The American Soul
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.
The American Soul
Stop Bingeing Shows And Start Bingeing Your Spouse
Strong marriages don’t happen by accident—they’re built hour by hour with the choices we make when no one is watching. We open with gratitude and prayer, then press into a simple, challenging idea: if you can find time for screens, sports, or scrolling, you can find time to invest in your spouse. Drawing from Kobe Bryant’s “simple math,” we talk about compounding effort in relationships and how a steady, willing spirit creates a home that can weather stress and change.
We ground that vision in Scripture. 1 Peter 3 calls us to the hidden work of the heart—gentleness, understanding, and honor—over vanity and pride. Revelation 22 widens our horizon with a river of life and the promise of Christ’s return, giving couples a durable hope that reframes daily friction. Psalm 150 and Proverbs 31 add a rhythm of praise and diligence, showing how worship and wise effort shape a household that blesses everyone inside it.
To anchor these ideas in real courage, we share the Medal of Honor story of Robert M. Booty and reflect on President Truman’s Christmas message about peace, patience, and the spirit of the Prince of Peace. The through line is clear: faith forms character, character shapes marriage, and marriage strengthens families and nations. If you’re ready to reallocate your hours and rebuild what matters most, this conversation will give you clarity, conviction, and a path forward.
If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find us. Then tell us: which hour this week will you reclaim for your marriage?
The American Soul Podcast
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Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Soul Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well wherever y'all are, whatever part of the day you've been. I sure do appreciate y'all joining me, giving me a little bit of your time, attention, a little piece of your day. I will try and use it wisely. Hopefully, you're getting to listen to it with someone else. For those of y'all who continue to share the podcast with others, tell others about it.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you for those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast. Thank you.
SPEAKER_01:Very grateful for your prayers. Father, thank you for today. Thank you for you, Father, and your son Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love and your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness of sins through the merit of your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank you for this day that you've made. Thank you for all the blessings that you bestow upon us that we don't tell you, thank you for, Father.
SPEAKER_00:Forgive us our lack of gratitude, forgive us our pride, selfishness, judgment of others, vanity, lust, covetousness, gossip, slander. All our sins, Father. Help us to overcome, forgive us our cowardice and our unbelief. Be with those who are hurting, Father. Those who are brokenhearted. Draw close to them. Be with those who feel alone and abandoned. Help them to feel your presence, your comfort, your peace. Help us to care for the least of these, to care for the widow and the orphan, the poor and the needy. Guide ourselves. Be with our leaders. In the pulpit. And in the state. Give them wisdom and courage, strong faith. Help them to rule and lead in fear of you. Bless our marriages and our families across the nation. Help us to turn back to you as a nation, Father, please. Be with those listening to the podcast, thank you for them. Bless their families, their marriages. Guide. And God my words here, Father, please. Your son's name we ask and pray. Amen.
SPEAKER_01:So I've mentioned both of these examples before, but I think uh Reagan's quote that I haven't read in a while, but that talks about the family being the center of or the strength of the nation, right? Is the strength of the family. And what is the strength of the family? The strength of the family is the marriage. A family's only as strong as the marriage is. And we have proof of this all over the place today. You can see the disjointedness and the dysfunction of families once they're broken. No matter how great any subsequent marriages are, there's still some problems there. Or if the marriage is still the first one, but it's completely dysfunctional. When the marriage is weak for whatever reason, it causes problems. And so the main example that I wanted is an interview with Kobe Bryant again, and he was talking about simple math. And he said when he was talking to kids, this was after his career, he was coaching. And he would say, you know, all your peer group, they're going out and they're playing basketball an hour, hour and a half a day, and you're playing three hours a day, eventually the math is going to catch up. You're going to overtake them. And then he's, you know, he was talking about his career, just like in his career, at some point, you're going to have created such a difference between you and your peer group that no matter how hard they practice, they're never going to be able to close that gap. And simple math in marriage is this, folks. If you have time to go play golf three or four hours, even just one day a week, right? Or sit in front of a TV watching a football game, or binge watching your favorite episodes of Netflix or Prime or Hulu or whatever. Or scrolling social media for an hour, hour and a half each day plus. You have time for your spouse. You not only have time for your spouse, you have time to get a positive attitude and to do whatever your spouse wants whenever they want to, wherever they want to, however often, eagerly. The problem for most of us, folks, is not true time, energy, effort, ability. The problem for most of us is wrong priorities, laziness, selfishness. And that's true not only of our marriage, it's also true of our faith and our relationship with God and Jesus Christ. So the marriage verse for today 1 Peter 3, starting with verse 1, Godly living, in the same way you wives be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be one without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior. Your adornment must not be merely external, braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses, but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way, in former times, the holy women also who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, and you have become her children if you do what is right without being frightened by any fear. You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman, and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
SPEAKER_00:Scripture for today, the very end, and then we'll go back to the beginning. End of the New Testament.
