In This Issue· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
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The Daily Brief Thursday, December 18, 2008
"And the government shall rest upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6)
The Daily Brief
1. Bush trumpets US security record while in office - AP
President George W. Bush went a step further Wednesday to define his legacy, saying America has been kept safe from another Sept. 11-style terrorist attack during his watch. In a speech at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle , Pa. , Bush said that after the terror attacks in New York and Washington , he set up an elaborate plan to reorganize the governmental apparatus to confront such threats. At the same time, he said, the United States has worked to nurture alternatives to hateful regimes around the world.
· Father, we thank You that thus far America has not suffered another major attack. We thank You for the leadership of President Bush in this area. We pray for Your continued mercy and protection over America even after President Bush leaves office. We ask for Your mercy and truth for him as well, may he find a deeper and more personal knowledge of You.
· "Restore us, O God; cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!" (Psalm 80:3)
2. Israel's defense minister: Iran could attack U.S. with atom bomb - AP
Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Wednesday that if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, it could try to attack the United States . Speaking at a conference of the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University , the defense minister said the world should press Iran to stop it from building nuclear weapons. "If it built even a primitive nuclear weapon like the type that destroyed Hiroshima , Iran would not hesitate to load it on a ship, arm it with a detonator operated by GPS and sail it into a vital port on the east coast of North America ," Barak told the audience. Indicating the possibility of a military strike, Barak said, "We are not taking any option off the table, and we recommend to the world not to take any option off the table, and we mean what we say."
· Thank You, Lord, for Israel's warnings and willingness to fight against the plans of our enemies. We ask that You guide both Israel and the US with YOUR wisdom. We also pray for Your heavenly host to stand watch over our two nations, as well as all of our interests abroad.
· "The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming." (Psalm 37:12,13)
3. Church-Based Effort Aims to Counter Christian Zionism - Intercessors Network
A (Church-based )Association will distribute a brochure saying the (Christian Zionist) movement fosters hatred of Muslims and opposition to Mideast peace. A movement leader says the brochure presents a stereotype of Christian Zionists. Before the year is up, nearly 45 million people will get more than a sermon at their churches - they'll get a brochure titled "Why We Should Be Concerned About Christian Zionism." 35 Christian church bodies that make up the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, wrote the brochure and began distributing it this month."
To say we're dehumanizing Israelis and Palestinians with our support for Israel dehumanizes us," said David Brog, executive director of Christians United for Israel, one of the most prominent Christian Zionist organizations in the United States. The group was started in 2006 by controversial televangelist John Hagee, senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio.
· Pray that this plan is completely ineffective. Ask the Lord to turn it around and allow all Christians to see the importance of Israel in His sight, and that those who have subscribed to wrong theologies and doctrines will be granted truth by the Holy Spirit.
· "For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written." (Romans 11: 25-26a)
4. Violence Flares as Hamas Rules Out Extending Mideast Ceasefire - Fox News
Twenty-four hours before a fragile six-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is set to end, Palestinian rockets hailed down on the Israeli border town of Sderot as Hamas vows not to extend the truce, the Times of London reported.
· Pray that God will intervene and change the minds and hearts of Hamas and its supporters, and that the Lord will grant them repentance and show them the extent of their own evil. Pray also that God will protect the people of Israel from this barrage of rocket attacks.
· "Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is with those who uphold my life. He will repay my enemies for their evil. Cut them off in Your truth." (Psalm 54:4,5)
5. Saudi Arabia Among Biggest Donors to Clinton Foundation - AP
Former President Bill Clinton's foundation has raised at least $46 million from Saudi Arabia and other foreign governments that his wife Hillary Rodham Clinton may end up negotiating with as the next secretary of state.
· Lord, as we pray daily against corruption in our own government, we are once again grieved to see foreign influences over our leaders. We thank You for revealing this money trail, but ask that You begin to root out the greed that allows foreign interests to gain such footholds in American politics.
· "You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. . ." (Ezekiel 18:17b)
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: "And the government shall rest upon His shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6)
1. Iraq Downplays Reports That Arrests Were Over Government Coup Plot - Fox News
Iraq's Ministry of Interior is downplaying published reports that 23 people - including four generals - were arrested in an alleged secret plot to restore to power Saddam Hussein's Baath Party.
2. Hamas insists: Ceasefire to end as scheduled - Ynet News
Less than a day before the shaky ceasefire between Israel and the armed Palestinian groups in Gaza is set to expire, Hamas insists that it will not be extended.
3. Israeli aircraft launch air strikes in Gaza - Ynet News
Israeli aircraft conducted two nighttime air strikes against terror infrastructure in the Gaza Strip for the first time in six months, this following rocket fire on the western Negev region.
4. IAF targets arsenal and factory in Gaza - Jerusalem Post
The IAF struck terrorist infrastructure in two separate locations overnight Wednesday after southern Israel sustained at least 23 rockets throughout the day.
