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• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Update: Kagan's Recusal?
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Monday, November 21, 2011
"Pray without ceasing . . ." (I Thessalonians 5:17)
The Daily Brief
1. "Bridge" to Nowhere: Debt Panel Fails - AP
Debt Super Committee announces it has failed to reach a deal to save $1.2 trillion over 10 years, adding it could not 'bridge the committee's significant differences.' After months of bipartisan debt-reduction talks, the Super Committee said Monday that it will be unable to agree on terms to save $1.2 trillion over 10 years by tonight's midnight deadline. The panel had until midnight to come up with a plan for reducing the federal debt by $1.2 trillion over 10 years or face automatic cuts, called "sequestration." Read more.
- As these automatic spending cuts are now pursued, pray that the cuts will not endanger the security of our nation, nor the welfare of our citizens. Pray for wisdom. Pray!
- "By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just . . ." (Proverbs 8:15)
2. Marco Rubio: White House Failed to Lead on Supercommittee - ABC News
As the congressional supercommittee stands on the brink of failure, Coons and Rubio are pushing forward with a rare bipartisan effort on jobs, hoping to spur action on measures that both Republicans and Democrats support. The first-term senators have introduced the AGREE Act - the American Growth, Recovery, Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Act - putting together elements from existing jobs bills that have gained bipartisan support, hoping that passage of the economic measures will spur confidence in Washington.
"We believe that one of the things that's holding back economic activity is all the bad news and impending bad news that's coming out of Washington," Rubio said. "If we can show people that there are things we can work on together, that there is a glimmer of hope in Washington, that we are able to agree on the things we agree on, we hope to be able to get the ball rolling on a little bit of confidence over the next 12 months."
• Lord, we thank you for politicians who have optimism and a plan to get our nation back on track. Now, we pray for partisanship to be set aside - and the issues they can agree on will be passed, so this will not end in defeat like Rubio said. Lord, we pray for more elected officials who will be willing to work for the good of the country and not their party.
• In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. (Proverb 3:6, 7)
3. White House Shooting Suspect's Path to Extremism - NY Times
Family members and others said that while Mr. Ortega was behaving increasingly strangely - he read a 45-minute speech at his 21st birthday party in October that veered from supporting marijuana legalization to detailing the threat of secret societies to expressing frustration with American foreign policy in oil-producing countries - he never seemed violent. They said that he could not have truly wanted to kill the president, but that he may have wanted a larger audience.
Mr. Ortega's behavior and the age at which it appears to have begun to suggest that he has "a textbook case" of schizophrenia, said Dr. E. Fuller Torrey, who researches the disease and is the founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center in Arlington, Va. "These folks often end up in Washington as what we used to call 'White House cases,' " he said. "A White House case classically is someone who comes to the guard at the White House and says they have a special message for the president, or they try to go over the wall. We've seen dozens. They almost always have paranoid schizophrenia, and they almost always respond to medication." Among the patients being treated there is John W. Hinckley Jr., who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
• Heavenly Father, thank you for stopping this person from succeeding in his attack. Lord, we pray for these types of people - who need medical help, before they can do any harm to others, not just the president. Let there be provision for them, so they can receive the urgent and right assistance they need.
• Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? (1 Samuel 21:14)
4. Penn State Scandal Provides Lessons to University Presidents - Washington Post
Presidents across the country are reviewing procedures for handling reports of crimes or unethical behavior and assessing how comfortable faculty, staff and students are in using those whistleblower systems. Many called events of the past two weeks a watershed. In interviews, local presidents said at least three lessons are emerging from the Penn State scandal: 1. Create a culture of openness and protect whistleblowers. 2. Ask tough questions, even when a school's image is at risk. 3. Strengthen oversight of athletics.
Two other major college football scandals have erupted this year. In both cases, university presidents said they were unaware of problems. Although the NCAA requires presidents to maintain institutional oversight over athletic departments, it can be difficult to challenge powerful programs that generate national attention, scholarship dollars and alumni support. Still, "there is no sport, no coach that is bigger than a university," Merten said.
• Lord, we pray against this atrocity done to the children by people who are supposed to be worthy of the children and parents' trust. We pray those who would abuse children, will be caught before they can do harm to anyone else. We pray they will be severely punished. We pray restoration of all the victims of this type of abuse.
• We lie down in our shame, and our reproach covers us. For we have sinned against the Lord our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even to this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God." (Jeremiah 3:25)
5. NY Arrests Awlaki Follower on Bomb-making Plan - Reuters
New York police arrested a follower of late Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki on suspicion of building a pipe bomb he planned to use against U.S. soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, officials said on Sunday. Jose Pimentel, 27, was charged with three terrorism-related counts and two other counts, court documents said. A U.S. citizen born in the Dominican Republic, Pimentel was arrested on Saturday in a Manhattan apartment while putting the bomb together, police said.
