External Transcript Summary: Gary Sheng & Tommy Londres - Faith, AI, and Sales Discussion

Date: September 20, 2025 Location: Austin, Texas Participants: Gary Sheng (@gary-sheng.md), Tommy Londres Duration: Extended conversation Context: Discussion between Gary and Tommy, a 25-year-old Oracle sales associate, covering AI in sales, spiritual gifts, addiction, and authentic Christian living

Executive Summary

This transcript captures a wide-ranging conversation between Gary Sheng and Tommy Londres, revealing the intersection of technology, faith, and personal growth in modern Christian life. Tommy, a young Oracle sales professional, shares his recent authentic conversion experience and current struggles with self-reliance and substance use, while Gary explores themes of spiritual gifts, cessationism, and the challenge of living authentically in a secular professional environment. The discussion demonstrates the hunger among young professionals for genuine Christian community and practical discipleship in Austin's tech scene.

Key Themes

1. AI Integration in Professional Sales

Tommy's Current AI Usage:

• Product Analysis: Uses ChatGPT with internal Oracle data to analyze company profiles and recommend products
• Email Composition: Dictates emails through AI for efficiency and momentum building
• Meeting Notes: Takes manual notes during shadowing calls, processes through AI afterward for relevant insights

Sales Technology Limitations:

Tommy: "Kind of not really. Not really? There's not a way to, like, export that. A lot of it is just based on Outlook, you know."

Manual Process Challenges:

• Oracle's CRM lacks automated transcription capabilities
• No conversation history export functionality
• Heavy reliance on Outlook for communication tracking
• Manual note-taking required during client calls

2. Gary's Personal Knowledge Management System

GitHub-Based Relationship Tracking:

Gary: "So I have a private GitHub, like, repository that I have everyone I know Each person has a file. And then I'll open that folder that has the files in it in something called Cursor. Cursor is an AI software app."

Workflow Process:

• Records conversations using Apple Voice Notes
• Exports transcripts through third-party services
• Uses Cursor AI to automatically update individual relationship files
• Eliminates need for manual conversation recaps

Vision for Integration:

Gary: "But you can kind of envision how it would be streamlined over time... So the idea is that I don't want to be having to kind of recap a conversation I just had because it has everything I need in the transcript."

3. Spiritual Gifts and Cessationism

Gary's Recent Experiences:

• Encountered baptism of the Holy Spirit through healing ministry
• Experienced "palpable energy" and physical manifestations during prayer
• Wrestling with theological implications of spiritual gifts

Physical Description of Experience:

Gary: "It's like electricity and fire kind of going inside you, all over your body... it was unlike anything I've ever felt."

Tommy's Perspective:

Tommy: "I know this. I've heard of the spiritual gifts. I never put too much weight on them... for me, I think that would be tempting to do."

Theological Balance: Both acknowledge the danger of idolizing spiritual gifts rather than focusing on God himself, recognizing the potential for distraction from simple faith.

4. Recent Conversion and Heart Transformation

Tommy's Authentic Conversion Experience:

Tommy: "I became transparent with my belief in Christ probably six months ago too... You know we were all raised Presbyterian. But I don't think it really clicked until six months."

Heart vs. Head Knowledge:

Tommy: "It's all about... It's all the right things. It just wasn't coming from the place of. I think the personal search... But there's another level of like when your heart really seeks out."

Family Faith Dynamics:

• Three older sisters (ages 32, 32, 28) described as "atheist/agnostic"
• Parents adopted two daughters, had biological children through IVF
• Frustration with family members who received same spiritual foundation but haven't embraced faith

5. Substance Use and Spiritual Clarity

Tommy's Current Struggle:

Tommy: "I'm trying to quit smoking weed... I kind of got into it. Like... My sister had a... Or a... For her medical. Like. Her disability. And I saw like a lot of good in it. But. I think I. Did it too early to say. I did it."

False Spiritual Connection:

Tommy: "There's like this false sense of connectedness. Yes. And I think that's what I've been trying to discern."

Impact on Bible Study:

Tommy: "But then I try to open up the Bible and I can't interpret it. Like it's like legit, I can't focus on it... There's like this false sense of connectedness."

Gary's Addiction Philosophy:

Gary: "I think a great Humble sign of addiction is You're finding a reason why you did it Not like, and it's not like a good reason like I Genuinely, well, let me just say I genuinely wonder whether there was times where I Did feel like I was hearing God more clearly because of a mushrooms or something."

