In This Issue
• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Obama's Regulatory Regime
• In New Jersey . . .
• RAMADAN NIGHT OF POWER
• PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY
• 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 25, 2011
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work." (Rev. 22:12)
We want to thank you for the TREMENDOUS response we have had so far to our matching grant appeal. Your generous offerings have truly gladdened our hearts, and have encouraged us to go forward in this work. Please keep it up!!!
Our MATCHING GRANT program will continue through the end of this month. For more information, 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. New York Mayor Bloomberg Bans Religion at 9/11 Ceremony - NewsMax
Christian groups were outraged Wednesday to learn that New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is excluding religion from the 10th anniversary ceremony commemorating the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. "This is America, and to have a memorial service where there's no prayer, this appears to be insanity to me," former Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington told a reporter. "I feel like America has lost its way."
- Father, we humble ourselves before You and cry out for a spirit of repentance across America. To remove You from the ceremony commemorating 9-11-01 brings grief to our hearts. We ask that You visit Mayor Bloomberg in the night seasons and show him the error of his ways.
- "My bones are pierced in me in the night season; and my sinews take no rest." (Job 30:17)
2. a) Bahamas Feeling Irene's Wrath - Fox News
The powerful Category 3 hurricane is slamming the Bahamas, as nearly 200,000 people evacuate along North Carolina's coast with Irene expected to strike over the weekend.
b) Hurricane Irene: Could Be Category 4 By Thursday - ABC News
Hurricane Irene's fury is growing and the National Hurricane Center warned today that the storm could be upgraded from its current level of Category 3 to a more ominous Category 4 by Thursday.
- Lord, we take authority over this hurricane and command it to move away from the U.S. Coast and further out to sea. We call for Your mercy over the US and repentance to come to our land.
- "He heard the sound of the trumpet and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that takes warning shall deliver his soul." (Ezekiel 33:5)
3. Libyan Rebels Reportedly Surround Qaddafi in Tripoli - Newscore
A group of Libyan rebels claimed Thursday that they have surrounded Muammar Qaddafi in a residential compound in Tripoli, but the report could not be confirmed as fighting raged. Rebels said Qaddafi was inside an apartment building along with an unspecified number of his sons, according to a report by Reuters news agency.
Read more:
b) Turkey Funding Libyan Rebels - CNN
The cash-starved Libyan rebel government received emergency money in the final weeks before their advance into Tripoli -- a $100 million cash donation from the government of Turkey. During a hastily-arranged trip to the Libyan rebel capital of Benghazi this week, Turkey's foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu and the Transitional National Council chairman Mustafa Abdul Jalil revealed that starting in July, the Turks began rushing a total of $300 million to the rebels.
- Lord, we thank you that Qaddafi appears to be on the way out of power. We pray that You will choose the new government of Libya. May Your Holy Spirit move mightily across that nation to change hearts and minds.
- "And I will turn you back, and put hooks in your jaws, and I will bring you forth, and all your army" (Ezekiel 38:4)
4. EU considers oil embargo over Syrian crackdown - France24
Syrian forces killed one person and arrested dozens in raids on an eastern tribal region on Wednesday as part of a crackdown on dissent which could lead to European Union oil sanctions on Damascus as early as next week.
- Father, we pray that You will remove Assad from power, and that You will bring the government that will be open to You. We pray for Your mercy and compassion on the victims of the crackdown, and hope for the people of Syria.
- "Now therefore, O Lord our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord, even You only." (Isaiah 37:20)
5. Iran still hopes to receive S-300 air defense systems - RIA Novosti
Tehran is hoping that an international court will rule in favor of Iran over the legality of the supplies of Russian S-300 air defense systems under a 2007 contract, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Mahmoud-Reza Sajjadi said on Wednesday.
- Pray that the international court will reject this proposal, and that truth will be shown with regard to Iran's plans against the West.
- "O Lord, are not Your eyes upon the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their face harder than a rock; they have refused to return." (Jeremiah 5:3)
6. Strong 7.0-magnitude quake shakes Peruvian Amazon - Yahoo
A strong earthquake struck a remote Amazon region of Peru on Wednesday, shaking buildings far away in the capital and in neighboring Brazil, although no injuries or damage were reported.
