The American Soul
The American Soul
Living Wisely in Evil Days: Making the Most of Every Opportunity
We explore how making the most of every opportunity requires not just gratitude for our blessings, but actively using our God-given talents to their fullest potential. The episode examines what it means to be good stewards of our gifts while also reflecting on American identity and the responsibilities of citizenship.
• Reading from Ephesians 5 highlighting the instruction to "make the most of every opportunity in these evil days"
• Reflection on our responsibility to use talents and blessings as good stewards
• Daily scripture readings from Psalm 69 and Proverbs 24
• Medal of Honor tribute to PFC Leslie Allen Bell Richard who sacrificed his life in Vietnam
• Theodore Roosevelt's 1919 perspective on American identity and assimilation
• Discussion of what it means to be truly American in today's society
• Importance of loyalty to American principles and values
Check out my children's book series "Countryside" available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers - similar to The Hobbit and Chronicles of Narnia. The first book is available for just 99 cents on Kindle, and I'd appreciate your reviews if you enjoy it.
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 and whatever part of the day you're in. I sure do appreciate you joining me. I will try and use your time wisely. Hopefully you're getting to listen to it with somebody else getting to be around, somebody that you care about, getting to be around somebody that you care about. For those of y'all who continue to pray for me and for the podcast, continue to support and encourage the podcast, tell others about it. Thank y'all so much.
Speaker 1:Very, very grateful 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. Thank you for so many blessings, father. Thank you for food to eat and water to drink, clothes to wear, electricity, air conditioning in the summer and heaters in the winter. Thank you for healthy spouses, healthy children, healthy parents, friends. Thank you for the church, all our brothers and sisters there.
Speaker 1:And be with those who don't have these things or don't have some of these things. Father, be with those who are thirsty. Help us to give them water. Be with those who are hungry, help us to give them food. Be with those who are cold and naked. Help us to cl them food. Be with those who are cold and naked. Help us to clothe them. Be with those who are sick with injury or illness. Help us to comfort them. Be with those who are in prison. Help us to visit them and help us to do these things. Father, whichever of these you have given us to do, laid on our hearts to do and maybe it's not all of them, father, maybe it's just some of them, but help us to do those things with actions and deeds and not merely words. Be with our children across the nation. Help them to feel your presence and draw them close to you. Be with those who are hurting and alone. And be with those who listen to the podcast, father, whether they are here in America or around the world. In whatever nation they're in, comfort them, bless their families and their marriages. Help them to feel your presence and God. My words here Father, please, in your son's name, we pray Amen.
Speaker 1:Have you made time for God today? Have you made time to read his word? Have you made time to pray, to talk to him, to listen to him? How do you become better friends with a person, folks, how do you become a better spouse? How do you strengthen your marriage? You spend time together, you talk, you listen, you do things together, right.
Speaker 1:Well, how do we become closer to God? How do we strengthen our faith? What are and again, I'm not a priest, I'm not a theologian. Again, I'm not a priest, I'm not a theologian, I'm just a simple, simple man.
Speaker 1:But two of the things that God's given us that seem most useful in growing close to him are the Bible, his word Read that every day and prayer. It doesn't have to be fancy, folks, it doesn't have to follow a particular script, although, if nothing else, we can say the Lord's Prayer each day, right. Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 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 into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen. If nothing else, folks and probably we should on this podcast, we can say that each day, right. And then, if you're married, does your spouse know it? Do you act like it? How do you act like it? So maybe we'll start to read some scriptures every so often. This is Ephesians 5, verses 22 through 33.
Speaker 1:Wives be subject to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, he himself being the Savior of the body. Christ also is the head of the church, he himself being the savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives. Just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word that he might present to himself the church and all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless, so husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself, for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church, right Straight out of Scripture, ephesians. Well, here we are. That was our daily reading for today too. So we're supposed to read Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 1 through 33. We'll just read 1 through 22, or 1 through 21.
Speaker 1:Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk and coarse jokes these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure or greedy person will inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God, for a greedy person is an idolater worshiping the things of this world.
Speaker 1:Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do, for once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord, so live as people of light, for this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness. Instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret, but their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said awake, o sleeper, rise up from the dead and Christ will give you light. So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves and making music to the Lord in your hearts, and give thanks for everything to God, the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and further submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Speaker 1:Psalm 69, verses 19 through 36. You know of my shame, scorn and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing. Their insults have broken my heart and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity, if only one would turn and comfort me, excuse me. But instead they give me poison for food. They offer me sour wine for my thirst. Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap. Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see and make their bodies shake continually. Pour out your fury on them. Consume them with your burning anger. Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted. To the one you have punished.
Speaker 1:They add insult to injury. They add to the pain of those you have hurt. Pile their sins up high and don't let them go free. Erase their names from the book of life and don't let them be counted among the righteous. I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, o God, by your saving power. Then I will raise God's name with singing. I will honor him with thanksgiving, for this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves. The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged, for the Lord hears the cries of the needy. He does not despise his imprisoned people. Praise him, o heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land. The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land and those who love him will live there in safety Proverbs 24, 7. Wisdom is too lofty for fools Among leaders. At the city gate they have nothing to say. You go back into Ephesians 5, a couple things. Verse 16, make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. A lot of times, folks and I think this is probably the only verse I'll talk about today A lot of times you hear people say we need to be grateful for what we have, and that's very true.
