In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Obama's Plan To Raise Taxes
• Debt Defying
• Update on DOMA
• Muslims Rioting Again
• 21-Day Prayer Resource for Mexico
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
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The Daily Brief - Wednesday, April 20, 2011
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)
The Daily Brief
1. Kadhafi must be toppled 'by force': rebel chief - AFP
Moamer Kadhafi can only be toppled by force, Libya's rebel president said Tuesday during a visit to Rome in which Italy said the opposition could be aided with military equipment and foreign oil sales.
- God, remove Kadhafi from power and may the people of Libya cry out to You for help, and center their hearts on heaven-sent relief. Your kindness brings repentance in the lives of the people, saving their souls by the blood of Jesus which He shed on the Cross of Calvary for the remission of sin. Let it be, Lord. In Jesus' Name.
- "He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes sin shall have mercy. Happy is the man that fears always: but he that hardens his heart shall fall into mischief. As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people." (Proverbs 28:13-15)
2. China Urges US to Protect Creditors After S&P Warning - CNBC
China's Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that the United States must take "responsible" measures to protect investors in its debt after Standard & Poor threatened to lower its credit rating on the United States due to a bulging budget deficit.
- Father God, the orchestration and decisions of the secret societies to establish relations with China was planned to put America in a binding contract that would pull this country to its knees. And for all this, we cry out to the one and only God of the universe to disentangle America from this stranglehold. We call forth warring angels from heaven to intervene and break these ropes by the holy fire of God and the blood of Jesus to bring freedom to our country. In Jesus' Name.
- "And shall return unto the Lord your God, and shall obey His voice according to all that I command this day, you and your children, with all your heart, and with all your soul; That then the Lord your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you, and will return and gather you from all the nations, where the Lord your God has scattered you."(Deuteronomy 30:2-3)
3. Cuba Lays Foundation for a New Leader - NY Times
Cuba on Tuesday made the most significant change to its leadership since the 1959 revolution, naming someone other than the Castro brothers for the first time to fill the second-highest position in the Communist Party and possibly setting the stage for their eventual successor.
- God, we ask that Cuba's successor will find Christ as Savior of his soul, that he have a heart of flesh and not a heart of stone, and through the goodness that only comes from God will he bring Cuba out of its depressed state. Bind the forces of darkness and render them powerless by the blood of Jesus. Save the people of Cuba. In the mighty Name of Jesus we pray.
- "Yet the Lord has not given you a heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day." (Deuteronomy 29:4)
4. Wildfires continue to rage across Texas - CBS News
Dry spell leaving state in extreme drought aids wildfires throughout the state that have burned more than 1,000 square miles.
- God, we stand before You with our hands raised asking that You will send a heavy rain upon Texas that will put out the massive fires that have traveled "with the wind at its back" causing tremendous loss of property. We trust in Your divine intervention that the fires will be extinguished today. In Jesus' Name.
- "The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. The Lord sits upon the flood; yea, the Lord sits King forever." (Psalm 29:7,10)
5. New Home Construction Rises to Six-Month High - Fox News
Builders broke ground last month on the most new homes in six months, giving the weak housing market a slight boost at the start of the spring buying season.
- God, we thank You that homes are being built again, and we ask that You fill these homes with families who will grow stronger and more stable together. May rock-solid foundations be laid for families who are filled with love for each other and who will rely on the God of their salvation for a bright future. In Jesus' Name.
- "He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." (Luke 6:48)
6. U.S. Hurries to Sell GM Stake - Wall Street Journal
The U.S. government plans to sell a significant share of its remaining stake in General Motors Co. this summer despite the disappointing performance of the auto maker's stock, people familiar with the matter said.
- Father, we step into the gap and lift our hearts in prayer that Your mighty hand will prevent the government from selling its remaining stake in General Motors Co. As You step into this situation, there will be a mighty turnaround that will breath new life into this age-old American company. Ream out that which has weakened this company. Reverse and break the strength that the adverse control has had over GM. Place a mighty warring angel from heaven at its doors to prevent this "plan to sell"; suddenly bring in new life that will raise GM from the dust that it may live. In Jesus' Name.
