The American Soul

Start with humility, move with courage, and aim for liberty that actually lasts. That's the arc we trace as we connect the dots between personal faith, public authority, and the conditions that make freedom possible. We open in prayer for leaders, families, teachers, and first responders, then press into the central claim: a society that banishes God from public life cannot keep the fruits of peace, safety, and liberty.From there, we lay out concrete steps. First, renewal starts at home and work: live openly under Christ's authority. Second, confront the civic framework that pushed faith to the margins by reassessing the legacy of Everson v. Board of Education and the way “separation” has functioned in practice. We revisit early American norms that expected public servants to be people of Christian conviction, arguing that character and creed shape public trust. Whether you agree fully or not, the challenge is clear: if freedom has a source, our laws and lives should reflect it.Scripture anchors the conversation. Proverbs 5 casts a hopeful vision for marriage as mutual joy and fidelity. Matthew 8 reminds us of the centurion who recognized true authority and trusted Christ's word without spectacle. Psalm 9 warns that nations that ignore God slide toward ruin, while Proverbs 3 offers a path back through trust, loyalty, and wisdom. We honor courage through the Medal of Honor story of Emmer Bowen at Vicksburg, and we revisit President Truman's 1945 Day of Prayer, where he credited God for victory and called the country to gratitude and a just peace.The throughline is simple and strong: order life under true authority, and freedom follows. Disregard the source, and even the best systems fray. If you find this conversation meaningful, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your voice helps build a community that chooses faith, courage, and clarity—one home, one city, one nation at a time.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What if your calendar is preaching a creed you never meant to adopt? We open with gratitude and a candid look at how easily entertainment and sports can drift from gift to god, stealing hours meant for Scripture, prayer, marriage, family, and neighbor. It's not a guilt spiral; it's an invitation to trade noise for nourishment and rebuild life on rock, not sand.Together we walk through Matthew 7 to test teachers and trends by their fruit and to measure our foundations before the storm hits. Psalm 9 meets modern anxiety with a fierce hope: God judges with justice, shelters the oppressed, and never ignores the cries of those who suffer. Proverbs 2 adds street-level wisdom, warning against flattering paths that lead to ruin and commending the hard but good road of integrity. These passages don't float above real life; they direct it—calling us to reorder our time, restore our homes, and strengthen our communities.History joins the conversation with the courage of Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Chester Bennett Bowen and President Truman's VE Day proclamation, a national moment of prayerful gratitude. Their stories remind us that character, sacrifice, and thanksgiving shape both people and nations. We keep it honest about failure and pride, then offer a simple guardrail: follow teachers only as they follow Christ. From there, the practices get practical—small shifts like a weekly media fast, shared prayer at the table, or serving someone in need—tiny hinges that swing big doors in a home.If this speaks to you, share it with a friend who could use a nudge toward solid ground. Subscribe for more Scripture-centered reflections, leave a review to help others find the show, and tell us: what's one hour you'll reclaim this week and give back to God?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

A knee shattered in World War I. The same knee hit again in World War II. Archibald Roosevelt's story isn't about chasing glory; it's about answering the call when every excuse would be understandable. We trace that rare resolve to a deeper root—faith, duty, and a willingness to serve when comfort urges retreat.We walk through the Roosevelt brothers' grit, then pivot to a different kind of strength found in scripture. Paul's teaching on marriage reframes love as mutual devotion, not contract math. Jesus' words in Matthew 6–7 tackle worry, judgment, and the daily practice of the Golden Rule: seek the kingdom first, trust God for needs, clear your own vision before you try to clear anyone else's. Paired with Psalm 8's awe and Proverbs 2's promise of wisdom and integrity, the path becomes clear even if it stays narrow.History widens the lens again with FDR's 1941 Day of Prayer—a national moment of confession, consecration, and courage in the face of war. We connect that call to today's cultural pressures and the ideologies that erode freedom by promising shortcuts. Along the way, we spotlight Corporal Samuel Bowden's Medal of Honor citation, a reminder that countless acts of bravery shaped the ground we stand on.If you're hungry for a conversation that blends hard history with lived faith and practical takeaways for marriage, worry, and daily character, you're in the right place. Listen, reflect, and join us in choosing service over ease and wisdom over noise. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

A quiet ER visit turned into a wake-up call about perspective, gratitude, and the simple discipline of helping someone who is hurting more than we are. From that moment, we pull on a thread that runs through marriage, prayer, courage under fire, and a wartime Christmas message that still speaks with force today.We walk through Matthew 6 and its countercultural map for private devotion: give without fanfare, pray without performance, fast without display. The focus is not on religious optics, but on a Father who sees in secret and forms resilient character in hidden places. Genesis re-anchors marriage as a covenant of leaving and cleaving, where two become one flesh and reorder their lives with loyalty and tenderness. That bond becomes a launchpad for service beyond the home.History sharpens the point. We honor Private John W. Boutwell's Medal of Honor rescue, a portrait of courage that costs something. We also revisit FDR's 1942 Christmas message, which insists that goodwill toward man takes root in goodwill toward God. When we store treasure in heaven and choose one master, anxiety loosens its grip and integrity starts to rise—at the kitchen table and in the public square. The question becomes practical: who in your circle needs air, hope, or help today, and what would quiet obedience look like right now?Join us for a frank, faith-centered reflection that bridges scripture, marriage, service, and civic life. If this conversation strengthens you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review so others can find it. Your support helps us keep telling stories that point hearts toward God and hands toward neighbors.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What if the most urgent work in a restless nation starts in the hidden room—where no one sees, no one applauds, and God meets us in secret? We open with gratitude and prayer, then trace a straight line from Scripture to the choices shaping families, churches, and civic life right now. The core challenge is unapologetic: treat children as blessings, not accessories; honor covenant marriage as mutual self-giving; and build habits of quiet devotion that anchor public courage.We walk through 1 Corinthians 7 to recover the mutual duties of spouses, a counterweight to isolation and resentment. Then we linger in Matthew 6—give without fanfare, pray behind a closed door, fast without spectacle, and store treasure in heaven rather than bow to money. These practices sharpen conscience and clear the fog of performative religion. Psalm 7 adds a bracing note: God judges with honesty, sees the heart, and turns unjust schemes back on those who devise them. That vision steadies us when headlines churn and trust runs thin.History steps in with texture and weight. We remember Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Richard Bory, a snapshot of courage that reminds us virtue costs. And we revisit Franklin D. Roosevelt's Christmas Eve message from 1941, delivered days after Pearl Harbor, calling America to prepare materially while arming our hearts with prayer, repentance, and resolve. That pairing—readiness and reliance—still fits. Prepare wisely for hard seasons. Trust God for ultimate victory. Encourage each other to keep the Christmas spirit of humility and charity all year.We close with practical encouragements and prayer for families, the persecuted, and those in uniform. If this conversation stirred you to renew private prayer, strengthen your marriage, or welcome life more generously, share it with a friend. Subscribe for more Scripture-rooted reflections, leave a review to help others find the show, and join us again as we seek courage, clarity, and hope in Christ.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What does it mean to “own” anything if a missed tax bill can cost you your home? We take a hard look at property taxes, why they function like rent to the state, and how tying schools and services to levies on a few erodes trust across an entire community. Then we sketch a clearer, fairer path: transparent consumption-based taxes that spread the cost of roads, classrooms, and public safety while protecting the sanctity of the home and giving everyone real skin in the game.From there, we turn to the heart: 1 Peter 3 calls husbands and wives to honor, humility, and a quiet strength that sustains families through stormy seasons. Matthew 5 pushes us toward integrity and mercy—letting yes be yes, rooting out lust at the source, offering the other cheek, and loving those who stand against us. Paired with Psalm 6's plea from the weary and Proverbs' warning against complacency, these readings remind us that courage and clarity begin inside the home and overflow into public life.We also honor Captain Thomas Bourne of the USS Varuna, who held his position under brutal fire and ramming—an example of steadiness that anchors our civic imagination. And we revisit Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1940 Christmas message, a call to voluntary progress and an “unquenchable spring of promise” that endures through fear and conflict. Threaded together, faith and policy point to a simple test: does our system respect neighbors equally, protect what families build, and invite willing, informed contribution?If this conversation resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review to help others find it. Check out Countryside for values‑driven reading in your home, and find our episodes on YouTube if that's where you listen. Your support keeps the light on—and your voice helps shape the next conversation.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What if the most important work you do today is simply turning toward the people you love? We start with loss, not to linger in sorrow, but to remember what actually lasts. Things break. Trends fade. Screens keep scrolling. People are eternal, and how we treat them shapes our homes, our communities, and our future.From that center, we dive into Ephesians 5 and talk plainly about marriage as a living picture of Christ and the church. It's not a contest for control but a call to mutual honor: husbands who nourish and cherish, wives who respect and strengthen. We look at the habits that erode intimacy—endless scrolling, divided attention, sharp words—and the small daily choices that restore it: gentleness, presence, and the courage to serve first.We then follow the Magi's star to rediscover worship that moves us to act. Their long road, costly gifts, and obedience to change course teach us how to seek Jesus with intention and joy. Along the way, we honor John Gregory Bourke's “gallantry in action,” a reminder that much of the courage that holds a nation together goes uncelebrated. We also revisit Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1939 Christmas message, with its call to neighborliness, mercy, and living for others, even as storms gather. The takeaway is urgent yet hopeful: prepare your heart before the storm, anchor your days in Christ, and give your first fruits to the people God has entrusted to you.If this resonates, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, subscribe for more reflections on faith and American heritage, and leave a review so others can find the show. What one small act of care will you offer someone today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What if the gap between our dreams and our reality isn't talent, but effort ordered by love? We explore why so many of us crave high reward with low effort and how a clear hierarchy—God, spouse, family, country—reorients our days toward what truly matters. Along the way, we get practical about marriage, drawing on Hebrews 13:4 to show how honor and fidelity aren't drab rules but the engine of trust, joy, and resilience.Luke 2 takes center stage through Linus's timeless recitation from A Charlie Brown Christmas, reminding us that Christmas isn't a date—it's a way to live. Hear, hurry, see, share, worship: the shepherds give us a rhythm for the whole year. We dig into why media choices shape our souls, how a recent Grinch adaptation quietly nods toward deeper truths, and why families should seek stories that teach courage, sacrifice, and grace.We also spotlight Medal of Honor recipient Nicholas S. Bouquet, an immigrant who risked everything at Wilson's Creek—an example of character forged by virtue, not birthplace. Then we draw strength from FDR's 1938 Christmas messages to the military and the nation, where he calls America a republic and grounds public hope in the providence of God. The throughline is simple and demanding: if Christ is the point, then our habits must reflect His teachings in our marriages, our work, our entertainment, and our civic life. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find the show—what habit will you change first?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

