In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, May 12, 2009
"O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness . . ." (Psalm 96:9)
A note from CHPP:
We encountered technical difficulties with the first section (Number 16a) on last night's edition of "On Capitol Hill This Week." As a result, some of the text in that segment was never published.
Please pray for the team at Constant Contact, as they work to upgrade their service to accommodate increased security measures that have been set in place on the internet. Thank you!
Today's Daily Brief
1. Cheney: Interrogations saved 'hundreds of thousands' of lives - AFP
Former vice president Dick Cheney insisted Sunday that intelligence extracted from tough interrogations of suspected Al-Qaeda militants had saved "perhaps hundreds of thousands" of US lives.
• We thank You, Lord for Vice President Dick Cheney to speak the truth with boldness. Let our nation truly hear what he has to say and let more of our leaders speak God's truth to our people. Let our agents who are seeking out the terrorists continue to find them without undue, unjust hindrances from our government!
• "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men." (Matthew 5:13)
2. Obama renews sanctions against Syria - Jerusalem Post
The Obama administration said Friday it is renewing economic and diplomatic sanctions on Syria, even as two US envoys are in the Syrian capital exploring prospects for improved relations.
• Heavenly Father, we pray that our government will be blocked from making alliances with nations that terrorize other nations. We pray that the bonds we make will only be with people and nations who will uphold godly principles. Help us not to waiver, but to have wisdom in dealing with these other nations!
• Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. (Genesis 11:8, 9)
3. Al-Qaeda pipeline through Syria reactivated - AFP
A Syrian pipeline used by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda in Iraq to smuggle Islamic fighters into the country has been reactivated after a short lull, The Washington Post has reported.
• Heavenly Father, Syria has been a source of the worst terrorist activities in that region of the world. We pray for new leadership in Syria and a new and better direction for that nation. Bring salvation to the Middle East to change the region. Send laborers to minister God's truth and salvation to Syria.
• I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. (John 12:4)
4. Vietnam Orders Fleet of Russian Subs, Sending Message to China - Fox News
In what may be a not-so-stealthy message to Beijing amid citizen protests of China's growing influence in its country, Vietnam has ordered a small fleet of silent Russian attack submarines.
• Lord, we pray that You will cause these nations seeking armaments to be distracted and change their minds about arming their nations. We pray that You will block any wicked pacts between any nations that are intent on doing evil.
• O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. (Psalms 25:2)
5. Pope Benedict XVI begins landmark visit to Israel - Jerusalem Post
Pope Benedict XVI arrived here on Monday to start a five-day, emotion-laden pilgrimage seen as an opportunity to warm a recent chill in Jewish-Catholic relations.
• Lord, we pray for the safety of Pope Benedict as he travels. We pray for traveling mercies that he will have a hedge of protection around him and everything that pertains to him. Let him complete the work you have sent him to do on this trip without interruptions, obstacles or distractions. Let the gospel go forth and many be saved.
• Then He said to them, "The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2)
6. Christians Flee Taliban As Military Strikes Continue - Worthy News
Hundreds of thousands of people, including Christians, have fled Pakistan's Taliban-controlled Swat Valley and nearby areas as the Pakistani military on Saturday, May 9, continued to pound suspected militant positions.
• Heavenly Father we pray for a special protection and favor for the Christians who are fleeing the Taliban. We pray that this nation will be a Christian nation and the old ways be discarded. Do it quickly, Lord! We pray for helpers to help protect them.
• For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways . . . "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name." (Psalms 91:11, 14)
7. U.S. Journalist Freed by Iran - Fox News
An American journalist jailed for four months in Iran was freed Monday and reunited with her parents after an appeals court suspended her eight-year prison sentence on charges of spying for the U.S. Her parents said they would bring her home to the U.S. within days.
The release of Roxana Saberi, a 32-year-old dual Iranian-American citizen, clears a major snag in President Barack Obama's efforts to engage Iran in a dialogue after decades of shunning the country. Washington had called the charges against Saberi baseless and repeatedly demanded her release.
• We thank You Lord, for Your tender mercies to free this journalist, and we thank You for this answer to prayer. We continue to pray for all the people who have been imprisoned unjustly in those nations that are against You, Lord. Bring salvation to this region!
• "But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." (Acts 16:25)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Forever, O LORD, Your Word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)
1. Jordan's Abdullah woos Assad in peace push - Jerusalem Post
Jordan's King Abdullah II met with Syrian President Bashar Assad in Damascus on Monday in an effort to win support for a new push to reach a comprehensive peace between Israel and the Arab world.
2. Pope in Israel Calls for Palestinian State - Fox News
Pope Benedict XVI called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian homeland immediately after he arrived in Israel Monday, a stance that could put him at odds with his hosts on a trip aimed at improving ties between the Vatican and Jews.
3. U.N. Security Council calls for a Palestinian state - USA Today
The United Nations Security Council on Monday called for "urgent efforts" to create a separate Palestinian state and achieve an overall Mideast peace settlement.
4. Netanyahu Asks Egypt for Backing - Wall Street Journal
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed to Egypt on Monday to create a bloc of moderate Arab states to confront Iran, and said Israel would renew peace talks with Palestinians in coming weeks.
