In This Issue· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· The White House in Transition
· Statement Issued by the Embassy of Israel
· Statement Issued by the White House
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The Daily Brief Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The Daily Brief
1. U.S. Debt: "A Ticking Time Bomb" - Worthy News
The United States faces a financial "time bomb" as its national debt is to jump by $2 trillion this year, and United States President-elect Barack Obama, and congressional Democrats consider a massive spending package, economists have warned. The U.S. National Debt already stands at nearly $10.7 trillion, of which $3 trillion is held by foreign investors with China ($652.9 billion) and Japan ($585.5 billion) being the top two creditors, according to official estimates.
· Heavenly Father, You warned us that if we did not obey You and follow your laws, our enemies would be our masters. Lord, we ask for your mercy. We repent for our sins and the sins of our nation.
· "But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments. . . I will set My face against you, and you shall be defeated by your enemies. Those who hate you shall reign over you, and you shall flee when no one pursues you."
2. Construction Spending Falls Less Than Expected - AP
Construction spending fell less than expected in November, as record activity on nonresidential projects helped offset another steep decline in housing. The outlook, however, is for significant weakness as the worst recession in at least a quarter-century takes its toll on construction. The prolonged weakness in housing, where the current economic troubles began, is showing no signs of bottoming out. Sales of both new and existing homes along with home prices are continuing to plunge, while rising foreclosures are dumping more unsold homes on the already glutted market.
· Lord, we submit to Your correction. Forgive our nation for apathy and serving money over You and Your laws. Help us to turn back to You, Lord.
· Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)
3. Citgo Suspends Low-Income Heating Oil Program - AP
Citgo has suspended its free heating oil program for low-income residents, Citizens Energy Chairman Joseph Kennedy, announced Monday. Kennedy urged those who have been helped by the program to write Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to share their stories. Kennedy said that Citizens Energy will continue to run heating assistance programs for now.
· Lord, as we go into this economic crisis, let us not forget what true religion is - to care for the orphan and the widow. Let there be provision for the poor, sick, and homeless at this time.
· Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink . . . And the King will say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' (Matthew 25:37, 40)
4. SEC Watchdog to Be Questioned About Madoff Scandal - AP
4. SEC Watchdog to Be Questioned About Madoff Scandal - AP
The SEC chairman, Christopher Cox, has said credible and specific allegations regarding Madoff's wrongdoing -- going back to at least 1999 -- were repeatedly brought to the attention of SEC staff. Cox said he was concerned by the apparent multiple failures to thoroughly investigate the allegations or at any point to seek formal authority from the commission to pursue them.
· Heavenly Father, our nation is full of corrupt leaders and crooked dealings. We pray these people and their crooked ways will be exposed and dealt with quickly. We pray for justice for those hurt in these wrongdoings.
· Do not lie in wait, wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; do not plunder his resting place; For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. (Proverbs 24:15,16)
5. Automaker Sales Continue Dismal Slide - CBS News
5. Automaker Sales Continue Dismal Slide - CBS News
Chrysler Sales Drop 53% In December; Ford, Toyota, Honda Not Much Better Amid U.S. Economic Angst. And it wasn't just gas guzzling models that took a hit either. Sales of Toyota's hybrid Prius fell 45 percent in December. Enterprise, the country's largest rental car company, is cutting its new car purchases by almost half this year - that's nearly 400,000 vehicles - part of the reduction in fleet sales Chrysler complained about.So all the car makers are getting desperate, Mason reports. Hyundai is offering to buy back cars from customers if they lose their jobs.
· Lord, this nation has lost confidence in its economy and its leaders. Give us righteous leaders that will make godly decisions and honor you when they make laws. Replace corrupt leaders quickly.
· Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. (Psalms 33:12)
6. Some US Cities Eliminate Criminal-History Question - AP
6. Some US Cities Eliminate Criminal-History Question - AP
Hoping to prevent convicts from being shut out of the work force, some major U.S. cities are eliminating questions from their job applications that ask whether prospective employees have ever been convicted of a crime. "There were times I was tempted to go back to my old way of making money," Tucker said. "I fell off the wagon a few times. You get stuck with this decision of telling the truth and possibly never being called or lying to get the job and losing it later."
