In This Issue• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot (Part One)
• Gary Bauer: My Take on "the Deal"
• Public Prayer Banned --
• More on "the Deal"
• The Daily Jot (Part Two)
• The End for Assad?
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Tuesday, August 2, 2011
"Who should not fear you, King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise leaders of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you." (Jeremiah 10:7)
The Daily Brief
1. US Debt Deal Agreed but May Not Save AAA Credit Rating - UK Guardian
America has moved away from the brink of a catastrophic default after a deal was reached overnight to raise its debt ceiling. Stuart Gulliver, chief executive of HSBC, said the progress made over the US debt ceiling was "very welcome", but also warned that America could have its credit rating cut.
Many economists believe that America could soon lose its triple-A credit rating, despite a deal being agreed. Standard & Poor's, the rating agency, recently said that a credible fiscal plan would need to include $4tn of deficit-reduction measures.
• Lord, we submit this whole situation to you for the best possible outcome. We pray that the rating agency will see that congress is making a sincere and concerted effort to reform our nation's spending habits and will not downgrade us. Let our politicians come to an agreement where they can reduce even more toward the $4tn reduction goal.
• Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5)
2. House Passes $2.1 Trillion U.S. Debt Ceiling Plan - Bloomberg
The House of Representatives approved legislation to raise the U.S. debt limit by at least $2.1 trillion and cut federal spending by $2.4 trillion or more, one day before a threatened default. Final approval in the Senate would send the debt-limit measure to Obama for his signature and conclude a months-long battle over raising the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling and reining in government spending.
Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said he won't support the plan in part because of cuts to defense spending. Initially, the Defense Department could see $325 billion in cuts over 10 years as part of the bill's first round of deficit-cutting, similar to what the Obama administration has proposed, according to an administration official. It's the second phase of $1.5 trillion in cuts envisioned, with about half coming from national security, that could jeopardize Defense Department operations. "If fully implemented, the consequences to our nation's defense infrastructure would be severe," Graham said in a statement.
B)House passes debt plan; Giffords appears in Congress - Associated Press
Emergency legislation to avoid an economy-rattling government default sped through the House Monday night, a scant day before the deadline for action - the dramatic vote made all the more memorable by Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' first appearance in Congress since suffering a head wound in a shooting six months ago.
The vote was 269-161, but all eyes were on Giffords, who drew thunderous applause as she walked into the House chamber and cast her vote in favor of the bill.
Breaking News 12:43 ET - The Senate passed the debt ceiling bill by a vote of 74 to 26. Seven Democrats voted no as did 19 Republicans.
• Lord, we continue to pray our politicians will have your wisdom to know how to reduce the overspending. We pray they will find frivolous projects to cut, but that important ones like defense will be spared. Remove those who are not willing to work toward these goals.
• Better is a little with righteousness, Than vast revenues without justice. In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. (Proverbs 16:8, 9)
3. Deficit Agreement's Savings Could Prove Elusive - USA Today
To get the lion's share of their proposed $2.4 trillion in deficit reduction over the coming decade, President Obama and congressional leaders are relying on a process that has failed twice in the past. Skepticism abounds even before the ink dries on the pending deal. Former House Republican leader Dick Armey, who devised the method by which Congress' hands largely are tied when it comes to military base closings, recalls how lawmakers "weaseled out" from the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings deficit-reduction law in the 1980s.
Still, he and some other budget experts say the deal, which includes about $900 billion in spending cuts over 10 years and the promise of $1.2 trillion to $1.5 trillion more, is probably all that the White House and a divided Congress could have been expected to produce.
• Father God, we only want the plan you would have us implement. Block any deceptive plans. We pray that the politicians will not renege on what they have proposed. Let there be adjustments, but not flat refusal to keep their word. Let their word be honorable. Remove those who would be devious and deceitful.
