In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• The Deal
• Obama Responds
• Budget Deal Controversy
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11
The Daily Brief
1. Japan Nuclear Crisis: Officials Raise Severity Level to Equal Chernobyl - ABC
Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency Tuesday raised the level of severity at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant from 5 to level 7 - the highest level on the international scale and equal to the Chernobyl accident. "Level 5 is Three Mile Island. Level 7 is Chernobyl. Hidehiko Nishiyama with the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said that the Fukushima event is different from Chernobyl, where a nuclear reactor in Ukraine exploded and sent massive amounts of radiation into atmosphere.
"In the best case, we're looking at this plant continuing to leak radiation for months, perhaps, years. It's going to be a long, expensive decommissioning of the plant and a cleanup of the plant," ABC nuclear consultant Joe Cirincione told ABC News Radio.
• Heavenly Father, we come before you praying for your mercy and comfort to be upon the Japanese people. We pray that no more quakes, tsunamis, or nuclear leaks develop in their land. Let them be receptive to your Holy Spirit and to Christian workers as they go to help restore the nation with your help. We pray salvation for all of them. Hear their cry.
• 'If disaster comes upon us - sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine - we will stand before this temple and in Your presence, for Your name is in this temple, and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.' (2 Chronicles 20:9)
2. Budget Deal Suggests Social Issues Could Take Backseat in 2012 - Fox News
While Republicans have spent the last couple months blending social battles into the campaign against government spending, the makeup of the budget deal suggests dollars and cents will drive the debate going into the 2012 election. "It is about the economy," said Jeremy Mayer, public policy professor at George Mason University. "I just don't think God, guns, gays and fetuses is really going to matter that much." In final budget deal, expected to be approved by Congress on Thursday, a provision banning Planned Parenthood funding was set aside, allowing the Senate to pursue a stand-alone vote outside the budget process.
A ban on taxpayer funding for abortion in the District of Columbia stayed in, but some social conservatives nevertheless perceived the compromise as a slap in the face. "I think a lot of people are going to be very disappointed that we couldn't get a better deal than this," Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., told Fox News, adding, "Millions of dollars will be spent, given to Planned Parenthood, the largest taxpayer provider of abortion in the country." Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tweeted that the nation can't afford "subsidizing abortion."
• Lord, we pray that even though our critical need is to cut the overspending, we will not waiver, nor forget that we need to stand for your laws as a nation. Let us never forget to put you first in all our decision-making. Our earthly problems are temporary - but the spiritual ones are for eternity. Help us remember that!
• Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. (Isaiah 55:2)
3. Debt Cutting Plan: Everything on the Table - ABC
President Barack Obama, plunging into the rancorous struggle over America's mountainous debt, will draw sharp differences with Republicans Wednesday over how to conquer trillions of dollars in spending while somehow working out a compromise to raise some taxes and trim a cherished program like Medicare. The speech is intended as a declaration of Obama's commitment to seriously tame the deficit while outlining his long-term budget principles - key components of his campaign for re-election in 2012. After gingerly avoiding any discussion until now of cuts in the government's massive benefit programs for the elderly and poor, Obama will acknowledge a need to reduce spending on Medicare and Medicaid while at the same time tackling defense spending and calling for increased taxes on the wealthy, White House officials said.
• Lord, as we go into this discussion between the political parties let only laws that you approve be passed. Let there be no rancor nor disrespect, but that each party recognize in their hearts and minds the seriousness of the situation we are in.
• Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head. (Psalms 133:1)
4. Report: U.S. Blocks 350 Suspected Terrorists - Fox News
The U.S. government has prevented more than 350 people suspected of ties to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups from boarding U.S.-bound commercial flights since the end of 2009, The Associated Press has learned. Now before an international flight leaves for the U.S., the government checks passengers against a larger watch list that includes Al Qaeda financiers and people who attended training camps but aren't considered threats to planes. The government was checking this list before, but only after the flight was en route. If someone on the flight was on the watch list, the person would be questioned and likely refused entry to the country after the plane landed.
