In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• Daily Jot
• "Don't Call My Bluff"
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 15, 2011
"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you." (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
The Daily Brief
1. House GOP Takes New Tack in Debt Talks
Schedules Vote on 'Cap, Cut and Balance' Pledge
House Republican lawmakers are strategizing how to get a debt deal done in short order and avoid any potential loss in the U.S. credit rating, saying Friday they will vote on legislation next Tuesday to "cap, cut and balance" the budget.
The legislation -- an extension of a pledge introduced by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, and signed by dozens of GOP lawmakers this week -- aims to reduce federal spending, impose spending caps over the next decade and require the eventual passage of a balanced-budget amendment to raise the debt ceiling. (Fox News) Read more.
- Please PRAY that Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and his Republican colleagues will HOLD FIRM and REFUSE to RAISE the Debt Ceiling.
- "The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously." (Psalm 37:21)
2. Cantor to Reid: 'The Speaker and I Have Consistently Been on the Same Page' - CNSNews.com
In response to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) claiming that he should not be at the debt limit negotiation table, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said both he and House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) have "consistently been on the same page." "The Speaker and I have consistently been on the same page and it's just as he laid out in terms of the principles that we are operating under, that our confidence is fully behind," said Cantor at a press conference on Thursday. "We're not going to raise the debt ceiling if we don't have cuts in excess of that amount, that we don't want to raise taxes, and that we want to structurally change this system so that we stop this from happening again."
By "changing the system," Cantor was referring to House Republicans' support for a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution as part of a deal to raise the debt limit.
- LORD, we thank You that we have some representatives in Congress who do want to limit our spending, and who are willing to risk their own careers in order to do the right thing for the people! We do pray for all those in negotiations that they would be given the wisdom they need to responsibly "rein in" this seemingly uncontrolled debt. We come against a spirit of intimidation that would threaten the lawmakers. We ask You to soften the hard hearts and plow up the fallow ground, that they may come to a consensus that is pleasing to You!
- "Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)
3. Bachmann: Obama's Default Warning 'Simply Not True' - CNSNews.com
Reps. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), Steve King (R-Iowa) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) said Wednesday that Obama has been misleading the American people [another word might be lying!] by saying that the United States would default if Congress does not vote to raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2.
"This is a misnomer that I believe that the president and the treasury secretary have been trying to pass off on the American people, and it's this: That if Congress fails to raise the debt ceiling by $2.5 trillion, that somehow the United States will go into default and we will lose the full faith and credit of the United States. That is simply not true," Bachmann said . . .
- Father, we again ask You to "stop the mouth of liars", and bind up that spirit of intimidation, that would try to use "scare tactics" to pressure opponents to cower and abandon their commonsense. We ask for the truth to come forth . . . for we know that You are truth, and indeed the "truth will set us free"!
- "In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility and justice ;let your right hand achieve awesome deeds." (Psalm 45:4)
4. Belief in Bible Climbed as Employment Declined, Say Gallup and Labor Dept. Data - CNSNews.com
Belief in the Bible hit a 35-year low in the United States in May 2008 when unemployment was at the relatively low level of 5.4 percent, but has begun to rebound over the past three years as unemployment has climbed to over 9 percent, according to separate streams of data published by the Gallup poll and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Lord, it is sad to see that many people do not turn to You until their backs are against the wall. We pray for the American people to realize that You are a good God, and You want to bless those who do call on You to intervene in their circumstances. We ask You to reveal Yourself as Savior and Lord, so they may turn to You and experience Your grace and mercy. Remove the blinders from their eyes and rend the veil that has obscured Your goodness and love, so that they will respond to Your invitation to life, and life more abundantly.
- "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10)
5. California Gov. Jerry Brown Signs Law Requiring Public Schools to Teach
'Gay History' - AP
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a landmark bill adding lessons about gay history to social studies classes in California's public schools. Brown, a Democrat, signed the bill Thursday, making California the first state in the nation to require public schools to include the contributions of gays and lesbians in social studies curriculum.