• How long will this be in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies? Indeed they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart, who try to make My people forget My name by their dreams which everyone tells his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Baal. (Jeremiah 23:26, 27)
4. How the Pentagon Makes Out in the Debt Ceiling Deal - ABC News
The deal also holds out the possibility that in the long term there could be even deeper cuts in defense spending if a bipartisan committee is unable to come up with an additional $1.2 trillion in savings by the end of this year. In an apples-to-apples comparison using the broader term of security cuts, the official notes that the deal actually calls for $420 billion in security cuts over 10 years versus the $400 billion over 12 years that were proposed in April. So that's a little more than Obama proposed in April, but in a shorter time frame.
But the deal also holds out the prospect of a further substantial cut of $500 billion in Defense spending that would be automatically triggered if a new bipartisan committee fails to come up with $1.2 trillion in additional savings by the end of this year.
• We pray that our military and defense department will not suffer because of the decisions these politicians are making, but that our defense will remain strong. Let there be a loud protest that will be heard concerning these cuts to our defenses. Help us to be a strong nation.
• Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains (1 Chronicles 12:8)
5. US Debt Crisis: Angry Democrats Turn Their Fire on Obama - UK Telegraph
Angry Democrats turned their fire on President Barack Obama with unprecedented ferocity on Monday, accusing him of a capitulation to Republicans that has seriously harmed his chances of re-election in 2012. Liberals who once lionized Mr. Obama were enraged that the White House failed to twist Republicans' arms in Congress and include revenue increases in the deal, through closing tax loopholes for oil companies and removing various tax deductions that benefit the wealthy.
"I think he is in increasing danger. The whole argument against him that he has been there four years and there are no jobs, that he has failed, will be an increasingly strong argument," said Mr. Borosage. Without a major push to create jobs, the alliance of young voters, African Americans , Latinos and single women that elected Mr. Obama in 2008 may well not turn out to vote next time, he added.
• Lord, we pray that all hidden things be revealed as we go into this election campaign about a candidate's true intentions and actions. Take the blinders off our minds and eyes to see the truth, and reject lies and liars. Let this nation unequivocally elect god-fearing people into all our government positions from the highest post to the least.
• The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul. Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:17,18)
6. Judge blocks Kansas law aimed at Planned Parenthood - Reuters
A judge has blocked a Kansas law that would stop federal family planning money from going to Planned Parenthood, officials confirmed on Monday, and Kansas plans to appeal the decision. A similar law cutting Medicaid dollars for Planned Parenthood in Indiana was blocked by a federal judge there in June. Indiana has appealed that ruling, saying the issue was an administrative matter that did not belong in the courts.
"It appears that the Court declared a duly-enacted Kansas statute unconstitutional without engaging in the fact-finding one would expect before reaching such a conclusion," Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a statement.
• Lord, we pray for a righteous nation with judges, Justices, and courts that will honor you and your laws. Remove those from places of authority if they are in rebellion against you and who go against your laws. We pray for a nation that respects you in every way.
• Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. (Psalm 33:18-19)
7. Farmers Face Losses During Record-breaking Drought Season - USA Today
Thousands of acres of crops have failed in areas where farmers rely on rain, while those grown with irrigation continue to struggle. Already, more than 2 million acres of cotton that's not irrigated has been lost, adding about $1.1 billion to an initial $1.5 billion loss agriculture officials announced in mid-May. That included livestock and wheat, corn and sorghum crop losses from November through May 1.
Some ranchers have begun culling their herds because the cattle have nowhere to graze and prices are high for supplemental feed and hay. They're sending more animals to auction and selling calves earlier.
• Lord, there are many signs of droughts and famine which are severe in our nation. It is a symbol of our lack of spiritual moorings. We pray that you will forgive our nation of our rebelliousness and our lack of honoring you. Bring plentiful rain to those dry places and into our spirits. Rain on us with your Holy Spirit.
• "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: (Deuteronomy 28)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness." (Acts 4:29)
1. Netanyahu: Israel, US working on document regarding 1967 lines - Jerusalem Post
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said on Monday that Israel and the US were working on a document saying the parameters for returning to negotiations with the Palestinians would be based on the speech US President Barack Obama gave at AIPAC in May, and spelling out in greater detail what Obama meant by saying that an agreement should be based on a return to the 1967 lines, with mutual agreed swaps.
