Today's Daily Brief
1. House Criticizes China for 'Extreme' Response to Tibetan Protests - AP
The House on Wednesday criticized China for its "disproportionate and extreme" response to protests in Tibet, and urged the Beijing government to hold direct, unconditional talks with the Dalai Lama on the future of Tibet. The House resolution, sponsored by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called on China to end its crackdown on nonviolent protests in Tibet, release Tibetans imprisoned in peaceful demonstrations, and allow international monitors and journalists unfettered access to the Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan areas of China. It passed 413 to 1. In the Senate, Senators Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Gordon Smith, R-Ore., introduced a similar resolution. Like the House measure, it states that the opening of further Chinese diplomatic missions in the United States should be contingent on Beijing allowing the United States to establish an office in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
· Lord, You love the people of Tibet, and are grieved at the violence which has beset them. We ask Your covering of peace in this matter that no plan of the enemy will be allowed to continue. We pray for grace to cover this resolution, and that Your will and wisdom prevail over its timing.
· "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
2. China Says it Broke Up Terror Ring Plotting To Abduct Olympic Athletes- AP
China said Thursday, it had uncovered a criminal ring planning to kidnap athletes and others at the Beijing Olympic Games.
· Lord, if this statement is not a deception on the part of the Chinese government, then we thank You for the revelation of a plot against the athletes. In either case, we pray that You will use the Olympics to bring seeds and harvest to the Kingdom of God. We ask that You will pour out Your Spirit over the Chinese people and government, changing their hearts forever.
· "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)
3. Bush Embraces Hold on Troop Reductions, Returns to 12 Month Combat Tours- Fox News
President Bush has endorsed a plan to put an indefinite hold on further troop withdrawals after July. He also announced that U.S. troop combat tours would be cut from 15 months to 12 months.
· We pray Lord, that Your wisdom would guide all the actions of our Commander-in-Chief, as well as those in charge of our troops in Iraq. We cover our military forces world-wide with Your Blood and ask for strength, peace, protection and wisdom.
· "For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. . ." (Psalm 91:11)
4. Tornadoes Reported in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma; 1 Killed - AP
Powerful storms brought hail, heavy rain, and possible tornadoes to Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma, causing flooding and power outages for thousands of customers Thursday morning, and at least one death. Arkansas was bracing for more severe weather later in the day. Hail and high winds moved into Arkansas, a state already contending with three weeks of flooding and 10 tornadoes that hit last week. Most of the state was under a flash flood warning and forecasts said the new round of storms Thursday could include tornadoes later in the day.
· Lord, we speak to the winds of these storms and say "Stop! In the Name of Jesus." We pray for Your hand to move with comfort and assistance in the flood-ravaged areas, and that the storms predicted for later today would not form.
· "Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was calm." (Luke 8:24)
5. Forecasters Predict "Well Above Average" Hurricane Activity for the 2008 Season - Fox News
Fasten your seatbelts, it's gonna be a bumpy hurricane season. That's the latest word from a team of Colorado State University forecasters, who predict the nation's Atlantic coast will experience a hurricane season "well above average."
· Father, as we noted last year, scientists can be incorrect in their predictions. Forgive us Lord, and change our hearts in all areas where we have sinned. We pray that Your mercy and grace will cover our nation as we traverse the remainder of this volatile election year, so that no large hurricane damage will occur at that time.
· "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
6. MLK's niece calls U.S. back to the cross of Christ --OneNewsNow
Dr. Alveda King, the niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., says her late uncle would have never supported legalized abortion and would have encouraged the nation to turn back to the Lord.
"He would not be calling on God to do anything really bad to America; although, he would warn us that God's judgment is here. He would remind us that if you don't do what God says, you will experience His judgment. But there's a wonderful verse, many times in the Scripture it says, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. So, he would always be pointing back to the victory at Calvary," Dr. King contends.
She is encouraging Christians to vote their values in the upcoming presidential election. But, she notes, there is one issue that trumps all others. "I have to vote for life -- so whatever candidate is in there, if he or she is not for life and not for strong marriage and family, I can't vote for them. But, I told everybody to look at all three candidates. Don't give anybody a free pass. Make sure that your candidate is lining up with your values and things that you believe in." she notes.
· "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:16)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Remember these, O Jacob and Israel; for you are My servant: I have formed you; you are My servant: O Israel, you shall not be forgotten of Me." (Isaiah 44:21)
1. O Jerusalem! America drafts plan to cut in 2 - WND
The United States, which has been mediating negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority here, has proposed a plan to divide Jerusalem, WND has learned.
