In This Issue· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· The First 100 Days
· Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Friday, February 13, 2009
"When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19b NKJV)
1. Congress Passes $787B Stimulus Bill, Sending It to Obama for Signature - Fox News
The bill passed in the Senate with 60 votes after the House approved the measure earlier in the day by a vote of 246-183. Congress passed the final version of a $787 billion economic stimulus plan aimed at jolting the slumping U.S. economy, sending the legislation to President Obama's desk for his signature. The bill passed the Senate late Friday night after Democratic leadership held the vote open for several hours to allow one member, Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, to return to Washington to cast the deciding vote. He had flown back from Ohio, where his mother died earlier in the week.
· Lord, as our leaders choose to embark on a course of borrowing money and spending without careful thought, we pray that You will bring discernment to those who will make the programs to spend this money. We pray that there will be a movement by the people to hold the government responsible and that the people of this nation will practice careful handling of their own funds and demand that of their representatives.
· "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him." (Luke 14:28- 29)
2. Plane crash in upstate NY kills 49 people - AP
Authorities say 49 people are dead after a commuter plane crashed into a home in suburban Buffalo and erupted in flames late Thursday.
· Lift up all of those who have lost loved ones and friends in this tragedy, asking our Lord to comfort each heart as only He knows how to do. Lift up all of those who are investigating the exact cause of this crash, that something similar never occur again. May every hidden thing be brought to light, and every secret thing be made known. In His Name, amen.
· "Weep with those who weep; mourn with those who mourn . . ." (Romans 12:15)
3. Financial Crisis Called Top Security Threat to U.S. - Washington Post
Director of National Intelligence Dennis C. Blair told Congress yesterday that instability in countries around the world caused by the current global economic crisis, rather than terrorism, is the primary near-term security threat to the United States.
· We pray for protection from the forces that are tearing this nation apart from within as well as without. Lord, we pray for mercy for the consumerism that characterizes our personal as well as governmental finances. We pray for a new spirit of dependence on You and an opening of our eyes to the transience of all earthly treasures.
· "But if punishment does come, it is sent by the Lord, so that we may be safe when the world is judged." (1 Corinthians 11:32)
4. Final Stimulus Bill to Track Medical Records - CNS News
Bill Creates Government Database that Will Hold Every American's Personal Medical Records
The final version of the stimulus bill, negotiated by the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate, includes a provision creating a federal database that will hold the personal medical records of every American, Katie Grant, spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told CNSNews.com Thursday.
· We are disheartened by those who are gathering together information that could be used for dark purposes. Lord, with the ever-quickening movement of technology, there is the potential for amazing abuse. We pray for Your protection from those who would exploit sensitive information and especially those who would threaten innocents with ill-gotten knowledge.
· "They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, 'Who will see them?'" (Psalm 64:5)
5. Washington: Iran still pursuing nuclear bomb - Jerusalem Post
Departing from an intelligence estimate published just over a year ago, the Obama administration made it clear that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.
· Why are we not surprised that this report, issued by Iran one year ago, has been found to be false? May the new administration come to understand quickly the true and evil intent of Ahmadenijad against our people; and may Barack Hussein Obama do everything in his power to stop this nuclear proliferation, before it is too late.
· "The remnant of Israel will do no wrong; they will speak no lies, nor will deceit be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid." (Zeph. 3:13)
6. Chinese Hackers Attack U.S. Computers, Thompson Says - Bloomberg
Chinese government and freelance hackers are the primary culprits behind as many as several hundred daily attacks against U.S. government, electric-utility and financial computer networks, a senior congressman said.
· If the Chinese hackers are targeting these sites, are they also not targeting sites of ministries who are called as watchmen, to sound the alarm for believers to pray and to take action, as needed? Plead the Blood of the Lamb over all Kingdom cybernetworks, and ask our Lord to grant unusual wisdom to the dedicated "I.T." men and women who are working to protect our systems. Are your own antivirus systems current?? Pray!
· "No weapon forged against you shall prosper . . . " (Isaiah 54:17)
7. Pakistan Sees Terror Role - Wall Street Journal
Pakistan publicly acknowledged for the first time Thursday that last year's terrorist attack on Mumbai was partly planned on its soil and said it had arrested most of the key plotters, the clearest sign yet that Pakistan intends to cooperate with international efforts to prosecute those behind the attacks.
· Praise the Lord for the transparency of the Pakistani government, in admitting to this evidence. Pray that other nations, rather than condemning the Pakistanis, will come alongside her to offer measures to increase protection from the terrorists who threaten us all. Praise God!
· "Go, post a watchman; let him declare what he seeth." (Isaiah 21:5,6)
8. U.S. to Offer Spare Airline Parts Sales to Syria, Officials Say - Wall Street Journal
The Obama administration has agreed to allow the sale of spare parts to Syria's national airline in a sign of a growing diplomatic thaw between Washington and Damascus, according to officials briefed on the U.S. decision.
