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 - Thursday, April 9, 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. Obama team readying for confrontation with Netanyahu - Ha'aretz
In an unprecedented move, the Obama administration is readying for a possible confrontation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by briefing Democratic congressmen on the peace process and the positions of the new government in Israel regarding a two-state solution.
The Obama administration is expecting a clash with Netanyahu over his refusal to support the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
∙ Father we ask for Your courage and strength to cover PM Netanyahu. We pray that only Your will be accomplished over Israel, and not the plans of men.
∙ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision." (Joel 3:14)
2. Iran Announces Technology for Better Nuke Fuel Production - Fox News
Iran has obtained technology to make more "accurate" centrifuges for the final stage of nuclear fuel production, Reuters quotes a senior Iranian official.
The claim comes as Iran's president inaugurated a new facility Thursday producing uranium fuel for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor. The West fears the reactor could eventually be used for producing a nuclear weapon.
∙ Father, as "diplomacy" drags on and Iran has been able to work behind the scenes on perfecting their plans, we know that You have not been deceived. Lord, grant Your people protection, and bring down those who hate You.
∙ "The pride of your heart has deceived you. Though you exalt yourself as high as the eagle, and though you set your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down,' says the Lord." (Obadiah 3,4)
3. Obama to Push Immigration Reform Bill - Fox News
President reportedly plans to address the thorny issue of immigration reform this year, including searching for a way for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official says.
∙ Lord, we cry out to You for justice in this battle against illegal immigrants! Father, protect us from the overwhelming costs of supporting those who have come to this country illegally. You are the God of mercy, truth, and justice - may Your wisdom come to our leaders.
∙ "For You have forsaken Your people, the house of Jacob, because they are filled with eastern ways, and they are pleased with the children of foreigners." (Isaiah 2:6)
4. Obama Invites Gay Families to Egg Roll - AP
The White House is allocating tickets for the upcoming Easter Egg Roll to gay and lesbian parents as part of the Obama administration's outreach to diverse communities.
∙ Father, in Your great mercy, we ask for a move of Your Holy Spirit to bring redemption and truth to this group of families, as well as our leadership. Lord, we feel for the children in these relationships, but we ask that Your truth prevail over White House actions.
∙ "If a ruler pays attention to lies, all his servants become wicked." (Proverbs 29:12)
5. Obama's Christian Appointee to Faith-Based Program Says New Testament Teaching on Homosexuality Is 'Not True' - CNS News
President Obama has named to his faith-based advisory council a self-professed Christian who holds that the New Testament's teaching that homosexual behavior is unnatural and wrong--which is found in St. Paul's letter to the Romans--"is not true."
The appointee, Harry Knox, has also said that Obama's decision to invite the Rev. Rick Warren to say a prayer at the Inauguration "tainted" the ceremony and that Pope Benedict XVI is a "discredited leader."
∙ Father, there are many who call themselves by the Name of Your Son, but who belie His sacrifice and twist His truth. For the sake of Your Name, we ask that You harvest the tares from among the wheat and purify this "faith-based advisory council."
∙ "He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but he who is perverse in his ways despises Him." (Proverbs 14:2)
6. Rick Warren Disavows Support for Proposition 8 - OneNewsNow
California mega-church pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren, says he apologized to his homosexual friends for making comments in support of California's Proposition 8, and now claims he "never once even gave an endorsement" of the marriage amendment.
∙ Father, whatever personal pressure has caused this pastor to recant Your truth and conscience, we ask that You would visit Mr. Warren to warn him and renew that truth in his heart. All of us who know You have secular friends who need Jesus, but we also strive to bring them into the Kingdom without compromising Your truth.
∙ "Nevertheless if you warn the righteous man that the righteous should not sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning." (Ezekiel 3:21)
7. State Records Prove Tiller Lied About Abortion numbers, Profits - Christian NewsWire/IFA
Abortion records kept by the Kansas State Department of Health and Environment prove that, during his trial, late-term abortionist George R. Tiller misrepresented the number of post- viability abortions done at his Wichita clinic by nearly 50%.
Tiller took the stand in his own defense against charges he committed illegal abortions in 2003. He testified under oath that between 250 and 300 of the controversial abortions were done by his clinic that year.
∙ Father, we ask for true justice in this horrific shedding of innocent blood.