- Thank You, Lord that no damage or injuries from this quake have been reported. We pray once again for Your mercy over the people of the earth. Remember Your mercy and Your love toward all of mankind.
- "O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:1)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land." (Joel 3:2)
1. IDF strikes Gaza after more than 20 rockets hit southern Israel - Ha'aretz
A renewed barrage of rockets hit Israel's south overnight Wednesday, prompting Israel Defense Forces planes to carry out strikes on the Gaza Strip on Thursday morning, killing two and wounding about 20, according to Palestinian reports.
2. Egyptian official: We forbade large-scale Gaza operation - Jerusalem Post
Egypt forbade Israel from launching a large-scale operation in the Gaza Strip following last week's terror attacks in the South, Egypt's envoy to the Palestinian territories said in an interview with Palestinian news agency Ma'an on Wednesday.
3. IDF strikes targets in Gaza in response to rocket fire - Jerusalem Post
The IAF struck targets in northern and southern Gaza overnight Wednesday in response to rocket fire from terrorists in the Strip, the IDF Spokesman's Office announced in a statement.
4. IAF ramps up drills against missile attack - Jerusalem Post
The air force has dramatically increased the number of exercises it carries out to prepare its bases for missile attacks and to ensure the ability to continue operations during a war.
5. Beck vows to defend Israel against UN, NGOs - Jerusalem Post
US broadcaster Glenn Beck announced at a Jerusalem rally on Wednesday that he is forming a new global movement that will seek to defend Israel from the United Nations and human rights organizations around the world.
6. Rocket from Gaza lands in Egypt for 1st time; woman hurt - Jerusalem Post
A woman was injured by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip into the Egyptian town of Rafah on Wednesday, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported, as tension simmered in the region after a spate of cross-border violence.
The Daily Jot
Your light of Christ in times of crisis
Those of you who live on the West Coast certainly understand and are accustomed to earthquakes. Those who live on the East Coast haven't had the same opportunity you have in getting their minds around the earth moving under their feet. But the 5.8 quake that shook the Greater Washington DC area on Tuesday revealed a lot about the character of our nation. Folks have reported in on some of what they experienced. And I think this event gave us a snapshot as to what to expect as the birth pangs of the end times come closer together. It also reveals to us what the Lord expects from His people when adversity strikes.
My wife Chris was at Wal-mart getting some things I need for my upcoming mission to Ghana, West Africa when the quake rumbled. The shelving swayed and things came tumbling off. People were scurrying about trying to get out of the store. Chris remained so very calm that the people around her even asked after it was over how she managed to keep calm. Lisa, one of our dear friends who lives near the Pentagon, was working at her retail clothing store. She was in the back moving heavy, tall racks of clothing around when they seemed close in on her as if to crush her. Her co-worker started to panic. Lisa calmly took her hand, and led her out to the storefront. Several of her coworkers were so distraught that they had to take the rest of the day off.
I have heard several other stories where my Christian friends remained calm in the midst of a pretty scary situation where the people around them were distraught, frightened, and disoriented. I know that Chris and Lisa are devout followers of Christ, led by the Holy Spirit. The others that I talked to after the quake are also strong Christians. In each case, they were calm, collected and able to serve others by their demeanor or their decisive actions that gave a sense of security and safety. 2 Timothy 1:7 comes to mind, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." This is how Chris, Lisa and others responded, seemingly naturally.
There are going to be times ahead where only the Holy Spirit in you will be able to help you make sense of the situation. Because of this, you will have the opportunity to lead and show the light of Christ. You will have the right answer, the right action, the right discernment if you are walking in the Holy Spirit. You will be placed in these situations for the express purpose of showing Christ to others. Jesus said in Matthew 10:19, 20, "But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you." I believe this same concept applies as to Christian leadership in difficult times.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Obama's Regulatory Regime
Earlier this week I reported on the burgeoning regulatory regime that Obama has unleashed on job creators. Here are a few more outrageous examples:
• The EPA is for the first time requiring thousands of businesses to report their greenhouse gas emissions. Not surprisingly, the process is complicated. So the EPA produced a series of FAQs or "frequently asked questions" to help out. But thanks to the bureaucratic nightmare that is the EPA the FAQ list is nearly 400 questions long!
• To give you an idea of just how intrusive Obama's regulatory regime has become, consider these new regulations for goat herders. This is proof-positive that we have too many bureaucrats with too little to do.
