· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· Russia, Georgia in the News
· Georgian Olim: We're Home
· Oct. 5th: Day to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
· North American Prayer Summit
· Links to Other Resources
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief Friday, August 22, 2008
"But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble." (Psalm 59:16)
The Daily Brief
1. Bush Calls Georgia "Under Siege" - The New York Times
President Bush declared Wednesday that "Georgia's young democracy" has "come under siege" by Russia, and he connected the conflict in the Caucuses with the battle against terrorists and United States efforts to aid the rise of free societies. "The United States of America will continue to support Georgia's democracy," Mr. Bush told about 4,000 people here attending the national convention of Veterans of Foreign Wars and its Ladies Auxiliary. All these events over the past seven years, Mr. Bush said, have been part of "the great ideological struggle of our time, between forces of freedom and forces of tyranny." And, noting that Georgia had since sent troops to Afghanistan and Iraq "to help others realize the blessings of liberty," Mr. Bush said others must now come to Georgia's aid. "Georgia has stood for freedom around the world, and now the world must stand for freedom in Georgia," he said.
· Thank You, Lord for our nation that promotes freedom. We pray for Georgia to be victorious in their own fight for freedom. We ask for wisdom in the decisions being made to stand with Georgia. Our trust is in You, Lord, to save their country from her enemies.
· "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me." (Ps.138:7)
2. Secretary Rice Signs Polish Missile Defense System - The Washington Post
At a signing ceremony with the Polish political leadership, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the system, which will place 10 missile interceptors and more than 100 U.S. troops here, will "help us to respond to the threats of the 21st century." The agreement, suddenly concluded after 18 months of negotiations, came at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the NATO alliance over the war in Georgia. NATO on Tuesday said it will suspend "business as usual" with Russia after its invasion of its southern neighbor. John Rood, undersecretary of state for arms control and nonproliferation, negotiated the Polish deal, and said there was no direct correlation between the timing of the missile defense agreement and the situation in Georgia.
· Lord, we continue to thank you for this system of protection that will be placed in Poland. We ask Your hand of blessing in every phase of the missile defense system. As nations rise against other nations we desire for America to stand for the way of freedom that opens the harvest for the Kingdom of God. It is truly for freedom that You came.
· "That He would grant unto us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear in hoiliness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life." (Luke 1:74-75 )
3. Bush Positive on U.S., Iraq Deal for U.S. Troop Withdrawal by 2012 - AP
President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki spoke by phone Friday as the United States and Iraq reportedly agreed on the framework of deal to withdraw American combat troops by June 2009, with a broader pullout set for the end of 2011. White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said Friday that Bush and the Iraqi "had a good conversation." But he added "there are a lot of details that have to be worked out."
· Thank you, Lord for bringing us to this position and for accomplishing major goals in Iraq. Give strength to Iraq as they are preparing to take full control of their country. May they rebuild on the firm foundation of Your word. Position leaders over Iraq that have a heart for You. May the true Helper lead and guide Iraq.
· "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of Truth; who the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14:16-17)
4. Hope Glimmers Through Petraeus' Fatigue - The New York Times
. . . Yet for all the signs of fatigue, Petraeus is preparing to leave Iraq a remarkably safer place than it was when he arrived. The surge, clearly, has worked, at least for now: Violence, measured in the number of attacks against Americans and Iraqis each week, has dropped by 80 percent in the country since early 2007, according to figures the general provided.
· We give You praise and thanksgiving for this report. Continue to bless and lead us to full victory over the terrorists inside Iraq. Bless General Patraeus with wisdom, rest and satisfaction of a job well done. Bless our troops who have worked so hard and sacrificed greatly.
