A new national survey by the Pew Research Center reveals a substantial and growing number of Americans (18 %) say that Barack Obama is a Muslim, while only 34% believe he is a Christian, a proportion that has declined 14% in a little over a year. Nearly half of Americans polled say they are unclear as to what our President’s religion is.

People lack clarity because they lack evidence. The President has refrained from public worship as a general rule. His public relations team has insisted that he prays daily and attends corporate worship services on occasion; but references to God, and even more so references to Christ, are all but missing from his everyday vernacular.

Americans do not know what to believe because of confusing and even contradictory statements made by Obama.  This week, Glenn Beck circulated to his subscribers a link to an article from 2004 when then State Senator Barack Obama visited with Chicago Sun Times columnist Cathleen Falsani over coffee in Chicago for the sole purpose of discussing his spirituality. The conversation lasted for more than an hour and its transcript is, as of this writing, posted online in full .

When asked what he believed, Obama said “I am a Christian. So, I have a deep faith. I draw from the Christian faith.” But what does he believe ? Many draw information or ideology from the Christian faith.

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Did we really have an oil spill in the Gulf? Of course we did. Is two plus two four? Some things are just plain facts. In these cases, there’s no room for argument.

Yet strangely, many today fool themselves and others into believing that there are no undeniable facts, that all truth is relative. These people either purposely lie, or confuse truth with the concept of perspective. As an elementary school principal, one of my many hats was that of “investigator”. When Billy and Johnny had a fight, I uncovered the truth of the situation. Many people offered honest perspectives, (and a few not so honest), but regarding them together I could discern the key elements of what really happened – the inarguable, undeniable truth.

Have you ever heard anyone argue the existence of Thomas Edison? Surely not. He lived. He died. He invented the light bulb somewhere in between. These are facts documented by many and recorded for all time. From many accounts of His life, written from many perspectives, truths about His life emerge.

Jesus lived and died, too. This is a fact that intelligent scholars do not argue. There is sufficient evidence to document His life and death and even His reappearing, evidence from many sources that has been recorded for all time. The debate over Jesus lies not in His existence, but in His identity.

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My mother passed away eleven days ago. I know it’s time that I return to writing, yet I find it difficult. I lack the focus and speed I once had. My head hurts. My heart aches. My stomach churns.

I know I'll never be the same, so I pray that I’ll be better than before. God uses every situation to build our character to be more like His. He is faithful, despite obstacles. He walked on, carrying that cross, as His head hurt, His heart ached, and His stomach churned. So must I.

Lord, make me more faithful like you.

If you are a reader, I thank you for the time you invest in reading what God lays on my heart each day, and I pray it encourages you in some way. I also thank you for the sympathy you will undoubtedly feel on my behalf. I ask that you praise God for His gift of grace in Jesus Christ that will allow me to see my mother again one day in heaven.

Meanwhile, I will continue my “Brighter Walk” with God through this dark valley by the light of His truth and grace. It is by trudging through the most difficult valleys that He leads us to new mountains to climb, with more magnificent views to behold.

Many of you are trudging your way, too. May you continue to trust in the truth that our God is beside you to guide you on your way.

“Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40) Keep believing, friends. Keep trusting. Keep trudging. One day soon, we will find ourselves on a new mountaintop with God, with a fresh glimpse of eternity.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.