I Think We’re Onto Something

Thoughts from a lamenting heart on behalf of the victims of the elementary school shooting in Texas, the supermarket shooting in Buffalo, the church shooting in California, the deadly car accident in my neighborhood, and more... Intro/Outro Music: Starstruck | Beat provided by freebeats.io - Produced by White Hot --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/support

What is the similarity between Daniel, Adam & Eve, and Jesus? They all were tested and their first tests were all connected to food/eating. After a long intro (lol) I dive deeper into this idea from Daniel chapter 1. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/support

In this episode I give an update on Good News for the Hood, then I dive into Daniel 1:1-8 in an attempt to find true meaning based on the author's intent and what implications it has for the black experience. In the next episode I will discuss some of the implications of the testing by food. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/goodnewsforthehood/support

In this episode I got to speak with the highly regarded Dr. Carmen Joy Imes. Carmen has been one of the scholars that's been crucial in my own journey of biblical understanding over the past 3 years because she just seemed to keep popping up on all of my favorite scholarly podcasts. She is an Old Testament Scholar whose work on the meaning of bearing God's name and taking the Lord's name in vain has been widely recognized. You can hear some of her discussion on the topic on other popular podcast such as The Bible Project ep. 186; The Disrupters season 1 ep. 4; The Naked Bible Podcast 302 and dozens of other podcasts. In this discussion I wanted to touch more on her own journey and other work that she finds interesting that lay people often miss. Even more, I wanted to pick up on some of the themes of inclusion and representation of women, black and brown people, and other minorities in the world of biblical scholarship. I first heard her touch on some of those ideas in her discussion with Dr. Esau McCauley on the Disrupters podcast. You can check out some of Carmen's and other resources below: Carmen's Books & Social Media: Praying the Psalms with Augustine & Friends Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters YouTube Channel @CarmenJoyImes on Twitter Black Biblical Scholars: Bibliography of Black Old Testament Scholars You can find the Good News for the Hood team on Instagram at: @AverageIsFailure @GoodNewsfortheHood @RandallLaurence --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/support

In this episode, Vaughn and Randall discuss what praise and worship is, as well as its current state in the church. Be sure to connect with us on Instagram: @averageisfailure @randalllaurence @theblackseminary --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/support

In this episode, Vaughn Edmeade and Randall Phyall discuss the Rich Young Ruler and it's implications for black people today. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/support

Be sure to interact with us at: https://www.instagram.com/theblackseminary/ ... and ... https://www.instagram.com/averageisfailure/ For those who are more visual, you can check the YouTube version of this episode here: https://youtu.be/KzvIE45D8FM In this episode we simply discuss and reflect on our journeys as black Christians and observe the current state of the Christian faith in Black spaces. We were just setting the groundwork for future conversations and directions for the work we look forward to doing with hopes to focus even more squarely on the biblical text in the future. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/support

Some of you may see that we’ve been making some big changes. Here, I’m giving a small update about the pivot that we are making as a brand and the reason we’ve decided to do so. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/theresgoodnewsforthehood/support

Connect with me: @averageisfailure Oh Holy Night is one of my favorite songs, especially during Christmas time. One of the verses in the song is also what I believe to be one of the most important verses of any song written in last several hundred years. It is a reminder that the Christmas story loses its power if we forget its implications for the social injustices that take place in the world. The Christmas story is more than an inspirational holiday. It has real meaning to address real problems that we do our best to be a part of solving now, but will ultimately be set right when Christ reconciles all things. Take a look at the often overlooked verse below: Chains shall He break For the slave is your brother And, in His Name all oppression shall cease --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beliefandhustle/support

Connect with me: @averageisfailure I received the unfortunate news about the death of a former colleague this week. Being that this is the year 2020 and we're so close to Christmas, I wanted to talk about the implications of the Christmas holiday as a response to death. In short, I argue that Christmas is a response to the reality of death, and without this core meaning, Christmas loses its essence. Christmas, when only mitigated to good deeds during a season, loses the ultimate hope. The hope of Christmas is that the child that was born has saved us from the oppression of sin and death through the gift of his life, death, and resurrection, and will one day lead death to its own death, and renew us with eternal life. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beliefandhustle/support

Connect with me on Instagram: @averageisfailure In this episode I discuss my vision going forward for the brand. My hope is that sharing some of my thoughts around it will also help you with some ideas that help you build your dream, career, business, and faith. I talk about the importance of finding a niche, recognizing when you're in a testing phase and other concepts that I've learned over the years. I recognize that I'm currently in a testing phase where I'm exploring different areas of development in an attempt to discover where I can serve people best. What's your future vision for your dream? --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beliefandhustle/support

