2008 closed as one of the most dramatic years in decades.  From a historic election, to a reeling economy, to the outbreak of serious hostilities in the Middle East, every corner we have turned this year has confronted us with major changes.  Change is a constant in our physical world.  Our bodies change, aging and adjusting.  Our families change, with children growing up, and parents growing old.  Our society is in a constant state of change.  

The good ol' USA has been on a binge.  A real drunk.  A fall down, slobbering, substance abuse induced intoxication.  I'm not talking about alcohol or illicit drugs, but a binge nonetheless. And, as in an alcoholic stupor which leads to a terrific hangover, this country is feeling the painful effect of its overindulgence.

A historic election season in the United States has come to a close, and the nation has selected a new leader who energized the hopes and dreams of millions with his vision for America, epitomized in his slogan: "Change We Can Believe In."

President-elect Barack Obama will soon take office as the chief executive of a country that, despite its severe economic and social troubles, is still widely considered the world's only "superpower." How should Christians react to his election?

Last week I was in Kenya.  The troubles and violence of January 2008 have subsided since the opposing political parties stitched together a workable compromise in the Parliament.  A sense of national unity has arisen out of the shame of the six weeks of mayhem that took place early in 2008. Every day Kenyans are still recovering from the shock that such naked violence could happen in their land.

I remember sitting with my family being entertained by the Hee-Haw gang as they sang in quartet – fashioned in hillbilly garb, bordered by moonshine jugs and a miserable countenance – "Gloom, Despair, and Agony on Me!"  The song was hilarious back then, as its singers depicted in "deep dark depression, excessive misery" and of course without bad luck, they'd have no luck at all!