We examine our relationship with God and question whether He is truly our priority or if we've allowed other things to displace Him. Looking at 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, we explore the dangers of false teachers who preach a different gospel and remind ourselves that salvation comes only through Christ.

• Examining whether we truly prioritize God in our daily lives
• Warnings from 2 Corinthians about false teachers and a "different Jesus"
• The importance of testing teachings against Scripture
• Medal of Honor recipient Richard Beddows and his sacrifice for America
• The contrast between immigrants who serve the country versus those who take from it
• Martin Luther King Jr.'s vision of judging by character, not skin color
• Calvin Coolidge's belief that America's strength comes from its religious convictions
• How removing biblical teachings from education has undermined American society
• The call to return to God and the Bible in both private and public life

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

The American Soul Podcast explores the vital importance of prioritizing God and family in our daily lives while finding our ultimate validation in God's approval rather than human commendation.

• Scripture from 2 Corinthians 10:18 reminds us that self-commendation means little compared to God's approval
• Examining what we make time for reveals our true priorities—do we prioritize God and our spouses?
• Medal of Honor recipient Wallace A. Beckwith exemplifies courage and service at just 19 years old
• Abigail Adams' 1775 letter showcases unwavering trust in God despite facing war, separation, and potential loss
• Harvard's 1646 founding principle centered on knowing Jesus Christ—a stark contrast to modern education
• America's greatness stems from our relationship with God, not our own merit or achievements
• We must return to placing God at the center of education, relationships, and national identity

God bless you and your families, God bless your marriages, God bless America, and God bless your nation wherever you are around the world.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Jesse Cope explores how Biblical principles and founder wisdom can guide America today, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing God and family in our daily lives. The episode challenges listeners to examine where they're investing their time and whether they're truly living according to their professed values.

• Gratitude for podcast listeners who share and pray for the show
• Challenging question about prioritizing God and spouse above distractions
• Scripture readings on generous giving (2 Corinthians 9)
• David's powerful prayer of repentance in Psalm 51
• Warning about the company we keep from Proverbs 22
• Tribute to Medal of Honor recipient Edward James Bebb
• Founder quotes warning about democracy versus republic
• The Bible as the foundation for maintaining a republican form of government
• How separation of church and state has been misused to remove God from public life

Join us for our other podcast where we're reading through "Countryside, the Book of the Wise" - available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or through any bookstore.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Faith and gratitude form the foundation of both personal relationships and national identity, as we explore how making time for God and our spouses reflects our true priorities and values.

• Making time for God through prayer, reading his word, and listening is essential to spiritual growth
• Our spouses should be our "one out of seven billion" with eager, enthusiastic attention to their needs
• Scripture teaches that thankfulness should be our sacrifice to God, not just ritual offerings
• We must use our talents to improve this world despite its imperfections and sorrows
• John Adams believed American independence was achieved through Christian principles combined with liberty
• Liberty cannot exist separated from Christ's principles, regardless of one's political ideology

Check out our reading of my children's book "Countryside" on our other podcast, available on Apple and all major platforms. You can also purchase the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

We explore the essential connections between faith, generosity, and America's Christian heritage through scripture readings and historical reflections. Examining generosity in 2 Corinthians, redemption in Psalm 49, and Abigail Adams's revolutionary-era faith reveals timeless lessons for facing today's challenges.

• Reflection on whether we've made time for God as our top priority
• Scripture reading from 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 on the Macedonia churches' generosity despite hardship
• Drawing parallels between marriage relationships and our eagerness to give to God
• Psalm 49's reminder that wealth cannot save us – only God can redeem our lives
• Abigail Adams's letter during the Battle of Bunker Hill demonstrating America's Christian foundations
• Warning against ideologies opposed to America's founding principles
• The importance of defending faith-based institutions that cultivate virtue

God bless you all. God bless your families, God bless your marriages if you're married, God bless America and God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world listening.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Jesse Cope explores the connection between biblical principles and American liberty, diving into 2 Corinthians 7 on the difference between godly and worldly sorrow, and examining why America's founders intentionally created a republic rather than a democracy.

• True repentance shows evidence of change and demonstrates our faith in Christ to others
• America's founders deliberately established a republic, not a democracy, which they viewed as dangerous and self-destructive 
• Historical quotes from Madison, Adams, and Fisher Ames warn about the dangers of democratic systems
• Abigail Adams' letter to John Adams demonstrates the faith that sustained founding families during national trials
• The restoration of America depends on returning to God and the general principles of Christ
• Recommended resources include America's God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations and The Patriot's Bible

May God bless you, your marriages, your families, America, and your nation wherever you are around the world.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

We explore the crucial relationship between biblical principles and American liberty through scripture readings and historical quotes that highlight Christianity's role in our nation's founding.