They called him a "lone wolf" who had converted to Islam and became a radical. In an interview with New York police, Pimentel admitted he "took active steps to build the bomb, including shaving the match heads and drilling holes in the pipes" and was "one hour away from completing it," said the criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan District Attorney. Counterterrorism officials in the United States and Europe say "lone wolf" militants are of particular concern because they can become radicalized via the Internet and prepare for an attack without leaving traces that might draw attention.
• Father God, we thank you that once again, a terrorist has been caught, and stopped before he could do any harm. We pray that officers and officials will become more quickly aware of the loners who have begun to be radicalized. Let the potential terrorists be obvious to everyone and not hidden.
• Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned. (Psalm 34:21, 22)
6. Some Cast Obama's Trip as Effort to Contain China's Influence - USA Today
Obama returned to Washington on Sunday after taking steps to strengthen U.S. influence in a region increasingly under China's massive shadow of economic and military might. Obama portrayed his journey to Australia and Indonesia as a job-creation drive but also announced a military agreement to deploy more Marines and U.S. aircraft to Australia. At a meeting in Hawaii with representatives of several Pacific nations, he proposed an expansion of a trade pact that excludes China.
In an editorial, the Chinese government-run Global Times newspaper warned China's neighbors that "any country which chooses to be a pawn in the U.S. chess game will lose the opportunity to benefit from China's economy." Given that Obama is running for re-election in 2012, the Chinese government is wondering "is it due to Obama's domestic political climate, or a substantial revision of Obama's foreign policy towards China," Shi Yinhong says, an international relations expert at People's University in Beijing.
• Lord, we pray we will swiftly come out from under the stifling dominion that China has on our economy. Give our leaders wisdom on how to negotiate with China. Help our people to get out of debt, so that a country like China will not be our lender. During these hard times, let people learn to economize wisely.
• Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. (Ezra 9:7)
7. Debt Anxiety Sends Markets Falling - Fox News
Wall Street was pummeled on Monday, while recovering from the lows of the session, as sovereign-debt anxiety cascaded through global financial markets and sent traders scurrying into safe havens. Read more.
- May America's investors find the strength and the peace that only comes by finding and knowing Christ as our Savior and our Lord. Pray tonight that jittery hearts across the land would be turned unto Him, for He is the Rock of our Salvation.
- "For their rock is not like our Rock, as even our enemies concede." (Dt. 32:31)
8. Why the Super Committee Deadlock Is a Victory, Not a Failure - Fox News
It now appears the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the "Super Committee") will deadlock, resulting in automatic spending cuts of $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. Some are decrying this as a failure; I'm celebrating it as a victory. Clearly, much more must be done to cut federal spending and avert a fiscal crisis. But real spending cuts were never on the table. What was on the table was a disastrous tax hike that would have undermined our economic recovery and given Washington politicians even more money to spend, undermining the goal of cutting spending. (By Phil Kerpen; Fox News) Read more.
- Ask God to show us the way out of this crisis; He has a plan!
- "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." (2 Chronicles 20:12)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Your name give glory, for Your mercy, and for Your truth's sake. Why should the nations say, Where is their God? But our God is in the heavens. He has done whatever He has pleased." (Psalm 115:1-3)
1. Jordan King to visit Ramallah, discuss Palestinian unity government with Abbas - Ha'aretz
King Abdullah II of Jordan will arrive Monday in Ramallah on a very rare brief visit to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud. The two leaders will meet at the headquarters of the Palestinian government before noon.
2. Next Palestinian gov't HQ will be in Gaza - Jerusalem Post
Hamas and Fatah agreed that the next Palestinian government headquarters will be in Gaza, a Hamas official told the London-Based Al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper on Friday.
3. Israel: time running out to stop a nuclear Iran - Reuters
Iran is less than a year away from being unstoppable in its goal of producing a nuclear weapon, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said in an interview with CNN released on Saturday.
4. Iran paper: Deadly blast occurred during intercontinental missile test - Ha'aretz
Government newspaper in Iran quotes brother of dead Revolutionary Guard commander saying accidental explosion took place during missile test; Iranian officials have denied press speculation on Israeli involvement.
