If you don't want to take the time looking it up ....that was from Matthew 16:15, yes, the reference is the Bible.

What references do you have about Jesus??

Statistics are not altogether accurate ...yet, they can serve a purpose, if we believe they are at least in the ballpark.

So, that being said, here goes:

Approximately 90% of the United States believe that Jesus actually lived ...and for those under 35 years of age, though it would be about 5% points less, it is still a fairly large number..

Approximately 68% believe in heaven ...63% say they believe Jesus is the Way, to heaven.

And only 65% say they believe in the Resurrection of Jesus.

Puzzling, is the fact that 60% say they are followers of Jesus ...yet, why do so large a number not believe in His Resurrection??

Sadly, only 56% believe Jesus is God.

Considering how our schools are teaching evolution as fact, most of these figures are not alarming ...though, it is very disturbing that we embrace something so readily, without putting it to any legitimate challenge.

To me, the most interesting stat that I saw in this particular study & presentation, is that over half of the people say they believe that Jesus sinned while He lived here on earth.


Where do they get this stuff??  Certainly, they are not reading it in the Bible.  Does it make them feel better somehow to think that Jesus sinned too?? ....and how can someone feel good about believing something that is not even remotely true!!

How do we console ourselves with untruths??  Reality is not what we'd like it to be ...it is what it is.

And though I have long contemplated the answers to many of the questions ...it is not easy to know what questions each of you have, to try to discuss it here.  The Bible supplies the answers to many of the questions we may have ...but, sadly fewer and fewer people are taking the time to read what the Bible says, in its entirety.  Much of the time, at most, people attempt to grasp onto what others have promoted ...often in the form of memes, cartoons or photos with short captions.

The study I was referring to ...also covered how people view or pursue a relationship with God. And the subject of prayer came up.

Personally, I don't pray long.

Prayer is talking with God ...or some would say, it's like a visit with God.

Some people will look forward to visiting you ...and when you get together, they are just so eager to tell you all about those many interesting things that are happening to them.  They are satisfied if you just nod (not nod off) to show recognition, or respond with short comments ...or if you don't talk at all, as they have so much to tell you.

I do ask God for insight ...though I also realize that my preparation for understanding may take a while, and all the answers are not immediately forthcoming.

Often we wonder why we are not getting immediate answers from God ...yet, it is we who are distracted and involved in so many things.  We shouldn't think we can just text God, and wait for the polite and immediate response.  Much of the time we are not available, and it's like a phone call ...that we say we are waiting for, but somehow we miss it.  Yet, we have an answering machine ...so, we can listen to the message later, when we do have time.

Yes, and the message is in the Bible ...where we can go to it when we are ready to hear what it says.

The percentage of people who believe ...does not affect my beliefs. But, it does affect my concern.

My concern is for every individual ...so each & every one is important.

But, with so many people not believing ...the concern becomes heightened in the sense that there are an increased number of people who are contributing to the confusion.

And the challenge is not so much that the discussion about God becomes more difficult ...it's that so many people are not even open to any kind of discussion about God.

I had to do an audit one time.  Three of us were supposed to get together to do it ...to make it more trustworthy and accurate. The audit was not so difficult ...it was a real struggle to get all three of us together to attempt to do it.

Though there are three who are always together ...our heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  Three ...in One.

Simply, if over 90% of us believe that Jesus actually lived ...then, we have to have something to base that belief on.  The written Word ...the Bible, tells us about Jesus.  It tells us about Him, and tells us what He said.

If I have a treasure, and I want my heirs to have access to it ...well, I can draw a map.  But, if I feel I have a safer place ...like a bank vault, well, then I can just write up a Last Will & Testament.

I believe in God ...and I wholeheartedly believe He wants us to inherit what He has for us.  Yes, I believed there had to be a written document that He drew up for us. And I was interested in the reading of His Will ...that is, His Will for all of our lives.

God has written us ...the Bible, so we can be heirs to His kingdom, and be with Him some day in Heaven.