How Not To Invite Drama Into Your Life

We read a string of Scripture that ties together rest, marriage honor, family blessing, and self-control, then turn Psalm 101 into a practical guide for what we allow into our homes and friendships. We also share quotes from Salmon P. Chase, reflect on culture and education, and end by pointing back to prayer and the gospel as the best help we can offer our nation. 
• Psalm 127 on God building the house and giving rest 
• Hebrews 13:4 on honoring marriage and rejecting sexual immorality 
• Acts 7 on Moses, deliverance, and the danger of idolatry 
• Psalm 128 on joyful work, family blessing, and fearing the Lord 
• Proverbs 16 on patience, self-control, and God ruling outcomes 
• Psalm 101 as a blueprint for integrity and wise companions 
• Salmon P. Chase on substantial religion, humility, and practical wisdom 
• Thoughts on Bible courses in schools and Christian heritage claims 
• Closing prayer and blessing for families and the nation 
If you are looking for a middle grade fantasy series, kind of like Narnia, The Hobbit, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, if you would check out the countryside series 
If you enjoy it, if you would leave a review online somewhere, I would be grateful for that 
Same with the podcast, American Soul and America's Christian Heritage 
And if you have five or ten dollars to spare a month, that supports the podcast and the writings. There's a link in the show notes where you can set that up 

Transcript

Psalm 127 And The Need For Rest

SPEAKER_00 0:01

I wanted to read Psalm 127 again, starting with verse 1. Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with centuries, will do no good. It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat, for God gives rest to his loved ones. 2017 murder of Nabra Hassan in Sterling, Virginia. 17-year-old girl. Darwin Martinez Torres, an illegal immigrant from El Salvador.

Welcome And Opening Prayer

SPEAKER_00 0:55

Hey folks, this is Jesse Cope, back with another episode of the American Soul Podcast. Hope y'all are doing well. Wherever y'all are, whatever part of the day you're in, I sure do appreciate you joining me here, giving me a little bit of your time, a little piece of your day. I will try and use it wisely. For those of y'all who continue to share the podcast and tell others about it, thank you for those of y'all who continue to join us over on the America's Christian Heritage podcast. Thank you for that. And for those of y'all that continue to pray for me for the podcast, thank you very much. Very, very grateful for your prayers. Need them and want them. Father, thank you for today. Thank you for you, Father, and your son Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love and your mercy, your grace and your forgiveness of sins through the merit of your son Jesus Christ alone. Thank you for him being our mediator in between us and you, Father. Thank you for the gift of salvation and eternal life. All your many blessings, Father. Forgive us our sins, forgive us our pride, our greed, selfishness, judgment of others, rash words and actions when we chase things over you, when we put idols in front of you. When we sin in all the various forms, Father. Forgive us our cowardice and our unbelief. Help us to overcome what we do believe. Be with those listening to the podcast wherever they are, Father. Bless them, bless their families. Keep us safe, Father. Help us to do your will above all else. Be with our leaders, both in the pulpit and in the state. Bring us safe home to you, Father, please. Your son's name we pray. And God, my words here. Your son's name we pray. Amen.

Marriage Honor And Biblical Warning

SPEAKER_00 2:56

Marriage verses for today. Hebrews or verse for today, Hebrews 13 4. Marriage must be honored in every respect with no cheating on the relationship, because God will judge the sexually immoral person and the person who commits adultery.

