In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Fools Rush In . . .
• Careening Toward A Bigger War
• White House Pushes Health Care Reform
• Thoughts on Prayer
• The Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Thursday, October 8, 2009
"And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven . . ." (Luke 21:11)
The Daily Brief
1. Reid: Senate Finance Committee to Vote on Health Care Bill Tuesday - Fox News
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated Thursday that the Senate Finance Committee will vote on its health care bill Tuesday morning.
Congressional budget experts gave a boost Wednesday to that version of President Obama's proposed overhaul of the health care system, concluding that the bill pending in the Finance Committee would cost $829 billion over the next 10 years -- under the $900 billion target set by Obama.
The preliminary report, released Wednesday by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, also said the committee's health care reform package will not add to the national deficit -- and will save $81 billion over the next 10 years compared to current federal health care spending.
- Pray that this bill will continue to be defeated because of its socialist and high-priced contents. According to other sources, the language of the current bill is not an accurate gauge of true costs, so pray that these figures which may be incorrect will cause our Congress to slow their forward momentum towards acceptance of it.
- "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay for Your own sake, my God, for Your city and Your people are called by Your name." (Daniel 9:19)
2. CBO: Budget Deficit Hit Record $1.4 Trillion in 2009 - AP
The federal budget deficit tripled to a record $1.4 trillion for the 2009 fiscal year that ended last week, congressional analysts said Wednesday.
The Congressional Budget Office estimate, while expected, is bad news for the White House and its allies in Congress as they press ahead with healthcare overhaul legislation that could cost $900 billion over the next decade.
- Lord, as the costs of the current administration's programs continue to sky-rocket, we pray that Your people will rise up and put pressure on Congress to stop. May our leaders pursue righteous and wise pathways regarding the US economy.
- "Listen to Me, My people, and give ear to Me, O My nation; for law will proceed from Me, and I will make My justice rest as a light of the peoples. My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, and My arms will judge the peoples." (Isaiah 51: 4,5)
3. House Kills Resolution to Oust Rangel From Chair of Tax-Writing Committee - Fox News
Pay your taxes or step down!
That's the message critics are sending to Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the powerful tax-writing Ways and Means Committee and subject of a major ethics probe into alleged tax evasion and other violations.
House Republicans on Wednesday tried to pass a resolution to oust Rangel from his chairmanship pending an Ethics Committee investigation into a long and stinging list of alleged wrongdoing. The measure stemmed from a probe into Rangel's alleged failure to pay his taxes and disclose income on multiple properties -- as much as $1.3 million.
- Father, since Mr. Rangel refuses to repent, we ask that You remove him from office. We ask Your mercy over our legislature because of its refusal to repent in the face of blatant illegal activity. We pray that You will move speedily to visit the members of the House, to change hearts toward You.
- "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness." (Isaiah 5:20a)
4. Areas hit by swine flu in spring see little now. Second wave of outbreak may be less extensive than expected, officials say - The New York Times
While concern over the spread of the H1N1 virus sweeps the country, epidemiologists in New York and a few other cities that were awash in swine flu last spring are detecting very little evidence of resurgence.
Although flu season will not peak until the weather gets cold, in New York, which was the nation's hardest-hit city, officials say that flu activity is no higher than it normally is at this time of year and that school attendance is normal.
- Thank You, Lord for this tidbit of good news at the beginning of flu season. We take authority over fear, bind it, and loose Your Blood over America against the flu in all its forms.
- "But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:33)
5. Obama War Council Focuses on Pakistan's Role - Fox News
Members of the president's national security team, meeting at the White House on Wednesday, argued that the Taliban in Afghanistan do not pose a direct threat to the U.S., officials said.
- Lord, as Mr. Obama weighs the decisions for war against terrorists around the world, we pray that You will reveal to him the importance of victory against these evil forces. We pray that You will somehow show him truth and give him the heart to act decisively with strength on behalf of what is right.
