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Yesterday, the news was disturbing.

Once again, the Middle East has erupted in bloody chaos. The states along our Eastern Seaboard have been hammered by crazy weather; several have died as a result. My daughter and I came upon an accident a couple of days ago; the driver died.

Murder, mayhem and menace.

This is what we hear every day. Doom and gloom, my grandparents use to call it. This type of news is water cooler material, dinnertime fare and talking points on every radio program on your dial.

Aren’t you dying for some good news?

I have some. In fact, I’m going to go out on a limb and make some predictions about the next year.

I am looking into the future and based on my keen ability to observe life, my vast experiences and my razor-sharp scientific mind (now my kids are gagging), I am going to give you some good news about the future.

My top 10 predictions for 2008:

1. Thirteen-year-old girls will roll their eyes at us as if we are idiots. But, they will still sit on our laps and kiss our cheeks.

2. Boys will hit, tease and torment. These same boys will mature, and they will defend our country, support families financially and shoulder adversity with strength.

3. Parents will spend some sleepless nights in 2008. However, the moments of exceptional joy at watching their kids make good decisions and mature will far outweigh the lost zzzs.

4. Teachers still will instruct in subject matter of importance to our ever-changing world. They also will encourage our kids to be people of character.

5. Artists will create. They will give us an opportunity by the written word, photography and film to go to places we’d never get to go and experience emotions we might never know.

6. People will give in 2008. I could name 10 people, without pause, who financially support a child in Africa. They give to their church; they give to their local mission, and they give of their time. They will continue to give.

7. Family will prevail. Brothers will love sisters. Sisters will idolize their brothers. Fathers will model strength and gentleness. Mothers will kiss pinched fingers and bandage wounded hearts with shared tears and compassion. Grandparents will spoil and cheer.

8. The Bible will provide answers to life questions. It will not change in the heat of uncertainty or bend at the whim of man. It always will be truth, and it always will be for all people.

9. The church, in all her imperfections, still will be a place of community and hope. Friends will gather there in acceptance and joy. There will be healing in that place and inspiration and a dream.

My last and most important prediction for 2008:

10. God will love you perfectly. Though we cannot see tomorrow or often understand the deeper meaning of today, God does. God will use every circumstance (if we allow him) to create a life of satisfying significance.

For most of us, the last year has held some disappointments and even heartache. I am sorry for your pain. However, my predictions for the new year hold promise and hope.

I pray that you will embrace them even if they are occasionally masked in something other than your predetermined expectation.

(Larry and Linda Kloster sponsor this column.)

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