In This IssueThe Daily Brief
The Middle East in Focus
The Good News Corner
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Wednesday, May 6, 2009
"May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you." (Psalm 33:22)
The Daily Brief
1. Obama To Be Prayer Day No-Show - The Washington Times
President Obama is distancing himself from the National Day of Prayer by nixing a formal early morning service and not attending a large Catholic prayer breakfast the next morning. All Mr. Obama will do for the National Day of Prayer, which is Thursday, is sign a proclamation honoring the day, which originated in 1952 when Congress set aside the first Thursday in May for the observance. For the past eight years, President George W. Bush invited selected Christian and Jewish leaders to the White House East Room, where he typically would give a short speech and several leaders offered prayers.
· Father, as the 58th Annual Observance of The National Day Of Prayer is upon us, allow us to seize this opportunity to cry out to you as One Nation Under God. As the President plans to not show up, The United State of America will be praying. Millions will unite in prayer as thousands of events will take place from coast to coast, in our cities, churches, and even in live on-line chat rooms. Father, please forgive Mr. Obama as he tries to drive our country into a pit of life without honoring You openly. Lord, you said that if they will speak your name openly, your Father will bless them. If not, He will deny them. Father we believe You will not allow Your remnant, who will be praying all over this nation, regardless, to incur the plight of such dealings. Please pray and give thanks to our God Who will hear and answer the prayers of His people according to His matchless Word and His faithfulness to do so.
· Though hand join in hand, the wicked will not go unpunished, but the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. (Proverbs 11:21)
2. Bernanke says U.S. recovery ahead, housing near bottom - Reuters
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday the three-year U.S. housing bust may be near a bottom and the recession should end this year, as long as there is no relapse of the credit squeeze that has strangled the economy.
In March, Bernanke had pointed to "green shoots" of economic recovery, but in testimony to Congress on Tuesday he was more explicit in saying the pieces were in place for a rebound. Still, he acknowledged that growth would remain subdued and unemployment high even after the recession ends.
· Ask God for a miraculous recovery for our nation to harvest the fields He has called us to. Pray that the talk of economic recovery will not prevent the hard work and determination of every American to continue to do their utmost for His Highest in every area of life. Pray that the light and salt of earth, the saints, will have a profound impact in financial arenas of our country and around the world. Intercede for our leaders to beseech the God of creation for His answers in times of trouble and unrest.
· Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly. (Proverbs 15:21)
3. Scholarship Students & Obama Voters Slam Obama - ButAsForMe News
In a "must see" video by Reason TV, recipients of the DC Opportunity Scholarships - Obama supporters, mind you - directly ask the president why he is allowing their scholarships to be taken away. Working with congressional Democrats and despite his pledge to put politics and ideology aside in education, the Obama administration has effectively killed the program through a backdoor legislative move. "Education Secretary Arne Duncan will use only one test in what ideas to support with your precious tax dollars," says the president. "It's not whether it's liberal or conservative, but whether it works." That sort of doublespeak has left many Obama supporters not just puzzled but outraged.
· Father, as people have trusted in the integrity of the government of men, their true and only hope is found in You. As they have banked on the words of men, Your Words alone are true and right altogether. Please pray, as lives are shaken by the choices of men and the decisions of government, that people will turn to the only true and living way, the Lord, Jesus Christ. Pray that healing and soundness will accompany the people at this time.
·"For the Lord will judge His people And have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their power is gone, And there is no one remaining, bond or free. He will say: 'Where are their gods, The rock in which they sought refuge?" (Deuteronomy 32:36-37)
4. Obama seeks $83.4 billion in special war money - AP
President Barack Obama asked Congress on Thursday for $83.4 billion for U.S. military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, pressing for special troop funding that he opposed two years ago when he was senator and George W. Bush was 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. The additional money would cover operations into the fall. Obama is also requesting $350 million in new funding to upgrade security along the U.S.-Mexico border and to combat narcoterrorists, along with another $400 million in counterinsurgency aid to Pakistan.
