In This IssueToday's Daily Brief
The Middle East in Focus
The Daily Jot (Part One)
The Daily Jot (Part Two)
Obama and Taxes
ObamaCare's Bounce
Obama Bows to Chinese President
The Good News Corner
Worship With Us!
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The Daily Brief - Wednesday, April 14, 2010
"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice." (I Chronicles 16:10)
Today's Daily Brief
1. Foes of Tea Party movement to infiltrate rallies - Associated Press
Opponents of the fiscally conservative Tea Party movement say they plan to infiltrate and dismantle the political group by trying to make its members appear to be racist, homophobic, and moronic. Jason Levin, creator of www.CrashTheTeaParty.org, says the group has 65 leaders in major cities across the country who are trying to recruit members to infiltrate Tea Party events for April 15 -- tax filing day. He says they want to exaggerate the group's least appealing qualities, further distance the Tea Party from mainstream America, and damage the public's opinion of them. The Tea Party movement generally unites on the fiscally conservative principles of small government, lower taxes, and less spending. Beyond that, the ideology of the people involved tends to vary dramatically.
- Father God, powerfully move by Your Holy Spirit upon Jason Levin in the night and reveal the Lord to him. May he awake with fright in his heart because he is moving against the Tea Party movement that God raised up to bring balance to society regarding major issues. Silence Mr. Levin's voice and make him weak as water when he stands against God's work. In Jesus Name.
- "See that you refuse not the Lord that speaks. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall we not escape, if we turn away from Him that speaks from heaven." (Hebrews 12:25)
2. Arizona Passes Strict Illegal Immigration Bill - Fox News
The Arizona House on Tuesday approved a bill that would draw local communities deeper into the fight against illegal immigration despite arguments from opponents that it would do nothing to keep people safer.
- God, in today's society there is a great cover up; good is called bad, bad is called good, light is called darkness, darkness is called light. May the truth prevail and the opponents be exposed as deceivers. Break the power of mind control in the media by the blood of Jesus. Strike down deception. Strengthen the people to stand on the side of truth and not falter. In Jesus Name.
- "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You will recognize them by their fruit. Can people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7:15-16)
3. Huckabee likens gay marriage to incest, polygamy - AP
Mike Huckabee, a possible Republican presidential candidate in 2012, says the effort to allow gays and lesbians to marry is comparable to legalizing incest, polygamy and drug use.
- God, You made us male and female to procreate the earth so there would be generations to follow us. The lifestyle of gays and lesbians cuts off this godly and healthy process. It makes a statement against bringing children into the world to continue God's creation. They have exchanged the truth of God for falsehood, believing a lie. Lord, strengthen Mike Huckabee and many like him who stand for truth. In Jesus Name.
- "They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural; and likewise the men, giving up natural relations with the opposite sex, burn with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in their own persons the penalty appropriate to their perversion, and have not considered God worth knowing." (Romans 1:25-28)
4. Kyrgyzstan 'on brink of civil war' says Dmitry Medvedev - London Telegraph
Kyrgyzstan is "on the brink of civil war," according Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who warned that the country could be ripped apart by the current political upheaval.
- God, we cry out to You for Kyrgyzstan to be saved out of the bear's claws, that they have visions and dreams of the Lord and holy visitations of angels, thereby repenting of sin and turning their hearts to God. Overrule the evil world rulers and pull Kyrgyzstan out of the fire and out of their control. Save them from destruction by their enemies. Encircle them with a wall of angels sent from heaven who will war against Russia. In Jesus Name.
- "Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: if I fall, I shall arise; if I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." (Micah 7:8)
5. Western Chinese province struck by 6.9 earthquake - London Times
A strong earthquake has rocked the Tibetan plateau in China, killing at least 300 people, injuring 8,000 and leaving many others trapped in collapsed mud-built homes.
- God, You are roaring from heaven against the rampant sin on the earth. May men and women call out to God with repentant hearts, and their souls be saved by the resurrection power of Christ and cleansed and made whole by the blood of Jesus. In His Name we pray.