After the attempted Christmas attack, the intelligence community took a closer look at the names on terror watch lists and set new standards for adding names to them. The watch lists, including the most restrictive no-fly list, are constantly reviewed. Names are added and removed each day. There are between 11,000 and 12,000 people on the no-fly list, about 1,000 of which are U.S. citizens. "As terrorists keep adapting and changing their approach, so must we," Sen. Jay Rockefeller told the AP. During a Senate hearing shortly after the attempted Christmas attack.
• We praise you and give you thanks, Lord, for protecting us from harm. We pray that you will continue to put into place vigilant people to guard our defenses, and who make wise decisions to guard this nation.
• You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day . . . Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you (Psalms 9: 5, 7)
5. Poll: Americans Very Worried About Inflation - NewsMax
Soaring food and energy costs have pushed annual inflation up to 2.1 percent, and consumers aren't happy about it. A new poll conducted for The Hill shows that 62 percent of likely voters are "very concerned" about price increases, and another 26 percent are "somewhat concerned." The surge in gasoline prices appears to be the biggest worry. When asked what's causing their inflation jitters, 61 percent of respondents cited gasoline prices, while 18 percent listed food. Housing came in third at 9 percent.
• Lord, we pray for our elected officials to get serious about cutting our debt. We pray that no politics will be played, but that everyone will cooperate to get our nation back in balance in every way.
• How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber - So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:9,11)
6. Arizona Immigration Law: Enforcement Blocked by Circuit Court - ABC
A federal appeals court today blocked the enforcement of key provisions of Arizona's immigration law, considered one of the toughest in the nation. The Department of Justice sued the State of Arizona, arguing that the power to regulate immigration rests with the federal government and that the Arizona law interferes with federal laws currently in effect. Justice Department lawyers said the Constitution does not permit the "development of a patchwork of state and local immigration policies throughout the country."
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer released a statement Monday vowing to appeal the ruling. "For decades the federal government has neglected its constitutional duty to American citizens by failing to secure the border," she said.
• Lord, we ask that you will somehow reverse the courts so that every state can make decisions about how to protect their borders. Let the federal government not over-step their authority, but let states rights be recognized. Give us righteous judges, courts, and Justices.
• So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and knowledgeable men, and made them heads over you, leaders of thousands, leaders of hundreds, leaders of fifties, leaders of tens, and officers for your tribes. (Deuteronomy 1:15)
7. On Anniversary of Civil War: Civil War still divides - CNN
The Civil War began 150 years ago today, and a new poll finds the public still split over what brought about the bloody conflict.
- Pray that the deep-seated wounds still present in our generation from the horrors of that terrible conflict be healed, by the Blood of Messiah. Only the work of the Cross can reach the depths of men's souls. Intercede that, in this spring season of His Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ would reach down into the hearts of men to bring about this healing work, as only He can do.
- "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatever He has pleased." (Psalm 115:1-3)
1. Wikileaks: 'Hizbullah has enough rockets to devastate Israel' - ICEJ News
A recent document leaked to the Israeli press by the Wikileaks website confirmed widely held suspicions that the Iranian backed Shi'ite terror militia Hizbullah has been fully re-armed since the war it fought with Israel in 2006 and is prepared to fire hundreds of rockets into Israel in a future conflict, including as many as 100 rockets a day at Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv mayor Ron Holdai responded to the report by resolutely declaring "we live in Israel, and we have threats made to us all the time. If something were to happen we could cope."
2. Violence spikes on the Gaza border as Iron Dome makes debut - ICEJ News
The IDF hit several terrorist targets in the Gaza Strip overnight Thursday following a day in which dozens of mortars and rockets were fired into Israel including two Grad rockets which were shot down by the 'Iron Dome' air defense system.
3. Arab Spring proceeding at a different pace in different countries - ICEJ News
Former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak remains under house arrest at his home in the Sinai resort town of Sharm Al-Sheikh, with many Egyptians calling for him to be put on trial for his conduct during the past three decades.
