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The Daily Brief Tuesday, September 9, 2008
"His Kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end." (Daniel 6:26)
The Daily Brief
1. Government Seizes Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac - Fox
The U.S. government seized control of the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on Sunday, placing the liabilities of more than $5 trillion worth of mortgages onto the backs of the U.S. taxpayer. "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are so large and so interwoven in our financial system, that a failure of either of them would cause great turmoil in our financial markets here at home and around the globe," Paulson said, speaking at a press conference in Washington D.C. on Sunday morning. "A failure would affect the ability of Americans to get home loans, auto loans and other consumer credit and business finance."
· Lord, one of the gifts of the Spirit is self-control. Avarice is unpleasing to You. Help our nation desire purity and a closer walk with You so these kinds of consequences from our greed do not re-occur. Help our leaders have wisdom.
· Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, " One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." (Mark 10:21)
2. Bush Likely to Scrap Nuclear Deal with Russia - Reuters
The United States is likely to scrap a civilian nuclear pact with Russia, as punishment for its war against Georgia last month, a U.S. official said on Thursday. They said they did not trust Russia enough to expand nuclear cooperation, because Russia had supplied fuel to Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant. Russia has left troops in Georgia despite the internationally-negotiated cease-fire requiring them to be pulled back to pre-conflict levels.
· Lord, we pray for the salvation of the Russian leaders and people. Without salvation and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, we are a lost people. Open the doors quickly and wide for that to happen. Make it easy for them to accept Christ!
· Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." (Luke 10:2)
3. Three Guilty in London Plot That Caused Airline Chaos - AP
British jury has found three men guilty of conspiracy to murder thousands, by plotting to down at least seven trans-Atlantic airliners bound for the United States. The prosecutor told jurors during the trial that the men planned to attack United Airlines, American Airlines and Air Canada flights by smuggling liquid explosives onto jets and detonating them in-flight. It was intended to be the bloodiest terrorist attack since Sept. 11, 2001.
· As we enter more treacherous times, we pray that every plot and scheme of the devil and his minions will be exposed and thwarted. As we battle daily in this war against the snares of the devil, let more people be added to the Kingdom of God daily and easily.
· Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. (Psalms 124:7)
4. Ike Set to Bypass Keys, but Gulf Coast Worries - AP
Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center warned, that after passing into the Gulf of Mexico sometime Tuesday night, Ike could make landfall in the U.S. over the weekend near the Texas-Louisiana border, possibly not far from Houston. In Louisiana, where thousands remain without power after Hurricane Gustav hit last week, Gov. Bobby Jindal urged residents to start stockpiling food, water, batteries and other supplies. The state also was readying shelters and making plans for trains, buses and planes in case a coastal evacuation is called later in the week.
· Heavenly Father, as we once again struggle against these hurricanes, You have given us Your word that we would be safe if we ran to You in our times of trouble. We pray You will calm the winds and subdue the energy in the storms.
· Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, that they may do whatever He commands them on the face of the whole earth. He causes it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy. (Job 37:11, 13)
5. It's Near the Campaign's End -- Send in the Lawyers - AP
Ever since Democrats and Republicans were caught flat-footed in Florida eight years ago, both parties have added legions of lawyers to their political arsenals - litigators who've filed scores of lawsuits challenging every voting nuance from requiring photo identification, to Election Day weather conditions.
· Lord, as we come to the end of this election season, we pray that everything be done with righteousness. Let there be no fraud or wrangling about the results and only allow people of virtue who follow You faithfully, be elected to office.
· Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33,34)
6. Afghan Leader Vows Punishment for Deadly US Raid - AP
The Afghan president said a deadly raid on a village by American and Afghan commandos has put new strain on relations with the United States and promised Thursday to punish those responsible. U.S. officials have said that at least 30 militants, including a Taliban commander, and no more than seven civilians were killed during the Aug. 22 raid. Afghan officials, backed by the United Nations mission, insist that more than 90 civilians died, including dozens of children.
· Heavenly Father, we pray for Your wisdom, Your favor in this situation, and the cooperation of the Afghan people to fight the Taliban. Help us to resolve this situation quickly and have no more innocent people be killed. Comfort them, Lord.
