In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Thursday, May 6, 2010
THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
"Prayer . . . for such a time as this . . ."
"For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (2 Chronicles 16:9)
The Daily Brief
1. California Students Sent Home for Wearing U.S. Flags on Cinco de Mayo - Fox News
Administrators at a California high school sent five students home on Wednesday after they refused to remove their American flag T-shirts and bandannas -- garments the school officials deemed "incendiary" on Cinco de Mayo.
The five teens were sitting at a table outside Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., on Wednesday morning when Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez asked two of them to remove their American flag bandannas, the Morgan Hill Times reported.
- Father, the American flag is a symbol of freedom and the blood of the men and women who have fought for her. As our "banner," it has always struck fear in the hearts of our enemies, as well as hope for those who pray for deliverance. We ask that You stop this flagrant violation of freedom, and ask that all will see this incident as the insanity that it portrays.
- "You have given a banner to those who fear You, that it may be displayed because of the truth." (Psalm 60:4)
2. a) FBI Awaits Lab Results on White Powder Sent to Arizona Governor's Office - Fox News
Law enforcement officials are awaiting lab results on a white powder that spilled out of an envelope addressed to Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Tuesday. The discovery of the powder briefly closed the State Capitol in Phoenix and sent Hazmat teams scrambling.
b) Violent Movie Declares War on Arizona for Immigration Law - Fox News
A violent new film from cult director Robert Rodriguez is declaring war on Arizona with a "special Cinco De Mayo message" in the wake of the state's controversial illegal immigration law.
- Lord, we ask Your mighty hand of protection for the officials in Arizona, especially Governor Jan Brewer. May the truth win out over deception and intimidation. We pray for our southern borders, that You would protect them with Your power! We speak peace to this storm of violence and anger, and apply the cross of Christ to it!
- "And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, 'Peace be still!' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm." (Mark 4:38)
3. US Senate votes to ban big bank 'bailouts' - AFP
Spurred by deep election-year voter anger, the US Senate voted Wednesday to forbid government-funded bailouts of big banks those like those blamed for the global economic meltdown of 2008.
- Lord, whether this vote is what it seems, only You know. We thank You that it appears as though the Senate heard the anger of the people about government bailouts to big banks. We ask that You root out greed from the banking system, stop complete government control of the banks, and bring righteous people within that system to run it with wisdom.
- "But they lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners." (Proverbs 1:18-19)
4. a) Gulf of Mexico oil slick: amount gushing from well 'could increase 12 fold' - London Telegraph
The well is currently spewing 5,000 barrels a day, or about 210,000 gallons, but that figure could reach 60,000 barrels a day, equivalent to 2.5 million gallons a day, if efforts to stop the leaks fail.
b) Boat Arrives in Gulf With Containment Box at Oil Site - AP
A boat carrying a 100-ton concrete-and-steel contraption designed to siphon off the oil fouling the Gulf of Mexico arrived Thursday at the spot in the sea where a blown-out well is spewing hundreds of thousands of gallons a day.
- Father, we stand together in the gap and plead Your mercy over the Gulf Coast of the United States. From Texas to Florida, we pray that You will disperse and stop this oil slick from destroying that region for years to come. Lord for the sake of the people You love, and the innocent creatures and land that You made so beautifully, we ask that You remember Your hand of deliverance toward them.
- "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none." (Ezekiel 22:30)
5. Franklin Graham: Christians Will Lose the Power to Pray Outside Church Walls 'Maybe in My Lifetime" - CNS News
Two top evangelical leaders sounded a defiant tone on the eve of National Day of Prayer -- warning that the American right to freedom of religion "is being eroded every day" and may be lost in an onslaught of secularism unless Americans "have the guts to stand up."
- Father, may every Christian in the United States hear and heed these words of warning from Franklin Graham. May he be protected by Your Almighty hand and strengthened by Your Spirit at this time.
- "For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake His saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever." ( Psalm 37:28-29)
6. As Britain goes to polls, shake-up in Parliament is forecast - Washington Post
Polls in Britain opened Thursday after a volatile and closely contested four-week campaign, with signs pointing to an outcome that could produce the most fragile government in a generation.
- Lord, as one of America's few remaining stable allies, we ask that Your perfect will cover the British election today. We pray that by Your hand You will stabilize Britain in spite of its failings, remove the unrighteous influences, and save it to become a nation called by Your name!
- "Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts, cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!" (Psalm 80:17-19)
7. Euro plunge raises reserve status fears - Financial Times
The euro fell to a 14-month low on the dollar and one-year low on the yen, raising concerns over the currency's reserve status.
- Lord, we pray that You will provide and protect Your people in this threat of economic collapse. Even as Greece has failed, other countries seem on the brink. Please take this opportunity to touch lives, change hearts, and transform Europe into a place where You are welcomed!
- "For thus says the Lord God of Israel,' The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.'" (1 Kings 17:14)
8. President Yar'Adua's death may spark power struggle in oil-rich Nigeria - London Times
President Yar'Adua of Nigeria, whose long sickness plunged Africa's most populous country into a constitutional crisis, has died, the Office of the Presidency announced last night.
- Lord, as Nigeria has been on the brink of complete chaos not only over control of the oil fields, but violence against Christians, we plead for Your mercy over this nation as well. So many have been murdered already, we ask that You stop the violence and bring stability and peace to this nation filled with sectarian hatred.
- "Do not keep silent, O God! Do not hold Your peace, and do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; and those who hate You have lifted up their head." (Psalm 83:1-2)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"I am their inheritance . . . I am their possession." (Ezekiel 44:28)
1. Hizbullah received hundreds of Syrian missiles - Jerusalem Post
Hizbullah has received hundreds of advanced surface-to-surface missiles from Syria that are capable of targeting Tel Aviv and causing extensive damage to Israel in the event of a future war with the Iranian-backed Shi'ite guerrilla groups, it was recently revealed.
2. IAF official: Israel's anti-missile systems are insufficient - Ha'aretz
The anti-missile systems currently operating in Israel do not provide the country with sufficient protection against surface to surface missiles and rockets, according to the chief of the Israel Air Force's air defense network.
3. Abbas: Hamas is smuggling weapons into the West Bank - Ha'aretz
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday accused the rival Hamas movement of smuggling weapons into the West Bank territory under his control.
4. Netanyahu and Mitchell hold talks in 'good atmosphere' - Ha'aretz
United States special envoy George Mitchell met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday, as Israelis and Palestinians readied themselves for the start of long-awaited indirect peace negotiations.
5. IAEA chief focuses on Israel - Ynet News
The head of the UN atomic watchdog is asking for international input on how to persuade Israel to join the Non-Proliferation Treaty, in a move that is sure to add pressure on the Jewish state to disclose its unacknowledged nuclear arsenal.
6. PA negotiating with US, not Israel - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met in his office for three hours on Wednesday with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, but it will not be clear for a few days whether this was indeed the long-awaited start to US-mediated indirect talks.