The Daily Jot
How the fabric of prophecy is woven into a garment of destruction
Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak told CNN that the "time has come" to deal with Iran. Referencing the United Nations report indicating Iran was developing nuclear technology with the intent to weaponize it, Barak said, "People understand now that Iran is determined to reach nuclear weapons...and that should be stopped." Meanwhile, Iran launched an air defense drill that, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency, will use "missile systems, advanced anti-aircraft artillery and various radar systems, as well as "tactical maneuvers aimed at increasing the level of preparedness amid possible threats to the Islamic homeland's airspace, particularly with regards to the country's...nuclear centers.""
Iran's vassal state nearest to Israel, Syria, is experiencing domestic unrest, but both Iran and Russia are working to shore up dictator-president Bashar Assad's grip on the nation. The Syrian News Agency reports that Russian warships will arrive near Syria later this week. This sends a signal to the West that Russia will have a hand in preventing any foreign involvement in the Syrian unrest. AP reports that the terrorist group Hezbollah has compromised CIA and Israeli intelligence in Lebanon. AP claims that Iran has invested up to $200 million in breaking the CIA infiltration of Hezbollah. Hezbollah, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic Jihad and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade are inextricably linked.
In July, Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Muslim Brotherhood held a two-day conference in Egypt to "Support the Option of Resistance." Resistance is the code word for terrorism among the Islamists. The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center reported that delegates from 14 countries attended. Among them were Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, Iran, Indonesia, Morocco, Sudan and Jordan. The Muslim Brotherhood's goal was to unite Shia and Sunni Islamists against Israel and the United States. The man who occupies the Oval Office and his administration have embraced the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign policy partner in the Middle East.
The Middle East cauldron is about to boil over. When it does, there will be revealed the true alliances of the end times. We are facing a critical point because the US is playing both sides--Israeli and Islamic--as never before in the brief history of this nation. It is important because of America's global leadership position and its traditional standing in the breech for Israel. The end time prophecies concerning Jerusalem, including Zechariah 12:3 where "all the people of the earth be gathered together against it" are weaving together on the loom of destruction. America has allowed this prophetic fabric to strengthen by partnering with the antichrist Islamists. If America dons this garment, more woes will come.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Update: Kagan's Recusal?
Sessions presses Holder on Justice Kagan's involvement with health law
Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on Tuesday (Nov. 15) pressed Attorney General Eric Holder for more information about Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan's involvement with the healthcare reform law after new emails emerged showing her rooting for the law when she was solicitor general.
Sessions, a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, ripped into Holder over his past statements that Kagan was barely involved. He said Holder and his staff failed in their duty to provide emails and other documents to the committee. "I am deeply disturbed by these developments and believe that the Justice Department should have provided these documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee during Justice Kagan's confirmation hearing," Sessions wrote to Holder in a series of questions for the record. (The Hill)
Calls for Recusal Intensify in Health Care Case
Since last week's court order agreeing to take up the constitutionality of the President Obama-sponsored health law, complaints about the two justices have grown louder. The latest developments suggest the ruckus will remain a sidelight to the politically charged dispute. The consolidated cases, focused on whether Congress had the power to require most Americans to buy health insurance by 2014, will be heard early next year. A decision is likely in June, right before the Democratic and Republican conventions for the 2012 presidential election.
Northwestern University law professor Steven Lubet emphasized that ethics rules are concerned with judges who might have earlier served as counsel in a dispute. He added that the health care litigation raises interests related to a judge's "duty to sit." If one of the nine recused, Lubet says, there could be a 4-4 split on the merits, leaving conflicts in lower courts over the constitutionality of the law. "This is the paradigm case where the participation of all the justices is important," he said. (USA Today)
- Lord, our nation is being destroyed by partisanship even in the courts. We pray that all these games will be ended and that judges and Justices who sit in our courts will be fair in their judgments. Let this case be decided so that people will not be forced to have to participate in this particular healthcare program. Give us righteous judges and courts.
- "I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city." Zion shall be redeemed with justice . . . " (Isaiah 1:26, 27)
The Good News Corner:
Swiss Politician Against Muslim Takeover of Europe
Swiss politician Oskar Freysinger from the Swiss People's Party spoke recently at an event in Germany to support German politician René Stadtkewitz and his new party DIE FREIHEIT (FREEDOM).
To listen to this stunning speech, go here.
- Offer PRAISE for this man's courage, and ask that the same mantle of BOLDNESS to speak against the DANGERS of the takeover of Islam in our own society be stated, LOUDLY AND CLEARLY, by our leaders in Congress on both sides of the Hill.
- "For thus has the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he sees." (Isaiah 21:6)
Worship with Us Today!
"We Gather Together" By Celtic Women
We gather together to ask the Lord's blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known;
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing;
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.
Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!
We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be;
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!