What if loving your spouse first is the most loving thing you can do for your kids and your country? We open with a hard look at modern parenting and explain why a spouse-first home gives children security, clarity, and a living picture of covenant love they can carry into their own marriages. It's a call to realignment: step back from living through your kids, rebuild the partnership that holds the family together, and let your priorities teach what your words cannot.We lean into Scripture for a sturdy framework. Titus 2 sketches a mentoring culture where older believers model self-control, integrity, and love, training the next generation to build wise, peaceful homes. From the Sermon on the Mount, we sit with the Beatitudes, anger and reconciliation, and the charge to be salt and light—practical guidance for turning conflict into peace and shining in quiet, consistent ways that honor God. The thread is everyday faith lived credibly, so that even critics find little to fault.History adds weight and texture. We highlight FDR's 1934 Christmas message on courage and unity, then connect President Truman's claim that the world's problems yield to biblical principles with Coolidge's warning that our institutions rest on Scripture. The lesson is plain: private virtue sustains public order. A vivid Medal of Honor account of Corporal Orlando F. Boss underscores courage as love in action. We also own a sourcing mix-up and talk about verifying with primary documents—because truthfulness in small details builds trust in bigger ones.If this resonated, share it with a friend who values faith, family, and country. Subscribe for more reflections on Scripture, marriage, and American heritage, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your voice helps spread light.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

A single barroom question—will the terror ever stop—can change how you see duty, faith, and the meaning of peace. We open with prayer and a grateful nod to everyone holding families, churches, and towns together, then step into a hard conversation about violence, vigilance, and what actually protects ordinary people. The tension is real, so we turn to Scripture for a truer compass: Proverbs on faithful marriage, Matthew 4 on repentance and calling, and Psalm 4 on quieting anger and trusting God for peace that outlasts harvests and headlines.History gives the ideas flesh. We read the Medal of Honor citation for Staff Sergeant William J. Bordelon at Tarawa, where courage looked like wet sand, pillboxes, and a choice to go again under fire. That story reframes our comfort and reminds us that security has names and graves. We pair it with FDR's 1936 Christmas messages, weaving Dickens' transformation with the Sermon on the Mount. The claim lands with weight: policies matter, but a nation cannot claim to seek peace while ignoring Christ's commands. Repentance, mercy, and fidelity are not soft words; they are the spine that holds a people upright when fear and rage press in.Across the hour, we ask you to test convictions against Scripture, to thank those who serve, and to build homes that hold firm in rough weather. We offer a family-friendly book recommendation for readers who love Narnia and Percy Jackson, and we invite you to support the show if it's been useful to you. Most of all, we point to the light that still breaks into dark places. Share the gospel. Care for the cold, hungry, and afraid. Pray the Lord's Prayer like it is daily bread, and live as if peace on earth begins at your table.If this conversation challenged you or gave you hope, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a rating or review so more people can find it. Then tell us: where are you choosing to bring light this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

Doubt doesn't always start with disbelief; it often starts with uneven standards. We put ancient sources on pedestals while demanding perfection from the Gospels. So we ask a sharper question: if historians trust accounts of Alexander the Great written centuries after his death, what should we do with Christian claims circulating within years of the resurrection? Walking through insights popularized by Lee Strobel and scholarship that outlines early creeds, eyewitness proximity, and manuscript depth, we press for intellectual fairness—and courage to follow the evidence where it leads.From there, we bring faith home. Colossians 3 reframes marriage not as power but as mutual sacrifice: wives honoring God's order, husbands rejecting bitterness through self-giving love. Then we step into the Jordan and the wilderness. John the Baptist calls for fruit worthy of repentance, and Jesus answers temptation with Scripture, refusing shortcuts to comfort, spectacle, or power. Those scenes become a map for modern pressure: hold to truth, obey when unseen, and let God define the path.We round out the journey with battle-tested courage and seasonal hope. The story of Medal of Honor recipient Joel Thompson Boone shows love with skin in the game—running into fire to save the wounded. Psalm 3 and Proverbs 1 ground our courage and prudence, while FDR's 1935 Christmas words cast a wider light: the message of peace and goodwill crosses borders, eras, and fears. Taken together, these threads form a steadying line—from historical reliability to daily obedience, from battlefield sacrifice to a manger's promise. If this conversation strengthens your footing, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. What part challenged you most today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

Headlines can numb the soul, but they can also wake it. We open with prayer and move straight into the hard reality of targeted violence and public fear, then trace a path that blends courage with compassion. Our focus is local and concrete: how to strengthen law enforcement, firefighters, EMS, and communication networks so communities are ready before a crisis, not after. The goal isn't alarm—it's stewardship. When neighbors talk, train, and plan, the ground under our feet steadies.From there, we ground public life in private covenant. We read the marriage passages from Corinthians and Genesis, exploring how a husband and wife, joined as one, form a stable center for children and community. That foundation links to a journey of prudence: Joseph, Mary, and the child Jesus flee danger, wait for God's timing, and return only when it's safe. Obedience here looks like preparation, patience, and movement guided by wisdom. It's a blueprint for modern families facing uncertainty without surrendering to fear.Scripture keeps widening the frame. Psalm 2 reminds us that rulers rage, but God reigns; Proverbs calls us to humility and discipline. We pause to honor a Medal of Honor recipient whose brief citation hints at decisive bravery, then hear FDR's Christmas reading on radical grace—an invitation that stretches even to the hardest hearts. We hold both truths together: salvation is offered to all, and love protects the vulnerable. That's why moral clarity and community readiness belong side by side.If this conversation stirred you, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review so others can find the show. Tell us one step you'll take this week—support a first responder, read the marriage passages with your spouse, or start a neighborhood safety chat. Your action matters.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe Countryside Book Series https://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2

