In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Update: Obamacare in Court
• Update: Stimulus Bill
• Update: Houston Veteran's Cemetery
• 108 Congressmen Uphold "Under God" in Pledge
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
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The Daily Brief - Wednesday, July 6, 2011
"Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." (James 5:8)
The Daily Brief
1.a. Obama, Democrats Weigh Temporary Debt Limit Increase - VOA News
Obama and Senate Democrats are reported to be considering a short-term increase on the U.S. debt ceiling to avoid the government from going into default and break an impasse between Mr. Obama and Republican lawmakers.
b.) Republicans Might Accept 'Mini' Deal on Debt Ceiling, Senate's Cornyn Says - Bloomberg
Republicans might accept a "mini" deal with the Obama administration on raising the debt limit, Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican leader, said yesterday on "Fox News Sunday."
- Father, what appears to be a helpful move could well lead the United States into a noose around its neck, tightening ever tighter. We ask You, God, to take the blinders off the eyes of every Republican and Democrat in office that they see clearly with their eyes, and perceive the truth versus lies, and look to God for direction. Lead them by Your will and guide them to vote accordingly. Bind the evil spirits of deception by the blood of Jesus and loose the Holy Spirit upon them. In Jesus Name.
- "Blessed is the man that hears God, watching daily at His gates, waiting at the posts of His doors." (Proverbs 8:34)
2. McCain, Graham: Afghanistan Drawdown Is 'Unnecessary Risk' - Fox News
Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, visiting U.S. troops in Afghanistan over the Fourth of July weekend, used the term "unnecessary risk" on Sunday to describe President Obama's decision to remove 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year.
- God, we lift up the nation of Afghanistan and ask that You shake the enemy out of that country by Your mighty hands. Save and deliver those who have known nothing but fear, bloodshed, and war. Satan has targeted Afghanistan as a country outraged, bloodthirsty and full of hatred. We ask that the American troops be empowered by God, without restrictions, to bring deliverance to that nation. Cleanse the land and the people by the blood of Jesus and bring repentance and salvation. May that country see the mighty hand of God moving in their behalf. In the Name of Jesus.
- "And Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)
3. Greece: S&P Says Bank Plan Opens Door to Default - Wall Street Journal
European efforts to encourage private investors to contribute to a new international bailout for Greece hit new problems Monday when the Standard & Poor's rating company said the leading proposal under consideration would likely bring the country into default.
- Father, pull down any new problems that thwarts this new international bailout for Greece. Secure their future. Bring stability to this nation. As she has blessed Israel by stopping the flotilla, so bless them by a miracle that will only bring glory to God. We ask that the hand of the Lord be extended toward Greece and its people, and souls saved in abundance. In Jesus' Name.
- "And I will bless them that bless Israel, and curse him that curses them and in them shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 3:12)
4. Syrian troops descend on central city, shoot 20 - AP; Sky News
Syrian troops raided homes and made sweeping arrests in Hama on Monday, wounding at least 20 people before sealing off the city just days after about 300,000 protesters there held the largest demonstration since the uprising against President Bashar Assad erupted in mid-March, activists said. Meanwhile, a Syrian opposition leader has told Sky News that there will be no negotiations with the Assad regime, unless the deadly crackdown on protesters comes to an end.
- God, loose the Holy Spirit to inhabit the sky above Syria and rain down showers of blessing upon all the people of that land. Bring sight to the blind, deliverance to the bound and brokenhearted, freedom to the demoniac, life to the dead in spirit, hope to the hopeless, and shed light in the darkness. Open cell doors of the prisons so that prisoners will know Jesus and walk in truth. Bring a massive godly spiritual revival to Syria. In Jesus' Name.
-"Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the midst of you." (Acts 2:22)
5. PA says it'll drop UN bid if Israel accepts 67 lines - Jerusalem Post
The Palestinian Authority will abandon its plan to ask the UN in September to recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines if the Quartet members -- the US, EU, UN and Russia -- recognize the two-state principle as the basis for a settlement and call on Israel to withdraw from the territories captured in 1967, including east Jerusalem, an adviser to PA President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday.
- Oh God in heaven, dispatch warring angels to enter Israel and go to the north, south, east and west of this mighty nation and pull up the roots of evil, and cut off the fruit of wickedness. Pluck it up by the roots. Stand against the enemies of Israel who propagate evil intent by dividing Jerusalem, and attempting to bring Israel as a nation under demonic rule. God is over Israel and Jesus will return to the earth and reign over an undivided Jerusalem. In Jesus' Name.
