Today's Daily Brief
1. 'Merchant of Death' Captured -- AP
A Russian arms dealer accused of breaking U.N. arms embargoes by supplying weapons to African war zones was arrested Thursday in Bangkok, Thai police said.
·Lord, we thank You for having this man arrested and removed from arms trafficking. We pray that you will find all others involved in this activity which feeds violence and remove them as well.
· "the Lord shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness." (2 Samuel 3:39b)
2. Bomber Hits Historic NYC Recruit Center -- AP
Authorities in New York City are looking for the culprit who set off a rudimentary explosive device in Times Square early Thursday, with one witness describing a hooded man on a bicycle wearing a backpack and acting suspiciously just before the blast at a military recruiting center.
· Lord we pray for a rapid arrest for the perpetrator(s) of this bombing. Thank you Lord that no one was killed in this blast.
·"There shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out." (Proverbs 24:20)
[For more on this issue, please see the commentary by Gary Bauer, below: "Violence Against the Miliary/"]
3. Florida, Michigan Dems Brainstorm on How to Seat Delegates
Democratic lawmakers are getting in on the act to figure out a way to bring Florida and Michigan voters back into the fold before the presidential convention in August.
· Lord, we pray Your wisdom again over this election process and the division and fear that has been injected into it on both sides.
·"But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1:6)
4. Russian Bomber Intercepted Over Navy Ship - Newsmax.com
A Russian bomber aircraft approached a U.S. aircraft carrier off the Korean coast on Wednesday and was intercepted by American fighter jets -- the second such incident in less than a month, U.S. defense officials said.
· Father, again we call out to You for protection for our troops and ships around the world. We pray that You will reveal all the plans of our enemies as they appear to test our reactions and defenses.
·"No weapon formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17)
5. Europe Braces for Release of Film Linking Koran to Terror -CNSNews.com
A leading U.S.-based Internet company says it's ready for any electronic attacks that may come its way for hosting a Web site featuring a provocative short film critical of the Koran. The soon-to-be-released movie has sparked protests in the Islamic world and concerns in Europe.
· Lord, we bind the destructive plans of extremists in Europe, and loose Your Holy Spirit to raise up a standard against those who attempt to intimidate in the name of false religion.
·"I will early destroy all the wicked of the land that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord." (Psalm 101:8)
6. N.J. Authorities Foil Military Style School Massacre Plot - AP
A developing plot to stage a "military-style assault" at a high school near the end of the school year has been foiled, authorities said. One person has been charged in the ongoing investigation, which began this week after officials at Belvidere High School heard allegations that a 17-year-old senior male student was developing a hit list of students and teachers, State Police spokesman Capt. Al Della Fave said Wednesday night.
· Lord, we rejoice yet again at the plans of the enemy being destroyed!
·"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known." (Luke 12:2)
7. Senator Robert C. Byrd hospitalized after reaction to medication -AP
Sen. Robert C. Byrd, the longest-serving senator in U.S. history, is back in a hospital for tests after a reaction to antibiotics. . . As president pro tempore, Byrd is third in line to the presidency. He also leads the Senate Appropriations Committee.
· We pray for Senator Byrd's health and visitation of the Holy Spirit at this time.
· "A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you. . ." (Ezekiel 36:26a)
The Middle East in Focus
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is. 55:8-9)
1. Olmert: IDF will halt ops if Hamas does - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert made clear Wednesday, a day after he met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that quiet in Sderot would bring quiet in Gaza - a clear indication that the current IDF operations are not intended to topple Hamas.
2. Barak asks Justice Ministry for OK to expel Gazans from rocket launch areas - Israel Insider
If Israeli Jews could be legally expelled from their homes in Gaza, and their communities destroyed, why not Palestinian Arabs? Indeed, as the former Jewish communities of Gaza are being used as launch pads for rockets against Israel, the supporters of the 2005 "disengagement" now seek to make amends for their destruction of Jewish homes by visiting a similar punishment on Palestinians -- to stop the rocket problem that the Disengagement exacerbated.
