The American Soul

Jesse

Are you tired of hearing the myth about separation of church and state? Are you tired of being told that America is not and never was a Christian nation? Do you want to have the information to stand up for the truth and fight back against this fundamental lie that’s invading our culture and education? Each week, host Jesse Cope will dive into quotes and excerpts from our great leaders and documents throughout our history showing how in President Woodrow Wilson’s words “America was born a Christian nation.” We have the truth on our side and together we can absolutely turn our nation around. Follow Jesse @jtcope4 on X for daily doses of the truth to help fight back. Subscribe to The American Soul and share the show with someone who needs to hear it. We're on a mission to spread the truth and get our nation back on the right track — and you can help us make this possible.

  1. 20H AGO

    From Psalm 31 To Public Virtue: Suffering, Scripture, And Civic Duty

    Grief knocks first, and we don’t look away. A young woman’s murder and the raw honesty of Psalm 31 set the tone for a frank, searching conversation about sorrow, courage, and what real faithfulness looks like when the world feels unsteady. From there, we move into the harder rooms of Scripture—1 Peter 3 on marriage—and ask how to hold honor, respect, and mutual duty in a culture that often treats vows as suggestions. The goal isn’t to win an argument; it’s to recover a pattern of life that keeps love sturdy and prayer unhindered. The lens widens with Matthew 25 as we wrestle with works of mercy: feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, visiting the sick and imprisoned. Compassion matters, and so does prudence. How do we protect the vulnerable already in our care while serving those at the edges of our attention? We trace that tension with clear eyes, resisting slogans and aiming for lived obedience that counts the cost and still says yes. Along the way, we step into history—a Berlin bombing, a Civil War sailor’s courage—to show how ideology without virtue fractures communities, while duty rooted in character preserves them. Finally, we bring it home: men and women, honor and gratitude, strength and tenderness. Households ordered by Scripture become small schools of public virtue. Citizens who fear God choose leaders who tell the truth, steward resources, and remember they will answer to a higher Judge. It’s a call to lament honestly, love concretely, and vote with a conscience trained by the Word. If this conversation steadies you or sparks a healthy disagreement, share it with a friend, leave a review, and consider supporting the show so we can keep building thoughtful, faith-filled content together. Subscribe, pass it on, and tell us where you see mercy and wisdom most needed right now. #NoahWebster #Education #DailyScripture  Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    24 min
  2. 1D AGO

    Guardianship And Grace

    Grief has a way of sharpening the soul. We begin with a hard headline and turn to Psalm 31, letting the words “you care about the anguish of my soul” frame a conversation about trust, purpose, and the kind of courage that holds when the world feels unsteady. From that posture, we ask what obedience looks like at home, at work, and in the public square—where our choices echo far beyond our own lives. We sit with Ephesians 5 to recover the shape of covenant love. Husbands are called to a self-giving pattern that mirrors Christ’s sacrifice; wives are called to a respect that nurtures unity. The image of a rowboat makes it practical: when both row in rhythm, families move forward; when we pull against each other, exhaustion sets in. Then Matthew 25 pulls us further. The bridesmaids teach readiness you cannot borrow, and the talents demand stewardship of the gifts you actually have. Readiness looks like prayer and repentance; stewardship looks like faithful risk and daily work for the good. Wisdom literature steadies the compass. Psalm 31 gives language for fear and hope. Proverbs 8 reminds us that wisdom calls in plain words at the crossroads. We honor George Breeman’s quiet heroism aboard the USS Kearsarge and then turn to President James Garfield’s warning that Congress reflects the people. If we tolerate corruption, we get corruption; if we demand integrity, we get courage. Culture follows what we celebrate, fund, and excuse. That puts responsibility back where it belongs—on our choices, our time, our votes, and our daily habits. If this resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and consider supporting the show so we can keep building a space for Scripture-shaped courage. Subscribe for more conversations that strengthen your home, clarify your thinking, and call you to use your gifts with purpose. What’s the one talent you’ll put to work this week? #JamesGarfield #Congress #DailyScripture Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    21 min
  3. 2D AGO