Several other members of Mubarak's regime have been arrested and charged with crimes related to the previous government, especially corruption. Opposition groups have called for a day of protests Friday to demand a thorough investigation of the former regime.
The Daily Jot
One more thing about Ivory Coast and Christian massacres
The situation in the Ivory Coast is not unlike many across West Africa. Problem is, we have a Muslim presidential candidate that claimed victory in Ivory Coast over a Catholic president. The Ivory Coast Constitutional Council said that the Muslim candidate could not be seated because of widespread voter fraud. The United Nations overruled the sovereignty of the Ivory Coast Constitutional Council determination and declared the Moslem candidate the winner. The Christian president said "no" and stayed in office. The Moslem raised an army and began killing supporters of the Christian president, who happen to be Christian. They were burned alive, hacked with machetes--women and children, too.
Redeem West Africa is a ministry that my friend and brother in Christ, William Agbeti and I started with the help of our local church. The ministry is aimed at raising up pastors and evangelists to go out to the rural areas of West Africa to show the love of Christ. The genesis of this ministry is that Muslims are taking over entire villages and requiring that all in the village convert to Islam in order to have jobs, food, housing and safety. The way its done is this: They move through a village demanding that the people accept Islam. They beat and rape the women and club the men into submission. Once they have established their authority, they demand that all convert to Islam or they cannot live in the village.
The local governments do not intervene because they are not strong enough to do so. Fearing civil war, fearing massive Islamic uprising, fearing violence on their own families, government leaders and tribal chiefs resist little and hope for the best. In the Ivory Coast, when Muslim candidate Ouattara didn't get his way, he started killing innocent people--these Muslims do not go after the soldiers in the military--they attack the unarmed, the weak, anybody that will show others that they, the Muslims, are ruthless enough to make good their threats. The United States has no business supporting such a group of butchers. But our president has cast his lot with the Moslem Brotherhood and other elements of evil.
As a Christian, I have no tolerance for the Islamic way. It is inhumane, brutal, and the antithesis of everything Christian. To counter this, I have put my support behind a ministry that reaches out with not only the word of Christ, but also the love of Christ with food for children and families and opportunities to help themselves. My African brother William has placed his life and the life of his family on the line for this cause. We are truly a Proverbs 31:9 brotherhood as we "plead the cause of the poor and needy." No amount of tolerance can be justified for the barbaric death cult of Islam. When America's government supports it in any way, it is supporting the system of the antichrist. We should demand otherwise.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com
The Deal
Here are some points to consider on this budget deal as we understand it today (Monday, 4/11)
- Two months ago in his State of the Union Address, President Obama announced with much fanfare a "five-year spending freeze" after having dramatically increased spending for the last two years. His starting point was zero! A few weeks ago, Senate Democrats insisted they would accept no more than $10 billion in spending cuts. Anything beyond that was denounced as "extreme" and "draconian." In two months time, we've gone from no spending cuts to nearly $40 billion in cuts.
- Keep in mind that we're talking about spending for the final six months of the 2011 fiscal year. Over a year's time, that would amount to nearly $80 billion in spending cuts -- close to the target of $100 billion and not bad for a party that controls only half of one-third of the federal government.
- Depending how they are structured, $40 billion in cuts could lower the "baseline budget" for future spending. This deal may prevent hundreds of billions of dollars of additional spending over a 10-year period. That is "real money."
- John Boehner saved the D.C. school voucher program with this deal. The real irony here is that Obama talks a lot about education and innovation, yet he is so beholden to his union allies that he shut down the popular D.C. school voucher program, forcing many of Washington, D.C.'s inner-city kids to stay in failing public schools. Thanks to Speaker Boehner many of them will now have a better education and a brighter future.
- The deal also blocks additional money sought by the Obama Administration for the IRS; bans taxpayer dollars from paying for abortions in the District of Columbia; and forces Harry Reid to allow votes in the Senate on defunding Planned Parenthood and ObamaCare.
Now that we have a deal on the 2011 budget, we can turn to far greater issues like the debt ceiling and entitlement reform, where the debate will involve trillions, not billions.
