Taken with permission from [HuffingtonPost.com/BlackVoices]

We all need guidance from time to time. This week, we explore the comfort found in to accepting God's light.

First up, Alisha Gordon discusses the necessity of God's light in our lives. She points out, "Light, in essence, makes things less scary. The light of God makes this life easier to navigate!"

Princeton Parker, then shares instructions for dreamers. Citing the Bible he calls on the story of Joseph to provide guidance, "In the book of Genesis, Joseph had a hard time as a dreamer. I believe that along with his relationship with God, Joseph kept some spiritual course instructions in his mind."

Last but not least, Reverend William Flippin shares his thoughts on the upcoming presidential election and asks, "Would Martin Luther vote for Obama?"

Darkness Ain't Cool

By Alisha L. Gordon, M.Ed.

Ah, you thought this was about race, didn't you? But while I have your attention, let's talk about another kind of darkness.

Generally speaking, no one likes to be in the dark -- literally or figuratively.

If you're the last person to know something (a.k.a. being left in the dark), you don't like it. You feel weird, left out, ostracized.

In scary movies, it's the darkest of dark places that add the greatest fear and suspense for what's coming around the corner. Directors intentionally make the portions of movies intended to scare, dimly lit or even pitch black to evoke the feeling of fear. For we all know there's nothing too scary in a well-lit room.

In life, there's nothing worse that stumbling around a room (no matter how familiar, like your bedroom) in the dark. As we pat around to find the light switch (that's been in the same place for years) we always to manage to stub our pinky toe on the bedpost (that's also been in the same place for years).

If being in the dark sucks so much, why would we want to live in spiritual darkness? If being in the dark was so cool, why did Edison invent the light bulb, cavemen discover fire to light their caves, or God find the need to create a star so big and bright it could give light to the entire earth? Why would we want to live in proverbial fear, feeling our way around life, trying not to stumble and fall?

That doesn't sound cool to me.

Light, in essence, makes things less scary. The light of God makes this life easier to navigate! Light illuminates, exposes, and reveals any and everything. Light is essential in our natural world and in the spiritual one, too.

You are the light of the world -- like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. -- Matthew 5:14-15

Just as silly as it sounds to walk intentionally around your house in darkness, it's even sillier to walk around this life in darkness. God wants us to live in a state of perpetual light. He wants to show you that the places that scare you the most are harmless. He wants to illuminate your path so you never have to worry about stubbing your toe. He wants to show you what it's like to live in His warm, inviting, protective light. He wants you to be able to see everything that's coming your way -- its the best tool you have available to win in a dark, dark world.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. -- Psalm 119:105

If you can't see clearly in your life, if things are looking dim and you're trying to find your way, turn your heart toward the greatest light source available to mankind: Christ!

Follow Alisha L. Gordon, M.Ed. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AlishaLGordon

Course Instructions for Dreamers

By Princeton Irvin Parker

After attending college for a short time, I can already sense patterns in the way that all my professors teach their courses. The most common similarity that I found was during lectures they always pause to give "Course Instructions" or as they call it, "Things you want to keep in mind." In the book of Genesis, the character Joseph had a hard time as a dreamer. He was hated and envied by his brothers, he was sold into slavery, falsely accused of rape, and even thrown into prison, but he kept a calm mind, and held steadfast until his dreams became a reality. I often wondered how he was able to do that. I believe that along with his relationship with God, Joseph kept some spiritual course instructions in his mind. I believe there are course instructions for us today as well, to keep us from wavering off of the course of purpose.

The quintessential characteristic needed to keep a dreamer on course, is the knowledge that there is more available than what he or she has seen in his or her surroundings. As humans, we are conditioned by our environments. Our perceptions, fears, views, spiritual outlook, and overall developments are shaped by what is around us. Often, people who are raised in negative families, neighborhoods, or conditions, may have a negative and hopeless outlook on their future. I encourage everyone no matter what environment he or she was raised in to hold fast to the concept that the world is full of infinite possibilities. When a dreamer is exposed to sectors outside of where they have been raised, or wherever they have had the most struggles, their perception of possibilities changes.