2. Der Spiegel: Mossad behind Iran hit - Ynet News
The assassination of the Iranian nuclear scientist in Tehran last week was the first major operation of Mossad director Tamir Pardo, the Der Spiegel website reported Monday.
3. Israel 'ready to negotiate borders with Palestinians' - UK Telegraph
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has bowed to US pressure by agreeing for the first time that a Palestinian state should roughly follow the contours of the 1967 ceasefire lines separating the West Bank from Israel.
4. IDF introduces new anti-tank missile - Ynet News
After years of operational successes, the IDF revealed the "Tammuz" anti-tank missile for the first time on Monday.
5. Palestinians plan mass demonstrations against Israel on eve of UN vote - Ha'aretz
Palestinian officials said Monday they plan to begin mass marches against Israel's occupation of the West Bank on September 20, the eve of a largely symbolic UN vote expected to recognize their independence.
6. Arab League likely to turn to UN Security Council for Palestinian statehood - Ha'aretz
The Arab League is likely to approve a proposal on Wednesday to turn to the United Nations Security Council in a bid to secure Palestinian statehood, according to UN officials.
The Daily Jot (Part One)
The prophetic implications of the debt struggle
The Bible demonstrates to us that nations are very important to the Lord. There are countless examples where entire nations are brought to demise or into the blessings of God by either a poor leader or a good one. Proverbs 29:2 says, "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn." There is a tremendous spiritual battle going on over the very soul of this nation. We are seeing it being played out in part in our nation's capital where the weight of issues are aligned in the balance of the fate of our nation and future of our countrymen. Our leadership is being weighed in the balance and as in Daniel 5:27 "art found wanting."
The politicians in Washington believe they have won a battle. The battle on earth, in the halls of congress and at the White House, was waged over raising the debt ceiling so the government could borrow more money. Congress and the White House have agreed in principle that the debt ceiling will be raised by $2.4 trillion in three stages as voted on by Congress. There will be no tax increases. A balanced budget Amendment will be considered. A committee will suggest cuts of $2 trillion over the next decade in government spending. In short, the government gets to borrow $2.4 trillion over the next year against cuts in the budget of $2 trillion over the next 10 years.
If indeed America was blessed by God in its formation and subsequent years of prosperity, and also that the spiritual is sometimes seen by the actions on earth, their is an ongoing spiritual battle over this nation in the heavens. Perhaps it is as in Daniel 10:13 where Gabriel came to speak to Daniel but was delayed spiritually--"But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." For these politicians, now celebrating victory, have sealed a portion of your fate and mine by their lack of stewardship. In the heavens, satan's band also may be celebrating in that the one world order of the antiChrist has advanced.
The mounting of massive debt by a nation cannot grow unchecked. The government now borrows 40 cents of every dollar it spends. Increasing how much it can borrow without corresponding cuts, only inflates that percentage. Eventually, this debt will become such a burden that neither the nation's institutions nor its citizens will be able to bear it. The economy could collapse and a world order sweep in, even to feign "rescue" of America. That may be a plan of the antiChrist. We as Christians cannot stop the march of prophecy, but we can determine our place in it. Currently, the unrighteous are making that determination for us. We know who wins in the end, but where do we wish to stand in the meantime?
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Gary Bauer: My Take on "the Deal"
This deal will win no "gold medals." Parts of it make me livid as a conservative. It does nothing to reform entitlement spending and potentially puts Pentagon spending on the chopping block. On the other hand, it prevents immediate tax increases that Obama and his Democrat allies demanded, and calls for at least $2 trillion in spending cuts over the next ten years. That is a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. And the debate has hurt Obama, and shifted the whole playing field in our direction.
Here's my bottom line: Conservatives who argue that this deal does not solve our fiscal problems are correct. But it is not realistic to think we can get serious entitlement reform and spending restraint out of Harry Reid's Senate or from Obama's White House!
