· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· URGENT ACTION ALERT
· Speaker Pelosi's Energy Embargo
· Turning Away the Other Cheek
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief Thursday, August 7, 2008
"Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. . . " (Psalm 43:1 NKJV)
The Daily Brief
1. Helicopter Crash Site is Proving Hard to Reach - MSNBC
Fire raging through rugged, dense terrain is complicating rescue crews' efforts to recover victims and evidence from the remote part of a Northern California forest where a firefighting helicopter crashed. Nine people were presumed dead.
· Father, we pray Your comfort for the families of those lost in this crash. We ask that You will provide a way for the rescue parties to reach this crash site safely. Lord, again we ask Your mercy over California, that no more fires rage through the land, and that all remaining fires will be extinguished.
· "You, O God, sent a plentiful rain, whereby You confirmed Your inheritance, when it was weary . . ." (Psalm 68:9)
2. Mexican Soldiers Cross the Line - Fox News
Mexican troops crossed the border into Arizona, and held a U.S. Border Patrol agent at gunpoint on Sunday, according to a published report.Agents assigned to the Border Patrol at Ajo, Ariz., said the Mexican soldiers crossed the border into an isolated area southwest of Tucson, and pointed rifles at the agent, who has not been identified.
· Lord, we pray that this incident will so outrage our legislators that they will act to finally secure our borders. We take authority over the forces which cause blind deception in our leadership, and bind them from allowing illegal immigration to reign in our nation. We as watchmen apply the Blood of Jesus over our borders and declare our country off limits to foreign incursions!
· "Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other hand held a weapon." (Nehemiah 4:17)
3. Pentagon Closes Controversial Intelligence Unit - Reuters
The Pentagon on Monday, said it was closing a controversial intelligence office that had raised concerns about domestic spying by the military after the September 11 attacks.
· Lord, You are the One we trust to give true information to our intelligence community. We pray that You will guard our security agencies against wrongful methods, and use those which rely upon Your wisdom and revelation.
· "A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel." (Proverbs 1:5)
4. U.S. Economy: Number of Jobless Claims Reaches Six-Year High - AP
A. The number of newly laid off people signing up for jobless benefits last week climbed to its highest point in more than six years as companies cut back given the faltering economy.
B. Budget Office Says Deficit to Hit $400 Billion - Fox News
The Congressional Budget Office says the government will have generated about $400 billion worth of red ink when the 2008 budget year closes on Sept. 30.
· Father, You alone can redeem our faltering economy. We pray that Your wisdom would propel our legislators and economic leaders to make the changes necessary to save our nation's financial future.
· "For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, but the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to whose who have it." (Eccl 7:12)
5. Iran US Military- Iranian Munitions Found in Iraq - Jerusalem Post
A. Iraqi troops have seized Iranian-made rockets and mortars in Baghdad's Shiite slum of Sadr City, the US military said Wednesday.
B. Israel Building Up for Iran Strikes - AP
Israel is building up its strike capabilities amid growing anxiety over Iran's nuclear ambitions and appears confident that a military attack would cripple Tehran's atomic program, even if it can't destroy it.
· Lord, we again pray that Your wisdom will infuse Israel and the U.S. prior to any actions against Iran. We ask that Your heavenly host stand guard over Israel.
· "And, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha." (2 Kings 6:17b)
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: "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you." (Psalm 20:1)
1. US Defense Department pledges support for Arrow 3 - Jerusalem Post
The US Defense Department has pledged its support to help Israel develop and finance the Arrow 3, head of US Missile Defense Agency Lt.-Gen. Henry Obering III told Israeli defense officials he met with on Wednesday in Tel Aviv.
2. Barak says 'price of inexperience' paid in Lebanon war - Ynet News
Defense Minister Ehud Barak says the price of inexperience was paid during the Second Lebanon War.
URGENT ACTION ALERT
Fuel Bill in Senate & House of Representatives
The majority of our oil is purchased from producers in foreign countries, many of whom promote terrorism targeting the West. Each year, well over half a trillion U.S. dollars are spent on oil imported from OPEC and non-OPEC nations. Would it not be better if all that money remained in the United States?
Both the Senate and the House have initiated legislation that can help to solve this economically devastating problem by dramatically lowering fuel consumption. Identical bills have been introduced in both branches of Congress: S. 3303 and H.R. 6559.
