'"The eternal God is a dwelling place, And underneath are the everlasting arms. " (Dt. 33:27)
Note: The majority of our headlines come from a wonderful news source out of Israel: Worthy News. The editor of Worthy News is George Whitten. Please take note of his message, below. You WILL be blessed if you are able to meet George and his wife Rivka while they are in the United States!
The following is a message from George Whitten:
George, Rivka & the family will be travelling across the US from the beginning of February to the end of April. If your congregation would like to have us minister in song and share what the Lord is doing in Israel, please contact rivka@worthyministries.com 1. UPDATE: Disaster Averted: Stocks Claw Back After Fed Move - FoxNews 2. Wall Street Braces for More Volatility - AP 3. Global markets plunge on U.S. recession fears - CNN 4. Voter ID rule finds support - Washington Times 5. Iran gets 5th shipment of nuclear fuel - Jerusalem Post 6. Epidemic superbug strains evolved from one bacterium: study - AFP The Middle East in Focus 1. UN Security Council to hold emergency meeting on Gaza - Ynet News 2. Netanyahu: Israel should practice mass deterrence - Ynet News 3. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Missile test / Launched from Palmachim, heard in Tehran - Ha'aretz 4. Senior Saudi prince offers Israel peace vision - Ynet News 5. 'We're supplying electricity to Gaza under Qassam fire' - Ynet News Prayers for the Persecuted Church 1. Nearly 100 Christians Injured In New Attacks In India 2. Iraq: Serial Attacks on Churches Continue 3. China Releases Church Leaders From Labor Camp 4. Malaysia: Government Confiscates Christian Children's Books President Bush: "All Life Deserves To Be Protected" President Bush Makes Remarks To Participants Of The March For Life Rally And Says "Our History Shows That A Cause Rooted In Human Dignity And Appealing To The Best Instincts Of The American People Cannot Fail" President Bush: "Thirty-five years ago today the United States Supreme Court declared and decided that under the law an unborn child is not considered a person." "[W]e're heartened by the news that the number of abortions is declining. But the most recent data reports that more than one in five pregnancies end in an abortion. America is better than this, so we will continue to work for a culture of life where a woman with an unplanned pregnancy knows there are caring people who will support her; where a pregnant teen can carry her child and complete her education; where the dignity of both the mother and child is honored and cherished." (President George W. Bush, Remarks To The March Of Life Rally Participants, The White House, 1/22/08) · "We aspire to build a society where each one of us is welcomed in life and protected in law. We haven't arrived, but we are making progress." "Here in Washington we passed good laws that promote adoption and extend legal protection to children who are born despite abortion attempts. We came together to ban the cruel practice of partial birth abortion. And in the past year we have prevented that landmark law from being rolled back." · "We've seen the dramatic breakthroughs in stem cell research that it is possible to advance medical science while respecting the sanctity of life." "Biology confirms that from the start each unborn child is a separate individual with his or her own genetic code. Babies can now survive outside the mother's womb at younger and younger ages. And the fingers and toes and beating hearts that we can see on an unborn child's ultrasound come with something that we cannot see: a soul." · "[A]s we reach out to others and find common ground, we can see the glimmerings of a new America on a far shore." "This America is rooted in our belief that in a civilized society, the strong protect the weak. This America is nurtured by people like you, who speak up for the weak and the innocent. This America is the destiny of a people whose founding document speaks of the right to life that is a gift of our Creator, not a grant of the state." (Source: www.whitehouse.gov) Although the temperatures hovered around freezing and winds continued to whip through Washington, pro- lifers came by the thousands, undeterred by the weather, to participate in today's 35th annual March for Life. Together with activists from across America, FRC and our new Witherspoon Fellows joined the multitude to protest one of the nation's most disgraceful acts of judicial tyranny, Roe v. Wade. For more than three decades, we have labored to stir the hearts of men and women everywhere, urging them to rise up and disavow a ruling now responsible for the bloodshed of nearly 50,000,000 innocent human lives. As somber as the occasion was, we couldn't help but be encouraged to look across the vast crowd and recognize that in 35 years our movement has not deteriorated but is thriving as never before in the passion of the next generation. Although the young people at today's march were not born when Roe v. Wade was handed down, to quote one teenager, they are all "survivors" of it. These children have grown up in an abortion-on-demand society and witnessed the devastation it inflicts on women, the family, and millions of their peers whom they will never have the opportunity to meet. In the face of 35 years of pro- abortion propaganda and indoctrination, young Americans are embracing a culture of life with renewed intensity. The advent of ultrasound has provided an unanswerable