· "And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea the work of our hands establish thou it." (Ps. 90:17)
5. Terror Propaganda Takes Hit In Iraq - USA Today
Military successes in Iraq have nearly crippled al- Qaeda's ability to produce battlefield propaganda, hampering for now its ability to recruit fighters and raise money, the U.S. military and analysts say. Air Force Col. Scott Maw, a U.S. military spokesman in Iraq, described al-Qaeda's propaganda operations in Iraq as "severely degraded." Last month, operations directed against propaganda cells in Iraq resulted in the killing or capture of 11 cell members and the seizure of more than 800 gigabytes of data, Maw said. The decline in violence and reduction in publicity material have also moderated the way Iraq is covered on Arab news stations, such as Al-Jazeera, which had been criticized by the Bush administration for its coverage early in the war.
· Praise Your Name, Lord, for another good report. We pray for truth to prevail in Arab news sources. As fear tactics are decreased, we pray for the gospel to flow through Iraq. Bring salvation to the nation as true freedom is lifted high.
· "Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore." (Ps.86:11-12)
6. Bush Offers Job Protection to Doctors Against Abortions - Fox News
The Bush administration Thursday proposed stronger job protections for U.S. doctors and other health care workers who refuse to participate in abortions because of religious or moral objections. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt said that health care professionals should not face retaliation from employers or from medical societies because they object to abortion. "Freedom of conscience is not to be surrendered upon issuance of a medical degree," said Leavitt. "This nation was built on a foundation of free speech. The first principle of free speech is protected conscience."
· Praise GOD for this wonderful report!! Perhaps He has heard the cries of His people during The CALLDC last weekend -- that we will be a nation that chooses LIFE. Pray that these new policies will go forth unhindered, and that the medical practitioners who choose LIFE will be honored to do so!
· This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. (Deut. 30:19,20)
7. McCain offices evacuated over suspicious letters - Washington Times
Two of Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign offices were evacuated Thursday after receiving suspicious letters, one of which contained an unidentified white powder. A government official said a letter sent to the office of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee near Denver contained powder, but was being treated as a hoax and was thought to have been sent by an inmate at a nearby jail in Arapahoe County. A letter sent to the office in New Hampshire did not contain powder, but aroused suspicions of staffers who were jittery after the Denver- area office received its letter. Despite the likelihood of a hoax, staffers at all the Arizona Republican's campaign offices nationwide were told not to open letters. "Let's be cautious and not open mail tomorrow unless we clearly know the source," according to a campaign e-mail that was sent to staff members and obtained by The Washington Times. "Let's see what comes of this."
· Hoax or not, offer praise that nothing came of these incidents, and continue to lift up a prayer for the protection of all of our candidates for office this fall. Our governmental system has no place for terror; but is instead based upon the rights of our citizens to freely choose our elected officials.
· "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." (Psalm 150:6)
8. Obama Sued in Philadelphia Federal Court - America's Right.com
Lawsuit States He is Constitutionally Ineligible for the Presidency A prominent Philadelphia attorney and Hillary Clinton supporter filed suit this afternoon in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania against Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee. The action seeks an injunction preventing the senator from continuing his candidacy and a court order enjoining the DNC from nominating him next week, all on grounds that Sen. Obama is constitutionally ineligible to run for and hold the office of President of the United States. (Read more)
· We have seen this case building for some time, and this is not the first time we have offered prayers over this contentious issue. Now that the Democratic National Convention is about to convene, pray again for TRUTH to be revealed -- one way or another -- about the FACTS of the citizenship of Senator Barack Hussein Obama. THIS IS ONE NATION UNDER GOD AND UNDER LAW.
· "The effectual, fervent prayers of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
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: "The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever." (Isaiah 40:8)
1. Hizbullah 'prepared to avenge Mugniyah's death' - Ynet News
Two days after the Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a rare travel advisory warning of possible attempts by Hizbullah to kidnap Israelis abroad, another threatening message arrived from Lebanon on Friday.
2. Police investigators arrive at PM's residence - Ynet News
Police investigators arrived Friday morning at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's official Jerusalem residence in order to question him for the sixth time on his alleged involved in recent corruption affairs.
3. Jews, Christians at odds over Last Supper site construction - Jerusalem Post
An ancient monastery adjacent to where, according to Christian tradition, Jesus ate the Last Supper, has turned into a legal battleground for Catholics and Jews.
