Speaker 1: 0:00

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. Sure do appreciate y'all joining me, giving me a little bit of your time and attention, a little piece of your day. I will try and use it wisely. Hopefully it'll give us all some tools for our toolbox, as we used to say in the Marine Corps, and draw us all a little bit closer to God and Jesus Christ as individuals and as a nation.

Speaker 1: 0:36

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, for all your many blessings, father, the ones we admit and the ones we don't. Thank you for those listening to the podcast. Be with them, guide them, bless them. Protect us from evil of any kind. Father, heal hearts that are broken. Break the addictions of those who are addicted. Help us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven, father, not here on earth. Help us to do your will each day. Above all else, be with those who are hurting due to illness or injury. Bring them your comfort. Give us patience, father. Help us to remember that your ways are not our ways. Help us to trust you each day completely, even when we don't understand what's going on, when we don't understand the pain in our own lives or in the world. Help us to trust you, god. My word's here, father, please and bring us all home to you and to your Son, jesus Christ, in your timing. In your Son's name, we pray, amen. Have you made time for God and Jesus Christ today? Have you made time to read your Bible? Have you made time to pray? Have you made time to sit and listen to God? And if not, what are you spending your time on? What are you spending your time on? What are you giving time to over God and Jesus Christ, and are you okay with that? And if you're married, does your spouse know it? Do you treat them like a one out of seven billion treasure? Because that's what they are, folks. You have one spouse. There's only one relationship in all of the world that you can draw that close to somebody. That's one of the amazing things, folks is. There's only one person that we can draw that close to somebody. That's one of the amazing things, folks is. There's only one person that we can draw that close to, and yet for so many of us, we would rather give our time and energy and effort to workouts, tv, sports, social media or phones.

Speaker 1: 4:09

There's a really, actually good article and I guess I'll go ahead and throw this in now Didn't really intend to, but I will Out of the epic times and they're talking about the growing concern, growing problem with AI companions. And here's the article. By got to flip through the paper here. The article is by Jacob Berg and Sam Dorman. Ai-induced delusions are driving some users to psych wards and suicide. So it's actually talking about the fact that some of these people are being driven so crazy by AI chatbots that they're being put into medical psych wards right, the few that we have left remaining and at least as the state-run mental institutes.

Speaker 1: 5:14

But here's the. Let me find those statistics. Yeah, roughly 19% of US adults reported using an AI system to simulate a romantic partner, according to a 2025 study by BYU Wheatley Institute. Within that group, 21 said that they prepared AI communication to engaging with real persons. Another one by late 2024, nearly 40% of Americans aged 18 to 64 were using generative AI, 23% used the technology at work at least once a week and 9% reported using it daily. There was another one in here somewhere talking about the percentage of kids, I think, but I can't find it. The point is that even some of these CEOs there's a couple quoted in this article good article again, by the way, epic Times and the authors One more time.

Speaker 1: 6:23

Maybe you think it's easy to flip through a paper, so you need to do it quickly. Uh, jacob berg and sam dorman. Title again as ai induced illusions are driving some users to psych wards suicide, you know. And we want to point fingers at this technology. We want to say, oh, this ai stuff it's so bad for relationships and it is.

Speaker 1: 6:48

But the problem is it's not the ai, it's us. We have been doing this more and more for decades. We plop down in front of a tv and we watch sports for hours on end. We scroll our phone for hours um, watch endless youtube or tiktok or instagram, real videos, whatever right. So the? The problem is that we've been or we go out and we work out for two or three hours a day. The problem is we have been ignoring our spouses, ignoring our kids, ignoring those closest to us, for a long time. Folks. Ai might make it a little easier to do, but the problem is that we've been doing whatever we can to distract ourselves from real people for a long time now, and the AI is just kind of illustrating the point a little bit more. Bring it home a little more.