The national debt will not be brought under control until conservatives control the Senate, the House of Representatives and the White House. The 2012 elections are even more important to solving our fiscal crisis than this current debate on the debt limit. If we win back the Senate and also send Obama back to Chicago in November 2012, the new Congress and new president should immediately renegotiate the deal to make larger spending cuts AND TAX CUTS.
The Tea Party conservatives who were elected to rein in spending have gotten a good down payment on that promise. God bless them! Now we have to take the fight to the American people. Later this year we will have a vote on a balanced budget amendment. That will be another great teachable moment for the voters, who will have the final say next November.
Public Prayer Banned --
Federal Court Upholds Ban on Public Prayer
Summary: "The majority has dared to step in and regulate the language of prayer -- the sacred dialogue between humankind and God."
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld on Friday a lower court's ban on praying in Jesus' name before public meetings.
The American Civil Liberties Union and the Americans United for Separation of Church and State initially sued North Board of Commissioners in Forsyth, North Carolina in 2007, because opening prayers mentioned Jesus more often than not.
Judge Paul V. Niemeyer, the lone dissenter in the 2-1 decision, strongly criticized his fellow jurists:
"The majority has dared to step in and regulate the language of prayer -- the sacred dialogue between humankind and God. Such a decision treats prayer agnostically; reduces it to civil nicety; ... Most frightfully, it will require secular legislative and judicial bodies to evaluate and parse particular religious prayers under an array of criteria. ... I respectfully submit that we must maintain a sacred respect of each religion, and when a group of citizens comes together, as does the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, and manifests that sacred respect -- allowing the prayers of each to be spoken in the religion's own voice -- we must be glad to let it be."
"America's founders opened public meetings with prayer. There's no reason that today's public officials should be forced to censor the prayers of those invited to offer them simply because secularist groups don't like people praying according to their own conscience," said Mike Johnson, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund and founding dean of the Pressler School of Law of Louisiana College. "The legal team will confer with the county about the process of appealing today's decision." (Citizen Link)
More on "the Deal"
Satan Sandwiches and a Deal Pickle
While yesterday's temperatures soared, so did hopes that a solution to America's messy credit problems is in sight. Although nothing concrete has been introduced, the two sides seem to have reluctantly agreed to a package that, in the true spirit of "compromise," no one is altogether happy about. As Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) tried to manage his party's expectations ("Now, listen, this isn't the greatest deal in the world"), the reaction from House liberals was even more extreme. "A sugar-coated Satan sandwich" is how Missouri Democrat Emanuel Cleaver described it--sending chefs across America scrambling for the recipe.
As with the budget debate, there is some genuine disappointment on the part of conservatives, who had come to Washington to change the culture--not just change the conversation. From what we do know, this agreement would raise the debt ceiling an additional $2.4 trillion in exchange for $1.2 trillion in cuts over the next decade. (Family Research Council) Read more.
The Daily Jot (Part Two)
The first sentence in paragraph four does not refer to the TEA Party, it refers to those congressmen who are conservative but did not have the characteristics to hold the line on the debt ceiling vote.
Vice President calls fiscal conservatives "terrorists"
Politico reports that the day the US House of Representatives voted for the largest debt increase in the history of the United States, Vice President Joe Biden was lobbying House Democrats for the legislation. He said that some fiscally conservative Republicans he believed to be associated with the TEA Party "acted like terrorists" during the debate. In the closed door Democratic Caucus meeting, Pennsylvania Democratic Congressman Mike Doyle reportedly said, "We have negotiated with terrorists. This small group of terrorists have made it impossible to spend any money." Biden spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff told Politico, "The word was used by several members of Congress."
Later in the day, Biden told CBS News, "I did not use the terrorist word." But apparently Biden's lobbying effort had a specific theme in describing his fiscally conservative opposition. He told leaders in the Senate that the Republicans have "guns to their heads" in the negotiations. And that the deal would take away the TEA Party's "weapon of mass destruction" which is the threat of default. Doyle also told Politico that the TEA Party Republicans "have no compunction about blowing up the economy to get what they want." Other congressmen characterized the Republicans as slash and burn lunatics who have set America's financial house on fire and they were there to put out the fire.