Speaker 1:We do, and I think often I am not grateful enough for the many blessings that God has bestowed upon me. But the flip side of that coin is that we need to use our talents that God has given us to the utmost. We need to give everything we've got, whether that's strength or speed, or beauty, or intelligence or charm, or kindness or compassion or patience or whatever skills God has blessed us with money. We have a responsibility to use those skills to the utmost, and so it's not just enough to be grateful and kind of sit back on our laurels and be like, hey, I'm grateful, so I'm good, right. No, like you have a responsibility not only to be grateful, we also have to use these talents to be good stewards of them, and I think a lot of us talents to be good stewards of them, and I think a lot of us myself certainly included there too often we don't make. I shudder to even think of the number of times in my life where I have not been a good steward of the talents and blessings that God has given me.
Speaker 1:Medal of Honor for today is Leslie Alan Bell Richard I don't know if that's how you pronounce it, but that's how it's spelled. Private First Class Vietnam. Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry, 4th Infantry Division, us Army. May 20, 1967, leku Province, republic of Vietnam, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty.
Speaker 1:Acting as a fireteam leader with Charlie Company during combat operations, pfc Bell Richard was with four fellow soldiers in a foxhole on their unit's perimeter when the position came under a massive enemy attack. Following a 30-minute mortar barrage, the enemy launched a strong ground assault, pfc Bell Richard rose in face of a group of charging enemy soldiers and threw hand grenades into their midst, eliminating several of the foe and forcing the remainder to withdraw. Failing in their initial attack, the enemy repeated the mortar and rocket bombardment of the friendly perimeter, then once again charged against the defenders. In a concerted effort to overrun the position, pfc Bell Richard resumed throwing hand grenades at the onrushing attackers. As he was about to hurl a grenade, a mortar round exploded just in front of his position, knocking him into the foxhole and causing him to lose his grip on the already armed grenade. Recovering instantly, pfc Bell Richard recognized the threat to the lives of his four comrades and threw himself upon the grenade, shielding his companions from the blast that followed. Although seriously wounded, pfc Bell Richard struggled into an upright position in the foxhole and fired his rifle at the enemy until he succumbed to his wounds. His selfless heroism contributed greatly to the successful defense of the position and he was directly responsible for saving the lives of several of his comrades. His acts are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the US Army.
Speaker 1:Accredited to Oakland, alameda County, california, awarded posthumously, presented July 10, 1969, at the White House, by President Richard M Nixon to his family. Born December 4, 1941, janesville, rock County, wisconsin. Died May 20, 1967, republic of Vietnam. Buried Oak Hill Cemetery MH 311, tac 15, tac 7, janesville, wisconsin, united States, leslie Allen Bell Region.
Speaker 1:Lord, folks, if that doesn't give you enough encouragement to be a better Christian, father, husband, wife, mother, american, I don't know. I don't know if I have a whole lot else that I can give. All right, so I know we're over and I'm sorry, folks, I'm going to take another couple minutes of your time and I'll at least tell you why. There's been a couple incidents, one in particular where an illegal immigrant made a turn across traffic in an 18-wheeler and killed a whole family recently, and just immigration in general just continues to be a thorn in the side of our flesh and you have to wonder if God's not doing that because we've turned away from him for so long and celebrated things like abortion and feminism and no-fault divorce and LGBTQ lifestyles. Nonetheless, I wanted to read a comment, a commentary I suppose, from President Theodore Roosevelt from January of 1919. And it was a letter that he wrote. It's an excerpt from that, but it was read in New York on the night of January the 6th I believe at a all-American concert given by the American Defense Society. I cannot be with you, and so all I can do is to wish you Godspeed.
Speaker 1:There may be no sagging back in the fight for Americanism merely because the war is over. There are plenty of persons who have already made the assertion that they believe the American people have a short memory and that they intend to revive all the foreign associations which more directly interfere with the complete Americanization of our people. Our principle in this matter should be absolutely simple. In the first place, we should insist that if an immigrant who comes here does so in good faith, become an American in good faith and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on exact equality with everyone else. For it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace or origin. But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separate it from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part.
Speaker 1:As an American, we have room for but one flag, the American flag, and this excludes the red flag, which symbolizes all wars against liberty and civilization, just as much as it excludes any foreign flag of a nation to which we are hostile. We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, an American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding house. And we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people. Folks, if people are coming here and they don't want to be Americans, and Americans first, if they want to be some kind of hyphenated African-American or Asian-American or Latin American, mexican-american, they don't belong here, you don't. And if you're listening and that's your like, you want to be one of those hyphenated groups, they don't belong here, you don't. And if you're listening and that's your like, you want to be one of those hyphenated groups, you don't belong here. And if you're unwilling to assimilate into our nation, which includes supporting the general principles of Jesus Christ, because our nation was founded on those principles, regardless of what your personal faith is, you don't belong here. Personal faith is you don't belong here. But if a person does come in and wants to be an American and assimilates into our culture and has loyalty to the American people and learns to speak English and, most importantly, supports those general principles of Christianity, then it doesn't matter where they came from, what their ethnicity is or anything else they're an American. They deserve to be treated as an American. Great little commentary there by Colonel slash.
Speaker 1:President Roosevelt, if you get a chance, check out Countryside again. I know I'm putting a plug in at the end of every day. Maybe a few of y'all will take it and go check it out. It's a kid's book along the lines of the Hobbit by Tolkien and Narnia by CS Lewis Not that my writing is near as good as theirs Written a couple books in the series so far. You can find it on Amazon, barnes, noble, a bunch of different places. You can get it for 99 cents the first book on Kindle, but they also have hardback and paperback copies you can buy and, if you enjoy it, if you'd leave a review, I would very much appreciate it. I'm sorry I kept you long today. God bless y'all. God bless your families, your marriages. God bless America. God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world. Listen, we'll talk to y'all again real soon. Folks Looking forward to it.