Create a Prayer Covering Over the City1. GOOD NEWS! "GAG ORDER" BILL DIES IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
2. HOUSE SET TO DEBATE S.5: EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH BILL
3. CONGRESS MAY CANCEL FUNDING FOR ABSTINENCE PROGRAMS
4. HOUSE DEMOCRATS ATTEMPT RULE CHANGE; ALLOWS TAX HIKES WITHOUT A VOTE
5. HOUSE MEMBERS DRAFTING UNFAIR "FAIRNESS DOCTRINE"
6. H.R. 1964: REVERSING THE BAN ON PARTIAL- BIRTH ABORTION
7. SENATE IMMIGRATION DEAL FORGED; VOTE DUE THIS WEEK
8. IMMIGRATION BILL TO COLLECT AMERICAN INFORMATION
9. RUDY GIULIANI TIED TO "SUPERHIGHWAYS"
10. SEARCH WIDENS FOR U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
11. ISRAEL THREATENS "HARSH" RESPONSES TO P.A. ROCKET ATTACKS
12. HAL LINDSEY: THE SDEROT LESSON
1. GOOD NEWS! "GAG ORDER" DIES IN HOUSE COMMITTEE
As expected, Democrats introduced a bill in the House this week (H.R. 2316), which, like the original Senate version, had outrageous components. The House bill would have required all "nonprofit advocacy groups" to reveal the names and addresses of donors who give $500 or more. Previously such efforts have included exemptions for 501(c) organizations, but not this one. Liberals in Congress were willing to sacrifice their own constituents' freedom to silence the conservative grassroots. But the outrage of groups like the Sierra Club, NARAL, and others from both ends of the ideological spectrum led Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) to pull the provision. Thanks to your prayers and our friends on the Hill, the bill now includes language that shields groups like FRC from having to disclose donor lists. But the fight over lobby reform is not over yet . (FRC Prayer Targets)
· May God and concerned American citizens shepherd this bill such that useful and righteous lobby reform is enacted and freedom is enhanced, not restricted.
· Offer praise for this news!! Our GOD reigns!!
· "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
2. HOUSE SET TO DEBATE S.5: EMBRYONIC STEM CELL RESEARCH BILL
The House will soon debate S.5, a bill to make more human embryos available for experimentation. Yet the debate will not stop with "leftover" embryos, but move on to cloning and unethical experimentation with animal-human hybrids. Great Britain just overhauled its laws governing embryo research and fertility treatment and Parliament decided to allow scientists to pursue experimentation to create "cybrid" embryos - part human, part animal, also called chimeras. Unless bills to ban human cloning and animal-human hybrids are enacted here, such as those championed by Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), the U.S. will not be far behind. (FRC Prayer Targets)
· Please continue to pray that God and the American people will compel Congress to draw a line against unethical stem cell research.
· "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
3. CONGRESS MAY CANCEL FUNDING FOR ABSTINENCE PROGRAMS
If Planned Parenthood and Congressional Democrats have their way, the Title V program that funds nationwide efforts to promote sexual "abstinence" will expire on June 30. Gone will be the abstinence funding, the program, the definitions the guidelines and the positive fruit among America's youth. Meanwhile a new Zogby poll shows that parents overwhelmingly support abstinence teaching. Democrats, instead, want more "comprehensive sex education," i.e., how to have "safe-sex." (FRC Prayer Targets)
· May God uphold this righteous and beneficial program! May the ideology of immorality and death yield to righteousness, wisdom and moral sanity.
· "For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life." (Gal. 6:8)
4. HOUSE DEMOCRATS ATTEMPT RULE CHANGE; ALLOWS TAX HIKES WITHOUT A VOTE
House Democrats on Wednesday revealed they will attempt to rewrite House rules that have gone unchanged since 1822 in order to make it possible to increase taxes and government spending without having to vote and be held accountable. The leader of the House Republicans, Congressman John Boehner (R-OH)vowed on Wednesday that Republicans will use every available means to fight this unprecedented change.
The Democrats in the election last November promised the most open, ethical Congress in history. For example, on December 6, 2006, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "We promised the American people that we would have the most honest and most open government and we will." Her second-in- command in the House, Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said on December 5, 2006: "We intend to have a Rules Committee that gives opposition voices and alternative proposals the ability to be heard and considered on the floor of the House."
Yet, now House Democrats are seeking to change rules which have not been changed since 1822. The Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee, Congressman Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, said, "There they go again, promising high ethics and openness and instead delivering a muzzle through a stunning abuse of power in the people's house." Congressman Hensarling said that changing the 185- year-old rule is the same as "silencing Americans from hundreds of districts across the nation by attempting to mute their representatives in Congress, and we are not going to stand for it." (Christian Coalition of America)
· Heavenly Father, we know You as a Just God and we invite You to bring forth Your justice and Your will in the challange to change this House rule. We cry out to you Father to lead our people to restore our nation to her original roots of "government by the people and for the people." We also ask that the leadership of our government be called into accountability so that all decisions and laws would be made honestly and would benefit the many, not just the few. Thank You, Father, for hearing our prayer, in Jesus Name. Amen.
