The Daily Brief Thursday, December 11, 2008

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)

The Daily Brief

1. A. $14 Billion Auto Bailout Plan Headed Toward Death in the Senate - FoxNews.comDEVELOPING: The Senate's top democrat, along with the White House, made their final pleas for the $14-billion auto bailout bill even as some predicted the hard-fought legislation would be crushed by Senate Republicans by the end of the week.

B. Bill Lists Environmental Goals Above Boosting U.S. Auto Sales - CNSNews.com

The draft legislation that would enshrine in federal law the agreement that President Bush and the Democratic Congress have made to bailout U.S. automakers lists the environmental purposes of the bill above the purpose of increasing sales of American-made automobiles.

· Lord, in all of the legislation that is brought before Congress, the news media only reports the headlines and fails to tell us the hidden agendas. We ask that You defeat bills which carry underlying plans that would harm America in the long run. And we ask that these secrets be revealed to the wider range of the people.

· "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell." (Proverbs 9:17,18)

2 .Chicago School Administrator - Homosexual High School is "Necessary" -CNSNews.com

Social Justice High School - Pride Campus is needed because students should feel "comfortable," says the administrator in charge of all high school counselors for the Chicago Public Schools.

· Father, while You have called us to love our fellow men and women, You have also called us to righteousness. We have fallen away from that truth, Lord, and are actively promoting lifestyles that are repugnant to You, so we pray for mercy. We ask that you help us to stand firm in Your truth, while we lovingly extend salvation to those who desperately need to know You.

· "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." (2 Cor 5:20)

3. Senate Finance Chairman- Congress Must Spend Money to Show it Cares - CNSNews.com

Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said the federal government is going to have to spend a "significant" amount of money if it is going to get the country out of its current economic troubles -- despite rapidly ballooning federal deficits, historic unemployment, and the hundreds of billions already spent."One thing we've learned from past recessions, is that you've just got to spend money to get out of it," he said, in response to questions from CNSNews.com.

· It's also true that you have actually have money to be fiscally sound. Pray for God to literally deliver sound, Godly wisdom to our leaders. May they find the financial principles of the Bible as their guide to correct the current economic problems.

· "Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; for I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 25:17)

4. UN Assembly President Fails in Bid to Silence Israel in Special Session - CNSNews.com

The president of the U.N. General Assembly, already under fire over remarks attacking Israel, reportedly went out of his way this week to try to prevent an Israeli representative from addressing Wednesday's special session marking the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

· Father, we thank You that this attempt to silence Israel did not prosper. We pray that You will reveal Yourself to these nations and their leaders so that they will understand Your plan for Israel.

· "No weapon formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17)

5. A. California Could Run Out of Money by February - AP

California's general fund revenues in November were $1.3 billion, or 18.5 percent below expectations, suggesting the government of the most populous U.S. state could run out of money as early as February, State Controller John Chiang said on Tuesday.B. California Set to Adopt Sweeping Global Warming Plan - APOn Thursday, the California Air Resources Board was expected to adopt what would be the nation's most sweeping global warming plan, outlining for the first time how individuals and businesses would meet a landmark 2006 law that made the state a leader on global climate change.

· Lord, California is but a microcosm of the rest of the nation's inability to walk in wisdom. They have supported the gay community, pushed the global warming agenda, treated our troops poorly in areas, tried to legislate home schools out of the picture, and tried to control their people on nearly every front. All of that is seriously expensive, not just financially, but spiritually as well. Lord, instead of bailout for CA, let there be an awakening of truth and a move of Your Holy Spirit to right the upside down thinking of its leaders.

· "Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance." (Proverbs 29:3)

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:

"It is of LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

1. Official: IDF prepared for Gaza op - Ynet News

Eight days before the ceasefire agreement brokered with the militant groups in the Gaza Strip is scheduled to end, and amid non-stop rocket fire, a security source said that "the IDF will execute any operation the political echelon orders."

2. Iranian VP calls for Israel's destruction - Ynet News

Iranian Vice President Esfandyar Rahim Mashaei believes the destruction of Israel should become an international goal and a global demand, the state-owned IRNA reported Tuesday.

3. PM orders blackout on Gaza policy - Jerusalem Post

With Defense Minister Ehud Barak and political rival Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni publicly disagreeing over military policy regarding the Gaza Strip, no operative decisions were reached at a meeting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert convened with the two on Wednesday. The focus of the meeting was to discuss whether to renew the "cease-fire" that ends a week from Friday.