- "And he showed me that great city, the Holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal." (Revelation 21:10-11)
6. Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani faced death penalty for "apostasy" - Worthy News
Iran's secretive supreme court has reportedly overturned a death sentence handed down to an evangelical pastor for leaving Islam, surprising trial observers who were earlier informed about an execution ruling. However concerns remained Monday, July 4, about the future of 33-year-old Yousef Nadarkhani, as he remained under pressure to recant his faith in Christ, his lawyer and Christians said."The supreme court has annulled the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in [his hometown] Rasht, asking the accused to repent," said his lawyer, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah, in a statement to French news agency AFP.
The verdicts can be overturned if the convicted person "repents" and "renounces" his conversion, experts say. Evangelicals argue it's impossible to renounce their faith as the Bible teaches they have become "born again" and a "new creation" after they "accepted" Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Even "renouncing" Christ would therefore not change their Christian identity, they claim.
- "God, let Your light so shine that men may see God and part from their wicked ways. Lord, let miracle after miracle abound around this court, the judge, the lawyer, the people, and all around the world where this is broadcast. Empower this pastor with an anointing of the Holy Spirit like that upon Stephen's witness in the Bible. Pierce the darkness of evil and unbelief; draw thousands into the saving knowledge of the Cross of Jesus Christ, and the cleansing of sin by the blood that was shed. In Jesus' Name.
- "But Stephen, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-56)
7. Court Orders Immediate Halt to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" - Fox News
Federal court orders U.S. government to stop enforcing gay military ban after declaring policy unconstitutional. . . Under the law passed and signed by the president in December, final implementation would go into effect 60 days after the president and his senior defense advisers certify that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' ability to fight. Read more.
- This decision is a major blow to those who understand that the "gay" lifestyle is not gay; and that our military would be weakened by lifting this ban. As noted, however, the president must still certify "that lifting the ban won't hurt troops' ability to fight." Pray for a miracle from the hand of God, that w
ould prevent this last step from going forward. Only our Almighty Yahweh can bring this about. - "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)
8. Revised FBI Guidelines Will Aid Terrorism Fight - IPT
Pending revisions to an FBI operations guide could help agents more quickly and aptly perform investigations, including counterterrorism-related inquires, according to former FBI officials familiar with older and current guidelines.
The FBI is currently in the process of editing its existing Domestic Investigations Operations Guide (DIOG), which governs the actions of FBI agents. The proposed changes, first reported by the New York Times, would allow agents to perform lie detector tests and trash can searches on potential informants, and search the FBI's database without opening up an assessment, the lowest tier of an FBI investigation. Read more.
- Offer a chorus of praise for these new guidelines, for the battle against terrrorism is in full force. Praise God for these new procedures; and pray that they be implemented and utilized to the fullest measure possible. Praise God!
- "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just."
(Psalm 7:9)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love her. (Psalm 122:6)
1. Two Palestinians killed in IDF strike on Gaza militant group - Ha'aretz
IAF planes launch attack on militants in Khan Yunis who were planning to launch rockets into Israeli territory; militants belong to al-Qaida-affiliated faction challenging Hamas rule.
2. Alarming rise in clashes between settlers and Palestinians in West Bank - Ha'aretz
IDF commanders concerned situation in territories may deteriorate further with diplomatic crisis looming in September when Palestinians make bid for UN recognition.
3. Gov't to consider adding Sunday as day of rest - Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday tasked the Head of the National Economic Council, Professor Eugene Kandel, with examining the possibility of making Sunday an additional day of rest instead of a regular work day.
The Daily Jot
Muslim Brotherhood infiltration at the president's invitation
The Obama appears to have embarked on a deliberate strategy to embrace radical Islam by partnering with Islamic organizations calling for the demise of the United States, and by assigning Islamists to key strategic positions that oversee the security of the nation, aspects of the judiciary, and are intimate aides to high level administration appointees. The Administration's public position is that these relationships are in the best interest of the United States in promoting tolerance in America and democracy in the Middle East. In reality, they raise poignant and unthinkable questions whether this president has violated his oath of office and several US laws by facilitating an Islamic takeover of America.
. . . Clinton also announced on the eve of the July 4th holiday that the United States welcomes dialogue with the MB, prompting this response from Frank Gaffney, Jr. at the Center for Security Policy: "Obama chose the eve of the holiday marking our Nation's birth to acknowledge publicly behavior in which it has long been stealthily engaged to the United States' extreme detriment: Its officials now admit that they are embracing the Moslem Brotherhood (MB or Ikhwan in Arabic). That would be the same international Islamist organization that has the destruction of the United States, Israel and all other parts of the Free World as its explicit objective."
. . . Since the campaign, the Administration has redoubled its efforts to appoint Muslims to high government positions. The Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, now disbanded because of its ties to radical Islamists, vetted potential appointments "under the radar," according to J. Saleh Williams, who headed the effort.