3. Hezbollah: We're ready for war with Israel, but we won't start it - Ha'aretz Prayers for the Persecuted Church 1. VIETNAM: Montagnards: Saigon Keeps Its Head in the Sand - International Christian Concern 2. LAOS: Samak Blasted Over Laos Killings: Attacks on Hmong in Thailand, Laos - Media Newswire 3. CHINA: China 'can use religion to enhance social harmony' - Religious Intelligence Exit Polls Show Texas and Ohio Republicans Strongly Pro-Life on Abortion Texas and Ohio Republicans were no exceptions when it comes to overwhelmingly supporting a pro-life position on abortion. Strong majorities in both states said they prefer making abortion illegal in either all or most cases and they joined the large majority of states with exit polling available showing pro-life Republican majorities. Including Texas and Ohio, the number of states with a pro-life Republican majority jumps to 19 out of 24 that have voted thus far and had exit polling data. The Texas exit poll included 1,545 Republicans and 69 percent said abortion should be illegal while just 29 percent said abortion should remain illegal. Looking more closely at the numbers, some 25 percent of Texas Republicans said all abortions should be illegal while another 44 percent want most abortions made illegal. The exit polling data showed 22 percent want most abortions legal while just 7 percent of Texas Republicans agree with Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in wanting to keep all abortions legal. (LifeNews.com) Violence Against Our Military As you know, a few weeks ago the city council in Berkeley, California, tried to force the Marine Corps to close its recruitment office in Berkeley. There was strong public outrage, and the city backed off. But anti-military sentiment continues to grow and fester on the political Left, and periodically it boils over. This morning, a nut on a bicycle hurled a fire-bomb into the armed forces recruiting office in Times Square in downtown New York City. Fortunately, no one was hurt this time. [Unfortunately] this isn't an isolated incident. Recruiting offices around the country have been vandalized. Recruiters' cars have been defaced, and there have been bomb threats. Isn't it fair to ask whether the hyper-rhetoric on the Left that defames U.S. soldiers -- calling them "fascists," "storm troopers" and "psychopaths" -- is in fact "inspiring" unstable people from Berkeley to New York to engage in violence? Perhaps responsible people on the Left should consider toning down their anti-military rhetoric. (Gary Bauer; End of Day; 3/5/08)
Hezbollah is ready for another war with Israel but it will not start one, the deputy leader of the Lebanon-based guerilla group said in an interview published Wednesday, a day after Israel told the European Union its intelligence showed Iran was rearming the group via Turkey.
Pray for the Persecuted Church
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
Several delegates from the government of Vietnam's Central Highlands area sat across the table from a Jubilee Campaign staff member. When these delegates were presented with evidence of recent religious persecution - including the case of Kpa Kloh, who died Feb. 10, 2008, after extreme torture for his religious beliefs - these officials repeated, "There is religious freedom in Vietnam." "If anyone is punished, it is for his crime, not for religious activity."
A coalition of Lao and Hmong organizations in Washington, D.C. have condemned the recent visit of Thai Premier Samak Sundaravej to Laos following increased Lao and Vietnamese military attacks on unarmed civilians; Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej's apparent direct order to use Thai Third Army Commanders to deploy Thai Army attack dogs to bloody and forcibly repatriate Lao-Hmong refugees prior to his visit to Laos was also dennounced by the coalition in Washington, D.C. Increased religious persecution and the killings of Lao and Hmong Christians in Laos was also highlighted.
Religious belief under the guiding hand of the state can be a tool for promoting social harmony, the number four man in the Chinese Politburo said on Monday at the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing. The chairman of the national committee of the CPPCC, Jia Qinglin's (pictured) comments come amidst rising tensions and expectations from China's rapidly growing Christian population. The state "should fully follow the policy on freedom of religious belief, implement the regulations on religious affairs, and conduct thorough research on important and difficult issues related to religion," Jia said on March 3.
Good News in Exit Polls
OPEC and Islam
OPEC Tool of Islamic Deception and the War Against the West
With the world watching, Islam played yet another card in its move toward world domination-OPEC ministers refused to increase oil production and instead blamed the United States for mismanaging its economy as the cause of rising oil prices. While the news media lapped up the words of the 13 member Islamic dominated council that controls 40% of the world's oil production, and has a virtual monopoly on pricing, there have been no stories about how Islam may be using oil prices to bring economic chaos upon its enemies. The OPEC oil ministers pointed the finger squarely at the United States for the record prices in a move that shifted blame from production and supply to the demand side of economics.
The OPEC statement: "In reviewing the prospects for the oil market, the Conference highlighted the economic slowdown in the USA, which, together with the deepening credit crisis in financial markets, is increasing the downside risks for world economic growth and, consequently, demand for crude oil. The Conference observed that the market is well-supplied, with current commercial oil stocks standing above their five-year average. The Conference further noted, with concern, that the current price environment does not reflect market fundamentals, as crude oil prices are being strongly influenced by the weakness in the US dollar, rising inflation and significant flow of funds into the commodities market."
OPEC is a front for the war of Islamic aggression. It has shown that the fundamentals of supply and demand are minimized by the objective to put America on its knees before Islam using oil prices. Inflation and the weakening of the dollar have been caused in a large part by the run up in oil prices. Yet OPEC says record oil prices are caused by America's high inflation and weak dollar. President Bush told Jordan's King Abdullah in a Wednesday White House meeting, "I think it is a mistake to have your biggest customers' economy slow down, or your biggest customers' economy slowing down, as a result of high energy prices."
The Federal government and the U.S. Congress have made a grave error in trusting OPEC to supply oil at reasonable prices when Islam is at war with America. And the Bush Administration appears naïve in its diplomatic concept that Islamic nations are dealing honestly and fairly with the United States. Islam is at war with America. Islam intends to destroy the country. Islam will use what ever means possible to attain its goal-including high oil prices and using the windfall to buy American debt and property. Its time the American government and Americans wake up. 2 Timothy 3:13 warns, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." The deception of Islam is upon us.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry www.dailyjot.com