All Americans should be outraged at the analogy that those who are calling for fiscal responsibility would be called terrorists by members of Congress and even the Vice President of the United States. Terrorists kill innocent people. This Administration (and the last) made it policy to remove any reference to terrorists or terrorism from the government lexicon so as to not unduly characterize the "peaceful" religion of Islam. Cowards that kill the innocent are forbidden to be called what they are--terrorists--while patriotic Americans engaging in debate over the size of government and how much debt it should carry are openly referred to as terrorists.
If these Democratic legislators believe that fiscal conservative representatives are terrorists, in what disdain do they hold citizens who share the same belief on stewardship? George Washington advised in his farewell speech that Americans should always share that natural affection that binds us together. Today's Democratic leadership is using classic class warfare by declaring the fiscally responsible as terrorists. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness." This news should cause every American to reexamine the state of the union.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
The End for Assad?
High Ranking Officers Desert, Join Rebels
In an Arabic video clip posted on Youtube on July 29, 2011, the officer, Major-General Riad El As'ad is seen in the company of other officers, announcing the establishment of the "Free Syrian Army whose main goal will be to fight the army of oppression headed by President Bashar Assad".
As'ad accused the Assad regime of crimes against the Syrian people and called on the officers and soldiers in the Syrian army not to aim their weapons at the people. He further called on them to join the Free Syrian Army.
The major-general warned that the Free Army will eliminate any soldier who acts to harm his own people. The present army commanders do not represent the army, he continued, they are acting for the criminal gang that controls the media and prevents the people from obtaining truthful information on what is happening.
In recent weeks, a large number of officers and soldiers have deserted the regular Syrian army. In one instance, there was a mutiny and at least ten of the soldiers participating were shot and killed. Assad continues to control the country, but the violent protest against him goes on and has even reached the outskirts of Damascus. Tension is high between the Alawites, the minority Shite sect to which Assad belongs that controls the country, and the majority Sunni sect which is 70% of the Syrian population.
The former Vice President of Syria, Abd Al-Halim Khaddam, Assad's bitter enemy, speaking from France, opined that Assad will fall only if the army disintegrates. That disintegration may have begun. Arutz Sheva Staff - Arutz-7, July 31st, 2011
The Good News Corner
Fort Hood II Foiled by Ryan Mauro
FrontPage Magazine
July 29, 2011
On Wednesday, Private First Class Naser Jason Abdo was arrested and found with a large quantity of weapons and explosives materials. The incident is a classic example of al-taqiyya, the Islamic doctrine of lying to non-believers. He publicly opposed the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, and now has admitted to planning on doing a similar attack on the same target.
Abdo converted to Islam at age 17, and is described by his peers as being "kind of weird" and a loner. He joined the military, and became part of the 101st Airborne Division based at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. In June 2010, he tried to avoid being deployed to Afghanistan by applying for conscientious objector status. Major media attention followed.
"I began to understand and believe that only God can give legitimacy to war and not humankind. That's when I realized my conscience would not allow me to deploy," he wrote in an essay about his application. He also said in an interview that he cannot "involve myself in an army that wages war against Muslims. I don't believe I could sleep at night if I take part, in any way, in the killing of a Muslim." He also expressed his opposition to the Fort Hood shooting, saying it was "an act of aggression by a man and not by Islam."
His request was denied at first, but then approved in the spring. However, things still didn't go as planned for Abdo. His discharge from service was delayed after child pornography was found on his computer. It has now come out that the material was found after an investigation began when he made anti-American remarks in a language class. This is reminiscent of Major Nidal Hasan, who also made statements exposing his extremism in front of classmates before carrying out his attack and supported releasing Muslims from service as conscientious objectors.
Click here for the complete article. (Source: Unity Coalition for Israel)
Worship with Us Today!
Shout for God has given us the City!!
Shout for God has given us the city!
Shout for God has given us this land!
Not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit says the Lord.
We will fight!
We will conquer!
We will stand!
