In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Government-Subsidized Assassins?
• Prop 8: Closing Arguments Heard
• GOP Loses Key Health Care Vote in House
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Thursday, June 17, 2010
"Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God." (Romans 8:27)
The Daily Brief
1. A) Closing Arguments in Historic Marriage Challenge Begin - Citizen Link
After a five-month hiatus, closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger - the challenge to California's Proposition 8 marriage amendment - began today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
In 2008, the California Supreme Court ordered same-sex marriage. In November of that year, more than seven million Californians cast their votes in favor of Prop 8 to defend marriage. The outcome was immediately challenged in federal court.
Ted Olson, the attorney for those challenging marriage protection, argued today before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker that there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage and there are numerous examples, such as Brown v. Board of Education, in which courts corrected perceived discrimination.
B) Closing Arguments in Same-Sex Marriage Case - Intercessors for America
A federal judge heard closing arguments Wednesday in the lawsuit to overturn a California constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman. The case will likely be appealed no matter the outcome, and could have ramifications for 30 other state constitutional amendments as well as the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
- Please continue to pray for Judge Vaughn Walker for wisdom, and the upcoming decision. Please support ProtectMarriage.com with your prayers and donations, as this kind of trial is very costly. Please pray that God will not allow the legal votes of the people of California to be rescinded.
- "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
2. News Alert: BP apologizes for oil spill, sets up worker compensation fund - Washington Post
BP apologizes to the American people for the damage caused by a gushing leak from a blown-out oil well in the Gulf of Mexico and announces the creation of a $100 million compensation fund for oil workers who are out of work because of the catastrophe. The oil giant also said it would work to fix all environmental damage to the gulf and will not pay its quarterly dividend to stockholders as part of its commitment to pay for damage. Earlier today, BP and the administration agreed on a $20 billion escrow fund to compensate claims brought against the company for oil-related damage.
- Lord, with the pressure on BP to fix everything economically as well as environmentally, the possibility exists they may not survive as a company over the long term. Pouring money into a situation simply leads to human dependence on the finances of government, and the BP company, which is a form of control over the people. We pray, Lord, for Your help concerning the people of the Gulf Coast. We ask for a move of Your Holy Spirit, and for new and creative ideas to fashion changes in their livelihoods, and healing for their land. We pray against the bondage plans of the enemy over them, and ask for Your mercy over the people, and the creatures.
- "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)
3. News Alert: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ordered to delist from NYSE - Washington Post
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to delist from the New York Stock Exchange and any other national securities exchange.
- We thank You, Lord, for removing Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae companies from these economic entities. We pray for truthful, solid companies to be raised up in their place - that give mortgages with wisdom - according to Your Word.
- "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given." ( Proverbs 19:17)
4. More Than 90 Banks Miss TARP Payments - CNBC
More than 90 U.S. banks and thrifts missed making a May 17 payment to the U.S. government under its main bank bailout program, signaling a rising number of lenders are struggling to meet their obligations.
- Lord, the law of sowing and reaping is what underlies our economic problems. Please help our financial institutions to work according to Your Word. We pray the economy begins to move forward, in spite of, and without government intervention and control.
- "You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?" (Matthew 18:32-33)
5. Report: Abortion Groups Getting Millions in Tax Dollars - CBN News
The Government Accountability Office found that Planned Parenthood and five other pro-abortion organizations have received more than $1 billion in taxpayer funds from 2002-2009.
- Lord, this is an outrage! We pray that You cut off these funds from all abortion agencies, and forgive us as taxpayers for not being aware of the situation.
- "O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just" (Psalm 7:9a)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills-from whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth." ( Psalm 121:1,2 )
1. Assad: No chance for peace after flotilla raid - Ynet News
The deadly Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla has increased the chances of war in the Middle East, Syrian President Bashar Assad said Wednesday in an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation.
2. Turkey Forms Own Flotilla Committee - Jerusalem Post
Turkey's Foreign Ministry said Wednesday it has formed a committee to look into Israel's raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.
3. Turkish group IHH says next flotilla to sail late July - Ynet News
A Turkish pro-Palestinian group said on Wednesday it will send another aid flotilla to Gaza next month, again trying to break an Israeli blockade after its last convoy was the target of a deadly Israeli raid in May.
4. Police prepare for haredi riots - Ynet News
Some 10,000 police officers are preparing to deploy Thursday throughout Israel beginning in the early morning hours in preparation for what haredim have dubbed "the mother of all protests".
The Daily Jot
Iranian Sanctions: Some things never seem to change
The White House is claiming victory over announcing new sanctions against Iran for its rogue nuclear program. Round four of these sanctions, however, is not likely to do any more than garner a collective evil chuckle in the conclave of leaders in the terrorist state. Iran has spent nearly a decade of stalling world action against its nuclear program, and a change in United States policy positions toward Iran and the Islamic world. The pressure on Israel is unprecedented beginning when White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel last year told a gathering of Jewish leaders that if Israel wanted America's help with the Iranian nuclear problem, it should agree to a Palestinian state.
In November 2004, the UN's Nuclear Watchdog Moahmed El Baradei told the media, "I am not ready to jump to the conclusion and say this is a weapons program unless I see a diversion of nuclear material to such a program or I see clear cut proof that this is a weapons program. And we are not there yet." A year ago, El Baradei told BBC, "[Iran] wants to send a message to its neighbors, it wants to send a message to the rest of the world: yes, don't mess with us, we can have nuclear weapons if we want it." The Ambassador from Iran was quite defensive to El Baradei's remarks. He said, "Nuclear weapons are not in our defense doctrine . . . .But we are going to have nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."
