Created in the Image of God

SOOP
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  • RELIGION
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Tune in every Tuesday for an inspiring journey on Created in the Image of God: Building Vibrant Communities. Wade Fransson and his distinguished guests explore the essence of human nature and the transformative power of unity in diversity through live-streamed discussions rooted in the Independent Investigation of Reality. This series advocates for authentic connections among individuals to foster thriving, inclusive communities. Anchored in spiritual truths and a collective quest for understanding, these conversations inspire growth and progress toward a harmonious world. soopllc.substack.com

  1. 23H AGO

    Ubuntu & Justice with Marlena Graves | Created In The Image of God 222

    In a moment when nearly every issue becomes a battlefield, Marlena Graves offers a different starting point: we belong to each other. Drawing on the Southern African concept of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—and the teachings of Jesus, she argues that genuine spiritual formation cannot be separated from the pursuit of justice. Our well-being, she insists, is tied to the flourishing of those we might be tempted to ignore: the poor, the immigrant, those outside our tribe, and even those we see as enemies.In this episode, Marlena traces how segments of American Christianity, especially white evangelical culture, have often lost sight of that interconnectedness. She names the “fruit of bad theology”—a selective compassion that treats some neighbors as optional—and contrasts it with Jesus’ command to love without exception. Along the way, she weaves in her own pastoral and academic experience, stories of polarization, and the quiet, patient work of building relationships across political, racial, and religious lines.The conversation is honest about harm yet grounded in hope. Marlena speaks about holding space for growth, refusing to cancel people who are just waking up, and remembering that each of us is still on a journey. For anyone weary of culture wars but longing for a faith that looks like Jesus in public as well as in private, this episode offers a thoughtful, courageous vision of what it means to live Ubuntu in everyday life. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 20m

  2. 3D AGO

    Behavior & Hope with Megan Rosselot | Created In The Image of God 221

    From the outside, Megan Rosselot looked like a teenager who just wasn’t trying hard enough. Inside, she was fighting a very different battle. Undiagnosed learning disabilities turned school into a constant struggle; while her younger sisters seemed to glide through academics and activities, Megan failed tests, stumbled in sports, and absorbed the labels that came her way. Resentment and shame slowly deepened into anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts, all fed by a relentless inner voice telling her she had no purpose.In this episode, Megan reflects on the long process of resisting that voice and learning to hear another one—the patient, persistent voice of God. She talks about how getting curious about who God is, and how the Holy Spirit speaks, began to change the way she saw herself and others. That shift eventually led her into the world of behavioral therapy and the creation of The Behavior Project and The Behavior Collective, where she now helps families reframe “bad behavior” as a signal, not a verdict, and teaches them how to respond with both structure and compassion.The conversation offers grounded encouragement for anyone who has felt misunderstood, mislabeled, or unsure what to do with the difficult behaviors in their home or their own heart. Megan’s story is a reminder that God meets people in the middle of their confusion, and that with the right understanding and support, change is not only possible—it’s often where purpose begins to emerge. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min

  3. FEB 12

    Hope Elevation with Scorpio Lamonte | Created In The Image of God 220

    On the surface, many men look successful—solid job, decent income, life “under control.” Underneath, the story can be very different: numbness, quiet resentment, or the sense of living someone else’s script. Scorpio Lamonte calls this mediocrity a social disease, and he has built his life’s work around confronting it. As an identity mentor and founder of Hope Elevation, he helps men and young people turn back toward the person they were meant to be, rather than the role they’ve drifted into.In this episode, Scorpio breaks down what identity mentoring looks like in real life: helping people recognize where herd mentality and hurt mentality have shaped their choices, and guiding them to see hope as an active discipline. He describes hope as a decision and a muscle—something strengthened through small, consistent choices that honor the truth of who you are in God, not the lies spoken over you. Instead of outsourcing worth to other people’s opinions, he invites listeners to look within and discover that “His grace is sufficient” and “you are more than enough.”The conversation is energetic and practical, offering clear encouragement for anyone who feels stuck, overlooked, or unsure how to move forward. With a focus on mindset shifts, micro‑habits, and honest self‑definition, Scorpio’s message points to a simple but demanding invitation: start making hope‑filled decisions for your own life, and watch how purpose, resources, and relationships begin to align. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 13m

  4. FEB 9

    Choose Freedom with Rose Ann Forte | Created In The Image of God 219

    Wanting to quit and knowing how to quit are two very different things. Rose Ann Forte understands that gap from the inside. After years in corporate leadership and a private battle with alcohol, she reached a breaking point that became a turning point. What followed was a season of surrender, rebuilding, and discovering how Scripture and neuroscience together could support real, lasting transformation.In this episode, Rose Ann explains how her own experience led to the Choose Freedom® Program and a series of devotionals, books, and courses aimed at people who feel stuck in substances or life-interfering behaviors. She outlines the core ideas behind The Plans He Has for Me and Transformed by His Promises, showing how daily engagement with God’s word, paired with practical tools, helps rewire thought patterns and open the door to new choices. Rather than shame or quick fixes, her approach is rooted in grace, clarity, and small, steady steps.The conversation offers encouragement for anyone who has tried to change and slipped back, or who loves someone caught in a cycle they can’t seem to break. It’s a clear, compassionate look at how faith, honest preparation, and a renewed mind can work together to make freedom more than a wish—it can become a way of life. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    54 min

