In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Al Gore Melts Down
• Update: Obamacare
• Iran's Nuclear Smoking Gun
• S. 1102: Weakening DOMA
• The Good News Corner
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, December 15, 2009
"Your people shall volunteer freely in the day of Your power . . ." (Psalm 110:3 NAS)
Today's Daily Brief
1. Illinois Prison to House Some Gitmo Detainees - AP
President Obama has directed the government to acquire Thomson Correctional Center in Thomson, Ill., to house "a limited number" of Guantanamo Bay detainees. Some Illinois officials have not supported the idea. GOP Rep. Mark Kirk, who is seeking Obama's old Senate seat, said he believes moving Guantánamo detainees to Illinois will make the state a greater threat for terrorist attacks. Kirk has lobbied other officials to contact the White House in opposition to using the facility.
• Heavenly Father, we pray that judges and lawyers will come against this decision to transfer the detainees to the U.S. We pray a loud voice from the people will convince the Congress to block this move!
• O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life. 59) O Lord, You have seen how I am wronged; Judge my case. (Lamentations 3:58, 59)
2. NIH Approves 27 More Stem Cell Lines - USA Today
National Institutes of Health chief Francis Collins approved another 27 human embryonic stem cell lines for federal research funding Monday, but limited support to diabetes-related pancreatic cell experiments. Cell "lines", or colonies, are grown from the collected inner cells of an embryo destroyed in the process of collection.
• Father God, all life is precious to you and we pray that our nation turn from its wickedness to righteousness and holiness.
• He devises wickedness on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not abhor evil. (Psalm 36: 4)
3. North Carolina Councilman May Face Lawsuit Over His Atheism - AP
Asheville City Councilman Cecil Bothwell believes in ending the death penalty, conserving water and reforming government - but he doesn't believe in God. His political opponents say that's a sin that makes him unworthy of serving in office, and they've got the North Carolina Constitution on their side.
Bothwell can't be forced out of office over his atheist views because the North Carolina provision is unenforceable, according to the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution.
• Heavenly Father, we pray that those who are against you in this situation, will be bound from succeeding in their plans. Place atheists in a situation where they will come to repentance and salvation.
• The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8: 13)
4. Wells Fargo to Repay $25 Billion in Bailout Funds - Fox News
Wells Fargo plans to sell $10.4 billion in new stock to help repay all $25 billion in bailout aid it received from the government at the height of the market meltdown last fall.
• Thank you Lord, that big businesses who borrowed large sums of money are paying back the loans. We pray for all elected officials who overspent be replaced with wise officials like that of Joseph in the old testament, who had a plan in place for the lean years.
• He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall. (Proverbs 25:28 NIV)
5. Dems Set to Scrap Medicare Expansion Plan - Fox News
The end game at hand, Senate Democrats appeared ready to jettison a proposed Medicare expansion from historic health care legislation Monday in hopes of assuring Christmas-week passage of the bill to extend coverage to tens of millions. Disputes over abortion and the importation of prescription drugs from Canada and other countries also flared as the Senate entered a third week of debate on the legislation.
The president met Monday with Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., who has been trying to negotiate a compromise on the abortion issue with Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska. Both senators oppose abortions, but Nelson has been outspoken in demanding changes in the bill before he can vote for it.
• Lord, we pray for continued strength for those who oppose this bill because of the abortion issue. We pray this bill will not pass.
• Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:4)
6. White House to Harry Reid: Cut deal with Joe Lieberman - Politico
The White House is encouraging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to cut a deal with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), If they still hope to pass a bill by Christmas - which is still a top consideration at the moment - Democrats have only limited options: Reach an agreement with Lieberman, which would mean stripping out the provisions that have kept progressives on board.
Win over Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), but she has also voiced serious reservations about the Medicare expansion, and has resisted pressure from the White House and Senate Democrats to finish the bill by Christmas.
• Lord, we pray for continued division on this bill so it will not be passed.
