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!

The young athletes battling for Olympic gold are impressive with their show of grace and strength. But, behind the bright lights of the 2008 Beijing games are lesser–known stories much more worthy of our attention. These are also stories of grace and strength, but more importantly, of mercy, of suffering, and of sacrifice.

As I watched the Chinese and American women's gymnastics teams compete, one such story came to mind. These young gymnasts are not much older than the girl whose story I recall.

The latest "study" of male juvenile delinquency has apparently revealed to some experts that men may be genetically wired to become criminals. Based on a twelve-question survey about delinquent tendencies, and the genetics of those questioned, one can now assume the male species is damaged goods.