- "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered over; Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord Jehovah will not reckon against his account." (Romans 4:7-8)
6. Gates: Iran at least year away from nukes - Ynet News
Iran is not expected to be capable of producing nuclear weapons for at least a year, maybe more, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday.
- Father God, continuously hold back Iran's hazardous nuclear weapons production. We proclaim lack over all their nuclear activity. Pull back their progress for their intent is polluted and their primary target is Israel. Woe be to the nation who moves against Israel for You surely stand as their defender. Protect and be a righteous covering over the believers in Iran that none perish but receive new-found strength in their God. In Jesus Name.
- "And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against Me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I AM the Lord Jehovah." (Ezekiel 20:38)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
- "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime . . ." (2 Sam. 7:10)
1. Report: U.S. plans to reappoint Syria envoy under threat over Hezbollah Scuds - Ha'aretz
Claims Syria passed Scud missiles to Hezbollah in Lebanon are already having repercussions on Washington's efforts to restore full diplomatic ties with Damascus, according to reports in the United States Wednesday.
- God, You are looking down from heaven upon all the nations of the world and You see their treachery and wickedness. Bind Syria and Hezbollah under the blood of Jesus and render them powerless. Diplomatic ties would be worthless. There is no truth in them. There are only lies and deception in their words. So Father, render these Scud missiles incapable of hitting their mark and faulty in construction, that will boomerang back to their starting point. In Jesus Name.
- "The tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness." (Proverbs 15:2)
2. EU sees upswing in antisemitic attacks, report says - EU Observer
The number of antisemitic incidents mushroomed in many western EU countries in 2009 due to an organized anti-Gaza war campaign, a new study says.
- God, we ask that You make a full sweep over all the western EU countries and turn their hearts in repentance toward the Lord God by the power of Your might. Strike down all antisemitism which wars against the Jewish people. Protect them and make them strong and mighty in their God. Raise up Your hands against antisemitism worldwide and bring deliverance by the saving knowledge of the Messiah. In Jesus Name.
- "And there shall you remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein you have been defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that you have committed" (Ezekiel 20:43)
3. Obama: US can't force Mideast peace deal - AP
President Barack Obama gave a surprisingly downbeat assessment Tuesday of the chances for a U.S.-brokered peace settlement in the Middle East, saying that the United States can't help if Israel and the Palestinians decide they cannot negotiate.
4. Obama: Israel should sign NPT - Ynet News
US President Barack Obama said Tuesday that the US Administration calls upon all nations to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including Israel.
5. Meridor: Israel's 2 nuke reactors are safe - Ynet News
The nuclear conference held in Washington is not turning into a clash between Israel and Muslim states as some observers expected, Minister for Intelligence Affairs Dan Meridor told Ynet Tuesday.
6. Cell believed plotting Sinai kidnap - Jerusalem Post
Citing concrete intelligence, the National Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued an urgent travel advisory on Tuesday night asking all Israelis in Sinai to return home immediately.
The Daily Jot (Part One)
The Prophetic Consequences of Disarming Before Our Enemies and Coming Against Israel
Obama stunned Americans with a complete reversal on strategic national defense policy by announcing that the United States would not answer biological or chemical attacks with nuclear weapons if the offending nation did not have nuclear weapons themselves. This break with the longstanding policy of deterrence was made ahead of a 47 nation nuclear summit the White House is hosting. It appears that the goals of the nuclear summit are to try to stop nuclear proliferation and to lobby world leaders for some sort of sanctions against Iran's nuclear program. To much of the world, analysts say, the move appears to be a show of American weakness and appeasement.
Thrown in the midst of this world summit is the conspicuous absence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu backed out of the so-called summit when he got wind that despite White House assurances to the contrary, Islamic nations were going to pressure Israel to declare its nuclear position and to join the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Israel, long suspected of having nuclear weapons, has never confirmed such, opting instead for a policy of deterrence through nuclear ambiguity. One of the largest deterring factors preventing Islamic nations and the Palestinian radicals from attacking Israel is the undeclared, but assumed ability to annihilate the enemy.
