{"id":2293,"date":"2012-10-06T11:25:44","date_gmt":"2012-10-06T15:25:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/godonomics\/?p=2293"},"modified":"2012-09-05T18:41:32","modified_gmt":"2012-09-05T22:41:32","slug":"are-you-in-the-dark-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/godonomics\/2012\/10\/are-you-in-the-dark-2.html","title":{"rendered":"Are You in the Dark?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0A few recent sermons about helping those who are hurting<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n04\/15\/12 “Who Adopts?”<\/a>\u00a0(Beth Guckenberger)
\n04\/08\/12 Easter “Stained Glass Savior”<\/a>\u00a0(Chad)
\n04\/01\/12 “Who Provides?”<\/a>\u00a0(Chad Hovind)
\n03\/25\/12 “Who Cares?”<\/a>\u00a0(Doug Daily)
\n03\/18\/12 “Who Remembers?”<\/a>\u00a0(Chad Hovind)
\n03\/11\/12 “Who Feeds?”<\/a>\u00a0(Chad Hovind)
\n03\/04\/12 “Who Sees?”<\/a>\u00a0(Chad Hovind)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n

Many of us are looking for a light to follow. Especially in the dark. The darker the night\u00a0\u00a0 becomes, the more we squint to see -even the smallest of lights. \u00a0 Our community has endured a significant amount of darkness this month. \u00a0\u00a0Two teenagers died…sudden shocking darkness. \u00a0 Our children, our friends, and our neighbors are stunned -as are we- by the darkness of it all.\u00a0\u00a0 We are hurting as a community. \u00a0And when a community is trapped in the darkness and hurting, they are longing for comfort. \u00a0There is something so powerful about love, comfort, and a community drawing together in the darkness. \u00a0\u00a0That love and concern becomes a light in the darkness.<\/p>\n

We know the Bible gives us freedom to grieve. \u00a0Freedom to be angry. Freedom to mourn. \u00a0We are reminded that we were never made for a world with death, disease and tragedy. \u00a0\u00a0If you are not sure what you believe, but the idea of a young life plucked out of his prime rocks your world…God tells us that He \u201cmourns with those who mourn.\u201d \u00a0He draws near to those in pain. He is an \u201cever-ready help in tight places.\u201d\u00a0 Our student pastor was with students during the tragedy a few weeks ago and was with the family this week in Indian Hill. \u00a0She told me about the tears, the questions, and the struggles. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She spoke of the students who experienced the Simple Light of comfort in times of pain.\u00a0\u00a0 FRIENDS ASK ABOUT THE MOTIVATION OF PEOPLE WHO ENGAGE IN ILLUMINATION.<\/p>\n

When you see someone engaging in giving their life and light away…<\/p>\n