Russia, Georgia in the News
For all the news below, decree the Word of God: "He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me." (Psalm 18:17)
1. Russia Breaks Ties with NATO - ABC News
Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension over the invasion of Georgia.
2. Russians dig major fortifications in Georgia - USA Today
Russian forces dug trenches and built long-term fortifications in key areas of Georgia on Thursday, yet rolled columns of tanks north toward home elsewhere, picking and choosing with military precision exactly how their nation would comply with the terms of an EU-brokered peace accord.
3. Georgia sees Russia scheming to stay longer - AP
At the Russian-controlled roadblocks around Gori, the deadpan soldiers are firm but restrained, searching cars and checking identification, but not too rigorously.
4. Assad: Syria may host Russian missiles in its territory - Jerusalem Post
Syrian President Bashar Assad has pledged to support Russia in its conflict with Georgia and said that Damascus was ready to consider deploying Russian Iskander missile systems in its territory, in response to the US missile shield in Europe.
5. Russia Considers Arming Baltic Fleet with Nuclear Warheads - Bridges for Peace
In response to the recent agreement signed by Poland allowing the deployment of US missile defense shield systems on its soil, Russia is considering arming its Baltic fleet with nuclear warheads, for the first time since the cold war. A report in the London bases Sunday Times revealed that the new Russian threat is in response to the Polish and US agreement and comes during the violent conflict in the Caucasus where Russia's military continues to maintain the upper hand. According to the report, the Russian nuclear warheads could be supplied to submarines, cruisers, and fighter bombers of the Baltic fleet based in Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave between Poland and Lithuania.
· Pray that the revival of Russia's superpower ambitions will be acknowledged and contained by world leaders.
· "He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me." (Psalm 18:17)
Georgian Olim: We're Home
The war in Georgia may be waning, but those who fled its horrors are still living with its aftermath. And dozens of them have found new homes in Israel. A total of 75 new immigrants arrived in Israel in the 2nd week of August from Georgia, with most of them settling in the cities of Bat Yam and Ashdod. The Immigrant Absorption Ministry has already approved an assistance package for the newcomers that will include Hebrew schooling, employment offers, and subsidized rent. Underprivileged immigrants will also receive a grant of several thousand shekels. According to the Jewish Agency, some 120 additional Georgians are preparing to immigrate to Israel within the coming months.
Memisashvili family abandoned its home in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and arrived in Israel last week. Vaj'a and his wife, both in their thirties, and their two children, aged 3 and 8, have taken up temporary residence in Kibbutz Messila in northern Israel, as part of a collaborative program between the Jewish Agency and the Kibbutz Movement. "I feel like I've come home," said a proud Vaj'a, who has already managed to squeeze in a visit to Jerusalem. "Here, I am not afraid of a war starting. As an Israeli citizen I will do whatever is necessary to defend the homeland. I feel like we've come home, and I know everything will work out for the best." The kibbutz, he says, has welcomed his family with open arms. "I have a lot of family in Israel, and I heard stories of when they first immigrated, I was surprised by the way people responded to us. They come over, they visit, they bring us clothes and things for our home, and we were even invited over for Shabbat dinner. It warms the heart." (By Yael Branovsky, Ynetnews.com, August 18, 2008)
· Praise God for the way He uses difficult circumstances to fulfill His promise of the people returning to the Land.
· "Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God." (Jeremiah 32:37- 38)
(Report and prayer offered by: Bridges for Peace.)
Editor's Note from Bridges for Peace:New immigrants are rushing to Israel many fleeing war and painful circumstances. Parents are sending children alone with just one suitcase of clothes. Help us reach out to them in love. Go
Oct. 5th: Day to Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem
October 5th Now Designated as the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
Please take a moment to read and pass on this urgent prayer update.We are just weeks away from a powerful moment, when millions of Christians in every nation across the planet will join in faith and unity to pray together for the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem.Literally, in every corner of the planet, churches are preparing to stand in agreement with Psalm 122, and with one another in hope, and pray for God's presence and peace to flood the streets of Jerusalem, and minister peace to all of her inhabitants, Jew and Arab alike.
