In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Prop 8 Ruling on Capitol Hill
• IPT Alert #1
• IPT Alert #2
• IPA Alert #3
• Biblical Guidelines in an Election
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, August 10, 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. URGENT: Ex-Sen. Ted Stevens Killed in Alaska Air Crash - AP
Former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens is killed in a crash involving a single-engine plane carrying nine people that went down in a remote location about 325 miles southwest of Anchorage, Fox News confirms.
Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin called Stevens, who is a World War II veteran, a "warrior" and "an Alaskan hero" who has "dedicated his life to his country." Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski issued a brief statement on the crash Tuesday asking Alaskans to "join me in prayer for all those aboard the aircraft and their families."
Stevens' family also issued a statement: "The Ted Stevens family offers their prayers for all those on board and for their families," the family said. "We thank the brave men and women who are working to reach the site. We continue to work with the Alaska National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and the Alaska State Troopers. We thank everyone for their support and prayers."
The senator served more than 40 years in office and took on a patriarchal role for his state, leveraging his seniority to win large sums of federal funding for Alaska projects. The airport in Anchorage is named after Stevens.
- We join the family of Senator Ted Stevens, Alaska's former governor Sarah Palin, and Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski in praying today for the families of those who have lost loved ones in this crash; and for the safety of those who are working to get to the site. May God be with them all . . .
- "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (Mathew 5:4)
2. U.S. to Sell F-15 Fighter Jets to Saudis - The Wall Street Journal
The Obama administration plans to sell advanced F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia but won't equip them with long-range weapons systems and other arms whose inclusion was strongly opposed by Israel, diplomats and officials said. The proposed $30 billion, 10-year arms package, which would be one of the biggest single deals of its kind, has been a source of behind-the-scenes tension during months of negotiations. Israeli officials have repeatedly conveyed their concerns in private that the U.S. risks undermining its military advantage by equipping regional rivals with top-flight technologies.
U.S. officials say they provided "clarifications" in recent weeks about the deal to help damp Israel's qualms. Two officials close to the negotiations said Israel still had some reservations, but that the country isn't expected to challenge the sale by lobbying Congress, which can hold up the deal or push for assurances of its own. The administration is expected to formally notify Congress of its plans as early as next month.
• Lord, we pray you will remove all who are determined to undermine our military advantage by equipping regional rivals with top-flight technologies. Replace them with people who love this nation and are wise and knowledgeable.
• "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle - My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me." (Psalms 144:1-2)
3. EMP Attack? Americans Left to Protect Themselves - WorldNetDaily
The U.S. Senate has dropped a House-approved plan that would prepare the United States to defend itself from an attack from any electromagnetic pulse source - whether it would be from a natural solar flare or the detonation of a space-located nuclear weapon by enemies intent on destroying America's infrastructure, according to a representative who has raised alarms over EMP.
• Father God, with the new technologies that are being developed in the world, it is becoming a more dangerous place. We pray that You will guard us from wicked people who would endanger our nation. Block them so they will not be able to succeed. Protect us from natural disasters also.
• "The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments." (Psalms 119:61, 62)
4. In Emergency Session, House Takes Up $26 Billion Bill to Help Teachers,
Public Workers - Fox News
Hoping to show disenchanted voters that they are the party that cares about jobs, House Democrats are convening an emergency session to pass a bill aimed at saving hundreds of thousands of teachers and other public workers from unemployment. Spending more on border security commands bipartisan support, but the jobs bill, which narrowly passed the Senate, is being described in starkly different political terms. Democrats say it could save the jobs of more than 300,000 teachers, police officers and other public health workers.
Republicans see it as more profligate government spending and a pre-election gift to teachers' unions and other public service unions that are crucial to helping keep Democrats in the majority.
• Lord, we pray that You will help us block this spending. Remove the culprits who cannot discipline themselves and replace them quickly with wise leaders who are godly and have an understanding of business principles.
• "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it - lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him." (Luke 14:28-29)
5. U.S. Electricity Blackouts Skyrocketing - CNN
During the past two decades, electrical blackouts have increased 124 percent -- up from 41 blackouts between 1991 and 1995, to 92 between 2001 and 2005, according to research at the University of Minnesota. "It's hard to imagine how anyone could believe that -- in the United States -- we should learn to cope with blackouts," said University of Minnesota Professor Massoud Amin, a leading expert on the U.S. electricity grid.
Amin supports construction of a nationwide "smart grid" that would avert blackouts and save billions of dollars in wasted electricity.
• Lord because so much of our security as well as our living depends on a predictable source of energy, we pray that the people in authority will develop a grid system that works. Let them implement plans that will work in an emergency. .
• "The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge." (Proverbs 18:15)
6. Illegal Aliens Give Birth to 60,000 Babies Annually in Texas - NewsMax
At least 60,000 babies ever year are added to the households of an estimated 1.5 million illegal immigrants in Texas alone, according to The Dallas Morning News. The paper suggests that the move by some Republicans to press for changes to the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, preventing automatic citizenship for babies born to illegal immigrants, could have special resonance in Texas.
"They're violating our law, and we're giving their children the benefit of U.S. citizenship," said state Rep. Leo Berman, R-Tyler, whose 2009 bill in the Legislature would have challenged the birthright of immigrant children. That bill died in committee, although Berman has vowed to file another version next year that would prohibit the state from issuing birth certificates to the children of "illegal aliens."
• Lord, we pray that you will remove those who would oppose changing the 14th Amendment. The time for the change is now for the sake of the nation. Discretion and temperance is what our officials need -- not indulgence.
• "Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?" (Proverbs 22:26-27)
7. FIRES RAGING IN MOSCOW
a) Moscow Death Rate Doubles as Many Flee Heat, Smog - AOL News
Moscow's death rate has doubled, a city health official said today, as a nearly unprecedented heat wave and acrid smog from wildfires grip the capital, causing tens of thousands to flee. "On normal days, between 360 and 380 die. Now it's around 700," Moscow's health chief, Andrei Seltsovsky, told the Interfax news agency, according to several media reports. The capital has 1,500 places available in its morgues, and 1,300 of them are now filled, he said, blaming the heat wave and pollutants for the deaths.
b) Radiation, plague, and fires: foreign embassies urgently evacuate staff
from Russia - KavKazCenter.com
Russia battles to defend nuclear sites from fires
Hasty evacuation of diplomatic staff from foreign embassies, like a stampede, began in Moscow. Many embassies are trying to hide the evacuation for political reasons. Mass evacuation of the embassies of Canada and Poland was officially reported at night on August 7.
Western media meanwhile reported that the Canadian embassy in Moscow was closed. Dutch embassy is urgently evacuating its diplomatic staff from Russia.
High level of air pollution, as one of the consequences of forest fires, has become an official ground for evacuating embassy staff and their family members.
Unofficially, they speak about plague in Russia, but first of all, about sharply elevated radioactive background in the city, caused by destruction of atomic bombs in fires at nuclear weapons arsenals outside Moscow. According to unofficial information, warehouses of chemical and bacteriological weapons were also burnt down. Read more.
• Heavenly Father, we pray for gentle rains to cool the area and bring relief to the people. Somehow, let those in authority recognize that these events are taking place because Russia has been arming the enemies of Israel. Give them dreams and godly prophets to help them understand the severity of what they are doing. Let them have a fear of God.
• "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:3) (See also: http://www.watch.org)
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. Nasrallah: Israel murdered Hariri - Jerusalem Post
In a much-anticipated televised speech, Hizbullah head Hassan Nasrallah on Monday night presented what he called proof that Israel was behind the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
2. Abbas: International pressure becoming unbearable - Ynet News
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Monday he might end an impasse in peace talks with Israel and resume direct talks with the Jewish State for the first time in almost two years.
3. Barak takes 'responsiblity for orders given during raid' - Ynet News
Speaking before the Turkel Commission probing the raid on the Gaza-bound flotilla in May, Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Tuesday contradicted statement's made by the prime minister on Monday, who told the committee the seven-minister forum only discussed the media aspects of stopping the flotilla and did not address the operational aspects.
4. Mitchell arrives amid low hopes - Jerusalem Post
US Mideast envoy George Mitchell arrived in Israel Monday evening for two days of talks with Israel and Palestinian leaders, even as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was coming under increased pressure from Palestinians to avoid direct talks with Israel.
5. Turkey was bent on provoking Israel in the Gaza flotilla incident - UK Telegraph
Testifying before a domestic inquiry into the incident, the Israeli prime minister claimed that the Turkish government should have heeded his demands to prevent the vessel from attempting to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza.
The Daily Jot
An Example of Standing In Times Such As These
Over and over again, The Daily Jot is exhorting the Church to take a stand and do what Christ would have it do. And over and over again, I keep getting emails from people who are just plain exasperated with the system. They feel there is nothing they can do. They believe that things have just gotten to far out of control to bring them back. Nevertheless, the encouragement is that the LORD knows all this, but we are to be faithful to Him and what He has commanded us to do--the entire embodiment of the Bible--our conduct, our evangelizing, our light and salt, our love for one another. If we hold to these standards, then others will see Christ and want Him.
