In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Repentance: Step Two
• The Good News Corner
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Wednesday, July 8, 2009
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way." (2 Thess. 3:16)
The Daily Brief
1. Obama Rating Now -5 - Cross Action News
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows that 32% of the nation's voters now Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as President. Thirty-seven percent (37%) Strongly Disapprove giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -5. The number who strongly disapprove inched up another point to the highest level measured to date. The overall Approval Index is at the lowest level yet for Obama.
• Please pray, that as Mr. Obama sets this record low, he will find the path of the just, that he may come out of "self", and that he will now govern this country from the tried and tested principles embedded in our foundation. Intercede for the grace of God to intercept certain failure if he does not change. Pray that this president will allow God to set his course and that he will be open to the multitude of many counselors that God has made available to him.
• If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. (Proverbs 15:31)
2. Fired Inspector General Angered Board With Accusations, Meeting Notes Show - Fox News
The chairman of the board that convinced President Obama to fire its inspector general last month complained that Gerald Walpin was creating too much friction with agency administrators, according to notes from a May meeting obtained by FOXNews.com.
The account adds a vital new layer to the explanation the White House gave for the firing, which made only passing reference to such concerns in justifying the removal of Walpin, former IG for the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees the volunteer service AmeriCorps.
The official explanation emphasized Walpin's personal behavior at the May 20 meeting. The informal meeting notes, taken by CNCS Counsel Frank Trinity, said that board members were indeed concerned about Walpin's "behavior." They said there were "long pauses" in the discussion while Walpin reviewed his notes, and he did not appear able to "process the information" in his notes when he was being questioned by the board. In the notes, Trinity wondered whether Walpin was experiencing a "mini-stroke" or "some type of medical event." But the account also shows that Chairman Alan Solomont stated concern about Walpin's accusations against the board and not his mental health as the apparent cause for the dispute that led to Walpin's termination.
• Father, as standing government employees with years of unblemished service are being released in short order for another agenda, we ask You to remember the covenant You made with your people. We pray that every last layer of this "onion" will be peeled away, and that the truth will be found out. We give thanks for the strong stand and fighting spirit of those leaders who know that there is much more to this story than health issues.
•Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (I Timothy 2:1-2)
3. Budget Nightmare: 10 Most Broke States - ABC News
The economic problems of American families are now pounding many state governments which are in turn slashing services to balance their budgets in one of the most difficult years in decades.
High on the chopping block are benefits to the poor, money for education, highway repairs, hours that state offices are open and even closures of state parks and recreation areas.
Things are so bad that 48 states addressed are facing shortfalls in the fiscal year that just started. The total deficit: $166 billion, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Many states are also already predicting shortfalls next year.
Only Montana and North Dakota have so far been unscathed in their state budgets. The problem: as workers get laid off or see their pay cut, they end up owing the state less in income tax. Further compounding the issue is a shortfall in sales tax caused by consumers cutting back in the recession. Finally, companies are making less money and also paying less in taxes.
• Please pray, as fear brings a snare, that as the Word of God goes forth, the United States will be able to remain faithfully united for the good of the American people. Intercede for that part of the economy which is run for private profit and is not controlled by the state, the private sector, to make a come-back like no other in the history of our country. Ask God for intervention and for the clear road back to stability and prosperity, but only according to His written Word and His precepts.
• He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. (Psalm 107:20)
4. Gay Marriage Bill Takes Effect in Nation's Capital - AP
A law recognizing same-sex marriages performed elsewhere has gone into effect in the District of Columbia. The bill was approved in a 12-1 vote by the D.C. Council in May, with council member Marion Barry casting the lone no vote.
Congress, which has the final say over the city's laws, had 30 days to review the bill. A push by black church leaders who oppose gay marriage failed to get a referendum on the matter. And Congress took no action, allowing the bill to become law Tuesday.
Council member David Catania has said that recognizing gay marriages performed elsewhere is a first step toward performing same-sex weddings in the city. Six states - Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire - allow same-sex marriage.
• Oh, how the hearts of men need healing to come back to the Word of Truth. Ask that our duped government come back to God and steer clear from the path of danger. Intercede for His sovereign plan of love to rule and reign. Pray that it will be right on time for all who long to know Him better. Ask God to show Himself able to the American people, that He can take our mistakes and make them into something for our good.
• For I am God and not a mere mortal. (Hosea 11:9)
5. North Korea May Be Behind Wave of Cyber attacks - AP
The sites of 11 South Korean organizations, including the presidential Blue House and the Defense Ministry, went down or had access problems since late Tuesday, according to the state-run Korea Information Security Agency.
Agency spokeswoman Ahn Jeong-eun said 11 U.S. sites suffered similar problems. She said the agency is investigating the case with police and prosecutors.