Education is the catalyst for personal change. Ignorance inhibits growth, and the more people do not know, the more they become enclosed in a stagnant, unproductive box. Education affects not only behavior, but also communication, our ability to relate to other people, and the amount of opportunities that we can actually take advantage of. Getting an education is not limited to the core subjects studied in schools like: Math, Science, English, and History. In fact, the core subjects are just a foundation for other knowledge to be built upon. It is important to make sure that one gets an education that will assist him or her with reaching specific dreams. People who dream of achieving in the music field study the theory and structure of music, or how to operate recording software. People who seek to be great organizational leaders study how to organize events; the structures of business; and even how to operate new technologies. The acquisition of knowledge brings about the acquisition of skills. As we immerse ourselves in education, we will uncover gifts, skills, and passions that can lead us to broadened horizons and the fulfillment of dreams.

One last important thing I have learned is that knowledge can excel a person to an entirely different level of living, but hard work is the only thing that will keep him there. The fact alone that we are all human, qualifies us to be recipients of opposition and struggle. If a person with a dream is turned away by every no, persuaded to quit by every negative opinion, and pushed into doubt when faced with difficulty, then his or her future is sure to remain in a windmill of nihility. Throughout life, those that obtain lasting success are those who have obtained it at the sweat of their brow. Passion and the desire to have something better than their current state will push them to learn, achieve, and ultimately become a better person.

All in all, vision beyond one's surroundings enables the expansion and development of dreams; education provides substance so the dream can be pursued; and determination ensures that the dreamer will be driven by faith and heart, and pursue the dream relentlessly. These vital attributes are the things that turn dreamers into doers, and can change the lives of anyone willing to grow, change their life for the better, and be successful in this present world. I write this not only to whoever may read this, but I write this to myself. I hold these things as reminders of why I should keep going. Recalling these truths help me to see the bigger picture, when I am consumed by the many small obstacles that often seem to be rather huge. None of this is new information. In fact, this knowledge existed way before I was even born. I write this simply to encourage everyone to implement the things that you already know, and stay focused on where you are going, and not where you are. Paul says it best in Phillipians 3:14 where he says: "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (KJV). So I say to you as my professors say to me, keep these things in mind, and they are all going to come together as we make it through the course.

Follow Princeton Irvin Parker on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PrincetonParker

Would Martin Luther Vote for Barack Obama?

By the Rev. William L. Flippin Jr.

As a staunch supporter of Barack Obama and an ELCA pastor, I wonder with the height of the elections about to surface would Martin Luther vote for this man who I believe is a champion for those who are struggling to recover from the recession. He has recently unveiled his campaign slogan -- "we can't wait" and has allowed homeowners who presently are in negative equity to refinance their mortgages at lower interest rates. He is making strides to address the crisis of mounting foreclosures and getting people back to work while attacking the greedy corporate systems that give rise to such realities.

From the lectures on Romans in the early 1520s, Luther consistently interprets the biblical affirmation that God is no respecter of persons within a socio-economic framework. Luther repeatedly condemns the preferential treatment which even Christians give to the rich and powerful by critiquing emerging capitalism and its misuse of justice by doing "good works," which I equate with charity. For instance, many people if they see a beggar in the streets will give them five dollars or raise lofty donations for victims in foreign lands that are devastated by natural disasters but never critique the vicious systemic cycles that shape these gruesome realities. Luther said, "we dare make no distinction of persons, as do some who fight most actively and busily against the wrong which is done to the rich, the mighty, or their own friends, but who are quite quiet and patient when wrong is done to the poor, or to those of low estate, or to their own enemy." (Luther Works, 44, 50.)

Following the ethical principles of Jesus, Luther based the very system of justice by challenging Christians to follow the principles of agape love. He says "only disinterested love, love which seeks nothing in return, can appropriately be called Christian." Love must be blind to all considerations of self-interest as Christians assess their responsibility towards their neighbor. If not, their actions will not be motivated by Christian love, nor will they be just. In Luther's lectures on Romans, he repeatedly and realistically makes this complaint in recognition of his inability to reverse what today would be called the rise of capitalism (Luther Works 45, 245) "Trade and Usery," 1524. The rich man for Luther is among the last to recognize their overbearing greed. They are justified with dishonest and exploitative accumulation of vast wealth under the guise of providing for their own needs.

If Luther was living today and had the opportunity to vote, I believe wholeheartedly that the political views of President Barack Obama would resonate with his vision of universal needs for all. He would be disappointed yet not surprise in the hoarding of wealth from those who feel that they are the rightful custodians of God's resources. The vision of Luther of a transcendent love for all humanity that comes not through legislation or health care compromises is based on love that should emerge as the Apostle Paul proclaims in Romans in affirming "that the strong must bear the infirmities of the weak."

Follow Reverend William E. Flippin, Jr. on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@pastorbilljr