Thursday, April 23, 2009

CHPP Daily Brief - April 23, 2009

In This Issue
In This Issue
The Daily Brief
The Middle East in Focus
The First 100 Days
The Good News


Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
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chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Thursday, April 23, 2009
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil . . ." (Isaiah 5:20a)
" . . . and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)

The Daily Brief

1. Clinton Raises Alarms About Spiraling Security in Pakistan - Fox News

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is raising alarms that the Pakistani government is losing control of its country and ceding ground to Taliban extremists, as she presses lawmakers to approve fresh funding for the region.

In back-to-back days of testimony on Capitol Hill, Clinton raised concern that government-backed law enforcement was losing the northwest region of the country.

· Father we pray that You would station Your angelic host around Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and keep it from the hands of the Taliban or any other terrorist group. We pray that You would stabilize this nation as a friend of America, and remove all hostile entities within it.

· "I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:3)

2. Obama wants progress, says 'we can't talk forever' - Jerusalem Post

US President Barack Obama on Tuesday urged Israelis and Palestinians to take concrete steps toward peace, saying that "we can't talk forever," and that he expected to see progress on the ground in the coming months.

· Lord, we pray for a revelation of Your plan for Israel to our President. We ask for a conversion of his heart to know Your love and understand the importance of Israel. If there be any hidden motive of the heart against Your chosen ones in this man, let it be revealed and washed away by the Blood of the Lamb.

· "I will plant them in their land, and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them, says the Lord your God." (Amos 9:15)

3. Credit card reform challenged - Washington Times

Reform efforts that are the focus of President Obama's meeting with credit card executives Thursday could choke off credit to the borrowers they are intended to help, industry experts say.
· Father, Your people are suffering under the grip of a spirit of usury and heavy burdens in the credit card industry. We repent for having come under it, and we ask that Your redemption would release us all from it. We ask that no action of this meeting today would cause further harm to Your people, that the leaders would operate with wisdom in their decisions.

· "Restore now to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money and the grain, the new wine and the oil, that you have charged them." (Nehemiah 5:11)

4. FDA Set to OK 'Morning-After Pill' for 17-Year-Olds - NewsMax

The Food and Drug Administration, reversing field, will now let 17-year-olds get the 'morning-after' birth control pill without a doctor's prescription, a government health official said Wednesday.

· Lord, as sin continues to dominate our national landscape, we pray for Your mercy over our young women. Father, we are not aware of how safe these drugs are when taken regularly from promiscuous behavior, so we pray that Your Holy Spirit will move over our young people to deliver them from sexual behavior outside of marriage.

· "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:17)

5. Napolitano Riles Canadians By Suggesting 9/11 Terrorists Crossed Their Border - Fox News

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano riled Canadian officials this week by suggesting that the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada, even though the 9/11 Commission determined they came to the United States from overseas.

The backlash prompted her to release a statement Tuesday night clarifying that she knows the terrorists did not come through Canada, according to the Canadian TV network CTV. In the statement, Napolitano stressed that Canada is a "close ally."

The kind words came after a confusing exchange on border security during a media interview.

· Father this woman continues to alienate both the people of America and now our allies. We ask that you change her heart to bring understanding and wisdom or remove her from this position.

· "An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separate the best of friends" (Proverbs 16:27-28)

6. A) Renewed drought conditions fan California's wildfire fears - USA Today

California is bracing for another year of bad wildfires as a thin mountain snowpack, parched vegetation and an early heat wave signal a third consecutive year of drought.

B) S.C. wildfire scorches dozens of homes - MSNBC

A coastal wildfire spread Thursday toward one of the busiest tourist stretches in South Carolina, burning dozens of homes and forcing 2,500 to flee in the middle of the night.

· Lord, we ask for Your mercy over the drought-stricken areas of this nation. We pray that You will not destroy the land, but preserve it. Have mercy on the people, Lord, and remember Your promises of help in times of need.

· "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble;" (Psalm 46:1)

7. Fidel Castro Rebukes Raul on U.S. - Wall Street Journal

Retired dictator Fidel Castro slapped down his younger brother, Cuba's President Raul Castro, six days after he suggested Cuba was ready to negotiate fundamental differences with the U.S.

