In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The First 100 Days
• Good News Corner
• He Is Risen!!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief - Friday, April 10, 2009
"So fear not, little flock; it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32)
The Daily Brief
1. A. Mom, 9-Week-Old Baby Killed In Tornado - WSMV.com
The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency reports that two people are dead and 35 were hurt in a reported tornado in Murfreesboro, according to spokesman Donnie Smith. Seven people had critical injuries.
B. Texas couple waiting for son died surrounded by wildfire - CNN
A Texas couple who burned to death in a wildfire Thursday had been waiting in their truck for their son, who had rushed inside their house to rescue a cat, and were unable to escape fast-moving flames, a relative said.
C. Severe weather explosion - The Weather Channel
The same storm system that produced the tornadoes across Arkansas, Louisiana, northeast Texas, eastern Oklahoma and southwest Missouri Thursday night has produced tornadoes and severe weather over parts of Kentucky, Tennessee and northern Alabama on Friday. One tornado touched down around Eddyville, Ky., while numerous tornadoes hit Murfreesboro, Tenn. Several homes have been demolished in Murfreesboro and numerous injuries have been reported so far. Severe storms will move through northern Georgia into the overnight hours. Tornadoes, wind damage and hail are all possible.
- Lord, protect those who are in the path of these storms in the next few days. We pray for recovery for those who are hurt and whose property has been damaged and for an assurance of hope to those who may be overwhelmed.
- "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by." (Psalm 57:1)
2. Two Students Sue California College District for Threatening to Suspend Them for Praying - Fox News
Two California students can sue their community college district after their school threatened to suspend them for praying on campus, a federal judge ruled. Kandy Kyriacou and Ojoma Omaga said the College of Alameda accused them of "disruptive behavior" after they had prayed with an ailing teacher in a faculty office in December of 2007, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
- Thank You for these dear students who took a public stand for You and prayed in Your name for healing. May they be vindicated and may their example shine to others who struggle with showing their faith in public.
- "And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:27)
3. CIA Has Quit Operating Secret Jails, Chief Says - Washington Post
Leon Panetta says no one has been detained in "black sites" since he became chief, and that the agency will not use contractors to conduct interrogations or to provide security for the remaining detention sites.
- As terrorists are caught, we pray they will be dealt with in a way that protects the innocent and punishes the guilty.
- "And blessed be your discernment, and blessed be you, who have kept me this day from bloodshed and from avenging myself by my own hand." (1 Samuel 25:33)
4. A. Pirates Foil U.S. Captain's Escape Attempt - Wall Street Journal
Pirates recaptured a U.S. captain who tried to escape. In a separate incident off the Somali coast, one hostage was killed after French naval forces intervened and rescued four others, including a child.
B. Pirates Summon Reinforcements Who Are Using Russian, German Hostages As Human Shields - Cybercast News Service
Escalating a dramatic Indian Ocean standoff, more U.S. warships -- as well as pirate reinforcements with an international gallery of hostages -- rushed Friday toward the spot where four Somali bandits are holding a U.S. sea captain aboard a drifting lifeboat. The pirates apparently fear being shot or arrested if they hand over Capt. Richard Phillips -- captured in a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday -- and hope to link up with their colleagues who are using Russian, German, Filipino and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields.
- For all those who are suffering at the hands of these terrorists, we pray mercy and peace on them. May the world respond to these criminals in a forceful way so that they will shrink from further acts of mayhem.
- "The LORD will send upon you curses, confusion, and rebuke, in all you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and until you perish quickly, on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken Me." (Deuteronomy 28:20)
5. U.K. Officials Scramble to Find Al Qaeda Easter Attack Bomb Factory - The Times of London
A desperate search was under way in Britain Thursday night for the terrorist bomb factory from which a suspected Al Qaeda cell planned to launch a devastating attack in Manchester, possibly as soon as Easter.
- As this threat looms, we pray that You will grant discernment and wisdom to the law enforcement officials who are searching for these murderers. We pray protection over Britain in this time of Your greatest triumph.
- "He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate." (Psalm 10:8)
6. Iran Gives Mixed Signals on Nuclear-Fuel Efforts - Wall Street Journal
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran inaugurated a nuclear-fuel facility, even as he said he was open to talks with the U.S. and other nations aimed at restricting Iran's nuclear-fuel program. The moves came as an Iranian opposition group, the National Council for Resistance in Iran, said Tehran was building more-efficient centrifuges to make nuclear fuel outside the view of international inspectors.
- May the members of the administration who are dealing with this country be full of discernment and have wisdom to act in a way that will tie the hands of Ahmadinejad before he is able to attack Israel with these weapons.
- "For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, They make ready their arrow upon the string To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart." (Psalm 11:2)
7. Christians Mark Good Friday at Holy Site in Jerusalem - Fox News
Thousands of Christian clergymen, worshippers and pilgrims thronged the alleyways of Jerusalem's Old City, chanting hymns and bearing crosses as they marked Good Friday by retracing Jesus' final footsteps. Hundreds attended prayers Friday morning at Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Christian tradition says Jesus was crucified and resurrected.
- Lord, we bow down to You on this day that commemorates Your great sacrifice for us. We thank You for Your grace and mercy and for the love You showed by taking our sins upon You.