· Pray for wisdom for this fledgling administration. Are they too trusting of man, rather than God? If this "diplomatic thaw between Washington and Damascus" is not pleasing to the Lord, pray for a turn in administration policy towards caution, rather than trust. Pray!
· "There is a way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof is death." (Proverbs 14:12)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
". . . the most high God rules in the kingdom of men. He appoints over it whomsoever He will." (Daniel 5:21)
1. Week before Gaza op, Israel and Syria were ready for direct talks - Ha'aretz
Erdogan had invited Olmert to his official residence after he met Turkey's president. He suggested calling Assad and drafting a joint announcement about a direct discussion between the Israeli and Syrian delegations.
2. IDF on high alert for fear of Hizbullah revenge attack - Ynet News
The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday continued its heightened state of alert declared several days ago, particularly on the northern border, in a bid to thwart any attempt by Hizbullah to launch a revenge attack against Israel in response to the assassination of its senior commander exactly one year ago.
3. Palestinians Demand ICC Investigate Possible Gaza War Crimes - VOA
The International Criminal Court in The Hague is examining a demand by the Palestinian Authority to investigate possible war crimes during Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip.
4. Hamas: Gaza truce won't include Schalit - Jerusalem Post
Hamas deputy leader Moussa Abu Marzouk said on Thursday that his organization supports an 18-month truce with Israel, thought it would not be linked to a prisoner exchange deal to free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Schalit.
5. Likud ready to meet Lieberman's demands on unions, conversion - Jerusalem Post
The Likud is confident it can meet the two demands on which Israel Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman has conditioned recommending that President Shimon Peres designate Likud chairman Binyamin Netanyahu to be the next prime minister, Likud officials said Thursday.
The First 100 Days
The First 100 Days: DAY 25
"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1)
1. Obama to Unveil Plan to Help Distressed Homeowners Wednesday
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday that the president will detail his ideas in a speech in Arizona.
The White House says President Obama will outline his plan to help struggling homeowners on Wednesday.
2. Sen. Gregg to Vote Against Economic Stimulus Bill
On Thursday, New Hampshire Sen. Gregg withdrew as President Obama's nominee as commerce secretary.
A day after dropping out of cabinet contention, New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg says he will vote against the $787 billion stimulus package.
Gregg said Friday the package contains a great deal of money that isn't well spent. He said he can support a robust stimulus package that focuses more on shoring up the real estate market and keeping people in their homes. He said it also should have focused more aggressively on small business tax breaks.
Gregg said the amount of money isn't the issue. Rather, he said it is the underlying policy.
3. State Department Moves to Bridge Relations With Four Countries
An official reportedly says the U.S. would "moderate the pace of development" of the missile defense project if Russia helps stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb.
Hillary Clinton's State Department is making coordinated moves to try to bridge troubled relations with Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.
4. JPMorgan, Citigroup Halting Foreclosures While Obama Drafts Plan
The two companies are halting home foreclosures while the Obama administration develops its plans to help the U.S. housing market.
5. States, Low-Income Americans to Feel Impact of Stimulus First
The $790 billion stimulus plan would quickly send money to people with low income and help prop up cash-strapped state budgets, economists say, and dole out money over the long term to infrastructure projects.(All headlines in this section come from Fox News.)
Good News Corner
Miraculous Salvation in the Name
Last Saturday night one of our regular new moon observers, CB Newman, was attacked by Arabs and just barely escaped with his life. He was on his way home from watching a video with me and some friends in North Talpiot when he took a wrong turn into an Arab area. The Arabs probably identified him as a Jew when they saw his blue and white tzitzit and they attacked him, stabbing him in the neck. Ironically the location of the attack is known as the "Peace Forest". I was interviewed by police yesterday who are investigating the attack as an "attempted pre-meditated murder" and they told me that Newman's survival was nothing short of a miracle. Here is the description of Newman's miraculous escape from the clutches of death in his own words:
"I am completely fine, I got out of the hospital yesterday. I was attacked by three Arabs with a knife in the outskirts of Ha-Shalom Forest. They slit my throat, I tried to get away, but I couldn't. They held me down to beat me and cut me with the knife."
You should know, after failing to escape I cried to Yehovah in desperation, immediately, that actual second, I was out of their grip and ran into the woods, they weren't able catch me, halleluyah."
"I finally reached a gas station where an ambulance was called. I was taken to a hospital and put under anesthesia. They stitched up my neck and head. I was told a few centimeters deeper and my arteries would have been cut, but I'm fine. There was no major damage, I just have scarring. I'm going back to the hospital on Sunday to have the stitches taken out. I'm really alright though, thank God."
The incident was also reported by the Jerusalem Post and Haaretz.
Praise Yehovah the King of all Creation for this miraculous salvation in his holy name!
Nehemia Gordon
Jerusalem, Israel
