In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Attack on Religious Hiring Rights
• US Jews Fear Muslim Terror
• A Beautiful Video
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 22, 2011
"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
The Daily Brief
1. Beijing develops pulse weapons - Washington Times
China's military is developing electromagnetic pulse weapons that Beijing plans to use against U.S. aircraft carriers in any future conflict over Taiwan, according to an intelligence report made public on Thursday.
- Father, we ask you to thwart the plans for evil use of these weapons. We pray confusion upon those who would want to do harm to the U.S. or Israel. We pray for these weapons to fail, and we pray for the peace and safety of Taiwan, one of our allies. We ask for a hedge of protection around Taiwan, and that many in Taiwan, and China as well, will put their faith in you, and you will deliver them.
- "Behold, they may gather together and stir up strife, but it is not from Me. Whoever stirs up strife against you shall fall and surrender to you." (Isaiah 54:15)
2. Pakistani spies 'operating in Britain' - UK Telegraph
Pakistani spies have been operating a front organisation in London to exert political pressure on the government, it was claimed on Tuesday.
- Lord, we come against a spirit of intimidation, and threatening, which are spirits of control. We ask that the evil plans be exposed, according to your word, and that they "boomerang" on those who plan them. Amen.
- "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open." (Mark 4:22)
3. Greece Gets New Bailout as U.S. Nears Brink - Wall Street Journal
Euro-zone leaders agreed Thursday on a new $157 billion bailout for Greece and new steps to prevent its debt crisis from metastasizing across the Continent -- in a plan expected to trigger the first debt default by a nation using the common currency.
- Lord, we know that Greece needs help economically, and those in Europe fostering this "common currency" do not want their failure to cause a "domino" effect across Europe, so they wish to "rescue" Greece, in order to save themselves and their agenda. We also know that many in Europe dislike the U.S., and our continuance of use of the dollar, and would be happy to see us fail. We pray that our Legislative and Executive branches will get serious about permanent changes to limit government spending once for all, and learn to live within a budget as all of us must do.
- "Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." (Proverbs 25:28)
4.a) Exclusive: Fed planning for potential default - Reuters
The Federal Reserve is actively preparing for the possibility that the United States could default as a deadline for raising the government's $14.3 trillion borrowing limit looms, a top Fed policymaker said on Wednesday.
b) Boehner pulls out of White House debt talks - msnbc
House Speaker John Boehner abruptly broke off talks with Marxist ideologue Obama Friday night on a deal to make major cuts in federal spending and avert a threatened government default, sending already uncertain compromise efforts into instant crisis.
Within minutes, an obviously peeved Obama virtually ordered congressional leaders to the White House Saturday morning for fresh negotiations on raising the nation's debt limit.
- Father, again we come to you asking for wisdom for our leaders, self-control, and integrity. Help them to do the "hard thing" and be responsible for reigning in this debt, and work selflessly to bring integrity to the finances of the U.S. and to insure that this lifting of the debt limit end as a policy. May we pay our debtors, and still meet the needs of our nation. May there be some responsible roll-backs of unnecessary spending.
-"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
5. New Terror Report Warns of Insider Threat to Utilities - ABC News
Sabotage by an insider at a major utility facility, including a chemical or oil refinery, could provide al Qaeda with its best opportunity for the kind of massive Sept. 11 anniversary attack Osama bin Laden was planning, according to U.S. officials.
-"Lord, again we come to you, as the Exposer of the works of darkness, and ask mercy, that you would expose the evil plans of those who wish to do us harm, and bring to light the plans and the perpetrators. We ask that these threats would be dealt with quickly and emphatically. Lord, we ask that the enemy be disarmed, and those people he wishes to use as weapons against us, would be snatched from the enemy's camp and come to know you as their Saviour and true God! Amen!
-"In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you." (Isaiah 54:14)
6. House panel backs ban on funds for international groups that promote abortions - Washington Post
A House panel on Thursday endorsed a ban on giving federal money to international groups that perform abortions or provide abortion information, a fresh effort to reverse Obama administration policy.
- Father, we thank you for these Representatives in the House who have endorsed this ban, and we pray for its success, as it goes through the various processes, and we pray for its approval!
