In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• S.O.S - Stop Obama's Spending!
• Behind DISCLOSEd Doors
• Judges v. Counselors
• Focus on Kenya
• Terror Suspect Jailed
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Thursday, July 29, 2010
"And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen." (Romans 16:20)
The Daily Brief
1. Report: Rangel Cuts Deal, Avoids Trial - WCBS News
New York Congressman Charles Rangel has reportedly cut a deal to admit to ethical wrongdoing and avoid a potentially humiliating public trial. Harlem friends of Rangel tell CBS2 that the details could be unveiled when the House Ethics Committee meets Thursday afternoon.
- Lord continue to bring out all hidden schemes and illegal activities of our Congress. Do not let them get away with anything, and bring righteousness into our government. We pray for the soul of Charles Rangel, that he will find true repentance and the reality of Jesus Christ.
- "Let the proud be ashamed. . ." (Psalm 119:78a)
2. Court Upholds Expulsion of Counseling Student Who Opposes Homosexuality - Fox News
A federal judge has ruled in favor of a public university that removed a Christian student from its graduate program in school counseling over her belief that homosexuality is morally wrong. Monday's ruling, according to Julea Ward's attorneys, could result in Christian students across the country being expelled from public university for similar views.
- Lord, this dangerous ruling shows that we are farther along in the time line of prophecy than we thought. We ask for Your power and Light to continue to shine forth from Your people regardless of the opposition. We pray for Your peace and protection over Julea, and ask that You let her see Your hand of deliverance and vindication.
- "He stores up wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly." (Proverbs 2:7)
3. DOJ Accused of Stalling on MOVE Act for Voters in Military - Fox News
The Department of Justice is ignoring a new law aimed at protecting the right of American soldiers to vote, according to two former DOJ attorneys who say states are being encouraged to use waivers to bypass the new federal Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act.
- Lord we are incensed as the idea that our military votes are not counted. This is a blatant move by government to silence an entire segment of the nation. Father we ask that You provide a way for their votes to be counted. We ask that this plan of the enemy to silence them be broken.
- "Shall the throne of iniquity, which establishes evil by law, have fellowship with you? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. But the Lord has been my defense, and My God the rock of my refuge." (Psalm 94:21,22)
4. SEC Says New Financial Regulation Law Exempts it From Public Disclosure - Fox Business
Under a little-noticed provision of the recently passed financial-reform legislation, the Securities and Exchange Commission no longer has to comply with virtually all requests for information releases from the public, including those filed under the Freedom of Information Act.
- Father, this is yet another blow to the so-called "transparency" of this administration. May Your truth reveal every hidden thing. We ask that Your truth soak deep into the heart of every American, causing them to stand up against the tide of corruption and secrecy.
- "When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; but when the wicked arise, men hide themselves. He who covers his sins will not prosper." (Proverbs 28:12,13a)
5. Afghan Deserters Ride Secret Pipeline to Canada - Fox news
At least 22 Afghan soldiers who vanished from Lackland Air Force Base are living comfortably in Canada, thanks to a sophisticated network that helped them get there, a network that includes current and ex-Afghan military students living in the West.
- Lord we pray that all who are involved in this "pipeline" will wake up to the danger of moving Arabs through the US to Canada or anywhere else. We pray that any plots will be revealed, and any dangers be dispelled in this situation. We also ask for the souls of these men, that You will reveal Yourself to them and bring salvation.
- "Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity! " (Habakkuk 2:12)
6. Army Whistleblower Bradley Manning Linked to Afghan War Leaks - Fox News
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that investigators have found concrete evidence linking Army Pfc. Bradley Manning with the leak of tens of thousands of classified Afghan War documents.
A defense official told the paper that a search of computers used by Manning produced evidence he downloaded sensitive reports spanning from 2004 until 2009 --files published this week by a whistle-blowing website.
- Lord we ask that You touch the heart of this soldier and show Him the end of his ways. We ask that no lives be lost because of his actions.