A simple memory at a memorial changed the tone of the day: a third-grade classroom with the Golden Rule on the wall, memorized by kids who carried it into adulthood. That image opened a bigger conversation about what we teach our children, how we understand liberty, and why our public institutions should reflect the moral roots that shaped this country.We walk through the case for centering tax-funded education on the principles that animated the American project—love of neighbor, the dignity of conscience, and the Scriptural wisdom that formed our earliest laws and customs. Along the way, we confront the modern “separation of church and state” narrative that grew after 1947 and contrast it with Jefferson's original concern about a national church. The goal isn't coercion at home; it's clarity in the public square. We also move from civics to the heart, reading 1 Corinthians 7 as a mirror for marriages that need mutual care, prayer, and unity, and noting how strong homes train the same virtues a free people require.Scripture readings from Matthew, Psalms, and Proverbs bring the story into focus: Joseph's obedience, the Magi's courage, and the promise that delight in God's law turns lives into rooted trees. We honor Private Robert D. Booker's Medal of Honor sacrifice as the hard-earned fruit of formation, not accident, and we revisit Franklin D. Roosevelt's 1933 Christmas messages, where “love thy neighbor” rises as a national ethic in anxious times. If history is bending toward a rougher season, we can still prepare: strengthen local institutions, equip those who serve, speak up at school boards, and teach the Golden Rule with conviction.If this conversation resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don't miss what's next. Your voice in your town matters—bring it to your schools, your home, and your street.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

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?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

A single thread runs through today's conversation: real authority is sacrificial, and real hope is active. We open with gratitude and prayer, then move straight into Ephesians 5 to explore how love and respect are not competing claims but a bonded calling. Husbands are charged to give themselves up, not to grasp for power; wives are called to respect that costly leadership, not to disappear. We share a hard truth from a broken marriage—two people “forgot they needed each other”—and talk candidly about how daily dependence protects a covenant from slow erosion.From there, Revelation 21 lifts our eyes to the New Jerusalem, where God wipes every tear and night never falls. The measured walls, radiant stones, and open gates are more than poetry; they are a blueprint for courage now. We connect that hope to the rhythms of praise and justice in Psalm 149 and the steady, capable work pictured in Proverbs 31. Far from stereotypes, these texts sketch a household that builds value, serves the poor, and strengthens the city gates—an economy of trust that begins at the kitchen table and ripples outward.History puts skin on these ideals. We honor First Lieutenant Alexander “Sandy” Bonnyman Jr., whose leadership at Tarawa—organizing men under fire, advancing when pinned down, and holding ground at the cost of his life—shows what authority looks like under pressure. Then we reflect on President Truman's 1951 Christmas message, a clear-eyed call to pursue a just peace with faith and resolve. Finally, we turn to our moment: the need to prepare our communities, support local first responders, and practice readiness without losing compassion. Faith shapes homes, homes shape citizens, and citizens steward freedom best when they remember who—and what—they are willing to serve.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show. What moment challenged you most today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

A quiet milestone hits hard: for the first time in 84 years, no Pearl Harbor survivor could attend the ceremony. That absence becomes a mirror, and we ask the hard question—what will history say about our generation when our voices fade? We weave that reflection through Scripture, prayer, and lived examples to trace a path of courage rooted not in noise but in fidelity.We start with the heart of the home—marriage—drawing from Hebrews 13:4 to make a clear, hopeful case for honoring vows and resisting the pull to normalize what wounds trust. Mercy is real, and so is accountability. From there, Revelation 20 reframes our moment: evil deceives, but only for a time; books are opened; names matter; and resurrection hope changes how we carry responsibility. Psalm 148 widens the frame to a universe of praise, reminding us that obedience is harmony with a creation that already sings. Proverbs 31:8–9 then turns praise into practice, calling us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves and to seek justice for the crushed.We ground these themes in story. A brief Medal of Honor spotlight on Robert Earl Bonney pulls courage out of the boiler room and into the light, showing that heroism often hides behind steel and steam. And we revisit President Harry Truman's 1950 Christmas messages—words forged in wartime—that tie peace on earth to moral clarity and public duty. Throughout, we bless the workers who keep communities alive—farmers, ranchers, linemen, doctors, builders—because service is how love becomes law in daily life.If you're ready for a clear-eyed, hopeful call to remember well, love well, and stand firm with grace, press play and join us. Subscribe, share this episode with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review with one action you'll take this week.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Start with honesty: none of us has a spotless record, and pretending we do only delays the obedience God asks of us today. We dig into the parable of the two sons to show why repentance is measured by action, not memory, and we highlight Rahab's story as a powerful reminder that God writes redemption into the lives of imperfect people who choose faithfulness now.From there, we turn to Titus 2 and get practical about the virtues that steady a home and strengthen a community. Temperance, dignity, sensible speech, and the work of teaching what is good give our faith credibility. Revelation 19 then lifts our eyes, reminding us that the wedding feast of the Lamb and the triumph of the Rider called Faithful and True are not abstract theology but the anchor for perseverance and hope when the world feels hostile and disordered.We round out the conversation with Psalm 147's comfort for the brokenhearted, Proverbs 31's sober counsel to leaders, and a Medal of Honor spotlight on Sylvester Bonnafon Jr. History speaks, too: we read FDR's Pearl Harbor address and Harry Truman's 1949 Christmas message, drawing lessons about courage, clarity, peace, and service. Through Scripture and history, we argue for a life that names evil, loves neighbors, and trusts God for victory. If this resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you won't miss what's next. Your reflections help shape future episodes—what truth do you need courage to act on today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

War asks brutal questions about mercy, justice, and responsibility—and pretending otherwise only spreads the pain. We dive into a real-world flashpoint with cartel violence and examine why “kindness” can become cruelty when it allows predators to return to their trade. Drawing on the battlefield wisdom of Stonewall Jackson, Norman Schwarzkopf, and Winston Churchill, we make the unpopular case that, once force is justified, half measures prolong suffering. Swift, decisive action can actually be the shortest path to peace and protection for the most vulnerable.That conviction doesn't float in abstraction; it sits beside the daily vows that hold a home together. Proverbs 5:19 calls husbands to a fierce, joyful fidelity—“be intoxicated with her love”—a countercultural vision that guards desire inside covenant. We hold that vision against the glittering collapse of Babylon in Revelation 18, where luxury and trade hide a darker ledger that includes human bodies. The warning is stark and timely: systems built on exploitation will fall, and the call to “come out” demands detachment from comforts that cost others their dignity.History and hope round out the journey. We honor Major Richard Ira Bong, the WWII ace whose courage shielded many, and we draw strength from Truman's 1948 Christmas message: peace is not the silence of guns but the presence of justice, freedom, and goodwill. Psalm 146 redirects trust from powerful people to the God who lifts the burdened and shelters the outsider, while a sharp proverb reminds us that stoking anger breeds quarrels. The throughline is simple and demanding—love what is good, protect the least, refuse performative mercy, and build a life aimed at eternal treasure rather than fragile comforts.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show. What do you believe is the most compassionate path when evil refuses to stop?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

A starving prisoner kneels in the mud so a stranger won't die alone. That image, carried from a liberated WWII camp, sets the compass for everything that follows. We talk about what real courage looks like when no one is watching, how ordinary choices either feed cruelty or push back against it, and why small acts of dignity can outlast the roar of any regime.From there, we connect the dots across Scripture and history. Colossians points us toward marriages shaped by love and respect, the kind that hold steady when the world shakes. Revelation confronts the spectacle of corrupt power and reminds us that empires built on appetite burn out. Psalm 145 brings us back to God's character—near to the broken, slow to anger, rich in mercy—calling us to pray like it matters. Alongside that, we spotlight First Lieutenant Henry G. Bonebrake's grit at Five Forks and revisit President Truman's 1947 Christmas message, where the star over Bethlehem becomes a summons to peace with integrity.The throughline is simple and demanding: defend human dignity, start at home, and carry hope into public life. Whether you're strengthening your family, serving your community, or standing up to lies, your steady faithfulness matters. Listen for the story that frames it all, reflect on the Scriptures that guide us, and leave with concrete steps to practice courage in the everyday.If this conversation stirred something in you, tap follow, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Your voice helps this message reach the people who need it most.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

