In This Issue• Today's Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Good News Corner
• Worship With Us!
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The Daily Brief - Saturday, March 20, 2010
* * SPECIAL EDITION * * His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed, and His dominion will be forever. (Daniel 6:26)
Today's Daily Brief
1. Obama to Meet With Netanyahu Next Week Amid Tension Over Settlements - Fox News
President Obama will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Fox News has learned, as a sharp disagreement over settlements continues to fester.
Israeli sources confirmed that Netanyahu, who will be in the United States for a meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, will sit down with Obama now that the U.S. president has postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia in order to work on health care reform.
- Lord, we thank You that the president will be in Washington to meet with Netanyahu. We pray that members of the administration will stand firm for Israel and not continue the attacks against the Jewish state.
- Like flying birds so the LORD of hosts will protect Jerusalem. He will protect and deliver it; He will pass over and rescue it. (Isaiah 31:5)
2. Health Care Vote Scheduled for Sunday
A. Abortion again an issue in health care debate - CNN
The divisive issue of abortion is once again causing problems for House Democrats as they plan to move forward with the health care bill.
Anti-abortion Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Michigan, is asking for a vote on his language restricting taxpayer funding for abortion, and a group of female abortion-rights Democrats came out of an emergency meeting in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office Friday evening visibly angry about the request.
Rep. Diana Degette, D-Colorado, told reporters a vote on Stupak's measure was a "nonstarter," saying, "somewhere between 40 and 55" abortion-rights Democrats would bolt from the bill.
"We are holding firm this time," she said. "If Mr. Stupak and a few members along with the Republicans decide to use this to take health care down, that loss of health care will be in their hands."
B. Two state attorneys general ready to file lawsuit on health care - CNN
Should the Democrats' health care reform bill make it to President Obama's desk, at least two Republican state attorneys general are prepared to file a lawsuit challenging its constitutionality.
South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster told CNN he and Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum are ready to take issue with a controversial provision known as "the cornhusker kickback" that exempted the state of Nebraska from paying for Medicare costs and with another provision that mandates all Americans buy health insurance.
C. Health Care Bill Dangerously Expands IRS Power - The Hill
House Ways and Means Republicans on Thursday assailed a provision in the proposed health care reform bill under consideration this week. Subcommittee on Oversight ranking member Charles Boustany (R-La.) said the IRS provision in the bill "dangerously expands, in an ominous way the tentacles of the IRS and it's reach into every American family," he said today during a press conference.
D. HC Bill Could Affect Students Loans - CBN News
Part of the controversial health care reform bill could change how students get loans for college.
Democrats unveiled last-minute additions to the bill, Friday, including a measure to make the government a "one stop shop" for student loans. If it passes, students would no longer get federally guaranteed loans from private banks and other lenders that charge fees.
Supporters estimate the savings will be about $60 billion over a decade -- money they plan to then use to increase Pell grants and other college programs. Republicans, however, say the legislation would kill jobs, hurt the economy and offer too much government control.
- There are so many needs in this last weekend before the healthcare vote. May the people of the nation rise up to express their will to their elected officials. We pray that all the members of Congress will be overwhelmed with their responsibility and will vote with Your leading in their hearts. We pray for a prayer movement that will help the tide to shift so that this nation will not be stained by the blood of more innocents.
- How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood. (Psalm 40:4)
3. Holder defends Justice lawyers who represented detainees - CNN
Attorney General Eric Holder on Friday declared that Justice Department lawyers, criticized for past representation of Guantanamo Bay prison detainees, are patriots who deserve to be praised.
"Let me be clear about this: Lawyers who provide counsel for the unpopular are - and should be treated as what they are - patriots," Holder told a friendly audience.
- May there be lawyers of strength and integrity who are given power in the Justice Department. We pray that any who are sympathetic to the terrorists will be kept out of office.
- Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them . . . (Ephesians 5:11)
4. Obama response to Mexico violence riles Texas Gov. Perry - Washington Examiner
Escalating violence in Northern Mexico fueled by the region's seemingly intractable drug wars are being blamed for the weekend murders of a U.S. consulate worker, her husband and another man. Kidnappings, violence and lawlessness have long scourged Ciudad Juarez, a hardscrabble border city just across the Rio Grande from El Paso, Texas.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, is asking the Obama administration to send help in the form of predator drones for surveillance and 1,000 National Guard troops.
- We pray for safety for the citizens of Mexico who are being terrorized by these drug gangs and for the people on the American border who are in danger of the violence spilling over into their communities. May the administration wake to the dangers of not properly guarding the border, and may the governors of the border states be given sufficient resources to be able to guard their people.
- Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them. (Ezekiel 38:7)
5. Attorneys: Chicago Mumbai Siege Suspect Spills Terror Secrets - Fox News
An American who admitted slipping quietly into the Indian city of Mumbai on scouting missions that led to the November 2008 attack that killed 166 people has already started spilling terrorists' secrets to U.S. authorities, according to his attorney and federal prosecutors.
David Coleman Headley pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court in Chicago to laying the groundwork for the massacre in Mumbai and performing similar surveillance in anticipation of an attack on a Danish newspaper whose cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad were offensive to Muslims.
Federal officials say the 49-year-old Headley, who was arrested in Chicago in October, has become a valuable asset to the war on terrorism, furnishing information about terrorist networks in exchange for a promise that he won't be executed.
- We give You praise when killers are caught and give information to stop future attacks. We pray for strength and focus for all the members of the intelligence and law enforcement communities who are charged with keeping the innocent safe.
- For behold, they have set an ambush for my life; Fierce men launch an attack against me, Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD, For no guilt of mine, they run and set themselves against me. Arouse Yourself to help me, and see! (Psalm 59:3-4)
6. Iraq War anniversary a time for reflection - Daily Caller
Today marks the 7th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War and it's quite remarkable to see just how far this country has come. In looking at the preliminary election results it's hard not to reflect on the 2000 presidential election in the United States. It's close and the votes are still being tallied. At one point this week, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki trailed his closest contender, former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi. Now, with al-Maliki back in the lead, some 40,000 votes separate their coalitions out of 83 percent counted. He is fighting for his political life.
- Lord, on this anniversary, we offer thanks to You for all those who have fought the war in Iraq and who have returned to their families. May the families of the lost be comforted by You and may they feel the peace that You provide. We pray for safety for the people of Iraq and for men of honor to be given power in their government.
- The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. (Romans 13:12)
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. Obama blocks delivery of bunker-busters to Israel - World Tribune
The United States has diverted a shipment of bunker-busters designated for Israel.
2. UN, Russia intent on restarting peace - Jerusalem Post
Russia and the United Nations vowed Thursday to resuscitate Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, whose prospects collapsed following Israel's announcement it would build new homes in east Jerusalem.
3. Hamas fans flames of Islamic anger following 'Day of Rage' - Jerusalem Post
Hamas leaders are seeking to escalate Palestinian unrest over the supposed Israeli threat to Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. In addition to reflecting the movement's ideological goals, this effort makes good political sense.
4. 47 MKs to PM: Continue building in Jerusalem - Ynet News
Forty-seven Knesset members from almost all Zionist factions, with the exception of Meretz, signed a letter initiated by MK Otniel Schneller (Kadima) to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the need to continue building in Jewish Jerusalem.
5. Air Force strikes in Gaza - Ynet News
IDF aircraft struck at least four targets in the Gaza Strip on Friday, a day after a rocket fired from the Palestinian enclave killed a Thai worker in Israel, Hamas security officials and witnesses said.
The Good News Corner
"Good to Be Alive"
Jack Rushton - "Sit Down" Comedy routine & inspirational message from a quadriplegic on a respirator.
What a powerful word for our time!
Worship With Us!
"THE NEW JERUSALEM"
In the Golden Age to come, the saints of God will have a city forged by the very hands of the Lord.
This beautiful video describes the New Jerusalem. Praise God!
