In This Issue
• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Fed Up
• Time-Warner Gifts Airtime to HRC
• FFRF's Latest Target
• Day of Rage in NY
• Israel Attacked by "Terror Squad"
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Thursday, August 18, 2011
"The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul." (Psalm 121:7)
Reminder!
Our MATCHING GRANT program will continue through the end of this month. Please see details, at the end of this alert.
We welcome all gifts, and we thank the LORD who is our supply.
Blessings to you all,
Sara Ballenger
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
The Daily Brief
1. DOW Falls 500 Points on Fears of Global Recession - Fox News
Dow Jones plunges about 500 points - more than four percent - as the U.S. markets are under intense selling pressure due to weekly jobless claims rising and more fears of a global recession.
- Lord, grant the people of America the ability to rise above fears of collapse and place their trust in You. We pray for stabilization of the stock markets in the U.S. and around the world.
- "For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
2. Marxist Inspired Obama plans to Preserve Major Government Role in Mortgage Market - Washington Post
Obama has concluded that the federal government must continue to play a significant role in the nation's mortgage market, a milestone in the effort to craft a new housing policy from the wreckage of the mortgage meltdown. According to people familiar with the matter, a proposal now being developed by the administration could preserve, though with significant new constraints, mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which some critics say contributed to the financial crisis.
Read More:
- Lord, we plead for Your wisdom to come to our leaders so that their decisions will not be detrimental to the mortgage market.
- "Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, since he has no heart for it?" (Proverbs 17:16)
3. Obama Calls on Assad to Step Down, Imposes New Sanctions - Fox News
Obama on Thursday for the first time called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down, while announcing a new set of sanctions against the regime.
In a written statement, Obama accused the government of perpetrating a "sustained onslaught" against its people. He said the regime has tortured protesters and shown a "flagrant disrespect" for the Syrian people, demonstrating Assad's failure to follow through on calls for reform.
- Lord, we ask that the government of Assad in Syria will be removed, and that You will set up a ruler that will be open to You.
- "The desire of the wicked shall perish." (Psalm 112:10c)
4. In 2011, record-tying nine $1B weather disasters - USA Today
With hurricane season still ahead, a record-tying nine $1 billion weather disasters have already racked the nation this year, federal, state and private forecasters reported Wednesday.
- Lord, we once again come humbly before You and ask forgiveness and repentance for America. We ask for Your mercy and truth to cover the land and bring restoration.
- "In mercy and truth atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord one departs from evil." (Proverbs 16:6)
5. Exxon, U.S. Government Duel Over Huge Oil Find - Wall Street Journal
Exxon Mobil Corp. is fighting with the U.S. government to keep control of one of its biggest oil discoveries ever, in a showdown where billions of dollars hang in the balance for both sides.
- Pray that God will move in this matter to bring the best possible solution for America's energy needs. Bind the spirit of greed and loose wisdom over the process.
- "and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19)
6. Tampa Student Arrested in Alleged Bomb Plot - Fox News
Tampa Police say they have thwarted a student's "catastrophic" plot to blow up a school on the first day of classes. Police Chief Jane Castor says Jared Cano, a 17-year-old expelled student, had threatened to plant a device at Freedom High School.
Read more:
- Thank You, Lord for thwarting this plot before any lives were lost. We ask that You continue to cover America with Your Spirit, and reveal the thoughts and plans of the enemy. We ask for the soul of this young boy in repentance and conviction of sin.
- "He will redeem their life from oppression and violence." (Psalm 72:14a)
7. a) Merkel and Sarkozy plan 'true economic government' - EU Observer
Under pressure to restore confidence in the eurozone, the leaders of France and Germany on Tuesday (16 August) outlined plans for further economic integration but shied away from financial measures seen by markets as necessary to stem the euro debt crisis.
b) France and Germany in 'Power Grab' - UK Daily Express
France and Germany were accused of masterminding a "monstrous" grab for power last night.
