There's a lot to ponder as we inch our way through January ...

A recent column I wrote about the tsunami in Asia and the inevitable question about the will and justice of God had several people responding.

One person, who identified himself as a non-believer, had this comment:

"You say that without faith, the question of suffering and death is unanswered. That statement makes no sense to me. I understand that faith makes people feel better about tragedy, but why shouldn't modern people on this earth face the facts about life in a world full of speeding cars, raging rivers, earthquakes and terrorists who kill in the name of God."

Let's take a more upbeat approach in response.

Alister McGrath, a professor of historical theology at Oxford University, puts into context how people of faith understand the world in which we live, stimulating and informing both the believing mind and imagination.

While his insights won't satisfy skeptics, especially in the wake of natural disasters, they can enable us to see beyond a materialistic view and appreciate the mighty works of God.

In his wonderful, 82-page book "Creation" (Fortress Press), McGrath puts it this way: "We see everything in the light of our vision of God. Believing in God is like putting on spectacles, which allow us to see the world in a special way. The doctrine of creation is like a lens bringing a vast landscape into sharp focus, or a map helping us grasp the features of the terrain around us."

If you haven't already, try on the spectacles. They'll reveal, as Gerard Manley Hopkins says, a world "charged with the grandeur of God."

In a related matter, news accounts from Asia report that some evangelical groups are proselytizing as they offer aid to victims of the recent tsunami.

Is such behavior appropriate?

"This (disaster) is one of the greatest opportunities God has given us to share his love with people," K.P. Yohannan, president of the Texas-based Gospel for Asia, said in a Philadelphia Inquirer story.

About 14,500 "native missionaries" are handing out Bibles and other Christian literature to survivors, he said.

But a well-known evangelical disagrees with that approach. The Rev. Franklin Graham, who heads up Samaritan's Purse, said his relief organization has no plans to engage in similar activity.

"Maybe another day, if they ask why I come, I'd say, `I'm a Christian, and I believe the Bible tells me to do this,'" Graham said. "But now isn't the time. We have to save lives."

Graham's message is one that people of faith should take to heart. As the Bible says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" (Ecclesiastes 3:1).

Now is the time to bring relief, not religious pamphlets.

Worth pondering: The United States pledged $350 million in relief aid to Asia following the tsunami disaster.

That amount of money would buy a little over an hour of Super Bowl commercial time.

Are you committed to some spiritual resolutions in this new year? Are there certain practices that enhance your faith?

I'd like to know what has helped nurture your spiritual nature or what you plan to do to give your faith a boost this year.

Tell me what you plan to commit to and what has been helpful to you by writing to me: Tom Schaefer, c/o Knight Ridder Newspapers, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201; or by e-mailing me: tschaeferwichitaeagle.com.

I'll highlight some of your ideas in an upcoming column.

If you've ever wondered about your doctor's views on spiritual matters, consider these findings from a national survey of 1,100 physicians, conducted last month by HCD Research and the Louis Finkelstein Institute for Religious and Social Studies of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York:

72 percent of physicians said they believe that religion provides a reliable and necessary guide to life.

58 percent said they attend worship services at least once a month

6 percent said they believe that prayer is very important in their lives.

Maybe it's time to drop the expression: "Physician, heal thyself." Sounds like most of them are in tip-top shape.

Tom Schaefer writes about religion and ethics for the Wichita (Kan.) Eagle. Write to him at the Wichita Eagle, P.O. Box 820, Wichita, KS 67201, or send e-mail to tschaeferwichitaeagle.com.