In This Issue· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· America's Jihadist Problem
· Israel Goes Alone
· Today's Update from Israel
· Emergency Conference Call on Thursday
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The Daily Brief Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD: and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance." (Psalm 33:12)
The Daily Brief
1. More taxpayer money for abortions? - OneNewsNow
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nevada) wants to put more money into the pockets of Planned Parenthood, including writing Title X into permanent law so that it doesn't have to be reauthorized every year," Sedlak explains. "And Title X right now gives Planned Parenthood over $70 million a year -- and they want to more than double what Title X does." Senate Bill 21 would provide a massive $10-million program to promote the emergency contraception Plan B, or the 'morning-after pill'.
· Heavenly Father, You said that one of the abominations You hate is the shedding of innocent blood. We pray that people will understand what abortion really is and do all in their power to stop it - as You lead.
· Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? (Proverbs 24:11, 12)
2. 'Gay' bishop doesn't plan to use Bible at inaugural event - AP
The first openly homosexual Episcopal bishop will offer a prayer at the Lincoln Memorial, at an inaugural event for president-elect Barack Obama. The selection of New Hampshire Episcopal Bishop Vicki Gene Robinson for Sunday's event follows weeks of criticism from homosexual-rights groups over Obama's decision to have the Rev. Rick Warren give the invocation at his Jan. 20 inauguration. "While that is a holy and sacred text to me, it is not for many Americans," Robinson said. "I will be careful not to be especially Christian in my prayer. This is a prayer for the whole nation."
· Father, we repent that our nation is so depraved. We have allowed sin to run rampant; our children live in a wicked nation. Cleanse our nation from unrighteousness. Turn hearts in repentance to You.
· "When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, a breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain." (Isaiah 57:13)
3. New deaths across frozen Europe - BBC
Bitterly cold weather affecting much of Central and Eastern Europe has claimed the lives at least 60 more people. Hundreds have died in Ukraine, Poland and several other countries during a week of record sub-zero temperatures. Overnight some 40 people died in Ukraine, raising to 181 the number of deaths blamed on the weather there. Russia has blamed supply problems on Ukraine, claiming that Kiev has diverted gas from Europe as it experiences its worst winter for years. The issue has been compounded by a row between the two countries over the price Moscow charges for fuel.
· Lord, with so much sorrow in the world, we pray for mercy and intervention in this matter about the supplies for fuel. We pray for Putin's stony heart to be replaced, and salvation for him.
· Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. (Psalm 41:1 NIV)
4. Forgive us our indebtedness - OneNewsNow
The survey, conducted by LifeWay Research, found that 65 percent of pastors had preached about financial stewardship in the past year, but only 25 percent said church members had a large amount of personal debt. Ed Stetzer, director of LifeWay Research, says the perceptio, with the current financial crisis, pastors should seize the moment and preach and teach on the biblical principles of handling money. According to these pastors, the financial debt of their members does not line up with national stats.
· Like an obese child we have overindulged in our homes and in our government. Give all our leaders a deep desire, and your plan to bring us into financial freedom. We pray that unnecessary spending will be cut.
· For the iniquity of his covetousness I was angry and struck him; I hid and was angry, And he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. (Isaiah 57:17)
5. More families seeking home heat aid - AP
A lot of those seeking help have lost jobs or are struggling to pay bills amid the nation's economic crisis. Others, like Jones, are struggling to keep up with heating costs that have risen dramatically over the past several years. Fifteen states expect increases of 21 percent or more in the number of households getting aid, the study shows: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Arkansas, Arizona, Alaska, New Mexico, Alabama, California and Oregon.
· Lord, we pray especially for protection and assistance for the poor, the elderly, the sick, and the homeless during this cold winter. We pray for a hedge of protection to be around our nation.
· Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me. (Psalms 31:2)
6. Hate Crimes Bill - a Threat to Biblical Teaching - OneNewsNow
Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., of the High Impact Leadership Coalition was among a group of black pastors who, two years ago, took out a full-page ad in USA Today titled, "Don't Muzzle Our Pulpits." The ad, which was widely received, argued that the hate crimes bill before Congress threatened the free-speech rights of pastors. Jackson believes such legislation elevates the homosexual community to a protected class.Jackson says under an Obama administration there is a danger the legislation will pass and stick, so he's issued a challenge to Christians. "Now is not the time to be silent," he says. "Now is the time to lift our voice."
· Lord, we pray for wisdom and boldness among our church leaders in confronting this hate crime bill. We pray for President-elect Obama to block any bad legislation from our government these next four years.
· O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent . . . With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. (Psalms 109:1, 4)
7. Former terrorist says West ignoring real Hamas agenda - OneNewsNow
A former Palestinian terrorist says the West continues to pursue a failed idea that somehow terrorism against Israel will stop when the Palestinians get their own homeland. Walid Shoebat is a former member of the Palestine Liberation Organization and a convert to Christianity. He now runs the Walid Shoebat Foundation, which is an organization that cries out for the justice of Israel and the Jewish people. "The core issue is not an issue of land whatsoever. It's an issue of wiping the state of Israel out.