- "When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." (Luke 23:33- 34)
8. Iraqi Christian church plans Easter renewal - USA Today
Easter services are planned at one of Baghdad's biggest churches for the first time in two years as Iraqi Christians return to homes they had deserted because of violence. Saints Peter and Paul Church had been closed since mid-2007 as insurgents and sectarian militias targeted Iraq's 800,000-strong Christian community. The number of Christians in southern Baghdad's Dora neighborhood, their onetime stronghold, dwindled to a few dozen families as many were killed or fled the country.
- Lord, we praise You for this sign of renewal at the celebration of Your resurrection. May the people of Iraq be pulled to You so they may be saved.
- "This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 22:14)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, thus saith the LORD, Let my people go, that they may serve me." (Exodus 8:1)
1. Arab FMs to discuss Mideast peace - Ynet News
Jordan will host a "consultative" meeting of six Arab foreign ministers on Saturday to discuss the Middle East peace process, a senior official said on Thursday.
2. 'Jerusalem should be capital for the Palestinians and Israel' - Ha'aretz
Jordan's King Abdullah II pressed on Britain the need for "serious negotiations" between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and the Palestinians over a two-state solution on Thursday, in a meeting with the British Foreign Secretary.
3. Report: Hizbullah cell in Egypt smuggled arms into Gaza - Ynet News
Egyptian authorities accused the Lebanese group Hizbullah on Wednesday of planning attacks inside Egypt, a development that could plunge Cairo's relations with the Shiite group's backer, Iran, to new lows.
4. U.S. Made Nuclear Deal with United Arab Emirates Despite Its Record as Transshipment Point for Weapons-Related Material to Iran - Cybercast News Service
The United States has concluded a nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) despite that country's record as a transshipment point for weapons-related material to Iran.
The First 100 Days
DAY 81
"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's Apparent Bow to Saudi King Outrages Conservatives
Last week, President Obama greeted King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia with what appeared to be a bow, outraging conservatives who say the leader of the free world has no business bending over to foreigners.
2. Federal Deficit Increases by $192B in March, Setting Record
The Treasury Department said Friday that the budget deficit increased by $192.3 billion in March, and is near $1 trillion just halfway through the budget year, as costs of the financial bailout and recession mount.
3. Obama Seeks Swift Approval for $83B in War Spending
President Obama's request, including money to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan, would push the costs of the two wars to almost $1 trillion since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the Congressional Research Service.
4. Watchdog Claims Government Charging Fees in 'Retaliation' for Pelosi Report
A conservative watchdog group that published a critical report last month on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the government has retaliated by charging the group exorbitant fees for documents.
Judicial Watch published a report in March, based on e-mails and other documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request, showing Pelosi repeatedly requested military aircraft to shuttle her and her colleagues and family around the country.
Though Judicial Watch was not charged fees for those documents, the group got a different response when it filed a follow-up document request with a unit in the Air Force on March 16: That'll be $760.
"We thought it was retaliatory," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. "This seems like a petty response. This seems like a petty effort at retaliation in response to the bad publicity at the speaker's office." [All reports in this section come from Fox News.]
Good News Corner
A Guilty Criminal is Released, Unpunished
The scene was a prison's death row. A young man cowered in the corner of his cell. His execution was scheduled for that day. His last memories on the face of the earth were destined to be of this cold, musty cell block.
He knew he was guilty. He was a thief and a murderer. He knew he was only getting what he deserved. But he was scared. He sat silently as he awaited his executioner, his mind jumping between old memories and shuddering thoughts of his soon death.
Suddenly he heard the jingle of keys and the slow, steady rhythm of the jailer's footsteps in the hallway. He was suddenly gripped with an icy feeling of fear and despair. His heart pounded. "This is it," he thought.
The jailer reached the cell, looked down at the young man and said, "Get up! You are free to go."
What? What was he hearing? Could it be true, or just a cruel trick?
The jailer said again, "You are free to go."
Could he believe it? Slowly he staggered to his feet and stepped cautiously past the jailer, fully expecting to be grabbed and thrown back in. But the jailer did not touch him. No one stopped him. He was free! But why?
As he left the jail, he noticed that the streets were packed with people. He now had an idea why he had been released . . . and he knew how he could find out.
As he went down the street from the jail, an old friend rushed up to him. "Hey, man. We heard you were set free. All the guys want you to come over to the club and celebrate. Come on. Let's go."
The young man declined. "No," he replied. "I have some place I need to go."
Then suddenly he heard the familiar voice of his little sister through the rumble of the crowd. "Mom and Dad sent me to find you," she said. "They have a great party planned. We are all going to celebrate. Come on."
"No," he told her. "I can't come. I have some place I have to go." He pushed on.
Finally, he made it to the center of the crowd. He tried to force his way through to the front, but his efforts were thwarted by the mass of onlookers. He could get no closer.
Someone shouted to him, "Hey, aren't you Barabbas? What are you doing out of jail?"
He glanced back to see who spoke to him. "Yes," he replied. "I am Barabbas. I was supposed to die today. I just wanted to see the man who took my place." (Author unknown.)
He took our place too!
Happy Passover, and Happy Resurrection Sunday!
He Is Risen!!
Wishing all of you God's richest blessings on this Resurrection Sunday,
and always.
And a very special greeting to our friends of the Jewish faith, who are celebrating Passover this week.
"He came to set the captives free."
In His Amazing Grace, Mercy and Love,
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