Speaker 1: 8:00

So, before you go and point your fingers at your spouse or your spouse's parents or your parents or whatever, you really need to take a long hard, look in the mirror and see how much of your time you're giving to something else. And this is also even more important, more true with our faith, dare try and point our fingers at God. Right, we really need to look at ourselves and how much time we're giving to God versus all these other things. So the marriage verse for today is Ephesians, chapter 5, verses 22 through 33. Wives be subject to your husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her in order to make her holy by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word, so as to present the church to himself in splendor without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, so that she may be holy and without blemish. In the same way, husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no one ever hates his own flesh, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I am speaking about Christ and the church. Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband.

Speaker 1: 9:39

Bible verses for today. I'm going to start with 2, timothy 2, verse 1 through 21. Timothy, my dear son, be strong for the grace that God gives you in Christ Jesus. You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others. Endure suffering along with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Soldiers don't get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them. And athletes cannot win the prize unless they follow the rules, and hard-working farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor.

Speaker 1: 10:21

Think about what I am saying. The Lord will help you understand all these things. Always remember that Christ Jesus, all these things, always remember that Christ Jesus, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the good news I preach, and because I preach this good news, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the word of God cannot be chained, so I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus.

Speaker 1: 10:50

This is a trustworthy saying. He remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is. Remind everyone about these things and command them, in God's presence, to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless and they can ruin those who hear them. Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior. This kind of talk spreads like cancer, as in the case of Hymenaeus and Philetus. They have left the path of truth, claiming that the resurrection of the dead has already occurred. In this way, they have turned some people away from the faith, but God's truth stands firm like a foundation stone with this inscription the Lord knows those who are his, and all who belong to the Lord must turn away from evil.

Speaker 1: 12:13

In a wealthy home, some utensils are made of gold and silver and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work. Psalm 92.1, verse 93.5.

Speaker 1: 12:36

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening, accompanied by a ten-stringed instrument, a harp, and a melody of a lyre. You thrill me, lord, with all you have done for me. I sing for joy because of what you have done, o Lord. What great works you do and how deep are your thoughts. Only a simpleton would not know and only a fool would not understand this.

Speaker 1: 13:08

Though the wicked sprout, like weeds and evildoers, flourish, they will be destroyed forever. But you, o Lord, will be exalted forever. Your enemies, lord, will surely perish. All evildoers will be scattered, but you have made me as strong as a wild ox. You have anointed me with the finest of wool. As a wild ox, you have anointed me with the finest of wool. My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies. My ears have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents. But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon, for they are transplanted to the Lord's own house. They flourish in the courts of our God. Even in old age, they will still produce fruit. They will remain vital and green. They will declare the Lord is just, he is my rock. There is no evil in Him. The Lord is King. He is robed in majesty. Indeed, the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength. The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. Your throne, o Lord, has stood from the time immemorial. You yourself are from the everlasting past. The floods have risen up, o Lord. The floods have roared like thunder. The floods have lifted their pounding waves, but mightier than the violent raging of the seas mightier than the breakers.

Speaker 1: 14:33

On Proverbs 26, verses 3-5. 26, verses 3 through 5. Guide a horse with a whip, a donkey with a bridle and a fool with a rod to his back. Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools or you will become as foolish as they are. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools or they will become wise in their own estimations. That last part there in Proverbs you have to think about that for a minute, right? There's sometimes where you want to answer a fool because otherwise they think they're just too smart, and then there's other times where you just have to walk away. It doesn't do any good talking to a fool anymore, right? I think all I'll leave you with from the scripture today is this Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He died for my sins, the ones I have committed, the ones I am committing, the ones I will commit, all of them and yours. God raised him from the dead. He, jesus Christ, is my Lord and Savior. He is my only hope for salvation and eternal life, and he is your only hope for salvation and eternal life too.