• But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. (Matthew 12:25)
7. House Dems' Tough Task: Defending 'Swing' Seats in 2010 - USA Today
Veteran Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon Gordon is one of 11 Democrats who have announced they will not run for re-election. On the Republican side, 12 House members are retiring or running for another office, such as Delaware's Mike Castle, who has announced his bid for the Senate seat long held by Vice President Biden. Gordon is the third member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of centrist Democrats, to announce plans to retire since Nov. 23..
"Blue Dog Democrats would rather roll over and retire than face the political headwind that is barreling toward them," said Ken Spain, a spokesman for the Republican congressional committee.
• Lord, we pray the officials who have been responsible for making these drastic changes will be removed quickly. Give us only godly, wise officials.
• An oracle within my heart concerning the transgression of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. (Psalm 36:1)
8. D.C. City Council Legalizes Gay Marriage - Fox News
The City Council voted Tuesday to legalize gay marriage, giving supporters a victory after a string of recent defeats elsewhere and sending the issue to Congress, which has final say over laws in the nation's capital.
Mayor Adrian Fenty has promised to sign the bill, which passed 11-2, and gay couples could begin marrying as early as March if Congress allows it to become law. Gay marriage opponents say they will try to get it overturned either in Congress or at the polls.
- Join the thousands in this city tonight who are in mourning over the passage of this bill in the D.C. City Council. DECREE THAT D.C. IS NO LONGER THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BUT THE DISTRICT OF CHRIST -- no longer ruled by Baal, but by Almight GOD! May God have mercy upon us; and may He cause those who will appeal this case to find favor with others in authority. Pray.
"The LORD takes his place in court;
he rises to judge the people.
The LORD enters into judgment
against the elders and leaders of his people . . ."
(Isaiah 3:13,14a)
9. Healing Evangelist Oral Roberts Dies at Age 91 - Charisma News
Dr. Oral Roberts, a legendary evangelist who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century, died today in Newport Beach, Calif., due to complications from pneumonia. His son, Richard, and daughter, Roberta, were at his side. The founder of Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University was 91.
- Tonight we are lifting up the family of Oral Roberts in prayer as they mourn his passing. May each one be comforted, knowing that this great evangelist is now in Glory with our Lord. Amen.
- "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, behold, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of you, says LORD [YHWH]." (Zechariah 2:10)
1. Haniyeh: Hamas will liberate Palestine - Jerusalem Post
In a long, defiant speech on Monday afternoon, Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh said that gaining control of the Gaza Strip was "just a step toward liberating all of Palestine."
2. Israel confirms U.K. arrest warrant against Livni - Ha'aretz
Senior officials in Israel confirmed reports on Monday that a British court issued an arrest warrant against opposition chairwoman Tzipi Livni for her role in orchestrating Israel's military offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip nearly a year ago.
3. Obama: UN resolution 1701 must be enforced in Lebanon - Jerusalem Post
US President Barack Obama said Monday a UN resolution that demands the disarmament of Hizbullah must be enforced.
4. PLO to vote on extending Abbas's term - Jerusalem Post
The PLO Central Council is expected to convene in Ramallah on Tuesday to vote on extending Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's term in office until new elections are held in the PA-controlled territories.
Al Gore Melts Down
Al Gore, the former politician masquerading as a renowned scientist, has done it again. He told attendees at the Copenhagen climate change summit yesterday that Arctic ice would be completely gone in five years. Gore cited Dr. Wieslav Maslowski as his source "that there is a 75% chance that the entire north polar ice cap, during the summer months, could be completely ice free within five to seven years."
As you can imagine, Gore's assertion made headlines all over the world this morning and is being used by the- sky-is-falling crowd to demand another major take-over of world economies by government. There is only one little detail that Gore has to clear up: Dr. Maslowski has made no such claim. He told the few reporters who actually called him that, "It's unclear to me how this figure was arrived at. I would never try to estimate likelihood at anything as exact as this."
When told about Gore's claim, Dr. Jim Overland, a leading oceanographer at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, responded, "This is an exaggeration that opens the science up to criticism from skeptics." You have that right, professor!