SPEAKER_01:Revelation twenty-two, verses one through twenty one. Then the angel showed me a river, with the water of life clear as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street, on each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nation. No longer will there be a curse upon anything, for the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him, and they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads, and there will be no night there, no need for lamps or sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will reign forever and ever. Then the angel said to me, Everything you have heard and seen is trustworthy and true. The Lord God who inspires his prophets has sent his angel to tell his servants what will happen soon. Look, I am coming soon. Blessed are those who obey the words of prophecy written in this book. I, John, and am the one who heard and saw all these things, and when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said, No, don't worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers, the prophets, as well as all who obey what is written in this book. Worship only God. Then he instructed me, do not seal up the prophetic words in this book, for the time is near. Let the one who is doing harm continue to do harm. Let the one who is vile continue to be vile. Let the one who is righteous continue to live righteously. Let the one who is holy continue to be holy. Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life. Outside the city are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live alive. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this message for the churches. I am both the source of David and the heir to his throne. I am the bright morning star. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let anyone who hears say this, hears this, say, Come. Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book. If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this prophecy, this book of prophecy, God will remove that person's share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book. He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's holy people. Psalm one hundred fifty verses one through six. Praise the Lord, praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty heaven, praise him for his mighty works, praise his unequaled greatness, praise him with a blast of the ram's horn, praise him with lyre and harp, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with strings and flutes, praise him with a clash of cymbals, praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord. Praise the Lord. Proverbs thirty one verses twenty five through thirty one. She, the virtuous wife, is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household, excuse me, and suffers nothing from laziness. Her children stand and bless her, her husband praises her. There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive and beauty does not last. But a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done.
SPEAKER_00:Let her deeds publicly declare her praise. Medal of Honor for today. Robert M.
SPEAKER_01:Booty, Sergeant, highest rank, second lieutenant, conflict, U.S. Civil War, Bravo Company, fortieth, New York Infantry, Military Service Branch, U.S. Army, Medal of Honor date, may second, eighteen sixty three, place Williamsburg and Chancellorsville, Virginia, USA. This soldier at Williamsburg, Virginia, then a corporal, at great personal risk, voluntarily saved the lives of and brought from the battlefield two wounded comrades. A year later at Chancellorsville, voluntarily and at great personal risk, brought from the field of battle and saved the life of Captain George B. Cars, Charlie Company, fortieth New York Volunteer Infantry. Accredited to Amesbury, Essex County, Massachusetts, not awarded posthumously, presented july eighth, eighteen ninety six, born march sixth, eighteen thirty six, Lymington, York County, Maine, died october twenty second, nineteen thirteen, Haverhill, Massachusetts. Buried Greenwood Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts, United States.
SPEAKER_00:Robert M. Booty.