- "When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you; understanding will keep you, to deliver you from the way of evil." (Proverbs 2:10-12)
6. 'Reform' Is Just a Word at the U.N., Its Own Investigation Shows - Fox News
How good is the United Nations at reforming itself?
Not good at all, according to a lengthy study this year by U.N. investigators of a grandiose, five-year effort to streamline and coordinate the performance of a $778 million U.N. bureaucracy that is supposed to do what diplomats like to do best: hold meetings.
According to the report, the bureaucracy's reform effort so far has been a near-total failure.
Distributed to U.N. members in advance of the September opening of the General Assembly, the 24-page evaluation report was prepared by members of the U.N.'s watchdog Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS).
After four months spent studying a much-touted "Integrated Global Management Initiative," intended to improve the performance of the sprawling U.N. conference bureaucracy, the OIOS inspectors declared that they had discovered "no progress or change" in how the organization was able to allocate money and staff around the world.
- Lord, we pray against the corruption and ineptitude of the United Nations. We ask that You move within that organization and bring about heart conversions to You, the one True Living God!
- "When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases; but the righteous will see their fall." (Proverbs 29:16)
7. India: There is a flood like never before in 100 years.- Samson Rajkumar Ministries
2.5 Million people lost everything! Andra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu severely devastated. 18 of our churches are terribly devastated!
We sent money for relief aid right away to our people in the flood to get them in temporary shelters.
- Lord, we cry out for Your mercy and salvation for the people of India. Lord, be their provision and their help, their comfort and their hope at this tragic time.
- "Our God is the God of salvation; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death." (Psalm 68:20)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"For Zion's sake I will not keep silent" (Isaiah 62:1)
1. Arab MKs revive Temple Mt. dig claims - Jerusalem Post
In the wake of the recent clashes between Arabs and security forces in Jerusalem and the restricted access to the Temple Mount, Balad leader Dr. Jamal Zahalka said Wednesday that Israel was "trying to change the status quo [in the capital] by creating new facts on the ground."
2. U.S. to Israel and PA: Calm Jerusalem tensions - Ha'aretz
In its first response to recent clashes in Jerusalem, the U.S. administration of President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Israel and the Palestinian Authority to take steps to calm the tensions in the capital.
3. IDF fears spread of J'lem violence - Jerusalem Post
The IDF is raising its level of alert ahead of Friday morning prayers in Jerusalem and out of fear that violence there will spread to Palestinian cities in the West Bank, defense officials said Thursday.
4. CIA: Israel helped expose covert Iran nuclear facility - Ha'aretz
Israeli intelligence was involved in editing and creating the sanitized version of information about Iran's recently revealed secret uranium enrichment facility near Qom.
5. IMI introduces 'Shock Absorber' - Ynet News
Israel Military Industries (IMI) has developed a new, innovative defense system aimed at protecting Infantry and Armored forces from anti tank-missiles, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Wednesday.
Fools Rush In . . .
Fools Rush In, Where Voters Fear to Tread
Good reform comes to those who wait--or so says a frustrated group of Republicans and Democrats. In the Senate, where liberals are literally pushing bills through the chamber faster than leaders can write them, one coalition has said "enough!" Senator Jim Bunning (R- Ky.) doesn't agree with his colleague from North Dakota, Senator Kent Conrad (D), who said last week, "Anybody who thinks that (the health care bill) is going to be transparent to the American people is really not telling it like it is."
In an effort to prove him wrong, Senator Bunning introduced a resolution today that would require a modest 72-hour waiting period before his chamber can vote on a bill. He tried to pass a similar constraint in the Senate Finance Committee last week but failed by a razor-thin margin. Under his measure, the leadership would be forced to post its bills online and give the American public (and Congress) three whole days to review them.
Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), the only Democrat to vote with the GOP in favor of Bunning's original resolution, is piling on with a push for her leadership to do the same. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (signed by seven other Democrats), she makes an appeal for greater openness in this process. "As their democratically-elected representatives...it is our duty to listen to [the people's] concerns and provide them with the chance to respond to proposals that will impact their lives."