Let's talk at www.instagram.com/averageisfailure or averageisfailure@gmail.com In this episode what I tried to do was to tell you about some of the struggles that have kept me from launching when I should have. Key Points: - Many of us struggle with overthinking. We listen to so many gurus and we want to get things just right. And, the problem is sometimes that does more to harm us than to help us. - There are some nuances to launching your dream that you never discover until you just get started. - Niches can be tricky little things to determine. Sometimes you just have to pick one and go with it and pivot down the road. - Consider making your story your niche. Niches can be hard to determine when you don't feel like you're a guru in anything (imposter syndrome), or when you have a vast array of interests. However, you're always a guru when it comes to at least one thing, your own personal and/or business brand story. Focusing on your story as a niche can allow the space for you to engage all of your interests organically and often in an even more contextualized and dynamic way. - Gary Vaynerchuk would call this "documenting" as opposed to being a guru. Hope this episode was helpful to you! - Vaughn Edmeade aka "Coach" Vaughn --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beliefandhustle/support

Connect with me on Instagram: @averageisfailure | Send questions and suggestions to: averageisfailure@gmail.com | Website coming soon. In this episode, I talk about my "average is failure" journey and why I'm creating this podcast. Here are some takeaways from the episode: Just because you've decided to become a new person, doesn't mean the "old you" is done with you yet. It's a daily battle to put your best foot forward. Whether your effort is good or mediocre, it will catch up with you... As a black man in America, "C"-effort will rarely get you to your worthwhile career goals. What we forget when giving average effort is that in spite of how sunny it is right now, rainy days do come; but, by that time, it's often too late. Average is Failure isn't just about you. It's about being responsible for the inherent influence you have as well. In one way or another you have impact on others. Your mediocrity can set an example for people who are influenced by you. It can also impact relationships with family, friends, coworkers, and customers. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/beliefandhustle/support

When you attempt something new we often want it to be perfect right away. Even for Christians, we allow self-doubt and visions of perfection to undermine our ability to just get started. But, a phrase my Dad told me once is that “change is messy”. When you’re looking to begin something new it disrupts how things are currently. This isn’t something new. We’ve seen the same thing happen to biblical characters and many of us experienced some messiness when we first decided to make a change for the sake of Christ and His gospel. This should encourage us to launch the ideas, creativity, and effort that he’s put within us. I hope this message encourages you to do just that.

Racism has plagued the United States and the world for hundreds of years and in various forms. While there are many voices offering solutions to the problem, we often overlook some of the tools that the biblical authors (especially New Testament writers) offer that might make the largest impact according to the Christian believer’s perspective. In this episode, Coach Vaughn offers some perspective of 1 Peter’s conversation about being born again in Christ and redefining our identity accordingly. He goes on to discuss how this should impact race relations through the call of oneness in the gospel and how that continues this is a continuation of the promises of God to His chosen people but for the world, a theme that has consistently run through the Bible from the first book of Genesis. If you enjoyed this podcast consider leaving a 5 star review on iTunes and following me on Instagram at @averageisfailure.

What is the place of protest in the gospel and how can we apply that within the context of current culture? What part we do play in responding to the murder of George Floyd? How do we think about protest during moments when crisis isn't as visible and things FEEL comfortable? Host: Vaughn Edmeade Instagram: @vaughnedmeade Cohost: Randall Phyall Instagram: @randalllaurance Intro/Outro music: b.on.it productions

Vaughn Edmeade, Shane-Ray Brown, and Paul Byssainthe Jr. discuss the zeitgeist of 2020, how COVID19 and George Floyd’s unjust death has impacted them, the role of the gospel in responding to these issues and what they feel their individual and collective roles are as Black Christian men.

The stay home orders around the world caused me to reflect on the concept of the Sabbath tied to the land in the Bible. This concept had implications for the identity of the people of God, social justice, and business. COVID-19 has caused these same concepts to rise to the surface. It’s as if there’s been a Sabbath places on the whole earth in order to allow His creation to rest. Many are saddened at this time because of loved ones who’ve been affected. Others of us are bored at home, still others only see a conspiracy theory. My hope is that we will all see it as a time to reflect and acknowledge the fragility of life and to put our trust back into our Creator. I hope we won’t fall back into simply doing business as usual, but that greater care would be given to our world and to each other. I pray everyone remain safe during this crisis.