Hi Catalyst followers,
It's your host Lanny Donoho, here, with some important stuff for you. I'm not sure it would be an exaggeration to say the info I am about to give you is the most important stuff you will read in this decade, but I guess it may depend on what else you read.
Here's the stuff you want to know.

We have launched a new site for you to get all your media stuff - bigstufmedia.com. It's got everything from Live Lyrics of songs you sing (that look way cool on the big screens) to funny skits and tear-jerking, poetic pieces put together by all the best graphic guys in the country.

Shop around and see what you need that we've got. We update it every few days, so keep coming back. We've got some great Thanksgiving and Christmas stuff too (those are two holidays that are coming up that you haven't prepared for yet so we did your work for you).

And...everyone has been asking. The "Happy Together" video of Jeff Foxworthy and myself is right there on the front page of Bigstufmedia.com When you get bored in your church staff meeting, just open it up and pass around your computer.

You'll also see the "Science of Together" video on there. Just in case you need a refresher course, it's a Lanny Donoho comedy special.

So get your tail on over to bigstufmedia.com (one 'f').

If you're short on things to pray about today, here are a few suggestions:

• Thank God that our country experienced a peaceful Election Day yesterday. There were no bombs, no riots, and no murders (related to the election, anyway). Pray that this peace extends throughout the coming months, to Inauguration Day, and through the beginning of Obama's administration.
  
• Pray for wisdom for Barack Obama. Pray that he will become a man after God's own heart, and that he will surround himself with advisors who will enable him to make the best decisions.
• Ask for God's protection on the Obama family, as well as on the Biden family.
  
• Pray that God will use this President and his administration, that God will work through the Congress, and that His kingdom will be furthered.

What else are you praying for?

At the time of this writing the election results are not final. But no matter who gets elected as president, our fundamental problems will be the same as yesterday. You can't change a nation without changing the people in the nation, and you can't change the people without changing their hearts (*note* this is not an Obama slam).

Cabinets and laws and court cases don't change hearts. So, if your guy won or didn't win, don't forget, we as Christians still have the same responsibility (and opportunity!) as we did yesterday. And that is to love God, love people, and help people connect with Jesus so He can change their hearts (perhaps, some may debate this - Great, share your opinion, please!).

Please don't be so politically minded to believe that the new Prez will solve or cause all of our problems. Our problem is sin, and the solution is Jesus. No amount of legislation will make us all work together and love each other and serve each other. But if we focus on loving people, advancing the Kingdom and winning others to Jesus (thank you AGO), we may actually see the change some of us are fighting for so ferociously in the political arena.

What do you think? Agree, disagree? let's discuss...

It's hard to imagine that election day is finally here. It was November 2006 when Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack officially announced he was running for president and the race began. Two years, millions of dollars, thousands of commercials and several Saturday Night Live skits later, we sit on the edge of it all being over. For most Americans this day probably hasn't come too soon. Whether you share that sentiment or not, however, this election has drawn more widespread interest than any in recent memory.

I'd encourage you to put the excuses aside and cast your vote today. There are too many people in the world who would give anything to have the same privilege you and I have. Vote your head. Vote your heart. Vote your pocketbook. Vote your passions. Vote for the things that have stirred up in you during this election. Whatever the motivation, vote.

When it is all over, though, don't stop caring. The length of this campaign may have left you with a feeling that you can't wait until tomorrow gets here. When you wake up and the election is over and the winner has been announced don't stop caring about the very issues that drove you to cast your vote the way you did.

The real change that can and will take place won't always come from the top down. God has placed you where you are to be a catalyst in the lives of those around you, and in the world. And that's a calling that we can't relegate to a politician or anyone else for that matter.

Don't stop caring tomorrow.