S. 3303 is sponsored by the following Senators: Sam Brownback (R-KS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Joseph Lieberman (I-CT), Ken Salazar (D-CO), and John Thune (R-SD). H.R. 6559 is sponsored by the following representative: Roscoe Bartlett (R-6th MD), John Barrow (D-12th GA), Sanford Bishop (D-2nd GA), Stephen Cohen (D-9th TN), Eliot Engel (D-17th NY), Bob Inglis (R-4th SC), Steve Israel (D-2nd NY), Jack Kingston (R-1st GA), Randy Kuhl (R-29th NY), Nita Lowey (D-18th NY), Donald Manzullo (R-16th IL), and Robert Wexler (D-19th FL).
Both bills are currently in Committee. It is urgently important that our congressional leaders hear from us telling them that we want the US to become fuel- independent for many reasons. As American consumers who have our standard of living at stake, we must ask both our Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor these bills, if they have not already agreed to do so.
Both bills would require new automobiles to be flex-fuel equipped, warranted to operate on gasoline, ethanol, methanol and biodiesel. The alternative fuels can be made from a variety of sources, including switchgrass and other energy crops, coal, agricultural bi-products, corn, soybeans, natural gas and other materials. Making a flex-fuel vehicle would cost the manufacturer about one hundred dollars per vehicle.
The bills spell out 15 critical reasons why this legislation must be enacted.
CLICK HERE to read all 15 critical reasons.
SAMPLE LETTER: You may copy and paste "as is" or change the text if you wish.
Dear Representative/Senator,
I urge you to sign on as a co- sponsor of the fuel-flex legislation S.3303 in the Senate (or H.R. 6559 in the House) that would reduce US oil usage and cost, making the US more oil independent. I concur with the 15 reasons stipulated in the bill itself, which provide valid substantiating arguments that prove the need for and results of enacting this bill.
It will help Americans by reducing both quantity and price of imported oil. This strategy is not only practical, but mandatory, since the technology is readily available at a very minimal cost. In addition, it will accelerate further development of renewable fuel technologies to enhance and ensure our future.
This legislation will provide congressional leadership that the public has been long awaiting. We are depending on you to lead the way in this bipartisan effort to set America free from the grip of fuel dependence.Respectfully,NameCityState
Copy this letter and CLICK HERE to easily forward to your Senators and Congressman. (Source: Unity Coalition for Israel)
Speaker Pelosi's Energy Embargo
Today marks the House Republicans' fourth day of protest over Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) refusal to deal with high gas prices and America's growing energy problem. Politico reports that Pelosi is providing cover for vulnerable Democrats, allowing them to say one thing about energy, while knowing full well that she won't allow a vote on proposals to ease the current crisis. Yesterday, Senior Vice President of FRC Action Connie Mackey and Vice President of Government Affairs Tom McClusky visited the House floor to watch democracy in action. They reported back that it was inspiring to see so many members sacrifice time from their vacations to address issues important to the American people. Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-Texas) told onlookers how the protest began.
He said that a handful of Republicans approached C-SPAN about broadcasting after the normal session was closed but were informed that C- SPAN could not, by order of the Speaker's office. In the past, it's been routine to allow such speeches from the floor. President Bush, perhaps distracted by the Olympic Games, has refused to call a special order of Congress. As a result, the decision now lies with Speaker Pelosi. Please contact her today at (202) 225- 4965 and ask her to let the House vote! (Family Research Council; 8/6/08)
Turning Away the Other Cheek
Mere days before China hoped to show the world its hospitable side, the regime made a bad first impression when it was revealed that the government has denied a visa to Olympic gold-medalist Joey Cheek. The speed skater, who is cosponsoring Team Darfur to draw attention to the human rights violations in the war-torn region, hoped to attend the Games to cheer on the other 70 athletes who signed on to compete in honor of Darfur. Although the U.S. government is protesting the decision, few expect the Chinese to bend. If Cheek is banned from Beijing, it will only serve as further confirmation to those who doubted China's sincerity in welcoming Western values of free speech and religion. While Cheek is a social justice activist, he's also an Olympic champion with philanthropic ties to the Sudanese. Like many others, we encourage the International Olympic Committee to help right this wrong and pressure China to reinstate Cheek, who has more than earned the right to appear at the Games in support of this worthy cause. (Family Research Council)