· "For He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also and him that hath no helper." (Psalm 72:12)
5. HOUSE MEMBERS DRAFTING UNFAIR "FAIRNESS DOCTRINE"
Legislation is being drafted in the House which would require the government to police the airwaves to ensure radio broadcasters are presenting what the government decides are balanced viewpoints. The "Fairness Doctrine," as it is called, was abolished by the Federal Communications Commission during the Reagan Administration in 1987 because it inhibited debate and the free flow of information. It is imperative that President George W. Bush veto this despicable piece of legislation if Senate Republicans are unable to stop it.
Senate Republican Leader McConnell said: "Our Founding Fathers understood free speech is fundamental to our nation and sought to protect it with the First Amendment. As a strong supporter of First Amendment freedoms for all Americans, I will continue to work to prevent government limitations on speech. "The latest attempt by House Democrats to revive the misnamed 'fairness doctrine' will silence active political voices and limit the free flow of information. Government is not the speech police and I will not support these efforts to restrict free speech. Political debate is among the most important democratic traditions of our nation and a hallmark of free society. We must continue to preserve the right of all Americans to express their views." (Christian Coalition of America)
· Righteous God, forgive those that are attempting to thwart and shut the mouths of people in our nation, through controlling and limiting their free speech guaranteed by our First Amendment. We desire, Lord, that the "Fairness Doctrine" not be allowed into law until it truly constitutes its name of "Fairness." Thank you for Senator Mitch McConnell's response against this legislation and we pray that the response of the President will correspond . Until this is made right in Your eyes, Lord God, we ask that You not allow it to come into law. In Jesus Name is our plea. Amen.
· "For the ways of man are before the eyes of The Lord, and He pondereth all his goings." (Proverbs 5:21) "For thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give to everyone according to his ways; and according to the fruit of his doings." (Jer. 32:19)
6. H.R. 1964: REVERSING THE BAN ON PARTIAL- BIRTH ABORTION
The Supreme Court of the United States has ruled, in accordance with the Constitution, the will of the people, the vote of Congress, and the endorsement of the President, that the federal ban on partial-birth abortion is entirely constitutional.
But already the pro-abortion movement is mounting a counter-offensive, via a "Freedom of Choice Act" (H.R. 1964) sponsored by several members of both the House and the Senate including Senators Hillary Clinton, Barbara Boxer, and Charles Schumer; and Rep. Jerrold Nadler.
According to Nancy Keenan, the president of NARAL, "We're starting an all-out campaign to support the Freedom of Choice Act . . . legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, and guarantee the right to choose for generations to come." (American Center for Law and Justice; LiveNews.com)
· The battle to protect the life and the sanctity of the unborn has not yet been won; and we must continue to be engaged in this warfare in the frontlines of intercession. In the fact of H.R. 1964, offer up vigilant prayers to: a) forgive the sponsors; for they know not what they do; b) declare and decree that this initiative will wither and die; and c) strengthen the hands of those who are upholding righteous deeds on Capitol Hill.
· "This far and no further, and here shall your proud waves be STOPPED." (Job 38:11) "All iniquity stops its mouth!" (Psalm 107:42b)
7. SENATE IMMIGRATION DEAL FORGED; VOTE DUE THIS WEEK
Thursday's Senate deal on a comprehensive immigration reform plan is dominating the news and dividing the country. There are partisan divides on both sides. For example, the deal was spearheaded by liberal Senator Ted Kennedy with the full support of President Bush. . . . But there is more to this plan than we know. This legislation did not come about through the normal process. No committee hearings have been held. No cost estimates have been done. No one has even read the text of the bill yet because, as of last night, it had not been written and is expected to be nearly 1,000 pages long. Nevertheless, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid plans to begin the debate on Monday, with a vote by Friday. The notion that the Senate will spend just one week debating such a massive proposal, which is fraught with major national security implications, is absurd!
Whatever emerges from the Senate will face a tougher road in the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said she won't consider the bill unless 70 House Republicans support it. That's a high bar given that the Republican-controlled House passed an enforcement first bill in December of 2005 and would not even consider a similar comprehensive bill that passed the Senate last year. The only reason I can think of for Pelosi to be demanding such support from Republicans is because she lacks the votes in her own caucus to ram the bill through the House where the rules make it much easier for the majority party to pass whatever it wants.
