In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• ObamaCare As "The Law Of The Land"
• Obama's Attack On Israel
• It's All About Obama
• The Good News Corner
• Worship With Us!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, March 16, 2010
His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. (Daniel 6:26)
Today's Daily Brief
1. Republicans slam Obama's hard line towards Israel - Ynet News
"If the Administration wants to work toward resolving the conflict in the Middle East, it should focus its efforts on Iran's behavior, including its pursuit of nuclear weapons, its state-sponsorship of terrorism, its crushing of domestic democratic forces, and the impact its behavior is having, not just on Israel, but also on the calculations of other countries in the region as well as on the credibility of international nonproliferation efforts," House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said in a statement.
• Lord , we pray that any decisions or actions from our national leaders against Israel will be blocked immediately. We pray they be removed quickly and replaced with others who are sympathetic to the needs of Israel.
• I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." ((Genesis 12:3) For thus says the Lord of hosts: "He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye. (Zechariah 2:8)
2. Top House Dem Says 'Votes Are There' to Pass Health Care Reform - Fox News
A Democratic leader in the House voiced confidence Monday that his side has the votes necessary to pass the health care reform bill, and may do so as early as this week. "I believe we're going to get the votes, we're going to make this happen," the president said in an interview with ABC News. He has traveled to three states and lobbied numerous lawmakers in recent days.
It was more than a year ago that Obama asked Congress to approve legislation extending health coverage to tens of millions who lack it . . . His plan would require most Americans to buy health insurance, fine most who fail to do so and provide government subsidies to help middle-income earners and the working poor afford it.
• Heavenly Father, we pray against these plans to take on the greatest debt our nation has ever had. We pray against this destruction of our economy and our nation through all the over-reaching control of all areas of our lives! Strengthen the backbones of the ones who would oppose it and increase their numbers!
• The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)
3. House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it - Washington Post
After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it. Instead, Pelosi (D-Calif.) would rely on a procedural sleight of hand.
• Heavenly Father, you abhor deceptions and wicked hidden plans that pervert the truth. We pray that all the plans will be exposed and that our citizens will rise up with a loud cry against these actions.
• "Woe to the rebellious children," says the Lord, "Who take counsel, but not of Me, And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, That they may add sin to sin " (Isaiah 30:1)
4. Dodd Unveils Plans to Expand Fed Powers Over Banks - Fox News
A reform bill would create a consumer protection bureau within the Federal Reserve to write regulations governing lending transactions, but bank regulators could appeal those regulations if they believe they would affect the health of the banking system. A new Democratic Senate bill to tame the financial markets would give the government new powers to break up firms that threaten the economy and would force the industry to pay for its failures.
• Lord, there are just too many attempts to change important organizations in our nation quickly. We pray that wisdom and temperance will prevail instead. We come against this spirit of domination of our government to take over various areas of our economy.
• By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. (2 Peter 2:3)
5. FCC to unveil sweeping broadband plan - Washington Times
Communications regulators are unveiling a sweeping proposal to overhaul U.S. broadband policy. Their aim: to bring affordable, high-speed Internet connections to all Americans and make access much faster for people who already have broadband.
• Lord, we pray that the airwaves will never be controlled by ruthless, God-hating people. We pray that the policies and communication on the broadband will be used for the Lord's purposes and not satan's work. Bring the balance of our nation to be strongly Christian!
• " I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." (Acts 26:19, 20)
6. Social Security to Start Cashing Uncle Sam's IOUs - Fox News
This year, for the first time since the 1980s, when Congress last overhauled Social Security, the retirement program is projected to pay out more in benefits than it collects in taxes -- nearly $29 billion more. Now the government will have to borrow even more money, much of it abroad, to start paying back the IOUs, and the timing couldn't be worse. Tax receipts are down from the loss of more than 8 million jobs, and applications for early retirement benefits have spiked from older workers who were laid off and forced to retire. The government is projected to post a record $1.5 trillion budget deficit this year, followed by trillion dollar deficits for years to come.
• Lord, we cannot continue spending on all these frivolous pork projects. We pray for our official's eyes to be opened and determined to be fiscally responsible. Stop these people from spending. Give us prudent officials.
• The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)
7. GOP to use amendments as tactic - Washington Times
Capitol Hill Republicans are crafting hundreds of amendments in hopes of tripping up the health care overhaul if Democrats scrape up the votes needed to resuscitate the long-stalled measure by week's end.
