In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Public-Private Pay Gap
• An Administrative Amnesty?
• Iran's "Ambassador of Death"
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, August 31, 2010
"As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool." (Daniel 7:9)
The Daily Brief
1. Obama Wants Change to Allow Thousands of Illegals to Stay in US - Reuters
A shake-up in immigration policy may lead to deportation proceedings being dropped for thousands of aliens who entered the United States illegally but are applying to stay in the country, officials said on Friday.
They said the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) seeks to end deportation proceedings against detained illegal immigrants who have applications pending to become legal U.S. residents, if agents determine they have no criminal history and do not present a security threat.
- Lord we ask for wisdom and a grasp of their responsibility for security on the part of the administration with regard to illegal immigration. While we know that Your heart is for mercy, it is also true that rewarding illegal actions creates more illegal behavior.
- "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them." (Ezekiel 38:7)
2. Beck Rally Signals Election Trouble for Democrats - AP
If Democrats had doubts about the voter unrest that threatens to rob them of their majority in Congress, they needed only look from the Capitol this weekend to the opposite end of the National Mall. It's where Ken Ratliff joined tens of thousands of other anti-government activists at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial for conservative commentator Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally.
- Lord as the general feelings of the US grow more volatile against the government, these grass roots movements will increase. We thank You for the peace that descended upon our city during this rally, and we humbly ask You to further guard our hearts against anger. Let us not stand on the bandwagons of the moment, but upon Your truth and wisdom. Let us be unified against our common problems by Your Holy Spirit rather than our emotions. We call forth Your Spirit over America to draw us into Your perfect will!
- "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
3. Five Years After Katrina, Obama's Drilling Ban Biggest Threat to Gulf Recovery - NewsMax
Five years after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, both Republican and Democrat officials in Louisiana agree that the Obama administration's moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is now that state's biggest problem. In fact, it was the biggest concern voiced to President Obama Sunday during his speech marking the fifth anniversary of the disaster.
- Lord it seems as though this administration is bound and determined to destroy jobs rather than create them or save them. We pray that this drilling ban, with reasonable restrictions against oil spills, will be reversed, so that jobs are restored to America.
- "The thief does not come but for to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
4. Mid-Atlantic States Keep Wary Eye on Strengthened Earl - AP
UPDATE: Earl is now a Category 4 Hurricane
Weather warnings take effect as Hurricane Earl pelts Caribbean islands with rain and intense winds, while the National Hurricane Center says it could grow to a dangerous Category 4 storm later this week.
- Lord we take authority over this hurricane and command it to disperse harmlessly out to sea. We call for Your mercy over the land and the people in the path of this hurricane.
- "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
5. Watchdog: Billions Wasted Rebuilding Iraq - Fox News
According to audits from a watchdog agency has been wasted on projects that were abandoned or left incomplete as the U.S. draws down in Iraq, more than $5 billion in American taxpayer funds
- Father this leadership has used taxpayer money as if it were paper towels to throw away. We pray that You would stop these wasteful actions on every front, and cause the wisdom of Your Kingdom to come to our leaders.
- "Remember this, that the enemy has reproached, O Lord, and that a foolish people has blasphemed Your name. Oh, do not deliver the life of Your turtledove to the wild beast! Do not forget the life of Your poor forever." (Psalm 74:18-19)
6. Rev. Slams Those Who Call Obama Muslim - Fox News
Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the president's controversial former pastor, accuses people who wrongly think Obama is Muslim of catering to political enemies during fiery speech in Arkansas
- Father, since this man thinks he is a Christian but is not, so the Obama thinks he is but is not. We ask for a visitation of the Holy Spirit to both Mr. Wright and Barack Hussein Obama. May they be shown what it truly means to be called by Your Name, and walk in Your paths.
- "'Woe to the pastors who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture!' says the Lord." (Jeremiah 23:1)
7. Obama blasts lies, disinformation - Politico
Obama dismissed a recent poll showing that a third of Americans don't know he's a Christian -- and blamed an online campaign of misinformation by his conservative enemies for perpetuating the myth that he's a Muslim.
- Is this not the same man who bowed to the king of Saudi Arabia?
- "By their fruits, ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:16)
8. Indonesian volcano wakes up after 400 years - Jerusalem Post
A volcano in western Indonesia spewed hot lava and sand high into the sky early Sunday in its first eruption in 400 years.
- Pray for safety for all the citizens of Indonesia who are in the path of this volcano. May this act of nature serve as the wake up call that each one needs to be certain of his place in eternity.
- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
9. Russia Will Boost Oil Exports to China With New Pipeline From East Siberia - Bloomberg
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin opened the Russian section of an oil pipeline that will boost oil exports to China from East Siberia.
- As watchmen on the wall, continue to take note of the changing alliances of nations in these end times. In this case, Russia and China seem now to be even more closely allied as they strengthen each other's hand. Pray, too, for the souls of the lost while there is yet time. Pray!
- "The two kings, with their hearts bent on evil, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but to no avail, because an end will still come at the appointed time." (Daniel 11:27)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"As for Me, this is My covenant with them . . . My spirit that is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed's seed," says LORD, "from now and forever." (Isaiah 59:21)
1. U.S.: Direct peace talks to begin on September 2 in Washington - Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington to begin direct peace talks on Sept. 2, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during a press conference on Friday.
2. US wants agreement now, peace later - Ynet News
The Obama administration plans to present Israel and the Palestinian Authority with a new outline aimed at ending the Middle East conflict.
3. Netanyahu: We can reach a peace that will last for generations - Ha'aretz
As he prepared to fly to Washington to renew peace talks with the Palestinians, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel had the chance to secure a stable peace that could endure for generations.
4. Arab League chief: Peace talks will likely be unsuccessful - Ha'aretz
Arab League chief Amr Moussa said on Sunday he had little hope that direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which are due to start on Thursday, will be successful.
5. Netanyahu offers bi-weekly meeting with Abbas - Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened his advisors on Thursday evening for a preparation discussion ahead of the restart of direct peace talks with the Palestinians next week in Washington.
Report: Palestinians reject bid for bi-weekly Netanyahu-Abbas meetings - Ha'aretz
Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to hold a face-to-face meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas every two weeks, Israel Radio reported on Saturday, citing an interview Erekat gave to the BBC in Arabic.
6. Israel ready to destroy Lebanese Army in four hours - Jerusalem Post
The US warned Lebanon that if it did not prevent any recurrence of the border-fire incident that occurred earlier this month, the IDF would destroy the Lebanese Armed Forces within four hours, Israel Radio cited a report by Lebanese newspaper A-Liwaa on Friday.
7. Israel working to thwart Russia arms deal with Syria - Ha'aretz
Netanyahu asks Putin to stop deal involving sale of advanced P-800 Yakhont supersonic cruise missiles; Israel considers this weaponry dangerous to its navy vessels in Mediterranean Sea.
8. Report: Israel planning to attack Hezbollah arms depots in Syria - Ha'aretz
Israel is planning to attack Hezbollah arms depots and weapons manufacturing plants in Syria, the Kuwaiti newspaper Al Rai reported on Saturday.
The Public-Private Pay Gap
Most Americans are angry that at a time when families are having to tighten their budgets, the Obama administration is engaging in "generational theft" -- spending like there's no tomorrow to pay for programs most Americans do not want. And, according to House GOP leader John Boehner (OH), the Obama administration is also responsible for widening the pay gap between public and private workers. At a time when many Americans cannot find work and others have not had a pay raise in years, Boehner said in a speech earlier this week, "We've seen not just more government jobs, but better-paying ones too."
Boehner and other House and Senate Republicans have proposed legislation to freeze the salaries of the country's two million federal employees. But -- and this won't surprise you -- congressional Democrats have voted down each piece of legislation. Boehner continued:
"Federal employees now make on average more than double what private sector workers take in. More appalling is the fact that this gap more than doubled in President Obama's first year in office -- during a time when millions of private sector workers either lost their jobs or agreed to take pay cuts just to keep the one they have." (Gary Bauer)
An Administrative Amnesty?
In recent weeks, there have been several reports on immigration that strongly suggest the Obama Administration is acting on its own to achieve a "de facto" amnesty.
Several weeks ago, eight U.S. senators wrote to Obama warning against unilateral administrative decisions regarding immigration after learning of a Department of Homeland Security memo that outlined a plan for the widespread use of "deferred action." As in any legal proceeding, the government has a lot of leeway, and deferred action gives immigration authorities the chance to consider the unique circumstances of any illegal alien on a case-by-case basis.