Stephen Recounts Moses And Idolatry

SPEAKER_00 3:16

Acts 7, 30 through 50. Stephen continued. Forty years later in the desert near Mount Sinai, an angel appeared to Moses in the flame of a burning bush. When Moses saw it, he was amazed at the sight. As he went to take a closer look, the voice of the Lord called out to him, I am the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses shook with terror and did not dare to look. Then the Lord said to him, Take off your sandals, for you're standing on holy ground. I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their groans and have come down to rescue them. Now go, for I am sending you back to Egypt. So God sent back the same man his people had previously rejected when they demanded, Who made you a ruler and judge over us? Through the angel who appeared to him in the burning bush, God sent Moses to be their ruler and savior. And by means of many wonders and miraculous signs he led them out of Egypt through the Red Sea and through the wilderness for forty years. Moses himself told the people of Israel, God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people. Moses was with our ancestors, the assembly of God's people in the wilderness when the angels spoke to him at Mount Sinai. Excuse me. And there Moses received life-giving words to pass on to us. But our ancestors refused to listen to Moses. They rejected him and wanted to return to Egypt. They told Aaron, Make us some gods who can lead us, for we don't know what has become of this Moses who brought us out of Egypt. So they made an idol shaped like a calf, and they sacrificed it and celebrated over this thing they had made. Then God turned away from them and abandoned them to serve the stars of heaven as their gods. In the book of the prophets it is written, Was it to me you were bringing sacrifices and offerings during those forty years in the wilderness Israel? No. You carried your pagan gods, the shrine of Molech, the star of your God Rephan, and the images you made to worship them. So I will send you into exile as far away as Babylon. Our ancestors carried the tabernacle with them through the wilderness. It was constructed according to the plan God had shown to Moses. Years later, when Joshua led our ancestors in battle against the nations that God drove out of this land, the tabernacle was taken with them into their new territory, and it stayed there until the time of King David. David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent temple for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built it. However, the Most High doesn't live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you build me a temple as good as that? asks the Lord. Could you build me such a resting place? Didn't my hands make both heaven and earth?

Blessing Of Work Family And Self-Control

SPEAKER_00 6:25

Psalm one hundred twenty eight one through six A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. How joyful are those who fear the Lord, all who follow his ways. You will enjoy fruit, enjoy the fruit of your labor, how joyful and prosperous you will be. Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the Lord's blessing for those who fear him. May the Lord continually bless you from Zion, may you see Jerusalem prosper as long as you live. May you live to enjoy your grandchildren. May Israel have peace. Proverbs sixteen, thirty-one through thirty three. Grey hair is a crown of glory. It is gained by living a godly life. Better to be patient than powerful, better to have self-control than conquer a city. We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall. That one hits home some little bit, doesn't it? We may throw the dice, but the Lord determines how they fall.

Books Reviews And Support Links

SPEAKER_00 7:43

If you are looking for a middle grade uh fantasy series, kind of like Narnia, The Hobbit, Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, if you would check out the countryside series. Uh there's two books you can find at Amazon, Barnes ⁇ Noble. Any of your local bookstores can order it. There's hardback, paperback, ebook of the first two books. Uh and if you enjoy it, if you would leave a review online somewhere, I would be grateful for that. Same with the podcast, American Soul and America's Christian Heritage. If you're enjoying them, if you feel like you're getting something out of them, if you would leave a review online somewhere, I would be very grateful for that as well. And if you have five or ten dollars to spare a month, that supports the podcast and the writings. There's a link in the show notes where you can set that up. And I would be very grateful for that too. So thank you for any or all of those.

Crime Headlines And Cultural Lament

SPEAKER_00 8:39

Bournemouth Woodland, 2024. Eltsby, uh Egyptian asylum seeker, raped a woman. 24-year-old entered the UK illegally in 2023. He was refused asylum in January 2025. Raped a woman in her 30s in a wooded area. He was charged with rape, but he was found not guilty. Apparently this month, June of 2026. Absolute tragedy. Quarter million girls in Britain raped by almost ninety percent, I think the stats are Muslims. And you have to wonder if that's really that low. Medal of Honor for today.

Medal Of Honor Profile

SPEAKER_00 10:07

James S. Calvert, Spencer Calvert, Private, highest rank regimental quartermaster sergeant, Indian campaigns, Charlie Company, fifth U.S. Infantry, U.S. Army, October 21st, 1876 through January 8, 1877, Cedar Creek, etc., Montana, Gallantry and Action. Man, I wish we had more. Accredited to Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, not awarded posthumously. Presented April 27, 1877. Born June 27, 1852, Athens County, Ohio. Died February 26, 1929, Washington, D.C. Buried Arlington National Cemetery, PMH 3 TAC 2490, Arlington, Virginia. Location of Metal Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. James Spencer Calvert.