Speaker 1: 16:16

Medal of Honor for today Charles Joseph Berry, corporal. World War II, 1st Battalion, 26th Marine, 5th Marine Division, us Marine Corps, march 3, 1945, iwo Jima, volcano Islands, volcano Islands. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life, above and beyond the call of duty as a member of a machine gun crew serving with the 1st Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against the enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima and the Volcano Islands on 3 March 1945. On 3 March 1945. Stationed in the front lines, corporal Berry manned his weapon with alert readiness as he maintained a constant vigil with other members of his gun crew during the hazardous night hours when infiltrating Japanese soldiers launched a surprise attack. Shortly after midnight, in an attempt to overrun his position, he engaged in a pitched hand grenade duel, returning the dangerous weapons with prompt and deadly accuracy until an enemy grenade landed in the foxhole. Determined to save his comrades, he unhesitatingly chose to sacrifice himself and immediately dived on the deadly missile, absorbing the shattering violence of the exploding charge in his own body and protecting the others from serious injury. Stout-hearted and indomitable, corporal Berry fearlessly gilded his own life that his fellow Marines might carry on the relentless battle against a ruthless enemy. And his superb valor and unfaltering devotion to duty in the face of certain death reflect the highest credit upon himself and upon the US Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country, 1923 Lorain, lorain County, ohio. Died March 3rd 1945, iwo Jima, volcano Islands. Buried Elmwood Cemetery 5248 TAC 1, lorain, ohio. Location of metal. Lorain public library system.

Speaker 1: 18:33

Charles Joseph Berry, I can't even begin to tell you how little sympathy I have with people today who despise America, who kneel for the flag, who turn their backs on the national anthem, who talk about being oppressed and burdened, whether it's women with feminism or the left in general, the immigrants who demand that we, the illegals, and the mass immigrants who demand that we give them the rights, representation and resources of our fellow citizens, of our fellow citizens. And perhaps the greatest disdain should be reserved for those of us on the conservative side who aren't willing to give absolutely everything we have for God and our country. We certainly should remember the name of Charles Joseph joseph berry and his sacrifice on iwo jima, jumping on a hand grenade, more than we remember any pop singer recently engaged, or her song lyrics, or an nfl athlete or an nba star and statistics or any other sport. Two quotes for today David Dixon Porter, admiral in the US Navy, superintendent of the US Naval Academy at Annapolis. When one sees how much has been done for the world by the disciples of Christ and those professing the Christian religion, he must be astonished to find anyone who hesitates to believe in the divine origin of Jesus and the wonderful works he performed, all of which are so beautifully portrayed by the author of the work under consideration. And no man or woman of real intelligence would hesitate to believe that it is only through Christ that sinners can be saved, unless their vanity is so great that they are capable of saving themselves without an intermediary. A lot there, folks, I know that's one of the aspects of history that has strengthened my faith is when you look back on those times and you see how much those who are disciples of Christ and who profess the Christian religion have done for others, along with how many times God has saved us as a nation when we really should have lost, it's hard to believe that there's anyone out there of real intelligence who would hesitate to believe in the divine origin of Jesus, except out of vanity and arrogance and the belief that they don't need Jesus Christ to save them. It's also astounding that those there are any out there who claim to follow Christ that think that Christ isn't enough, that they also have to belong to a certain denomination. You've got to have just a little extra. You know, the son of God isn't enough, you've got to have a little extra. It's just phenomenal.

Speaker 1: 21:58

Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States. The whole inspiration of our civilization springs from the teachings of Christ and the lessons of the prophets. To read the Bible for these fundamentals is a necessity of American life. You look at this quote, folks. It's a simple quote, a short quote, two sentences, but it lays out the fundamental issue in America today. We can't have the American life, we can't have our republic and liberty without a people who follow the teachings of Christ and pay attention to the lessons of the prophets from the Bible. If you really want to be an American, whether you believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God or not and I cannot recommend anything more to you, folks that is the most important decision you will make in your entire life. But even if you decide to go against that, there's no way to truly love America, to be an American, to support liberty and freedom without reading the Bible and freedom without reading the bible. It's just such a simple statement by hoover, whether you liked a man or not, folks, whether you think he was a great president or not, it doesn't matter. The statement's still true.

Speaker 1: 23:30

If you have time and you're interested in a middle grade fantasy, kind of family friendly, I would humbly recommend Countryside. There's two books in the series e-book, hardback, paper book and, if you enjoy it, if you'd leave a review somewhere, I would appreciate that very much. God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages. God bless y'all. God bless your families. God bless your marriages. God bless America. God bless your nation, wherever you are around the world. Listen, folks. We'll talk to y'all again real soon, looking forward to it.