1. Congress Urged to Halt $300 Million to Planned Parenthood - AP
More than 60 pro-life leaders from across the country called on Congress Thursday to suspend over $300 million in annual taxpayer funding to the nation's biggest abortion provider while one of its local affiliates faces 107 criminal counts in Kansas.
· Father, we ask You to shine Your Light into this situation with Planned Parenthood, planning death. May Your Truth be seen and bring an absolute end to all annual funding. In Jesus' name we ask this prayer. Amen
· " . . . for the extortioner is at an end, the spoiler ceaseth, the oppressors are consumed out of the land." (Isaiah 16:4b)
2. House GOP: Rangel Tax Bill 'Largest Tax Increase Ever' - CNSNews.com
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) has unveiled his tax reform plan, saying it will "fix" the Alternative Minimum Tax and provide tax relief to millions of Americans, but House Republicans say the bill is the "mother of all tax hikes" and will stymie economic growth.
· Heavenly Father, only You know if this "fix" for the Alternative Minimun Tax is good or bad. We ask that You grant Your wisdom to these legislators, so that creative ways can be found to CUT THE BUDGET rather than to increase it. Show those who are voting what is right for the people, and may that be accomplished, In Jesus Name, amen.
· " . . . but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." (James 1:6a)
3. Democratic Sponsors Withdraw 'Armenian Genocide' Resolution - Fox News
Democrats who sponsored a House resolution labeling the 1915 mass murder of Armenians as "genocide" asked Speaker Nancy Pelosi to delay a vote on the measure Thursday. Good, said House Republicans.
· "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." (Eccl. 3:1)
4. US Expands Immigration Crackdown Along Mexican Border - Houston Chronicle
The U.S. Border Patrol plans on Friday plans to announce a "zero tolerance" operation to prosecute, jail and deport all illegal immigrants caught in the Laredo area, the Houston Chronicle reported.
· We give thanks Father for the determination of the Border Patrol to enforce laws already on the books concerning illegal immigrants. May their efforts be carried forth without incident.
· "He maketh peace in thy borders and filleth thee with the finest of wheat." (Psalm 147:14)
5. Iran Sanctions Are Meant to Prevent War, Bush Aides Say - Washington Post
In approving far-reaching, new unilateral sanctions against Iran, President Bush signaled yesterday that he intends to pursue a strategy of gradually escalating financial, diplomatic and political pressure on Tehran, aimed not at starting a new war in the Middle East, his advisers said, but at preventing one.
· Offer thanks to the Lord for the wisdom He bestows upon President Bush in dealing with Iran. Ask our God to strengthen the hands of our president, as he continues to confront this dangerous and deadly enemy.
· "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist." (Luke 21:15 KJV)
6. Putin Warns Against More Iran Sanctions - AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned strongly Thursday against imposing new international sanctions on Iran, in words that appeared to be a response to newly announced U.S. measures to punish Tehran.
· The Russian president clearly has an agenda which may not be in the best interests of our own nation. Take authority over every lying and deceiving spirit that may be influencing the president of that great nation, taking every thought captive to obedience to Christ. Our God reigns!
· "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2:10,11)
7. Report: Bush and Rice at Odds
Disagree on Annapolis and Israel Attack on Syria- DEBKAfile
For the first time since they began working together, President George W. Bush and his secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice are visibly divided on two major foreign policy issues, both related to Israel: The Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, which is still sans date, participants or agenda, and Israel's attack on the North Korean nuclear project in Syria on Sept. 6, which the president approved.
As she feared, the resulting exposure of North Korea's proliferation activities stirred a hornets' nest against her bid to bring diplomacy on Pyongyang's nuclear program to a successful conclusion with signed US- North Korean contracts for its liquidation.
DEBKAfile's Washington sources disclose that this week Bush questioned Rice on the prospects of the Annapolis meeting. "Can you do it?" he asked. "I'm trying," she replied, thereby acknowledging it was far from being in the bag.
The president was already skeptical, but he cooled further to the conference plan, those sources report, after listening to two American-Jewish delegations who visited the White House last week.
· Offer praise to the Lord for this report, for it shows that prayer and action is making a difference in the direction of U.S. policy towards pressuring Israel to give up her "land for peace." Continue in prayer that President Bush will hear the LORD in all matters relating to Israel, bringing not a curse upon our own nation, but a blessing, instead.
