In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 9, 2010
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people. . . to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (Luke 1: 67,74,75)
SPECIAL NOTE:
Due to a number of technical difficulties, an abbreviated edition the Daily Brief will be published this week. We should return to our full format next week. Thank you!
The Daily Brief
1. U.S., Russia to Swap Agents to End Crisis - Wall Street Journal
Russia deported three former KGB officers and a nuclear scientist accused of betrayal, exchanging them Friday in Vienna for 10 agents arrested in the U.S. and completing a whirlwind spy swap that was one of the largest since the Cold War.
By agreeing to the swap just 12 days after those arrests, both sides avoided a series of drawn-out U.S. spy trials that would have strained an improving relationship that the two countries' presidents are eager to maintain. Read more.
- Pray in the Spirit over this report, for the Lord knows all the details about this unusual case. Take the time this weekend to read the full report, and pray over every name that is mentioned, asking the Lord to bring each man or woman to the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray!
- "Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished." (Matt. 27:15)
2. Greenspan Says Economy May Be Undergoing a 'Pause' - Bloomberg
Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan said the U.S. economy may be undergoing what he called a "pause," and that he can't rule out the possibility of a so- called double-dip recession.
a U.S.marks 3rd-largest, single-day debt increase - Washington Times
The nation's debt leapt $166 billion in a single day last week, the third-largest increase in U.S. history, and it comes at a time when Congress is balking over higher spending and debt has become a key policy battleground.
- As men stand in confusion, the Word of God is clear and true: that which we sow, we will reap. Stand in repentance for our greedy ways as a nation, and ask the Lord, in His mercy, to reveal common sense to those in authority. Let us also examine our own hearts, that our own homes also be in order; God's grace is sufficient to meet our needs.
- When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away. A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain. ( Is. 57:13)
3 Transferring oil from broken well an option for BP - AP
The first of two relief wells being drilled to stop the Gulf oil gusher could be done by the end of the month, BP officials say, but if that doesn't succeed, one backup being considered is transferring the crude to non-producing underwater wells that are miles away.
BP would run the flow through pipelines across the floor of the Gulf of Mexico, said retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the Obama administration's point man on the crisis. "That would take some construction and some time. It would probably move us into the late August time frame," Allen said. Read more
- Pray for the success of this new angle in this ongoing crisis and project. Men have been humbled already in their desire to "cap" this well; may they continue to seek the One who is Lord of heaven and earth for wisdom and strategies until this critical situation is resolved. Pray!
- Who are you O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And shall bring forth the capstone, With shouts of Grace, grace to it! (Zech 4:7)
4. U.S. Plans Cyber Shield for Utilities, Companies - Wall Street Journal
The federal government is launching an expansive program dubbed "Perfect Citizen" to detect cyber assaults on private companies and government agencies running such critical infrastructure as the electricity grid and nuclear-power plants, according to people familiar with the program.
- Lord we pray that this "cyber shield" planned by the Federal government be used to protect the energy grids, and not widened to a hidden agenda or governmental abuse of power. We place our trust in You, Lord, over anything planned by men!
- "But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil." (Proverbs 1:33)
5. Landmark ruling would force U.S. to recognize 'gay marriage' - Baptist Press
In a landmark decision that could force the federal government to recognize "gay marriage," a U.S. district judge Thursday overturned part of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that the government cannot constitutionally distinguish between traditional marriage and same-sex "marriage."
a. Presbyterians split on gay-friendly measures - AP
Presbyterian leaders split Thursday on two gay-friendly measures, voting to allow non-celibate gays in committed relationships to serve as clergy but deciding not to redefine marriage in their church constitution to include same-sex couples -- at least for now.
- Once again, men are standing in confusion, but the Word of God is clear and true: homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord.. Stand in repentance for our wicked ways as a nation. Ask the Lord, in His mercy, to reveal common sense to those in authority, in both the church and in our civil government. Pray!