- "The Lord makes poor, and makes rich: He brings low, and lifts up. He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, and set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He has set the world upon them." (I Samuel 2:7-8)
7. U.S. Debt Tops $14.3 Trillion for First Time - CNS News
The national debt has passed another historical milestone, topping $14.3 trillion for the first time ever, according to data released by the U.S. Treasury late Monday afternoon.
- God, the hands of the thief, who is the deceiver - the one who robs, steals and destroys - has brought the United States to this point in time. The thief has run roughshod over America to destroy it and bring it to shambles. But we call on the Lord God who is Master and Ultimate Power over the thief and his ungodly works. Miraculously erase this ungodly debt that has been a setup. Restore, revive, and reinstate America to its original state of being; a God-fearing, God-honoring nation who stands as a light to all nations in the world. In Jesus' Name.
- "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." (Jeremiah 29:11)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. For thus says the LORD, Sing with gladness for Jacob, shout among the chief of the nations: publish, praise, and say, O LORD, save Your people, the remnant of Israel. " (Jeremiah 31:6,7))
1. US rejects Palestinian bid to seek UN approval for state - Jerusalem Post
The US on Tuesday rejected Palestinian plans to pursue efforts to ask the UN Security Council to recognize a Palestinian state in September.
2. 'Goldstone retraction affected by misuse of Gaza report findings' - Ha'aretz
A New York Times article Tuesday claimed Richard Goldstone's apparent retraction of at least some of the war crime allegations leveled against Israel came as a result of his realization that his Gaza war report was used not to advance peace but to attack Israel on the international stage.
3. Abbas: Britain and France would recognize Palestinian state - Ha'aretz
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas reiterated that the Palestinians are ready for statehood, but that the PA does not agree with the Israeli idea of temporary borders.
4. Israel Air Force reveals its satellite secrets - Ha'aretz
Israel's observational satellites take up a large chunk of the multi-year Halamish plan the army is preparing, which is due to come before the cabinet for approval.
5. Palestinians counting on Obama for state - Ynet News
The Palestinians are signaling they are still planning to go ahead with efforts to declare an independent state with the backing of the United Nations.
The Daily Jot
Birther issue aside, Constitution must be upheld
Only 26% of Iowa Republicans believe that the president was a properly born US citizen. Billionaire Donald Trump, who seems to be positioning for a presidential run, says he doesn't believe Obama is a natural born citizen, and has hired an investigative team to learn more. The only ones who seem to be truly convinced that Obama is a qualified citizen are those who do not hold in high regard the foundational principles of the Constitution. The president must not be clear on the issue either, though he says he is. Actions speak louder than words--he has spent over a million dollars in lawyers defending his position that he doesn't have to show his birth certificate. And herein is the real issue.
The Constitution of the United States declares in Article II Section 1: "No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States." It appears that throughout history that it was a non issue, until the 2008 election. Political parties certified that their candidates met the requirements to hold office and this normally was not questioned. It appears to be an honor system.
George Washington said in his 1796 Farewell Address: "The very idea of the power and the right of the people to establish government presupposes the duty of every individual to obey the established government. All obstructions to the execution of the laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community."
He continued to warn about political parties, saying, "they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion." This is the issue if Article II Section 1 is not enforced by the states or by the Supreme Court. A question has been raised and for the sake of the Constitution, it should be answered. Jesus warned us in Matthew 24:4, "Take heed that no man deceive you." The supreme law of the land is being challenged and the people deserve an answer. Perhaps we should demand it?
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Obama's Plan To Raise Taxes
Despite Obama's use of intentionally confusing language in last week's deficit reduction speech ("spending reductions in the tax code" as a euphemism for tax hikes etc.), a recent analysis demonstrates just how much the president plans to raise taxes in order to support his big government spending spree.
