"Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 15:5-6)
A special note to our readers: With Congress heading into its July 4th recess period, we will not publish "On Capitol Hill This Week" on Monday. Instead, please watch for another Legislative Update from Tim McGhee at that time.
The Daily Brief will be published all next week, except for Wednesday, July 4th.
Today's Daily Brief - Friday, June 29, 2007
1. British police defuse huge bomb in London - Ynet News
British police defused a bomb they discovered in a parked car in central London on Friday and launched a counter-terrorism investigation. Later today, another bomb was found in a second Mercedes in London. A manhunt is now underway as police defuse deadly Iraq-style car bomb.
· Lord, we thank You for exposing this evil and protecting against it. We ask for Your continual protection and exposing of bombs and evil plans.· "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies." ( Ps. 2,3)
2. U.S. Urges Americans to Be Alert After London Scare - AP
The government is urging Americans to be vigilant about suspicious activity after British police defused a bomb in downtown London, but officials said they saw no potential terrorist threat in the United States ahead of next week's Fourth of July holiday.
· Pray that the American citizens will take heed and be especially alert to any unusual activity in the days ahead, especially as the day draws near for our most important national holiday -- the Fourth of July. · "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)
3. Senate Approves Three-Month Extension on Abstinence Funding - Family Research Council
Last night, the Senate agreed to at least a three- month extension of the federal matching funds for state abstinence education programs.
[Note: please see full article on this news, posted separately on today's Brief.]
· Thank You, Lord for this extension. We ask that during this brief period momentum for righteouness will grow. · But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteouness is the scepter of Your Kindgom. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions." (Heb. 1:8,9)
4. Fed policymakers hold interest rates steady - MSNBC
The Federal Reserve left a key interest rate unchanged on Thursday, expressing new optimism on economic growth and lower inflation.
· Lord, we give you praise continually for all the blessings of prosperity. Thank you for watching over us for economic growth. As we prosper physically may righteousness and wisdom prosper among us. · Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, "Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant." And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long. (Ps. 35:27,28)
5. Democrats Give White House 10 Days to Explain Asserting Executive Privilege - AP
Congressional Democrats took the first steps Friday in what could be a long march to court, with the Bush administration and Congress in a legal tug-of-war over executive and legislative branch powers.In a letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding, the heads of the Judiciary committees demanded an explanation in 10 days of why the White House claimed executive privilege on subpoenaed documents and vowed to invoke "the full force of law."
The fight centers on an investigation that Democrats initially undertook into the firings of several U.S. attorneys, but which has since branched out to scrutiny of the administration's terrorism-era warrantless wiretapping and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' stewardship of the Justice Department. "The veil of secrecy you have attempted to pull over the White House by withholding documents and witnesses is unprecedented and damaging to the tradition of open government by and for the people that has been a hallmark of the republic," Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., told Fielding.
· Ask the Lord to send forth His angels to help end this tug-of-war by severing these cords asunder. Ask that His grace would enter in, once again, to restore the "balance" in our balance of power; and thank Him that our nation is a nation under law. · "Let all things be done decently and in order." (1 Corinthians 14:40)
6. President Bush in Maine; Prepares to Meet President Putin on Sunday - AP
The President was briefed on the incident [the London bomb discovery] by national security adviser Stephen Hadley in Maine, where the president is at his family's home to meet Sunday and Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
· As the president prepares his heart to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday and on Monday, cover his mind with the precious Shed Blood of the Lamb. May all of his thoughts be those of our Savior; and may he be granted special "wisdom from above" in these strategic meetings. · "First of all . . .pray for kings . . . and all those in authority . . ." (I Tim. 2:1,2)
7. Putin's Arctic invasion: Russia lays claim to the North Pole - and all its gas, oil, and diamonds - UK Daily Mail
Russian President Vladimir Putin is making an astonishing bid to grab a vast chunk of the Arctic - so he can tap its vast potential oil, gas and mineral wealth.
· You alone establish borders and boundaries. Protect the resources from evil men who seek to deceive. Our trust is in You. · The righteous also shall see and fear, and shall laugh at him saying, "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strenghened himself in his wickedness." (Ps. 52:6-8)
8. Russia successfully tests new ballistic missile - Jerusalem Post
Capt. Igor Dygalo told The Associated Press that the Bulava missile hit its target on the Pacific peninsula of Kamchatka after being launched from the submarine Dmitry Donskoi in the White Sea. Three earlier tests of the Bulava in recent years ended in failure, raising questions about the missile, which has been hailed as a key future component of Russia's nuclear arsenal.
· We make a declaration, " Lord Jesus Christ ruler of all that is and will ever be, we ask you to tear down what needs to be torn down and to build up what needs to be built up." · "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day set you over the naitons and over the kingdoms, to root out and to pull down, to destroy and to throw down, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:9b,10)
9. Venezuela's Chavez Begins Trip to Russia, Belarus and Iran - Voice of America
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived in Russia Wednesday evening for an official visit expected to focus on defense and economic issues.Mr. Chavez met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday. The talks included Venezuela's possible purchase of conventional submarines, helicopters and other military equipment, as well as cooperation on energy and mining.
· "There are many plans in a man's heart, nevertheless the Lord's counsel, that will stand." (Prov. 19:21)