    When Laws Fail, Character Decides A Country’s Fate

    A small war horse outclimbed fear and carried a platoon’s hope on her back. That image sets the tone as we explore the link between private character and public freedom, moving from Matthew 24’s call to “keep watch” to Proverbs’ unflinching warnings and an 1814 election sermon that reads like a headline. We talk about readiness that isn’t paranoid but practical, the way marriages shape civic trust, and why enforcing existing laws often matters more than passing new ones. We share the story of Staff Sergeant Reckless—wounded, steady, relentless—and ask what it would look like to carry our own loads with that kind of courage. Then we draw out Jesse Appleton’s stark claim: nations rarely lose liberty to a single tyrant; they forfeit it through repeated compromises of the heart. If laws can be executed but aren’t, responsibility is clear. If the public won’t support enforcement, reform must start with the people. That isn’t a call for more outrage; it’s an invitation to ordered zeal: homes guarded from compromise, leaders held to standards, and communities willing to do the quiet work. Along the way, we reflect on forgiveness that is real yet doesn’t erase consequences, the cost of silence under cultural pressure, and the daily habits that keep a people free: truth-telling, promise-keeping, and steady stewardship. Hope isn’t naïve here; it is covenant-shaped. Joy comes in the morning for those who turn, rebuild, and keep watch together. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps more listeners find these conversations and join the work of renewal. #ElectionSermon #JesseAppleton #DailyScripture  Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    22 min
  4. 3D AGO

    Christ Or Chaos: The Fate of America

    What if the health of your home and the strength of your nation both hinge on the same root: sound faith that forms honest character? We explore that claim by walking through Titus 2’s blueprint for sober, dignified living, Matthew 24’s stark warnings about deception and cold love, and Psalm 29’s thunderous portrait of a God who reigns above the flood yet blesses His people with peace. Along the way, Proverbs 7 puts street-level wisdom on temptation and boundaries, while a gripping Medal of Honor story shows courage with skin in the game—love that seals the hatch to save a friend and waits thirty-one hours for rescue. I share how older and younger believers shape one another, why endurance matters when rumors and spectacle try to hijack attention, and how worship recenters a restless heart. We dig into the forgotten tradition of election sermons that charged public leaders to honor truth, the Sabbath, and the moral spine of a people, and we wrestle with a hard question: can institutions thrive when oaths become empty and perjury becomes common? The thread through it all is simple but demanding—Christ or chaos. Doctrine is not theory; it becomes habits that protect marriages, raise steady kids, and keep speech beyond reproach. If you’re hungry for a clear path through noise and anxiety, you’ll find practical takeaways: guard your steps, cultivate reverence, tell the truth even when it hurts, and serve with courage when pressure mounts. I also share a family-friendly reading recommendation and ways to support the show for those who find value in Scripture reflections, marriage guidance, and stories that lift our eyes. Listen, share with a friend, and join the conversation—what virtue do you believe our homes and public life need most right now? If this resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and help spread the word. #JesseAppleton #ElectionSermon #DailyScripture Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    23 min
  5. 4D AGO

    When Religion Blocks The Door To Heaven

    A quiet prayer, a hard truth, and a bold call to courage—this conversation threads Scripture, history, and everyday life into a single question: who are we when no one is looking? We begin with gratitude and intercession, then move straight into Proverbs 5’s vision for marriage as a living covenant that forms character and joy. From there, Jesus’ words in Matthew 23 land with force, exposing the trap of spiritual gatekeeping and the emptiness of outward polish when justice, mercy, and faith are neglected. We push deeper into Psalm 28 and Proverbs 7, drawing a line from inner devotion to public integrity. The psalmist’s trust in God becomes a model for resilience, while Proverbs warns us to keep wisdom close and recognize the voice of seduction—whether it’s flattery, ideology, or convenience. Along the way, we honor those who truly carry the cost of service, challenging performative outrage and urging attention toward present evils like human exploitation. The thread is consistent: truth without humility hardens; humility without truth drifts; both are found in Christ. History steps in with Samuel Adams, whose words remind us that providence and virtue still matter when a nation stands at a crossroads. We reflect on how spiritual renewal must empower civic courage, not replace it. The takeaway is simple and demanding: salvation is in Jesus Christ alone, marriages are for delight and fidelity, churches are to point to the Savior—not themselves—and citizens are called to disciplined love of neighbor. If that vision resonates, share this episode with a friend, leave a review to help others find the show, and subscribe so you never miss the next conversation. Your voice helps carry the work forward. Samuel Adams Daily Scripture  Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    23 min
  6. 6D AGO