There are four competing plans -- one by Obama, one by Rep. Paul Ryan and two plans from independent, bi-partisan commissions. Goldman Sachs, evaluating all four plans on a 10-year scale, offered the best side-by-side comparison. Three of the four proposals rely heavily on tax increases to reduce the deficit. The Ryan plan assumes that you are taxed enough already and relies almost entirely on spending cuts.
According to Goldman Sachs' analysis, 38% of the deficit reduction achieved by the Simpson-Bowles commission comes from higher taxes; 45% of the deficit reduction achieved by the Domenici-Rivlin commission comes from higher taxes. But nearly 60% of the deficit reduction achieved by Barack Obama's plan is the result of tax hikes. The Ryan plan assumes a revenue increase of just 6%, achieved by the implementation of a flatter, simpler tax code.
The contrasting views of the two parties could not be clearer. Obama is calling for nearly $2 trillion in tax increases, while the Ryan plan, passed by the House of Representatives on Friday, dramatically cuts spending and reduces the size of government. Ryan's plan won't get past Harry Reid's Senate or Obama's veto pen. If Ryan's vision of less spending and smaller government is going to become a reality, conservatives must prevail in the 2012 elections. (Gary Bauer)
Debt Defying
The week before Easter is normally a quiet one in the nation's capital, but it grew very loud yesterday after Standard & Poor's (S&P), a credit rating outfit, said that there is a "one-in-three" chance that the United States' credit rating will be downgraded. S&P's warning came because they don't think that politicians in Washington will seriously address the increasing debt problem our nation is facing.
It is little surprise that the ratings group has taken this stance. Instead of offering up real solutions, Obama -- who voted against the last debt increase when he was a senator -- and Democrats in Congress are reverting back to false scare tactics over entitlement reforms.
Such rhetoric might winObama and Democrats in Congress political points, but the burden they are seeking to put on future generations borders on dishonesty. Two weeks ago, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner sent a letter to congressional leaders estimating that the U.S. will hit the $14.3 trillion limit on its borrowing ability by mid-May and with some creativity we could stave off the deadline till July 8th. If the Republicans agree to raise the debt limit once again, they should only agree to do so if the increase is coupled with real spending reforms, such as passage of Senator Mike Lee's (R-Utah) Balanced Budget Amendment or a repeal of Obama's multi-trillion dollar health care fiasco. This will send a clear message to our nation's creditors that we are serious about paying our debts. (Family Research Council)
Update on DOMA
Boehner Solicits Help of Right General for Marriage Cases
House Speaker John Boehner continues to show that he is serious about defending marriage in court. Yesterday I reported to you that the Speaker is seeking to take the funds that will be needed for the House defense of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) away from the budget for the Justice Department--which abandoned its duty to defend the law in February. Now we have learned who will be representing the House in this litigation--the same man who represented the United States of America in court during the Bush administration, former Solicitor General Paul Clement.
The silver lining in Obama's and Attorney General Eric Holder's neglect of duty is that the law will now be ably defended by someone who actually wants to win. As Ed Whelan of the Ethics and Public Policy Center said in a Congressional hearing on Friday, Holder's DOJ had "only been pretending to defend the Defense of Marriage Act while it has actively been working to sabotage it." Clement filed his first court motion on behalf of the House yesterday, in the New York case Windsor v. U.S.A.--one of the cases that led Holder to declare the administration now believes DOMA to be unconstitutional. I urge Mr. Clement to enlist the help of other attorneys with direct experience on the marriage issue. Together, I expect them to be a winning team. (Family Research Council)
Muslims Rioting Again
Muslims in Nigeria are rioting. Churches are being burned. Thousands of Christians have been forced to flee their homes. Red Cross workers report seeing bodies lying by the roadside.