- "For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." (Psalm 37:9)
7. Arizona's Altered Immigration Law Takes Effect, State Heads Back to Court - Fox News
Arizona's court-altered illegal immigration law went into effect just after midnight Wednesday, hours after a federal judge blocked its most controversial provisions -- including on-the-spot police checks of suspected illegal immigrants.
Soon after Judge Susan Bolton's decision was announced, a spokesman for Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer said the state will appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Thursday, asking the appellate court for a swift decision to lift the injunction and allow the blocked provisions to take effect. Brewer vowed to take the case "all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary," in a legal process that could take years to unravel, leaving other states considering similar laws in a legislative limbo.
- Thank You, Lord, that Arizona plans to appeal this ruling. We ask that You prepare the hearts of all judges to see and hear the truth, and respond with righteous judgments.
- "When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence." (Psalm 9:3)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Hear, O Israel: LORD our God, LORD is one. And you shall love LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might." (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
1. British leader blasts Israel on visit to Turkey - ICEJ News
British Prime Minister David Cameron was in Turkey on a solidarity visit Tuesday, hoping to boost relations with a key NATO ally which Britain views as critical to regional stability. Addressing a meeting of businessman in Ankara Cameron said that Israel's May 31 interception of the Mavi Marmara flotilla was "completely unacceptable," and added that "Gaza cannot and must not be allowed to remain a prison camp." However, he added that Israel's internal probe of the Mavi Marmara incident would be sufficient as long as it was done quickly and transparently, a position at odds with his hosts who want an international probe. He also used his address to urge Turkey to play a more active role in resolving the nuclear standoff between Iran and the International Community and gave his support for Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
2. Iran launches war games as it continues to defy the world - ICEJ News
Relations fraying with Russia amid internal opposition
Iran's Air Force announced on Monday that it will conduct a weeklong exercise starting on July 31. "Forty-three planes will participate in the maneuvers," said deputy head of the air force Gen. Mohammad Alavi, adding that Iranian manufactured drone aircraft and missiles would also be tested. The war games come even as Iran faces growing international pressure to abandon its renegade nuclear program and the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad faces growing domestic opposition.
3. Relations between Israel and the US Administration improving - ICEJ News
Barak in Washington for important talks
The AP released an internal Palestinian Authority document on Monday which indicated that the Obama Administration has warned the PA that they must move quickly to direct talks with Israel or risk losing the support of the US in setting up a Palestinian State. Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak was in Washington over the weekend for a series of intense meetings with Obama Administration officials on a variety of topics including Iran, negotiations with the Palestinians, defense cooperation and other issues.
4. First Female Arab Soldier proud to serve in IDF - ICEJ News
Cpl. Elinor Joseph recently became the first Arab female combat soldier in the IDF, serving in the Karakal Battalion. She is a Christian Arab from Haifa, the daughter of an IDF Paratrooper who did not think she would ever enlist. "I wanted to go abroad to study medicine and never come back," she said. "I was scared to lose my friends because they objected to it. They told me they wouldn't speak to me. I was left alone." But despite opposition from her friends she joined. "I understood that it was most important to defend my friends, family, and country. I was born here. There was a Katyusha [rocket] that fell near my house and also hurt Arabs. If someone would tell me that serving in the IDF means killing Arabs, I remind them that Arabs also kill Arabs. I know I am part of the Jewish state's army and therefore when we speak about that I listen and learn. I got used to it and I respect it, although I do not delve too much into the country's identity - I have my own identity and I will respect that of the country. At the end of the day, this will always be my home too."
The Daily Jot
The Two-Edged Sword And Its Prophetic Work
A week after the Washington Post released to the public names of contractors with top secret clearances, another deliberate release to the news media on classified information was perpetrated by WikiLeaks--a whistleblower website, which according to the White House "opposes US policy in Afghanistan." These two releases are a double edged sword that underscore possible prophetic directions for America. On one hand, this information as revealed could very well assist America's enemies. On the other hand, this information reveals how this White House is mishandling the complicated affairs of national security. Notwithstanding, the prophetic destiny of America may be determined by the action of its citizens.