rebuttal to the pro-choice argument that the beginning of human life is mere opinion. As a result (as the political establishment can testify) abortion as an issue in 2008 is not losing traction but gaining it. In a survey released on Roe's anniversary by the Barna Group, 94 percent of Evangelicals cited abortion as their number one concern--ahead of personal debt, the homosexual agenda, illegal immigration, and much more. We applaud President Bush for taking those concerns seriously. He declared Sunday, January 20 "National Sanctity of Human Life Day" and spoke resolutely this morning at a White House breakfast about working toward a day when "every child is welcomed into life and protected in law." Although many battles remain, I believe that we are on the winning side. For our friends in Congress and across this great land, may today's march reaffirm the truth about life and renew our hope in protecting it. (Family Research Council) [For more insight on the status of the pro-life movement in our nation today, please see a commentary written by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), "Life is Winning in America." Rep. Pence states that Compassion is overcoming convenience, life is defeating despair, and hope is vanquishing a lifetime of regret. This article was first published in The Washington Times today and was reprinted by Focus on the Family's Citizenlink. Read more.] RU-486 Claims Record Number of Victims Although pro-lifers are hailing a decline in abortion, the widespread use of RU-486 is arousing fresh concern. According to an article in today's Washington Post, abortions by RU-486, the chemical alternative to surgical abortion, have risen 22 percent a year and are now responsible for 14 percent of the total abortions performed in the first nine weeks of pregnancy. For nearly eight years, FRC has documented the health risks surrounding the abortion drug--and the list continues to grow. We have taken our objections to Capitol Hill, to the Food and Drug Administration, and to the Internet. In spite of the outcry from both medical and conservative groups, all of which caution that the drug seriously endangers women's health, more than 840,000 U.S. women have been persuaded to use RU-486 as part of a broader political agenda that is claiming women and children as its victims. There are at least 1,000 documented reports of side-effects from taking RU-486, ranging from infection and hemorrhaging to ectopic pregnancies and even death, yet more than half of abortion traders are now offering RU-486 as an option. As Dr. E. Hakim-Eliahi noted after looking at Planned Parenthood's 2003 list of complications from the drug and wrote in a letter to Ob.Gyn News, "If I were to receive such a report from a surgical abortion clinic, I would recommend to health authorities that the clinic be immediately shut down." RU-486 has compromised women's safety and the integrity of the FDA's drug approval process. To learn more, log on to www.frc.org and order "Politicized Science: The Manipulated Approval of RU-486 and Its Dangers to Women's Health," for an in-depth look at the history, regulation, and dangerous side effects of RU-486. (Family Research Council) So far this month, we have survived primaries in several states, including Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina (Republican), Michigan and Nevada. The remaining schedule for primaries in January is: 23- Republican presidential debate in Florida On February 5th, more than 20 states, representing a total of 2,075 delegates, have scheduled their contests for the earliest date allowed by the party without special exception. · Earnestly intercede against media and special interest manipulation during this primary season. Pray that moral, God-fearing, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-family men and women be selected, supported, and find favor in local, state, and national campaigns. Intercede that the Lord reveal His choices, expose corruption, immorality, bribery, the occult, and hidden anti-biblical agendas. " . . . if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
We'll be informing you regularly about where and when we will be ministering. If it is convenient, please come and join us. We'd love to get to know you! Worthy News: www.worthynews.com
Today's Daily Brief
Normally, a loss of 150 points on the Dow is no reason to smile, but today was different because it could have been much, much worse. Wall Street has been demanding action from the Federal Reserve and got it today: the largest interest rate cut since 1984 and the first intrameeting move since the days following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. After initially opening sharply lower with a 450-point drop on the Dow in reaction to turmoil in foreign markets, Wall Street rallied almost the whole way back thanks to the Fed's extraordinary moves.
· Praise the Lord that our financial experts found a strategy to temporarily revive our stock market today. Pray that this move pleases the Lord and that He can bless us. Pray that this move helps all Americans, not just the wealthy; and pray for permanent strategies to come forth that would secure our people, even in the midst of judgment. · "But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." (Luke 12:31)
With Wall Street falling precipitously almost by the day, investors are asking what it will take to revive it. Market experts are increasingly coming to the same answer: Time.