• Thank you Lord, for righteous people who are willing to stand against unrighteous actions by some of our elected officials! Give them victory so that no action or bill that would hurt this nation will be passed.
• Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. (Psalm 144:1)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! (Psalm 105:4)
1. U.S. confident Mideast peace talks to continue - Ha'aretz
The U.S. is confident proximity talks between Israel and the Palestinians will continue, despite recent tension over Israel's plan to construct 1,600 new housing units in an East Jerusalem neighborhood, State Department official Philip J. Crowley said on Monday.
2. Chief Rabbi: Talk about new temple a lie - Ynet News
Chief Rabbi of Israel Yona Metzger sent a calming message to the Muslim world Monday, amid tensions over the inauguration of the Hurva Synagogue in Jerusalem.
3. Jerusalem construction will go on - Jerusalem Post
While the United States continued to criticize Israel over an east Jerusalem housing project approved during US Vice President Joe Biden's visit to Israel least week, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday said construction in the capital would continue as usual.
ObamaCare As "The Law Of The Land"
The House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a massive government takeover of the healthcare industry this week. The vote is expected Friday or Saturday, when Democrats hope you won't be paying attention. Most "whip counts" suggest that the votes aren't there yet, but Democrats are expressing confidence. On Fox News Sunday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs bragged to host Chris Wallace, " . . . this time next week, you all will be talking about health care reform not as a presidential proposal but as something that will soon be the law of the land."
Last November, the bill barely passed the House after 39 Democrats voted against it. The bill is less popular today that it was then and with good reason. In fact, pollster Kelly Ann Conway recently surveyed voters on healthcare in 35 swing Democrat districts. Here are some key findings of the poll:
• 60% percent want Congress to start from scratch or stop working on healthcare legislation.
• 75% oppose the individual mandate forcing every American to buy health insurance.
• 70% would vote against a House member who votes for the Senate health-care bill with its special interest provisions.
• 61% of voters say they will be less likely to vote for a congressman who flip-flops from "no" in November to "yes" this week.
Since the bill passed the House in November, two supporters have resigned, one has died and one stated flatly that he won't vote for it again. Others are opposed to taxpayer funding of abortion and special deals that were cut to get votes in the Senate. So, how can Pelosi hope to pass it again? She probably has to flip some previous "no" votes. Of the 39 Democrat "no" votes last November, 31 of them represent districts that voted Republican in the 2008 presidential race. But Barack Obama won eight of those districts. Those eight "Obama-district" Democrats are no doubt under the most intense pressure to switch. They are: Representatives John Adler (NJ-3), Brian Baird (WA-3), John Barrow (GA-12), Artur Davis (AL-7), Larry Kissell (NC-8), Dennis Kucinich (OH-10), Scott Murphy (NY-20) and Glenn Nye (VA-2).
Call your representative right now at 202-224-3121. And call his or her district offices too. President Obama, Rahm Emanuel, Nancy Pelosi and other Democrat leaders are pressuring every Democrat member of Congress right now to toe the party line. But as Kelly Ann Conway noted, "Walking the Democratic line now means walking the plank." Democrat pollsters and candidates know it. But Obama is not on the ballot this year, and he's betting that you either won't remember or won't care come November.
Republicans should be encouraged to keep up the fight. The 39 Democrats who voted no in November need to be reminded that new polling shows 61% of voters will be less likely to vote for a congressman who flip-flops from "no" in November to "yes" on ObamaCare this week. Please call now. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Monday, March 15, 2010)
Obama's Attack On Israel
I have talked to foreign policy experts in Washington, D.C. and Israel today and they are using adjectives like "bizarre," "inexplicable," "counterproductive," and "outrageous" to describe President Obama's diplomatic jihad against Israel. I can't print the adjectives that I would use.
When Iran accelerates its nuclear weapons program, Obama, Biden and Hillary show infinite patience. They extend the hand of "friendship" over and over, even when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's response is to slap us in the face. But when Israel goes forward with authorizing new housing units for its own citizens in its own capital, suddenly the Obama Administration declares diplomatic war.