Deterrence, however, is what the White House, in its bravado to show good will as the world's foremost nuclear power, acquiesced. Now America's enemies, especially Islamic terrorists and terrorist sponsoring states such as Iran, Syria, Libya, and North Korea, backed by their supporters Russia and China, see a large chink in America's armor. America's enemies now know that this White House is exposing America's strength as a defender of itself and of Israel with the key weakness of a lack of will to defend itself and its ally. This White House has announced its appeasement policy, then invited its every enemy to a large banquet in Washington to discuss how not to use nuclear weaponry.
In 2 Kings 20, the Babylonian king sent gifts and an envoy to Hezekiah. In turn, Hezekiah showed the envoys all his treasures and weapons. Verse 13 says, "there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them." The prophet Isaiah said in verse 17, "Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord." At the same time of this nuclear summit, the American leadership has practiced blackmail foreign policy on Israel. This lack of wisdom in disarming before our enemies and coming against Israel may have dire consequences for every American.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
The Daily Jot (Part Two)
Liberal Media Seeing Signs of Totalitarian Regime Forming At White House
When a "regime" gains power, one of the first things to go is freedom of the press. Usually one of the next things to be severely limited is freedom of religion. In fact, they often are one the same. For if one is not able to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, then there must be no freedom of speech. Peter and the Apostles experienced this phenomenon in Jerusalem after Jesus ascended to heaven. They were beaten and put in jail for preaching the gospel. In Acts 4:18 the Sadducees commanded Peter and John "not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus."
Acts 4:19, 20 demonstrates the civil disobedience of Peter and John against those who would shut down freedom of speech and religion. It says "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard." The scene repeats itself again in Acts 5 when Peter and the Apostles continued to preach the Gospel. The Sadducees put them in prison, but an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and told them (verse 20) "Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
When the high priest, the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard that the Apostles were again preaching Jesus, they sent officers to bring them before the council, (verse 28) "Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?" Acts 5:29 says, "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." You see freedom of speech and freedom of religion are inextricably tied together. For if there is not freedom of speech, how then can the gospel be preached? And if there is not freedom of religion, who shall speak of it? And if there is no speech, neither religion, how then shall there be justice and morality in a society?
These are all questions that you will be asking soon if we do not stand against this man who occupies the Oval Office as Peter and the Apostles stood against the Sadducees. Though the media is liberal and is supporting the socialist agenda, there is starting to be concern about freedom of the press. Liberal columnist Dana Milbank decries the White House's totalitarian image during the recent nuclear summit. He writes that world leaders arriving for the Nuclear Security Summit "must have felt for a moment that they had instead been transported to Soviet-era Moscow." Milbank continued, "In the middle of it all was Obama--occupant of an office once informally known as "leader of the free world"--putting on a clinic for some of the world's greatest dictators in how to circumvent a free press." This is change--socialist change.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
Obama and Taxes
How Does Obama Spell Relief? T-A-X-E-S
If filling out tax forms gives you indigestion, then you might think twice about reaching for the antacid. Thanks to ObamaCare, the IRS will be hitting you where it hurts. Literally. As part of the health care "reforms," you won't find tax relief in pain relief. Even basic over-the-counter medicines are targeted for higher taxes. According to the Joint Committee on Taxation (JTC), the millions of people who use their Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs) to pay for medicine cabinet essentials (anything from contact solution to baby aspirin) will be slammed with an extra $5 billion in taxes
That's just part of the $3.9 billion tax increase scheduled to hit the middle class, the JTC reports. Unfortunately, the more we examine this health care law, the more malignancy we find. To pay for his massive new entitlements, President Obama is even taking aim at disabled children. The administration is saddling moms and dads who use their pre-tax accounts to foot the fees for special needs schools, transportation, Braille books, guide dogs, and wheelchairs with an extra $13 billion in taxes. Instead of giving these parents a break, the party of compassion is capping the amount of money they can use in a Flexible Spending Account at $2,500.