The result is a tremendous number of Islamists sitting at key strategic positions in the federal government and on the judiciary. Included are: David Heyman, nominated as Assistant Secretary for Policy at the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and at the same agency, Secretary Janet Napolitano has appointed Arif Alikhan as Assistant Secretary for Policy Development. According to Newsmax, "both men are devout, Shariah Law Muslims, and in her announcement Napolitano made that very clear...Alikan is associated with the Moslem Public Affairs Council (MPAC) "a public service agency working for the civil rights of American Muslims." BOTH men will have top security clearances. Several cultic Moslems at the DHS who have top security clearances are associated with groups that claim Hamas and Hezbollah are "humanitarian" organizations.""
And such appointments continue. . .
The evidence appears overwhelming that the radical Islamist influence assembled by this White House is in lock step with the Muslim Brotherhood plan to takeover America. Perhaps the unthinkable has become reality. As the prophet Jeremiah spoke of ancient Babylon that had many of the same traits of today's post-moral America "Surely I will fill thee with men, as with locusts; and they shall raise a battle cry against thee (51:14)." The evidence is in plain sight, but how long will it take for America to awaken from her politically correct slumber?
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Read more.
Update: Obamacare in Court
Appeals Court Upholds ObamaCare as Constitutional
[Editor's note: we offered prayer over this decision one week ago, when the verdict was rendered. Here are more details about this case, from Citizenlink.]
The ongoing legal challenge over Obama's health care law came back into focus on Wednesday when the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld the government's right to mandate health care coverage.
This the first decision on an appellate level. Decisions are still pending in the 4th, 11th and D.C. Circuit Courts of Appeal.
The three-judge panel rejected arguments made by the Thomas More Law Center that the government was overreaching by trying to regulate "inactivity" -- those who chose not to purchase health care -- by mandating coverage.
Carrie Severino, with the Judicial Crisis Network, said the decision "erred as a matter of both law and logic."
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, agreed. "Without question, the 6th Circuit is a very liberal circuit," he said. "It is not surprising to any of us in the legal profession to see them come down with this decision that was in favor of the health care reform law."
lya Shapiro, senior fellow in constitutional studies and editor-in-chief of the libertarian Cato Institute's Supreme Court Review, called the decision in Thomas More Center v. Obama "an exercise in unwarranted judicial deference, not by the author of the majority opinion, Judge Boyce Martin, who regularly rubberstamps misuses of federal power, but by concurring Judge Jeffrey Sutton, who avoided the logical implications of this ruling and punted the main issue to the Supreme Court."
Ed Whelan, constitutional scholar and president of Ethics and Public Policy Center, echoed those sentiments and pointed to law professor Eric Claey's valuable bottom-line advice:
Although one of the individual-mandate challenges may succeed, of course, ObamaCare's opponents must consider seriously the possibility that these arguments may not even muster four votes in the Supreme Court. They must avoid bragging that the courts will finish off the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, lest they sow complacency among members of Congress and the voting public.
Above all, they must keep their focus on 2012 and the political and policy ground games. In the end, a legislative repeal -- signed by a president who supports it -- remains the surest way to undo ObamaCare.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the 6 U.S. Circuit Court's ruling.
Read the Heritage Foundation's "ObamaCare: Bad 6th Circuit Decision Assures Supreme Court Review in the Fall." Go here.
[Reported by Catherine Snowe, CitizenLink]
Update: Stimulus Bill
Leave Job Creation To Private Sector
You know it is never good news when the Obama Administration releases a new report on a Friday, especially one just before a major holiday weekend. But that is exactly what happened with the latest "progress" report on the stimulus bill.
Prepared by Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, the report says that just under $670 billion has been spent so far and it claims that the stimulus "saved or created" somewhere between 2.4 million and 3.6 million jobs.
Remember, the stimulus bill was supposed to prevent the unemployment rate from exceeding 8%. Today it is 9.1%. One study indicated that the stimulus bill actually suppressed private sector job growth.
But for the sake of argument, let's accept the administration's figures and let's do the math. Under the "best case" scenario, Obama's stimulus bill saved or created 3.6 million jobs at a cost of $186,000 per job. Under the "worst case" scenario, it saved or created 2.4 million jobs at a cost of $279,000 per job.
Neither scenario is a good deal for taxpayers. This is a perfect example of why job creation should be left to the private sector and not Big Government!
By the way, in recent days President Obama has been warning that the country cannot afford to make "draconian cuts" in spending, and should instead "invest in infrastructure." There isn't a day that goes by without some commentary about the state of America's crumbling infrastructure -- from bridges to roads, schools and airports.
But Obama and the Democrats sold the stimulus bill as an investment in infrastructure. What happened to all of those "shovel-ready" projects? As it turns out, Democrats didn't invest in infrastructure. Much of the stimulus bill was a bailout for state and local governments, a payback to public employee unions.