A hard word can also be a healing one: we dig into why “Christless conservatism” cannot carry a nation's moral weight, and why political victories feel empty when the soul goes unattended. Starting with a frank look at ambivalence among believers, we trace how lukewarm faith leaks into families, schools, churches, and public life. God is love and also justice; mercy and also judgment—and ignoring either side bends us toward confusion. That tension sets the stage for a deeper call to repentance and renewed courage.We ground the conversation in Scripture. Genesis invites husbands and wives to become one flesh, a covenant that shapes character and community far beyond the home. Revelation 16 confronts us with hardened hearts that curse rather than turn back, a mirror for our own moment when distraction replaces devotion. Along the way, we honor Staff Sergeant James L. Bondsteel, whose ordinary appearance hid extraordinary courage under fire. His story becomes a template: move toward the fight that saves others, carry what must be carried, and keep rallying people when fear closes in.We also draw strength from President Harry S. Truman's Christmas message, which links the Golden Rule to the American experiment. A free people must be a self-governed people, and love of neighbor is not a private sentiment but a public necessity. When we ask for order without grace, we get noise without peace. The path forward is steady and specific—tell the truth in love, rebuild marriages, practice repentance, honor courage, and keep watch with hope. If this conversation stirs something in you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review so others can find it. What's one step you'll take toward bolder faith this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Headlines move fast, but the root struggle rarely changes: what ideas shape our lives, our families, and our country. We follow a clear thread—from Minnesota's funding controversy to Churchill's warnings about Nazism to FDR's 1933 Christmas Eve fireside chat—to ask a hard question: do we evaluate people by ethnicity and origin, or by the ideology they carry and promote? That choice frames everything else, from policy to culture to how we raise our kids.We read from 1 Corinthians on marital fidelity and self-giving, then turn to Revelation's vision of justice and Psalm 143's cry from the depths. These passages aren't abstract; they show how private virtue sustains public courage. Proverbs adds a civic edge with small, wise creatures that model foresight, order, and presence—a reminder that strength without wisdom collapses. Along the way, we honor William S. Bond's Medal of Honor service, because history's courage steadies today's resolve.FDR's Christmas message anchors the conversation in hope and Scripture. He quotes the promise that nations should not learn war forever, a line many now miss because biblical literacy has faded. Benjamin Franklin's accounts of Scripture-saturated speech in early America reveal how a common text once set boundaries for power and protected freedom. When people know the words, leaders can't easily bend them. When that knowledge fades, new creeds slip in under familiar language.Our through-line is simple and urgent: ideology decides direction. If we abandon the principles of Christ—justice, mercy, humility, courage—we leave a vacuum that corrosive systems rush to fill. Rebuild literacy. Teach truth to children. Evaluate policies by dignity, not marketing. Support communities that pray, debate, and act with moral clarity. If this conversation moved you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review so others can find the show.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Seven hours on screens, and somehow we still feel starved for connection. We take a hard look at the cost of constant scrolling and map out a simple, sustainable detox that trades distraction for real presence. No sweeping pledges, no moralizing—just small, daily choices that rebuild attention, warmth, and trust at home and in our communities.We start with the data and move quickly to the heart: what screens steal from marriages, friendships, and parenting. Then we get practical. Think three to five minutes a day, phone out of reach, paired with a concrete act—reading a Psalm, sharing one real question at dinner, taking a short walk, or calling someone who's lonely. Like any good training plan, consistency beats intensity; habits compound. Along the way, we ground the practice in Scripture: 1 Peter 3 on mutual honor in marriage, Revelation 14 on endurance and fidelity, Psalm 142 on honest prayer when we feel low, and Proverbs 30 on the humility that steadies us. Faith shapes the why so the how actually sticks.Courage and service take center stage through the story of First Lieutenant Cecil Hamilton Bolton, whose leadership under fire reminds us that comfort is not the goal—love is. We also revisit President Herbert Hoover's 1931 Christmas message, delivered during crushing unemployment, to recover a distinctly local ethic of care: families, churches, schools, and neighbors lifting one another through unselfish service. That same spirit can live in our homes today when we guard eye contact, protect mealtimes, and give our best attention to the people right in front of us.If you're ready to swap a few minutes of scrolling for richer conversation, prayer, and service, this one's for you. Listen, try the five-minute detox window, and tell us what you replaced it with. If the episode helps, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—your note might be the nudge someone else needs.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Start with hope, end with readiness. We open our hearts in prayer and then get practical about how to protect what we love, drawing a straight line from an old Marine Corps lesson—never bring a problem without solutions—to a community playbook that blends faith, family, and civic duty. Mercy Otis Warren's account of the Founders petitioning the Crown while raising an army sets the tone: pursue peace, but prepare with clear eyes.We talk through specific steps anyone can take to strengthen a town's backbone: advocate for local law enforcement, firefighters, and EMS; write your sheriff, DA, and representatives; use a train-the-trainer model to multiply skills across churches, schools, and neighborhoods. This isn't about fear. It's about love of neighbor, resilience, and responsibility. From there, we turn to the home, walking through Ephesians 5's vision for marriage—husbands who love sacrificially, wives who respect—because strong households anchor strong communities.Then we face the hard words of Revelation 12–13. Power can dazzle and deceive, but the call is steady: endure and remain faithful. Paired with Psalm 141's plea to guard our lips and hearts, we frame endurance as daily obedience, not a one-time surge. We honor Staff Sergeant Paul Luther Bolden's valor and lift President Herbert Hoover's 1929 Christmas message to remember the gifts that do not fail: courage, kindness, and mutual help. Threaded through it all is a simple theme—pray for changed hearts and prepare for hard days, with calm hands and a hopeful spirit.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a review to help others find the show. Tell us one concrete step you'll take to strengthen your home or community this week.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What if the most important battles are won in the quiet moments no one else sees? We trace a line from Patrick Henry's warning about national righteousness to the everyday decisions that define our character—returning an extra dollar, opening a door, saying a prayer, speaking truth with grace. Along the way, we wrestle with Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 5, and 1 Corinthians 7, confronting the hard call to honor marriage with equal integrity inside and outside the church. Accountability without favoritism isn't harsh; it's healing.We open Revelation 12 and face spiritual warfare with clear eyes: the accuser rages, but victory comes by the blood of the Lamb and the word of testimony. Courage takes practical shape in daily obedience, not dramatic gestures. History joins the chorus through Quartermaster Frank Boyce at Vicksburg, who nailed the flag to the mast as his ship sank—a living emblem of loyalty under fire and the kind of grit that builds nations. Then we listen to Christmas messages from Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding, reminding us that peace, charity, faith, and hope are not sentiments but practices that form people and sustain a free society.The thread through it all is preparation. We can cling to Christ before the storm or scramble for an anchor when waves rise. Pray for leaders, protectors, educators, and neighbors. Lead where you stand. Practice virtue in your sphere and encourage it in others. If this conversation strengthens your resolve, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps others find the show—what small act of courage will you choose today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

When headlines feel heavier by the day, it's tempting to wish for a return to “normal.” We take a sharper path instead, asking what real peace requires and how conviction, not comfort, reshapes a nation. Through prayer, Scripture, and a candid look at our cultural blind spots, we trace a line from personal character to public life, from the kitchen table to the town square, and from Advent hope to daily courage.We start with the hard truth: hoping for a status quo won't heal a fractured culture. Titus 2 offers a counterculture of restraint, integrity, and mentoring that rebuilds trust where it's lost—older saints modeling steadiness, younger hearts learning self‑control, speech that can't be condemned because the life behind it is clean. Revelation 11 widens our view, reminding us that faithfulness can be costly and that history is not leaderless. The two witnesses stand, fall, and rise at God's command, and the seventh trumpet declares a kingdom that outlasts empires. That promise doesn't remove our duty; it anchors it.Psalm 139 brings the cosmic close: God sees, guides, and guards, even when fear presses in. We sit with the wonder of being knit together, known fully, and led along an everlasting path. A brief stop in Proverbs names the ache of endless appetite and points us back to limits that free. We honor Seaman Edward William Boers, whose Medal of Honor moment reveals how ordinary duty becomes extraordinary under pressure. Then Christmas voices from Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt invite us to practice charity, forgiveness, worship, and generosity—habits that quiet the soul and strengthen the home.Across these threads, a theme emerges: lasting renewal starts with prayer, character, and courage. We affirm the spiritual roots that shaped American life, not to posture, but to serve with truth and grace. If you found clarity or courage here, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your voice helps this community grow.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