    What If Freedom Depends On Your Daily Devotion

    Start with the heart, not the headlines. We open in prayer and step into a clear path: love God with everything, love your neighbor like yourself, and let that order transform your marriage, your family, and your public life. As we read Colossians 3 and the greatest commandments from Matthew, we unpack why spiritual authority without tenderness breaks homes, and how parents can guide without crushing a child’s spirit. The Psalmist teaches us to wait with courage, and Proverbs draws a hard line on adultery that still speaks to modern temptations and the cost of playing with fire. From there, we widen the lens to memory, service, and national character. We honor the often-forgotten people who carried risks we now forget—immigrants who served, soldiers who never made it home, families who shouldered the quiet cost. That memory sets the stage for George Washington’s 1776 general orders—a bracing, God-reliant call to courage, conduct, and unity. We explore how those words confront today’s moral fault lines, where convictions about life, truth, and duty can’t all win at once. Peace without shared principles is just a slogan; character and clarity are the real bridge. The thread through it all is priority. Your calendar reveals your creed. If God and your spouse come first, it shows up in time, habits, and speech. We offer practical ways to reorder your day: Scripture before screens, a nightly check-in and prayer with your spouse, weekly acts of service for someone who can’t repay you, and a habit of remembering those who stood in the gap. Freedom flourishes where hearts are formed, and hearts are formed where God is first. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs courage, and leave a review to help others find the show. What will you change today? #GeorgeWashington #RevolutionaryWar #DailyScripture  Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    20 min
  7. JAN 30

    Scripture, Fisher Ames, And The Soul Of A Republic

    Start with the soul, not the slogans. We open in prayer and move straight into Scripture that tests our assumptions: a wedding feast spurned, a coin stamped with Caesar, a resurrection misunderstood. The questions are as modern as taxes and as eternal as worship. What belongs to the state, what belongs to God, and what happens when a people forgets the difference? From Psalm 27’s courage to Proverbs 6’s hard-won wisdom, we map how inner life shapes public life. We then shift to a vivid portrait of duty through a Civil War Medal of Honor citation, reminding us that freedom is stewarded by sacrifice. That sets the table for Fisher Ames’ scorching analysis of the French Revolution. Ames contrasts violent upheaval with American liberty grounded in morals, religion, education, and dispersed property. His words read like a dispatch to the present: inflamed factions, envy masquerading as justice, and the state tempting citizens with plunder. The warning is clear—republics rot from the inside when virtue is mocked and restraint is treated as weakness. Our throughline is simple and demanding: rights without character degrade into license. We challenge a common talking point by insisting that the Second Amendment means little if the First isn’t lived out in truth and love. Arms without virtue become tools of vice; freedom without formation frays communities and families. The path forward looks old and fresh at once—prayer, repentance, Scripture in the home, courage in public, and a renewed respect for the limits that make liberty durable. If this resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so we can keep building a people capable of keeping freedom. What anchors your liberty? Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    21 min
  8. JAN 29

    Bone Of My Bones

    A covenant marriage, a contested authority, and a crumbling standard—today’s conversation ties these threads into a single question: what do we honor with our time and our lives? We start with Genesis and the one-flesh promise that ranks marriage above every other human bond. From there, we walk through Jesus’ challenge to hollow authority, the parable of the two sons where obedience beats lip service, and the vineyard tenants who reject the Son and lose the harvest. Scripture refuses our shortcuts and asks for fruit, not slogans. We lean into integrity with the Psalms and Proverbs, naming what God hates and what public life often rewards: pride, lying, scheming, and division. Then we bring in Fisher Ames—architect of the Bill of Rights—who argued that the Bible belongs back in schools for its moral clarity, elegant English, and unifying power. The point isn’t nostalgia; it’s standards. Techniques won’t save a generation when the bar keeps sinking. A shared moral and linguistic canon forms citizens who can think, speak, and act with courage. Along the way, we honor a Civil War Medal of Honor recipient and reflect on the terrible cost of national fracture. The warning is sober: drifting into conflict becomes easier when homes, classrooms, and pulpits lose their anchors. Renewal starts with reclaimed priorities—God first, marriage honored, integrity protected—and a willingness to rebuild on the cornerstone we’ve neglected. If this resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next. Your voice helps carry these conversations into the places that need them most. #FischerAmes #DailyScripture #BiblicalEducation  Support the show The American Soul Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

    21 min
4
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Are you tired of hearing the myth about separation of church and state? Are you tired of being told that America is not and never was a Christian nation? Do you want to have the information to stand up for the truth and fight back against this fundamental lie that’s invading our culture and education? Each week, host Jesse Cope will dive into quotes and excerpts from our great leaders and documents throughout our history showing how in President Woodrow Wilson’s words “America was born a Christian nation.” We have the truth on our side and together we can absolutely turn our nation around. Follow Jesse @jtcope4 on X for daily doses of the truth to help fight back. Subscribe to The American Soul and share the show with someone who needs to hear it. We're on a mission to spread the truth and get our nation back on the right track — and you can help us make this possible.