· Father, we pray that You will give us all wisdom on how to secure our nation. Let us not go to sleep but realize that there is a real threat to our security. Confound any plans of our enemies to attack us.
· Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. (Psalms 13:3, 4)
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:
"I will defend my house against marauding forces. Never again will an oppressor overrun my people, for now I am keeping watch." (Zech. 9:8)
1. Death Toll Gaza Fighting Reaches Nearly 900 - Worthy News
Israel continued military attacks in the Gaza Strip Monday, January 12, with troops moving further into the world's most populated region and Israeli warplanes pounding homes of Hamas fighters and smuggling tunnels near the Egyptian border.
2. Israel To Leave Gaza Strip, Israeli Official - Worthy News
A senior official involved in Israel's ongoing offensive against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip has said Israel does not want to re-occupy the Palestinian territory, and he accused the United Nations of being "an Israel bashing parade" and supporting Hamas.
3. Israeli Army Fighting In Gaza City - Worthy News
Heavy shelling of areas surrounding Gaza City commenced today as the Israel Defense Force (IDF) pressed deeper into the Gaza Strip as Israeli tanks have taken up positions in Gaza City. Palestinian sources report that this is the first time since the beginning of the conflict that Israeli tanks have taken positions in the city.
America's Jihadist Problem
It is painfully evident that Israel is facing massive danger from radical Islamists. This morning, already fighting a major conflict with Hamas, Israel found itself under attack in the north from another Iranian proxy - Hezbollah. But we have a jihadist problem, too, as the memory of 9/11 fades and political correctness continues to paralyze us. It is becoming more and more obvious that within our own borders we have increasing numbers of radicals who hate Jews and who want the United States and Israel destroyed.
In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a few days ago, pro- Palestinian demonstrators chanted "Bring Back the Ovens" - a call for a second Holocaust. (I suppose that is "progress" - at least they are acknowledging the first one.) Big Media ignored the outrage. In demonstrations in other U.S. cities, young thugs waved the flags of Hamas and Hezbollah, which is responsible for the deaths of 241 Marines in Lebanon while they slept. In San Francisco, the Holocaust Memorial has been defaced three times with obscenities.
In Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Salah Sultan, president of the American Center of Islamic Research, routinely stokes anti-Semitism while promising great destruction for the United States. Just days ago, he appeared on Egyptian TV and warned that because of America's support for Israel's actions against Hamas, "One of these days, the U.S. will suffer more deaths than all those killed in this third Gaza holocaust. This will happen soon." Believe it or not, Sultan holds permanent residency immigration status and is reportedly seeking American citizenship while he preaches jihad against America overseas.
President-elect Obama has been relatively silent about the actions of our ally Israel in Gaza. Respecting a time-honored tradition that politics ends at the water's edge, he rightly notes that there is only one president at a time. Fair enough. But he has had quite a lot to say about domestic issues.
President-elect Obama must publicly denounce the now increasing anti-Semitism here in the United States. Congress must insist on serious reform of our immigration policies so that we can be sure we are not permitting America-haters and anti-Semites to enter our country. And people of goodwill in both political parties should speak up against this cancer that this growing in our own communities. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Jan. 8, 2009)
Israel Goes Alone
Israel Goes Alone Against Terrorism As World Sympathizes With Hamas
There is a pattern with the terrorists in Israel. Hamas pounds innocent Israeli citizens for years with thousands of rockets. Finally, Israel gets fed up and retaliates. Israel destroys the buildings and infrastructure that the West paid for when it was trying to establish the Palestinian Authority as the moderate terrorist government of the Palestinians. Of course, the Palestinians didn't want a moderate group of terrorists. They wanted the real thing so they elected Hamas to represent them. Once enough buildings are bombed and enough terrorists are killed-a very subjective number-the world says stop.
The western media, too cowardly to send real reporters into the war zone, hires Islamic reporters to give the news to America and Europe. The world sees women and children in the war zone-women and children-wives and children of Palestinian terrorists who hate Jews more than they love their families and don't care whether they are maimed, killed or not- martyrdom is all good for the cause. The media shows women and children blown to bits-not distinguishing those harmed by Palestinian rockets- nevertheless, the war is stopped and the west pays billions to rebuild Gaza, and millions are skimmed into the terrorist's pockets while they rearm and do it all over again sometime in the future.
Author Joel Rosenberg, who is on site in Southern Israel, says Palestinian reporters in Gaza suggest that Hamas hardly exists now; that its leadership is being killed and infrastructure destroyed. Rosenberg says Hamas wants a ceasefire. And the United Nations, the United States, and European Union are all too eager to force one without even the mention of preventing Hamas from rearming in the future. But what do the Israeli people want? They are the ones who have suffered under constant terror for years from Palestinian missiles. A news survey from Jerusalem's Channel 2 TV says 81% of Israelis think their government has done the right thing in retaliating and 60% oppose talking to Hamas about a ceasefire.