The First Sunday of October, October 5th, has been designated as the Global Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem by well over 1000 global Christian leaders. Leaders of influence including, Jack Hayford, Paul Cedar, Dick Eastman, T.D. Jakes, Kay Arthur, Myles Munroe, Jane Hansen, John Hagee, Ravi Zacharias, Michael W. Smith, Chuck Pierce, Sunday Adeleja, and Joyce Meyer are just a handful of those all around the world who are in unity calling for focused, united prayer on this day.In order for this day to be effective we NEED to ACT together in unity. Please agree to make a difference today by doing three simple things:
1. Make sure your local church is participating on October 5th.
The Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem is NOT a single location event but rather a worldwide celebration day when LOCAL CHURCHES remember to pray for Jerusalem in their Sunday services. Although there will be a Jerusalem Celebration of this day carried live on GOD TV around the world, the real thrust of the initiative is on the local church level. Please BE SURE that your church is participating! There are resources such as posters and prayer cards for your local church are available at
www.daytopray.com.
2. Please forward this email to as many believing Christians as you can.
If you will simply take a moment right now and forward this on to your close friends and prayer partners, we can literally sound a global trumpet to bring clear focus and awareness to this urgent prayer effort. It really, really makes a difference if you will take five minutes and forward this email.
3. Sign the "Call to Prayer Resolution".
Thousands of Christian leaders around the world have signed this document, calling for global prayer for Jerusalem, and all her inhabitants. Add your voice to this growing number today,
click here to sign the "Call to Prayer Resolution".Finally, the Jerusalem Celebration of the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem will be carried live into 192 nations on GOD TV. If you are in Israel please plan to join us for this celebration, if you cannot be in Israel, GOD TV will be broadcasting this event internationally, LIVE on October 5th. The broadcast schedule will be available closer to the event date. Also consider having your church link with the Jerusalem celebration of the DPPJ by viewing the event on GOD TV! Go to www.god.tv for more information.
We thank you for putting action to your prayers and taking part in seeing God's purposes for Zion unfold in this hour of history!If you have any questions or need further information regarding the Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem, please contact our DPPJ office at 1-800- 51WINGS or visit www.daytopray.com.May the Lord's Shalom rest over each of you, Robert StearnsCo-Chairman, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem Dr. Jack HayfordCo-Chairman, Day of Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem
P.S. If you have not yet done so, please make sure to add your name with the leaders around the world who have signed the "Call To Prayer Resolution." You can also click on your nation (embed Link), state or city (embed Link) to get in touch with the local coordinators in your area to find out about what is happening with the DPPJ in your region.
NORTH AMERICAN PRAYER SUMMIT:AUGUST 26-28
Next week, the North American Prayer Summit will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, August 26-28. Canadian, Mexican and U.S. prayer leaders will be joined by others with a strong burden to pray for our region. They will be coming from England, India and the islands of the South Pacific at their own expense to intercede with us during this critical time, especially for the USA in our national election. Would you please join us in prayer for His anointing, guidance, unity and clarity as we meet together? Pray that as a diverse international group, we will be able to get on the Lord's wave length, hearing clearly what He is saying and responding appropriately.
Immediately after the North American summit, August 29-30, the Mexican leaders will come down to New Mexico to visit our native American tribal groups (pueblos) to ask forgiveness for the sins of their ancestors (Spaniards and Mexicans) who were guilty of awful exploitation and even atrocities in their conquest of this land over 400 years ago. The wounds of history persist, manifesting in alcoholism and depression, suspicion of outsiders and resistance to the Gospel. Please pray with us for open doors and hearts and for true reconciliation and healing that will bring Christ's liberation to the pueblo peoples.
Thanks so much for your keeping these concerns in your hearts over the coming week.Warm greetings,
John Robb