The Democratic-majority Legislature passed the bill last week on a largely party-line vote. The bill has drawn criticism from some churches and conservative groups that argue such instruction would expose students to a subject that some parents find objectionable.
Democratic state Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco, the bill's author, has said that teaching gay history in public schools will teach students to be more accepting of gays and lesbians.
- Father, we repent on behalf of Governor Jerry Brown, and the California legislature, for this horrible sin against the children, teaching this perversion as "normal". These young minds tend to believe whatever they are taught. We know that children are a heritage of the Lord, and that You have entrusted us to "teach them in the way they should go". We ask for Your truth to be revealed to these children and You would shield them from those who are trying to do them harm. We also ask that somehow this legislation would be challenged and overturned!
- "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones." (Luke 17:2)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"The LORD has prepared His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all." (Psalm 103:19)
1. Arab League Backs Palestinian Bid for UN statehood - Jerusalem Post
The Palestinian Authority on Thursday welcomed the Arab League's decision to ask the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines as a "very important step."
2. US rejects Arab League's support for PA's UN statehood bid - Jerusalem Post
An Arab League decision to ask the UN to recognize a Palestinian state along the pre-1967 lines would not serve the peace process, the US said on Thursday.
3. Israeli experts: Demise of Syria regime is only a matter of time - Ha'aretz
Israeli defense officials said in a recent analysis it's just a matter of time before Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime falls. This line echoes comments by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who last month told Haaretz he thought Assad's regime would fall within several months.
4. Arabs, Jews to march for Palestine - Ynet News
The Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity Movement is set to lead a rally across Jerusalem on Friday in support of the Palestinian bid for statehood.
5. Israel hits total of six targets throughout Gaza - Jerusalem Post
Israel Air Force aircraft carried out air strikes against a total of six targets throughout the Gaza Strip overnight Thursday, in direct response to the firing of high-trajectory projectiles by Palestinian terrorists at western Negev communities, the IDF Spokesperson announced.
Daily Jot
Obama threats and tantrums signal need for change
Virginia Republican Congressman Eric Cantor told FOX News that the president stormed out of debt ceiling meetings at the White House on Wednesday saying, 'Ronald Reagan wouldn't sit here. You either have to compromise on the dollar figure or the grand bargain' . . . He said 'don't call my bluff. I'm going to the American people on this.'" Obama is right to a certain extent saying that Ronald Reagan wouldn't have sat through that. Reagan would have had the issue resolved by now. Reagan would not have threatened senior citizens, veterans, and the disabled with cutting off their Social Security. But Obama, when someone disagrees with his socialist spending agenda, throws a tantrum and walks out.
The debate over the debt ceiling appears to me to have many meanings. From the macro point of view, it is the debate over whether the government can continue to spend your tax dollars at a rate of about $80,000 per minute. Raising the debt ceiling only enables this covetousness to continue. If there is continuous raising of the debt limit without true budget cuts, and I am not talking about amounts over a ten year period, the government will continue to grow larger with greater debt and eventually the weight of that debt will collapse the economy, if it hasn't already. This is exactly what socialists want because it will make the government the central part of the economy, with people dependent on the government.
When people are dependent on the government, the government can then threaten them, as Obama has threatened senior citizens, the disabled and veterans with withholding life sustaining needs to get what he wants. Good stewardship is not spending taxpayer money to renovate Islamic mosques in other countries, or to fund the president's disbanded grass roots organizing group, ACORN, in its re-birthed subsidiaries, or nation building efforts with a terrorist organization such as the Muslim Brotherhood, or the murderous Planned Parenthood, or funding Moslem businesses overseas. Good stewardship is also not robbing the Social Security Trust Fund to fund other government programs. This must be stopped!
