In This Issue
• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• 40 Days of Prayer for Israel
• Something Special . . .
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Tuesday, August 30, 2011
"You will also declare a thing, And it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways." (Job 22:28)
[Note: Our matching grant campaign is still in effect through this Wednesday, August 31st. Any checks dated by that date, or online offerings received by that date, will be honored! Please look to the bottom of this page for further details.
Thank you again for the strong support you have shown us during this very special time. Amen!]
Please begin praying NOW for the presidential and congressional elections next year. Look for the 2012 ELECTION CYCLE PRAYER GUIDE, also featured on the right side of our blog. Thank you!
All of these resource materials, and more, can be found by going here: or by going to: http://chpponline.blogspot.com
The Daily Brief
1. FEMA, to Pay for Irene Damage, Delays Funds for Rebuilding in Tornado-ravaged Areas - Washington Post
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is temporarily suspending some payments to rebuild roads, schools and other structures destroyed during spring tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., and Southern states and other recent natural disasters to pay for damage caused by Hurricane Irene.
With initial damage assessments from the storm potentially in the tens of billions of dollars, the Obama administration will need to request supplemental funding from Congress, possibly provoking another fight over federal spending as a new congressional "super committee" prepares to identify trillions of dollars in government spending cuts.
• Lord, we pray for your provision during this time of restoring communities. We pray that Congress will quickly approve the money necessary to help those affected by the storms. We pray that citizens and churches will come forward to help people rebuild their lives. May they give glory to you for their help!
• And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:19-20)
2. Hurricane Irene Wreaks $7 Billion in Damage - VOA News
Economic experts estimate Hurricane Irene caused about $7 billion in damage as it slammed into Eastern Seaboard of the United States, killing at least 33 people. Along the way, Hurricane Irene cut off electricity to about 4 million people, prompted two-and-a-half million people to evacuate, and damaged roads, bridges and buildings with high winds, floods and falling trees.
Dr. Roger Pielke, expert in hurricanes and economics, said better building codes [rules for builders] help keep the costs from growing even faster, and he credits improved weather forecasting for helping reduce the death toll.
• We thank you Lord, that the storms were not as severe as they first predicted, and that you restrained them. We pray that good things will come of these storms including preparations and better buildings - but more than that - we pray that people will see their need to keep close to you.
• The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2) He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. (Psalm 102:17-18)
3. Record Floods Affect US Northeast After Irene - VOA News
U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Craig Fugate said Monday that flooding has reached "record" levels in the states of Vermont and New York. Rivers and creeks in both states burst their banks, producing torrents of water that swept away trees, cars and parts of historic bridges. Hundreds of residents fled to shelters.
Authorities reported 33 storm-related deaths in 10 eastern states, mostly from falling frees, road accidents and raging floodwaters. Experts say the damage is likely to total billions of dollars. Fugate said it is too early to give an official estimate because federal, state and local authorities still are assessing the destruction.
• Heavenly Father, we pray for the waters of these floods to go down quickly and gently. We pray there will be no more storms until all is stable once again. We pray people will have courage, commitment, and perseverance to rebuild quickly. We pray they will also have compassion to help others.
• He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength . . . But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29, 31)
4. Will International Space Station Be Abandoned? - Fox News
With the end of the storied space shuttle program, NASA is forced to rely on Russian spacecraft to operate the International Space Station. The recent crash of a Russian spaceship in the remote reaches of Siberia underscores the risk of that policy decision. But if Russian Soyuz rockets remain grounded beyond mid-November, there will be no way to launch new crews before the current residents are supposed to leave.
"Logistically, we can support [operations] almost forever, but eventually if we don't see the Soyuz spacecraft, we'll probably be going to unmanned ops before the end of the year," Suffredini told Spaceflight Now last week. A joint board of the world's space agencies can operate the orbiting science project indefinitely without astronauts on board, he said. "We prefer not to operate without crew on board for an extended period of time." The International Space Station, which serves as a research laboratory, has been permanently manned for more than a decade.
• Lord, we pray for more support from our leaders regarding the space program. It is short-sighted to close the program because space exploration has advanced medical science, weather predictions, global activities, communications, and much more. We also pray for safety for everyone involved with the program, quick solutions to these problems, and restoration of the program. Please grant Your wisdom to those in authority regarding this very special need. Amen.