· Lord, give our leadership insights and truth as they try to deal with dictators. Lord, let them understand how dictators think and why we stopped conversations with them in the first place. Bring wise and knowledgeable people into the leadership of America, so that any dialogue with these men will be from a position of strength, not weakness.

· "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools." (Eccl 7:5)

The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered. Let them also that hate Him flee before Him." (Psalm 68:1)

1. Official: Iran a priority but not a condition for talks with Palestinians - Ynet News
Israel's materializing foreign policy will place the Iranian nuclear issue at the top of its priorities, but won't regard progress on the issue as a condition for negotiations with the Palestinians, Jerusalem officials said Wednesday.

2. Netanyahu's Mideast policy threatens EU ties - Haaretz

The foreign policy of the Netanyahu government, which deems unacceptable the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict as an outline for negotiations with the Palestinians, has damaged Israel's relations with the European Union.

3. Israeli intel warns Netanyahu on Obama policy: 'We have become an obstacle' - World Tribune

A classified assessment relayed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Obama and his senior advisers would incrementally diminish U.S. strategic cooperation with Israel developed over the last 20 years.

4. Army investigation finds Israel 'followed law' during Gaza war - London Telegraph

Army commanders acknowledged "rare mishaps" during the three-week offensive against Gaza's Hamas rulers, including an airstrike that killed a family of 21. However, they said Israel did not violate international humanitarian law and that Hamas is to blame for civilian deaths, because it used Gazans as human shields.

The First 100 Days

DAY 94

"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1)

1. Administration Having Trouble Finding Civilians to Aid Afghanistan Buildup

In announcing the new strategy for the Afghanistan war last month, the administration said it would send several hundred civilians -- such as agronomists, economists and legal experts -- to work on reconstruction and development issues as part of the military's counterinsurgency campaign.

2. Obama Pushes 'Strong and Reliable' Protections for Credit Card Users

President Obama said Thursday his administration is determined to get a credit-card law that eliminates tricky fine print, sudden rate increases and late fees that give millions of consumers headaches.

"I trust that those in the industry who want to act responsibly will engage with us in a constructive fashion, and that we're going to get this done in short order," Obama said, delivering a pointed message to leading executives of credit-card issuing companies seated at his side.

Both the House and the Senate are pursuing bills to give consumers greater protections. Obama said his economic advisers will examine the various proposals and work with Congress and the industry, but he made clear he intends to sign a law.

3. First Lady Jokes New Puppy is 'Kind of Crazy'

The first lady is spending a lot of time walking and training the 6-month-old Portuguese water dog who became a member of the president's family last week.

4. Napolitano Draws Resignation Calls After Gaffes on Veterans, Canada

The outrage continues to build over a report from Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano's department that warned of the danger of right-wing "extremists," and she raised eyebrows again this week when she suggested that the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada.

5. Obama Honors Holocaust Victims

Speaking at a Holocaust Days of Remembrance ceremony at the U.S. Capitol, President Obama warned against what he called the dangers of silence.

6. Global Warming Bill Could Lead to Higher Electric Rates, Utilities Warn

Representatives for rural cooperatives, utility commissions and electric utilities tell lawmakers that if they are given allowances, they could protect consumers from higher energy prices.

7. Report: New Orleans Archbishop to Boycott University Over Donna Brazile Invite
The New Orleans archbishop claims he will boycott the graduation ceremonies of the country's only historically black Catholic university over its decision to award an honorary degree to abortion rights supporter and Democratic strategist Donna Brazile.
(All articles from Fox News)

The Good News Corner

SUSAN BOYLE: I DREAMED A DREAM
A SONG GOING DEEP WHERE NO ONE ELSE CAN GO


(Editor's note: Last week, on "Tea Party Day" - Wed., April 15 - we ran a link to a video clip in our Good News section called "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover." That clip featured a "nobody" named Susan Boyle, from Scotland, singing a song called "I Dreamed a Dream." Well, since then, MANY of you have written us to tell us that that clip had you - like us - in tears of joy; and meanwhile, Susan Boyles has become an instant internet star. As of today over 200 million others have viewed her performance at that site!

Today we came across a teaching by Carol McCollum on what GOD is doing through this phenomena; and that teaching, too, has touched our hearts. Below please find excerpts from Carol's insights. To view the article in its entirety, please visit our blog by going here. And to see Susan Boyles' clip again, go here. Thank you and God bless you all.)