• Scripture readings from 2 Corinthians 6-7, Psalm 47, and Proverbs 22 provide foundational insights
• Teaching our children about the importance of marrying believers is crucial for their future
• Historical quotes from Lord Acton, Theodore Frelinghuysen, and Noah Webster connect Christianity to liberty
• "All power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely" - Lord Acton, 1881
• Noah Webster taught that "genuine source of correct Republican principles is the Bible"
• The spread of scripture, not denominational doctrine, is essential for preserving liberty
• Our responsibilities include reading the Bible daily and sharing its principles within our sphere of influence

God bless you, your families, your marriages, America, and your nation wherever you are in the world.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What if someone followed you around for a day—would they be convinced you're a follower of Christ? This question launches us into a soul-searching exploration of faith in action, both personally and nationally.

The American Soul Podcast doesn't shy away from hard truths. As tensions escalate around immigration enforcement, with violence against ICE agents reportedly up 700%, we examine the concerning disconnect between political rhetoric and the safety of American communities. The silence from those who should speak out reveals much about our current national priorities.

Drawing from 2 Corinthians 4, we find profound comfort for difficult times: "Momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison." Whether facing chronic illness, broken relationships, or the loss of loved ones, the Christian's hope extends beyond temporal struggles to eternal promises.

The historical records tell a remarkable story. Yale President Ezra Stiles once cataloged the "indubitable interposition" of divine providence in American independence—unexpected military victories, critical weather patterns that thwarted British forces, and the timely discovery of Benedict Arnold's treason. Our founding generation recognized America wasn't blessed because of their superiority, but through God's mercy when they humbled themselves.

Perhaps most sobering are the historical accounts of religious persecution that reveal why our ancestors risked everything for freedom. These serve as warnings against complacency in our own time, as ideological conflicts intensify between traditional American values and opposing worldviews.

The patterns of history offer perspective for today's challenges. When you subscribe to the American Soul Podcast, you're joining a community that seeks wisdom from our past to navigate our present, always pointing toward an eternal perspective that transcends temporal conflicts.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

The connection between liberty and Christianity forms the beating heart of America's founding principles, and in this thought-provoking episode, we examine why one simply cannot exist without the other.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty" (2 Corinthians 3:17). This scripture serves as both our foundation and our roadmap as we journey through the writings of America's founders who understood this truth with crystal clarity.

When Benjamin Rush wrote in 1798 that "without religion there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty," he wasn't expressing a mere personal preference, but articulating what was considered fundamental knowledge among those who shaped our nation. We explore Noah Webster's 1828 definition of liberty, revealing how our founders understood freedom not as unconstrained license, but as the ability to act without injuring others—a moral restraint that requires virtuous citizens.

The historical record speaks with unmistakable clarity: while America guarantees individual freedom of religion, our institutions, laws, and leadership were intentionally grounded in Christianity's general principles. As John Jay advised, Americans have a duty to elect leaders who "rule in fear of God." Looking to our Revolutionary past, we see how colonists coordinated between states to prepare for conflict—providing a blueprint for how Christians today might prepare for challenges to liberty.

Most powerfully, we examine sobering historical accounts of religious persecution that demonstrate what happens when totalitarian ideologies gain unchecked power. These warnings from history remind us why preserving America's Christian foundations isn't just about religious preference—it's about protecting the very liberty we cherish.

How can you use your sphere of influence to strengthen America's Christian foundations? Join us as we explore practical ways to share the Gospel and prepare for whatever storms may come.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

The decline of Bible literacy stands at the heart of America's cultural and political crisis. When a nation no longer knows Scripture, it loses its moral compass and becomes vulnerable to manipulation, deception, and tyranny. As Jesse Cope passionately argues, "One of the main reasons our nation is in the mess we're in today is because we don't know the Bible anymore."

Drawing from Forrest Greeley's profound observation that "It's impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible reading people," this episode explores how our collective departure from biblical knowledge has weakened our cultural foundations. When we forget Scripture, we become susceptible to ideologies that previous generations would have immediately recognized as dangerous.

The podcast delves into marriage as a microcosm of this larger cultural drift. God designed specific roles and responsibilities that create harmony when honored. Jesse offers a compelling analogy: marriage isn't about being "clingy" but about "cleaving" – becoming like two colors of Play-Doh mixed until inseparable. When we abandon these divine designs for cultural trends, heartache inevitably follows.

How we allocate our time – what we "pour ourselves into" – reveals our true priorities. Using the metaphor of sand in an hourglass being placed in different buckets, Jesse challenges listeners to consider whether their time goes toward eternal purposes or temporary distractions. With historical perspectives from Mercy Warren and Ezra Stiles, the episode examines the parallels between the choices faced by America's founders and those confronting Americans today.

What path will you choose? Will you commit to Bible literacy and discernment, or continue down the path of confusion and manipulation? The health of your family, community, and nation may depend on your answer. Make time today for God's Word – it remains the surest foundation for both personal peace and national renewal.

Support the show

The American Soul Podcast

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe