In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot - Part One
• The Daily Jot - Part Two
• Is the West Coast in Danger?
• Praying for Japan
• Japan: How You Can Help
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, March 15, 2011
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:6,7)
The Daily Brief
1. Americans Raise $22 Million for Japan Relief - Yahoo News
US relief organizations said they had raised more than $22 million dollars in donations for relief after Japan's disaster, with US companies also offering multimillion-dollar donations. The American Red Cross on Monday raised $19 million as of 3:00 pm (1700 GMT), with $1.6 million sent in $10 donations by Americans text-messaging the number 90999, a spokeswoman for the organization said. Among other groups raising funds, Save the Children said it had raised $3.2 million dollars around the world -- $2.7 million of it in the United States -- and the Salvation Army said it had collected $980,009.
Corporations with ties to Japan also stepped forward. Insurance company Aflac also pledged 100 million yen, before it fired comedian Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of its duck-voice commercials over jokes about the disaster judged by the company to be in poor taste. More than 10,000 people were feared to have perished in one prefecture alone in the aftermath of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake, one of the most powerful ever recorded.
• Heavenly Father, we thank you for the quick and generous response of Americans to help the Japanese nation during its great upheaval. Lord, we also pray for their safety and that they will not have further devastation. Let this be a time when the gospel will be warmly received by the Japanese people. Let solid, strong Christians witness and mentor them.
• The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears. (Psalms 18:5, 6)
2. Japan Disaster Could Propel Higher US Inflation - NewsMax
Although Japan's crisis because of its triple tragedy initially led to a drop in oil prices, it ultimately will mean higher consumer prices in the United States, many economists say, according to Yahoo's Tech Ticker. The price of memory chips and liquid crystal displays that go into consumer electronics products made by the likes of Sony, Toshiba, and Hitachi have surged since the earthquake, The Wall Street Journal reports. Although no shortages have been reported yet, fears are rampant, and Sony has halted production at six factories in northern Japan. In addition, the yen has strengthened against the dollar since the earthquake, and the greenback already was slumping amid the Federal Reserve's massive easing and the exploding budget deficit.
Meanwhile, star Yale economist Robert Shiller told CNBC that Japan's crisis could cause a major drop by world stock markets. "There is a risk of high volatility in the markets and even important drops in the markets," he said. "I would make a parallel to the last big earthquake in Kobe, Japan, in 1995. There was a huge worldwide stock market drop a full week after that earthquake. That's the kind of thing we have to worry about now."
• Lord, all the nations of the world are now closely connected because of commerce. But we pray that the dire predictions of markets and economies failing will not come to pass. We bind the chaos in the nations and we pray the peace of the Lord upon everyone. Peace - Be still.
• Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Mark 4:39)
3. US Ill-prepared for Emergency Radiation: Study - Yahoo News
The survey of state health departments was conducted in 2010 and found that almost half of the 38 states that took part had no plan for protecting public health in the event of a radiation emergency. Few states said they had the resources to test the public for radiation exposure. The survey included 38 state health departments -- including 26 of the 31 states that have nuclear power plants -- or about 76 percent of the United States.
The study in Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, a journal of the American Medical Association, report included a series of recommendations for state to improve preparedness, such as "substantially" increasing education in radiation emergency response among public health personnel, boosting strategic planning and exercise scenarios for radiation release events. "Without a comprehensive plan, states in which a radiation emergency occurs are likely to mount inefficient, ineffective, inappropriate, or tardy responses that could result in (preventable) loss of life," it said.
• Father, let these events we have witnessed cause us to be better prepared. Give our leaders great wisdom. Let them make sound decisions and plans on how to protect our people.
• You will not fear the terror of night . . . nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday . . . For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (Psalms 91:5, 11, 12)
4. Iran is Recruiting Hacker Warriors for its Cyber Army to Fight 'Enemies' - Fox News
The Islamic Republic plans "to fight our enemies with abundant power in cyberspace and Internet warfare," according to Brigadier Gen. Gholamreza Jalali, who leads the country's Passive Defense Organization. Part of the plan involves actively recruiting hackers, who will likely earn top toman (Iranian currency) for their work. There is at least one cyberwar group already active -- going by the name Iran's Cyber Army -- that has claimed credit for attacks against the sites of some opposition groups.
Sazegara told Fox News his website has been attacked by the Cyber Army, which he said also targeted the Voice of America. It's not clear who is behind the group, if it is being actively supported by the government or if its hacker are even working from inside Iran. The question for many is if Iran will be able to take its cyber-meddling further, and create its own version of the Stuxnet computer worm that infected its computers last year. Stuxnet was widely believed to have devastated Iran's nuclear program. "We estimate that Stuxnet caused a delay of the Iranian program of up to two years," said German cyber-expert Ralph Langner.
• Lord, we have truly entered the 21st century with wars being engaged through computers. Let us stay ahead of the attacks. Put into place leaders who will be vigilant and aggressive to keep us safe without abusing our personal freedoms. Turn back those laws that are evil.
• Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster, And will not call back His words, But will arise against the house of evildoers, And against the help of those who work iniquity. (Isaiah 31:2)
5. House Republican Leader: CR Will Permit Funding of Obamacare - CNS News
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said on Monday that the new continuing resolution (CR) the House will consider this week to keep the federal government funded will permit the Obama administration to spend money on the implementation of Obamacare. When asked about opposition to the short-term CR from some conservatives who want to use the bill to defund things such as Obamacare and organizations like Planned Parenthood, Cantor said there were many policy issues he would like to deal with but that Congress needed to work out a spending plan for the remainder of the fiscal year first.
Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. and Steve King, R-Iowa, wrote in their letter to the Republican leaders. "If we do not stand our ground on the CR, leverage it as the 'must pass bill' that it is, and use it to stop the $105.5 billion in automatically appropriated funds, Obamacare will be implemented on our watch. We will also have conceded a significant amount of ground on this issue and will find it difficult, if not impossible, to regain the strategic advantage in future legislative vehicles."
"We have to write my language into the CR and take a stand," King told CNSNews.com in an interview last week. "Stare the president in the eye and say: Mr. President, we are going to make sure that this government has the resources to function, but we're also are going to make sure that there are no resources to implement or carry out the provisions of Obamacare, and if you should choose to shutdown the government in order to preserve socialized medicine that has your name on it, that is your choice not ours, but we are not going to allow that unconstitutional bill to be enacted on deceptive funding on our watch."
• Lord, we pray that you will not allow people to be in places of authority who will not be serious about turning back the Obamacare and our spending. Give abundant favor to those who are attempting to put a stop to the over-spending.
• When I fixed My limit for it, and set bars and doors; when I said, 'This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!' (Job 38:10, 11)
6. Wis. Unions Rush to Get Deals in Place - CNN
School boards and local governments across Wisconsin are rushing to reach agreements with unions before a new law takes effect that will remove their ability to collectively bargain over nearly all issues other than minimal salary increases. La Follette said he heard from many schools, cities and counties urging him to delay enactment of the law as long as possible. Waiting the full 10 days afforded under the law is the usual practice of his office anyhow, La Follette said.
The law ends collective bargaining for public workers over everything except salary increases no greater than inflation. It also forces state workers to make benefit concessions that amount to an 8 percent pay cut on average. Walker also wants to limit the ability of schools and local governments to pay for the cuts through local property tax increases.
• Lord, we pray that the unions will not gain power and influence during these hard times. We pray that people will see the need to cut back. Give the states wisdom on how to bring back the economy so that more people will not be unemployed.
• How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? . . . a little folding of the hands to sleep - so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6: 9, 11)
7. EXCLUSIVE: 'Baby Joseph' Gets Second Chance at Life in U.S. - Fox News
The baby who was hours from being pulled off life support at his Canadian hospital has been rescued by the national director of Priests for Life and taken to the U.S. for treatment. "Priests for Life staff toiled through the night for many nights, working in concert with dozens of people to make this possible," Father Pavone said in a statement. "Now that we have won the battle against the medical bureaucracy in Canada, the real work of saving Baby Joseph can begin."
Maraachli was on his way to SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center in St. Louis, Mo., a non-profit health-care facility open to all children in need of medical care. "The medical board overseeing his case is apparently convinced that giving proper care to 'Baby Joseph' is futile," the website reads. "They don't mean that the medical care won't help him. They mean his life in its current condition isn't worth the trouble."
• Lord, we give you praise for this victory concerning baby Joseph. We pray our nation will stand strongly for life and not death. Cut out any laws that would abandon the weak and the vulnerable - from conception to natural death. Heal Joseph and extend his life to many good years.
• Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the Heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of ? (Deuteronomy 4:32)
7. House Approves Stopgap Spending Bill - Fox News
The House voted Tuesday to approve another stopgap spending bill, despite mounting opposition from conservative lawmakers fed up with short-term budgets that only cut a few billion dollars at a time.
The House approved the mini-budget on a 271-158 vote. Republican leaders saw 54 members defect, up from six the last time the House took up a short-term bill. Eighty-five Democrats also voted for the budget, down from 104 the last time.
If approved by the Senate, the latest short-term budget bill would fund the government for three weeks, until April 8, and cut $6 billion from 2010 levels.
- Tonight we offer praise that Congress has found a way to keep the government running for another three weeks, and we offer a prayer that this would be the LAST stopgap measure that is passed this year. Continue to petition the Throne of Grace that our leaders be granted wisdom so that a true budget will be passed for the rest of this year. In His Name, amen.
- "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:22)
8. U.S. Drug Stores Report Sudden Increase in Potassium Iodide Sales - Fox News
Despite assurances from health officials that Americans are not at risk from Japanese nuclear reactors, U.S. drug stores are reporting a sudden increase in sales of the over-the-counter anti-radiation pills. (Read more)
- It never hurts to be too prepared. Pray, obey, and take action accordingly . . . amen.
- "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come." (John 16:13)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"For behold, in those days and at that time, when I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there on account of My people, My heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations; they have also divided up My land. (Joel 3:1-2)
1. Barak: Israel must advance peace or face a 'diplomatic tsunami' - Ha'aretz
Israel could face a diplomatic tsunami if the standstill in Mideast peace talks continues, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Sunday, adding that a massive campaign to de-legitimize Israel was at hand.
2. US slams settlement building after attack - Ynet News
The US State Department said it was "deeply concerned" over an Israeli decision to approve 400 new homes in the West Bank Sunday, in response to a terror attack in Itamar in which five members of the Fogel family were slaughtered.
3. Opposition rallies against Hezbollah - France24
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters gathered Sunday in Beirut to march against Hezbollah and demand an "end to the rule of arms", in yet another stand-off between the two rival groups.
4. Israelis Seize Ship Carrying Iranian Arms - IPT News
Israeli commandos intercepted a ship loaded with tons of Iranian-supplied weapons that was destined for Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, reports indicate. The elite Naval Commando 13 unit, the Shayetet, boarded the Liberian-flagged ship Victoria 200 miles off Israel's coast in the Mediterranean Sea Tuesday. Its last port of call was in Turkey. (Read more)
5. Israel Protests Reaction to Family's Slaughter - IPT News
Israel is demanding that CNN apologize for "tendentious and deceptive" coverage of Friday night's brutal slaughter of five members of a family as they slept in their home in a West Bank settlement.
An early version of a story on CNN's website carried the headline "Israeli Family of five killed in 'terror attack.'"
"Only you decided to use the term terrorist attack in quotation marks, as if this were not necessarily the case," wrote Oren Helman, director of Israel's Government Press office, in a letter to CNN Jerusalem Bureau Chief Kevin Flower protesting the coverage. "There is a limit to the extent of objectivity regarding such a horrific deed."
Authorities are unsure whether one or two terrorists apparently scaled the security fence surrounding Itamar, an Israeli West Bank settlement, forced their way into the home of Udi and Ruth Fogel and went from room to room stabbing people as they slept. The Fogels (a rabbi and a schoolteacher) and three of their children were killed. Yoav Fogel was 11. Elad was three, and their sister Hadas was just three-months-old. Read more.
The Daily Jot - Part One
The prophetic significance of Japan's earthquake
On March 11 Japan was hit with the most intense earthquake in its recorded history. This event alone has tremendous prophetic significance and it should serve as a solemn warning to the United States. The fulfillment of prophecy is at times like peeling off layers of an onion. Some events are a type and shadow of what is to come, while others take you to the real core. The prophetic implications of the devastating Japan earthquake is a little bit of both. First, in Matthew 24:7-8, Jesus said, "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." This is obvious, but there is more.
These were events that Jesus warned us would be signs of the end times. When we see these ancient kingdoms in the Middle East having internal turmoil and threats of wars, we look to the prophecies to determine where we are at in the continuum of prophecy. Major natural disasters are another benchmark. We as watchmen try to discern why that particular area at this specific time. When this earthquake occurred, I wondered deeply why Japan. At the same time, I thought of the prophecies of Israel and how they may impact Japan. A central prophecy regarding Israel goes back to Genesis 12:3 where the Lord told Abraham, "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curses thee."
A particular end time prophecy, speaking at its core about the Day of the Lord, but one that we can say comes often in layers is Zechariah 12:3 where the Lord says, "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." On March 11, the day of the earthquake, Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs released this statement: The Government of Japan deplores the decisions of the Government of Israel to give permission for the construction of 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem...Japan demands that the plans should not be implemented."
This was the first time Japan used such strong language about Israeli settlements. The earthquake should also serve as a warning to the US president, whose State Department March 13th condemned Israeli plans to build 500 new West Bank homes as "illegitimate." Within 48 hours after President George W Bush substantially pressured Ariel Sharon into forcing Jewish settlers from Gaza in August 2005, the first signs of Katrina were swirling in the ocean. Naysayers believe these are unrelated coincidence, but watchmen see them from the lens of Biblical prophecy. Jesus also said in Matthew 24, "see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet." More to come.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
The Daily Jot - Part Two
More on the prophetic nature of the Japan earthquake
The full statement that Japan made on March 11, 2010--one year to the day before the earthquake--was: "The Government of Japan deplores the decisions of the Government of Israel to give permission for the construction of 1,600 housing units in East Jerusalem in addition to 112 units in West Bank just after the Israeli and Palestinian leadership's acceptance of the start of indirect talks. The Government of Japan does not recognize any act that prejudges the final status of Jerusalem and the territories in the pre-1967 borders. Japan demands that the plans should not be implemented." The Daily Jot incorrectly stated previously that Japan had done this Friday, but there is much more.
On March 1 of this year the Palestinian National Authority announced that it had signed an agreement with Japan to provide $32.5 million for a project of treating waste water in the Palestinian-occupied town of Jericho. It was reported as one of the biggest projects aided by Japan in the Palestinian territories to supply industrial areas with water. The PNA noted in the announcement that since 1993, Japan had given the PNA more than a billion dollars, including $40 million in developing the Jordan Valley area in the West Bank. The PNA said that the agreement is "vital, strategic and important to help the PNA finalize building the institutions of the future Palestinian state."
Japan is instrumental in helping build out a Palestinian state on the West Bank (traditional lands of Judea and Samaria), yet is critical and demanding of Israel for building housing units for its own citizens. On January 11 this year, Japan's Foreign Ministry said it "condemns the demolishing of a part of the Shepherd's Hotel in East Jerusalem with a view to constructing new housing units for Jewish people." A month later on February 10, Japan's Foreign Ministry said Israel's plan to build housing unites for "Jewish people in Sheih Jarrah of East Jerusalem" is against efforts of the international community to resume peace negotiations. A month later, Japan is hit with a historic earthquake.
Daily Jot sources point out that the earthquake in Japan caused tsunami flooding in industrial areas, and the money Japan gave to the Palestinians was for wastewater treatment to supply water to industrial areas of a new Palestinian State. The United States also is guilty of giving billions of dollars to the Palestinians over the years. And the current US president is condemning the Israeli home building as well. Keep in mind that Japan's fault-line is part of the infamous "ring of fire" where about 90% of the world's earthquakes occur. This includes the entire Pacific coast of America. Zechariah 2:8 says of Zion, "for he that touches you touches the apple of Lord's eye." Japan and America share the same "Fault" line. What is next?
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
Is the West Coast in Danger?
West Coast Dangers in Nuclear Meltdown in Japan
How Would a Nuclear Meltdown Unfold?
Reported from ABC NEWS, Scientists said that even though the reactor had stopped producing energy, its fuel continues to generate heat and needs steady levels of coolant to prevent it from overheating and triggering a dangerous cascade of events. They go on to say, "Up to 100 percent of the volatile radioactive Cesium-137 content of the pools could go up in flames and smoke, to blow downwind over large distances,"
"Given the large quantity of irradiated nuclear fuel in the pool, the radioactivity release could be worse than the Chernobyl nuclear reactor catastrophe of 25 years ago." said Kevin Kamps, a nuclear waste specialist. Article covers:
*How would a nuclear power plant meltdown unfold?
*Why would the West Coast of Canada/USA be in danger of Fallout? Read more. [Source: HebrewNatoinNews]
Praying for Japan
TWO WAYS TO PRAY FOR JAPAN
On Saturday morning, March 19th, Dai Sup Han will host a PrayerSurge focussing on JAPAN. We invite you to join Dai Sup and his leadership team on this conference call, beginning at 7:30 a.m. EDT.
For details of the agenda of this call, please visit Dai Sup's blog at: www.PrayerSurgeNow.blogspot.com
Also, we have received a list of prayer requests from a missionary couple who are serving the Lord in Japan. Let's join our hearts with them as we continue to pray for a nation in peril tonight.
1. Pray for the leaders of this land. That they will humble themselves, seek a wisdom that is higher than themselves when seeking guidance and making decisions.
2. Pray for the men who are trying to control the nuclear reactors and the effects of the explosions.
3. Pray that people would not panic or despair. Suicide is a major problem in this country.
4. Pray that the church would operate in the gifts of the Spirit to bring wisdom, discernment, healing, faith and miracles to the people of this land.
5. Pray that the church would be effective witnesses of Christ's love, and that we would distribute aid and help with all wisdom.
6. Pray that the church would shine brightly at this time bringing hope to many.
May God's purposes be done in this land. May there be a turning to the one true God.
Submitted by: Dale and Linda Fuller - Japan
Japan: How You Can Help
There are many ways we can give to help those who are now suffering in Japan. Below please find two ministries that share the Gospel, along with basic needs for survival, in nations in distress.
ONE: SAMARITAN'S PURSE
Samaritan's Purse Responding in the aftermath of Japan's Devastating Earthquake and Tsunami
At the request of Japanese Christians, Samaritan's Purse has deployed a team to provide emergency relief aid to people affected by the deadly earthquake and massive tsunami that hit the northeastern coast of the country on March 11.
Our Japanese church partners have secured trucks and begun purchasing supplies such as blankets, hygiene supplies, food, water, and first aid items. Our partners have secured permission for us to enter the disaster zone. Local Believers are being mobilized to volunteer to help with the response.
Samaritan's Purse President Franklin Graham has conducted evangelistic Festivals in the Japanese cities of Osaka and Okinawa, and we have hundreds of church partners in the country.
Rev. Takada, who was chairman of the Osaka Festival committee, requested our assistance.
"Please come. We need your help," he said.
To learn more about these relief efforts in Japan and how you can support Samaritan's Purse, go here. [This site includes prayer requests for the relief teams.]
TWO: CRISIS RESPONSE INTERNATIONAL
In a conference call today with Sean Malone, Director, Crisis Response Team (CRT), we learned that CRT has deployed rescue teams to Japan and that they are on the ground over there bringing much-needed relief supplies to the people.
Like Samaritan's Purse, CRT also is linked and joined with churches in Japan, and working with those centers to organize their relief efforts.
To learn more about CRT and how you can support their relief efforts in Japan, visit their website by going here.
Worship with Us Today!
You Alone by Echoing Angels
"You alone are God. I am yours and You are mine. I know the Heavens will call out Your Name if I don't . . .."
Worship Him now by going here. YES, LORD!