• Rep. Doc Hastings, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, is warning that bureaucratic red tape is putting a key supply of domestic energy and, thus, our national security, at great risk. To remain not just economically viable, but also physically viable, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline must maintain a certain volume of oil flowing through the pipeline. Oil production at existing fields has been declining for some time, yet virtually every attempt to open new areas to drilling has been blocked. Hastings has introduced legislation to allow more drilling, which would save the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and create thousands of new jobs. (Gary Bauer)
In New Jersey . . .
Ideological Battles Taking Place Over Textbooks in New Jersey
[WARNING: This report contains very explicit sexual terminology. Subject matter and data may be inappropriate for young children. Reader discretion advised.]
Summary: Explicit sexual content and drug use chosen by school administrators in New Jersey..
A school district in Williamstown, N.J. is apologizing to parents for including two books containing graphic details of homosexual encounters and orgies on its mandatory summer reading list for junior high and high school students.
The books were selected by a committee of teachers, administrators and librarians, and the list approved by the Monroe Township School District.
Two books, in particular, sent parents into shock: Norwegian Wood, assigned to incoming sophomores taking an honors English class, which contains an explicit description of a lesbian sex scene between a 31-year-old woman and a 13-year-old girl; and Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines, which describes drug usage and a homosexual orgy.
"We weren't trying to create controversy," Monroe Township Schools Superintendent Chuck Earling told Fox News Radio. "We were just trying to get kids to read."
With just a few days left before school starts, the district pulled the books from the summer list and vowed to include parents on the selection committee in the future. About a dozen people complained.
"They read the books," he said of the school personnel who chose them. "They didn't feel it was inappropriate based on the language that's used, common language used on the street."
Greg Quinlan, director of government affairs at the New Jersey Family Policy Council, said moves like this are made on purpose: The Garden State is likely facing another same-sex marriage bill in the Legislature this fall.
"This is a trend in New Jersey, to push the homosexual agenda," said Quinlan, a former homosexual activist. "This is to change people's thinking and viewpoints. There's no civil right to indoctrinate our children about homosexual behavior, period. And sex education is never the job of government schools, always the job of parents." (Citizen Link)
- Father God, we read a report like this and we gasp in horror. Father God, have mercy on us! Those in authority have now had their consciences so seared, that they cannot discern good from evil. Protect our children, O Lord, and let the citizens of Williamstown, N.J. continue to rise up in such fury that their school district -- and others -- will never, ever pull a stunt like this one again. Have mercy, O Lord!
- Note: this sin is so heavy on the Father's heart, that He repeats this FOUR TIMES in His Word. Amen.
"But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." (Matthew 18:16; Mark 9:42; Luke 17:2)
WIN PRAYER ALERT:
RAMADAN NIGHT OF POWER
SUMMARY: On August 26 or 27,* 2011, Muslims around the world will celebrate the holiest night in Islam - Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). This is when they believe an angelic messenger delivered the "first revelation" of the Qur'an to Mohammad.
As a Muslim teenager in Indonesia, Dini began rebelling against her family and culture. She wanted to please God but didn't know how. Then, on Laylat al-Qadr, she had a vision of Jesus Christ. He "appeared before her and told her to follow Him. She committed her life to Christ that same night."
On August 26 or 27,* Muslims will celebrate Laylat al-Qadr - the Night of Power. This is the night they believe an angel gave Mohammad the Qur'an. It is also when they expect to have visions and dreams.
According to the Qur'an, Laylat al-Qadr is "better than a thousand months." Muslims seek Allah with greater intensity on this night. They expect to have divinely inspired dreams and see visions. They also believe that on Laylat al-Qadr, special angels perform special missions. If they worship with enough diligence on this night, Muslims think their sins will be forgiven.
Some Moslems expect God to answer their prayers on Laylat al-Qadr. It is also known as the Night of Destiny. Many Muslims spend all night in prayer in hopes of receiving direction or experiencing something supernatural.
"Some Moslems rise well before dawn to make their requests, others pass much of the night in prayer," explains "30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World." "They are encouraged to ask Allah with sincerity and conviction for anything and everything they need . . ."