Reuters News Service reports that in an apparent slip-up during his exchange with reporters, the Iranian Ambassador said, in English: "There is no difference between any factions or groups of the Iranian nation on the inalienable right of nuclear weapons." He later clarified that he meant nuclear power. Several issues are at play here. First, El Baradei has won a Nobel Peace Prize by acting as a diplomat in stalling world efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. America's Executive Branch at the White House is soft on Islam and appears to err on the side of appeasement with Iran.
Obama said in his June 4, 2009 speech in Cairo, "No single nation should pick and choose which nations hold nuclear weapons. . . And any nation--including Iran--should have the right to access peaceful nuclear power if it complies with its responsibilities under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty." But the White House has little reservation toward using Iran's nuclear program--a horrible threat to Israel--as a bargaining chip with Israel to give Islam a radical militarized state. 2 Timothy 3:13 says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived." The world is gathering against Israel and America is among them.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
Government-Subsidized Assassins?
Americans have known for quite some time that their government is a major shareholder in the international abortion business. What they didn't know -- until today -- was exactly how much of their money had been spent on the destruction of innocent human beings.
This morning, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) answered that question for the first time in a number of years with a staggering report on U.S. funding for abortion advocates . In just eight years, more than a billion of your hard-earned dollars have been funneled to Planned Parenthood Federation of America, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Population Council of the United States, Guttmacher Institute, Advocates for Youth and Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States.
Each and every one of these organizations make it their mission to slaughter unborn babies by dismemberment, decapitation, and deadly chemicals. Planned Parenthood, the biggest beneficiary of your dollars, averaged over $90 million a year -- the largest portion of federal funds in the report.
Together with pro-life members and activists like Lila Rose, FRC organized a press conference on Capitol Hill to expose the incredible waste -- not only of dollars, but, more importantly, human lives. Our appreciation goes out to Congressman Pete Olson (R-Texas), who wrangled this report from GAO. We'll be posting video of the event, including remarks from FRC's own Ken Blackwell, on Thursday. In the meantime, encourage your members to help put a stop to this blood money by endorsing H.R. 614, Rep. Mike Pence's Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act. (Family Research Council)
Prop 8: Closing Arguments Heard
Closing Arguments in Historic Marriage Challenge Begin
After a five-month hiatus, closing arguments in Perry v. Schwarzenegger - the challenge to California's Proposition 8 marriage - began today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco.
In 2008, the California Supreme Court ordered same-sex marriage. In November of that year, more than seven million Californians cast their votes in favor of Prop 8 to defend marriage. The outcome was immediately challenged in federal court.
Ted Olson, the attorney for those challenging marriage protection, argued today before U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker that there is a constitutional right to same-sex marriage and there are numerous examples, such as Brown v. Board of Education, in which courts corrected perceived discrimination.
But Charles Cooper, lead defense attorney for ProtectMarriage.com, countered that Californians have the right to preserve and protect the definition of marriage against judicial activism.
Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, said if Prop 8 is struck down, it would be a radical upending of the Constitution. "Christianity and religious liberty are on trial," he said.
Austin Nimocks, senior legal counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund, said it boils down to whether we still live in a democracy." "(If) a single judge is going to trump the voices of over 7 million Californians who heard both sides of the debate and cast their votes accordingly," he said.
Court watchers said a ruling might be several weeks away. Should Walker rule Prop 8 unconstitutional, he could either order the state to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses immediately, or he could delay that action until the appeals process is concluded.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Learn more in-depth analysis about this historic case. Click here. (CitizenLink; Wed., June 16, 2010)
TAKE ACTION:
We urge you to continue to pray about this issue, the battle is far from over.
Please continue to pray for Judge Vaughn Walker and the upcoming decision.
Please support ProtectMarriage.com with your prayers and donations as this kind of a trial is very costly. You can help by going here.
GOP Loses Key Health Care Vote in House
GOP Efforts to Repeal Provision in Health Care Law Fall Short
House Republicans used a parliamentary tactic Tuesday to get Democrats on record again supporting a law mandating all Americans to purchase health care insurance. "The federal government has never required its citizens to purchase a particular product before," said Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich. "And doing so with health insurance violates the basic principles of freedom and individual choice."
Camp, the top Republican on the Ways and Means Committee, called for a "motion to recommit" -- a parliamentary effort often employed by the minority party to change bills on the House floor -- knowing he didn't have the votes. It failed 187-230, but with 21 Democrats voting for repeal.
Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., said the vote needs to be a clarion call.
"The most important thing to do right now across this country is to demonstrate to the American people that there are folks who are interested in governing responsibly and (in) a fiscally responsible manner." (CitizenLink)
The Good News Corner
Congressman Randy Forbes: Reaffirming America's Spiritual Heritage
Last May, I spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives affirming America's Judeo-Christian heritage and its importance in shaping our government. My statement came in response to President Barack Obama's April 6 speech in Turkey where he said, "And I've said before that one of the great strengths of the United States is -- although as I mentioned, we have a very large Christian population, we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation." Currently, my video has been viewed over 3 million times, proving America's religious heritage continues to be a heightened point of debate in our society.
Along with Members of the bipartisan Congressional Prayer Caucus, I also reintroduced H.Res.397, America's Spiritual Heritage Resolution. The Resolution recognizes our nation's spiritual heritage milestones, rejects current attempts to erase all religious history from public buildings and educational resources, and establishes a week for Americans to remember and reflect on spiritual principles upon which our nation was founded. The Resolution has gained bipartisan support with 77 cosponsors.
The Resolution would also designate the first week of May every year to be "America's Spiritual History Week," a time for Americans to study and acknowledge the significant role that prayer and religion has played in the foundation of our nation and in its subsequent history to the current day.
Yours in service,
Randy Forbes
Member of Congress
Worship with Us Today!
"Your Name" by Paul Baloche
Amen . . .
