Faith Community Podcast Amos Johnson Jr, PhD

Paul grapples with the human condition of struggling with sin despite recognizing the goodness of the law. He reflects on his life before becoming a Christian, acknowledging that while the law is spiritual and good, the true issue lies within human nature, which is enslaved by sin. Paul describes this internal conflict, noting that even when he desires to do what is right, he often ends up doing what he hates, demonstrating the pervasive power of sin within him. Sin is like a parasite that controls his will. He highlights the misery of wanting to obey God's law but feeling powerless against his sinful nature. Paul emphasizes that this struggle persists in all humans, regardless of their knowledge of right and wrong, and underscores the importance of spiritual renewal. He concludes by pointing to Jesus Christ as the answer to overcoming sin's dominance.
 

We have all experienced this: You get an idea from God for the marketplace. Then, you implement that idea, but no one buys it, or you sell very little of it. What is the deal? Let's examine why God ideas fail to be successful from an internal perspective.

A God idea is insight from God to your spirit to implement a particular idea in the marketplace. These ideas are designed to be profitable, but many believers struggle to find success with them. 

Have you ever experienced a major business or life failure? If so, you may have negative associations resulting from that experience, which are affecting your current decision-making. To move forward and succeed in your calling, we have to break those negative associations.

Pastor Amos introduced an experiment to shift the online Sunday service to an asynchronous format  to better serve people in different time zones, while Celine shared her experience in building a chatbot and her concerns about disclosing her true background. Attendees also discussed the challenges of navigating toxic family dynamics, with an emphasis on the importance of forgiveness, self-care, and setting boundaries. Lastly, the group shared their personal experiences on reconciling faith with family expectations, prioritizing spiritual growth, and focusing on God's redemptive plan during times of grief.

Unfortunately, in society the way you look (physical characteristics, weight, height, gender, race, etc.) can be an advantage if you have the look society deems attractive. If you don’t have the look society desires, then that can be a disadvantage in climbing the ladder of success. However, none of that matters to God because God’s blessing for your success is not based on societal biases.