Yet no matter how many Americans suffer or how much money the government takes in, the IRS cannot begin to cover all of the President's spending. In a Congressional Budget Office statement last week, experts warned that, " U.S. fiscal policy is unsustainable." So instead of tightening Washington's belt, President Obama is trying to squeeze yours. In his weekly address, President Obama said, "No one I've met is looking for a handout." Technically, he's right. It's more like a government hold-up! Uncle Sam has done more than stick out his hands--he's hiring 16,000 IRS agents to put them directly in our wallets. Under this President, the tax rate may not go up, but the tax burden already has. The White House insists that it's not raising your taxes, but that's the net effect of letting the Bush cuts expire and then socking people for things like cough syrup. (Family Research Council)
ObamaCare's Bounce
Remember when ObamaCare passed? The Left was rejoicing. Democrats were crowing. The media were singing Obama's praises. Pelosi was grinning from ear to ear. With ObamaCare, the days of the Great Society were back. It was the triumph of progressivism, and the death of the GOP.
Have you looked at the polls lately?
· 58% of likely voters want to repeal ObamaCare.
· The Democrat Party has hit a record low.
· Obama hit a new low.
· For the third week in a row since ObamaCare passed, Republicans are leading among registered voters in Gallup's poll on control of Congress. And a Republican lead in Gallup's poll likely means a landslide on Election Day.
My friends, there's been a bounce from the passage of ObamaCare - for the GOP! But the election is still more than 200 days away. We must build on this momentum and make sure that we can take advantage of every opportunity.
It won't be easy, but you can make the difference. Adopt a voter. Make a financial commitment today. Spread the word. Speak up. Volunteer. As I noted above, the Left is determined to maintain its stranglehold on power by any means necessary. What will you do to defend our values? (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; April 13, 2010)
Obama Bows to Chinese President
The Obama Limbo
Most of us are familiar with the limbo, a Caribbean dance in which participants try to walk under a horizontal pole by bending backwards while the pole gets lowered with each successful attempt. It seems President Obama has brought the limbo to American diplomacy, only he's bending forward in a bow to foreign leaders.
How low can he go? Obama's infamous bow to the Saudi king is well known. Maybe Obama was just trying to make sure that we would still get Saudi Arabia's oil, since he's put a lot of ours off limits. The White House denied that Obama bowed to King Abdullah, but then Obama did it again when he met the emperor of Japan.
Yesterday, it was Hu Jintao's turn. Who's Hu? He's the president of communist China. I know some folks today feel like they have to bow to their banker. Maybe Obama bowed to Hu because the debt we owe China is up 20% on his watch. But at least he didn't hug Hu. Obama's saved the hug for Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, a fellow socialist who blamed the global credit crisis on "white people with blue eyes."
Before someone accuses me of nitpicking, symbolism can have serious effects around the world. Osama bin Laden once said, "When the people see a strong horse and a weak horse, they naturally gravitate toward the strong horse." Other than our liberal media elites, who is bowing to Obama?
An American president does not bow to foreign royalty, and certainly not to thugs. This president disrespects our allies, while showing deference to dictators. Some have suggested that the president is a narcissist. I'll leave the psychoanalysis to the experts. But there's no doubt that when it comes to America, which the president believes is in need of "fundamental transformation," the posture Obama is most comfortable with is submission.
The Left routinely criticized George W. Bush for his cowboy swagger. But I'll take a president who appreciates American strength any day over a president who apologizes for America's "arrogance." Obama's bowing is a physical manifestation of his groveling speeches. With a bowing and apologetic president, how long will the world see America as a "strong horse"? (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day; 4/13/10)
The Good News Corner
President Bush: "Prayers Sustained Me as President"
Former President George W. Bush told students and parents at a Texas event last month that faith and prayers sustained him while he was in the Oval Office.
To a crowd of more than 1,100 people, Bush said he does not see how he could have been president without prayer.
"The prayers of the people sustained me, comforted me and strengthened me in a way I could have never predicted before becoming president, and for that I am extremely grateful," Bush said at the Fort Worth Christian School-hosted event, according to The Associated Press.
During the hour-long address, he shared about many aspects of his life as president, including how he dealt with the economic crisis, emotional meetings with military families, faith-based programs, and how he remained optimistic even in the worst of times.
"Even in our country's toughest moments, I was optimistic that things could be better and more hopeful," Bush said. (The Christian Post)
Worship With Us!
"Let Your GLORY Fall" by Paul Wilbur
Yes, LORD . . . let the weight of Your GLORY fall on us!
