Today's Daily Brief
1. House Approves Economic Recovery Plan - Associated Press
The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package Tuesday, that would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers. The House plan would send some rebate to anyone with at least $3,000 in income, with more going to families with children and less going to wealthier taxpayers.
It faced a murky future in the Senate, though, where Democrats and some Republicans backed a larger package that adds billions of dollars for senior citizens and the unemployed, and shrinks the rebate to $500 for individuals and $1,000 for couples. The Senate plan would deliver checks even to the richest taxpayers, who are disqualified under the House-passed measure.
· Gracious Heavenly Father, may the people of America learn to trust in You like a little child, and not solely put their trust in man and his government. We thank You for this encouraging sign to help revitalize our stumbling economy, but it has not yet been approved. May we continue to trust in You for our every daily need! For Your Glory, we pray. Amen.
· "Jesus said to him, 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' Immediately, the father of the child cried out and said with tears, 'Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!'" (Mark 9: 23-24 NKJV)
2. Fed Weighs Another Rate Reduction - ABC News
Individuals and businesses are likely to see their borrowing costs drop further as the Federal Reserve weighs another interest-rate reduction to bolster a sagging economy. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues are scheduled to open a two-day,closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon to plot their next move on interest rates. The gathering comes amid growing fears the country is either on the brink of a recession or has started slipping into one from a housing market collapse, a global credit crunch and turbulence on Wall Street. The country's last recession was in 2001.
Many economists believe the Fed will lower its key rate, now at 3.5 percent, by as much as one-half percentage point to 3 percent when policymakers wrap up their meeting Wednesday afternoon. If this happens, commercial banks would be expected to lower their prime lending rate by a corresponding amount from 6.5 percent to 6 percent. Then both the Fed's key rate and the prime rate would be at nearly three-year lows. The prime rate applies to certain credit cards, home equity lines of credit and other loans.
· Praise God for leading America's financial officials and experts to guide this nation away from a recession and into a healthy economic climate. May Chairman Bernanke and America's economic officials continue to seek the Lord's Face in their deliberations.
· "Make Your Face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes." (Psalm 119: 135 NKJV)
3. McCain Wins Florida, Giuliani to End White House Bid - ABC News, AFP, Associated Press and CBN News
Republican hopeful John McCain won a narrow victory over rival Mitt Romney in Florida's primaries Tuesday, delivering a body blow to the White House hopes of ex-New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani. Sources told ABC News, the former mayor will board a plane to California Wednesday morning, and once there, instead of participating in the Republican debate, he will drop out of the presidential race and endorse Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.
Republican Mitt Romney, his family and supporters vowed to carry his campaign into the vote-rich Super Tuesday contests next week after narrowly losing Florida's primary to rival John McCain. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee didn't say too much about the results of the Florida primary while speaking to a crowd in St. Louis, Missouri, that night, except, "We're playing all nine innings of this ball game."
Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Florida Democratic primary Tuesday night, an event that drew no campaigning by any of her presidential rivals and awarded no delegates to the winner.
· Only You, God, know who should be the next President of the United States. Please remind us to be faithful to You in prayer about this. May You lead on in this election process for Your Sovereign Glory.
· "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20: 7 NKJV)
4. Gorbachev, Rebuking Putin, Criticizes Russian Elections - NY Times, Washington Post and AP
Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the final leader of the Soviet Union, sharply criticized the state of Russia's electoral system in remarks published Monday and called for extensive reforms to a system that has secured power for President Vladimir V. Putin and the Kremlin's inner circle. Giving fuel to Mr. Gorbachev's call for election reform, is President Vladimir Putin's chosen successor, Dmitry Medvedev, who has refused to meet his rivals for the presidency in live television debates in the run-up to the March 2 election. Another perceived problem is that Russia is now limiting foreign election monitors. It has invited only 400 international monitors to observe the presidential election in March, the country's election chief said Monday -- half the number that participated four years ago.
· Dearest Jesus, we have asked in Your Name that Vladimir Putin would not be arrogant and abusive in the affairs of the country that You have entrusted to him. We humbly ask in Your Name that this man would be admonished by the Eternal God to stop acting as if he were God. We continue to ask for his salvation and of those who support him and his administration. May Russia be saved for Your glory to bring many more unsaved countries into Your Kingdom. In Your Name we pray. Amen.
· "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God, who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1: 17 NKJV)
5. Coming Soon: Artificial Lungs - USA Today
When the lungs fail, doctors have few tools in their arsenal to help people breathe. That may change soon, say scientists who believe they may soon be able to offer patients with acute lung failure an artificial lung - at least one that can be used short-term while they await transplants or for their damaged lungs to heal.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 150,000 Americans experience lung failure each year. A third do not survive, and those who do often suffer permanent respiratory damage. One thousand wait in line for lung transplants; 25% will die because their lungs fail them while they wait.
· Dear Lord, the God Who Heals, may You remind these doctors, patients and the medical world that You have the power over life and death. May they ask You to allow these artificial lungs to help those who need them and to ultimately give You the glory for this and other medical advancements! May the medical community seek Your Face in all that they do to heal, and not harm.