Here's the amazing thing, my friends: Al Gore is still given credibility. A month ago he claimed that the interior of the earth "is extremely hot, several million degrees." But most scientists believe the temperature of the earth's core is 5,000 degrees Celsius while some contrarians argue it is 9,000 degrees Celsius. If the core of the earth were several million degrees, the earth would be a star! Of course the upside would be that Al Gore would no longer be walking around spouting nonsense and calling it science.
Al Gore is getting very rich on his sham science. In fact, he is well on his way to becoming the world's first global warming billionaire. But if his policies become law, the rest of us will be very poor. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; 12/15/09)
Update: Obamacare
Miracle on East Capitol Street?
When the Senate's 60 Democrats meet at the White House this afternoon, it won't be to exchange Christmas cookies. The window of opportunity is closing for Democrats, and President Obama needs everyone on board if he's going to play Santa Claus with health care reform. Patching together a plan will be difficult in the party's current climate, and President Obama may need more than a Nobel Peace Prize to find unity on the bill's biggest obstacles--like taxpayer- funded abortion, the public option, rising costs, rationing, higher premiums, new taxes, and a host of other bad policies in the bill.
Consensus will have to come quickly, since most experts agree that the Senate has until Thursday if they want to pass a bill by December 23. After several Democrats pushed back on Sen. Harry's Reid's (D-Nev.) idea of expanding Medicare, it looks like the "mother of all public options" is dead. Unfortunately, the bill's marriage penalty is not. Right now, H.R. 3590 would punish married couples who make more than $250,000 in wages with a 0.5% payroll tax.
The passage of this bad bill is not inevitable. It can be stopped. To find out how, join us tomorrow night as FRC Action links arms with The Call to Conscience for a first-of-its-kind PrayerCast on this issue. Starting at 8:30 p.m. (ET), we'll be joined by Sens. Jim DeMint (R- S.C.) and Sam Brownback (R-Kans.), Congressmen Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Randy Forbes (R- Va.), and church leaders, including Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family and Rev. Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Leadership Conference. For a complete list of speakers and to register, vis it FRC Action today! (Family Research Council)
Iran's Nuclear Smoking Gun
The biggest crisis of the Obama presidency is still ahead of us. It could happen tomorrow, next month or next year. But it will happen. The bottom line is that all of Obama's overtures to America's enemies have been met with the back of their hand.
A document has emerged that suggests Iran is closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon. The Washington Times reported today that "[t]op secret technical notes leaked from deep within the Iranian nuclear program . . . detail research on a neutron initiator, a device that sets off a nuclear detonation."
Iran has always argued that it wants nuclear power for peaceful purposes, not for bomb-making. But it has always been an implausible assertion, not least because Iran does not need nuclear energy: it has the second largest oil reserves and the second largest natural gas reserves in the world. But the neutron initiator may be the smoking gun for Iran's true nuclear intentions, because its only purpose is to detonate bombs.
News of the nuclear detonation device comes on top of more evidence of Iran's nuclear aspirations. It is being reported that a top Iranian nuclear scientist has revealed secrets of his country's nuclear program to United Nations' weapons inspectors. And the International Atomic Energy Agency recently confronted Tehran with evidence that Iranian scientists have experimented with an advanced nuclear warhead design.
In Oslo last week, President Obama said that "those who seek peace cannot stand idly by as nations arm themselves for nuclear war." But the president's words have not met his actions. When the inevitable crisis occurs, the world will change for Israel and for the U.S. Iran cannot be contained, because it is guided not by geopolitical concerns but by an ideology whose central mission is the annihilation of Israel and the United States. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; 12/15/09)
S. 1102: Weakening DOMA
Left at the Altar
Tomorrow, in a hearing that's flying well below the radar, the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will be debating the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act. The legislation would sap even more strength from the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) by violating its key tenet, which is that marriage is the union of a man and a woman. S. 1102 would carve out a major exception to that rule by giving homosexual couples all the perks of married spouses. Wednesday's hearing could be an interesting one given the number of moderates on the Committee like Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). Help nudge them in the right direction by calling their offices and opposing S. 1102. (Family Research Council)
The Good News Corner
He Is Lord - by Hillsong
Let's just praise the Lord in all of our circumstances. He IS Lord!
