The Daily Brief
Friday, September 28, 2007
- "And the eyes of them that see shall not be dim, and the ears of them that hear shall hearken. The heart also of the rash shall understand knowledge, and the tongue of the stammerers shall be ready to speak plainly." (Isaiah 32:3,4)
1. Senate Passes Dangerous Hate-Crimes Amendment
Democrats don't have enough votes to override a promised veto.
Democrats passed a hate-crimes measure today, but failed to collect enough votes to override a pledged presidential veto. The amendment, which would create a new federal class of crime based on "actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity," is attached to a Defense spending bill.
Five Republican senators who voted in favor of hate- crimes legislation in 2004 switched their votes today and opposed the measure. They are: Sens. Lamar Alexander, Tenn.; Robert Bennett, Utah; John Ensign, Nev.; and Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens, both of Alaska. The president is not going to agree to this social legislation on the Defense Authorization Bill," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told The Associated Press. "This bill will get vetoed." (Source: Focus on the Family; CitizenLink; Sept. 27, 2007)
Offer praise that President Bush can "see through" this stealth tactic to add a piece of social legislation to the bill that funds the military defense of our nation. Ask our Lord to strengthen the hand of President Bush as he prepares to veto this legislation. Finally, according to the Word of God in Luke 23:34, ask the Lord to forgive those who have voted for this bill, for they know not what they do. May He have mercy on their souls, causing them to come to salvation through the Blood of the Lamb!
"In that day the LORD of hosts will be For a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty To the remnant of His people, For a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, And for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." (Isaiah 28:5,6)
- 2. Congress agrees to raise U.S. credit limit - Washington Post
With the U.S. government fast approaching its current .965 trillion credit limit, the Senate on Thursday gave final congressional approval of an 0 billion increase in U.S. borrowing authority.
Lord, we ask for Your wisdom in our Senate. Please cause our leaders to remember You are the one with all power over wealth. We pray for our leaders to have a desire to seek godly principles and wisdom from Your Word.
'But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." (Deut. 8:18) - 3. Senate Republicans Help Pass SCHIP Bill - CNSNews.com
In the Senate, 18 Republicans joined all the Democrats in voting 67-29 to renew and expand a health insurance program for children. Democrats say President Bush is cold-hearted to threaten a veto. But Bush and conservative Republicans say the expansion of the program beyond low-income children is the first step toward government-run health care.
The SCHIP program was initially introduced to provide health-care assistance only to children of low- income families. Democrats in Congress have now expanded that "definition" to include children from families whose income is above the poverty level -- and sometimes greatly so. Intercede that the American people not be "hoodwinked" by this subterfuge, and will stand by President Bush in this well-deserved veto.
"A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight." (Prov. 11:1) - 4. New-Home Sales Tumble to 7-Year Low - AP
New-homes sales tumbled in August to the lowest level in seven years, a stark sign that the credit crunch is aggravating an already painful housing slump.
Father, we ask that You work in our economy to bring up the housing market to prosper families. We ask You to guide in balancing the market to preparing the way of blessing.
"Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." (Ps. 37:6,7) - 5. Washington changes its tune on climate - Financial Times
The world must cut emissions or sacrifice the planet, Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, told a meeting of governments on Thursday, in the most strongly worded statement on global warming yet made by the US administration.
Pray for wisdom and understanding over the global warming issue. Pray for truth and wise counsel.
"Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the path of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints." (Prov. 2:5-7)
- 6. Democratic Candidates: Gay Curriculum in 2nd Grade is OK - Fox News
A fairy tale about two princes falling in love sparked a backlash -- and a lawsuit -- against a teacher and a school last year when it was read to a second-grade class in Massachusetts.
Lord, please have mercy and lift the blinders off our leaders. We ask for a "God-consciousness" to arise promoting moral purity.
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12)
- 7. Craig to Stay in Office 'For Now' - CNSNews.com
Attorneys for Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) asked a Minnesota judge Wednesday to let him withdraw his guilty plea in the sex sting case, and the senator later issued a statement saying he will stay in office "for now," the Associated Press reports.
Offer prayer for Senator Larry Craig, and ask that he, his wife, and his staff be given clarity of thought as they weigh this important decision. Bind confusion; loose peace.