6. Self-Reliance vs. Divine Dependence

Tommy's Daily Struggle:

Tommy: "One of the tricky things for me. Is like. Having this priority. To follow God. But. The self alliance. Is a daily thing. I'm pretty. Very strong."

Modern Life as Pressure Cooker:

Tommy: "Life is a pressure cooker. And it's just like. It just cooks you. More and more. As you live."

American Cultural Challenge:

Gary: "I think we're. We're taught. To not. To. I'll just say. I was taught. About self-reliance. As like. The ultimate. Virtue."

7. Spiritual Disciplines and Fasting

Gary's Recent Three-Day Fast:

• Eliminated food for three days while maintaining work schedule
• Coupled with reduced media consumption, increased Bible reading
• Recognized compulsive eating patterns and food-focused thinking
• Used fasting as spiritual warfare against persistent spiritual challenges

Tommy's Interest:

Tommy: "I've never done a fast, a food fast... Did you see any value from it at the end?"

Theological Framework:

Gary: "The theory is that fasting is a great way to go to war with spirits that you couldn't get rid of you, get rid of. If you just weren't fasting."

8. Problem of Evil and Worldview Comparison

Christianity vs. Buddhism on Evil:

Gary: "Christ is not shy away from. Saying that there's real evil in the world... I think a lot of what I've heard. Again, I kind of. Definitely not educated on Buddhism. What I've heard about Buddhism is. It doesn't really. It doesn't acknowledge it to that extent."

Spiritual Warfare Reality:

• Both acknowledge demon possession as real but rare
• Discussion of friends sacrificing to "African gods" (interpreted as Satan worship)
• Recognition that Satan can provide worldly advancement as temptation

Tommy's Theological Insight:

Tommy: "Satan. He can. Tempt you. So many deceiving ways. Totally. But they're all worldly... Satan knows. All corners of the earth. But there's one thing he can't. Can't even get close to... I think that's the peace of God."

9. Charlie Kirk's Death and Cultural Response

Unity Across Denominations:

Gary: "One thing that. His, the reaction to his murder taught me was. All these different denominations really. Loved what he was doing. Yeah. And wanted to, like, claim him."

Approach to Denominational Differences:

Gary: "I don't feel like I want to be someone that's like. Well, here's a new denomination. That's the superior denomination... If you're following Christ in some. Legitimate way. Great."

Tommy's Perspective on Response:

Tommy: "Where do our hearts go after something like that? Does it go towards malice? Yeah. Malice. Blame. Or does it go to acceptance that the world is inherently broken? Yeah. And Charlie died for a just cause."

10. Modern Life and Authentic Community

Technology vs. Reality:

Tommy: "It's kind of a cool time. I think. People. You know. Society. Is kind of. You got your online world. You know. All this noise. And then. You put your phone down. And go to the car garage. And there's like. No. There's. No one's arguing. You know. Like. Yeah. It's not real."

Desire for Genuine Forum:

Tommy: "I kind of wish. We had a... A reddit thread. In... Yeah. Like an actual forum. Where the name comes from... Like a town. Town square. Yeah. People would like."

Gary's Arena Hall Connection: Discussion of Gary's connection to local intellectual/speaking venue in downtown Austin, representing desire for real-world idea exchange.

Significant Quotes

On Faith and Heart Transformation

Tommy: "Everyone. Is. Who you are. Is your heart. You know."

Gary: "What will make you. Dedicate. Time. Daily. Weekly. Is the heart."

On Modern Pressures and Peace

Tommy: "Life is a pressure cooker. And it's just like. It just cooks you. More and more. As you live."

Tommy: "Satan knows. All corners of the earth. But there's one thing he can't. Can't even get close to... I think that's the peace of God."

On Substance Use and Spiritual Clarity

Tommy: "There's like this false sense of connectedness. Yes. And I think that's what I've been trying to discern."

On Self-Reliance vs. Surrender

Tommy: "One of the tricky things for me. Is like. Having this priority. To follow God. But. The self alliance. Is a daily thing. I'm pretty. Very strong."

On Community and Reality

Tommy: "You put your phone down. And go to the car garage. And there's like. No. There's. No one's arguing. You know. Like. Yeah. It's not real."

Professional and Technology Insights

AI in Sales Workflow

• Efficiency Gains: AI dramatically reduces time spent on email composition and initial analysis
• Strategic Thinking: AI helps generate momentum and alternative perspectives on client approaches
• Limitations: Still requires human judgment and domain expertise for relationship building

CRM and Data Management

• Oracle/NetSuite Limitations: Lack of conversation export and limited historical tracking
• Manual Processes: Heavy reliance on individual note-taking and Outlook management
• Integration Opportunities: Clear need for better conversation transcription and relationship tracking

Personal Knowledge Management

• Gary's System: Innovative use of GitHub + AI for relationship and conversation tracking
• Scalability Potential: Model could be adapted for professional sales relationship management
• Vision: Fully integrated system eliminating manual recap and note-taking

Spiritual and Personal Development Themes

Authentic Conversion vs. Cultural Christianity

Both men distinguish between:

• Cultural/Familial Faith: Going through motions, following family traditions
• Heart Transformation: Personal seeking, genuine spiritual hunger, life change

Practical Discipleship Challenges

• Self-Reliance: American cultural emphasis on independence vs. biblical dependence on God
• Substance Use: Navigating modern coping mechanisms vs. spiritual disciplines
• Community: Finding authentic Christian fellowship in secular professional environments

Spiritual Warfare and Discernment

• Recognition of Evil: Both acknowledge real spiritual opposition and deception
• Practical Application: Understanding how Satan uses isolation, addiction, and worldly success as weapons
• Defense Strategies: Community, spiritual disciplines, and peace as indicators of God's presence

Family and Relationship Dynamics

Tommy's Family Background

• Adoption Story: Parents adopted two daughters before having biological children through IVF
• Faith Divergence: Same upbringing producing different spiritual outcomes among siblings
• Current Relationships: Navigating family connections across different faith perspectives

Intergenerational Faith Transmission

• Challenges: Why some children embrace family faith while others reject it
• Heart vs. Head: Importance of personal spiritual seeking beyond inherited beliefs
• Community Influence: Role of authentic Christian community in faith development

Cultural and Social Commentary

Modern Life Pressures

• Pressure Cooker Metaphor: Life increasingly intense and demanding
• Digital vs. Physical Reality: Online arguments vs. peaceful physical spaces
• Community Deficit: Lack of genuine forums for idea exchange and relationship building

Christian Unity and Division

• Denominational Cooperation: Charlie Kirk's death revealing cross-denominational appreciation
• Focus on Essentials: Prioritizing Christ-following over denominational superiority
• Practical Unity: Finding common ground while respecting different expressions of faith

Professional Integration

• Faith and Work: Navigating Christian identity in secular professional environments
• Technology and Spirituality: Using AI tools while maintaining human relationship focus
• Witness Opportunities: Being authentic Christian presence in workplace settings

Future Implications and Opportunities

Technology Integration

• Sales Innovation: Better integration of AI tools with relationship management
• Personal Systems: Scaling Gary's knowledge management approach
• Church Applications: Using technology to enhance rather than replace authentic community

Community Building

• Professional Networks: Need for Christian professional fellowship in Austin tech scene
• Mentorship: Connecting recent converts with mature believers for discipleship
• Authentic Spaces: Creating forums for genuine spiritual and intellectual exchange

Personal Growth Areas

• Tommy's Development: Overcoming self-reliance, addressing substance use, finding community
• Gary's Calling: Integrating spiritual gifts with practical ministry and relationship building
• Mutual Support: Ongoing friendship providing accountability and encouragement

Theological Reflections

Cessationism vs. Continuationism

The conversation reveals thoughtful engagement with spiritual gifts without falling into either extreme of complete rejection or unhealthy obsession.

Practical Sanctification

Both men demonstrate honest wrestling with daily Christian living challenges, particularly around self-reliance, substance use, and authentic community.

Evangelism and Witness

Their discussion models natural, relationship-based sharing of faith experiences without pressure or performance.

Conclusion

This conversation represents the kind of authentic Christian dialogue needed among young professionals navigating faith in secular environments. Tommy's recent conversion experience and honest struggles with practical discipleship, combined with Gary's exploration of spiritual gifts and community building, demonstrate the hunger for genuine Christian fellowship and practical spiritual growth in Austin's professional community. Their discussion of technology integration, spiritual disciplines, and cultural engagement provides a model for how faith and professional life can be authentically integrated rather than compartmentalized.

The relationship appears positioned for mutual growth and support, with potential for broader impact in connecting other young professionals seeking authentic Christian community in Austin's tech and business sectors.