- Father, we ask that no actions of any government across the world will prosper to force the one world government before the time You have set.
- "but it shall not prosper, for the end will still be at the appointed time." (Daniel 11:27b)
8. NASA Data And New Techniques Yield Detailed Views Of Solar Storms - NASA
NASA spacecraft observations and new data processing techniques are giving scientists better insight into the evolution and development of solar storms that can damage satellites, disrupt communications and cause power grid failures on Earth. "The clarity these new images provide will improve the observational inputs into space weather models for better forecasting," said Lika Guhathakurta, STEREO program scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington. Read more.
(UNCONFIRMED REPORT) Power cuts threat as sun storm hits earth - UK Telegraph
A huge mass of electrically-charged particles thrown out by a gigantic eruption on the Sun is due to strike the Earth tonight. Scientists expect it to trigger one of the most violent geomagnetic storms ever recorded. The result could be widespread power surges and even blackouts, disrupted TV and mobile phone signals, and broken down communication satellites. Read more.
- At this point, we do not know exactly why NASA called that surprise press conference today; and we cannot confirm the second report, coming out of England this afternoon. Clearly, though, something is up.
Offer praise to the LORD that He rules and reigns not only over the affairs of men on earth, but also over the galaxies, which are His handiwork. Give Him all the honor, all the praise, and all the Glory, even as we remain on watch for possible future developments in outer space. Amen.
[Note: One of our readers shared that the flare last week fell on August 9th -- the 9th of Av.]
- "Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'" (Rev. 5:13)
9. IN ISRAEL: 7 dead in terror attacks; IDF still looking for terrorists - Jerusalem Post
Seven people were reported dead and at least 31 injured in a three-stage terrorist attack along Israel's border with Egypt on Thursday. IDF forces were still searching the area around Eilat and the Egyptian border out of concern that there may be terrorists still in the area. Sources said that it is possible that there were as many 20 terrorists in the area, both in Israel and on the Egyptian side of the border.
- PLEASE SEE ARTICLE AT THE END OF THIS ALERT FOR MORE DETAILS FROM ISRAEL TONIGHT, AND FOR PRAYER.
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Keep not silence, O God. Hold not Your peace, and be not still, O God. For, behold, Your enemies make a noise, and they that hate You have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people . . . They have said, 'Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.'" (Psalm 83:1-4)
1. Mideast Quartet alarmed by Israel settlement plans - Ynet News
The UN's Middle East Quartet on Tuesday expressed grave concern over Israel's recent approval of thousands of housing units in east Jerusalem and Ariel.
2. IDF: Allow arms into West Bank - Ynet News
Will the Palestinian Authority's UN bid for statehood in September necessarily mean violent riots? The IDF is not so sure.
3. Fatah-Hamas reconciliation stalls over Palestinian statehood bid - Ha'aretz
The Palestinians' surprise agreement to unite their dueling governments was supposed to have boosted their efforts to unilaterally declare a state.
4. Netanyahu to Clinton: Israel won't apologize to Turkey for Gaza flotilla raid - Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Israel will not apologize for the 2010 Gaza flotilla raid in which nine Turkish pro-Palestinian activists died.
The Daily Jot
More deception and death compliments of the US Government
When a government is out of control the most horrible things are sanctioned as the right thing to do. For example, spending trillions of tax payers' hard earned dollars to buy prosperity in the economy. It is just against the principles of economics and it, to date, has been a resounding failure. A lot of smart men and women, educated in America's most esteemed institutions, advocated a policy that will take generations to fix. At the top, in the Oval Office, is where the buck stops, as former President Harry Truman used to say. Blame shifting is not going to work. The guy at the top has to take responsibility (Ya got that Obama?). But what happens when that responsibility results in loss of innocent life. Is their accountability?