With the death toll of American troops rising significantly since the last presidential election, Americans are starting to question wartime policies. Obama has overseen an "about face" policy toward Islam, the worldwide purveyor of terrorism, slavery, and human rights violations hiding behind a shroud of religion. He has said that America is no longer a Christian nation. He has made it policy that no longer can the military refer to the war on terrorism or use radical Islam in connection with the word terrorism. He has torpedoed relations with Israel to show the Muslim world that he means business. All the while, deaths of US servicemen in Afghanistan continue to escalate.
Enter the anti-war mainstream media crowd exposing documents and constructing scenarios that indicate this Administration's confusion in prosecuting a war with no clear objectives. American GIs are not allowed to fire on Afghanis unless they can positively identify where the bullets of the enemy are coming from. This policy of restrained engagement combined with the desire to appease Islam is recipe for unmitigated disaster in a very real war time situation. The Administration is playing politics with American lives in harm's way. The Administration has blamed the WikiLeaks reports on the previous Bush Administration, then discredits WikiLeaks as opposing US policy in Afghanistan. Which is it?
The time to blame the previous Administration, while in truth made many mistakes, is over. This president has had 18 months to establish his policies. He has done so with the iron fist of one-party rule. If there were any president that has remade America, this one has, including degrading our sons and daughters in the military. Hebrews 4:12 depicts the truth, the word of God, as "quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit..." It is the time for the Word of God to pierce the soul and spirit of this nation, dividing asunder the evil schemes of evildoers. Repentance is a difficult possession to surrender, but better to surrender our pride than our nation.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
S.O.S - Stop Obama's Spending!
That is the urgent message from the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) latest economic forecast, released yesterday. It comes on the heels of the Obama's updated estimate of the current fiscal year's budget deficit - $1.47 trillion, another record. According to the Associated Press, "The government is borrowing 41 cents of every dollar it spends."
Faced with such stark numbers, the CBO warned yesterday that deficits of this magnitude will cause our debt to become "unsupportable." In short, America is at risk of becoming like Greece.Far from the "Summer of Recovery" that the administration is portraying, we are in fact on the fast track to bankruptcy.
So how is the majority party in Congress responding to this crisis? The Washington, D.C. newspaper The Hill reports today that House Democrats are again entertaining the idea of raising taxes on the middle class, which would break Obama's oft-repeated promise not to raise taxes on those making less than $250,000 a year. . .
We must address the deficit, but raising taxes is not the answer. By definition, a deficit means you are spending more money than you make, living a lifestyle you can't afford. We can't afford the government we have today, so the first solution ought to be to cut spending. You don't need an advanced degree in economics from an Ivy League institution to comprehend that. Every family that balances its budget at the kitchen table gets it. Even the bean counters at the CBO get it.
While warning of the danger of unsustainable deficits, the CBO report also states, "To the extent that additional tax revenues were generated by increasing marginal tax rates, those rates would discourage work and saving, further reducing output and incomes." In other words, tax hikes will hurt the economy. The problem isn't a lack of revenue. The problem is Obama's spending. (Gary Bauer)
Behind DISCLOSEd Doors
DISCLOSE ACT "Dead" for Now!!
To the surprise of few, the Democrats' DISCLOSE Act failed to proceed in the Senate, falling short of the needed 60 votes. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) knew the effort to influence this year's elections would fail, but brought it up anyway to further appease the liberal base that the Democratic Leadership has been trying to keep in line since they took over Congress four years ago.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who has become an unmatched champion of free speech in the Senate, put it best when he pointed out, "A yes vote on this bill will send a clear message to the American people that their jobs aren't as important as the jobs of embattled Democrat politicians. If the Founding Fathers were here, they'd remind us. They'd hold up the Constitution and remind us of the oath we took to support and defend it."
While Monday night was a victory for those who believe in the First Amendment, there is little doubt that Obama and Sen. Reid will try to bring up the legislation again and again before the November elections in their attempt to silence their opponents. One day they may finally learn--the more they try to shut us up, the louder those of us who believe in democracy will get. (Family Research Council)
PRAYER POINT:
Offer praise for this development, but continue to watch over this bill in prayer throughout the remainder of this year for, indeed, its intent is to SILENCE OUR VOICES in advance of the fall elections. Pray!
SCRIPTURE:
"God answers from His holy heaven and saves with the power of His right hand." (Psalm 20:6)
Judges v. Counselors
Judge Deserves a Doctorate in Indoctrination
Yesterday we wrote about a lawsuit filed against Georgia's Augusta State University by a counseling student, who was told she must submit to a program of indoctrination to change her disapproval of homosexual conduct. The piece was written before we received word that a decision had been handed down in a similar case in Michigan, Ward v. Wilbanks, about a student who was dismissed from the counseling program at Eastern Michigan University for attempting to refer a homosexual client to another counselor because she could not affirm the client's homosexual behavior.
The record clearly showed that such referrals based on "value conflicts" are a legitimate part of counseling practice. Yet U.S. District Court Judge George Carem Steeh ruled that the blatant violation of Julea Ward's freedom of speech and of religion constituted "an integral part of the curriculum." Alliance Defense Fund has announced their intention to appeal this misguided ruling. (Family Research Council)
Focus on Kenya
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton remains focused on the administration's promise to promote abortion around the world. In Kenya, abortion is eschewed in popular culture. But that has not stopped the Obama administration from working to insure that abortion is enshrined in the proposed new constitution as a human right. Like Roe v. Wade, it guarantees that abortion will be legal in Kenya at every stage for any reason. Despite the U.S. government's deficit spending and record debt in the midst of recession, the Obama administration has allotted $24 million to promote passage of the pro-abortion Kenyan constitution. Polls show Kenyans, desperate for a new legal framework, are likely to vote for ratification. Leaders from more than 180 pro-life groups and over 20 nations, including FRC, have petitioned the Kenyan people to vote "no." U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) is calling for an investigation to determined whether the administration has violated federal laws that prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to lobby for abortion overseas.
- May Americans grieve over our ungodly international policies. May the Kenyan people do right, despite us! May Americans support pro-life incumbents and candidates in November who will act to exchange our evil policies for good ones
- "My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.. . " (Proverbs 1:10)
Terror Suspect Jailed
Judge orders Fairfax terror suspect to remain in jail until his trial
A Fairfax man accused of trying to join an al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group in Somalia poses a danger to the community and his family and will remain in jail until trial, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis ordered Monday. Zachary A. Chesser, 20, dressed in a green prison jumpsuit for a half-hour hearing, argued through his attorney, Michael Nachmanoff, that he had no criminal history, had met with FBI agents at least four times since May 2009, had given up his U.S. passport and was no more a threat to flee than after those meetings. But Davis ruled that did not justify his release given the seriousness of the charge against him: providing material support to a U.S.-designated terrorist group, al-Shabab, a violent Islamist insurgency seeking to topple Somalia's fragile United Nations-supported government. (Washington Post) Read more
The Good News Corner
Pro-Family Outcry Thwarts South Bend City Council's Discriminatory Nondiscrimination Act
Local residents are credited with influencing a South Bend, Ind. city council to table an ordinance Monday night, which would have added so-called nondiscrimination policies based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The South Bend Tribune reported, "After a two-hour public hearing before a standing-room-only crowd, the city's Common Council voted Monday night to table indefinitely a proposed ordinance extending employment discrimination protection to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. Council member Oliver Davis, one of the measure's three sponsors, sought the continuance when it became clear that he lacked the five votes needed for a majority on the nine-member council.
The key holdout was council member Karen White, D-at large, who said the proposal's language was too vague to win her support."
This is the fourth attempt by gay and transgender activists to create special rights.
Patrick Mangan, executive director of Citizens for Community Values of Indiana, said the advancement of homosexual rights is a zero-sum game -- there's one winner and one loser.
"You can't add in behavior-based practices (to the city's Human Rights ordinance), said Mangan, "without undermining (employers') constitutional rights to freedom of assembly, freedom of religion and freedom of expression." (CitizenLink)
Worship with Us Today!
HOSANNA!! - Hillsong United
Yes, Lord!!
"Hosanna in the Highest!"