Susan Boyles, through her broken life, of hurts and hardships, and dreams, and needs, still held on, and did all she knew how to do, and GOD TOOK A VERY SIMPLE LADY, FROM THE BACK OF THE LINE, AND PUT HER MORE THAN NUMBER 1 IN ABOUT 3 1/2 MINUTES

ALL OVER THE WORLD, PEOPLE ARE SAYING I CAN'T QUIT CRYING. I CRY EVERY TIME I HEAR HER SING.

A GOOD FRIEND ASKED ONE DAY, WHAT IS THE ANOINTING.

THIS IS PART OF THE ANOINTING OF GOD. SENT WITH A PURPOSE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE DESIRES TO ACCOMPLISH.

IT GIVES PEOPLE FREEDOM, SETS THEM FREE, DEEP WHERE THEY REALLY LIVE, NOT THE SURFACE BUT WAYYYYY DEEEP.

IT TOUCHES THE PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WOULD NEVER LET ANYONE SEE, IT IS THEIR SECRET PLACE. . . BIG AND SMALL, KIND AND HARDENED, HAVE ALL CRIED THIS PAST 10 DAYS . BECAUSE THESE WORDS AND SOUNDS OF A LADY'S MEEK AND HUMBLE, BUT POWERFUL VOICE WENT TO THEIR SECRET PLACE AND IT GAVE THEM A BREATH OF FRESH AIR , FOR THEIR DREAMS, THEIR HOPES, THEIR WANTS AND THEIR NEEDS WERE BATHED IN HOPE.

THE LORD HAS SHOWN ME THIS WEEK, MANY HAVE HARDENED THEIR HEARTS, HE GAVE THEM A FLICKER OF PROMISE FOR THEM. MANY TEARS HAVE FLOWED ON PILLOWS THIS WEEK.

THIS SONG HAS PRICKED THE HEARTS AROUND THE WORLD. EVERY NATION HAS BEEN TOUCHED.

KNOW THIS. GOD TOOK THE VERY SIMPLE THIS WEEK, TO CONFUSE THE VERY WISE. HE TOOK A LADY HE PREPARED FOR THAT SONG, FOR THAT HOUR TO TOUCH THE WORLD. HE TOOK HER FROM THE VERY VERY VERY BACK, TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE, AND CROWNED HER AND ROBED HER WITH HIS ROYALTY.

WORLD, KNOW THIS, AS HE PLACED A HUMBLE , MEEK, PRESSED DOWN LADY IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE WORLD'S VIEW, IN 3 1/2 MINS, SHE AFFECTED THE WORLD WITH A TOUCH THAT WAS NEEDED. AS OF RIGHT NOW, SHE HAS HAD OVER 12 MILLION HITS ON THE INTERNET. NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE.

HE IS LOOKING FOR A PEOPLE THAT WILL SAY, YES GOD, TAKE ME, USE ME, AND LET YOUR FACE SHINE UPON ME....EVEN THO WE ARE FACING VERY EXCRUCIATING TIMES, AND THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE, SO HAS HE HIS PEOPLE IN POSITION, THAT KNOW HOW TO CALL UPON HIM, AND USE THE POWER HE HAS GIVEN THEM, TO WALK IN THE HOURS TO COME.

IN THE DAYS AHEAD, ONE PROPHET, CAN CALL AN ARMY TO CEASE, A MOUNTAIN TO FALL, A SEA TO PART, A WHIRLWIND TO COME, AN ENEMY TO BOW DOWN. NO MAN TOUCHES A TRUE PROPHET, UNLESS GOD ALLOWS IT.

REPENTANCE TO GOD, WIPES ANYONE'S SLATE CLEAN, HE WILL FORGIVE AND WASH YOU WHITE AS SNOW.

"I Dreamed A Dream" is fresh. . . he wants each of you to have the dreams he has given you , and to accomplish all he has given you in talents and abilities.
USE THEM FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE, AND PEACE WILL LIVE INSIDE, IN THE WORST OF STORMS. ONE THING TO REMEMBER, GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS. HE LOVES EVERYONE.

Carol McCollum
A voice for those that have none for these last days.