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.

Anne Jackson, who works for Cross Point Church in Nashville, recently blogged a concern that some church staff are lazy - that they work at a church because it's an easy place to work.

“the reason a lot of people choose to work on a church staff is because they’re too lazy or too afraid to get a job in the real world.”

wow. that was pretty harsh. i didn’t mean for it to come out so bluntly.

so at the lunch table with some friends, i backpedaled just a little bit and added,

“of course, that’s a very broad statement…not everyone who works in a church is afraid or lazy…i’m just saying there are a lot of people who take jobs in churches because a church can be a really easy place to work.”

emphasis on can be.

Read the whole post here. She has more interesting things to say, and now has 70+ comments. Throw your hat in the ring.

What has been your experience with working on church staff?

According to an article released by Business Week in January 2008, the Needham (Mass.)-based researcher TowerGroup (MA) estimates that billions of dollars in American gift cards go unutilized. The TowerGroup projected that of the $97 billion in gift cards sold last year, roughly $8 billion remains unused.

GiftCardGiver.com has found a way harness that money for good. The organization collects gift cards with outstanding balances, and then forwards those cards onto non-profit groups such as Habitat For Humanity, Big Brother Big Sister, and the American Red Cross.

They've come-up with a creative solution to get those gift cards: a Gift Card Giver House Party. Scheduled for Sunday, January 11, 2009, the house party is GiftCardGiver.com's response to a felt need.

"From a giving stand point, January and February are low giving (months) for non-profits," says founder Jeff Shinabarger. "Most people are paying off their bills from December, and they don't feel like giving."

He added that this approach is most effective when carried out within the context of creativity, and friendship. "Have everyone that comes to the house ‘get carded'," he said. "In this scenario, in order to get in you have to bring a gift card."

Shinabarger suggested that partygoers even play card games in an effort to maintain the house party's theme.

"The idea is to really bring people together around a unique form of giving, in your home...and have fun."

To register your Gift Card Giver House Party, or for more information, contact: info AT GiftCardGiver.com, or call (678) 787-6190. Collected gift cards can be mailed to: Gift Card Giver, 490 East Side Ave SE, Atlanta, GA, 30316.