- "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Call upon Me in the day of trouble. I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15)
1. IDF in buying spree in anticipation of September - Jerusalem Post
As the Palestinians move forward with their plans to unilaterally declare statehood in September, the army has decided to procure new non-lethal weapons that will help disperse large demonstrations and marches that could break out in the West Bank and along Israel's borders in the North.
2. Abbas: UN approval will allow us to treat Israel as equals - Jerusalem Post
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday the Palestinians were seeking membership in the United Nations so they could enter negotiations with Israel as equal partners.
3. Lebanon is 7 years behind Israel in oil, gas fields - Jerusalem Post
Lebanon is at least seven years behind Israel in terms of developing its maritime natural gas and oil fields, Lebanese newspaper As-Safir reported United Nations special representative Michael Williams as saying Thursday. Williams urged Lebanon to begin passing laws that would allow energy companies to begin searching for oil and natural gas in Lebanon's Mediterranean coast.
4. Netanyahu to Arab TV: Israel Ready to Negotiate 'Everything' - VOA News
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Arabic television network Al-Arabiya that he is ready to put "everything on the table" if Palestinians agree to renew peace talks.
5. Poll: Majority of U.S. Jews support Mideast peace plan based on 1967 borders - Ha'aretz
A J Street poll published Thursday shows that 57% of U.S. Jews back a Middle East peace plan based on 1967 borders with mutually agreed-upon land swaps, while 43% opposed such a move.
The Daily Jot
Homeland Security video pits Americans against Americans
In April 2009, the Department of Homeland Security under the new administration issued a report on "Rightwing Extremism" in the United States. The report depicted as possible terrorists those interested in end times prophecies; concerned about a possible economic collapse; opposed to illegal immigration, abortion, and same sex marriage; opposed to restrictions on the right to bear arms; and Americans who are returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, a new DHS video release depicts mostly white Americans as terrorist suspects and encourages all Americans to spy on their neighbors and report any suspicious activity to the government.
The 10 minute video makes a point to say that terrorists are not a specific race, religion or gender, but rather comprise specific behaviors that are suspicious and out of ordinary. The video is entitled "If you see something, say something." Throughout the movie it has several black people reporting the suspicious activities of white people. In fact, of the approximately 22 people portrayed as terrorists in the video, 17 are white males, two are white females, one is a black female, one is a black male, and one is a Muslim of Middle Eastern descent. The Muslim is only found on a newspaper headline with his name beside his picture. All but three of the others are actually committing suspicious acts.
The underlying messages of this video are incredible. Blacks are encouraged to report to the Department of Homeland Security any suspicious activities of whites. Whites are predominantly purveyors of terrorism in America. Terrorism is not connected to any religion or race, except whites. Truth is, this is a $10 million taxpayer funded class warfare propaganda film pitting Americans against Americans on the basis of race, while at the same time ignoring the very fact that the overwhelming majority of terrorist acts are perpetrated by followers of Islam. That the government of the United States would propagate such suspicion and distrust among its people is immoral and un-American.
Jesus said in John 15:12-13, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Our government should be promoting the natural affection we should have for one another as countrymen, not trying to divide us with race or religious oriented suspicion. Our government should encourage us to help one another in love, not to spy on one another in distrust. Our government should encourage a class structure that unifies us toward liberty and justice for all rather than to pit us against one another. Jesus also said in Mark 3:24, "And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." Yet this is the division being promoted by our very own government.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Attack on Religious Hiring Rights of Faith-Based Government Contractors
Recently, a group of faith-based organizations sent a letter to President Obama, urging him to preserve existing policies that allow faith-based organizations that perform contract work for the federal government to nevertheless consider religious criteria in their employment decisions. Groups who signed the letter include Focus on the Family, American Center for Law and Justice, Bethany Christian Services, World Vision, The Navigators, and many more.
In 2002, The Honorable President George W. Bush established the policy for faith-based government contractors through Executive Order 13279. However, the executive order did not create a new policy, but merely reconciled federal contracting rules with the existing Title VII religious hiring provision, which allows faith-based organizations to take religion into account when making employment decisions. Faith-based organizations regularly consider religious criteria when hiring and firing, to ensure that their employees share their values.
The letter opposed a letter sent a few weeks earlier by a group of 52 organizations, which urged Obama to overturn the religious hiring rights.