If joy feels scarce and the cultural noise won't quit, here's a calmer path forward. We pull together three strands—how we raise our kids, how we ready our souls, and how a nation holds its center—and trace them through Scripture, history, and a timeless Christmas message from President Calvin Coolidge. The throughline is simple: standards matter, humility matters, and joy rooted in Christ outlasts the season.We start with the honest ache we hear from college and trade school students who sense something is wrong. Rather than scolding a generation, we turn the mirror on ourselves: adults set expectations, shape incentives, and model habits. From there, we talk about building homes where discipline and love walk together, and revisit a marriage passage in Proverbs that frames covenant as a mutual promise of delight and devotion. Then Revelation 10 invites us to “take and eat” the open scroll—truth that is sweet and heavy—and to live ready because there will be no more delay. Psalm 138 calls us to humility that God draws near, while Proverbs 30 warns against pride that devours the needy.History gives flesh to principle. The Medal of Honor story of Peter Martin Bohm shows how one brave act can rally the wavering. Coolidge's Christmas message reminds us that the spirit of the season is not about what we give but who we are while we give, and that a nation's strength rests on the strength of its religious convictions. We close with assurance: security in Christ frees us to serve boldly, raise standards kindly, and carry a steady joy into ordinary days.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a quick review to help others find the show. Your voice helps the message reach more hearts.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Ever been told you need a specific denomination to be saved? We cut through that noise with a clear claim: salvation rests on faith in Jesus Christ, not on a brand, a gatekeeper, or a lineage. From there, we trace a thread that binds personal faith, covenant love, national gratitude, and moral courage into a single, compelling call to live what we believe.We open with Song of Solomon 8 and its fierce declaration that many waters cannot quench love. It's a picture of marriage that resists the disposable mindset of our age, urging us to prize covenant, protect intimacy, and treat love as a trust more valuable than wealth. Then we turn to Revelation 9, where startling images expose a deeper reality: even under judgment, hardened hearts cling to idols. That warning lands in the present day—sports, screens, politics, status—showing how modern life can sanctify distractions. Repentance is the way back to joy, not a word for other people but an urgent practice for us.History steps in to steady the frame. President Ulysses S. Grant's Thanksgiving and Christmas messages invite a nation to gratitude, peace, and goodwill—public disciplines that recalibrate our common life. We honor courage through the Medal of Honor story of Otto A. Boehler, whose charge across a burning bridge under fire embodies duty at cost. Together, these moments challenge us to align belief with action: confess Christ as the only mediator, build marriages that endure storms, resist idols that dull the soul, and choose courage when it counts.If this conversation moves you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don't miss what's next. What idols do you see most clearly—and what's your first step away from them today?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Start with gratitude, end with courage, and ask the question most people avoid: what truly holds a nation together when belief splits it apart? We open with prayer and a difficult headline, then move through Scripture, memory, and history to test our assumptions about coexistence, liberty, and the cost of conviction.The Song of Solomon brings the beauty of covenant love into focus—a reminder that delight and fidelity are not in tension but in harmony. From there we turn to Revelation's trumpets, a bracing vision of judgment that restores moral weight to public choices. Psalm 136 answers with a cadence of gratitude, line after line proving that memory is fuel for hope. Proverbs asks for two rare gifts—truthful speech and enough—offering a counterculture ethic in an age of excess and spin.We sit with the Medal of Honor story of Second Lieutenant John Paul Bobo, whose final stand under fire embodied duty without complaint. That witness reframes our own thresholds for sacrifice and service. Finally, James Madison's Thanksgiving Proclamation calls the nation to fasting, confession, and wisdom in public councils, pressing the point that faith has always shaped American life. Along the way we share practical steps: start a lifelong gratitude list, teach courage with true stories, and seek sufficiency that strengthens integrity.If these themes challenge and encourage you, tap follow, share this episode with a friend, and leave a rating or review so others can find the show. Tell us: what practice—gratitude, truth-telling, or remembrance—most steadies you right now?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What happens to a nation when it lowers the bar for its own children and then wonders why excellence moves elsewhere? We connect that uncomfortable question to the health of marriage, the clarity of Scripture, and the lessons of history to make a case for raising standards—at home first, then everywhere else. From the court to the classroom, the drift toward comfort has real costs, and we unpack how discipline, covenant love, and truth-telling rebuild the core that resilience requires.We reflect on the mutual belonging in Song of Solomon—“I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine”—as a living model for fidelity that forms strong families and, by extension, strong communities. That thread carries into Revelation 7's powerful vision that salvation belongs to God and the Lamb, reminding us that truth isn't a moving target. Proverbs adds the warning not to add to God's words, tying integrity to protection. Along the way, we honor First Lieutenant John W. Blunt's courageous charge at Cedar Creek and consider why recognition can take decades, yet character stands the test of time. We also revisit John Adams' 1799 proclamation calling the nation to fasting and humility, a timely reminder that public virtue and dependence on God aren't relics—they're foundations.You'll hear practical steps for parents, educators, and leaders: set clear expectations, coach for mastery instead of shortcuts, protect marriage and shared family time, and teach a reverent love for truth. We make the case that a culture that remembers its stories of faith and sacrifice can raise its standards without losing compassion. If this resonates, share it with a friend, leave a review, and consider supporting the show so we can keep building voices that build America. Subscribe, pass it on, and tell us: where will you raise the bar this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What if the most valuable thing you'll touch today is the hand of your spouse—and you miss it for a highlight reel? We step back from the noise to ask where our hours go, and we make a case for restoring a sane order: God, marriage, then everything else in its rightful place. From the warmth and ache of Song of Solomon to the stark warnings of Revelation 6, we trace a thread that runs from the heart to the nation, showing how private devotion and public courage rise or fall together.We get practical about attention—how sports and screens can quietly demote the people we love—and name small reversals that change a home's climate: shared prayer, unhurried talk, and admiration spoken out loud. We examine recent political calls for service members to disobey under the banner of “unlawful orders,” clarifying the real duty to conscience while exposing attempts to manufacture chaos. The story widens with a tribute to Medal of Honor sailor Robert Bloom's steady bravery under fire, and a full reading of John Adams' 1798 proclamation urging a national day of fasting, humility, and prayer. The language is timely: repentance, unity, protection of civil and religious liberty, and the courage to hold together when the world pulls apart.If you're longing for a reset—deeper marriage, clearer faith, steadier citizenship—this conversation offers both grounding and next steps. Listen for the practices you can adopt tonight, the history that stiffens resolve, and the Scripture that reframes fear. If it helps you, share it with a friend, subscribe for more, and leave a quick review so others can find it. What one habit will you replace this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Start with a question most of us avoid: how did you really spend the last 24 hours? We walk through an honest time audit that confronts distraction and resets our days around a sturdier compass—God's Word, prayer, and the lordship of Jesus. Instead of guilt, we aim for recalibration: like a farmer checking a furrow or a night patrol stopping to confirm its bearing, we pause, adjust, and move forward with purpose.From there, we step into the poetry of Song of Solomon to recover the craft of honoring marriage. The language is ancient, but the wisdom is modern—speak life, delight in your spouse, and treat covenant love as a treasured garden. Then our gaze lifts to Revelation 5, where only the Lamb is worthy to open the scroll. The scene is blazing with worship, angels, and a new song that reframes our priorities: when Jesus is at the center, every lesser idol loses its hold, and courage grows.We keep the thread of unity with Psalm 133 and Proverbs 29, urging believers to major on core truths—Christ's deity, His death and resurrection, and salvation in Him—while pursuing justice that comes from the Lord. Finally, we draw strength from history with William Bradford's Thanksgiving Proclamation and the Mayflower Compact, reminders that gratitude and covenantal responsibility can shape homes, churches, and nations. If you're ready to trade noise for clarity and division for harmony, this conversation offers practical steps and deep encouragement.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more listeners find truth, courage, and hope.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What if your calendar is the clearest confession of your faith? We open with a simple challenge—look at the last 24 hours—and follow the thread into the heart of discipleship: loving God first and making your spouse unmistakably second. Along the way, we share a sticky marriage reminder that's hard to forget: be like a dog, not a cat. Warmth over coolness, pursuit over distance, eager presence over polite detachment. That small shift can change the tone of a home.Scripture lifts our eyes. Song of Solomon stirs holy pursuit, and Revelation 4 brings us into the throne room, where crowns fall and holiness saturates every breath. In that light, anxiety loses its grip and pride shrinks to size. Proverbs warns that fearing people is a snare, but trusting the Lord brings safety—wisdom for families and citizens alike. We then step into history with George Washington's 1795 Thanksgiving Proclamation, a bracing call to acknowledge divine favor, resist the arrogance of prosperity, and guard against delusive pursuits. The words feel strikingly current, aiming at the heart of our civic malaise.We don't shy away from naming a quiet danger: Christless conservatism—the attempt to defend virtues while neglecting the Source. Policies matter, but without Christ at the center, zeal hardens into self-righteousness and gratitude evaporates. We honor courage with a brief Medal of Honor spotlight, a reminder that character is forged in ordinary obedience. By the end, the path is practical and hopeful: start and end with prayer, choose presence over hurry, greet your spouse with delight, cultivate public gratitude, and keep Christ at the center of your home and your nation.If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review to help others find the show. What single change will you make in your next 24 hours?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