Psalm 101 Rules For The Heart

SPEAKER_00 11:25

I've been wanting to read a psalm for quite a while on one of the podcasts, and I just haven't had the time, but I do today, so we're going to read through it real quickly. Psalm 101, a psalm of David. I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life. When will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home. I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. I hate all who deal crookedly, I will have nothing to do with them. I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil. I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors, I will not endure conceit and pride. I will search for faithful people to be my companions, only those who are above reproach will be allowed to serve me. I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house, and liars will not stay in my presence. My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. This psalm kind of gives a blueprint of how to live our lives and who to choose to interact with, right? Refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar. Hate all who deal crookedly, reject perverse ideas, stay away from evil, don't tolerate people who slander their neighbors. Don't endure conceit and pride. Search for faithful people for your companions. Search for people who are above reproach to serve you, to work, your home, your place of business, right? Liars don't allow liars to stay in your presence. Ferret out the wicked and free the city of the Lord from their grip. I just think that that was, as I said, I think it's a great blueprint for how to run, guide our own interactions.

Salmon Chase On Substantial Faith

SPEAKER_00 13:37

You know, we talked about Solomon Chase, I think on the previous podcast, Secretary of the Treasury under President Lincoln, Governor of Ohio, U.S. Senator, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by Lincoln. And there was another quote, a couple quotes I wanted to read by him. I didn't get a chance to, and so we're going to finish up with those. Give me solid and substantial religion. Give me a humble, gentle lover of God and man, a man full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy, a man laying himself out in the works of faith, the patience of hope, the labor of love. Let my soul be with those Christians, wheresoever they are, and whatsoever opinion they are of. Kind of falls into line with a psalm we just read, right? Who do you want to surround yourselves with, folks? What kind of people? Because they're gonna rub off on you. And and you need to think about that too. Whatever kind of person you are, you're gonna rub off on those people as well. One more quote by Secretary Chase, Chief Justice Chase. When shall I be thoroughly imbued with a humble, self-denying Holy Spirit? O Lord, my Savior, do thou assist and teach me. Today I rose too late, attended private and family prayers, afterwards read several chapters in Leviticus, having again began to read the scriptures in course, intending to read the Old Testament in private and the new with the family. It is my deliberate opinion that all the writings of all moral and political writers do not contain so much practical wisdom, whether applicable to state or persons, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appointed by Lincoln, whether applicable to state to civil affairs, or persons to private affairs.

Bible Courses In Schools And Nationhood

SPEAKER_00 16:07

I'm sure you noticed a week or so ago that Texas has become the first state theoretically to put Bible courses back. This is not the first time, folks, to put them back in the classroom. It's interesting that we had the Bible as central in the majority of our schools in America, publicly funded schools, until all of a sudden in the late 1940s, the Supreme Court suddenly figured out that we'd been wrong for the last 150 plus years and that our founders really wanted to kick Christianity out of our nation, our institutions. We must have gotten really wise really fast to figure out that we knew so much better than all the other people that were closer to the founding. We're a Christian nation, folks. We can only survive as a Christian nation. And any taxpayer-funded institutions, including education, must have the principles of Christ, the Bible at their core. We have no responsibility to allow any other imposter, religion, faiths that same level of support or encouragement. In fact, we have a duty not to. And if people of other faiths want to live in the United States, they have a responsibility living here to support Christianity. Not any particular denomination. That's what the founders meant by separation of church and state. They didn't want the state partic choosing a particular denomination and forcing citizens to be a part of it, but they absolutely didn't intend to pretend that Christianity was on the level of other false religions: Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, atheism, which is just a religion of the state. Got to turn back to God and Jesus Christ, folks. There's nothing better you can do to help America today than to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lord’s Prayer And Closing Blessing

SPEAKER_00 18:21

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. Lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thy does the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. God bless y'all. God bless your families, your marriages. If you're married, your children, your nation, wherever you are around the world, listening. God bless America. We'll talk to y'all again real soon, folks. Looking forward to it.