  5. FEB 4

    When You Look with Mick Wienholt | Created In The Image of God 218

    Streaming platforms are filled with scripted drama, but some of the most gripping stories are the ones that actually happened. Mick Wienholt has built his life around listening to those real accounts—the moments when something unexplainable breaks into an ordinary day—and then helping people name what those experiences mean. As host of the When You Look show, he creates space for guests to ask a simple but demanding question: was that just coincidence, or was that God?In this episode, Mick reflects on his own journey through heartbreak, near-death, and unexpected grace, and how those seasons shaped his hunger to hear from others. He describes conversations with people who have come through grief, danger, or radical change, each standing at the same crossroads: dismiss the event as random, or recognize it as an invitation into a deeper relationship with Christ. Rather than forcing conclusions, Mick’s approach is to listen closely and let people discover, in their own words, what their stories reveal about faith, fear, and hope.For viewers who are tired of fictional escapes and ready for true stories with spiritual weight, this conversation offers a different kind of narrative—one that honors both mystery and honesty. It’s an episode for anyone who has ever wondered if something that happened “to them” might actually have been happening for them. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 37m

  6. FEB 2

    Leaving Babylon with Jonathan England | Created In The Image of God 217

    Some decisions make no sense on paper—and yet, in hindsight, they mark the beginning of an entirely new life. In this episode, Jonathan England tells the story of how he went from building community in Austin, Texas to founding Earthwaking Village in Costa Rica, guided by what he understands as a clear and urgent call from God. Along the way, he describes a shocking encounter with a prophet living in a storage shed, visions that unfolded over three days, and a promise that if he gave his life completely to God, he could never take credit for anything again.From there, the path only becomes more unlikely. Jonathan and his wife heard the words, “You have one hour—pack your bags and fly to Costa Rica.” They obeyed, arrived, and watched the world shut down as COVID hit and borders closed. Out of that disruption, a new experiment in community began to take shape: people gathering around Divine Law, releasing fear and control, and learning to live from a place of trust, purpose, and shared responsibility.This conversation explores what it means to “leave Babylon”—not just geographically, but spiritually and emotionally. Jonathan speaks candidly about surrender, the cost of obedience, and the joy of seeing lives transformed when people step into their true identity. For anyone sensing that the systems around them no longer fit, or wondering what it might look like to follow God into something radically different, this episode offers both challenge and hope. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    56 min

  7. JAN 28

    Truth, Fiction & the Newsroom with John DeDakis | Created In The Image of God 216

    Every day, headlines claim to tell “the truth,” while fiction invites readers into stories that never happened. John DeDakis has spent a lifetime moving between those worlds. As a former White House correspondent and CNN editor, he covered real events in real time during the Reagan years. As an award‑winning mystery‑thriller author, he now transforms that experience into stories that let readers feel the pressure, danger, and moral tension of life behind the scenes.In this episode, John unpacks the relationship between facts, narrative, and the search for truth. He describes daily journalism as a mosaic of “small t” truths—fragments of fact that never quite capture the full picture, yet point toward it. From there, he reflects on how fiction can sometimes reveal deeper realities by exploring motive, character, and consequence in ways a news story cannot. Along the way, he speaks candidly about objectivity, media bias, and the challenges of reporting in a polarized age.The conversation also follows his journey as a novelist and writing coach, including how personal loss and spiritual questions have shaped his work. For anyone wondering how to navigate the blur between news and narrative—or how writing can become a path toward healing and understanding—this episode offers a clear, thoughtful look at truth on the page and in public life. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    1h 25m

  8. JAN 26

    Philosophy, Faith & Education with Joseph Atman | Created In The Image of God 215

    Most people feel that something is broken in education, but struggle to name exactly what it is. Joseph Atman believes the problem goes deeper than test scores or funding—it reaches into how we form concepts, define our terms, and understand reality itself. As the founder of Middle Tree, a nonprofit committed to making education accessible to everyone, he has spent years building a system where students can learn at their own pace, in their own way, without being turned away for lack of resources. As a philosopher of religion, he has also been writing A Philosophical War, a trilogy that starts in the Garden of Eden and asks hard questions about good, evil, and consciousness.In this episode, Joseph explains why true philosophy begins by questioning everything—even our most familiar religious and moral categories. He describes how unexamined definitions of “good,” “evil,” or even “truth” can lock people into narrow frameworks that no longer match reality, and how revisiting those concepts can open new space for both faith and understanding. Drawing on imagery from Genesis, the tree in the middle of the garden, and Paul’s call to “exercise the senses to discern good and evil,” he connects the work of spiritual maturity with the work of education: learning to tune our senses and language to what is actually real.The conversation then turns concrete, as Joseph shares how Middle Tree’s model—“educate everyone”—puts these ideas into practice: unlimited time, individualized support, and new vocational programs, all designed to treat education as a right rather than a luxury. For anyone longing for a deeper, more coherent way to think about faith, knowledge, and how we teach the next generation, this episode offers a thoughtful, challenging, and hopeful path forward. Get full access to SOOPMedia on Substack at soopllc.substack.com/subscribe

    49 min
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Tune in every Tuesday for an inspiring journey on Created in the Image of God: Building Vibrant Communities. Wade Fransson and his distinguished guests explore the essence of human nature and the transformative power of unity in diversity through live-streamed discussions rooted in the Independent Investigation of Reality. This series advocates for authentic connections among individuals to foster thriving, inclusive communities. Anchored in spiritual truths and a collective quest for understanding, these conversations inspire growth and progress toward a harmonious world. soopllc.substack.com

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