· Continue to repent for the sins of Americans so that the Lord can heal our land, including our economy. Is this a time of correction and adjustment? Pray also that President Bush notices a connection between the economy and his desire for two states in Israel. Always be aware of the times in which we live. · "Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." (Psalm 107:43)
Stocks fell sharply worldwide Monday following declines on Wall Street last week amid investor pessimism over the U.S. government's stimulus plan to prevent a recession.
· Pray that such pessimism is short-lived globally, so that the stimulus of the US economy can take effect. God is on His throne, and He has the world economies under His control. · "Evil men understand not judgment , but they that seek the Lord understand all things." (Proverbs 28:5)
Two-thirds of Americans, including a majority of racial and ethnic minorities, say the government should make voters show photo identification before voting, according to a new Fox 5/The Washington Times/ Rasmussen Reports survey.
· Pray that the state governments heed the will of the people in this matter so that illegal aliens do not have the opportunity to vote in our national and state elections. More than photo identification will probably be needed, for drivers licenses do not prove citizenship but do provide photographs. Pray for wisdom for our officials in dealing with this matter. · "Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor His mercy from me." (Psalm 66:20)
Iran received the fifth shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Tuesday for a power plant being constructed in the southern port of Bushehr, state radio reported.
· Iran and Russia never cease from playing games with nuclear power, obviously causing concern throughout the world. Pray that this new power plant's construction will be permanently delayed in in southern Iran. · "For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out." (Proverbs 24:20)
The drug-resistant "superbugs" that have cut a swathe through day care centers, schools, locker rooms and prisons across the United States in the last five years stem from one rapidly evolving bacterium, US scientists said Monday.
· Pray that infectious disease experts quickly find a vaccine against this evolving bacterium and that the bacterium immediately stop its evolving into new forms. Pray for the strong health of Americans just as we pray for health in other areas of our nation. · "Who His self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness, by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Who is like unto You, O LORD, among the gods? who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)
The UN Security Council was to meet in emergency session Tuesday on the humanitarian crisis triggered by Israel's crippling blockade of the Gaza Strip, in response to the firing of rockets into the Jewish state.
Opposition leader MK Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) warned Monday that Israel might find itself "a country pointing missiles in three directions."
First, the facts: A successful test of a new dual-stage missile was carried out at the Palmachim air base at 8:45 A.M. Thursday. Every part of the system, including the launcher and the missile itself, functioned properly, and can thus be considered operational. This success can be credited to Israel Aerospace Industries; to the other firms involved in the project; and to the Israel Air Force. Missile test / Launched from Palmachim, heard in Tehran - Ha'aretz First, the facts: A successful test of a new dual-stage missile was carried out at the Palmachim air base at 8:45 A.M. Thursday. Every part of the system, including the launcher and the missile itself, functioned properly, and can thus be considered operational. This success can be credited to Israel Aerospace Industries; to the other firms involved in the project; and to the Israel Air Force.
A senior Saudi royal has offered Israel a vision of broad cooperation with the Arab world and people-to- people contacts if it signs a peace treaty and withdraws from all occupied Arab territories.
The Israeli Electric Company (IEC) is supplying nearly 70% of electricity to the Gaza Strip despite Palestinians' claims of a power shortage in Gaza, said Miko Zarfati, the chairman of the workers' committee at the power company.
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Mt. 5:44)
An uneasy calm returned to a Christian missionary camp and another area Sunday, January 20, in India's Chhattisgarh state where up to 100 Christians were injured in attacks this week carried out by suspected Hindu militants, BosNewsLife learned.
A car-bomb exploded outside a Chaldean church in northern Iraq yesterday, injuring two people, a Baghdad bishop said. The blast is the 10th reported attack on Iraqi churches in two weeks.
Four Chinese house church leaders spent another day in freedom Saturday, January 19, after they were unexpectedly released from a labor camp following an "unprecedented legal victory" a Christian advocacy group involved in the case said.
Adding to the furor over whether non-Muslims have the right to use the word "Allah" in their publications and religious practice, on January 11 online news agency Malaysiakini reported that officials confiscated English- language Christian children's books because they contained images of prophets.
"We're Heartened By The News That The Number Of Abortions Is Declining"
A Pro-Life Generation
March Invigorated by Pro-Life Generation 
Prayer for the Primaries
More Primary News in January
25- Democratic presidential debate in Florida
26- South Carolina Democratic primary
29- Florida primary
(Source: Intercessors for America)
