Greetings and salutations!

In late December we saw giant tsunami waves pass over southeast Asia, wiping out entire cities and leaving devastation in their wake. While there have certainly been much larger disasters, what happened is truly immense in the level of its tragedy and we must be equally immense in our response. Before all else, our thoughts and prayers go out to each and every person affected by this disaster and the hundreds of thousands that continue to suffer. As citizens of North America, Europe and Arabia, the world often looks to us for economic as well as political leadership. We have seen pledges of aid in the billions of dollars made by world governments; it is my hope these pledges are fulfilled. On an individual level, I hope you will take whatever steps you can to be a light in this present darkness. There are so many ways to serve your fellow man. I hope you will take this opportunity to draw our world together in a rare moment of unity.

To view a powerful compilation of video footage of the tsunami, click here. *WARNING* Some of this footage is graphic and disturbing. Watch at your own discretion.

Through this period, there have been moments of joy, moments of hope and redemption. Stories pour in from these stricken nations about survivors found, families reunited, and villages spared. While some may be tempted to consider the opposite, there are clear signs that God remains in control. While you contemplate the divine equation, consider the following:

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*Big Ass Disclaimer :: I'm not going to bother posting stat sources because (a) like it would make a difference (b) these stats have been fairly uncontested for years now and you can find the sources quite easily. If anyone's really really upset about this, you know the drill.*

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The Statistical Analysis:
Over 90 % of the world's population claims to believe in a supreme being in one form or another. Over 50 % of those belong to either Christianity, Islam or Judaism, which share a common ancestry.

The Empirical Analysis:
The development of modern science continues to support a theistic perspective just as much as an (micro) evolutionary one. In particular, advances in the fields of physics and archeology continue to lend credence to biblical accounts which have been supported by most of the major fathers of the modern scientific movement - including Darwin, Boyle, Einstein, Franklin, Kepler, Newton, and a host of others. This ongoing scientific exploration is mirrored by a continuing spiritual explosion taking place across the globe.

The Cost-Benefit Analysis:
Consider the benefits (statistically based and on average) of adhering to a given faith:
A. Longer life
B. Better health
C. Less stress and related illness
D. Longer lasting marriages and families
E. More fulfilling careers
F. Better social relationships
G. More sex (this statistic applies more directly to those of Jewish persuasion)

Consider also the spiritual benefits applicable to life on Earth including confidence, a sense of belonging and purpose, access to greater spectrums of understanding and more. That is not to say there are not exceptions, not people who experience none of these or worse, people who misrepresent their faiths to the world, but this reality is certainly attainable, as are the supernatural benefits and those of the life beyond.

The cost varies depending on what religion you're dealing with, but most often it is nothing compared to what you receive. And what is the alternative, a life with no plan or purpose, a being simply lost in the chaos of the cosmos? The options hardly seem appealing but, as always, such decisions rest in the heart of every person on the planet.

Feel free to check out this interesting article in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/10/opinion/10safire.html?oref=login&th

God Bless.

With Hope,
Joseph