· "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Prov. 21:1) The Middle East in Focus 1. 'Syria razed alleged nuclear reactor to hide evidence' - Ynet News 2. 'Gaza power cuts could lead to escalation' - Ynet News 3. Palestinian source: PA to take control of Nablus soon - Ynet News 4. Palestinians set fire to West Bank synagogue for second time - Ha'aretz Meet the New SCHIP, Same as the Old SCHIP The Democratic Leadership made another effort to expand socialized medicine yesterday, ignoring pleas to postpone a House vote on their child health insurance bill to accommodate Republican members dealing with the deadly fires in California. While the Democrats picked up a few votes, it appears the timing of the vote was coordinated with liberal groups like America Coming Together and MoveOn.org who plan to air new hit ads against members who voted against the new bill. This collaboration exposes Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) ploy to use partisan means to gain more power. The "new" bill itself is really not that much different from the previous bill, which President Bush vetoed. Speaker Pelosi's new SCHIP costs the same (a $35 billion expansion), allows for taxpayer-funded health care to those who can afford it and to people who aren't children, and is an obvious first step towards socialized medicine at the cost of private coverage. A new Congressional Budget Office analysis found that over two million people would leave private coverage and join this tax-funded system. (Tony Perkins' Washington Update; Family Research Council; Oct. 26, 2007) Massachusetts Pastor Orders Harry Potter Books Removed From Catholic School A Catholic pastor at a Massachusetts parochial school has made all the Harry Potter books there disappear, saying they are spiritually dangerous for children and could encourage them to engage in witchcraft. The Rev. Ron Barker of St. Joseph's School in Wakefield, Mass., said he stripped the library there of the fantasy series by British author J.K. Rowling in the last month after discovering the novels were among the 10,000 volumes on the shelves. "This is a parochial school and I have the moral authority to do this," he said in an interview with FOXNews.com. "For some people, reading those books is a vehicle to become involved in the occult. My basic premise is for the spiritual protection of the children." (Fox News) · Thank you, Lord, for the courage of this Pastor. We ask Your protection over him and over his position as he stands against true demonic forces. We pray that other school authorities would follow suit -- especially in this time of the year. School Violence in the News 4 Students Shot at Middle School Football Game About 100 people were attending the game when the shooting erupted a short distance from the school's football field, where the team was playing Central Middle School, Vanderhaar said. Students Strap on Empty Gun Holsters to protest Gun Restrictions on Campus College students across the country have been strapping empty holsters around their waists this week to protest laws that prohibit concealed weapons on campus, citing concerns over campus shootings. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a group of college students, parents and citizens who organized after the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech University in April, launched the protest. "People who would otherwise be able to defend themselves are left defenseless when on campus," said Ethan Bratt, a graduate student wearing an empty holster this week on the campus of Seattle Pacific University. (Fox News) · Father we take authority over and bind the spirits of fear and anger that have invaded schools across America. We ask that You move on the hearts of students and parents alike to bring peace. Give us all rational thoughts led by Your Spirit of wisdom, and may Your Spirit blow across every campus from elementary schools to universities to bring revival and change.
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)
New commercial satellite images show a suspected Syrian nuclear reactor site has been wiped clean since it was bombed Sept. 6th by Israeli aircraft.
Israel is entering a complex situation which could yield a large number of discouraging scenarios, including an escalation in the near future, security sources told Ynet on Thursday evening on the backdrop of Defense Minister Ehud Barak's decision to reduce power supplies to the Gaza Strip.
In the coming days, preparations will be made for the transfer of around 500 Palestinian Authority security people to the northern West Bank city of Nablus in order to strengthen the PA's grip there, a Palestinian security official told Ynet Thursday.
Palestinians set fire to a synagogue near the Dolev settlement in the West Bank early Friday. Worshippers who arrived at the site to find the building in flames, its contents - including prayer books and torah scrolls - destroyed.
Harry Potter in the News
· "And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them; he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him." (Psalm 37:40)
Gunfire erupted during halftime at a middle school football game on Wednesday afternoon, wounding two teenagers and two adults, police said. The injured teenagers were not students at South Middle School, in Saginaw, Michigan, where the shootings took place about 5:15 p.m. The other victims were an adult male and an adult female, Vanderhaar said. He declined to provide more details.
Safiya Mosley, a Saginaw Public Schools spokeswoman, said players and spectators were moved toward the center of the football field immediately after the shootings. They were allowed to leave after police indicated the situation was under control. (AP, Fox News)
· "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
If you are looking for an inspirational film to watch over the weekend with a life- affirming message of hope, I recommend Bella.
It's a touching and thought-provoking film about two people whose lives change forever when they find that it sometimes takes losing it all to finally appreciate the things that truly matter. Bella will open to very limited distribution in 31 markets starting tonight. Broader distribution opportunities will be based on the success of the screenings during these first two weekends.
So I encourage you to find out if a theater near you is showing Bella, and, if so, to experience Bella's message of hope. To find out where Bella is playing, visit: http://www.bellathemovie.com