There is no doubt that America could benefit from real investments in infrastructure. But Obama and the Democrats have zero credibility on this issue. (Gary Bauer)
Update: Houston Veteran's Cemetery
Texas Congressman: Investigate, Possibly Replace VA Cemetery Director
Summary: Texas Congressman calls for the investigation of a Houston veteran cemetery director as local veterans battle with the Department of Veterans Affairs over religious liberties and First Amendment freedoms.
U.S. Congressman Ted Poe of Texas came to the aid of veterans' groups last week, who are in a protracted legal battle with the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over allegations of systemic religious discrimination.
Poe sent a letter to the Veterans Administration on June 29, calling for the investigation and possible replacement of Houston National Cemetery Director Arleen Ocasio, who allegedly engaged in "aggressive hostile censorship of religion at the second largest cemetery for veterans" in the country.
The Congressman's letter further stated:
"In their accusations, veterans describe how Director Ocasio required them to get their prayers pre-approved, forbid them from using words like 'God' or 'Jesus' and took the Bibles and the cross out of the chapel before completely closing it. . . To deny veterans, those who fought for the very freedoms we enjoy today, of their basic and fundamental First Amendment right is always wrong, but is particularly malicious to do so when they are saying goodbye to a loved one."
"I ask that you conduct an independent investigation. . . If these accusations are true, Director Ocasio's authoritative actions and blatant hostility to the free exercise of religion should not be tolerated -- she should be immediately removed from her position."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read Rep. Poe's letter to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
[Reported by CitizenLink]
108 Congressmen Uphold "Under God" in Pledge
At the beginning of NBC's broadcast of the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament this month, the network played a video montage of children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The problem with the video montage was what was not included: NBC twice edited out the words "under God" from the national pledge. If you have not yet seen the video of the omission, you can view it here.
The video montage containing the omissions intended to celebrate American patriotism. Instead, it alienated millions of viewers who place great value on all of our nation's proud history - including its religious heritage.
Although NBC apologized for the omission, I am concerned that the back-to-back omissions were not inadvertent. It is also disturbing that the altered Pledge of Allegiance was allowed to air in the first place.
This week, I joined with 107 other Members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to NBC expressing our concern. The letter to NBCUniversal CEO Stephen Burke states:
"We live in a society where there are increasing efforts to remove all mention of religion from public life, and we remain dedicated to defending against such attempts. As a key player in shaping the national dialogue through various media outlets, we are interested to know what steps NBC has taken to prevent America's religious heritage from being obscured in this manner. We request that you implement a policy to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance is not altered in future broadcasts."
You can read the full letter here.
Congressman J. Randy Forbes
June 24, 2011
The Good News Corner
A veteran's 40-year tradition -- honoring his brethren nightly in Cape May
As the nightly orange fireball starts it descent toward the Delaware Bay, the small parking lot at Sunset Beach begins to overflow.
Latecomers line both sides of Sunset Boulevard, which starts on the outskirts of downtown Cape May and dead-ends on "the Point."
There are minivans and SUVs, Harley-Davidson's with POW flags taped to the sissy bars. There are tour buses, down from Quebec, or New York State, or filled with local seniors. There are parents with small children. There are old men with VFW and American Legion hats, and teenage boys with Phillies hats on backwards. There are grandmothers in cotton blouses and seersucker shorts, and young women in T-shirts over bikinis.
Yes, they come for the sunset over water, an anomaly in New Jersey. But they also come for Marvin Hume's ceremony.
For nearly 40 years, they've come - 200 or 300, sometimes 400 a night - for Hume's solemn flag-lowering ceremony that each night honors one deceased veteran.
When his audience is in place, Hume comes over the loudspeaker, and in a voice now raspy with age, asks everyone to stand, remove their hats and face the flag. He asks people in cars to shut off their engines. When the crowd is quiet enough, a tape of Kate Smith's rousing "God Bless America" is played, then the U.S. Army band's version of "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Before the music, Hume encourages all veterans to salute the flag, reminding those not in uniform that a law passed in 2007 by Congress allows them to do so. He wants them to stand out in the crowd.
This is all said with such gentle sincerity, no one dares not comply. It is not just the appeal of old-school patriotism; it's the source of the flags themselves.
Every flag raised and lowered at the beach - more than 6,000 in all - has been donated by families of deceased veterans.
"We fly nothing but casket flags," said Hume, who owns Sunset Beach and the small gift shops and grill there. "During the sunset ceremony, we say a little bit about the veteran. It's our way of honoring each of them again."
After the national anthem is played, the lone bugle notes of taps float over the beach, as Hume and members of the veteran's family lower the flag. Then, as the flag is folded, there is respectful silence, punctuated only by bay waves rolling over the beach.
[PLEASE READ MORE!]
Note: The story of this nightly tribute to our veterans at Cape May, New Jersey was recently aired on CBS News, but the video has since been removed. Thank you for honoring our veterans by taking the time to read of this moving nightly event. Amen.