• The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men . . . He looks On all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works. (Psalm 33:13-15)
5. Obama's Labor Problem: Union Scales Back Support for Democratic Party - ABC
Instead of giving money to boost the Democratic Party as a whole, the union plans to build its own strategy to influence specific races and highlight particular issues beyond the election season. The union's announcement comes on the heels of AFL-CIO's move to create their own Super PAC, which will allow the union to collect and spend unlimited funds. The union said the Super PAC is one aspect of AFL-CIO's strategy to build a year-round political operation.
AFL-CIO's political media outreach specialist Jeff Hauser. "We are much more interested in building a year-round, odd year and even year, every year political mobilization rather than gearing up ourselves six months [before the election] and relying on an external political operation."
• Lord, we pray these groups who exert undue pressure on political candidates, politicians, and parties will not be able to sway them. Let people go back to righteousness in their dealings instead of coercion.
• Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, But a just weight is His delight . . . The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them. (Proverbs 11:1-3)
6. Outrage As Obama Names New Voter Initiative After ACORN - NewsMax
Government watchdogs are blasting the Obama campaign's decision to name its 2012 voter-registration initiative "Project Vote" - the same name as a group closely linked to the well-known but discredited ACORN organization. Many fear it signals a gloves-off approach to get-out-the-vote efforts that will rely on familiar but very fraudulent tactics.
"It should alert people to the fact that Project Vote hasn't gone away," he says. "One of the big misconceptions has been that ACORN and Project Vote, which had been associated with voter registration issues in 2008, disappeared as a result of the scandals, as a result of the videos. They haven't disappeared - the state ACORN groups are still operational, and obviously Project Vote is still using the ACORN method to register voters."
• Heavenly Father, we pray that you will reveal these plots and schemes. Let your truth be revealed and hidden agendas thwarted. We pray for a great campaign season without all the negative politics. Block those who would do such things.
• For among My people are found wicked men; they lie in wait as one who sets snares; they set a trap; they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have become great and grown rich. (Jeremiah 5:26-27)
7. Michele Bachmann: Hurricane Irene Is God's Warning To Washington; Campaign Says She Was Joking - ABC
"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people because the American people are roaring right now. They know government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in the spending," Bachmann said in Sarasota on Sunday, according to the St. Petersburg Times.
"What Michele Bachmann's campaign strategy seems to be is to make sure she's not seen as an extreme candidate and for her not to just appeal to the Tea Party and evangelicals, but also independents. So when she comes out and jokes around like this -- her campaign is saying it's a joke -- it does play into the stereotype that's out there," Christian Broadcasting Network's David Brody said. "That's a danger zone for her, but at the same time she is what she is, so it's hard for her to rein in at times."
• Father God, we pray that the media will stop twisting and perverting the truth. Let them speak and print Your truth in spite of themselves, and that people will reject any lies. I also pray we will not be ashamed to speak of you, and of what you are saying to us.
• For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:26)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Now also many nations have gathered against you, who say, 'Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.' But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD." (Micah 4:11-12a)
1. Third Iron Dome battery to be deployed near Ashdod - Jerusalem Post
Israel will deploy a new battery of the Iron Dome counter-rocket defense system outside the city of Ashdod next week, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said on Monday.
2. Israel mulls higher taxes for highest earners, to fund social programs - Ha'aretz
The Finance Ministry is considering raising taxes on the highest earners in order to fund more social measures.
3. PA minister claims Israel harvests Palestinian organs - Jerusalem Post
The Palestinian Authority Minister of Prisoner Affairs Issa Qaraqi was quoted Sunday as saying Israel is the "major harvesting and trading center" of body organs in the world. His comments come even as the Defense Ministry is recommending to the government the release of a few hundred Palestinian prisoners to PA President Mahmoud Abbas in September to try and create a better atmosphere in the West Bank.
4. 'WikiLeaks docs exposing Mossad agents' names leaked' - Ynet News
The original US State Department documents obtained by WikiLeaks were accidentally leaked online revealing the names of sources that have thus far remained anonymous, German newspapers Der Spiegel and Freitag Der reported Monday. The names include possible Israeli, Iranian and Jordanian intelligence agents.
5. Barak: Gaza groups planning new major terror attack on Israel - Ha'aretz
Defense Minister Ehud Barak warned Monday that Palestinian organizations in Gaza are preparing to carry out an attack similar to the one in southern Israel on August 18, in which eight civilians were killed.
The Daily Jot
The Great Commission Mission
The Great Commission is the cornerstone to the ministry Jesus Christ challenged us to do here on earth. It is not about Dominion Theology or setting up the kingdom here on earth so that Jesus can return. Its about making disciples of Christ throughout the world. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you." He said in Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Jesus said in Acts 1:8 that we were to be witnesses to him "unto the uttermost part of the earth." The Daily Jot takes this very seriously.
