In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• House Reconvenes Tomorrow
• Prayer Alert: Ramadan
• Biblical Guidelines in an Election
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Monday, August 9, 2010
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:24)
The Daily Brief
1. Gates to Cut Major Military Command in Virginia - AP
Officials briefed on the decision say Defense Secretary Robert Gates plans to eliminate a major military command in Norfolk, Va., and try to cut the Pentagon's use of outside contractors by 10 percent next year.
The plan was to be announced at a Pentagon press conference on Monday. It is part of a broader effort to trim $100 billion from the military's mammoth budget in the next five years, as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan begin to wind down and Congress turns its attention more to domestic priorities.
The Associated Press has learned that Joint Forces Command will be eliminated and its role absorbed elsewhere within the Defense Department. Gates has long said the Pentagon needs to reduce waste and duplication.
- Lord we place our military might in Your Hands as our government changes its operations. Norfolk, Virginia has been a necessary and integral part of American defense for decades. We ask for Your help for those families in Norfolk that will be affected by this decision, and for our nation's military to not lose any effectiveness in operation.
- "Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, but we will remember that Name of our God." (Psalm 20:7)
2. Obama Lauds Passage of Kenyan Constitution As Critics Slam Its Abortion Rights Stand - Fox News
Obama on Thursday praised the passage of Kenya's new constitution, which was approved by an overwhelming majority amid claims that the United States improperly meddled in promoting passage of the document, which contains controversial abortion language. Read more.
- Lord we continue to stand appalled as we hear of our taxpayer money going to bribe people in Kenya to vote for this constitution. We are saddened and grieved, and ask for Your mercy. We cry out to You, oh God, and ask that somehow to protect the unborn of Kenya, and the churches from the hidden Sharia components of the law.
- "He sits in the lurking places of the villages; in the secret places he murders the innocent; his eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless." (Psalm 10:8)
3. As oil-spill cleanup shifts gears, gulf residents fear they'll be forgotten - Washington Post
Obama administration officials promise to remain focused on the Gulf Coast -- punishing BP for the worst oil spill in U.S. history, and cleaning up what remains of the mess. But along that coast, such pledges have not stopped the rumors and suspicions that have multiplied as the oil's sheen has faded.
- Lord, as the government has sought to keep the people of the Gulf Coast prisoners of their handouts, we ask that You infuse the people with creativity, ingenuity, and hope. We pray for Your provision rather than the provision of men, and a rapid restoration of all industries including fishing and seafood.
- "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1b,c)
4. Gov Schwarzeneggar wants Gay Marriages to Resume Now - Fox News
California's governor, who twice vetoed legislation that would have legalized same-sex marriage, surprises gay rights supporters by urging a federal judge to allow gay couples to resume marrying without delay.
- Lord we pray for Your Holy Spirit to visit the Governor of California. We bind the deception that has gripped the state and its leadership both at home and in Washington. We pray for a day of visitation to all those who do not know You!
- "In disquieting thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake." (Job 4:13-14)
5. Sen. DeMint: Ratifying U.N. Children's Rights Treaty Would Turn Parental Rights 'Over to International Community' - CNSNews
Sen. Jim DeMint (R- S.C.) said that if President Barack Obama gets his way and the Senate ratifies the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the precedent would be set to place parental rights under the jurisdiction of the international community.
"We believe we need to take clear action here in Congress to protect the rights of parents to raise their children," DeMint said at a Wednesday panel discussion. "This treaty would, in fact, establish a precedent that those rights have been given over to the international community."
- Thank you Lord for Senator DeMint's bill to stop ratification of this treaty. We pray that You will pass his bill and stop the treaty from ratification, and protect the rights of parents to raise their children according to Biblical standards.
- "He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, and will break in pieces the oppressor." (Psalm 62:4)
6. Plans to Build Massive Islamic Centers Raise Concerns in Tennessee - Fox News
At the end of the first Iraq war, the United States designated Nashville, Tenn., to be a "gateway city" for refugees fleeing their war-torn country, setting the stage for what has become, less than 20 years later, a rapidly growing Muslim population in the Volunteer State.