· Lord, we pray for wisdom on these decisions about eliminating criminal history of people. We pray for discernment and protection for the hiring procedures of companies.
· Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)
7. Two U.S. Senate seats disputed - CBS News
7. Two U.S. Senate seats disputed - CBS News
A. Coleman Vows To Fight On
Norm Coleman is not giving up his Senate seat without a fight. The incumbent Minnesota Republican, who lost his recount battle against Democrat Al Franken by 225 votes, said he does not accept the result and vowed to take the matter to the courts at a news conference today. He released a statement at the news conference saying "not every valid vote has been counted and some have been counted twice."
B. Secretary Of The Senate Explains Why Burris Wasn"t Seated
The office of the Secretary of the Senate, Nancy Erickson, released a statement this afternoon explaining why she refused to seat Roland Burris, who came to Washington hoping to replace Barack Obama as the junior senator from Illinois for the 111th Congress. According to her office, Erickson refused to seat Burris, who was appointed to the seat by embattled Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, because he lacked the necessary signature of the Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White, and the state seal of Illinois.
· Father, we pray over these disputes in the Senate. We pray our government will be established in righteousness. We pray all those involved will be surrounded with many wise and righteous counsellors who love peace. We ask that these two candidates who have not been seated would yield to the decisions of the courts and the Senate leadership as these disputed matters are resolved.
· For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. (Ps 75:6,7)
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:
"Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 108:13)
1. Hamas Fighting With Weapons From Israel - Worthy News
As Israel continued to fight Hamas in Gaza City, Tuesday, January 6, Israeli soldiers faced the inconvenient truth that weapons used by the militant group were indirectly supplied by Israel itself, the United States, Egypt and other countries.
2. Dozens Killed In Israeli Strike - Worthy News
2. Dozens Killed In Israeli Strike - Worthy News
At least 40 people were killed in an Israeli attack at a United Nations-run school in the Gaza Strip, U.N. and Palestinian officials said Tuesday, January 6.
3. Arabs Protest Israeli Offensive Worldwide - Worthy News
3. Arabs Protest Israeli Offensive Worldwide - Worthy News
As Israel's offensive against militants of the Hamas group in the Gaza Strip continued Tuesday, January 6, around the world Arabic leaders, Palestinians and their supporters continued to pressure the Jewish state to end the operation.
The White House in Transition
1. Leon Panetta Tapped to Head CIA - AP
The White House in Transition
1. Leon Panetta Tapped to Head CIA - AP
Leon Panetta, who was chief of staff under former President Bill Clinton, is Barack Obama's pick to head the CIA, sources confirm to FOX News.
· A number of congressional leaders are not comfortable with this nomination, due to Mr. Panetta's lack of experience in the intelligence field. Pray that Congress be given great wisdom as they weigh whether to approve this nominee, later this month.
· "Ask, and ye shall receive . . ." (Luke 11:9)
2. Richardson Withdraws Bid To Be Commerce Secretary - AP
2. Richardson Withdraws Bid To Be Commerce Secretary - AP
Obama Accepts DecisionNew Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn his nomination to be President-elect Barack Obama's Commerce secretary amid a grand jury investigation. Obama said in a statement Sunday that he accepted Richardson's withdrawal "with deep regret" but that the governor was putting the nation first to avoid any delay in filling the Cabinet post.
· Lift up the President-Elect, asking that he be given wisdom as he seeks to fill this key cabinet position.
· "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)
3. Source: Harvard Dean is Front-Runner for Solicitor General - Fox News
3. Source: Harvard Dean is Front-Runner for Solicitor General - Fox News
Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan could become Obama's solicitor general, who represents the United States before the Supreme Court. Kagan has never argued a Supreme Court case but clerked for Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, practiced at a Washington law firm and worked on the University of Chicago Law School faculty at the same time as Obama during the 1990s. Obama is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where Kagan has won praise for building consensus and record fundraising.
The United States is involved in about two-thirds of all cases the Supreme Court decides on, according to the Justice Department. The solicitor general's office also determines whether the government should appeal lower court case decisions or intervene in appellate court case.
