In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Update: ENDA
• CAP-AND-TRADE: "BOXER'S REBELLION"
• Key Judicial Nominee Debated in Senate This Week
• The Good News Corner
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, November 10, 2009
"And they will fight, for the LORD will be with them." (Zechariah 10: 5)
A note to our readers:
We apologize for the "truncated version" of last night's OCAP, Number 35b. Due to technical difficulties, the first three prayer requests were not published in their entirety.
You will find those requests below. Thank you for your continued prayers over these key issues: ENDA, the Cap-and-Trade bill, and the nomination of Judge David Hamilton to a key post in the judiciary.
Today's Daily Brief
1. Man Confesses to Shooting Kan. Abortion Provider - AP
"Because of the fact preborn children's lives were in imminent danger this was the action I chose.. . . I want to make sure that the focus is, of course, obviously on the preborn children and the necessity to defend them," Roeder said.
"Defending innocent life - that is what prompted me. It is pretty simple," he said.
• Lord, Two wrongs do not make a right, but we pray for this man who killed the abortionist Tiller. He felt that he needed to intervene immediately and directly in order to save the babies who were marked for eminent death. That was wrong. We pray that he will ask God for forgiveness and that pro-lifers will not be divided in this but understand this man's troubled mind and heart and pray for him.
• He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19)
2. High Court Looks at Life Sentences for Juveniles - AP
A seemingly divided Supreme Court wrestled Monday with whether teenagers can be locked away forever for their crimes. The question arose in two cases involving Florida men who are serving life prison terms with no chance of parole for crimes they committed as teenagers. Their lawyers argue that the sentences for people so young are cruel and unusual, in violation of the Constitution, because young people have greater capacity to change.
• Father God, it is grievous to think that juveniles will be locked away for the rest of their life, so we pray for wisdom on the courts when making those decisions. We pray they will be saved and that Christian ministries will be there to guide them.
• Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55: 7)
3. Iran Accuses 3 Detained Americans of Espionage - AP
The timing of the announcement raised the possibility that Iran was using the case to pressure the United States amid the negotiations over its nuclear program. Iran has appeared in the past to use jailed Americans as bargaining chips.
• Heavenly Father, we pray for these young people to be given leniency and freed, who are caught in this political game that Ahmadinejad has set up. Let nothing be surrendered in the negotiations!
• "Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness: I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger; and I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel My glory. (Isaiah 46:23, 24)
4. Liberals Threaten to Sink Health Bill Over Stupak Abortion Amendment - The Hill
More than 40 lawmakers vowed to oppose the final healthcare bill if the House language on abortion is not removed.
• Lord, we give you thanksgiving for hearing our prayers and causing this division. Let these plans of the healthcare come to nothing and may there be continued division and confusion in their camp.
• Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. (Psalm 146:3, 4 NIV)
5. Officials: U.S. Army Told of Hasan's Contacts with al Qaeda - ABC News
Army Major in Fort Hood Massacre Used 'Electronic Means' to Connect with Terrorists. U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago that Army Major Nidal Malik Hassan was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda, two American officials briefed on classified material in the case told ABC News.
• Lord, we pray for our authorities to be more vigilant in guarding our nation. Let all hidden plots be revealed! Let Americans and the world not forget the 9 - 11 attack.
• When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. (Psalms 9:12)
6. Top US Lawmaker Sees Base Attack as 'Islamist Extremism' - AFP
The chairman of the Senate's Homeland Security committee, Joe Lieberman, on Sunday said that the deadly shooting at Texas' Fort Hood military base was an act of "Islamist extremism." "There are very, very strong warning signs here that Dr Hasan had become an Islamist extremist and, therefore, that this was a terrorist act," he told Fox News.
• We pray, Lord, that this administration will recognize Islamist extremism as terrorist threats. Let not political correctness blind us to all threats! We pray that changes will be made to ensure that terrorists will be discovered and stopped before they do harm.
• There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. (Proverbs 16:25)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
" The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD." (Psalm 129:8)
1. Unusual media blackout follows Netanyahu, Obama meeting - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu held a lengthy meeting with US President Barack Obama Monday night which addressed the Middle East peace process, Iran and Israeli security.
2. Obama reaffirms 'strong commitment' to Israel's security - Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Barack Obama held a private meeting on Monday night, during which the two discussed Iran's nuclear ambitions as well as stalled Middle East peace talks.
3. Netanyahu: Israel willing to be 'generous' in talks - Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday ahead of a meeting with US President Barack Obama that Israel was "willing to go a long way and to be very generous with restraining construction (in settlements) as a gesture for the renewal of negotiations".
4. 'US attitude to Israel may be changing' - Jerusalem Post
A leading Republican congressman warned that the climate toward Israel on Capitol Hill could be changing, ahead of his address to a major Jewish conference Sunday.
5. A peek into Temple Mount excavations - Ynet News
Excavation works being held near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem have sparked uproar in the Muslim world in recent years. Recent riots in the capital were allegedly sparked by a repeated Muslim claim that the Jews are attempting "to take over" the Temple Mount mosques or damage them through the digs taking place in tunnels within the mount.
