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• The Middle East in Focus
• The Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 24, 2009
"And the LORD said to me, 'See, I have begun to give Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to possess it, that you may inherit his land.'" (Deut. 2:31)
"Occupy till I come. . . " (Luke 19:13)
The Daily Brief
1. Obama rushes to quell racial uproar he helped fire - Google News
Knocked off stride by a racial uproar he helped stoke, President Barack Obama hastened Friday to tamp down the controversy. Obama, who had said Cambridge, Mass., police "acted stupidly" in arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., declared the white arresting officer was a good man and invited him and the professor to the White House for a beer. Obama conceded his words had been ill-chosen, but he stopped short of a public apology. He personally telephoned both Gates and Sgt. James Crowley, hoping to end the rancorous back-and-forth over what had transpired and what Obama had said about it. Trying to lighten the situation, he even commiserated with Crowley about reporters on his lawn.
- Lord, we are so thankful for the men and women who place themselves in danger every day to protect the citizens of this country. May this administration be cognizant of the stresses in the lives of police officers and may they honor the sacrifices made by the officers and their families. We are grateful for the racial reconciliation that is spreading in this country, and we pray that this event will foster cooperation and not be used to split the nation by those seeking their own agendas. May the truth of this event be proclaimed, and may any who are being unfairly attacked be vindicated.
- "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." (John 7:18)
2. U.S. buys 195 million doses of swine flu vaccine - MSNBC
The U.S. government has bought 195 million doses of H1N1 swine flu vaccine for a possible autumn vaccination campaign, a U.S. federal official said Thursday.
- We pray for protection as the flu season approaches. May Your church be Your hands and feet. We pray that we will be ministers of Your love to those who may become sick.
- "But you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst." (Exodus 23:25)
3. Reid amends disclosure reports - AP
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid filed 42 pages worth of amended financial disclosure reports Thursday for the years 2000 through 2006 to more fully account for a land deal in Las Vegas and to more accurately reflect the value of some other properties he owns. Reid, D-Nev., had disclosed ownership of the Las Vegas property in his original disclosure reports, but he did not report that the title of the property had actually been transferred to a limited liability corporation called Patrick Lane LLC, which Reid had an ownership stake in. Reid valued the transaction in his amended 2001 report at between $250,001 and $500,000.
- May all corruption be rooted out in the government, and may the leaders in Congress begin to hold congressmen responsible for their illegal and unethical deeds.
- "No one sues righteously and no one pleads honestly. They trust in confusion and speak lies; They conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity." (Isaiah 59:4)
4. Jefferson not to testify in his corruption trial - Washington Times
Former Rep. William J. Jefferson strode into the courtroom on this most important day of his corruption trial and lowered his lanky frame into a chair at the defense table. That was as close as the Louisiana Democrat ever got to the witness stand at federal court in Alexandria. Thursday would have been Mr. Jefferson's chance to tell his side of the story; the prosecution rested its case earlier after five weeks and 50 witnesses. Prosecutors say Mr. Jefferson, who is charged in a 16- count indictment with bribery, money laundering and other charges, took cash and gifts in exchange for helping American businesses get a foothold in several West African countries. The defense counters that Mr. Jefferson was simply helping companies, run by his family, to provide legitimate consulting services - an ethically questionable, though ultimately legal activity. But defense attorneys chose not to have their client testify to bolster their arguments. Instead, the defense completed its case by calling only two witnesses, who each testified briefly, and by playing several recordings of conversations involving Mr. Jefferson and an FBI informant.
- We are heartened by those in the Justice Department who are willing to speak truth to power. We pray that the judge will be fair and that justice will prevail.
- "Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself; For emptiness will be his reward." (Job 15:31)
5. U.S. Transfers $200 Million in Aid to Palestinian Authority, Clinton Says - Fox News
The United States has transferred $200 million in aid for the Palestinian people, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday. The money was part of the assistance package announced at an international donors conference in March. Clinton, who spoke after returning from a visit to India and Thailand, said the money had been transferred directly to the Palestinian Authority. She said that she had been assured that President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad "have put in place the foundations of a responsible, transparent, accountable government."
- May there be wisdom in Washington as the administration plots its Middle East policy. We pray that any evil plans being formed for this money will be broken apart. Lord, may this money be used to further Your kingdom in Your land.
- "Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, 'Peace,' But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war." (Micah 3:5)
6. US not considering sanctions against Israel - Ynet News
The US State Department stressed on Friday that President Barack Obama was not considering imposing economic sanctions on Israel or applying international pressure to put an end to construction in settlements.