SPEAKER_01:My fellow Americans, as we light this national Christmas tree tonight here on the White House lawn, all of us light our own Christmas trees in our own homes. We remember another night long ago. Then a child was born in a stable. A star hovered over, drawing wise men from afar. Shepherds in a field heard angels singing, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men. That was the first Christmas, and it was God's great gift to us. This is a wonderful story. Year after year it brings peace and tranquility to troubled hearts in a troubled world. And tonight the earth seems hushed. As we turn to the old, old story of how God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Tonight our hearts turn, first of all, to our brave men and women in Korea. They are fighting and suffering and even dying, that we may preserve the chance of peace in the world. The struggle there has been long and bitter, but it has a hopeful meaning. It has a hopeful meaning because it is the common struggle of many free nations which have joined together to seek a just and lasting peace. We know, all of us, that this is the only way we can bring about peace in the conditions of our time on this earth. Whether we shall succeed depends upon our patience and fortitude. We still have a long road ahead of us before we reach our goal. We must remain steadfast. And as we go about our business of trying to achieve peace in the world, let us remember always to try and act and live in the spirit of the Prince of Peace. He bore in his heart no hate and no malice, nothing but love for all mankind. We should try as nearly as we can to follow his example. Our efforts to establish law and order in the world are not directed against any nation or any people. We seek only a universal peace, where all nations shall be free, and all peoples shall enjoy their inalienable human rights. We believe that all men are truly the children of God. As we worship at this Christmas tide, let us worship in this spirit, as we pray for our loved ones far from home, as we pray for our men and women in Korea and all our servicemen and women wherever they are. Let us also pray for our enemies. Let us pray that the Spirit of God shall enter their lives and prevail in their land. Let us pray for a fulfillment of the brotherhood of man. Through Jesus Christ, the world will yet be a better and fairer place. This faith sustains us today as it has sustained mankind for centuries past. This is why the Christmas story, with the bright stars shining and the angels singing, moves us to wonder and stirs our hearts to praise. Now, my fellow countrymen, I wish for all of you a Christmas filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit, and many years of future happiness with the peace of God reigning upon this earth.
SPEAKER_00:President Harry S. Truman, December twenty fourth, nineteen fifty-two. There's a lot, folks, all sorts of things.
SPEAKER_01:You go back to the last chapter in Revelation, just cling to that hope. Come, Lord Jesus.
SPEAKER_00:The hope that God is gonna bring us home to Him who believe in His Son Jesus Christ. You look at the story again of Robert M. Booty, Civil War, dragging wounded comrades to safety, despite immense risk to his own life. You think about our own soldiers, Marines, airmen, sailors, Coast Guard, etc.
SPEAKER_01:Today, fighting wherever they are fighting, doing things that a lot of us don't even recognize. We'll never know about. And the cold and the dark and the rain and the snow to protect us. You think about our military, our law enforcement as well here right now, inside the United States. So many of them doing a job that goes unnoticed, that we often don't show enough gratitude for, and that there are even quite a large percentage of Americans, sadly, today, too who are hostile to them because they seek the destruction of the United States.
SPEAKER_00:You go to this Christmas message again with Truman also, and there's a lot here, folks.
SPEAKER_01:But he says, you know, this faith, this faith in Christ is what sustains us today, just as in centuries past.
SPEAKER_00:That has to be at the core of our nation. That has to be what sustains us, folks. There's a lot more as we are reading through that. But I think that's that's the central point, folks. I mean, that's been the central point of this podcast for a long time. If you are looking for a family-friendly middle grade read, then you would check out Countryside.
SPEAKER_01:There's two books in the series so far. The Book of the Wise is the first one, The Tears of Adina, the second. And if you enjoy it, if you'd leave a review somewhere online, I would greatly appreciate that. Those reviews help quite a bit. And if you feel like you're getting something out of the podcast and you have two or three or four or five dollars a month to donate to the podcast, there's a web page on the Buzz Sprout website for the podcast where you can set up that monthly donation.
SPEAKER_00:And I would be very grateful for that as well. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
SPEAKER_01:Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil.
unknown:Amen.
SPEAKER_01:God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages if you're married. God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world. Listen. God bless America. We'll talk to y'all again real soon, folks. Looking forward to it.