The terrorists believe its ok to do whatever they want to Jews. And the world seems to back up the terrorists by lending a sympathetic ear and tagging them victims when the true victims of terror say 'enough is enough.' In support of Hamas, there have been protests by Islamists in the US, calling for Israel to be "nuked" and Jews to be burned once again in ovens. An Islamic website in Britain is compiling a list of Jews in England to target because of the Gaza retaliation. Islam is motivated by hate for Americans and Jews. And it's a strong motivator. However, if it is allowed to continue, Jeremiah 51:14 shows us the future: "Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts, and they shall lift up a battle cry against you."
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry www.dailyjot.com
Today's Update from Israel
Today's Update from IsraelEmbassy of Israel
Washington, D.C.
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
During yesterday's operations, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uncovered a tunnel built to allow terrorists entry into Israel to carry out large scale terror attacks. The entrance to the tunnel was located in a house 300 meters from the security fence. Also yesterday, the Israel Air Force (IAF) targeted over 60 Hamas terrorist sites in Gaza. These included over 20 smuggling tunnels along the Rafah border, 9 armed operative squads, 2 mortar launchers and 9 rocket launching sites.
Two rockets fired from Gaza hit houses in Ashkelon and Sderot causing severe damage.
Approximately 20 rockets and mortar shells were launched into Israel yesterday.
120 truckloads of humanitarian aid entered the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom and Karni Crossings. These trucks carried 3100 tons of food, medical equipment and other basic supplies. Since the start of the Operation, approximately 1028 trucks of humanitarian aid and over 1 million liters of diesel fuel were transferred to the Gaza Strip.
HUMANITARIAN AID EFFORTS CONTINUE IN GAZA
Yesterday, a total of 3129 tons of humanitarian aid including basic food commodities, medical supplies and medication were transferred to the Gaza Strip. This is the largest shipment of humanitarian goods to the Gaza Strip since the military operation began. The commodities were conveyed on 120 trucks and included supplies for UNRWA, the World Food Programme, UNICEF a large Jordanian donation and goods for the private sector.
Also, due to an attempt to smuggle electronics, including night vision surveillance cameras, four trucks of supplies were turned back, and despite this cynical attempt to abuse the humanitarian platform one truck of electronic supplies intended to rehabilitate the electrical network was transferred. Since the beginning of operation "Cast Lead" 22,046 tons of humanitarian aid on 926 trucks have been shipped to the Gaza Strip.
To View an Updated List of U.S. Officials' Statements of Support, Click Here:
Emergency Conference Call on Thursday
Emergency Conference Call on ThursdayTopic: Proposition 8 Before California Supreme Court Again
Dear Intercessors Across Our Nation:
Please consider joining us for 1/15 NATIONAL EMERGENCY CONFERENCE CALL PRAYER for the PERMANENT, SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 8 ("The Marriage Amendment" passed by CA voters on 11/4 General Election). This Thursday, CA Supreme Court will begin to review the merits of the law suits filed against Prop. 9, and WE WILL INTERCEDE WITH ONE HEART AND ASK FOR HEAVEN ON EARTH IN THE SUPREME COURT!
Here are the details:THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 15, 2009 5-7am Alaska, 6-8am Pacific, 7-9am Mountain, 8- 10am Central, 9-11am Eastern CONF. CALL & ACCESS CODE: 712-432-9998 & 526338#
I have invited key CA leaders/speakers to give us the latest update regarding Prop. 8 to address us during the conf. call. More details may come tomorrow. Together in Christ,Dai Sup HanPrayer Surge NOW!
[For more details on this situation, please note the article, below, from the Family Research Council.]
What Brown Can Do For You
In California angry opponents of Proposition 8 have struck again. Homosexual protestors targeted San Francisco's liberal Holy Redeemer Church last weekend. Among other things, vandals spray-painted the walls with swastikas and messages of hate. But ironically, the church they victimized is one of the city's most gay-friendly. Breaking with the Church's official position, a majority of the members of the local church said they openly supported same-sex "marriage" in the November election.
Meanwhile, California Attorney General Jerry Brown seems intent on vandalizing democracy by flip- flopping and calling on the state Supreme Court to void Prop 8. After vowing to fight for the people's will, this is not only a betrayal of voters' trust but also of his duty to uphold the law. In a legal brief filed January 7, supporters of traditional marriage responded to Brown's argument, saying it amounted to a "constitutional revolution." What is California coming to if the state's highest legal official foments an atmosphere of lawlessness? (Family Research Council)
A Personal Note From Sara Ballenger
Dear Friends,
My husband Jim and I wish to thank all of you who have called, written, or emailed your condolences on the news of the passing of my father this past week.
Walter Marvin Cochran died peacefully in his sleep at 92 years of age on Tuesday, January 6, in southern California. We will be eternally grateful and comforted, knowing that my dad returned to the faith of his childhood -- our faith -- in his senior years. Praise God!
We also thank you for your continued prayers for my entire family as we move through this process now; and especially for my Mom, age 87, as she adjusts to her new life without Dad. (They were married for 64 years!)
I also want to add a very special "thank you" to our very hardworking, backup team of editors here at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners, who give of their own time and energy so that our alerts can continue to be released to you in a timely fashion.
It is a joy to be knit with all of you, our family in Christ, in these tumultuous days.May God's grace and peace be with you all.
Sara Ballenger, FounderCapitol Hill Prayer Partners
