In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Supremes Give Military Suit the Boot
• Seeing Sonia's Soul
• Good Results Around The World
• The Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, June 9, 2009
"Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:8)
Today's Daily Brief
1. 10 Big Banks Get OK to Repay $68B in Bailout Money - CNSNews.com
The Treasury Department has approved 10 of the nation's largest banks to repay $68 billion in government bailout money. The banks have been eager to get out of the program to escape government restrictions such as caps on executive compensation.
Among the banks that last month passed government "stress tests" and confirmed that they received permission to repay the bailout funds were: JPMorgan Chase & Co., American Express Co., U.S. Bancorp, Capital One Financial Corp., Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and BB&T Corp.
• Offer praise to the Lord for this development, away from federal interference in our nation's banking system and towards private enterprise, once again. Lift up the officers of these corporations, that they may be granted greater wisdom in days ahead regarding all banking practices they will establish. Pray, too, that this time of "humbling" in the lives of these CEO's would melt their hearts and lead each one to the knowledge of our Savior. Amen.
• "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
2. CIA Asks Court to Keep Interrogation Records Secret - CNN
CIA Director Leon Panetta on Monday asked a federal judge to keep records of U.S. interrogations of top al Qaeda captives secret, arguing their release could cause "exceptionally grave" damage to national security.
• Tonight we are praising God that this official of the Obama administration seems to "have it straight" in matters of national security. Pray that Mr. Panetta will find favor with this court, and that these records remain sealed, as requested. Pray!
• "Again I say[a] to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)
3. GOP Reps. to Fed: Stop printing money - Fox News
Rep. Mark Kirk (R-IL), and Reps. Erik Paulsen (R-MN), Leonard Lance (R-NJ) and Dan Burton (R-IN) made the case that the Federal Reserve is putting the nation on a path to sky-high inflation as well as potentially losing its AAA international credit rating. "Key policy makers among U.S. creditors, especially in China and Japan, increasingly doubt the wisdom of this new policy. . . we urge you to rapidly end this new policy of buying U.S. debt with newly created dollars.
• Thank You, Lord for raising up people to come against the willful, excessive spending that our government has been doing. We pray for the tide to turn and fiscally responsible leaders to be elected!
• If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5)
4. NTSB opens hearings on plane's Hudson River landing - USA Today
Half the life rafts were rendered unusable. Water gushed into the plane's cabin through a hole in the tail. The jet's engines were not built to withstand impacts from a single large bird, let alone a flock of them. "We want to learn from this accident, not only what went right, but what we can improve on in future events," said NTSB member Robert Sumwalt, who will chair the hearings.
• We thank You, Lord for the miracle that took place when this airplane landed safely. We pray as this investigation is done that the study will reveal how to make aviation safer for all of us.
• The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe. (Proverbs 29:25)
5. Work begins on nation's largest transportation project - USA Today
Construction began Monday on the nation's largest transportation project, an $8.7 billion tunnel that's expected to double the number of rail commuters it can shuttle between New Jersey and Manhattan during peak rush periods. Officials estimate the project will create 6,000 construction jobs and add another 45,000 new jobs after completion in 2017.
• Thank You, Lord, that projects are opening up to create more jobs. We pray that more opportunities which are truly creating jobs will be opened -- especially in the development of alternative fuels. Help the unemployed.
• The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. (Proverbs 10:22)
6. Evangelical Group Banned From Tulsa Housing Projects, Chapter Leader Says - Fox News
A Christian evangelical group that works to improve the lives of underprivileged children says it has been prohibited from conducting Bible study classes in public housing projects in Tulsa, Okla., potentially violating a Supreme Court ruling that upheld religious groups' right to the use of public institutions. The Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that religious groups are afforded the same right as any other citizens' group to use and meet in public institutions, including schools and government buildings.
• Father God, we pray against this rise in our government to go against religion - particularly Christianity. We pray for the Supreme Court to be filled only with Justices who will judge according to Your precepts.
• How long will you judge unjustly, and show partiality to the wicked? (Psalms 82:2) When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall. (Proverbs 29:6)
7. N. Korea Sentences U.S. Reporters to 12 Years - Fox News
North Korea convicted two American journalists and sentenced them Monday to 12 years of hard labor for crossing into its territory, intensifying the reclusive nation's confrontation with the United States.
• Pray for the release of these two young women, and for their safety and protection until that time comes.
• "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life." (Isaiah 43:4)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mont Zion in the far north, the city of the great King. (Psalm 48:2)
1.Clinton: If Iran strikes Israel, expect retaliation - Ha'aretz
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Sunday that Iran must expect full retaliation from a "a battery of nuclear weapons countries" should it ever attack Israel. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report said Friday, "The weakness currently displayed by the international community allows a country like North Korea to pursue a policy of defiance, and Iran is an attentive student of this policy."
• Lord, we pray for our leaders to have wisdom and discernment in dealing with the situation of Iran. We pray that the leadership of Iran will be replaced with a more moderate person.
• Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished; But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered. (Proverbs 11: 21)
2. Mitchell: Obama wants 'immediate' Mideast talks - Ynet News
US President Barack Obama wants "immediate" talks between the Palestinians and Israel to forge a comprehensive Middle East peace agreement, US envoy George Mitchell said on Monday.