2. US Christians 'morally' support Israel - Jerusalem Post
More than 80 percent of American Christians say they have a "moral and biblical obligation" to support the State of Israel, and half say Jerusalem should remain its undivided capital, according to a survey released on Thursday.
3. Israeli study: Hamas has 20,000 gunmen - Ynet News
Hamas is constantly increasing its military capacity in the Gaza Strip, and currently has 20,000 gunmen under its command, a study published by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center (IICC) revealed Thursday.
4. Palestinians: Discussion on Jerusalem to be delayed - Ynet News
The final stage negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians on the issue of Jerusalem will be postponed by five years, according to a new proposal discussed by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and PA negotiator Ahmed Qureia, a Palestinian source told Ynet.
5. Former US president Carter plans meeting with Hamas' Mashaal - Ynet News
US network Fox reported Wednesday that former US president Jimmy Carter was preparing for an unprecedented meeting with Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal.
Jews, Muslims Sing for Gilad Shalit
Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Druze musicians gathered in the village of A'ablin on March 11 to perform in order to raise awareness for Gilad Shalit. During the event, singer Yuval Dor of "Hakol Over Habibi" performed a musical adaptation of a book the kidnapped Israel Defense Forces [IDF] soldier wrote when he was 11-years-old, "When the Fish and the Shark First Met." The song was also translated into Arabic. "We are all human beings, we all have mothers and we all feel terrible that a person is being held captive," Dor told Ynet.
According to Dor, it is the book's simple message that will eventually capture readers' minds. "The story Gilad wrote is, in essence, a story about life. Every society has its sharks and its fish, and there is no other choice but to coexist-reach some sort of balance. Music is one way of achieving this balance."
Dor said the musical rendition to Shalit's tale was not meant to convey a political message. "Maybe when people hear this song they'll enjoy themselves and think of peace," he said, "it's enough that people experience a brief moment of happiness; that is our goal in this project."
Zuher Daim, the writer who translated the song into Arabic, said with a smile that he wished Shalit's book was about two fish of the same size and did not involve a shark, but made it clear that the collaboration was apolitical.
"We want to bring about the day when all of the Israeli and Palestinian prisoners are freed; there is no other choice," he said. "We want to instill one message: Peace, peace and peace."
(By Ahiya Raved, Ynetnews.com, March 12, 2008)
· Praise God for such a creative and thoughtful contribution. Praise Him for those who chose to unite so sensitively, for peace.
· "The LORD performs righteous deeds and judgments for all who are oppressed." (Ps. 103:6)
(Source: Bridges for Peace)
The Tipping Point of the Last Full Measure
I often wonder at what point in a man's mind or heart that he decides enough is enough and takes drastic action to change his circumstances. My grandfather seven generations back, David Wilson, fought in the American Revolution. I wonder what was the tipping point where he decided to drop what he was doing, pick up his hunting rifle and aim it at an occupying British soldier. I wonder, even though there is much more written about the subject of the Pilgrims, at what point did my grandfather 14 generations back, William Bradford, decide enough was enough and he braved all danger to life and property to actually get on the Mayflower and help begin this great journey called America.
One afternoon in Atlanta, I had the opportunity to have a late lunch with Dr. Alveda King, daughter of slain civil rights leader A.D. King and niece of the more famous civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Alveda was very involved in the civil rights movement as a young girl who lived through both the influential men in her life dying for their cause. I asked her what she thought was the tipping point that made her father and uncle say that enough was enough and began the movement for equality and justice for blacks. She said she really didn't know--that it seemed that the righteousness bubbled through the layers of self preservation and it couldn't be suppressed any longer.
Throughout the history of the United States, great men have made great decisions that had great consequences. Their causes would never had materialized without others, with lesser name or status, catching the vision and moving with the leaders. So the question I am asking Americans today is: What is your tipping point? Is it American lives dying for a false cause of Islamic democracy? Is it that our brave warriors are dying for those who appreciate it so little that they won't give us badly needed oil to lessen our pain on behalf of their freedom? Is it, or will it be, utility bills, fuel bills, food bills that can no longer be paid, or even the lack of food in our bellies? What is the tipping point where Americans will take back America?
Christian Americans are quick to excuse themselves with a quote from Romans 13:1, which says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God." They say that we must go along with our rulers because the Bible says so. But they don't understand that in America, we choose our rulers. They are a reflection of us. And if they are leading us down the path of destruction, we the people, must stop them and change the course. So again, what is the tipping point America? Will you wait until you belly is so empty and you are too weak, or will righteousness soon boil through the fleshly comfort of your self preservation?
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