We trace a path from everyday gratitude to urgent conviction, moving from Song of Solomon's picture of devoted marriage to Revelation's warning against lukewarm faith and Washington's call to national humility. We connect small daily steps to bold public courage and close with a prayerful charge.• simple habits that build daily faith• Song of Solomon and guarding the vineyard of marriage• Revelation's open doors and the danger of lukewarmness• applying urgency to marriage and personal devotion• courage under fire through Orville E. Bloch's story• Washington's 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation and public virtue• a call to return to God with action, not words• support for families, churches, and local serviceIf you're looking for a family-friendly middle-grade read, check out Countryside. If you enjoy the first or second book in the series, and you can leave a review, I'd be very grateful for that. And if you have three or four or five dollars a month that you can spare to support the podcast, if you feel like you're getting something out of it, I would be very grateful for that.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What did the last twenty-four hours say about your soul—and about our country? We start with a simple time audit that exposes what we truly value, then we follow the thread into a bigger, tougher conversation: why “peaceful coexistence” with militant ideologies keeps failing when there's no strong internal condemnation of their worst acts. The logic is painfully human—if betrayal is tolerated in the dating phase, why expect fidelity in the marriage?We anchor the talk in Scripture that is both tender and bracing. Song of Solomon honors covenant love and the beauty of fidelity, a needed counterpoint to a culture that treats intimacy like currency. Then Revelation speaks with urgency to people who look alive but are drifting toward death: wake up, strengthen what remains, return to what you first believed. The Psalms hold out mercy for those who call; Proverbs warns how pampering and anger hollow out character. Together, these passages insist that renewal isn't a strategy but repentance—personal and national.History gives the images we need for courage. A Medal of Honor story shows a leader standing under fire to rally his line. Woodrow Wilson's Thanksgiving proclamation and later remarks on the Bible push us beyond material success to moral clarity, gratitude, and dependence on God. Laws and systems matter, but without a change of heart they become empty machines. If moderation means refusing to draw a bright line against evil, it's just a quiet road to the same place. We call listeners to name what must be condemned, to choose Scripture over slogans, and to rebuild public life on righteousness and truth.If this conversation challenges or strengthens you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you don't miss the next one. Tell us: what will you change about how you spend your time this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What if your life had a visible “heavenly balance” and every choice raised or lowered it? We start with a blunt audit of the last 24 hours—time spent on social media, sports, and idle talk—against time invested in God, marriage, children, and true neighbor love. From there, we move through Scripture with a clear aim: recover first love and let actions carry our words. Colossians offers a family order built on mutual honor and restraint. Revelation 2 commends endurance and discernment yet warns how devotion can cool even in a faithful community. Proverbs insists that talk without action is empty and that pausing to think before speaking can change outcomes at home and in public life.We also look to history for perspective. A terse Medal of Honor citation for Captain George Newman Bliss hints at costly courage: stepping forward without orders, paying in wounds, and enduring captivity. Then Woodrow Wilson's 1917 Thanksgiving proclamation speaks from wartime, calling for gratitude, unity, and practical economy under God. The language of darkness returns here, not to frighten but to focus us. Storm clouds gather in every age, and the response is the same: repent, give thanks, serve, and stand together under the one true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.Across it all runs a simple test for modern life: where do your minutes go? If love is real, it will show up on your calendar and in your tone. Trade a slice of scrolling for Scripture and a real conversation. Choose first works again—prayer, truth, service—and watch affection deepen rather than fade. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage today, and leave a review so others can find it. Your next hour can build what lasts.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