UPDATE: Tuesday, April 12, 2011
More On The Deal
Today brought more information on the budget deal negotiated Friday night among Speaker John Boehner, Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid and Obama. Some of it is encouraging, some of it isn't. But that is generally what happens when parties of different philosophies reach a compromise -- no one is totally happy.
On the positive side, a memo from the House Appropriations Committee, released at 2:00 AM, states "The bill terminates two programs funded in ObamaCare. . . " That is the second time in recent days that components of ObamaCare have been repealed. The deal also defunds four of Obama's policy czars -- the "Health Care Czar," the "Climate Change Czar," the "Car Czar" and the "Urban Affairs Czar." In addition, Obama's "Employment Prevention Agency," a.k.a. the Environmental Protection Agency, is taking a 16% ($1.6 billion) hit to its budget.
On the down side, The Hill reports that the biggest cut comes out of the Commerce Department and "is something of an accounting trick" that eliminates $6.2 billion in unused Census funds. Other cuts are similarly achieved by zeroing out temporary accounts or unused stimulus funds.
Having said that, it is important to remember that this deal covers only the last six months of the 2011 fiscal year. There are bigger debates looming -- over the 2012 budget, the debt ceiling and entitlement reform -- all coming in the weeks and months ahead. (Gary Bauer)
Obama Responds
If you needed more proof of which side won the debate, we got it Friday night when Obama delivered a speech from the White House with the Washington Monument in the background. While celebrating a deal that would keep the Monument open, Obama went on to sound like Ronald Reagan -- taking credit for signing a "tax cut for American families" as well as "the biggest annual spending cut in history."
Obama wouldn't take credit for these spending cuts unless the White House's polling unit was telling him that the American people were solidly behind them. He is embracing these cuts for purely political reasons. Obama will never win over the Tea Party movement, but he is desperately trying to make up ground with independent voters as the 2012 election approaches.
This week, Obama will reportedly respond to Paul Ryan's "Path to Prosperity" plan by releasing his own outline for dealing with the nation's long-term fiscal problems. While there are rumors that he may embrace some kind of entitlement reform, his top aides are insisting that tax hikes are a big part of Obama's plan.
As he looks toward 2012, Obama is looking to the future by taking out old pages from the Democrat playbook. In the days ahead, we will hear more populist calls for class warfare and higher taxes on the rich. Democrats often refuse to define "rich" until it's time to rewrite the tax laws. Then they settle on a figure that includes most of the middle class.
But in their zeal to punish success, Democrats expose their ignorance of fundamental economics. Liberals don't understand that government does not create jobs. Poor people don't start businesses. Jobs are created by men and women who have capital to invest. Ours is a consumer-driven economy, but the more government takes, the less you have to spend. That is why reducing government spending is so important to future economic growth. The more Republicans can connect those issues, the better.
UPDATE: OBAMA TO ADDRESS THE NATION TOMORROW NIGHT
. . . Obama is playing follow the leader and will deliver an address tomorrow on entitlement reform. We know tax hikes will be the centerpiece of Obama's plan, but what else can we expect to hear from the president tomorrow? Not much, according to Democrat operatives. According to Politico, "Obama's aides are acutely aware of the danger if they are perceived as cutting too much from the entitlements at the heart of the Democratic Party's social-safety-net mandate."
And so the stage is set for 2012. One party wants to address the deficit by reducing spending, while the other party wants to raise your taxes. Sadly, the outcome is in doubt. (Gary Bauer)
Budget Deal Controversy
Budget Deal Divides Left And Right
Congressional leaders reached a deal at the 11th hour Friday night that has temporarily avoided a government shutdown. As is often the case with Washington deals, no one is happy. Liberals think Obama caved and conservatives think Republicans caved. Consider these headlines: "Budget Deal Leaves Liberals Disheartened" and "Tea Party Movement Activists Split On Budget Deal."
Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are not happy today. The New York Times' ultra-liberal economist Paul Krugman is not a happy camper either. Here is an excerpt of Krugman's column today:
"What have they done with Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn't seem to stand for anything in particular? . . . Maybe that terrible deal, in which Republicans ended up getting more than their opening bid, was the best he could achieve -- although it looks from here as if the president's idea of how to bargain is to start by . . . making pre-emptive concessions, then pursue a second round of negotiation with the G.O.P., leading to further concessions."
Now consider this from the center-right Wall Street Journal:
"One of the ironies of Friday's budget deal is that it is being criticized both by Ms. Pelosi and some conservative Republicans. We can understand Ms. Pelosi's angst. But conservatives are misguided if they think they could have done much better than Mr. Boehner . . . Republicans need to stay united for the bigger fights to come this year, and for now they and the tea party can take credit for spending cuts that even Mr. Obama feels politically obliged to sell as historic."
I commend House conservatives who oppose the deal like Mike Pence and Michele Bachmann. It is good that there is pressure from the right so that the leadership knows that it can't just roll over. Having worked in all eight years of Ronald Reagan's administrations, I'm tired of seeing government getting bigger and bigger.
At the same time, I realize John Boehner is in a difficult position. Friends, we have to remember that this budget fight is just one battle in a bigger war. The ultimate goal is to have a conservative House, a conservative Senate and a conservative in the White House. Yet, the closer we got to a government shutdown, the more the media's narrative of "GOP extremism," i.e., denying soldiers' pay over Planned Parenthood, gained ground. We cannot govern America with just the House of Representatives and Fox News.
The bottom line is this: We are not in this mess because of John Boehner. We are in this mess because the Democrats still control the Senate and the White House. They also have a liberal media that twists the facts and distorts what conservatives are trying to do.
I know a lot of folks are disappointed with this deal. But we will be devastated if Obama is reelected and Nancy Pelosi becomes Speaker of the House again after the 2012 elections. That's why CWF is working hard to make sure we win the bigger battle down the road. We are working to make sure that instead of 47 senators, we have as close to 60 as we can, working with a conservative president and a conservative House majority to make America a "shining city upon a hill" once again. (Source: Gary L. Bauer; End-of-Day; Monday, April 11, 2011)
The Good News Corner
States Vote on Deluge of Pro-Life Bills
Summary: Lawmakers are sending a message to the abortion industry.
The Missouri Senate voted 27-5 Thursday in favor of legislation that would protect preborn babies after the 20th week of pregnancy. The bill is based on the idea that babies can feel pain at that point of development. The measure now heads to the House, which has passed a similar bill.
"This bill sends a message to the abortion industry in Missouri: 'Don't mess with the lives and the future of viable unborn children in our state,'" said Joe Ortwerth, executive director of the Missouri Family Policy Council.
"Precious children who would otherwise never see the light of day will now have the opportunity to experience life to their fullest. We are grateful to the members of the Missouri Senate for acting to ensure that these children are no longer robbed of God's intended destiny for their lives."
The Ohio Senate voted 24-8 Wednesday to protect preborn babies once they are viable. It now goes to the House.
With a 69-19 vote, the Alabama House voted Thursday to ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on fetal pain. The bill now heads to the Senate.
Just before it adjourned for the year, the Idaho House voted 54-14 in favor of legislation that would protect preborn babies after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Gov. Butch Otter has 10 days to sign or veto it.
The Oregon House Judiciary Committee held a brief hearing Wednesday on a bill that would ban abortions after the 20th week. With a 30-30 split of control in the House, the committee chairmen agreed to let the legislation die.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find a pro-family policy group in your state.
Worship with Us Today!
Don Moen - Like Eagles
28 Haven't you known, haven't you heard that the everlasting God, ADONAI, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not grow tired or weary? His understanding cannot be fathomed. 29 He invigorates the exhausted, he gives strength to the powerless. 30 Young men may grow tired and weary, even the fittest may stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in ADONAI will renew their strength, they will soar aloft as with eagles' wings; when they are running they won't grow weary, when they are walking they won't get tired. (Isaiah 40:28-31, The Complete Jewish Bible)
Yes, Lord . . . !