· David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)
7. Bush to order 8,000 troops out of Iraq - Reuters
President George W. Bush will cut U.S. force levels in Iraq only modestly over the rest of his term, pulling 8,000 troops out by February, when his successor will have taken over as commander in chief.Bush, an unpopular president managing an unpopular war, will say on Tuesday that a dramatic drop in violence in Iraq allows the Pentagon to bring troops home and shift more forces to Afghanistan, where attacks by Islamist militants have soared over two years.
· Continue to pray that, as the nation's focus turns more and more now on the imminent elections, we not lose sight of our current president, nor of our need to pray for him. Pray for both President Bush and for our troops in Iraq -- that they would finish "strong" and "true." Amen.
· "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." (Matthew 25:23)
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: "O Lord, the hope of Israel, all who forsake You will be put to shame." (Jeremiah 17:13)
1. Israeli officials: Iran solidifies grip on Hizbullah - Jerusalem Post
Iran is consolidating its grip on Hizbullah and has instituted a number of structural changes to the Lebanese group, under which Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah no longer enjoys exclusive command over its military wing, top Israeli defense officials have revealed.
2. U.S. coordinator to visit Israel in last-ditch bid for security draft - Ha'aretz
Gen. James Jones, Washington's security coordinator for Israeli-Palestinian talks, will arrive here Tuesday night for what will probably be his last visit in this capacity.
3. 'Mossad could capture Ahmadinejad' - Jerusalem Post
Pensioners Minister and former Mossad agent Rafi Eitan hinted that the intelligence agency could capture Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and haul him before the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
4. Hamas television broadcasting from Temple Mount - Israel Today
The Hamas terrorist organization's television station has for the past several days been broadcasting exclusive coverage of nightly Ramadan prayers from atop Jerusalem's Temple Mount.
Election News
For all the headlines below, we thank God for the promise of His Word: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan." (Prov. 29:2)
1. Gallup Shocker: McCain Leads Obama - AP
The Republican National Convention has propelled John McCain into the lead in the race for the White House, according to a USA Today/Gallup Poll released on Sunday. McCain now leads Democratic rival Barack Obama by 50 percent to 46 percent among registered voters -- the Arizona senator's biggest margin since January. The results are even more remarkable considering that before last week's convention, McCain actually trailed Obama by 7 percentage points.
2. Obama Unfazed by Drop in Polls - Fox News
Obama's campaign has dismissed recent polls showing the Democrat losing ground to John McCain as "horse race" politics, not a troubling sign of things to come. Today Barack Obama addressed the numbers for the first time at a media availability in Ohio."I know that after our convention, we had a bump. After theirs, they get a bump. I think that what you're going to see settling in is that the race is gonna be very close in most of the battleground states, which is really what matters," he explained.
3. Bible is Palin's professional guide, friends and pastors say - Int'l Herald Tribune
Shortly after taking office as governor in 2006, Sarah Palin sent an e-mail message to Paul Riley, her former pastor in the Assembly of God Church, which her family began attending when she was a youth. She needed spiritual advice in how to do her new job, said Riley, who is 78 and retired from the church.
4. MSNBC Drops Olbermann, Matthews as News Anchors - Washington Post
MSNBC is removing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as the anchors of live political events, bowing to growing criticism that they are too opinionated to be seen as neutral in the heat of the presidential campaign.
5. Palin's Candidacy Stokes Feminist Debate - Fox News
Liberal commentators bring feminist debate full circle, asking whether Palin can balance the White House and motherhood.
Pray for the Persecuted Church
Prayers for the Persecuted Church 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. Vietnamese Authorities Invade Church Service
Ten Vietnamese officers of the local police authority some of them in uniform, others in plain clothes and others in disguise, last Sunday, (August 31), rushed into the Church With A Mission house church interrupting the service and creating great anxiety among new converts.
2. Ailing House Church Leader Remains Detained In China
An ailing house church leader and owner of a Christian book store remained detained Friday, September 5, despite mounting pressure on China to release him because of health concerns, friends said.
3. House Churches Growing in Iran Despite Persecution
A major crackdown against house church Christians is proceeding in Iran.