- We come before You Heavenly Father, petitioning that we as Your people may continue to follow Your ways while performing our work in contracts with our government. We ask You to send the Holy Spirit to hover over and speak into President Obama's innermost being, nudging him to preserve the existing policies for our contracts. Abba Father we also petition You to strengthen us to do what we know from You is what is required, which is not to deny Your Will and Word, even if these policies are not continued. Amen.
- "Continue to have faith and do what you know is right. Some people have rejected this, and their faith has been shipwrecked." (I Timothy 1:19)
Poll: US Jews Fear Muslim Terror
Vast Majority Oppose U.N. Vote to Establish a Palestinian State
A new poll reveals that US Jews fear terrorism by American Moslems, are solidly against Palestinian Authority demands. The survey also confirmed previous polls that Obama is losing Jewish support.
Democratic pollster Pat Caddell and Republican pollster John McLaughlin conducted the poll for the non-partisan Security America Now organization.
The most startling result of the survey is that 76 percent of the respondents are concerned about Islamic terrorism committed by American-born Moslems.
The survey also showed a sharp change in the views of American Jews, most of whom are center or center-left concerning the Israeli-Palestinian Authority dispute. There is solid across-the-board opposition to Israel's making further serious concessions to the PA.
Eighty-eight percent believe that a prerequisite for Palestinian statehood is its recognition of Israel as a Jewish state, a demand of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Furthermore, 81 percent oppose Israel's being forced to accept the borders that existed between the temporary Armistice Lines in 1949 and the Six-Day War in 1967.
Concerning Jerusalem, 73 percent believe the city should be the united capital of Israel, and only eight percent agree that Israel should be forced to surrender parts of Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority.
More than 80 percent oppose the PA attempt to achieve statehood, based on its demands, by going through the United Nations, a move that the president also opposes.
Obama's confidence that the Arab Spring uprisings will lead to a better Middle East are not shared by Jewish voters, 54 percent of whom think that the uprisings have made the world more dangerous for Israel.
As for their voting intentions in 2012, only 43 percent say they would cast a ballot for e-electing Obama. "These most loyal of Democrat voters are very concerned about the future of Israel and the tense relations between the Obama Administration and the State of Israel," commented Paddell. (IsraelNationalNews.com)
- PRAY that US Jews continue to have a more heightened understanding and concerns over the future of the Jewish State and Jerusalem. Ask the Holy Spirit to impart an even greater discernment about the truth of words being directed at them from the White House, that they might act and vote wisely in the days ahead. Amen.
- "Your fidelity to the truth is everywhere known. I rejoice over you, therefore, but I wish you to be wise as to what is good, and simple-minded as to what is evil." (Romans 16:19)
"Jerusalem" -- A Beautiful Video
For your weekend viewing pleasure . . .
After a year of research and preparation, the giant screen film JERUSALEM advanced into production with an unprecedented aerial shoot throughout Israel and the West Bank. Scheduled for worldwide release in 2013, the film will take audiences on a spectacular tour of the Holy Land and the city once believed to lie at the center of the world.
This is a beautiful documentary . . . if you do not have HD . . . just click it off in the right lower corner of the video and click on the full screen and it will flow.
The clip, filmed in IMAX 3D, is a preview of a Christian documentary called Jerusalem that will be released in 2013. You may not have IMAX on your computer, but the view is still pretty great.
To view this film, go here: http://vimeo.com/15034110
The Good News Corner:
In Honor of My Mother . . .
Dear Friends,
I can't close this issue without honoring a very special person in my life -- my mother, Betty Cochran. Mom was born on July 22, 1921 in Lake Forest, Illinois, so today, Betty Cochran will celebrate her 90th birthday!!! Yeah, Mom!
I am with her now in California and will not be writing the OCAP for you on Monday. Instead, our backup team will publish the Daily Brief, in its entirety.
Meanwhile . . .
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Mom!
It's been a GREAT 90 years!!!!!!!!
Praise God!!!!!!!!!!
In His Grace,
Sara Cochran Ballenger
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Herndon, VA
Worship with Us Today!
"O Give Thanks" - Paul Wilbur
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name.
Seek the Lord and His strength, glory to His name.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! . . .