Did Pastor Jones in Florida burn another Koran? No. The chaos in Africa's largest oil producing nation stems from an election dispute. To be clear, this is not a Bush v. Gore Florida-style nail-biter. In fact, the results aren't even in dispute. According to one report, "Observers have called the poll the fairest in decades . . ."
So what's the problem? In the fairest election in decades, Nigerians elected a Christian as their president and defeated an Islamist by an overwhelming margin. The response of many Nigerian Muslims has been to murder, cause mayhem and burn churches. And, of course, this vicious assault by Muslim mobs will not be condemned by Obama or the U.N. (Gary Bauer)
21-Day Prayer Resource for Mexico
Friends, Here is a valuable 21-day prayer resource for Mexico, its drug war and related issues (also including the USA and its involvement), both in English and Spanish. Cindy Jacobs and her prayer network has asked us to send it on to you. This guide starts this Friday, April 15, and culminates with the Cinco de Mayo and US National Day of Prayer, both of which fall on May 5. It will help you to pray specifically, issue by issue, for the next three weeks.
Please forward it on to others in your prayer network or group that should have it for their intercessory prayer use.
Let's believe the Lord together for the overthrow of the drug cartels and the violence, human trafficking, and other horrific crimes that have brought Mexico to the brink. It is time for His breakthrough, bringing deliverance and transformation, and all our prayers will help to make this happen.
Thanks for your support,
John Robb
IPC Chairman
International Prayer Council
To access this prayer guide, go here.
The Good News Corner
Report of an Extraordinary Miracle
Yesterday, we received this message from Court Wood, Founder, In Jesus' Name Ministires. Please read on to learn of a true miracle that recently took place . . . somewhere in the Phillippines. Praise God!
During my last visit to the Southern Philippines, Alex, our godly director, took me to visit the home of Toto and Tonia Popera, a wonderful Christian couple who live with their children in extreme poverty. Their home is a shack built right over a sewerage drainage ditch. During my visit, Alex and I prayed for Toto who was suffering from ulcers and lung cancer.
Yesterday, I received word from Alex that after some remission from his illnesses, Toto became acutely ill and was taken to the hospital.
Following is Alex's report of the remarkable last hour of Toto's life.
-- Court Wood
Dear Dad Court, Do you remember the brother whom we visited whose house was in the middle of the sewerage drainage? He was sick at that time with ulcers, and he also had lung cancer. He was healed and serving the Lord, but lately he had been bedridden with illness for days. When he became much worse, he was rushed to the hospital. At the latter end of his dying moments his blood pressure was zero and his pulse rate zero for more than hour, but he still keep preaching to his family encouraging them to serve the Lord. Calling other children and grandchildren as he talked as if he had no illness at all. They could not confine him to ICU since they did not have the money to pay.
The doctors and nurses were baffled how a man without pulse rate and zero blood pressure could talk like that. They could not believe it and they kept pacing the floor frantically as they wanted to revive his vital signs. But Brother Toto refused it, thanking the doctors, but saying that he was prepared to meet God. The doctors could not understand how a clinically dead person could talk to them like that.
About an hour went by with no vital signs but he still kept talking as a normal person who was alive. The people around him were so amazed they asked our sister Tonia what's their religion. She said "we are Christians" and that's the very first time that they had seen a person who was so ready and confident to face death and could give exhortations preaching to serve God.
At the last moment he just closed his eyes as if going to sleep with no signs of struggle as he faced death and met the Lord. To God be the glory that at his last moment he preached the word of God.
Please pray for the Popera family, especially for Toto's wife, sister Tonia. She is one of the very faithful and very zealous workers in the Gospel. She has such faith that had influenced her husband to be restored back to serving the Lord.
In Jesus Christ, Alex and Emma
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21)
To learn more about the wonderful work of In Jesus' Name Ministries, go here.
Worship with Us Today!
Honoring ISRAEL on Passover: Hatikva - The Hope
The National Anthem of Israel
During this very special time for Jews all over the world, please join us in praying for the peace of Jerusalem. Thank you.
