Jeane L. Dixon was probably the most popular psychic of the latter 20th century. She died in 1997 at the age of 93. I mention her because this time of saying goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one used to bring out her annual predictions for the upcoming year.

Dixon had a reputation for her soothsaying, but more often her predictions were sillier than they were successful. She was opportunistic, however, and made a good living with her alleged ability.

Since she is no longer around, I figured someone needed to step up and let us know what to look forward to in 2009. I might add that no one has asked me to fill this predictive void, but nevertheless, I offer these earthshaking insights for your perusal.

First off, let’s stir the political tea leaves or coffee grounds.

I predict that by the time we get around to inaugurating a new president, we will know more about him than we could ever have imagined. We’ll know what kind of chewing gum he likes, what he eats for breakfast, and how many times he goes to the bathroom each day.

That kind of information might not give us any indication of how he’s going to govern the country, but I predict you’re going to know all you want to know about the new prez.

I also predict that his Democrat buddies, like Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Barney Frank, are going to get more face time than most of us will like. About the only Democrat you are likely to see very little of will be Vice President Joe Biden.

But have no fear, the Democrats and the Republicans will join together to spend more money than you or I send them. On that prediction, I will stake my soothsaying reputation.

Let’s move on to the economic situation. What do I see in my crystal ball?

If I say hard times, you’ll say, “Tell us something we don’t know!” Let me get a little more courageous.

I predict that the word bailout will be used so many times that the Guinness Book of Records will create a new category. But Mr. and Mrs. Average American, you can forget asking for one. You will continue to be responsible for your light bill.

I also predict that those companies or industries we bail out will take the money, give a little lip-service to change, then go right back to the same old policies that got them in trouble to begin with. Then, in a few months, they will be right back to the trough wanting another free meal.

Here’s a sad prediction. Our elected officials, those we select to lead us, will help them again as they tell us we will all suffer if we don’t. Meanwhile, I predict we will all be suffering anyway!

There’s hardly any good news for 2009 so far as the economy is concerned so let’s move on to a more enjoyable category.

What about entertainment, television, music, movies?

I predict that television screens will get larger and clearer and that there will be more channels from which to choose. But, alas, there will still be nothing that will be of interest on most nights and you will have to be satisfied with reruns of “The Andy Griffith Show.”

I predict that music will become less and less music and more and more raucous and raunchy. The decibels will rise as the quality descends and you will wonder just how they can get by using those words.

Here’s an easy prediction about movies. I predict that, unless you are under the age of 15, you’ll find no movie that interests you in 2009. Hollywood will wring its hands and try to figure out why no one goes to the movies anymore.

It seems that most of my predictions have bordered on the silly or sour. What about a prediction of something solid and sweet?

If you’re looking for that kind of prediction for 2009 I have good news for you. In fact it is not even a prediction but something that you can absolutely count on.

I don’t have to predict that God will love you in 2009. That is an unchanging truth for any year. I don’t have to wonder if my faith and hope will work in 2009 as well as it did in 2008.

I can say without reservation that God continues to offer the way, the truth and the life in 2009 just as He has ever since His Son came as an antidote to the darkness of this world.

The world changes in leadership and situations. This upcoming year is no different in that way. It might be harder than some, but the difficulty rests with men and women and not with God. The Lord will be on His heavenly throne in 2009. You can count on that.