The administration was quick to insist the "deferred action" memo had been dismissed. But consider this report from today's Houston Chronicle:
"The Department of Homeland Security is systematically reviewing thousands of pending immigration cases and moving to dismiss those filed against suspected illegal immigrants who have no serious criminal records, according to several sources familiar with the efforts. Culling the immigration court system . . . has stunned local immigration attorneys, who have reported coming to court anticipating clients' deportations only to learn that the government was dismissing their cases. . . Raed Gonzalez, an immigration attorney who was briefed on the effort by Homeland Security's deputy chief counsel in Houston, said DHS confirmed that it's reviewing cases nationwide.
"Gonzalez said he went into immigration court downtown on Monday and was given a court date in October 2011 for one client. But, he said, the government's attorney requested the dismissal of that case and those of two more of his clients, and the cases were dispatched by the judge. The court 'was terminating all of the cases that came up,' Gonzalez said. 'It was absolutely fantastic.' 'We're all calling each other saying, 'Can you believe this?' said John Nechman, another Houston immigration attorney, who had two cases dismissed."
This is happening not just in Houston, but as the article notes, the Department of Homeland Security is "reviewing cases nationwide."
I feel it is important to state that I support legal immigration. Ronald Reagan was in favor of it too. We should welcome those good folks who want to become Americans. But the American people are outraged that our government has ignored illegal immigration for so long. They are rightly concerned about our porous borders and the national security threat they represent. And here, too, Washington has failed miserably, as this report from CNSNews.com shows.
In fact, it has failed so miserably that the men and women charged with enforcing our immigration laws unanimously passed a resolution of "no confidence" in the leadership of Obama's appointees at the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency. (Gary Bauer)
Iran's "Ambassador of Death"
Iran's Newest Drone Dubbed "Ambassador of Death"
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has unveiled a new 12-foot long flying bomb calling it an "ambassador of death." The first domestically-manufactured, long-range unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is capable of flying over 1,000 kilometers [621 miles].
Officially named Karrar or Striker, the jet-propelled UAV is a virtual cruise missile capable of traveling at about 900 kilometers [560 miles] an hour and delivering guided bombs against ground targets. Should it reduce its bomb payload, experts believe it could stretch its range to reach Israel.
"The jet, as well as being an ambassador of death for the enemies of humanity, has a main message of peace and friendship," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying at the inauguration ceremony.
(Excerpts of an article by The Media Line August 23, 2010)
Prayer Focus:
Pray that Iran will cease its violent pursuits and hatred towards Israel. Pray for God's protection over Israel and His people around the world.
Scripture:
"But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my God." My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me." (Psalm 31:14-15)
(Source: Bridges for Peace)
The Good News Corner
Judge halts Administration's tax funded destruction of human life
Embryonic Stem Cell Research Halted . . . for Now . .
In a rare instance, a judge at a US District Court ruled in favor of life. Judge Royce Lamberth granted in Washington, DC a temporary injunction against an Executive Order that illegally expanded a ban on using taxpayer money for embryonic stem cell research. Embryonic stem cell research is illegal if federal money is used to destroy a human embryo. Under President Bush, federally financed research of embryos was limited to 21 cell lines already in existence by 2001. The current president issued an executive order that allowed federal money to be used on hundreds more stem cell lines, so long as donors signed consent forms.
The problem now faced by researchers is that they have eagerly destroyed an unknown number of preborn human embryos--the number could be in the hundreds or thousands--for their so-called research. The White House attempted to bend the meaning of words so that federal tax dollars could be used if technically that part of the funding was not destroying embryos. But the judge ruled that taxpayer money could not be used for any part of the research that resulted in or required the destruction of an embryo--which is the intent of the original law. (This is just one example of how insidious this White House has been with interpreting law.)
The ruling is a temporary halt to the work at dozens of Embryonic destruction facilities that have received millions of taxpayer dollars since the Oval Office edict. Embryonic stem cell research has yielded no intended results over more than a decade. In fact, most of what was thought as breakthroughs eventually yielded terrible results with mutations and harmful, if not deadly, after effects. Adult stem cells, however, have been used to cure scores of health problems, including some forms of cancer. About five years ago, I covered a news conference in Washington, DC where there were some 20 children who were birthed from preserved embryos that could have been destroyed by embryonic stem cell research.
This is a classic battle between good and evil. That government would go against God's law thinking it can destroy human life that human lives may be saved is a deception. Satan has been trying to destroy life on earth since the beginning. From early Biblical edicts of infanticide to today's edict by another ruler that taxpayers should fund destruction of human life--be it abortion or embryonic stem cell research or so-called end of life decisions--is against God's plan for life and the supreme law of America--the Constitution. Jesus said it best in John 10:10, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly."
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
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