- Therefore you shall keep My ordinance, so that you do not commit any of these abominate customs which were committed before you, and that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am the Lord your God. (Lev. 18:30)
6. Pastor Yanked From North Carolina Capitol Over 'Jesus' Prayer - Fox News
A North Carolina pastor was relieved of his duties as an honorary chaplain of the state house of representatives after he closed a prayer by invoking the name of Jesus. "I got fired," said Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem. He had been invited to lead prayer for an entire week but his tenure was cut short when he refused to remove the name Jesus from his invocation. Read more.
- Pray that the governing authorities would reconsider this decision; and that God would move upon their hearts as He rules and overrules that which has been done.
- Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. (2 Thess 3 v 1, 2)
7. Day of Prayer law reflects Framers' intent, groups say - Baptist Press
A coalition of legal and pro-family groups asked the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals July 7 to reverse a lower court ruling and declare the National Day of Prayer constitutional, asserting that the district court's decision amounted to "an act of hostility to religion."
- Ask the Lord to move upon the hearts of the judges in this case, that they might show favor to those who support the National Day of Prayer. Praise God for the many years of faithful service rendered for our nation and unto the Lord by the dedicated staff members and volunteers who have made the National Day of Prayer a reality in all 50 states. Thank Him that their work will be rewarded. Pray!
- "When a man's ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him." (Prov. 16:7) "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (2 Chronicles 15:7)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it." (Neh. 2:20)
1. Netanyahu: Peace plan possible by end of '11 - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Council of Foreign Relations in New York on Thursday that all core issues could be discussed in direct negotiations, and that if it were up to him, a peace deal with the Palestinians could be signed by the end of 2011.
2. High threat-level for Israelis abroad - Jerusalem Post
The National Security Council's Counter-Terrorism Bureau issued a general advisory Thursday calling on all Israelis traveling abroad to increase alertness, citing a "concrete, high risk" of terrorist attacks.
3. Obama: Israel won't attack Iran without coordinating with U.S. - Ha'aretz
U.S. President Barack Obama told Channel 2 News on Wednesday that he believed Israel would not try to surprise the U.S. with a unilateral attack on Iran.
The Daily Jot
Radical Communist appointed by White House; Government becoming God?
In November 2008, Americans had bought into the campaign of "change." Americans wanted change. Americans embraced change. And the man who occupies the Oval Office has brought exactly what he promised. He promised to "remake" America. He promised change. What Americans, like sheep to the slaughter, didn't quite understand was that change was code for communism. And now, the United States of America is well on the road to becoming the United Socialist States of North America. And it is the because the man they elected president along with the men and women who Americans put in Congress have blindsided their constituents with an unexpected and radical brand of change.
Recently, the president appointed Dr. Donald Berwick as director of Medicare and Medicaid. Berwick is in action and deed, a communist. The White House knew that Berwick had only a slim chance of Senate approval, so his appointment was made during the Senatorial recess, without the consent of the Senate. Berwick is a communist not because he has admitted so directly. He is a communist because of his very public and radical beliefs. CNSNews.com provided White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs with video evidence, and asked Gibbs on two occasions whether the president agreed with Berwick. Gibbs sidestepped the question in his "jocular" statements.
In the video provided by CNSNews, Berwick said in a July 1, 2008 speech to honor Britain's socialist healthcare system, "You could have had a monstrous insurance industry of claims and rules and paper-pushing instead of using your tax base to provide a single route of finance. You could have protected the wealthy and the well, instead of recognizing that sick people tend to be poorer and that poor people tend to be sicker. And that any health care funding plan that is just, equitable, civilized and humane must-must--redistribute wealth from the richer among us to the poorer and the less fortunate. Excellent health care is by definition redistributional. Britain, you chose well."
The question CNSNews posed to Gibbs was does the president agree with Berwick that "excellent healthcare is by definition redistributional"? Gibbs refused to answer. But the answer is obvious. If the president didn't agree with Berwick, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble to appoint Berwick during a Senatorial recess. Berwick is an example of the communist and socialist radicals that hold top level positions in the American government that are poised to rob this nation and its citizens of their hard-earned money. Communism and socialism are forms of humanism, which replaces God with the human. The First Commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Will you tolerate government as God?
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