PRAY FOR:
• the Lord to reveal Himself to Muslims on this night. Pray for them to have dreams and visions of Jesus Christ. (The Bible, Acts 2:17)
• the hearts of Muslims to be open to the Gospel. Pray for the veil of deception to be removed from their minds. (The Bible, II Corinthians 4:3)
• the strongholds of Islam to be demolished. Pray for the lies of this false religion to be exposed. Ask the Lord to set free all who have been deceived and misled by Islam. (The Bible, II Corinthians 10:4,5)
• the salvation of leaders in the Muslim world - especially heads of government, imams, and members of terrorist groups. (The Bible, I Timothy 2:1-4)
• a great harvest of souls as the Kingdom of God comes in great power in the Islamic world. (The Bible, I Corinthians 4:20)
SOURCES: 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World, Lausanne World Pulse
PRAYERS FOR OUR MILITARY
NEW FEATURE!!
ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES and COAST GUARD
Offering strategic and targeted prayer covering
for our men and women in uniform.
Dear Friends,
Over the past few months, our CHPP Prayer Warriors have become increasingly burdened with a call to intercede for the safety of our men and women in uniform.
From the horrific shootings at Ft. Hood to the recent downing of our Navy helicopter in Afghanistan, which claimed 32 lives including many of our Navy Seals, it is becoming increasingly apparent that those who protect us need protection, themselves.
For this purpose, we call upon our King of Kings and our Lord of Lords to unleash His Heavenly Host to be encamped round about each man or woman now serving in the ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE AND MARINES, providing a CANOPY OF PROTECTION for each one. WE CLAIM AND DECREE OUT LOUD ALL OF PSALM 91 FOR OUR TROOPS.
In order to facilitate this new prayer initiative, Capitol Hill Prayer Partners now features a section on our blog, just below the donor link. There, you will find four links for ARMY, NAVY, AIR FORCE, MARINES and COAST GUARD. When you move your cursor over any one, you will be led to a page from Wikipedia that lists every single installation for each branch of the military, in every state in the Union and overseas!
We commend this "treasure trove" of information to you for your personal time in prayer, claiming PSALM 91 over each base. In addition, you can learn more information about most bases by "hitting" that name with your cursor, too. We entrust you to the Holy Spirit's guidance as you pursue our new mission in your personal prayer time or with a corporate body of believers.
CHPP's blog includes archives of past editions of all of our alerts, as well as features on praying for the government, Iraq, and other key issues.
Come visit us by clicking here for more information, or by going to: http://chpponline.blogspot.com
Onward, Christian Soldiers!!! AMEN!
The Good News Corner:
Earthquake Helps Man Regain His Hearing
The earthquake that rattled a wide swath of the eastern U.S. this week may have been a blessing in disguise for a 75-year-old who regained his hearing after the 5.8-magnitude tremor hit, myFOXdc.com reported Thursday.
Robert Valderzak, of Washington, D.C., lost his hearing in a fall on June 19 -- Father's Day. Since then the cancer patient has been at the Virginia Medical Center using a special speaker phone and an audio device system to communicate.
But on Tuesday, something strange happened while his four children were visiting and the earthquake rocked the region at 1:51p.m. local time.
When it was over, Valderzak, who had sat in silence for two months, sat up in his bed and told his kids, "My hearing is back. I can hear everything, people in the hallway."
As the quake shook him around in his bed, he said something happened in his head and he could suddenly hear and talk again.
Dr. Ross Fletcher, chief of staff at the Virginia Medical Center in northwest D.C., said Valderzak suffered "conductive loss, meaning that could be due to fluid or problems with the bones of the ear," along with nerve loss.
The doctor said the return of his hearing was surprising to many and further tests would need to be done.
"Some people seem to be a little frightened by it, but he is delighted that this earthquake came along because soon after the event, he could hear everything in the room very clearly," Ross said.
"I think there is still some hearing loss if I test him informally. We do have the ability to look into audiograms and do it more formally."
But Valderzak said he does not care about any test -- he already knows what happened.
"To me, it was a miracle, a blessing from God up above. Couldn't ask for a better day," he said. (Fox News) Read more:
- As Dr. Fletcher struggles to find scientific reasons for the restoration of his patient's hearing, we join Mfr. Valderzak in giving God the Glory for this miraculous event. Praise the Lord!
- "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)
Worship with Us Today!
"We're Going Up To The High Places"
We're goin' up to the high places to tear the Devil's kingdom down!!!