What did your last twenty-four hours say about your priorities? We start there and move into a deeper call: trade the endless pull of screens for the slow, steady work of loving people well. From the bank-account logic of daily deposits in marriage to the courage it takes to invest attention where it matters most, we map a path toward homes that thrive and communities that hold together.We ground the conversation in scripture. Genesis 2 reminds us that marriage is a one-flesh covenant that deserves more effort after the vows than before. Revelation 1 lifts our eyes to the risen Christ whose presence quiets fear and resets our loyalties. Psalm 128 reframes blessing as fruitful work, a flourishing spouse, and children gathered at the table—ordinary scenes that carry eternal weight. Along the way, a brief Medal of Honor story distills courage into a single act, and a 1775 proclamation from Concord models a nation choosing fasting, humility, and prayer while still preparing wisely.The through line is simple and demanding: prepare, but place your confidence in God. Build resilient ties across churches, families, and local services. Reclaim hours from devices and reinvest them in conversation, prayer, and service. If you're ready to re-center your days around faith, marriage, and community, this conversation offers both conviction and practical steps.If this resonates, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review. Your support helps more families trade distraction for discipleship and turn good intentions into daily habits.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWhat would your last 24 hours say about your faith? We open with a hard look at how time choices reveal our real priorities, then move into the everyday courage it takes to order a life around Christ, not convenience. From marriage duties in 1 Corinthians 7 to Jude's charge to contend for the faith with mercy and clarity, we trace how private devotion and public witness meet in the places that matter most—home, church, and community.Scripture stitches the throughline: Psalm 127 calls us to build homes God's way and rest from anxious toil; Proverbs reminds us that discipline grows wisdom and peace. Along the way, we honor Second Lieutenant Bleckley's WWI sacrifice, a living picture of love that risks comfort for the good of others. That story sets up a conversation about the heroes we celebrate, the idols we ignore, and how gratitude sharpens our moral memory. President Grover Cleveland's 1895 Thanksgiving proclamation gives language for national humility and dependence that still speaks today.We close with William Bradford's account of Pastor John Robinson's counsel: follow any leader only as far as they follow Christ, ready to receive more light from God's Word. Duty is ours; results are God's. If you're hungry for a practical reset—on time, marriage, courage, and conviction—this is your map back to what lasts. Listen, share with a friend who needs a nudge toward hope, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your thoughts matter: what priority will you change this week? Subscribe for more conversations that put first things first.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textStart with a simple act: say thank you. From there, we trace a path that moves from quiet gratitude to courageous action—honoring veterans who carry both visible and hidden wounds, and lifting up the families who shoulder the burden with them. We talk candidly about how our culture prizes celebrity trivia while often overlooking the men and women who protected the space for our games, songs, and routines, and why redirecting admiration can change the character of a community.We open Scripture to find a blueprint for home life that actually holds in a storm. 1 Peter 3 challenges husbands and wives to live with honor, gentleness, and understanding—habits that make peace more than a feeling. Jude confronts a different danger: smooth words and empty authority that divide churches and households. By contending for the faith, praying in the Spirit, and showing mercy with discernment, we build depth that endures. These themes echo through Psalm 127 and Proverbs 29, where we see that houses stand when God builds them, children thrive with loving discipline, and work without worship wears the soul thin.To ground these ideas, we share the story of Medal of Honor recipient Sergeant David Bruce Bleak, a combat medic whose courage and selfless resolve saved lives under fire. We also revisit Ulysses S. Grant's 1869 Thanksgiving proclamation, a national reminder that prosperity without gratitude hardens the heart, while humble thanks renews strength and solidarity. We close in prayer and extend simple ways to support the show and pass along faith-filled stories to the next generation.If this conversation strengthens your resolve to thank a veteran, love your spouse with honor, or rebuild your home around Scripture, share it with a friend. Subscribe, leave a rating or review, and tell us: what practice of gratitude are you starting this week?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWe press into the hard question of evidence for our faith, then apply Scripture to marriage, leadership, and national repentance with readings from Ephesians 5, 3 John, Psalms, and Proverbs. Historic Thanksgiving proclamations sharpen the call to gratitude and confession today.• examining daily priorities that reveal the heart• Ephesians 5 on love, respect, and one flesh• testing marriage advice against Scripture• leadership defined by service and example• actions over claims as a measure of truth• face-to-face connection over screens in homes• support for faithful teachers and ministries• historic calls to national thanksgiving and repentance• naming cultural idols and consequences• practical steps for families to realign under GodIf you are looking for a family-friendly middle-grade read, check out Countryside. If you enjoy it, please leave a review. If you feel like you have three or four or five dollars a month that you can donate, there's a web page on the Buzz Sprout website where you can do that.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWhat did your last twenty-four hours say about your priorities? We take an unflinching look at how time, habits, and attention reveal the loves that lead our lives, then recalibrate around Scripture, prayer, and practical steps that restore what matters most.We start with honor in marriage through Hebrews 13:4—why covenant is sacred, how purity protects trust, and how aiming for holiness gives real shape to daily choices. From there, we explore growth with a Lewis-inspired lens: measure progress by starting points, steward blessings with courage, and turn talent into service. Then we open 2 John to fuse love with truth—walking in obedience, resisting false teaching that denies Christ's incarnation, and refusing to sponsor deception with our platforms or our praise. Love that endures refuses flattery and clings to truth, even when it costs.Presence becomes the pivot. Joy deepens face to face, not device to device. We talk about putting down screens, listening well, and doing shared work that knits families and friendships back together. History sharpens the moment as we read Lincoln's 1864 Thanksgiving proclamation—a call to gratitude, humility “in the dust,” and hope during national trial. That posture still fits today: repent clearly, thank God boldly, and resolve to live as people who belong to Christ—come peace or storm.If this conversation helps you refocus your next twenty-four hours—on your marriage, your family, and the truth you live—share it with a friend, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more listeners find their footing in faith and practice.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textStart here if you've ever wondered what to do with a “good day.” We open with gratitude and a simple challenge learned in a freezing boot camp line: when you're steady, scan for the person struggling more and lift them up. That mindset reframes pain, builds courage, and quietly rewires how communities heal. From there we root relationships in scripture, not trends, exploring Titus on temperate elders, reverent mentors, and homes shaped by love, self-control, and sound speech.We then walk through 1 John to connect belief, love, and obedience. The message lands with weight: God's children don't make a practice of sin. Falling is human; forming a habit is deadly. Assurance isn't vague comfort—it's knowing the Son and keeping His commands. We talk about prayer that aims at God's will, why answers often arrive in forms that stretch us, and how intercession restores rather than excuses. The call is to guard our hearts from idols and cling to Christ with a steady, repentant loyalty.Midway, we honor Specialist Michael R. Blanchfield, who threw himself on a grenade to save others—a story that cuts through noise and clarifies what real love costs. We also read Civil War Thanksgiving proclamations from Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, reflecting on gratitude, national sin, and the sobering work of repentance. The thread tying it all together is service: serve God first, serve your family with integrity, and serve neighbors by carrying their load when you can. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help others find the show. Your support keeps these stories and scriptures in the ears that need them most.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textStart with a simple audit: if someone reviewed your last 24 hours, would there be enough evidence to convict you of faith, love, and courage? We open in gratitude and prayer, then press into a hard but hopeful reset—less noise, more truth, and a love that shows up in action. From Proverbs' vision of faithful marriage to a bracing read of 1 John 4, we unpack how to test the spirits, confess Christ clearly, and live a love that casts out fear. No fluff, just the kind of clarity that helps you reframe the day ahead.We bring Scripture into real life with Psalm 123's plea for mercy amid contempt and Proverbs 29's warning that justice steadies a nation while corruption destroys it. History adds weight: the Medal of Honor courage of Robert Blake, an escaped slave who stood his ground under fire, and Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving proclamation calling a divided country to gratitude, repentance, and unity under God. These moments aren't museum pieces; they point to how character, conviction, and prayer change lives and nations.We also face down the false hopes of coercive ideologies, tracing how movements that promise progress often lead to control. The goal isn't outrage; it's discernment and a deeper love that prays for changed hearts while refusing to trade truth for quiet. If your soul has been crowded by hurry, screens, or fear, this conversation offers a practical way back: put God first, honor your marriage and family, serve your neighbor, and stand firm with humility.If this resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a reset, and leave a quick review. Your support helps more people find a path to courage, clarity, and real hope.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textStart with a simple audit: what did your last 24 hours reveal about what you truly value? We walk through a practical reset—putting God first, then spouse and family—so your calendar aligns with your convictions. From there, we open Colossians 3 for plainspoken marriage guidance and let 1 John 3 challenge our love to become action, not talk. If faith is real, it should shape how we treat our neighbor, how we spend our money, and how we order our homes.We ground today's anxieties in enduring wisdom. Psalm 122 points us toward worship and peace in the city, while Proverbs 29 warns against stubborn hearts that refuse correction. We remember Boatswain's Mate Robert M. Blair, whose Medal of Honor citation for “cool courage” under fire illustrates how trust in God steels ordinary people for extraordinary moments. That courage extends to cultural clarity: despite modern efforts to cast America as a pagan echo of Rome, the moral sources that formed the founders—Scripture, Blackstone, Montesquieu—bear a Christian imprint. Judge Nathaniel Freeman's early remarks reinforce that aim for a Christian republic with biblical authority in civic life.The heart of our reflection is Abraham Lincoln's 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation. He names blessings amid civil war, urges penitence for national sins, and calls the people to thank the “Most High God” while seeking healing and unity. His words carry weight now, when polarization and moral drift threaten peace. Gratitude without repentance is thin; repentance without action is hollow. We make the case that daily obedience—time well spent, marriages guarded, neighbors loved—becomes the seed of public renewal. Join us as we trade vague outrage for concrete faithfulness and ask God to steady our steps.If this resonates, share the episode with a friend, leave a review, and subscribe so you never miss a moment. Your support helps more listeners realign their days with purpose. What will your next 24 hours say?Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textA hard look at the last 24 hours leads to a practical call to align faith with action. We explore marriage as one flesh, unity beyond denominations, and a historical call to public prayer, all anchored in 1 John 3's demand that love becomes visible.• measuring a day by love and obedience• Genesis 2 on leaving, cleaving, and marital priority• 1 John 3 on actions proving faith and love• comfort when our hearts accuse us• unity among believers above denominational labels• Medal of Honor spotlight on James Blair• Governor John Langdon's 1786 proclamation on fasting and prayer• America's early public posture toward faith and virtue• closing prayer and blessingsIf you are looking for a family-friendly middle grade read, I would humbly recommend Countryside if you get a chance. Check it out. There's a couple books in the series. I'm working on the third. And if you enjoy it, if you would leave a review somewhere, I would greatly appreciate that. It helps immensely.Also, if you feel like you have three or four or five dollars a month that you can donate to the podcast, there is a website on the or a webpage on the Buzz Sprout website for the podcast where you can do that. You can donate each month. And I would be very grateful for that.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWhat did your last 24 hours say about what you truly value? We open with a hard look at time and stewardship, then move straight into the heart of marriage with 1 Corinthians 7—where mutual belonging, consent, and devotion to prayer shape a covenant that stands against self-centered scripts. The goal isn't guilt; it's alignment. When God is first and your spouse is next, your calendar starts to tell the truth about your faith.From there we wrestle honestly with John's stark words about sin, assurance, and discernment in a world crowded with pretenders. A clear test emerges: confess Jesus as the Christ and remain in what's been true from the beginning. Psalm 121 steadies the ground beneath our feet with the promise that the Lord neither slumbers nor sleeps, while Proverbs 28 pushes us toward open-eyed generosity to the poor. Faith that rests in God's keeping becomes courage in practice.We bring history to life with a Medal of Honor citation for William Blogdin, a ship's cook at Mobile Bay, who held his station under fire—proof that any role can become a front line when duty calls. Then we read John Langdon's 1785 Thanksgiving proclamation, a public prayer that confesses sin, praises providence, and asks God to bless rulers, labor, learning, and the spread of the gospel. The throughline is simple and urgent: personal holiness and public gratitude can still reshape a home, a church, and a nation.If this conversation stirred you, share it with someone you love, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a rating or review. Tell us what you'll change in your next 24 hours—we're listening.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWe ask whether our past twenty-four hours would convict us of being Christians and trace how trust, obedience, and gratitude shape daily life, marriage, and public faith. Scripture guides every claim, from 1 Peter 3 and 1 John 2 to a 1784 Thanksgiving proclamation and a Civil War act of courage.• evidence of daily faith in habits and words• surrender to God versus holding back control• marriage duties from 1 Peter 3 for husbands and wives• testing all advice against Scripture• assurance and obedience in 1 John 2• warning against loving the world's cravings• prayerful wisdom from Psalms and Proverbs• courage under fire: W. R. D. Blackwood• national gratitude in the 1784 proclamation• God's role in leaders, schools, and institutionsIf you enjoyed, if you would leave a review somewhere, I would be very grateful for thatIf you're getting something out of the podcast and you feel like you have three or four or five dollars a month plus fair, you can donate at the Buzz Sprout website for the podcastSupport the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWe ask whether our past 24 hours would convict us as followers of Christ, then move from prayer to practical preparation for our families, churches, and towns. Scripture guides our marriages, our honesty about sin, and our gratitude for God's providence in history.• daily audit of faith and conduct • persecution abroad and the urgency of “yet” • practical steps to strengthen local resilience • Ephesians 5 on love, respect, and marriage • 1 John 1 on walking in the light and confession • thanksgiving proclamation and national gratitude • sharing, service, and steady preparation rooted in prayerIf you are looking for a family-friendly middle-grade read, I would humbly recommend Countryside. There's two books in the series. You can get it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, a lot of places. Any bookstore ought to be able to order it. And if you enjoy it, if you'd leave a review, that helps tremendously.If you feel like you have three or four or five dollars that you can donate each month, there is a website on the Buzz Sprout website page or webpage for the podcast where you can do that.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWe ask what changes when we treat every day as borrowed time from God and hold our work, marriage, and civic life to that standard. Scripture, history, and a Medal of Honor story guide a practical reset toward faith, fidelity, gratitude, and courage.• daily accountability before God as a filter for time use• marriage as first priority after God, honoring Hebrews 13:4• 2 Peter 3 on patience, repentance, and holy living• Psalm 119 for light under pressure and joy in obedience• warnings against twisting Scripture and chasing greed• Private Robert L. Blackwell's sacrifice as a measure for values• 1782 Congressional thanksgiving proclamation and public faith• assimilation into founding faith and principles as moral clarity• prayer for leaders, families, service members, and nationsIf you're looking for a family-friendly middle-grade read, I would humbly recommend Countryside. And if you have three or four or five dollars a month that you can spare for the podcast, if you're getting something out of it, there's a donation website on the Buzz Sprout website, podcast website, where you can do that.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWe reflect on aligning the last 24 hours with God's will, then walk through Titus 2 and 2 Peter 2 to show how faith orders our homes and guards us from false teachers. We read the 1781 Congressional Thanksgiving proclamation to recover gratitude, repentance, and public dependence on God.• setting priorities that match God's will • accepting suffering now with hope of eternal glory • Titus 2 as a blueprint for multi‑generational discipleship • 2 Peter 2 warnings against false teachers and greed • Psalm 119 loyalty to God's word over divided hearts • Proverbs on steady work versus chasing fantasies • Medal of Honor spotlight on Wilmon W. Blackmar • 1781 Congress calling the nation to thanksgiving and prayer • faith shaping leaders, schools, courts, and public life • Christ alone as the only path to GodIf you're looking for a family-friendly middle grade read along the lines of Narnia, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, check out Countryside. If you enjoy it, leave a review. If you're getting something out of the podcast and can leave two or three or four or five dollars a month, visit the Buzzsprout page to set up a monthly donation.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textStart with the hard question: are we using Scripture as a mirror or a weapon? We open by challenging lopsided marriage advice and the cultural habit of demanding obedience from one spouse while excusing the other. With Proverbs 5 as a vivid vision of covenant delight, we press into daily priorities—where our time, energy, and attention actually go—and why God and our spouse deserve the best of what we have, not the leftovers.From there we read 2 Peter 1 and Psalm 119, letting the text set our pace. Peter's ladder of growth—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love—offers a practical framework for steady character in an unsteady age. His eyewitness testimony to Christ's majesty and the Spirit-inspired nature of prophecy makes the case for Scripture as more than inspiration; it is illumination. Psalm 119 adds the lived angle: God's words as a lamp, sweeter than honey, a guide when the path is crowded with traps and shortcuts. The theme is simple and demanding: clarity comes from the Word, not from the mood of the moment.We then pivot to history with a brief Medal of Honor profile and launch our November tradition of reading American Thanksgiving proclamations, beginning with Congress in 1780. The language is bracing—public humility, repentance, petitions for wisdom in councils, blessing on labor and learning, and a desire for the gospel to spread. That tone exposes a vital distinction: the founders resisted a state-enforced denomination, yet they did not imagine public life without God. Courts, schools, and civic institutions need moral ballast, and Scripture has long served as that steadying force.If you care about marriage that lasts, leadership that serves, and a nation that remembers where wisdom begins, you'll find a path here: give your best hours to God and to your spouse, read the Bible as an owner's manual, and recover a public posture of humility and gratitude. Enjoy the readings, sit with the questions, and share this with someone who needs clarity over noise. If this resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it along so others can join the conversation.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Send us a textWhat would your calendar say on the witness stand? We open with gratitude and prayer, then hold up a mirror to our last 24 hours—because time tells the truth about what we love. From there we head straight into the home, unpacking Colossians on marriage and family, where respect, sacrificial love, and patient discipline form the quiet backbone of a faithful life. It's not theory; it's Tuesday choices that either strengthen a covenant or strain it.Scripture sets the tone. 1 Peter 4–5 teaches us to expect trials, rejoice when we share in Christ's sufferings, and make sure any pain we bear comes from obedience, not bad decisions. We draw crisp lines between persecution and foolishness, then explore how faithfulness plays out in workplaces, friendships, and marriages that don't always feel fair. Psalm 119 steadies weary hearts waiting for God to act, and Proverbs warns about leaders without understanding and the cost to the poor. Threaded through it all is a call to humility, vigilance, and courage that refuses to trade truth for comfort.We also widen the lens to culture and civic life—lawlessness, corrosive ideologies, and the stakes of assimilation. Drawing on history and quotes from Jefferson and Coolidge, we talk about why principles matter more than slogans, and how a nation keeps its soul when households choose Scripture-shaped virtue over slogans and rage. The throughline is simple and demanding: let your day, your home, and your hope align with Jesus in public and private. If this conversation helps you stand a little taller, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so others can find it. Your support and feedback help this message reach those who need the encouragement today.Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe