Failure is simply not an easy topic of discussion in our success-oriented society. It may be due to one’s own emotional experiences (not easy to talk about) embarrassment and perceived perceptions of others that make this topic difficult to discuss.

Dictionary.com defines failure as “a lack of success; a subnormal quantity or quality; an insufficiency.” People, companies, and organizations of all types, athletes, professional sports teams, Hollywood, musicians, recording stars, all and rightly so, focus attention on success and not failure.

In 1711 it was Alexander Pope in An Essay on Criticism that stated: “to error is human; to forgive is divine.” Herbert V. Prochnow quoted Pope slightly differently. Prochnow said, “to error may be human, but to admit it isn’t."

What do we do when we fail? Invite a friend to listen to today's podcast: The Other Side of Failure for principles and precepts that will help us to make a difference in someone's life; answering the question of what to do not if we fail, but when we fail.

Dr. Gregory L. Cruell

God Thinkers (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Today's podcast,  How To Reach Across the Racial Divide Part 2 continues with Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:7. In a simple statement of 4 words, “Give me a drink,” Jesus reached across the racial divide that had existed for hundreds of years between Jews and Samaritans.

Segregation and separation between Jews and Samaritans was the norm. Which the Samaritan woman reminded Jesus of when she said to Him in John 4:9,  “Jews have no dealings or contact with Samaritans.”

The disciples were shocked that Jesus even spoke to her in Jn. 4:27, and yet because Jesus reached across the racial divide to share living water, the life of God with her, a two-day revival broke out in Samaria (Jn. 4:39-42). All because Jesus reached across the racial divide.

The racial divide is not a new problem, but it is still a problem. One definition of a problem that I came across is “something that has to be solved or an unpleasant or undesirable condition that needs to be corrected; a hindrance an obstacle.”

The aim of making a difference through mentorship is to provide principles and precepts, that have the potential of solving problems, making a difference in the world in which we live. It is important for us to always remember that nothing changes until some things change.

President Biden recently stated in a USA TODAY article a couple days ago that "America is as divided today as it was during the Civil War era." The actor Tom Hanks has been criticized for his recent article in the NY Times that sums up his thoughts entitled "You Should Learn the Truth About the Tulsa Race Massacre."

Hanks discusses in his article that despite his many years of education and interest in American history he did not learn about the Tulsa massacre until last year when he read a New York Times article about that horrific day .

Hanks further states in his article, "I never read a page of any school history book about how, in 1921, a mob of white people burned down a place called Black Wall Street, killed as many as 300 of its Black citizens and displaced thousands of Black Americans who lived in Tulsa, Okla."

Hanks’s article goes on to say, "History was mostly written by white people about white people like me, while the history of Black people — including the horrors of Tulsa — was too often left out." There is no question that there remains today a racial divide in the US.

In this podcast my special guests Dr. Michele Neely and Dr. Melissa Gonzalez we want to discuss “How To Reach Across the Racial Divide. The foundation of our discussion begins with Jesus as He reached across the racial divide with the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 and specifically verse 7.

In a simple statement of 4 words, “Give me a drink,” Jesus reached across a racial divide that had existed for hundreds of years between Jews and Samaritans. Most Jews went around Samaria just to avoid them. There was absolute and total segregation and separation between them which theSamaritan woman reiterated in John 4:9 when she said, “Jews have no dealings or contact with Samaritans.” 

The disciples were shocked that Jesus even spoke to her in Jn. 4:27, and yet because Jesus reached across the racial divide to share living water, the life of God with her, a two-day revival broke out in Samaria (Jn. 4:39-42). All because Jesus reached across the racial divide. As Jesus reached across the racial divide to share life with the Samaritan woman, so must you and I reach across the racial divide that exists in our country today. 

Art, in its broadest sense, is a form of communication. This form of communication is shaped by the materials, techniques, and various forms it makes use of, as well as the ideas and feelings it creates in its viewers. Additionally, art is an act of expressing feelings, thoughts, and observations of the preceding.

I recently read a portion of an article about a young leader that complained that his generation seemed to lack any causes to be passionate about. As I reflected on this statement from this young leader, it undergirds the challenge of helping us and those around us to develop the art of waking people up; to open their eyes.

In 1999, Hollywood released the movie “Eyes Wide Shut”, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. The title of the movie gets your attention because when you think about it, you wonder how is it possible to have your eyes wide shut!?

Our young leader that I mentioned is an example of someone with his eyes wide shut. You can have your eyes wide shut by not paying attention or observing what’s happening around you when your eyes are wide open.

All of us have some sort of daily routine when we wake up. We get dressed, we get our morning coffee, we get in our cars, and head to the office to accomplish the day's tasks. This is a routine that we all have more or less. And yet the question that we must ask ourselves as leaders, is that it? Is that all that there is to my responsibility as a leader?

There's no question that our daily routine is necessary as a means to take care of our families and our job responsibilities, but the question remains are my “eyes wide shut?” As you listen to this podcast consider our aim for today; which is as leaders to practice "The Art of Waking People Up."

This is the 5th and final podcast in the series entitled, Factors For A Peace--Filled Mind. I shared with you a few weeks ago I received a phone call from a particular person and this person was stressed, distressed, and upset; their mind was not at peace. Which is a plot, ploy and plan of the enemy. 

One reason as to why many may not be at peace in their minds is because of what they are in pursuit of. The word pursuit or pursue maybe defined as a chase or a quest for something or a particular goal. Most of us, if not all of us have engaged in this concept of pursuit of something or a particular goal.

It may be a certain educational goal, financial goal, or career goal; or relationship that one has been in pursuit of. At some point, all of us have engaged in this concept of pursuit. Whatever we are in pursuit of requires a consistent and constant effort to obtain.