This nation is at a crossroads. Obama storming out of a meeting invoking Ronald Reagan and throwing a passive aggressive temper tantrum is not good reason to continue government spending at lethal levels. National security and the general welfare of the public is at stake. Now more than ever we need to collectively become a 2 Chronicles 7:14 people, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Our sin is not following the word of God in the first place and it has gotten us into a lot of trouble. Let's change that. Let's decide today to change the course of this nation.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
"Don't Call My Bluff"
Yesterday's White House debt limit negotiations ended with what reporters described as an "agitated" Obama lecturing House Majority Leader Eric Cantor and then storming out of the room.
Cantor's offense? He reportedly interrupted Obama. Oh, the horror!
According to Cantor, he was trying to ask Obama a question about the House possibly holding a series of votes on various options to address the debt limit. At that point, Obama cut him off and said, "Eric, don't call my bluff. I'm going to the American people with this.'" Today, Senator Harry Reid, no doubt prompted by Obama, is demanding that Rep. Cantor be banned from the meetings.
I suggest they throw Biden out instead!
Obama says he is a tolerant man, but he is very intolerant when conservatives challenge him. Poor Joe the Plumber once questioned him and in short order Obama "hacks" went through Joe's financial records and marriage history.
Remember Obama's recent outburst when a reporter from Texas kept pressing him to answer his questions? How about this exchange with Bret Baier? Then there was his seething anger in the Oval Office when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dared to remind him of the realities of the Middle East.
Obama's frustration is not with just one or two overly aggressive reporters. Obama has evidently had enough of the entire White House press corps and is taking steps to limit its access.
According to this Politico report Obama doesn't like it when reporters shout questions at him, even though every other [real/certified] president could handle it.
Newsflash, Mr. Obama: The political arena is not your classroom. Reporters, congressional leaders and the American people are not your students; you are a public servant, not our professor. Judging from the state of the economy, you clearly don't have all the answers. And based on the results of the last election, perhaps you should try listening to House Republicans more often! Then again, this arrogance should surprise no one. This is the same man who once remarked about his own political success: ". . . this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs to the jobless; this was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal . . ."
So, if you are Obama and see yourself with god-like powers to stop the oceans from rising and to heal the earth, it must be very irritating to deal with mere mortal men like Cantor. (Source: Gary Bauer)
The Good News Corner:
South Sudan Thanks God for Its Independence
Their new national anthem begins: "Oh God, we praise and glorify You for Your grace on South Sudan."
(Juba, South Sudan)-The world's newest nation, South Sudan, celebrated its independence on July 9 with news outlets around the world estimating hundreds of thousands of people gathering to celebrate in Juba, the new capitol. During the celebration, citizens watched their new president, Salva Kir, be sworn in and listened to the official declaration of independence as it was read out loud by Kir.
"Never again shall South Sudanese be oppressed for their political beliefs," announced Kir. "Never again shall our people be discriminated [against] on account of race or religion. Never again shall we roam the world as sojourners and refugees. We have reclaimed our permanent home given to us by God as our birthright. As we bask in the glory of nationhood, I call upon all South Sudanese to put the long and sad history of war, hardship and loss behind them and open a new chapter of peace and reconciliation in our lives."
As reported in Baptist Press News, the official ceremonies began with the singing of the country's new national anthem which begins, "Oh God, we praise and glorify You for Your grace on South Sudan."
The report also notes that leading up to the celebration, government officials urged citizens to attend churches and other houses of worship to pray for peace and thank God for their newfound freedom.
[Source: Charles Braddix & Zoe Allen - Baptist Press News]
(Reported by: Teresa Neumann, Breaking Christian News)
Worship with Us Today!
"You Are My Refuge" - Shannon Wexelberg
I have found a place I can call my own
here in Your embrace, where Your mercy overflows.
It's here that all my doubts and fears just melt away.
I lay my burdens down, and I look upon Your face.
You are my Refuge, You are my Sanctuary
Oh, when I feel afraid, You're my Hiding Place.
You are my Refuge, and when my storm is raging
underneath Your wings, I rejoice and sing,
for You are my Refuge.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God
shall abide underneath the shadow of Your wings.