· "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases." (Psalm 103: 2-3 NKJV)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"[Nebuchadnezzar] was driven from the sons of men . . . till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and He appoints over it whomsoever He will." (Daniel 5:21)
1. Ahmadinejad tells West: Accept Israel's 'imminent collapse' - Ha'aretz
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called on the West Wednesday to acknowledge Israel's "imminent collapse."
2. Winograd Committee to issue final report on Wednesday - Jerusalem Post
After much anticipation and speculation, the Winograd Committee of Examination into the performance of the government and the army in the years leading up to and during the Second Lebanon War is due to present its findings to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Wednesday.
3. Report on Lebanon war threatens Ehud Olmert power amid call for resignation - London Times
Ehud Olmert, the Israeli Prime Minister, will face one of his toughest challenges today when a damning report into his leadership during the 2006 Lebanon War is released, threatening his political career and the renewed peace process on which he has staked his reputation.
Prayers for the Persecuted Church 1. China Releases More House Church Leaders From Labor Camp - Worthy News 2. Death Toll Rising In Orissa Refugee Camps; Violence Spreading - Worthy News 3. LETTERS FROM KENYA Update!<br> Greetings those of Lords Household, China Deploys Troops to Help Snowstorm Relief Effort China ordered the largest deployment of troops in at least a decade to clear ice and restore transport links and power supplies after the worst snowstorms since 1954. About 600,000 people remained stranded in the southern city of Guangzhou days before the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, when tens of millions of migrant workers return home. The government boosted food supplies to prevent hoarding and ordered shops to stop raising food prices, while the weather bureau warned the country to prepare for more snow until Feb. 2. Blizzards in eastern, central and southern China over the past two weeks have caused an estimated 32.7 billion yuan ($4.5 billion) of economic losses, destroying crops, causing power cuts and forcing smelters and carmakers to reduce or halt production. Airports, railway stations and highways in Shanghai and major cities were snared in logjams. About 149,000 houses have been destroyed and 602,000 damaged, with 1.62 million people relocated, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said today. At least 55 people have died. (Bloomberg) (The following prayer request comes from an anonymous source.) · Please pray for the situation going on right now in the Guizhou Province of southcentral China. Normally this area enjoys rather temperate weather, but this winter has been brutal. There is no heat. They are running out of food because everything is freeze burned. No buses running and trains that usually take 3 hours to reach a city are taking 20 hours if at all.
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)
China on Wednesday, January 23, released three female house church leaders "unconditionally" from their labor camp in Hubei province, in what their supporters described as "another legal stunning victory."
An elderly pastor in India's Orissa state, who fled the deadliest Hindu-violence against Indian Christians there in recent memory, has died in a government-run refugee camp, a well-informed rights group confirmed Tuesday, January 22.
(Received late last Saturday . . . please hold this pastor in prayer)
Good afternoon Dave,
I am asking you to pray with us concerning a pastor friend of Melanie and ours. He is the pastor who hosted us during our stay in Africa. He also stayed at our home several months ago. His name is Pastor Cosmas. His wifes name is Irene. The president of Kenya is a Kikuyu. The opposing tribe accuse him of fixing the election. So they are hunting down and killing Kikuyus all over Kenya.
The violence was initially centered around Nairobi. Yet I was on the web tonight and saw that the violence has spilled over into Naivasha which is the pastor's town. I called him immediately. He said tonight has been a terrible night with 25 people being burned behind his house. Gun shots all around. He wants to leave but he can't leave for the sake of the flock of God there in Naivasha. It is 2:30 in the morning now. Another wave is scheduled at 3:00.
Please join us in praying for Pastor Cosmas and Irene as well as the region as a whole. Thank you and Grace to you.
Eric L.
This just in . . . since others prayed for Pastor Cosmas, God has answered with a miracle. Updated report follows below:
Indeed it is amazing what to consider the effect that the saints of the Great King can have on the affairs of the earth. I want to thank you who are of the Lord's bretheren for taking up this task with me and my family. I recently spoke with my dear friend and Kenyan Pastor Cosmas and he told me that the attack that was scheduled to take place at 3:00 am on the 27th never took place because the attackers never showed up. Stunning.
Please continue to keep the overall matter before the Lord in a spare moment or two . . .
I would like to say Grace, Grace to you and your families and may the Lord continue to woo our hearts and make us His forever. We shall meet on the Sea of Glass in the morning of Eternity. Be well.
Eric L.
Major Snowstorm Hits China
Thick ice is everywhere and people are falling and breaking bones. Some are dying as a result.
Pray for a warmer front to move in quickly and for help to arrive to restore the heat.
Prayer for the Primaries
Next week is SUPER TUESDAY, when more than 20 states 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.
(Source: Intercessors for America)
" . . . 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)
For a complete guide to the Republican primaries, go here:
For a complete guide to the Democratic primaries, go here:
Links to Other Resources
Recommended links are now posted on our CHPP Blog. Click here to visit our blog for more information.
We particularly wish to cite Intercessors for America as the source to find all other ongoing prayer initiatives at this time.
For news at the state level (including court decisions re: gay rights), please see the links for the Family Research Council and for Citizen Link (Focus on the Family.) Thank you!!