Operation Fast and Furious is one such example. Here, someone in the highest offices of our government thought it would be a great idea to sell guns to drug dealers in Mexico and track them in their use. Essentially, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, upon the approval of either the president or someone close to him, sold guns to the cartels that have turned our border with Mexico into a war zone. While the authorities do not know the exact number of guns that were sold (strange, because how do you track them if you do not know how many you sold?), it is estimated that 1,500 guns, most of which never made it to Mexico, were placed in the hands of criminals in America.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that 57 weapons have shown up at six crime scenes in American border towns. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was killed by a criminal using one of the weapons. In all, weapons have been recovered at some 11 crime scenes and the number could grow, as could the death toll. What this boils down to is an American government project that armed drug cartel thugs and jeopardized the safety of American citizens, even resulting in the death of one. The mainstream news media is hardly reporting it, and the White House is mum, citing that it cannot comment on an ongoing investigation.
There are many, many examples of how this Administration has done harm to the citizens of this nation. On one hand, it embarked on a policy to arm drug cartels waging war on our border, and on the other it is characterizing conservative white Americans as terrorists and extremists. The Department of Homeland Security released yet another video, this time a 30 second PSA, depicting whites as terrorists in their "If you see something, say something" campaign. This is government run amuck. 2 Timothy 3:13 says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." Don't put your trust in government. Only Jesus has your back.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Fed Up
If you're looking for a word to describe the GOP presidential field, "subdued" isn't it. From Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.) to Gov. Rick Perry (Texas), the candidates have been anything but restrained in their criticism of the man whose job they seek. Yesterday, on a conference call with bloggers, pizza mogul Herman Cain suggested a short cut to the White House: impeaching the President. "...It would be a great thing to do, but because the Senate is controlled by Democrats, we would never be able to get [them] to take up that action... on a whole list of things such as... ordering the Department of Justice to not enforce the Defense of Marriage Act -- that's an impeachable offense right there. The President is supposed to uphold the laws of this nation... and to tell the Department of Justice not to uphold the laws of this nation is a breach of his oath." Although FRC has never called for his impeachment, President Obama did walk away from his constitutional duty, frustrating every American who believes in order and justice.
Meanwhile, on just his second day in the race, Gov. Perry didn't waste any time stirring the pot. Like most Americans, he's frustrated by the Federal Reserve's latest policies and wants to bring Chairman Ben Bernanke's agency under some form of accountability. For decades, the Fed has been in complete control our nation's monetary policy, and there are some suspicions that the agency has been in collusion with the White House to keep America from hitting the debt wall. For the last two years, Bernanke has been flooding the economy with new money that no one is assuming the debt for. It's called "quantitative easing," or QE. I call it defrauding America. QE may keep the government spending, but it makes our money more worthless in the process. Since 2009, the Fed has embraced this QE idea, printing almost $2 trillion in hopes of boosting the economy.
"We owe the Fed $1.6 trillion in treasury bills," Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said last Thursday. "Where'd they get the money to buy it? They created it out of thin air." While that logic may help federal rates in the short-term, it devalues every dollar Americans earn and save. And Rick Perry isn't the only one disgusted by it. On Monday, he told an Iowa crowd, "Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treasonous in my opinion." Despite the controversy his t-word sparked, Perry says he stands by his remark. "I am just passionate about the issue," he told CNN.