In the Common English Bible translation of Philippians 3:12 the Apostle Paul gives us an example of his pursuit of the Lord.

Paul says, “It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose.” Purpose is the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists.

In Matthew chapter 5, the Message Bible, beginning at the 13th verse Jesus defines a believer’s purpose, the reason why disciples and believers were created, the reason for our existence, beginning at the 13th verse Jesus says, “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.

You and I have been created to "make a difference, and you make a difference one life at a time." We do so by being salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. This is a core Factor For A Peace--Filled Mind.

This is part 2 of last week’s podcast You Are What You Think. And what we think influences and impacts our emotions and what we do. When someone is rude or disrespectful and treats us badly, our response or thoughts may not always be to THINK LIKE GOD THINKS.

What is equally important for us to note is that you don't have to be a negative person to have negative thoughts. When there is an argument with a neighbor, a coworker or your husband or wife, these are negative experiences.

Negative experiences will always bring along with the experience a negative thought. Although the negative experience may have just occurred or is real, we don't have to take the negative thought.

In Matthew chapter 6, verses 25 through 31, Jesus is teaching His disciples about the problem of thoughts or how we think. The word thought is used 6 times in verses 25-31. The meaning of the word translated "thought"means worry or anxiousness.

The intent of today's podcast is to provide truth that will transform our thinking. Psychologist William James said in the late 1800's, "if you alter your thinking, you alter your life."

When we THINK LIKE GOD THINKS, we believe and receive the promise of John 10:10 in The Passion Translation of the Bible, “A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect —life in its fullness until you overflow!”

What does life in its fullness until you overflow look like? It looks like the life that Jesus said He had come to give. In other words, Jesus has come to empower us to live our best life and to live it now. YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK.

The concept of trust is as old as recorded history. Trust was present in the garden with Adam and Eve that was broken by failure to abide by God’s organizational structure for their lives.

Trust is a value that is intrinsically embedded in any organization. Google defines trust as, "a firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. 

Psychologist Nan Russell says, we don’t trust each other because words don't agree with actions. As a means of tearing down mistrust and distrust what we suggest in this podcast is creating and establishing "trust accounts" with those that we work with or worship with. 

I have suggested and recommended as a place of how to begin building trust, the following four principles and precepts:

Trust is truth that transforms. Trust for us, is also--Total Reliance Upon Spiritual Truth. As we rely on Him, establishing trust accounts in our relationships wherever we go, God will use us to make the world better, one life at a time.

The cycle of hope is always a choice. I am reminded of former 1st Lady Eleanor Roosevelt as she stated… "I am today, a result of the choices I made yesterday.” To hope is always a choice established in the four core beliefs of the hope cycle which are:

1. The future will be better than the present. (Je.29:11-13)

2. I have the power to make it so (Luke 10:19).

3. There are many paths to my goals (Psalm 109:105).

4. None of them is free of obstacles (John 16:33).

We defined a cycle as a period of time or a complete set of actions or events that repeat. A process that returns to its beginning and then repeats itself in the same manner.

Therefore, the cycle of hope says to us, in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus.” In other words, Paul is saying to think like Christ thinks or let the thoughts of Christ be in you.

A person with high hope has thoughts that are positive and embodies the principle of Mark 10:27, "all things are possible."  It is in the light of this truth that helps us to help others to find and discover that no matter how hopeless things may seem, hope always finds a way.

In this podcast my special guests, Pastor Robert Poole of Destiny Christian Center, Las Vegas, Nevada and Pastor James Williams of Life More Abundantly Island Church, Oahu, Hawaii, and I discuss the Leaders Responsibility of Accountability in part 2 of this 3-part series.

The Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms defines responsibility as, “the obligation to carry forward an assigned task to a successful conclusion. With responsibility comes authority to direct and take the necessary action to ensure success.”

A very strong definition of accountability that I discovered states, “accountability is the readiness to have one’s actions, judgments, and failures to act to be questioned by others when errors in behavior or judgment have been detected. Accountability is also a critical component of leadership that is closely related to the principles of morality, and ethics.”

Concerning responsibility and accountability, the Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 18:1-3, “After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2  From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3  And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.”

When I reflect on a passage like this my mind asks the question, why don’t we as leaders today have what Jonathan and David had in responsibility and accountability to one another? What this uncommon relationship suggests between Jonathan and David is the commonality of their faith and trust in God and I dare say the faith and trust that they had in each other.

Responsible and accountable leaders understand that we are to be “salt and light, a city that sits on a hill whose light cannot be hidden”(Matthew 5:13-16). Responsible and accountable leaders desire to do good as shown to us by God in His word as recorded in the Amplified Version of Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), and to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness].”

Responsible and accountable leaders are required to be just, even when others are not. Responsible and accountable leaders are to be kind even when others are not.  Responsible and accountable leaders are to walk humbly with God even when others do not.

When we are committed and determined to live by these principles and precepts, we eventually create a culture of change around us that makes the world a better place and we make the world a better place one life at a time.

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The theme or topic of today’s podcast is "Light In Dark Places" and our primary scripture reference is John 8:12. In the ISV of the Bible, Jesus declares “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Darkness is an absence of light in a location often associated with that which is negative; related to chaos, evil, mischief, and wickedness. Darkness or dark places can also be connected to sin, despair, and despondency because there is no light by which to see.

When we come into our homes at night the first thing that we do is turn on the lights. We turn on the lights because we cannot see clearly or well in the dark. And yet our hope even in dark times and places of life is the reality that El-Roi--- the God who sees and watches over you and me, is a present help in the time of darkness; supplying all of our needs (Philippians 4:19).

No matter how difficult or trying the circumstance may be, we have hope in dark times or places because our God is El-Roi, the God who sees and enables us to see Him… even in the dark.

Dr. Gregory L. Cruell