In late 1991, William Agbeti came to America on a non-political mission representing as a citizen, certain more official interests in, the dictatorship of Ghana. I was in my 12th year as a political consultant/operative for Christian conservative candidates and officeholders. William had been looking through the yellow pages for someone to which to tell his story and co-opt as a partner in bringing investment and good things to his homeland. The Holy Spirit directed him to Princeton-Fairfax Communications, my consulting firm. My partner and good friend Bob Bradsell called me up from Princeton, saying that he had someone that I should meet. I guess Bob knew that I was always up for an adventure.
William, whose last name means "Tree of Life," and I became close friends very quickly--one of those God-ordained relationships. And before long, William had me on a plane to Ghana. It was late June 1992 when I was introduced to the smiles, hearts, hardships, challenges and love of the Ghanian people. Over the next 19 years, William and I would work together to bring computers and computer assembly jobs to Ghana, create jobs by building homes in Ghana, introduce the Ghana government to new ways of home financing, establish a first of its kind ministry to the handicapped and disabled, and, through all that, shared the gospel to those who had never heard it.
By the Lord's hand, William and I either independently or together during our friendship have survived coups, life threatening rip tides, bombs at the airport, hunger, persecution, strange sicknesses and a multitude of other inconveniences to bring the love of Christ to West Africa. Today, we have answered the call to train up pastors for rural ministry to offset the murderous and tyrannical impact of Islam that is sweeping across the sub-Sahara. Our vision is to reach out with love, with training, with church life that meets needs in the name of Christ. Both of us, in our mid to late 50's demand on one another to not slow down, but to count our risks as joy in bringing the full gospel to Ghana and West Africa. We take The Great Commission very seriously.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
40 Days of Prayer for Israel
August 30 - October 10
Prayer Points (Part One)
The sponsor of this call to fasting and prayer for Israel, The Elijah Prayer Army, have posted 15 specific prayer targets during this fast, with Scriptures included.
We will post several of these prayer points each day until we have reached the end of this list.
You may also wish to view the entire list of prayer targets by going here.
Pray for God's mercy towards Israel and that he will remember his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
- "But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God. 'LORD,' he said, 'why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, 'It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth'? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.' . . Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin-but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.'" (Ex 32:11-13,31-32)
Pray that God will arise and help his people!
- "O God, do not remain silent; do not turn a deaf ear, do not stand aloof, O God. See how your enemies growl, how your foes rear their heads. With cunning they conspire against your people; they plot against those you cherish. 'Come,' they say, 'let us destroy them as a nation, so that Israel's name is remembered no more.'" (Ps 83:1-4)
Proclaim God's greatness!
"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who can fathom the Spirit of the LORD, or instruct the LORD as his counselor? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust. Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing." (Isa 40:12-16)
Something Special . . .
'Il Silenzio' - Melissa Venema (13 years old)
("TAPS" - the Original Piece)
'Il Silencio' (The Silence) played by 13 year old Melissa Venema with André Rieu and his orchestra at the 'Vrijthof' in Maastricht.
To all military friends and others who appreciate the sacrifices made by our Armed Forces:
The conductor of the orchestra is Andre Rieu from Holland .
The young lady, her trumpet and her rendition of TAPS makes your hair stand on end. Many of you may never have heard taps played in its entirety, for all of the men & women that have died for you to have the freedom you have in America .
This is an opportunity you won't want to miss and you'll never forget.
Amazingly beautiful! Melissa Venema, age 13, is the trumpet soloist. Here is Taps played in its entirety. The Original version of Taps was called Last Post, and was written by Daniel Butterfield in 1801. It was rather lengthy and formal, as you will hear in this clip, so in 1862 it was shortened to 24 notes and re-named Taps. Melissa Venema is playing it on a trumpet whereby the original was played on a bugle. Enjoy!!! (Source: Canada Free Press)
Worship with Us Today!
People Get Ready . . .
People get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
People get ready for the train to Jordan
It's picking up passengers from coast to coast
Faith is the key, open the doors and board 'em
There's hope for all among those loved the most.
There ain't no room for the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind just to save his own
Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner
For there's no hiding place against the Kingdom's throne
So people get ready, there's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage, you just get on board
All you need is faith to hear the diesels hummin'
Don't need no ticket, you just thank the Lord
