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The Daily Brief - Friday, November 18, 2011
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." (Psalm 27:5)
The Daily Brief
1. Balanced Budget Amendment Rejected by House - CNSNews.com
The House of Representatives rejected a proposed balanced budget amendment (BBA) on Friday in a 261-165 vote, falling 29 votes shy of the 290 votes needed to pass the measure. Most Republicans voted for the measure while a majority of Democrats opposed it.
~Abba, we cry out to You again, for wisdom to be given to this bi-partisan committee, as they seek to find a solution to bring about a balanced budget. Unfortunately, with elections looming next year, these members, who themselves face re-election, seem to be more preoccupied with their own future politically, than with the future of the American people. We ask, Lord, for revelation of the "under the table" deals they may be pursuing. May the people demand and receive an equitable solution that will ultimately strengthen our economy. Amen.
~ "No mention shall be made of coral or of crystal; for the possession of Wisdom is even above rubies or pearls." (Job 28:18)
2. Fed Now Largest Owner of U.S. Gov't Debt--Surpassing China - CNS News
At the close of business on Tuesday, the debt of the federal government exceeded $15 trillion for the first time--with the largest single owner of the publicly held portion of that debt being the Federal Reserve.
~ Lord, we thank You that China is no longer the number one nation holding our debt; and yet, we need to see a reduction in the debt overall. We see nations around the world struggling with their own economies, as well as our own. We pray that You will use all of this for Your Glory! May we, as citizens of this planet, become aware of You as our Creator and Sustainer; and may we recognize our dependence on You, and not mammon. Amen.
~ "No servant is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (riches, or anything in which you trust and on which you rely)." (Luke 16:13)
3. Panetta: Strike on Iran could hurt world economy - Jerusalem Post
US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said he would raise American concerns about the unintended consequences of any military action against Iran during talks with Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Friday, including its potential impact on the world economy.
~ Father, we ask that You be present in that meeting with Sec. Panetta and Defense Minister, Ehud Barak. We pray that these men will have Your wisdom, and will not place a monetary value on the need to deal with an enemy who wishes to destroy us and Israel. We pray that their priorities would be to protect the people of these two great nations, first and foremost. Enable them, Lord, to find ways to deal with our enemies, decisively, at whatever monetary cost is necessary. Help them to find the resources necessary to protect lives, we pray. Amen.
~ "He shall say: "Hear, Israel: Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them. For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory." (Deut. 20:3,4)
4. House Approves Concealed Firearm Permit Bill - Fox News
A state permit to carry a concealed firearm would be valid in almost every state in the country under legislation the House passed Wednesday.
~ Lord, we thank You for this legislation, honoring the second amendment of our Constitution, giving us the right to bear arms, and thereby defend ourselves and our property! Amen!
~ "If the thief is found breaking in, and he is struck so that he dies, there shall be no guilt for his bloodshed." (Exodus 22:2)
5. Army Tests Hypersonic Weapon Over the Pacific - ABC News
The Army on Thursday conducted its first flight test of a new weapon capable of traveling five times the speed of sound. The Pentagon on Thursday held a successful test flight of a flying bomb that travels faster than the speed of sound and will give military planners the ability to strike targets anywhere in the world in less than a hour. Launched by rocket from Hawaii at 1130 GMT, the "Advanced Hypersonic Weapon," or AHW, glided through the upper atmosphere over the Pacific "at hypersonic speed" before hitting its target on the Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands, a Pentagon statement said. The US Army's AHW project is part of the "Prompt Global Strike" program which seeks to give the US military the means to deliver conventional weapons anywhere in the world within an hour.
~ Lord of Hosts, our Commander-in-Chief, we thank You for this successful test. We realize, now more than ever, how amazing You are!! Truly, we are near the time of Your return for Your "warrior bride" (us). With human-kind becoming capable of this kind of destruction, it's only a matter of time until these weapons fall into the hands of Your enemies, and ours. Surely, without Your divine intervention, mankind is capable of self-destruction, the world over. We ask You, to send Your angelic Air-Force to guide these bombs and missiles in accordance with Your desire and purposes. May we be single-mindedly "about our Father's business" of bringing in the lost and the harvest, as the time is so short! In Yeshua's Name, we pray, Amen!
~ "And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom and curing all kinds of disease and every weakness and infirmity. When He saw the throngs, He was moved with pity and sympathy for them, because they were bewildered (harassed and distressed and dejected and helpless), like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. So pray to the Lord of the harvest to force out and thrust laborers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:35-38)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6)
1. Hamas-Fatah unity would harm diplomatic process - Jerusalem Post
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas cannot have both peace with Israel and reconciliation with Hamas, officials in Jerusalem said on Thursday as Fatah announced significant progress toward forming a unity government with Hamas.
2. PA denies deal with Israel over UN membership - Jerusalem Post
The Palestinian Authority Thursday denied a report that claimed that the Palestinians had offered to freeze the application for membership in the UN in return for the release of tax revenues held by Israel and continued US financial support.
3. 'Hizbullah on Alert, Preparing for War' - Arutz Sheva
Hizbullah has canceled leaves and is preparing for war, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper As-Seyassah.
The Good News Corner
Prop. 8 Backers Can Defend Law in Federal Court
Summary: California Supreme Court allows private groups to defend the law, since the state attorney general won't.
The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the Alliance Defense Fund and the ProtectMarriage.com legal team may continue defending the state's marriage-definition law in federal court.
Since Prop. 8, the state constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, passed in California in 2008, the state attorney general's office has refused to defend it in court. Consequently, ProtectMarriage.com -- the coalition of ministries and family groups that helped put the proposition on the ballot three years ago -- have been defending it from challenges claiming it's unconstitutional.
"Because it is essential to the integrity of the initiative process," Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye wrote, "that there be someone to assert the state's interest in the initiative's validity on behalf of the people when the public officials who normally assert that interest decline to do so, and because the official proponents of an initiative ... are the most obvious and logical persons to assert the state's interest in the initiative's validity on behalf of the voters who enacted the measure, we conclude that California law authorize the official proponents, under such circumstances, to appear in the proceeding to assert the state's interest in the initiatives validity and to appeal a judgment invaliding the measure.
"Neither the Governor, the Attorney General, nor any other executive or legislative official has the authority to veto or invalidate an initiative measure that has been approved by the voters."
The Alliance Defense Fund applauded the ruling.
"The court was clearly right to conclude that the California marriage amendment should not go undefended just because state officials have refused to defend it," ADF Senior Counsel Brian Raum said. "Because the people of California have a right to be defended, Prop. 8's official proponents will be allowed to continue defending the marriage amendment. Otherwise, state officials would have succeeded in indirectly invalidating a measure that they had no power to strike down directly."
Under the ruling, the case regarding the constitutional merits of Prop. 8 may now continue at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Gay activists who sought to have the law overturned challenged ProtectMarriage.com's legal right to defend it there in January.
Prop. 8 went on the ballot after judges unilaterally declared same-sex marriage legal in California. (CitizenLink)
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Read the California Supreme Court ruling. Go here.
Worship with Us Today!
THANKSGIVING WORSHIP
As we prepare our hearts and our homes to celebrate one of America's favorite holidays next week, let's join together to sing this medley of Thanksgiving tunes:
"Come Ye Thankful People, Come"
"We Gather Together"
"Now Thank We All Our God"
We at Capitol Hill Prayer Partners thank our God for each one of you, our wonderful partners in prayer. Let us give thanks together for the many blessings our Father still bestows upon us in our land. Amen.