In the U.S., the Treasury Department, Secret Service, Federal Trade Commission and Transportation Department Web sites were all down at varying points over the July 4 holiday weekend and into this week, according to American officials inside and outside the government. Others familiar with the U.S. outage, which is called a denial of service attack, said that the fact that the government Web sites were still being affected three days after it began signaled an unusually lengthy and sophisticated attack.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak on the matter. The Korea Information Security Agency also attributed the attacks to denial of service.
• Please pray that the whereabouts of all who tamper with security systems will be found out and that service will be fully recovered, keeping our country out of harm's way and free to conduct business as usual. In the mean time, intercede for supernatural security and safety for the American and South Korean people. Ask the Lord to deliver those who are caught up in the enemy's plans and schemes.
• Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?" says the Lord GOD, "and not that he should turn from his ways and live? (Ezekiel 18:23)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem;
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
and give him no rest till he establishes
Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." (Is. 62:6,7)
they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the LORD,
give yourselves no rest,
and give him no rest till he establishes
Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth." (Is. 62:6,7)
1. 'US does not expect Israel to act alone' - Jerusalem Post
Amid ongoing tension between the US and Israel over settlements, the Obama administration is stressing that it does not expect Israel to act alone and that Arab states must take meaningful steps in tandem with Israel.
2. Israel declines to ask U.S. to OK Iran attack - Washington Times
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top deputies have not formally asked for U.S. aid or permission for possible military strikes on Iran's nuclear program, fearing the White House would not approve, two Israeli officials said.
3. Saudi denies would let Israeli jets pass for Iran attack - Ynet News
Saudi Arabia denied on Monday a report that it has agreed to allow Israeli planes to fly through the kingdom's airspace to attack Iran's nuclear sites.
4. Israel seeks 'Plan B' if U.S.-Iran talks fail - Ha'aretz
Israel is urging the United States and other countries to start preparing now for the possibility that Washington's proposed dialogue with Iran will fail, by readying a "Plan B" that includes "paralyzing sanctions" and other measures against Tehran.
Repentance: Step Two
"PREPARING OUR HEARTS TO ENTER IN"
Ten steps of repentance, redirection and renewal in Christ
Step Two: CHANGE YOUR DIRECTION
There is no use going on in a wrong attitude, for going father in a wrong direction simply means that you have farther to come back to get to reality. Every step you take away from the Way of Christ wastes three steps -- the one in going away, the one in coming back, and the one you might have taken on the Way.
You will probably be tempted to make the "change" indecisive by one of three things:
a) You may be prepared to change in some things but not in all things. Ananias and Sapphira gave up everything to be Christian except one thing: they "kept back part of the price." That one part kept back was their undoing. . . You don't have to have all the known diseases to die; one will kill you.
b) You may be prepared to change everything, but only partially. You may cut down a habit instead of cutting it out. You may end up indecisively, leaving yourself neither here nor there. That will get you nowhere. All compromise will end in confusion.
c) You may be hindered from a clear-cut change by putting off the time of it. Augustine's prayer, before he was converted, was, "O God, make me pure, but not now." He wanted to be pure, but wasn't willing to bring it into the "now" -- which meant that he really didn't want it. For you do not want a thing unless you want it now.
"O Christ, I do not want to shirk, to dodge, to slur over, or to put things off. Help me now, to change completely my direction. For I cannot keep going -- away from Thee. Amen."
Today's teaching is drawn from a book by E. Stanley Jones, The Way, published in 1956 by Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, New York, pp. 72,73.
The Good News Corner
Young Adults Learn Christian Legal Principles
Liberty University School of Law will host TeenPact Judicial (TPJ), a chance for young adults interested in the field of law to get practical instruction.
For the second year, TeenPact Judicial will take place on the Liberty campus in Lynchburg, Va. The intense week-long program includes instruction from the school's law professors and constitutional attorneys from Liberty Counsel. Many of the topics discussed appear on state bar exams and allow the students an introduction into various areas of law.
At the end of the week, participants will take part in the TeenPact Moot Court tournament, where they can put their new skills into practice before a variety of judges.
Mat Staver, founder of Liberty Counsel and dean of Liberty University School of Law, says his passion is "training a new generation of leaders in the rule of law from a Christian perspective," and TeenPact offers him the opportunity.
"The TeenPact Judicial program is one of the best programs in the country for teens interested in law," he noted. "These students will be our future leaders. They are energetic, bright, and eager to become world leaders. In a few short years, they will begin shaping world history."
Teens attending will also have the opportunity to earn the New Generation TeenPact Scholarship. The School of Law announced the award in January, which will be given annually to qualified students who excel in the TeenPact Judicial program. (CtizenLink)
