplains have long provided spiritual care to patients in hospitals, and even in our current culture, many are recognizing the value and importance of the spiritual and family care that chaplains provide.

Meanwhile, Share HealthCare has our own form of chaplains in our member advocates. Find out more in this episode.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

With Mother's Day coming up, we look at the value of mothers, and especially the value of moms staying home in order to spend more time with their children. While some moms simply must work, many moms who want to stay home might find that dream a possibility through the money saved by joining Share HealthCare.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

We are seeing some dire headlines about what will happen if Congress cuts Medicaid.

The Washington Post, “Republican Medicaid cuts could mean Armageddon in D.C.”

Wisconsin Public Radio: “Federal cuts to Medicaid could cost Wisconsin billions in health care spending.”

The Center for American Progress: ”Medicaid cuts would threaten rural hospitals.”

MSNBC: “If Congress cuts Medicaid, everybody’s access to healthcare will suffer.”

Abilene Reporter-News: “Medicaid cuts would endanger health care in Texas.”

Meanwhile, Fox News is reporting: “Trump says public entitlements like Social Security, Medicaid won’t be touched in GOP budget bill.”

Mike Sharman unpacks what is really going on with Medicaid, some history behind the program, and the main message for Christians in today's economy.

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/

President Trump's message for Holy Week 2025 is quite a powerful statement, so we take time to dive into it today. Here are some direct quotes from his message:

"This Holy Week, Melania and I join in prayer with Christians celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ—the living Son of God who conquered death, freed us from sin, and unlocked the gates of Heaven for all of humanity."

"This Holy Week, my Administration renews its promise to defend the Christian faith in our schools, military, workplaces, hospitals, and halls of government. We will never waver in safeguarding the right to religious liberty, upholding the dignity of life, and protecting God in our public square."

"This week, we pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our beloved Nation. We pray that America will remain a beacon of faith, hope, and freedom for the entire world, and we pray to achieve a future that reflects the truth, beauty, and goodness of Christ’s eternal kingdom in Heaven."

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You can find out more information about Share HealthCare by calling 1-844-Share HC, or by visiting their website:

https://sharehealthcare.com/