As the Muslim population grows and their communities spread throughout the state, religious leaders say their places of worship must do the same, spurring the construction of mosques and the massive Islamic centers that host them in several Tennessee cities, including Murfreesboro, Memphis and Antioch.
- Lord we ask that all high places to false gods and dangerous political systems be removed from American soil or prevented from construction. Thank you that many Americans are beginning to protest these mosques, and we ask that You begin to stop the building of such monuments to Islamic domination. May the utility company which owns half of the ground zero property not succumb to political pressure to sell it.
- "Then the Lord awoke as one out of sleep, and like a mighty man who shout because of wine. And He beat back His enemies; He put them to a perpetual reproach." (Psalm 78:65)
7. 85 Days to Decide - Dems Roll Dice with Education Aid Vote - Fox News
House Democrats are rolling the dice this week by returning from a recess that had barely begun to pass a $26 billion teacher jobs bill -- at a time when calls for fiscal restraint are dominating the campaign landscape.
- Lord as yet another large spending passage comes before the House, we pray for some way for You to intervene. We see that the purpose of these bills is to cause total state dependence upon the Federal government. We ask that the people of America rise up and say NO to the government's spending.
- "Our inheritance has been turned over to aliens, and our houses to foreigners. We have become orphans and waifs, our mothers are like widows. We pay for the water we drink and our wood comes at a price. They pursue ad our heels; we labor and have no rest." (Lamentations 5:2-5)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
""No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of LORD, and their righteousness is of Me," says LORD." (Isaiah 54:17)
1. Netanyahu slams 'Hamastan,' Iran to Turkel Committee - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, appearing Monday before the Turkel committee probing the flotilla incident of May 31, went on the offensive and said that in order to deal with the flotilla incident as a whole, it was necessary to clarify the government's policy toward Hamas.
2. Suleiman vows better weapons - Jerusalem Post
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman vowed to provide the Lebanese Armed Forces with "more advanced equipment" in order to "protect the dignity of the nation" against "Israeli aggression."
3. Israeli Army projects 'extensive use of tunnels' in any future war with Hamas, Hizbullah - World Tribune
Israel's military has been preparing its troops for a tunnel war in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
4. Obama OKs first new military request from Israel - World Tribune
Obama has approved the first Israeli military request made under his administration.
5. KINNERET 22 CENTIMETERS BELOW RED LINE - Jerusalem-on-Line
The Water Authority reported this week the surface of the Sea of Galilee went down at the beginning of August to 213.22 meters below sea level, 22 centimeters below the red line. Some groundwater aquifers are above last year's levels, some are below. The Dead Sea's surface dropped 15 cm in July. (INN)
- Pray now for abundant rains in Israel this coming fall and winter.
- "Ask the Lord for rain in the springtime; it is the Lord who makes the storm clouds. He gives showers of rain to men, and plants of the field to everyone." (Zech 10:1)
The Daily Jot
Prophetic America: the coming persecution
Ten members of an International Assistance Mission, a Christian organization that has provided medical care to remote parts of Afghanistan on short term missions for 44 years, were summarily executed by the Taliban while returning to Kabul. Six of the group were Americans. Because they were medical personnel doing charity work, they had no security, no weapons, no armed guards. In claiming responsibility for the executions, a Taliban spokesman told The Associated Press that they killed the missionaries because they were "spying for the Americans" and "preaching Christianity." A spokesman for the mission, however, said his organization is Christian, but does not proselytize.
This tragedy underscores the prophetic persecution that is coming to America. So long as Americans count Islam as a religion rather than the totalitarian political system it is, Islamic colonization of the United States will continue to advance rapidly. In its wake will be persecution beyond anything any American has ever experienced. The federal government refuses to secure the boarder with Mexico, allowing thousands of undocumented Islamic colonists each year.
Christian denominations embrace Islam through "inter-faith dialogue." And many Americans just fail to see the danger of Islamic encroachment on American society. But persecution is coming.
Politicians and the public alike refuse to recognize that Islam is not a religion and that it should not fall under First Amendment protection. The Founding Fathers knew the First Commandment to have no other gods. Religious freedom meant the ability to worship God freely without government interference. Islam's holy book, the Koran, instructs Muslims to kill infidels, unbelievers, Jews and Christians. This alone is the doctrine of the political system of Islam. It is an enemy to any nation. Its antithesis to God's people was prophesied in Genesis 16:12 when an angel of the Lord said that Ishmael "will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him."
Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes unto the Father, but by me." This is the central doctrine of Christianity. Anything else is a false religion, no matter how nice your Muslim neighbor is. And a false religion is of satan. Jesus warned of satan's wiles in John 10:10, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." And that is exactly what the Koran instructs its followers to do to anyone who is not Muslim. Jesus also warned Christians in John 15:20, "If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you." Persecution is coming. It will be swift and brutal as it was for the brave martyrs in Afghanistan. It will be even swifter, if God's people continue to embrace Islam in this nation.
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
House Reconvenes Tomorrow
Democrats are Reconvening Congress for a $26 Billion "Fix" to Their Spending Addiction
By: Congressman Jeff Miler; 1st District; Florida
Five days. That is all it took for the Democrats to call on the House of Representatives to reconvene for a special recess session. For what? It must be due to some national security issue, right? Wrong. Then it probably relates to enabling a federal response to some natural disaster that requires Congressional approval, correct? Wrong again. The Democrats who control the House have called my colleagues and me back into session in order to spend more of your money. We cannot go one week without the Democrats trying to add billions more to our escalating debt.
On Tuesday August 10, it appears that we will vote on a $26.1 billion dollar package which the Congressional Budget Office estimates will add $12.6 billion to the deficit. Add this to the stimulus package, bank bailouts, and automobile manufacturer takeovers and the runaway spending continues without pause. In fact, this year's deficit is already $1.2 trillion, getting dangerously close to last year's record $1.4 trillion. During the last two years, the US debt has grown more than it did during the eight years of the Bush Administration.
This $26.1 billion dollar package contains $10 billion that the Democrats have labeled as "teacher jobs" spending. The intent of these dollars is to provide bailout funds to states with shortfalls in their education budgets. Don't forget that the stimulus bill that passed last year already provided$53.6 billion dollars to fill education gaps. It was also labeled as a "one-time appropriation" which was needed to ensure that jobs were not lost and the unemployment rate not rise. Those appear to be untruths. This legislation will add more money to the nearly one trillion dollars which has already been spent by Democrats to add new jobs and prevent the unemployment rate from rising. As we know, job losses continue to increase and our unemployment rate is hovering near 10 percent.
So how are the Democrats proposing to pay for this bill? One way is through tax increases. $9.7 billion in permanent tax increases will be levied by changing the rules on foreign tax credits used by American companies. As a result, American multinational companies will face increased costs which may ultimately put more American jobs at risk and create a disadvantage to them in the global marketplace. Another more detrimental method for finding the money to pay for this legislation is through cuts in military funding. The bill will rescind nearly $3 billion dollars in Department of Defense and military construction funding. Ultimately, many of these cuts will potentially affect our national security and possibly the economy of Northwest Florida.
Lastly, think about the cost to the American taxpayer of getting every Member of Congress and necessary staff back to the Capitol for one day. Members are all over the Country and throughout the world. The cost to return them to Washington, DC is no less than hundreds of thousands of dollars. But, neither you nor I should be surprised. Spending money is something these Democrats have perfected. Regrettably, it seems more like an addiction which cannot be cured and Wednesday's bill is just a $26.1 billion dollar "fix" to this insatiable craving.
PRAYER POINT:
- Lord we take authority over the spirit of mammon which is running our leadership. We bind it tightly by the authority and Blood of Jesus. We ask that You intervene to wake up those who are blindly following this demonic force and show them the end of such lack of wisdom, and ask for mercy over America!
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)
Prayer Alert: Ramadan
Muslims throughout the world will celebrate Ramadan from 11 August through 9 September 2010. They will fast during daylight hours in an effort to break bad habits and seek forgiveness of sins.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is observed by Muslims the world over with dawn to dusk fasting. This provides them with an opportunity to practice one of the "obligations" (also known as the "five pillars") of their religion - soum or fasting.
Muslims fast during Ramadan because they believe this is the time of year in which the founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad, received "recitations" from the angel Gabriel. These were later compiled to form the Qur'an.