4. Iran to send relief ship to Gaza - Ynet News

Iran's Red Crescent announced on Wednesday that it is sending a relief ship to the Gaza Strip, in the face of an Israeli blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

5. Dayton: New PA forces are the most capable ever - Jerusalem Post

Keith Dayton, the US army general who is overseeing the training in Jordan of the Palestinian Authority's National Security Force for the West Bank, has praised the new recruits as "the most capable Palestinian security forces that have ever been fielded here," and firmly played down the notion that they might one day come to turn their weapons on Israel.

Pray for the Persecuted Church

For all the needs listed below, let's pray THIS PROMISE this week for the persecuted church across the world: "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40)

1. Bangladesh: Christian Family Beaten, Cut - and Face Charges - Worthy News

The harassment that Bangladeshi converts from Islam face from Muslim neighbors in this southeastern area near Cox's Bazar can take serious turns - as it did last month, when an attack by about a dozen Muslims left a Christian family with machete wounds.

2. China: Officials Reach out to House Churches; Raids, Arrest Continue - Worthy News

In recent months Chinese officials have attempted to build bridges with the Protestant house church movement even as police raided more unregistered congregations, arrested Christian leaders and forced at least 400 college students to swear they would stop attending such worship services.

3. China "Abolishes" House Church Alliance; Major Crackdown Reported - Worthy News

There were concerns Wednesday, December 10, that Chinese authorities would launch a nationwide crackdown on the growing 'house churches, after the Ministry of Civil Affairs ordered the "abolishment" of a major umbrella group.

The White House in Transition

1. Report: Obama to Offer Israel "Nuclear Umbrella" Against Attack - Ha'aretz

President-elect Barack Obama will offer Israel a strategic pact designed to fend off any nuclear attack on the Jewish state by Iran, an Israeli newspaper reported on Thursday.

· Father, if this report is true, we rejoice that Mr. Obama has realized the importance of Israel. We pray Your blessing over such a pact that it be properly worded and administered.

· "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee . . ." Genesis 12:3

2. Bork: Obama Will Move Courts Sharply to the Left - Newsmax.com

Former Supreme Court Justice nominee Robert Bork predicts that President-elect Barack Obama's judicial nominees will orchestrate a profound sea change in U.S. jurisprudence, legalizing same-sex marriage, restricting or eliminating the death penalty, and tying the hands of the military so severely that "commanders in the field will have to be gathering evidence while they're fighting."

· Lord we pray that none of these bleak scenarios will come to pass. We ask that You bring the fear of the Lord into our legal system, and grant the Supreme Court the wisdom to judge in righteousness no matter who is appointed.

· "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride, and arrogance, and the evil way do I hate. Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." (Proverbs 8:13,14)

3. Indian Appointments to the Transition Team - Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL)

President-Elect Barack Obama has appointed six Native Americans to his transition team. One of them, Keith Harper (Cherokee), was an attorney who represented Elouise Cobell in her lawsuit against the federal government. In her suit, Cobell (Blackfeet) accused the government of mismanaging $176 billion in Indian trust assets. The other Native Americans on Obama's transition team are Yvette Roubideau (Rosebud Sioux), John Echohawk (Pawnee), Robert Anderson (Chippewa), Mary C. Smith (Cherokee), and Mary McNeil (Winnebago). These Native appointments are auspicious for Indian Country. If they translate into real Indian leadership, they could lead to greater attention for issues like Indian health, tribal justice, and land rights.

· Pray that the president-elect continues to be guided by the wisdom of Almighty God as he builds a new administration. Offer praise for this positive report among native peoples from those who are "in the know" about the needs of this very special group of people in the land.

· "If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." (John 14:14) 4.

Economic Stimulus for Native Americans

Indians, like all underserved Americans, are being hit the hardest in these tough financial times. Native American advocates are working to ensure that Obama's promised economic stimulus package addresses their community's needs. Meanwhile, several senators are seeking to increase the financial resources for Indian Country in the budget for fiscal year 2010. Obama's budget proposal is due to Congress the first week of February. Sens. John Thune (SD), Jon Kyl (AZ), Jon Tester (MT), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Pete Domenici (NM), Tim Johnson (SD), and Indian Affairs Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan (ND) signed a letter to President George W. Bush requesting $400 million to address the tremendous lack of resources for tribal justice, health care, and water projects. They plan on sending a similar letter to Obama.· Call forth wisdom in the gates of the city (Washington, D.C.), so that all peoples can receive the blessings and benefits of the economic stimulus plan that are forthcoming.

· "And seek the peace of the city . . . and pray unto the Lord for it; for in the peace thereof, ye shall have peace." (Jeremiah 29:7)

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners "Daily Brief"

Thursday, December 11, 2008

CHPP Daly Brief - December 11, 2008