Update: ENDA
LAWMAKERS CONSIDER SPECIAL RIGHTS FOR HOMOSEXUALS
The Senate held a hearing on the Employment Non- Discrimination Act (ENDA) last week. ENDA would enshrine special rights for homosexuals in the workplace, based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Craig Parshall, senior vice president and general counsel for National Religious Broadcasters, was the only witness to speak against the bill, although a number of pro-family groups are campaigning against it.
Throughout the hearing, Parshall heard cries for fundamental fairness and rights. "What about the civil rights, the civil opportunities and privileges of private enterprise," he said, "to conduct its business free of these exotic new value systems?"
Bill sponsors claim there is a religious exemption in the bill, but Parshall said it won't protect for-profit Christian organizations. "They will, as a practical matter, get absolutely no exemption," he said. "They will be required to hire homosexuals and those with other 'gender identities' that violate Scripture's mandate." (CitizenLink)
- Please pray that ENDA disintegrates and that the heartfelt outcry against this horrific imposition on business and profession across this country will be heard loud and clear. Ask for a host of resourceful and outraged citizens to rise up and declare a victory in this matter, once and for all, with their voices, their abilities, and their vote. Would we not take a stand for our God and our childrens' sakes? Would we let one man, one man alone, do an entire country's work, the church's job?
- ". . . and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. Then He said to me, "Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, 'The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.'" (Ezekiel 8:3b, 12)
CAP-AND-TRADE: "BOXER'S REBELLION"
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) has a reputation on Capitol Hill for being rather, well, nasty and disrespectful. That was clearly on display last week as she bucked Senate procedure and forced a vote in her Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the cap and tax legislation that would likely raise taxes by over $3.6 trillion while doing little to help the environment. Senator Boxer held the vote without any Republican senators present, which is unprecedented in the history of the committee. This is typical of the global warming debate -- ignore the science and silence anyone who would disagree with you. While this may have given the California senator a short lived victory it made even her supporters across the aisle balk at giving her bill any support to reach the Senate floor. What we need from our Members of Congress is a little more cool headedness and a lot less hot air. (Family Research Council)
- Please intercede before the "Supreme Court of the God of the Universe", who created everything that Barbara Boxer sees, or ever will. Ask for more exposure to bring this growing scheme of "crashing the system for partisan purposes" to a halt. Ask that the Lord of heaven and earth be present in every nook and cranny where these deliberations preside, to impress upon our government the uncompromising integrity it needs, no matter what the issues are, no matter how passionate they feel about them.
Declare and decree, all day and all night, that this administration will play by the rules and settle down, with common sense actions and rational thinking. Ask that God change their attitude or change their address. Intercede that these "rough riders" will no longer be allowed to make a mockery of our governing principles or be moved outside of bi-partisan dealings, with pressing, bogus, progressive, and wicked posturing. Pray for Americans to stand up, outraged, and speak out.
- "There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God, and did not respect man. And there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' And for a while, he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, "Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, lest by continually coming she wear me out.' " (Luke 18:2-5)
Key Judicial Nominee Debated in Senate This Week
CONGRESS TO CONSIDER CONTROVERSIAL JUDICIAL NOMINEE THIS WEEK
Nomination of Judge David Hamilton Reaches Senate Floor
The White House has characterized David Hamilton as a moderate judge whose judicial record would avoid a political confirmation war, but some Republicans say he's a liberal jurist with a political agenda.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid stands ready to restart a partisan feud over the judicial nomination of David Hamilton -- President Obama's pick to sit on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. Reid, D- Nev., has said he hopes for a vote on Hamilton by Veteran's Day next week, saying on the Senate floor Wednesday, "We're going to do judge David Hamilton, 7th Circuit. He's been waiting since April."
Obama chose Hamilton, a U.S. district judge in Indiana, as his first judicial nomination in March. The White House has characterized Hamilton as a moderate pick whose judicial record would temper criticism from conservative and liberal extremists -- bringing an end to the political confirmation wars that have long accompanied such judicial nominations. But Republican opposition to Hamilton's nomination has emerged over rulings in a host of cases -- from barring Christian prayer in the Indiana Legislature to blocking enforcement of certain state abortion statutes.
In a letter penned Nov. 3 to his GOP colleagues, Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama blasted Hamilton for using his position to "drive a political agenda." Hamilton stated in a 2003 speech that the role of a judge includes "writing footnotes to the Constitution" and believes "empathy" should influence a judge's decision making, Sessions wrote. Sessions and other Republicans say Hamilton is nothing less than a liberal jurist whose rulings in at least six cases demonstrate that his "activism has not been restricted to his speeches. This is not the type of service that should be rewarded with a promotion. This is one of those extraordinary circumstances where the president should be informed that his nominee is not qualified," Sessions wrote in his letter. (Fox News)
- Bring the full force of your own prayer, and action, to bear against this nominee this week. The writing is now on the wall, and the persecution of the saints in America has now begun. Let us not give any more "fuel" to their agenda, but let us resist, while there is yet time. Pray, and act, now!
- "The Lord is our Judge,
The Lord is our Lawgiver,
The Lord is our King,
And He will save us." (Isaiah 33:22)
" . . . but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." (Daniel 11:32)
The Good News Corner
"One Day At A Time"
By Lynda Randle
Praise Him . . . one day at a time!