There is a story published in the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch about a battle going on in Coshocton County between a church and a strip club. This serves as a powerful example of how a pastor and his flock are actually taking a stand and making a difference in their community. As the story goes, Pastor Bill Dunfee of New Beginnings Ministries says, "The word of Jesus Christ says you cannot share territory with the devil." Every weekend for the last four years Pastor Dunfee and members of his congregation have stood outside of "The Foxhole" owned by Tom George. The Foxhole is a strip club. The church members have held signs, videotaped customers license plates to post online, and have evangelized patrons.
Now George and his "Foxhole" girls have moved out to the church with a protest of their own. They are carrying signs that quote scripture out of context, and are essentially holding a cook out in front of the church. Both groups largely ignored each other, except for one member of the congregation who stopped and prayed with one of the women who was protesting. The dancer said that she was grateful for the prayers. Foxhole owner George says he is in it for the long haul: "When these morons go away, we'll go away." But Pastor Dunfee is trying to make a change in his community and in the girls who are living this errant lifestyle. He says he consistently offers the women help and redemption.
As a church member, I am sure this is an uncomfortable situation. It takes a lot of bravery and courage to do what Pastor Dunfee has done. He has received a lot of criticism. I do not know him, but when we talk about having a zero tolerance for the things in our community that are against God, this is an example of what one can do. It must be done in God's love, be done righteously, but also with a firm hand and a resolve. As the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 6:19, "And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel." You may not agree with Pastor Dunfee's tactics, but he is standing in his community against a very dark principality.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
Prop 8 Ruling on Capitol Hill
Mr. Smith Goes Back to Washington--to Save Marriage
The House of Representatives is returning to town this week, interrupting the August recess and their reelection campaigns. The reason? Speaker Pelosi hopes to save some of her party's seats by currying favor with American union bosses--this time with a $26.1 billion government handout. While his colleagues are in town, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) wants Congress to weigh in on federal Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn Proposition 8, California's marriage protection amendment. As usual, the GOP's moderates are warning that marriage "distracts" from the fiscal issues that seem to have rallied Tea Party activists and other conservative voters. They either fail to understand the basis of these growing concerns, or it's business as usual for the party's RINOs (Republicans in Name Only), who ride through Washington waving their white flags on social issues.
Both sides of the aisle need to understand that the angst over Congress isn't just that spending is out of control. That's been a concern for years. The problem is that government is out of control. Whether it's this administration, the courts, or Capitol Hill, our leaders are ignoring not only the American people, but the Constitution as well. Judge Walker's ruling only fuels this unrest. For one openly homosexual judge to toss aside seven million voters (and 45 state laws on marriage if this case advances) is the height of government arrogance. And it's certainly not good public policy. A society without accountability or moral boundaries is a society that will not long survive.
Fortunately, Rep. Smith understands the implications. Last week, he spoke harshly about this judge's personal agenda and was more insistent than ever that it's not the role of the judiciary to rewrite the Constitution. And as the ranking member on the House Judiciary Committee, he promised to do something about it. "When Congress returns from recess, I plan to introduce a resolution condemning today's decision and urging an immediate appeal. The voters of California are not the only ones who lost today. This decision defies the voice of all citizens who have sought to define marriage in their states as the union between one man and one woman. Judge Walker's actions should be opposed and the decision should be swiftly overturned." It's time for the far Left to stop using liberal courts to obtain a political goal they cannot obtain at the ballot box.
TAKE ACTION:
Contact your Representatives and ask them to cosponsor Congressman Smith's resolution. (Family Research Council)
IPT Alert #1
Germany closes jihad-linked mosque
German authorities closed a Hamburg mosque once frequented by Sept. 11 attackers Monday, believing the prayer house was again being used as a meeting point for Islamic radicals. The Taiba mosque was closed and the cultural association that runs it was banned, Hamburg officials said in a statement. "We have closed the mosque because it was a recruiting and meeting point for Islamic radicals who wanted to participate in so-called jihad or holy war," said Frank Reschreiter, a spokesman for Hamburg's state interior ministry. He said that 20 police officers were searching the building and had confiscated material, including several computers. He was not aware of any arrests. Authorities have said the prayer house, formerly known as the al-Quds mosque, years ago was a meeting and recruiting point for some of the Sept. 11 attackers before they moved to the United States. (AP) Read more (Source: Steve Emerson: The Investigative Project)
IPT Alert #2
Half-baked mosque:
Construction of Ground Zero Mosque May Still Be Blocked
Not so fast. The developers of the controversial mosque proposed near Ground Zero own only half the site where they want to construct the $100 million building, The Post has learned. One of the two buildings on Park Place is owned by Con Edison, even though Soho Properties told officials and the public that it owns the entire parcel. And any potential sale by Con Ed faces a review by the state Public Service Commission. "We never heard anything about Con Ed whatsoever," said a stunned Julie Menin, the chairwoman of Community Board 1, which passed a May resolution supporting the mosque. Daisy Khan, one of the mosque's organizers, told The Post last week that both buildings on Park Place are needed to house the worship and cultural center. But she claimed ignorance about the Con Ed ownership of 49-51 Park Place and referred questions to Soho Properties, which bought the building at 45-47 Park Place in 2009. Rep. Peter King, who opposes the mosque, said the developers seemed to be "operating under false pretenses." (New York Post) Read more.