The most important night of Ramadan - and of the entire year - is called Laylatul Qadr (September 5, 2010). Also known as the "night of power," it is described in the Qur'an as being "better than a thousand months" (97:3). "Any action done on this night," writes one Islamic scholar, "such as reciting the Qur'an, remember Allah, etc. is better than acting for one thousand months which do not contain the night of Qadr."
During Ramadan, especially on the night of power, Muslims "ask forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils, and try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds." Many are desperately and genuinely seeking to be cleansed from their transgressions and find favor with God.
Since 1992, Christians all over the world have been setting aside the thirty days of Ramadan to pray specifically for Muslims. For intercessors, this month-long celebration is a chance to see precious souls set free from the bondage of Islam and introduced to the Savior of all mankind: Jesus Christ.
PRAYER REQUESTS DURING RAMADAN
PRAY FOR:
• the Lord to give Muslims everywhere a hunger to know Him. Pray for them to become dissatisfied with the rituals and obligations of Islam and long to have relationship with the true and living God. (The Bible, Jeremiah 29:13)
• the time of fasting and focusing on spiritual issues to become a window of opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak to Muslims, revealing the salvation available only in Jesus Christ. (The Bible, Ephesians 1:17,18)
• Laylatul Qadr (the night of power) to be a night in which the Lord arises and works mightily to show forth His glory and set free those held captive by Islam. Pray for Muslims to have dreams and visions of the risen Savior. (The Bible, Isaiah 42:6,7)
• godly sorrow and the need to be forgiven from sin to lead Muslims to repentance and salvation in Christ. (The Bible, II Corinthians 7:10)
• the veil to be removed from the eyes of those who are in bondage to Islam. Ask the Lord to enable them to see the light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ. (The Bible, II Corinthians 4:4)
• a great and unprecedented harvest of souls of Muslims worldwide. (The Bible, John 4:35)
• the Kingdom of God to come to North Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia - all of the 10/40 Window in power and great glory. (The Bible, I Corinthians 4:20)
Sources: 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, "A Muslim's Heart" (Hoskins, 2003), "The Compact Guide to World Religions" (Halverson, 1996), SoundVision.com, wikipedia
[Posted by: WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK]
To learn more about the WIN Prayer Network, go here.
Biblical Guidelines in an Election
Part One: Introduction
The Bible provides clear guidance as to the kind of leaders that God expects His people to appoint, vote for or otherwise represent them.
This advice is found in Exodus chapter 18 as Moses father-in-law, Jethro, gave to Moses advice on how to select leaders to represent the people of Israel. We find in Exodus chapter 18 what Jethro advised Moses to do:
Exodus 18:19-23
Now listen to me: I will give you counsel, and God be with you. You be the people's representative before God, and you bring the disputes to God, then teach them the statutes and the laws, and make known to them the way in which they are to walk and the work they are to do.
Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth,
those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
Let them judge the people at all times; and let it be that every major dispute they will bring to you, but every minor dispute they themselves will judge. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure, and all these people also will go to their place in peace . . .
Tomorrow:
Part Two:
The four qualities to be looked for when choosing a man for office
The Good News Corner
Charges Dismissed Against Illinois Grad Student for Praying Outside Abortion Clinic
Charges were dropped last week against Joseph Holland, a Northwestern University graduate student, who had been arrested last month for praying on a public sidewalk outside a Chicago Planned Parenthood clinic.
Holland had been the first person arrested under city's new "bubble zone" ordinance, which prohibits "approaching within eight feet of a person without consent "for the purpose of passing a leaflet or handbill to, displaying a sign to, or engaging in oral protest, education, or counseling."
"We are pleased that the City of Chicago has dismissed these false and baseless charges against Joe Holland," said Peter Breen, Thomas More Society executive director and legal counsel. "The First Amendment protects prayer on a public sidewalk in Chicago the same as in any other city in the country. We hope that the city will cease the suppression of pro-life speech under the 'bubble zone' ordinance and dismiss the lone remaining case, brought against David Avignone, who was arrested a few days after Joe." (CitizenLink)
Worship with Us Today!
"The Name of Jesus"
By Aaron Shust
The Name that is Above All Names . .