"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37)The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Pr 1:7)1. Israel warned on decline in national resolve - World Tribune
Israel's military strength has sharply declined and its withdrawal from southern Lebanon was a strategic error, a defense official testified. Sneh, a leading member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, attributed the drop in strength to a government policy of cutting funds to the military and said last year's war with Hizbullah could have been prevented.2. Bush to U.N.: Lay Off Israel - IsraelNN.com
United States President George W. Bush urged the United Nations to reform its Human Rights Council Tuesday, criticizing the body for ignoring abuses in places like Iran "while focusing its criticism excessively on Israel.The American people are disappointed by the failures of the Human Rights Council," Bush said. "The United Nations must reform its own Human Rights Council."3. Abbas urges Security Council to 'stop Israel' - Ynet News
Abbas, who was in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, held a series of talks with elements in the Security Council, asking them to bring about a halt in Israel's activities in the Strip.4. Kassam rockets discovered near Jerusalem
May mark new phase in terror - Israel Insider
Palestinian security officers found Kassam missile casings and launchers between the Al Aida refugee camp and Beit Jala, adjacent to the Jerusalem district of Gilo and transferred them to the IDF. The 22 mm missiles, 1.5 meters (5 feet) long, were marked "Allah is great."5. Hizbullah: If Israel attacks Syria, we'll respond - Ynet News
"If Israel dares to make an adventurous move against Syria, it will pay a heavy price," a member of Hizbulla's political council warned Thursday.
Iran in the News
"O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve." (Psalm 94:1-2)
1. US Senate brands Iran Guard 'terrorist organization' - AFP
The US Senate has called for Iran's Revolutionary Guards to be officially designated a "foreign terrorist organization," a day after the House of Representatives passed a similar measure.
2. Iran's Friendly Audience - Front Page Magazine
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech before the United Nations General Assembly this week is all part of a sophisticated propaganda campaign to counter American and European pressure for stronger Security Council sanctions against Iran and to build support in the General Assembly for Iran's campaign to win a Security Council seat of its own.
3. War Inches Closer to Iran - ABC News
Iran's role with the violence in Iraq remains a major preoccupation of the Bush administration, with the U.S. military now building a base, practically within shouting distance of Iran -- an extraordinary step to curb what it says is the smuggling of advanced weapons into Iraq.
4. 'Iran building new nuclear facility' - Jerusalem Post
An Iranian resistance group claimed on Thursday that Iran is constructing a secret, new underground military nuclear facility near its Natanz uranium enrichment plant.
5. Iran shelling targets deeper inside northern Iraq: mayor - AFP
Iranian forces have shelled deeper into northern Iraq than previously, hitting targets in an area northeast of the city of Arbil, a local official said Thursday.
JERUSALEM ON HIGH ALERT
Thousands of Muslims expected to pray on Temple Mount area
Israel deployed 4,000 police throughout Jerusalem on the third Friday of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, preparing for a possible backlash from Gaza strikes earlier in the week. Police will be barring nearly all Palestinians from the West Bank from the city, although officials indicated they may allow men over the age of 40 and women over 35 to enter. The heightened presence comes as tens of thousands of Muslim faithful were expected to pray at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Jews were to hold a funeral for a revered rabbi who was a key figure in the religious settlers movement.
The 96-year-old former Ashkenazi grand rabbi of Israel, Avraham Shapira, considered to be the spiritual mentor of the movement, died on Thursday in Jerusalem and was to be buried on the Mount of Olives. Police are also on heightened alert after Israeli forces killed 12 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in 24 hours earlier this week, prompting the Islamist Hamas movement to warn of retaliation. (AFP, 9/28/07)
[Reported by: Intercessors for America]
Please stand in the gap for Israel over this weekend, and pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem, according to Psalm 122:6.
The following prayer points are offered today by Intercessors for Israel:
- Father, watch over this nation - especially Jerusalem today - another Islamic day of prayer in the midst of the Moslem's holy month of Ramadan.
- Lord, give security forces an alertness. Provide them with discernment to tell who among the Palestinians are terrorist from those who are not.
- Thank You for the incredible success Israel's security has had this past year. "Blessed be the LORD my strength, who teaches my hands to war, my fingers to fight:" (Psalms 144:1)
- May Israel's leadership - both political and military - have the wisdom, courage and liberty to continue to fight this war against terrorism.
- Expose all the plans of Hamas to attack Israel, or Jews anywhere. "No weapon . . . formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of Me, says the LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)
[Note from CHPP:
Please go to the website for Intercessors for Israel this weekend, for more key points for intercession for the land of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These include: current negotiations over the "peace process" in Jerusalem; the IDF amassing its forces on Israel's northern border in anticipation of a possible attack from Syria; and special prayers for the Ingathering of the Jewish people during these High Holy Days. Amen!
A Closing Thought . .
"Fret not because of evildoers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither. . . .Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly shall you be fed. Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the LORD; trust also in Him . . . He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not . . . because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, forsake wrath: fret not in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upo! n the LORD, they shall inherit the earth." (Psalms 37:1- 9)
