Salvation - what age?

Salvation Statistics: ("There's lies, there's danged lies, and then there's statistics", the old saying goes. But these statistics below sound about right to me).

1. Nine ouf of ten people who make a decision for Christ do so by the age of 18. The closer a person gets to age 18, the less likely he/she is to make a decision for Christ (this is a powerful rationale for getting involved in kids & teen ministries).

2. Most people who get saved report that a relative or very close friend was one of the main reasons. Not a televangelist, not a book, not a sermon at a revival meeting, but a relative or close friend. Relationships count.

January closes: This concludes the first month that I've regularly blogged here. And how easy it's been! Uploading pictures is a snap, writing these types of updates are a piece of cake, and the readability on the homepage is better than what I had before.

January 30, 2005: Yesterday, Iraqis voted - for the first time in 50 some years - for their own leadership. A momentous day for them, and for Bush and Blair. 70+% of the eligible population voted, despite numerous suicide bomber attacks that claimed over 25 lives, and injured dozens more. SEVENTY PLUS PERCENT. Brave, brave people.

Onto February. Looking forward to somewhat warmer temperatures over the next week or so. And as much as I like winter, I am begining to want spring to arrive.

Peace.

Life is a test

Here are a few lines from Chapter 5 of Rick Warren’s mega-popular book, The Purpose Driven Life. Definitely worthy of reflection.

“Life on earth is a test…
God continually tests people’s character, faith, obedience, love, integrity, and loyalty…

When you realize that life is a test, you realize that NOTHING is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. EVERY day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God. Some tests seem overwhelming, while others you don’t even notice. But all of them have eternal implications.”

The good news is that God wants you to pass the test of life, so he never allows the test you face to be greater than the grace he gives you to handle them.”

Random Musings

Condi Rice: History is made today with Dr. Rice becoming the first african-american female Secretary of State. If President Bush was a Democrat, there's no doubt that this historic appointment would be making much bigger waves in the press.

Bible version discrepancies: Go to BibleGateway and check out Luke 4:8 in a few translations (KJV, New American Standard, NIV, New King James, etc). Why is the "get behind me Satan" left out of a few translations? This came up in a dinner conversation last night. By some reports, the NASB is thought to be the most accurate English translation of the Bible, and it doesn't include that phrase.

HillaryWatch: Does Hillary have Clinton appeal? Click.

Lebron James is on a roll. Here's an excellent Time article highlighting his recent triple double (youngest player ever to do so), and his claiming the "next Michael Jordan" mantle.

Weekend Happenings

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND !!!

We had a number of people over for a little 10pm party on Saturday night, my parents and Shibu & Nisha stopped by for dinner on Sunday evening. The church service on Sunday morning was blessed from start to stop (praise & worship, the message given, dedication of Nathan - Shibu & Nisha's firstborn, all topped off by a great lasagna lunch, courtesy of Misti and Gerry).

There is nothing like getting together with friends and family on a cold, snowy evening (sat night). And sitting around with hot drinks and hot snacks. The weather is forcing everyone to stay seated in their own homes, apart from each other, but people choose to brave the elements and have fellowship. Awesome.

Flat tire: what could be worse than having to change a flat tire in zero degree weather? As if I would know. hehehehehe. My car tire went flat in the church parking lot during a men's meeting on Saturday morning. It was just too blasted cold to change the thing, so I had it towed to a repair shop, and submitted the tow receipt to my auto insurance company. Lazy, Lazy.

Iraqi elections: will be held this coming Sunday, January 30th. A historic, momentous day. One radio report says that an estimated 80% of eligible voters plan to turn out. Unreal. If that happens, what an amazing boost for the Iraqi people themselves, and for their liberators.

Presidential Inauguration & Iraq

Thursday's the big day.

George W. Bush will be inaugurated, for the second time, as the POTUS. His margin of victory was one of the narrowest margins ever for a re-elected president. 3% is not much I suppose, but it could have been a lot closer (i.e. 2000).

Bush is no wimp. He is going to swing for the fences in this second term of his. By his own admission, reforming the tax code and revamping social security are high on his priority list. These are huge domestic initiatives. Hopefully they won't go down in flames (i.e. the Clinton universal health care program). The tax code does need to be simplified. How many millions of productive hours are wasted, year after year, by citizens scrambling to get through all the forms and minutiae by April 15th? There's gotta be a better way.