- Lord, we rejoice that the administration has not decided to attack Israel for its settlements. We pray that there will be an understanding that spreads throughout the government of the need for the US to support Israel.
- "The land, moreover, shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are but aliens and sojourners with Me." (Leviticus 25:23)
7. Bin Laden's Son Latest Al Qaeda Operative Believed Killed in U.S. Drone Attack - Fox News
Usama bin Laden's son isn't the only Al Qaeda operative believed to have been killed in an attack by an unmanned U.S. drone in the past year.
- Thank You for the continuing work of the troops to protect innocents across the world. We are amazed by the technology that allows for attacks to be made that do not put innocent lives in danger. We pray that the terrorist leaders will be found and brought to justice.
- "Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, In due time their foot will slip; For the day of their calamity is near, And the impending things are hastening upon them." (Deuteronomy 32:35)
8. Activists: N. Korea publicly executes Christian - AP
North Korea publicly executed a Christian woman last month for distributing the Bible, which is banned in the communist nation, South Korean activists said Friday. Ri Hyon Ok, 33, was also accused of spying for South Korea and the United States and organizing dissidents. She was executed in the northwestern city of Ryongchon near the border with China on June 16, according to a report from an alliance of several dozen anti-North Korea groups.
- We pray for the family of this woman who died for You. We pray there will be an outcry in order to stop continuing persecution of Christians. We thank You that You give us strength when we are called to stand for You.
- "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it." (Mark 8:35)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
For God will save Zion, and will build the cities of Judah: that they may dwell there, and have it in possession. The seed also of His servants shall inherit it: and they that love His name shall dwell therein. (Psalm 69:35-36)
1. 'Hamas may get its claws into Gaza reconstruction funds' - Jerusalem Post
Increasingly concerned that Hamas will steal money donated for Gaza's rehabilitation, the Defense Ministry distributed a document this week revealing that unions affiliated with the terrorist group have set up joint committees with UN agencies that dispense humanitarian aid.
2. IDF, US conduct X-Band radar test - Jerusalem Post
The IDF and the United States Military's European Command conducted a joint exercise this week of the X-Band radar that is deployed in the Negev to check its interoperability with Israeli early-warning systems, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
3. U.S. warns Israel: Don't build up West Bank corridor - Ha'aretz
The U.S. administration has issued a stiff warning to Israel not to build in the area known as E-1, which lies between Jerusalem and the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim. Any change in the status quo in E-1 would be "extremely damaging," even "corrosive," the message said.
4. Israel concludes Obama has agreed to Iran nukes - World Tribune
Israel is preparing for a compromise agreement by Western powers that would approve Iran's uranium enrichment program.
5. Israel concerned over US "umbrella" on Iran - AP
A series of failed tests of a joint U.S.-Israel anti- missile system raised new questions Thursday about the U.S. goal of providing an "umbrella" to defend its allies against an Iranian nuclear attack.
6. Israeli Missile-Defense Test Aborted - Fox News
Tests of a missile-defense system meant to shield Israel from Iranian attack were aborted over the past week on three occasions because of various malfunctions, Israeli defense officials said Thursday.
7. U.S. Middle East Envoy Mitchell Heading to Syria - NewsMax
The U.S. State Department says the Obama administration's special Middle East envoy is heading to Syria.
The Good News Corner
Marriage Amendment Defended in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Family Action, with the help of the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), has taken the extraordinary step of filing a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to stop the governor and Legislature from violating the state's marriage amendment. The lawsuit will try to undo the recognition of "domestic partnerships" in the 2010-11 state budget that was signed by the governor. The recognition grants to same-sex couples many of the same legal rights reserved exclusively for marriage. In 2006, 59 percent of Wisconsin voters approved the state's marriage-protection amendment, which defines marriage in the state Constitution as solely the union of one man and one woman. The amendment also states that "legal status identical or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized in this state."
"Politicians shouldn't be trying to skirt the will of voters who legitimately amended the Wisconsin Constitution in a fair election," ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum said. "This new domestic-partnership scheme is precisely the type of marriage imitation that the constitutional amendment approved by Wisconsin voters was intended to prevent. Those who are determined to redefine marriage in Wisconsin are attempting an end- run assault on marriage hoping they can evade the clear language of the state Constitution."
The lawsuit was filed today. (CitizenLink; July 23, 2009)