And the other candidates can't blame him. Iowa Straw Poll champ Michele Bachmann piled on the Fed too. "The Federal Reserve is not subject to transparency. The Federal Reserve has made terrible, grievous errors," she said. "...[T]he dollar has lost 12% of its value, according to experts, since President Obama came into his position." She, like Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Ron Paul (R-Texas) -- who actually authored legislation to the effect -- thinks Bernanke's office should be audited. "It's a scandal that the Federal Reserve is a secret," Gingrich said in last Thursday's debate. "And I think, frankly, that their monetary policy since the late 90s has been a major factor... in the economic pain we're now going through." Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan certainly thinks so. He told the press that there is "no evidence" that the Bernanke's strategy, these two waves of "quantitative easing" (QE1 and QE2) worked. At the very least, it deserves some congressional inquiry. If that means auditing the Fed -- so be it. Auditing means oversight -- and right now, there is none. (Family Research Council)
Time-Warner Gifts Airtime to HRC
There may be no such thing as bad publicity, but what about free publicity? Apparently, the Human Rights Campaign ( HRC -- the pro-gay lobbyists ) got plenty of it during New York's battle over same-sex "marriage." In yesterday's Albany Times-Union, reporter Jimmy Vielkind exposes a secret partnership between Time Warner Cable and HRC that resulted in more than $70,000 of free airtime to homosexual activists. Apparently, the communications giant decided to broadcast HRC's pro-gay ads as free Public Service Announcements, which are reserved for non-political statements from non-political groups. When confronted about this special treatment for HRC, Time Warner abruptly "decided to declare [ads] as lobbying." Even so, reports the Times-Union, it's lobbying for which HRC has not paid.
It's also an endorsement for same-sex "marriage" that Time-Warner claims it would not make. According to company spokespeople, the cable giant "[hasn't] taken any position on the issue." Obviously, that message hasn't gotten to Susan Leepson, a regional vice president at the company, who admitted, "We enjoy a great partnership with HRC." For its part, HRC said it "greatly appreciate[s] our partnership with Time Warner" -- I'll bet! -- "and looks forward to working with them again in the future." The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), meanwhile, should be wondering about its share of free ad space. If Time Warner isn't picking sides, there's no reason why the company shouldn't write NOM a $70,846 check for the sake of true equality. (Family Research Council)
FFRF's Latest Target
DeSoto, Mississippi, Becomes Latest Target of Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF)
Last week, the same activists who tried to block Gov. Rick Perry (R-Texas) from "The Response" are taking their tired old campaign to Mississippi. After losing their case to keep Perry from praying, the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF) is back to picking on average citizens who are simply serving their communities. Reportedly responding to a prayer meeting for the upcoming school year that Superintendent Milton Kuykendall held with community leaders on a Saturday, the FFRF sent a letter to DeSoto, Mississippi school officials. FFRF demanded that Superintendent Milton Kuykendall gut God from all district-sponsored events like graduations or football games. "It is also our . . . understanding that students are often encouraged by their teachers to pray before meals . . . We ask that the school district commence an immediate investigation into the complaints all alleged, and take immediate action to stop any and all prayers," the group's attorneys wrote in their letter to Kuykendall.
At this point, we only have FFRF's version of the facts. It will take a lot more digging to determine whether school officials actually crossed a constitutional line. What we do know is that school officials are well within their rights to encourage kids to pray -- as long as students weren't coerced or using classroom time. And if our young people care enough about their communities to pray for them, they should be applauded -- not marauded! This is just a desperate attempt by the secular movement to appear relevant. With a backdrop of economic uncertainty and tens of thousands of people converging on Houston to pray for our nation, groups like this Foundation have to be concerned that their message of radical secularism has few subscribers.
As more people understand what the First Amendment really means, organizations like FFRF are being driven out of local communities. And since Barry Lynn and friends don't have the Constitution to fall back on, they're turning to these small-town campaigns in hopes that local districts won't know their rights well enough to stand up to them! They've gone beyond the point of driving prayers out of football games. Their goal now is to scare and intimidate leaders at every level into checking their faith at the door. FFRF wants to create an environment where public officials can't engage their faith or even admit that they're religious! Over the weekend, FFRF President Dan Barker admitted as much when I debated him on national television. See, this isn't about DeSoto. This is about whether we, as a nation, are willing to go to bat for our beliefs. (Family Research Council)
Day of Rage in NY
In the wake of Britain 's riots, a group of American radicals are planning a "Day of Rage" targeting Wall Street and U.S. capitalism.
The upcoming protests, replete with a planned tent city in downtown Manhattan, is closely tied to the founders of ACORN and leaders of major U.S. unions, including the Service Employees International Union, or SEIU.
