26 years ago today I took Carol Ann Morarie bowling. We then attended a Valentine party hosted by our Youth Group. The beginnings of an amazing relationship. A few weeks back I was told by someone that I talk about my wife a lot. I replied, "I talk about her tons because I love her tons!" No sentiments here however. I already took care of that. I bought Carol Ann a fancy new pillow for Valentines and made it my card. I wrote all over the thing. She can cover it up with the pillow case, but always have my words close by.

So, because Carol Ann digs a good laugh, I thought I would do the iPod shuffle game to answer the following questions about our relationship. This is how it works. I have come up 26 questions/statements. I type them out, then hit shuffle to get my answer. The key is not to cheat, and just go with the song chosen. Here we go:

1. What do I usually say after kissing Carol Ann?  Love Break Me (Starfield)
2. What does Carol Ann say after kissing me? Laden with Guilt (Caedmon's Call)
3. What song best describes our first 23+ years of marriage? As Long As You Follow (Fleetwood Mac)
4. When we fight, what is the usual reason? Head Games (Foreigner)
5. How do we make up after a fight? Praise Song (Third Day)
6. What is our communication style? Volcano (Damien Rice)
7. What emotion does Carol Ann most often evoke in me? Come Let Us Worship (Chris Tomlin)
8. What emotion do I most often evoke in Carol Ann? Your Racist Friend (They Might Be Giants)
9. What is my code phrase for Carol Ann's best feature? Hollywood (Los Lonely Boys)
10. What is Carol Ann's code phrase for my best feature? Jack and Diane (John Mellancamp)
11. What is our secret to a strong marriage? Two Hearts (The Jayhawks)
12. Carol Ann describes me as her super... I'm A Sucker for a Kind Word (Copeland)
13. I call Carol Ann my little... Crooked Teeth (Death Cab for Cutie)
14. Our most romantic conversations always start with the word(s)... After You've Gone (Harry Connick Jr.)
15. What is the most challenging aspect of our relationship? All This Time (Sting)
16. Carol Ann ends each day by telling me that she loves me and wishes me... Willie the Wimp (Stevie Ray Vaughan)
17. Each night I tell Carol Ann to sleep tight and wish her... The Heart of Life (John Mayer)
18. Carol Ann knows I'm mad when I wont talk about... Every Little Thing (Hawk Nelson)
19. I know Carol Ann is mad when she won't talk about... Ole Pigweed (Mark Knopfler)
20. I knew Carol Ann loved me when she sent a letter that said... Whatever happened to PJ Proby? (Van Morrison)
21. When I asked Carol Ann's father for permission to marry his daughter, I promised to always... Take the Long Way Home (Supertramp)
22. When Carol Ann placed my wedding ring, she said it represented... Solution (Hillsong United)
23. When I placed Carol Ann's ring, I said it represented... You Turn Me Around (Aqualung) 
24. To celebrate this day, the Kelly's will... Don't Forget to Remember (Bee Gees)
25. I love my wife. She is... Lilac Sun (Ottmar Liebert)
26. Happy Valentine's Day Carol Ann, I ... Bling You! (The Killers)

This year children are asking Santa to give mom and dad a job.

As a staff at Northern Hills, instead of giving each other a Christmas gift, we pool our funds and buy Christmas gifts for some children in the Brighton Head Start program. This year we bought gifts for 44 children. No one asked for a job for their parents, but the requests were very interesting.

On Tuesday the entire staff headed to Walmart on a mission to fulfill the wishes of several 4 year old children. Each staff person was given 2-3 cards with the child's first name and the desired gift. It is interesting what some children want. I had the opportunity to buy gifts for two little boys. One wanted Spider-Man. That was not too tough, in fact I found a Spider-Man on a motorcycle. My second little guy asked for something that was much harder to find, Spike the Dinosaur. I did not even know what that was. I did not find anything that said Spike the Dinosaur. (I have since seen Spike). I did find a dinosaur that looked fierce, made noise and moved. It had spikes too, so I hope that it is a nice gift.