3. US envoy: Mitchell to visit Syria, Lebanon this week - Jerusalem Post
US special Mideast envoy George Mitchell plans to travel to Syria and Lebanon this week, a senior Obama administration official said on Monday.
4. Palestinians: US will demand IDF pullout from West Bank cities - Ynet News
Palestinian officials said Monday they were close to reaching an agreement with the US according to which the Obama administration would demand an Israeli withdrawal from positions that were manned by Palestinian forces prior to the outbreak of the second intifada at the end of September 2000.
5. US says not trying to topple Bibi - Ynet News
US officials assured Defense Minister Ehud Barak during the latter's visit to Washington that the Obama administration is not trying to topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
6. Iran's main nuclear plant expanding rapidly, says IAEA - London Telegraph
Iran's main nuclear plant is expanding so rapidly that United Nations inspectors have asked Tehran for improved safeguards against the production of weapons-grade uranium.
Supremes Give Military Suit the Boot
As recently as last week, President Obama reiterated his commitment to overturning the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military. After yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, it's clear that his administration will have to wage that battle the hard way--in Congress. The justices refused to hear a challenge to the constitutionality of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy brought by Army Capt. James Pietrangelo, who was discharged from the military after disclosing his same-sex attractions.
For our troops and those who care about preserving the integrity of the Armed Services, this is incredibly good news. In effect, the justices have said that if the President wants to repeal the 16-year-old policy (the military ban on sodomy predates the U.S. Constitution and traces back to the British Articles of War), he will have to do so through the proper legislative channels. And if history is any indication, the House and Senate will be far more reluctant than this President to turn our military into a sea of social experimentation.
As Congress has long recognized, homosexuality is completely incompatible with military service. According to a recent White House letter from over 1,050 high-ranking retired Flag and General Officers, allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would "add to the stress of war and disrupt training, operations, and unit cohesiveness."
As a Marine, I'm more than familiar with the living and working conditions of our soldiers. Those on the far Left who have never served in the military have no concept of the intimate environment--the open showers or the cramped sleeping quarters. I can tell you from personal experience that the lack of privacy is difficult, but introducing forced cohabitation with homosexuals would create an atmosphere of sexual tension that compromises our troops' readiness. Not taking these realities seriously shows contempt for those who serve and a willingness to put political correctness ahead of national security. (Tony Perkins; Family Research Council)
Seeing Sonia's Soul
Late Friday afternoon, there was a breaking story that revealed more evidence of how Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor thinks. The Judicial Confirmation Network discovered a memo signed by Sotomayor opposing the death penalty. Now I realize there are many who are pro-life and anti-death penalty. But Sotormayor's opposition was not based upon any concepts regarding the sanctity of life, but rather leftwing views of criminal justice and race. The memo, signed by Sotomayor as a board member of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, argued that "capital punishment is associated with evident racism in our society."
Once again, we have more evidence that much of what Sotomayor does is viewed through the prism of race. So many voters thought that by electing Obama, we were moving beyond race. But, sadly, it is becoming clear that he and his nominees are committed to dividing us by race, rather than uniting us. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; June 8, 2009)
Good Results Around The World
Conservatives have not had much to cheer about in recent election results, but the news overseas is encouraging. In Lebanon, the Iranian-backed Hezbollah faction has suffered a setback in parliamentary elections. A pro-Western coalition was reelected when many observers expected Hezbollah to win a majority of seats in the Lebanese parliament.
And across Europe, many socialist parties were clobbered in parliamentary elections for the European Union. The Socialist leader in the EU parliament said, "Tonight is a very difficult evening for Socialists in many nations in Europe." According to the Associated Press, "Right-leaning governments were ahead of the opposition in Germany, France, Italy and Belgium, while conservative opposition parties were leading in Britain and Spain."
In fact, in local elections across Great Britain, the ruling liberal Labour Party posted its worst electoral showing in nearly a century, running third behind the relatively conservative Tories and the leftist Liberal Democrats, leading to renewed calls for the resignation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. More than a few people have noticed the irony that European voting appears to reflect growing concerns about Big Government socialism, illegal immigration and radical Islam, while here in the United States we have a president who is moving in the opposite direction. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; June 8, 2009)
The Good News Corner
San Diego County Apologizes for Targeting Bible Study
San Diego County officials agreed Wednesday to rescind a cease-and-desist order issued to a pastor holding a Bible study in his home.
They originally told the Rev. Dave Jones to stop hosting his study --- which draws about 15 people --- because it was an "unlawful use of land." He was told to "stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit."
Later, Walter Ekard, chief administrative officer for the county, wrote: "I want to offer my apology to you, your wife and your congregation for the unfortunate events of the past several weeks. My review of the situation shows . . . a major use permit is not required for the Bible Study you have in your home."
Dean Broyles, president and chief counsel of The Western Center for Law & Policy in California, said he was encouraged by the county's response.
He said: "We look forward to working with the county to ensure that the clarification of its ordinances and training of its personnel are implemented promptly and efficiently so that all citizens of San Diego can be assured that their constitutional rights are protected, whether they're holding Bible studies or hosting Boy Scout meetings."