What do you think? Should the Senate pass this "comprehensive" deal or reject it? Is this best we can hope for or is it too tough? Should we pass a border security bill first and then deal with the status of illegal aliens only after the borders are secured? Let me know what you think by taking part in our online poll at http://www.ouramericanvalues.org We will share the results with policy makers on Capitol Hill. (Gary Bauer; End of Day; May 18, 2007)
· Pray that this massive legislation, should it pass in the Senate, would be slowed down in the House. This matter must be studied very carefully before we act upon it.
· " . . . if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." (Matt. 18:19)
8. IMMIGRATION BILL TO COLLECT AMERICAN INFORMATION
Although the controversial new Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 addresses illegal immigration, some components of the bill will definitely benefit the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies by tracking all sources of wages and compensation by American workers, even those who are legally American citizens. The bill will make it illegal to hire anyone for any work in the US for paid wages, unless both the worker and employer complete the new registration requirements, including providing the employee's work history for the past five years even if they are American citizens each time they apply for a job.
"It is unlawful for an employer...to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment in the United States an individual unless such employer meets the requirements of subsections (c) and (d)," says the bill referring to the new document rules and "electronic verification" systems. The new $400 million "employment verification" component of the extensive bill would add new electronic registration requirements for all American citizens who do work for compensation and even American employers as well. As it stands, the new bill would require all employers to "register" with the federal government and report the data for new employees to the government within three days of hiring them. (Prophecy News Update)
· Is Big Brother going to be watching? Are Americans asleep, ignoring what Congress is cooking up for their lives? Pray that the Lord intervenes and provides better strategies for the immigration problem this nation faces. Only the Lord can help us deal with this mess.
· "And if ye go to war in your land against an enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets: and ye shall be remembered before the Lord your God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies." (Numbers 10:9)
9. RUDY GIULIANI TIED TO "SUPERHIGHWAYS"
Questions are being raised over Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani's policy on terrorism, after a report revealed he has strong ties to two foreign investment consortia working to own or lease U.S. toll roads, including the Trans-Texas Corridor 35, which is identified as part of the I- 35 "NAFTA Superhighway." Although he opposed NAFTA in 1993, Giuliani recently declined to call for building a fence on the United States border with Mexico, and he has supported a guest-worker program.
Columnist Michelle Malkin also has documented that while mayor of New York City, Giuliani kept the municipality a sanctuary city for illegal aliens, adhering to a policy first established by Mayor Ed Koch in 1989.
Now comes a new report about Giuliani's involvement with public-private-partnership projects that include NAFTA Superhighway funding and his open borders record on immigration questions, all of which could undermine his otherwise tough policy on terrorism that has resulted from the 9/11 role Giuliani played in managing New York City's response to the attacks on the World Trade Center. (Prophecy News Update)
· Praise the Lord for journalists who look into the lives of the prominent to uncover what may need to be known. Pray for the safety and sovereignty of this nation. So much of our blessed nation is owned by foreign countries and money brokers - now our toll roads! Pray for revival in our land, for without the Lord, we are lost. Pray that Rudy Giuliani's spirit is led by the Lord.
· "Draw nigh unto my [and the nation's] soul, and redeem it; deliver me because of mine enemies." (Psalm 69:18)
10. SEARCH WIDENS FOR U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
U.S. forces broadened their hunt yesterday for three missing comrades beyond the rural area south of Baghdad where they disappeared, and their top commander expressed optimism that at least two of them were still alive a week after their isolated outpost was ambushed.
· "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." (Luke 12:2)
11. ISRAEL THREATENS "HARSH" RESPONSES TO P.A. ROCKET ATTACKS
The IAF (Israel Air Force) carried out several targeted attacks on Hamas installations throughout the Gaza Strip on Friday night, destroying several weapons- making facilities and killing three people. The most recent offensive occurred shortly before 3 a.m. when the air force struck two factories which the IDF spokesperson said were used by Hamas for the development of arms, Israel Radio reported. No one was harmed in the attack.
The sound of gunfire and explosions from fighting between Hamas and Fatah rang out for the sixth straight day in Gaza. Separately, Israeli tanks fired five shells near a housing project in the northern Gaza town of Jabalya, slightly wounding five people, according to hospital officials. Officials said it fired tank shells at an open field in northern Gaza after identifying a rocket launch from that area and wanted to prevent further firings. (Reported by: Intercessors for America)
· I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." (Nehemiah 2:20)
12. HAL LINDSEY: THE SDEROT LESSON
If anyone ever needed a lesson as to the folly of giving Palestinians "land for peace," let them talk with the people of Sderot, Israel. Since turning over Gaza to the Palestinians in exchange for a promise of peace in 2005, they have rained almost 1,400 rockets on this formerly peaceful town. It has become so intolerable in the last week that thousands were forced to leave their homes in an exodus to safer ground.
· Offer praise that no one has been killed in these week-long attacks; and pray for the many who have been injured. Somehow, the madness must stop. Pray!
· "He who touches Israel touches the apple of My eye." (Zech. 2:8)