Here are some of the other things the kids asked for in their own words:

• Dragon ship with people in it
• A king (Not sure why a 4 year old wants a king, but...)
• A mop and broom (Does this little girl know how to have fun or what?)
• Any and everything Hannah Montana (I am more of a Joe Montana kind of guy)
• Train track
• Batman
• Baby Alive
• Robot
• Tea Part Set
• Barbie
• Horses or Movies of Horses (Flicka Flick Fan For Sure)
• The Hulk
• Big Bumble Bee
• Princess Crown
• A motorcycle (this kid got a 4 pack!)
• Transformer
• Braatz Doll (Not sure what this is)
• Big Car
• Dress Up

The organization Soles4Souls is in the middle of their 50,000 pair in 50 days challenge. You and your $5 can help. The mission of Soles4Souls is to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. There are approximately 300 million people in the world who do not own shoes and are forced to walk in what are sometimes dangerous conditions.

I love the 50,000 pair of shoes in 50 days idea in small part because I really dig shoes... but mostly, because it is simple, practical, something almost everyone can help with, and it meets a real need. Check out the history of Soles4Souls, buy two pair of shoes for $5, and spread the word.

Did you give more this year than last year?

Carol Ann and I will make our annual Christmas list on Monday. I have convinced her that a budget, Excel sheet, and strategic plan really do put the Merry in Merry Christmas. As we put the list together, we will compare it with last year's list. I guess this keeps us from missing anyone, and helps us stay equitable - whatever that means this time of year. Anyway...

This is also the time of year for us to look back and see how we have done in our giving over the last 12 months. For us, the giving question is no longer centered around the percentage of our income given away. Instead, we want to see evidence that we have given away more of our income and stuff this year than the previous year.

As a principle, there is certainly nothing wrong with giving a tithe (10 percent), of your income to the Church where you attend regularly. In fact, based on current statistics that say most Jesus followers give 2%-4%, that would be a big improvement. However, the "required" Old Testament tithe really equaled around 25% of a person's income. It seems to me that 10% is the minimum; not the "I am the greatest giver in the world because I tithe" maximum.

As you think this through, remember:

• It all belongs to God.
• We are entrusted to manage well what we have been given.
• What is stored in Heaven will last forever.

Ask:

• Am I growing in my giving?
• Do I give cheerfully?
• Do I see 10% as the maximum or the minimum?
• Do I give sacrificially?
• What does my checkbook say about my priorities?

Questions 1-26

In the last week since Barack Obama was elected President I have heard tales of doomsday and utopia.

On the doomsday side of the ledger I have heard that Obama will take my guns and raise my taxes and promote abortions. I have heard that he is proof of evil reigning in our land and he may even be the Anti-Christ! Some say he will sell the United States out to our enemies. I have been told that those who do not pay any income tax will not get a refund and if you make too much money... then you will be forced to be patriotic by sharing what you have. Obama will take the United States into the ditch morally and culturally by appointing liberal judges and promoting lifestyles that are an abomination to God.

Some even say that if the President Elect gets his way, he will bring conservative radio to an end and eliminate the coal industry all together. And... the list goes on.

Those on the utopia side of things think much different. I read where one Obama supporter said that it would be the first time in her life that she would be able to wake up and not worry about high gas prices, war in the world, or not being able to get a quality education. Wow! Also, I have heard that Obama will bring about bipartisanship, and end to global warming and eliminate crime. He will also restore the credibility of the United States in the world and end the war in Iraq. 

Some even say that Obama will provide affordable and effective health-care for every person who calls the USA home. And... the list goes on.

Everyone relax! No matter if you were elated or depressed about the election - the biggest thing in life has not changed. Jesus is still the answer.

God was not surprised on November 4.

To those who are speaking doomsday, take a really deep breath, stay away from caffeine and certain WEB sites, and relax. God is still in control. No persons ideology or policies are more powerful that God. Pray for our government and especially the President Elect. The take all of that pent up energy and use it to get to know Jesus. If you already follow Jesus, then use that emotion and drive to introduce others to Jesus through word and deed.

To my friends who are on cloud nine at the outcome of this historic moment... celebrate. Then please take in oxygen until that dizzy euphoric feeling subsides. Remember that no man is the savior. Ask yourself who you are really trusting. This world will always have trouble. Take that strong desire you have for bringing change and seeing justice and then point people to the ultimate transformer and provider of justice - Jesus.

The troubles of this world that we elect people to fix, always relate back to sin. We have tried to deal with sin through policy, medication, behavioral modification, education, embracing it, and ignoring it. None of it has ever worked or will ever work. The only answer is Jesus. Trust in Him!