But not every Democrat wants to include voters in the legislative process. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) accused Republicans of stalling the debate. "They dream up new ways to slow things down every week," he said. Interestingly enough, this push for greater transparency didn't originate with Republicans--but the President. As recently as last winter, "no more secrecy" was a cornerstone of Barack Obama's campaign. He promised, if elected, that the public would have five days to review and comment on any piece of non- emergency legislation before he signed it. Since then, the White House has essentially said, "define transparency." Now that Congress is trying, the Left wants no part of it. (Family Research Council)
Careening Toward A Bigger War
Barack Obama's policy toward Iran, and radical Islam generally, is built on "hope," not reality. If it is not reversed soon, the policy will lead to war and/or the surrender of U.S. interests in the Middle East to the tender mercies of Iranian hegemony.
Even the bureaucrats at the U.N. get it, while the White House is still in denial. Senior staff at the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency concluded in a leaked confidential report that Iran is now capable of designing and producing a "workable" atom bomb.
The normally pacifist French are now alarmed enough that they are warning the Obama Administration against making a deal with Tehran that would allow the Iranians to expand their uranium enrichment abilities.
The White House is continuing to claim that Iran made significant concessions last week. But over the weekend one Iranian official after another denied that they had agreed to anything and made it clear they would never suspend their uranium enrichment.
U.S. National Security Advisor General Jim Jones told CBS's "Face the Nation" that the White House was closely watching "what is (Iran's) intent." But everyone, except our president, knows their intent, which is to acquire nuclear weapons to use against "the Zionists," to "wipe Israel off the map," to force the U.S. out of the Middle East and to eventually achieve "a world without America." (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Oct. 5, 2009)
White House Pushes Health Care Reform
White House Continues Push for Health-Care Reform!
The White House is claiming bipartisan support of health-care reform. A list of Republicans, including California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bush administration official Tommy Thompson and others reportedly are turning the tide in favor of the plan.
Don Stewart, communications director for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, said the Kentucky Republican doubts the legitimacy of the list.
"Everybody that the White House has cited," he said, "has also said that they don't support the bills that are currently before Congress."
Dr. Gene Rudd, associate executive director of the Christian Medical Association, called it another political ploy.
"Sadly, there are people out there who are more interested in their agenda, than they are with the health care of their neighbors," he said. "So, they're putting things like abortion funding, abortion mandates and abortion subsidies into these bills."
. . . Rep. Bart Stupak, R-Mich., said he has commitments from 40 Democrats in the House who say that unless they get a chance to vote abortion out of the bill, they will vote against it. (by Steve Jordahl, senior correspondent, CitizenLink)
Thoughts on Prayer
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart." - John Bunyan
The Good News Corner
"Faith Is the Victory"
by John D. Morris, Ph.D.
"For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4-5)
The favorite hymn from the last century entitled "Faith Is the Victory" contains many allusions to scriptural concepts and passages. The theme, as is repeated in the chorus, is "faith is the victory . . . O glorious victory, that overcomes the world."
The primary passage used for the source of this hymn is in our text, where we see that it is the Christian--the one "born of God"--who "believeth that Jesus is the Son of God" who "overcomes the world." The victory comes through faith.
Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers rise,
And press the battle ere the night, Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.
This first verse harks back to several battles in the Old Testament where Israel, through faith in God, conquered many foes greater in number and better equipped than they. But the symbolism goes further. The word for "world" is the Greek word kosmos, implying, in context, the world system of thought arrayed in opposition to God. "We know that we are of God, and the whole world |i.e., kosmos| lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19).
Strangely enough, Scripture here does not say that through faith we will overcome and gain the victory. Rather, it explains that faith itself is the victory. Evidently, with victorious faith, the overcoming is automatic.
"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world." (1 John 4:4) JDM (Institute for Creation Research, Daily Devotionals, Oct. 5, 2009)