- Continue to pray that any and all means will be employed to block the construction of this building. Ask our Lord to forgive those who are doing this, for they know not what they do.
- "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD. " (Psalm 27:6)
(Source: Steve Emerson: The Investigative Project)
IPA Alert #3
Guantanamo justice: Bin-Laden bodyguard sentencing expected
An al-Qaeda operative who served partly as Osama bin Laden's bodyguard is expected to be sentenced Monday during a court at Guantanamo Bay. Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi, a 50-year-old Sudanese man, conceded guilt in a plea bargain, the terms of which were not announced. CNN quoted a spokesman in Guantanamo as saying the prison sentence may not be immediately made public. Al-Qosi's conviction is the first of President Barack Obama's administration under the controversial commission. The first trial is expected to get underway Tuesday with jury selection in the case of Omar Khadr. Prosectors alleged al-Qosi has been affiliated with al-Qaeda since 1996, providing logistical support, including serving as bin Laden's bodyguard, driver and cook. (DPA) Read more. (Source: Steve Emerson: The Investigative Project)
Biblical Guidelines in an Election
Part Two:
The four qualities to be looked for when choosing a man for office:
The First Prerequisite: FEAR GOD
Able men who fear God
Fearing God is the first prerequisite, but to lead also requires experience, sufficient mental acuity to be able to analyze and understand problems and have good communication skills. This ability would be synonymous with having WISDOM.
a) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of WISDOM; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments." (Psalm 111:10)
b) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; FOOLS DESPISE WISDOM and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)
Based on the WORD of GOD you cannot have WISDOM unless you FEAR GOD, because wisdom BEGINS with the fear of God. [Author Unknown]
Tomorrow: The Second Prerequisite:
LOVE THE TRUTH
The Good News Corner
200 Doctors Protest Amendment to Bring Abortions to Military Bases
As senators inch closer to voting on the 2011 Defense Authorization bill -- which contains an amendment that repeals a longstanding ban on allowing abortions to be performed on military bases -- more than 200 physicians, who served in the U.S. military, sent a letter to Senators today, asking that they consider the consequences before voting.
Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., sponsored the amendment.
The letter, sent by the Christian Medical Association (CMA), said, "Such a drastic and controversial change in longstanding federal policy could disrupt military medicine in a time of war and also undermine military physician retention and recruitment."
Gene Rudd, senior vice president of CMA, said that if the amendment is enacted, it will ultimately threaten religious liberties and the effect on morale and military readiness.
"In addition to facilitating further destruction of unborn life," Rudd said, "the provision will place military physicians with life-honoring convictions in the unenviable position of either disobeying orders, abandoning their conscience, or seeking objector status."
The letter went on to state:
"Many of us remember well that when President Clinton tried to inject abortions into military facilities from 1993 to 1996, virtually all military physicians refused to participate in abortions. Partisan abortion ideology and lobbying have translated into a diminishing of conscience rights which, coupled with inherent pressures in pro-abortion policies such as advocated in the Burris DoD amendment, hold the potential to drastically reduce the number of physicians, thus reducing patient access. A scientific survey of faith-based physicians reveals that 95 percent will actually leave medicine if pressured to compromise their life-affirming ethical commitments." (For polling details, go here.)
"Reducing physicians and patient access during two wars and at a time of a growing and severe national shortage of physicians," the letter stated, "especially in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine -- is hardly wise policy, regardless of one's views on abortion."
"Our military exists to fight our nation's wars," said Donald Thompson, CMA's director of global health outreach, "not to be [an] ideological playground."
Dr. Arnold Ahnfeldt, orthopedic surgeon and retired U.S. Army colonel said that it's simply a matter of conscience. "The doctors should not have to be involved in providing abortion service." (CitizenLink)
Worship with Us Today!
"The Blood Will Never Lose It's Power"
Andrae Crouch
YES, LORD!!!