There are indications the protesters are training to incite violence, resist arrest and disrupt the legal system.
The protest aims to take root nationwide.
Activists are advertising on social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter for a "Day of Rage" on Sept. 17 to begin with the "occupation" of Wall Street and continue with protests across the nation.
To learn more about this planned protest, go here.
Israel Attacked by "Terror Squad"
7 dead in terror attacks Near Elat in Southern Israel
IDF still looking for terrorists
At least 25 injured in triple terrorist attacks near Eilat; special police forces, IDF soldiers kill 7 terrorists; series of bombs go off near IDF patrol along border with Egypt, gunmen fire on bus, private car.
A multiple assault by 20 gunmen using automatic guns, RPGs, mortars and roadside bombers could not have been an off-the-cuff operation. It entailed long planning. Its participants had to receive detailed instructions and be brought to the scenes of attack to familiarize themselves with the area.
Their spies must have spent weeks observing military and civilian vehicular traffic on the highway and carefully picked the targets.
Yet none of these activities aroused suspicion. The big question is how did the gunmen manage to drive down one of the main routes to Eilat undetected. Did they cross the border from Sinai by car without arousing the notice of the Israeli military or border police? Or did their confederates meet them with vehicles for their use on the Israeli side?
The attack itself was meticulously designed to go forward in stages.
First, a three-man cell shot up an Egged bus bringing soldiers to Eilat on leave.
Next, an Israeli unit trying to reach the scene of attack then ran over roadside bombs planted in advance. The explosion killed or injured its passengers.
After that, several anti-tank missiles, possibly RPGs, set a second bus on fire and hit a civilian car killing four people. . .
A special police unit had meanwhile located the three-man team which attacked the first bus and killed them all in a firefight. Two of their bodies were found to be rigged with explosions. Four more were killed after being hunted down.
The IDF has closed all the roads to the South to traffic for more sweeps to locate missing terrorists and explosives. Its inhabitants as far south as Eilat, Israel's southernmost town and port, are in a high state of suspense for the IDF counter-terror operation to come. (Jerusalem Post)
- Our Lord is weeping tonight over His people in Israel; and we weep with Him. Thank Him that He promises to comfort all who mourn, and lift up a prayer that ALL the remaining perpetrators of this heinous series of acts be found. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Amen.
- "Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just." (Psalm 7:9)
UPDATE FROM MAGEN DAVID ADOM (MDA) MDA is reporting FOUR terrorist attacks, as follows:
A well planned and coordinated four-pronged attack that Israel's Ministry of Defense attributes to have originated from Gaza, has killed seven and wounded 31. The terrorists first open fire on Egged bus #392, en route to Eilat from Mitzpe Ramon, and then detonated roadside bombs when the IDF sent vehicles to respond. In a third attack a mortar shell, reportedly fired from Sinai, barely missed a private vehicle and in the fourth incident another bus and automobile were ambushed by small arms fire and rocket fired grenades (RPGs).
Magen David Adom also reports that seven Israelis died and 31 were injured. MDA treated the victims at the scenes and raced them to Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat. The seven most severely wounded were then airlifted to Soroka Medical Center in Be'er Sheva. Read more.
The Good News Corner
72% Favor Inclusion of 9/11 Cross in World Trade Center Memorial - Rasmussen Reports
When workers were cleaning up after the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, they raised a cross-shaped steel beam they found in the rubble as a symbol of hope. An atheist group is suing to keep the 9/11 cross from being included in the memorial being built on the site, saying it violates the separation of church and state. But 72% of Americans favor including the cross in the memorial on the World Trade Center site, while just 10% are opposed. Seventeen percent (17%) are undecided. (Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation)
Worship with Us Today!
"I will run to you" by Hillsong
And I will run to you
to Your words of truth
not by might
not by power
but by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
'til I see Your face
Oh, let me live
in the glory of Your Grace.