∙ "The evil will bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous." (Proverbs 14: 19)
8. Congress to Vote On Day of Silence - OneNewsNow
A pro-family advocate is urging people to voice their concern over a resolution sitting before Congress.
Congressional Resolution 92 will receive an up-or-down vote on or before April 17, which is the National Day of Silence -- a day when students across America are encouraged to show their support for the homosexual community by refusing to speak.
The resolution seeks to affirm congressional support for the event and encourage local education authorities to adopt policies that prevent bullying based on sexual orientation. Laurie Higgins is the director of the division of school advocacy with the Illinois Family Institute (IFI).
∙ Lord. we cry out to You for protection of our children across America! The indoctrination and pressure to believe as the liberal agenda demands has become critical. We ask that You intervene to stop the deception being forced upon our kids and defeat this resolution.
∙ "The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord" (Proverbs 15:26a)
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. US-Israel confrontation looms over Mideast peace - AFP
A week after a largely right-wing Israeli government took power, differences are emerging with main ally Washington over Middle East peace efforts that could develop into an all-out confrontation.
2. Syria says willing to renew peace talks with Israel - Ha'aretz
Syria says it's willing to resume indirect peace talks with Israel's new government as long as the talks focus on an Israeli withdrawal from the entire Golan Heights to lines that preceded the June 1967 Mideast war.
3. Thousands attend special 'sun' prayer - Jerusalem Post
Over 50,000 people took part in the Birkat Hahama prayers at Jerusalem's Western Wall on Wednesday morning.
4. Hamas calls on PA to cut security ties with Israel - Ynet News
Hamas urged the Palestinian Authority to halt all security coordination with Israel following Wednesday's clash between settlers and residents of the West Bank village of Khirbat Safa, near the Bat Ayin settlement.
The First 100 Days
DAY 80
"The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." (Proverbs 21:1)
1. Chia Pet Creator 'Shocked' After Walgreens Pulls Obama Model From Shelves
Chia Pet creator Joseph Pedott says he was "shocked" when he found out Walgreens was dropping his Chia Obama
2. Obama's Guantanamo Task Force Mulls Fate of Chinese Detainees
Members of the task force met with with the 17 Uyghurs at the Guantanamo prison last week and quizzed them for at least an hour on where they would like to go, their feelings about the U.S. and their training in Afghanistan, multiple sources confirmed to FOX News.
3. Obama to Seek $83B More for War Spending
The vast majority of the bill is for the Pentagon --$75 billion largely for the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
4. Obama Aims to Streamline Health Care for Injured Vets
President Obama announced a plan Thursday to create a more efficient record system that would follow a service member in the military and then later in the Veterans Affairs Department's medical system.
5. Obama to Mark Passover With Seder Dinner
The White House says the seder meal will be traditional, including matzo, bitter herbs, a roasted egg and greens in the family dining room in the executive mansion.
6. Dodd Caught in Union Crossfire Over Calls to Halt F-22 Production
The Connecticut Democrat, along with other members of his state's congressional delegation, is meeting Thursday with the Hartford chapter of the machinists' union that would take a big hit under Defense Secretary Robert Gates' call to halt production of the F-22 jet.
(All articles from Fox News)
Good News Corner
North Carolina Couple-Loyal Customers of a Deli-Pray about It, and then Buy the Restaurant to Save Employees' Jobs
"That's what it's all about, working as a happy family, and when you take care of workers they will take care of you."
Joyce and Jim Willis enjoyed visiting Schlotzsky's Deli in Apex, North Carolina-they were loyal customers. That is; until they became the owners.
When the couple found out through the deli's manager that it was going under, and the employees would soon be out of a job, they took it to prayer. Jim and Joyce (both in their 70's) then decided to buy the business to keep it going, and to retain the workers' jobs.
They even went a step further. The Willis' gave each employee a raise-something they hadn't seen in years-in addition to a plan of handing over some of the profits from the business to the workers at the end of the year.
"My goal if I live long enough is to pay my employees the highest we could, over any other restaurant," said Joyce Willis in the WNCN report.
The Willis' also plan to pass on the deli to manager Randy Ellis in about 5 years; a dream-come-true according to him. "They're helping me out in such a way you can't believe; to help support my family and do something I've always wanted to do," Ellis said.
(Source: Breaking Christian News; Aimee Heard; April 3, 2009)