Cancel your newspaper if it refers to these housing units as a "settlement." The neighborhood, Ramat Shlomo, was established in 1995 and is entirely within the city of Jerusalem. As of a few years ago it had 18,000 residents, mostly Orthodox Jews. The idea that this neighborhood is somehow an impediment to "peace" talks is laughable.
The crisis is being manufactured by the Obama White House. After Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu apologized for any unintended embarrassment to Vice President Biden, who was in Israel when the building announcement was made, the small diplomatic "bump" was effectively over.
But within twenty-four hours, the president ignited the Israeli bashing. White House Press Secretary Gibbs took a shot, then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanded the Israeli ambassador to the U.S. come to her offices for a verbal reprimand. She also called Netanyahu at 1:30 in the morning to berate him. Next, Obama sent his hatchet man David Axelrod on the Sunday talk show circuit to kick Israel again.
The Administration finally showed it can find some testosterone in implementing U.S. foreign policy; but, alas, it continues to be aggressively hostile to America's friends while bowing to America's enemies. The next time Ahmadinejad denies the Holocaust took place or tells a mob of Shiite jihadists that the day will come soon when there will be no America and no Israel, I guarantee you there will be barely a whimper of protest from Obama and his crew.
On September 11, 2001, while we were still counting our dead, the Palestinian streets were filled with people celebrating America's pain. Meanwhile, Israeli Jews wept with us and lowered their flag while the Israeli government declared a day of mourning with us. Israel had already suffered its own 9/11 in a protracted Palestinian terrorist campaign that targeted Israeli women and children. Our two countries are joined at the heart.
We share the same values and are hated for the same reasons by the same Islamofascist enemy. The Obama Administration's full throttle attacks on our friends weakens them, shames us and encourages our enemy. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Monday, March 15, 2010)
It's All About Obama
Today, I've written about two very different issues - the American/Israeli alliance and healthcare "reform." At first glance, there's no connection whatsoever between them - except for the bizarre state of affairs dominating the debates. I believe that can be traced back to one man - Barack Hussein Obama - and his "unique perspective."
Barack Obama has made healthcare reform a personal crusade. Before a joint session of Congress in September, Obama declared, "I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last." At the White House earlier this month, when Obama declared the debate over, he also said, "I do not know how this plays politically, but I know it's right." Never mind that whole "We the people" thing. Obama is here to tell you what is right and what you need.
The hubris is stunning, but not surprising coming from a man who told us that we can't drive SUVs, eat what we want and set our own thermostats without the rest of the world's permission. He also said of his own nomination for president, "Generations from now, we will . . . tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." So, Obama suggested, prior to 2008 Americans never cared about the sick, the less fortunate or the environment.
It's the same with Israel. Obama has bowed to the Saudi king, reached out repeatedly to the tyrants in Tehran, denied America's Christian heritage and told Muslim audiences that America is one of the world's largest Muslim nations. All the while his administration has either ignored or condemned Israel.
In other words, Obama is acting on the most complex and complicated domestic and foreign policy issues as if he has all the answers that have eluded prior generations of presidents and policy experts. On healthcare and Israel, Obama has started from the assumption that there is something deeply and fundamentally wrong with America and our friends. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; Monday, March 15, 2010)
The Good News Corner
Philippines: Drug lords abandon crime thanks to Gospel
In the district of Quiapo (Manila), over 150 drug lords have abandoned their criminal activity and are finding an alternative life for their families. All this thanks to a program of training and work placement arranged by a priest and catechists of the Archdiocese of Manila. "Nobody has ever dared to help these people rebuild their lives," said Fr Suarez, priest and director of catechism for the Archdiocese. "For years they have fled from themselves. Above all they need the Word of God."
The Quiapo district is one of the most central and most populated of Manila. Degradation, a high population density and the passage of tourists make it a fertile ground for trade in stolen goods and drugs, the only means of survival for families. Approximately 50 families linked to drug trafficking in the district have accepted the help of Fr Suarez, who six months ago began to visit them once a week. "Thanks to the visits, we managed to gain their trust," said Fr Suarez. "We started to teach them the basics of Christian values." Together with a group of catechists, psychologists and social workers, the priest has begun to identify and train leaders of the various families. This is to create a community able to lead initiatives and other work programs. "We are organizing various activities, especially for young people and married people, in order to avoid a return to the path of drugs and crime in the future." (Source: Joel News)
Worship With Us!
Revelation Song - by Kari Jobe
Praise Him today!