· Again, offer earnest prayers of intercession for the President-elect as he weighs this decision. Pray that the one chosen will be one who will uphold the Constitution of the United States, even as the new president must swear to do on January 20th.
· ". . . for the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer." (1 Peter 3:12)
4. Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Prayer at Presidential Inauguration - Fox News
The United States is involved in about two-thirds of all cases the Supreme Court decides on, according to the Justice Department. The solicitor general's office also determines whether the government should appeal lower court case decisions or intervene in appellate court case.
· Again, offer earnest prayers of intercession for the President-elect as he weighs this decision. Pray that the one chosen will be one who will uphold the Constitution of the United States, even as the new president must swear to do on January 20th.
· ". . . for the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer." (1 Peter 3:12)
4. Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Prayer at Presidential Inauguration - Fox News
The head of an atheist group that has filed a lawsuit against prayer at Barack Obama's presidential inauguration says the government is picking a winner between "believers" and "those who don't believe" and subjecting atheists and agnostics to someone else's religious beliefs.
· Pray down this complaint, for this nation is founded on Christian beliefs. Pray that the lawsuit does not reach the Supreme Court and that no one pays attention. All the worms seem to be coming out of the woodwork. Pray for salvation in Jesus Christ for these atheists.
· "The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes his teeth at him. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming." (Psalm 7:12,13a)
Statement Issued by the Embassy of Israel
EMBASSY OF ISRAELWashington, D.C.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The following is an on-the-record statement from Jonathan Peled, Spokesman for the Embassy of Israel:
Initial inquiries by Israeli forces operating in the area indicate that a number of mortar shells were fired at IDF forces from within the Jabalya school. Israeli forces had no knowledge of those present at the site; however, it is clear that it was not operating as a school.
In response to incoming enemy fire, Israeli forces returned mortar fire to the source. Israel later identified two of the casualties at the site as Imad and Hassan Abu Askhar, who served as heads of the Hamas mortar units in Gaza. Israel regrets the loss of any innocent civilian lives.
Hamas has once again cynically chosen to use civilian sites from which to operate, thus endangering the safety of innocent civilians. This is not the first time that Hamas has fired mortars and rockets from schools, which deliberately uses civilians as human shields in their acts of terror. This was proven in the recent past with footage from an unmanned plane showing rockets and mortars being fired from the yard of an UNRWA school (click here for video).
· Father God, tonight we ask Your mercy for the nation of Israel. We thank You, Lord, that the Israelis are now fighting the Hamas terrorists that have endangered them for many, many years. We ask that the media all over the world report the facts in this case in truth, and that the people of the nations would take heed. In Your timing, we ask for peace to be restored to their land. In Your Name we pray, amen.
· "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." (Proverbs 212:31)
Statement Issued by the Embassy of Israel
EMBASSY OF ISRAELWashington, D.C.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
The following is an on-the-record statement from Jonathan Peled, Spokesman for the Embassy of Israel:
Initial inquiries by Israeli forces operating in the area indicate that a number of mortar shells were fired at IDF forces from within the Jabalya school. Israeli forces had no knowledge of those present at the site; however, it is clear that it was not operating as a school.
In response to incoming enemy fire, Israeli forces returned mortar fire to the source. Israel later identified two of the casualties at the site as Imad and Hassan Abu Askhar, who served as heads of the Hamas mortar units in Gaza. Israel regrets the loss of any innocent civilian lives.
Hamas has once again cynically chosen to use civilian sites from which to operate, thus endangering the safety of innocent civilians. This is not the first time that Hamas has fired mortars and rockets from schools, which deliberately uses civilians as human shields in their acts of terror. This was proven in the recent past with footage from an unmanned plane showing rockets and mortars being fired from the yard of an UNRWA school (click here for video).
· Father God, tonight we ask Your mercy for the nation of Israel. We thank You, Lord, that the Israelis are now fighting the Hamas terrorists that have endangered them for many, many years. We ask that the media all over the world report the facts in this case in truth, and that the people of the nations would take heed. In Your timing, we ask for peace to be restored to their land. In Your Name we pray, amen.
· "The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord." (Proverbs 212:31)