· If there is one thing Americans will spend money on, it's Defense, our troops, and border protection. Please pray that the funds allotted will go for the most pressing needs in these areas and that we will get the biggest bang for our buck. Ask the Lord for wisdom, guidance, and leeway for military and civilian officials. This way they will be able to carry on the fight. Pray that politicians not be allowed to "micromanage" things by adding timelines or other restrictions on said officials that would hinder complete success. Above all, pray that we do the Lord's bidding concerning these matters.
· No king is saved by the multitude of an army; A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. (Psalm 33:16)
5. Census GPS-tagging your home's front door - World Net Daily
According to an online Yahoo program, the Global Position System coordinates for the White House, probably one of the best-known publicly owned buildings in the world, are 38.898590 Latitude and -77.035971 Longitude. And since you know that, it's no big deal for the White House to know the coordinates for your front door, is it?
Some people think it is, and are upset over an army of some 140,000 workers hired in part with a $700 million taxpayer-funded contract to collect #readings for every front door in the nation.
The data collection, presented as preparation for the 2010 Census, is pinpointing with #computer accuracy the locations and has raised considerable concern from privacy advocates who have questioned why the information is needed. The privacy advocates also are more than a little worried over what could be done with that information.
· Father, we ask that only skillful and godly wisdom enter the heart of Mr. Obama concerning this data, this army of workers, and the hundreds of millions of dollars this is costing the American people. Pray that God will surround and encompass this president with men and women who make their hearts and ears attentive to good and godly counsel, to do that which is right in God's sight. Intercede so that only wise and godly leaders, who respect the inalienable rights of the individual, be allowed to remain, but that the treacherous be cut off, in Jesus Name. Pray that our freedoms remain in tact and that this government will respect them and not forfeit the liberties of any of America's citizens.
· Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens. (Exodus 18:21)
6. Secret U.S.-Israel Nuclear Accord in Jeopardy - Cross Action News
President Obama's efforts to curb the spread of nuclear weapons threaten to expose and derail a 40-year-old secret U.S. agreement to shield Israel's nuclear weapons from international scrutiny, former and current U.S. and Israeli officials and nuclear specialists tell The Washington Times. The issue will likely come to a head when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Mr. Obama on May 18 in Washington. Mr. Netanyahu is expected to seek assurances from Mr. Obama that he will uphold the U.S. commitment and will not trade Israeli nuclear concessions for Iranian ones.
· Father, we lay every effort, secret or otherwise, to derail protection for Israel at your feet and declare them null and void. Thank God for His mighty Hand of protection around and about the nation and the people of Israel. Pray fervently that Mr. Obama will see the importance and the significance of upholding the commitment that the United States has made to Israel. Intercede for those that have become callous, hardened, or indifferent. Thank God that He will not abandon His heritage, as He still has regard for the covenant which He made with Abraham.
· Have respect to the covenant; For the dark places of the earth are full of the haunts of cruelty. (Psalm 74:20)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed, He has girded Himself with strength." (Psalm 93:1)
1. US wants Israel in non-proliferation treaty - YNet News
India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel should join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the global pact meant to limit the spread of atomic weapons, a senior US official said on Tuesday while neglecting to mention Iran.
2. Israel must accept Palestinian state, Joe Biden says - London Telegraph
Vice-President Joe Biden placed America on a collision course with Israel on Tuesday, urging the new government to accept the goal of a Palestinian state and stop expanding Jewish settlements on occupied land.
3. U.N. Report Criticizes Israel Over Gaza Attacks - NewsMax
A new United Nations report criticizes Israel for attacking U.N. installations during the Gaza campaign, according to an Israeli description Tuesday of the still unreleased document, which it called "tendentious and entirely unbalanced."
4. Pope Seeks Control of Holy Land Sites in Israel - NewsMax
When Pope Benedict XVI visits the Holy Land, he will be more than a VIP sightseer -- he is expected to demand that Israel surrender to the Vatican dominion and control over no less than five holy sights, according to a report in Israel Today.
5. Obama meets Peres as US pushes two-state solution - AFP
US President Barack Obama held his first summit with his Israeli counterpart Shimon Peres, as the US urged Israel to accept a two-state solution amid a new US push for Middle East peace.
The Good News Corner
The Wisdom Of Winston Churchill: On Taxes
"I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." - Winston Churchill
