Portrait of a President of the United States

American Bible Society Conducts Zogby Poll That Reveals the Answer

NEW YORK, /Christian Newswire/ -- The American Bible Society has discovered what America wants in a President, based upon research done through a Zogby Poll. A nationwide survey of likely voters shows that the majority of those questioned want someone who mirrors biblical ideals of leadership. Truthfulness and integrity, by far, topped the list of the characteristics respondents feel are most important. And they say they want a leader who is, in essence, a servant and mindful of accountability to God.

Three-quarters of the likely voters agree that it is appropriate that every President since George Washington has been sworn into office with a hand on a Bible. Also, about six in ten say that they would be more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who speaks publicly about following the example of admirable leaders from the Bible and who consistently uses the Bible for guidance in both public and personal matters.

A whopping 78 percent of respondents--86 percent of women and 68 percent of men--view candidates citing Scripture, when speaking about political positions, as positive.

A surprising number of respondents (95 percent) said they have some interaction with the Bible, ranging from well aware to exploring the contents of the Bible.

Interestingly, younger respondents are more likely to vote for a presidential candidate who sees the office as a privilege to serve others, with a responsibility to God. Some 84 percent of those 18-29 said this would have an impact on their vote, while only 62 percent of respondents 50-64 said this would influence their decision.

In addition, nearly 50 percent of likely voters indicated that they would not vote for a presidential candidate who does not believe in God, while 20 percent said they would vote for such a candidate and another 20 percent agree that this would not affect their vote.

Participants in the poll, conducted January 25-27, were evenly divided geographically and mirror the U.S. population with reference to age and race. The survey of 1008 adults has a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

Those responding tended to be rather well-educated, with 75 percent reporting some college education or having a college degree. And nearly one quarter said they were born-again.

Did Tsunami strike Sri Lanka in 1627?

OUR LADY OF MIRACLES SAVE SRI LANKANS 400 YEARS AGO

Did tsunami occur on 20th February 1627?

Both Tamil and Sinhala chronicles record that there was a deluge in the 2^nd century A. D. There are alsosome references to deluges in the Sangam literature which even speaks of an immensely large continent south of Sri Lanka which in later years came to be known as Lemuria by scholars. But it was called Kumari kandam in the Tamil writings.

However, there is some interesting news coming from the tamil website Tamilwin. It says that some referenes are found in the Portuguese documents that Jaffna was flooded by high rising tides on 20^th February 1627 . But fuller details are not available. At that time, Jaffna was under the rule of the Portuguese.

With the rise of tides, the people inside the fort took refuge inside a church dedicated to Our Lady of Miracles. Many boats were carried away to a distance of one mile. Those people who escaped this disaster considered that they were saved by the miraculous intervention of the Lady of Miracles. The Portuguese have recorded that this type of disaster had not taken before.

The Pannai sea which is in the close vicinity of the Fort is not a deep sea. The The Arabian Sea was then called Theedai Kadal locally. The Pannai Sea used to be dry during the summer. If according to the records the waves had come over the walls of the fort, it would have been definitely due to a Tsunami and caused serious damages to the peninsula and other parts of Sri Lanka.

Lent means following Jesus, taking responsibility for sin, says pope

By Cindy Wooden - Catholic News Service

VATICAN CITY (CNS) – To enter into Lent is to get serious about taking responsibility for one's own sinfulness and about following Jesus, especially in caring for the poor, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Lent, the pope said, is "a time of particular commitment in the spiritual battle against the evil present in the world, in each of us and around us."

Pope Benedict spoke about the meaning of Lent at his Feb. 10 midday Angelus prayer, just a few hours before beginning a weeklong retreat with his closest aides. During the week, all papal audiences are canceled.

The pope said Lent is a time "to look evil in the face and prepare to battle against its effects and especially against its causes, to the point of the ultimate cause, which is Satan."

"It means not blaming the problem of evil on others, on society or on God, but recognizing one's own responsibility," he said.

The only effective way to face sin is to be serious about following Jesus, who conquered sin through his suffering, death and resurrection, the pope said.

"The way of the cross is, in fact, the only path that leads to the victory of love over hatred, sharing over selfishness, peace over violence," he said.

Pope Benedict ended his short talk by promising to remember the sick in his prayers during the retreat and by thanking those who would pray for him during the week.