In This Issue· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
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The Daily Brief Tuesday, December 16, 2008
"And the government shall rest upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6)
The Daily Brief
1. President Bush Visits Iraq - The Wall Street Journal
"The War Is Not Over, But It Is Decisively On Its Way To Being Won"
"President George W. Bush made a surprise trip to Baghdad this weekend to highlight a new security agreement intended to form the basis for a long-term alliance with Iraq. Mr. Bush, on his fourth and almost certainly final visit to the country, met Sunday with Iraqi leaders and praised efforts to establish a democratic government there In a meeting with President Jalal Talabani. Mr. Bush said he had come to Iraq to tout the passage of the security agreement. The security agreement, covering military relations and broader cooperation, replaces a series of United Nations Security Council resolutions as the legal basis for foreign troops' presence in Iraq.
· Lord, we thank You for answered prayer. As a now stronger nation in defending itself, we pray that Iraq will remember the sacrifices of our troops and continue to be allies with us in the war against terrorism. Bless Iraq with salvation in Jesus Christ.
· "You pushed me violently, that I might fall, but the Lord helped me. . . .The voice of rejoicing and salvation Is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. (Psalm 118:13, 15)
2. President Bush Visits Afghanistan - Agence France-Presse
"The United States Has Stood With" The People Of Afghanistan "And Will Stand With Them" US President George W. Bush landed in Afghanistan early Monday on a surprise visit to meet President Hamid Karzai and dispel any fears of flagging support when he leaves office. "I want to be in Afghanistan to say 'thank you' to President Karzai, to let the people of Afghanistan know that the United States has stood with them and will stand with them," Bush said en route here.
"These nations need to know that the United States has been with them, is with them, and will be with them," said Bush. Bush said Washington was working with Pakistan to halt cross-border strikes in Afghanistan, and praised Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari, the widower of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto, as "determined to help", "He's said so publicly and he's said so to me privately. He looked me in the eye and said 'you don't need to talk to me about extremist violence, after all my wife got killed by extremists,''' said Bush.
· Continue to pray for the protection of our troops and those of all allied countries that are now positioned inside Afghanistan to ensure the peace and the stability of this nation. Repent for the manufacture and sale of opium that continues to flourish in that nation under the new regime, and ask our Lord to cancel any curse that would prosper against those people -- or our own troops -- as a result of this trafficking. Pray that the current president of Afghanistan will be strengthened in his desire to rule against lawlessness and for peace
· Love covers a multitude of sins. (I Peter 4:8)
3. It's official: Barack Obama Elected 44th President - AP
Presidential electors have formally elected Barack Obama the nation's 44th president. More than 131 million voters cast ballots - the most ever in a presidential election. But Obama's election will not be complete until Congress tallies the outcome of Monday's Electoral College vote at a joint session scheduled for Jan. 6.
· Thank You, Lord, that we live in a nation that peacefully transfers our government to new officials. We pray for President-elect Obama to have Your wisdom, restraint, and discernment to not instigate laws that violate your laws, Lord! We request that any questions about the President-elect citizenship will be revealed and resolved before the Jan.6.counting of the electoral college votes.
· Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (1 Timothy 2:1, 2)
4. Government Financial Report Shows 'Fiscal Cancer,' Deficit Tops $1 Trillion With New Method - Fox News
The federal deficit for 2008 would top $1 trillion if the government had to use the same accounting methods as private companies. The government is promising $49 trillion more than it can deliver on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid over the next 75 years unless Congress steps in to shore up the system. Some combination of tax increases, benefit cuts or other policy changes is needed to stave off unsustainable deficits.
· Lord, we pray that as officials chosen by President-elect Obama try to devise strategies to bring our economy back into balance, they will not consider any ideas that would further harm our weakened economy. Give them frugality and Your divine wisdom to correct the problems.
· For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Colossians 1 :9)
5. U.S. Troops' New Mission: America's 'Special Events' - WND
New rules published in the Federal Register would allow certain civilians to call American soldiers into action inside the U.S. to prevent environmental damage or respond to "special events" and "other domestic activities." Under the U.S. Constitution, soldiers inside the country essentially are tasked with the responsibility of quelling "insurrections" and repelling invasions as well as making sure each state has access to the republican form of government.But the new rules go far beyond that, essentially establishing a plan to activate the U.S. military inside the country to deal with social issues under provisions that appear to be devoid of any connection to the Constitution, according to an expert, Herb Titus, founding dean of the College of Law and Government at Regent University.
"Instead of prosecuting somebody charged with murder, we should profile people who are likely to commit murder, round them up and prevent them from endangering lives," he said, citing the plan's apparent permission for the government to restrain liberties when there is concern about potential damages or injury.
· Father God, we pray that You will not allow those plans of profiling people to be enacted. Our own government should not be used to persecute anyone - especially those of Christian faith. We pray for an immediate end to these plans.
· When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when a wicked man rules, the people groan. (Proverbs 29:2)
6. Detroit Automakers Await Deal on Auto Loans - AP
The administration, following the legislative defeat, said it was considering several options, including using money from the $700 billion financial bailout fund to provide loans to the car makers. Bush reiterated Monday that tapping the financial bailout fund remains an option. It also could do nothing, leaving open the possibility that one or more of the automakers could go bankrupt. The White House has warned a collapse of the auto industry would severely hurt the economy.
· We pray that in the new year, we will have a new beginning in our economy, in a return to the standards established in the Constitution, and especially in our lives so that we may be Your people demonstrating the fruits of the Spirit - especially of goodness and self-control.
· But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23)
7. Icy Weather Rips Through U.S. - AP
A series of winter blasts whipped across the country Monday, slamming California with storms, chilling New Mexico, Texas and setting sub-zero records in the upper Midwest. Frigid temperatures stunned even the heartiest in the upper Midwest. Rapid City, S.D., broke a 107-year-old record of minus 19; Cheyenne, Wyo., set its own record at minus 13.
· Lord, You are lord over all creation and it all obeys You. We come to You for respite from all these storms that are hitting our nation. You said that You would be our refuge in times of trouble. And so we run to You for Your mercies.
· The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works . . . The Lord is near to all who call upon Him; He also will hear their cry and save them (Psalm 145:9,19)
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: "And the government shall rest upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6)
1. Messianic Jews detained at Ben-Gurion - Jerusalem Post
A director of the US Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations and his wife were detained Sunday at Ben-Gurion Airport by Interior Ministry officials amid allegations he is involved in illegal Christian missionary activity.
2. Quartet says U.S.-led Mideast talks "irreversible" - Reuters
The Quartet of Middle East peace negotiators said on Monday there was no turning back from U.S.-led talks between the Israelis and Palestinians even though they have failed so far to produce a peace agreement.
3. Report: Abbas to declare PA elections in April - Ynet News
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is about to declare that the elections for the president's office and the Palestinian Legislative Council will be held in April 2009, the London-based Arabic-language al-Hayat newspaper reported Tuesday, quoting Palestinian sources.
4. IDF kills senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Jenin arrest op - Jerusalem Post
IDF soldiers killed a senior Islamic Jihad commander near Jenin overnight Monday.