On a more gloomy note, the Iraqi elections are still scheduled for January 30th. Much of that country is peaceful, and ready for elections. But there is still a lot of mayhem, insurgency, and killing. An Iraqi Catholic archbishop was kidnapped just yesterday. My dad and I both were saying, last night, that he was not likely to survive. Thankfully, we were wrong. The Vatican reported this morning that the bishop had been released, and was unharmed, and no ransom was paid for his release.

BABY COUSINS

Baby Anna (right) and Baby Nathan (left) on Christmas Day, born within 3 days of each other this past August. Second cousins.

The Colosseum

Sonia standing in front of the Colosseum in Rome. Nov 2004. This place was huge, and has an awful, bloody history. Thank God the gladiator days are long over.

Illness

Cough, congestion, nose-blowing, left ankle pain. The last ten days have been marked by physical discomfort. It gives me a lot more appreciation for most-of-the-days when I feel fine, and am oblivious to the good health that God's given me.

Knowing that millions of people are afflicted with much more than my little illnesses, I am mindful that health is a gift. God's gift. And something to be ever grateful for.

A family member was recently told that she would need heart surgery. This prompted us all into prayer and reflection. A few days later, an echocardiogram revealed that she would not need such a surgery after all. God's gift. God's blessings. What a comfort to know that our lives rest in His Hands. No worries.

Years ago, a friend was diagnosed with a severe brain tumor. She underwent treatment, and seemed to recover. But then the relapse, followed by her passing to glory, and now we have memories of her.

An acquaintance from recent years, still in his 20's, was well on his way to being a success, by worldly standards. And then the strange form of leukemia attacked him, did not relent, and now we have only memories left.

One's life races by, and is seemingly but a vapor in the grand plan that God has for humanity. But how He values each of our lives! Created in His image and for His glory, His plans for us far exceed anything we could come up with on our own.

Psalm 103.

Italian Cuisine

Sonia digging into spaghetti alla carbonara on our last evening in Italy. Nov 13, 2004.

Baby Traveller

My niece Anna on Nov. 15, 2004, ready for the ride to New Jersey.

Switching from bsmooth.tripod.com

Since 1996 or 1997, I have posted various things at http://bsmooth.tripod.com. Over the last couple years, though, the number of pop-up ads at tripod has become downright bothersome. I guess it's all a ploy to get people to upgrade to paid accounts.

Another inconvenience at tripod has been having to use Microsoft Frontpage to write my updates. Here at benjart.blogspot.com, I can just log in at blogger.com and do it straight from blogger's editor. Very nice, very simple. I just now have to figure out how to upload pictures. :-)

I do wonder, though, how long blogger can continue to let all these web writers post for "free" without pop up ads, paid subscriptions, etc.

But for now, I am making the switch. I guess I'll still maintain bsmooth for awhile. We'll see. But for my most regular updates, check back here at benjart.

Philippians 3:8-9

Encouraging reminder from Apostle Paul. Helps to keep things in perspective:

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him." - New Living Translation

Long Term Christians

My cousin, Becky, posted the below about her pastor/grandfather on a weblog run by Joshua Harris (Mr. "I Kissed Dating Goodbye"). It's #142 at http://joshharrisblogson.blogspot.com/

I have been attending my church now for about 15 years, and I can truly say that I have been spiritually fed and blessed countless times, over and over again. C.C. in his humbleness to serve, has been a spiritual guide and encouragement to me over the years, not only as a pastor, but I am also blessed because he is my grandfather. His pure love and compassion to help others and pour out the Gospel of Christ to the community is truly an example of “laying down our life” and has enabled our church to grow in unity. His gift of speaking and in-depth teaching of the Word has been tremendous over the years and we always learn something new. Even when he comes to visit, I can count on him for a wise thought, a prayer, a verse, or companionship. Pastor and also Grandpa C.C. is someone I admire and will cherish forever.

Her grandfather is someone I personally have been blessed to know for most of my life, and I have also seen many of these same things that she wrote about. It is such an inspiration and a driver to know Christians who've been walking with God for many, many years. Christians who have such a testimony.

Onto 2005

The New Year is upon us.

Every New Year, I am always inspired by a sense of mystery and hope. Who knows what the next year holds? One thing is certain, though: God walks with us every step of the way. So there's no need to worry.