News for Prayer!• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Intelligence Disaster
• Time's "Person" Of The Year
• Silent Night For Christians
• NDAA: Mixed Bag of Policies
• More on NDAA Passage
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Intelligence Disaster
• Time's "Person" Of The Year
• Silent Night For Christians
• NDAA: Mixed Bag of Policies
• More on NDAA Passage
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Wednesday, December 14, 2011
"Unto us a Son is given . . ." (Isaiah 9:6)
The Daily Brief
1. Iran rejects U.S. request to return spy drone - The Envoy
Iran has--unsurprisingly--rejected an American request to return its downed spy drone. President Obama, speaking at a news conference with the visiting Iraqi prime minister Monday, said the United States had asked Iran to give the downed American reconnaissance plane back."We've asked for it back," President Obama said of the drone Monday. "We'll see how the Iranians respond." Iranian news agencies ridiculed the request on Tuesday as Iranian officials made clear they had no intention of giving back the American drone."Obama begs Iran to give him back his toy plane," proclaimed a headline from Iran's Fars News Agency Tuesday.
- Lord , how we are mocked and shamed by our enemies! Raise up a people in this nation who humbly and courageously walk with You; and elect leaders who act with godly wisdom because they revere You!
- " Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)
2. Ethiopia: Muslim Police Join Students in Demolishing Church - Worthy News
More than 500 Muslim students assisted by Muslim police burned down a church in the village of Qoto Baloso, Ethiopia, on Nov. 29. The students screamed "Allahu Akbar" as they set fire to St. Arsema Orthodox Church, which was built on land used by the Christian community for more than 60 years.
- In view of the plain evidence of the growing Islamization - not only of Ethiopia - but also many other nations, we take authority in JESUS' name over this antichrist spirit, binding its desire to enslave the earth. We ask for divine favor from You Lord, that the governments of these nations and the international community will actively intervene to stop horrific violations against Christians. We pray for our brethren who are suffering for Your Name - strengthen the Church in persecution. Let our voice be heard and let Your glory be revealed across the earth through us!
-"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him..I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him." (Psalm 91:14,15)
3. Library of Congress to receive entire Twitter archive - Federal News Radio
The Library of Congress and Twitter have signed an agreement that will see an archive of every public Tweet ever sent handed over to the library's repository of historical documents. The archives don't contain tweets that users have protected, but everything else - billions and billions of tweets - are there. Researchers will be able to look at the Twitter archive as a complete set of data, which they could then data-mine for interesting information. The library's Twitter partnership comes amid a renewed push by the administration and the National Archives and Records Administration for federal agencies to better achieve their own social media postings and emails as potential government records...
- Lord, the eyes of mankind seem to be working together to form a massive network of invasive spies. We thank You that Your eyes are upon the righteous, and Your ears are open to our cries. In You, we are surrounded by an impenetrable fortress in which You will surely deliver us from the traps of the enemy.(Psalm 91)
- " In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place to hide."(Proverbs 14:26)
4. White House Outlines Plan Against 'Homegrown' Extremist Threats - Voice of America
The Obama administration on Thursday released an implementation plan for intensified efforts to counter so-called "homegrown" violent extremism in the United States. (Co-chairs of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Independent Democrat Joseph Lieberman and Republican Susan Collins) voiced disappointment that the Obama administration did not designate a single agency to coordinate operations, and with the administration's "refusal to identify violent Islamist extremism as our enemy."
- Lord, remind citizens across America that shortly after President Obama took office, he approved his appointed head of Homeland Security for labeling - right wing Christians, legal gun owners, pro-life citizens, and returning veterans - as potential homeland security threats!! Take the blinders off the eyes of those who have supported this policy in the past. Protect those who are speaking out clearly against this horrific danger to our Constitutional freedoms.
- He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord. " (Proverbs 17:15)
5. Pentagon spending bill includes sweeping detention measures - The Globe and Mail
"The homeland is part of the battlefield and people can be held without trial whether an American citizen or not," said Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, one of the key backers of the new authority. For instance, U.S. agents tipped off by their Canadian counterparts as part of new intelligence-sharing pacts could detain a Canadian, ship him to Guantanamo and imprison him there forever. Even American citizens arrested in the United States could face perpetual detention in military prisons without charge or trial under draconian new presidential powers unless Barack Obama vetoes a massive Pentagon spending bill. The latest version of the bill, agreed to by both the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, effectively makes the entire planet a "battlefield" where military apprehension, detention and trial of the "enemy" is expressly allowed.
--Lord, It appears all of our leaders have gone mad. Have mercy on us Lord!! Move to prevent this bill from becoming a reality!! Speak to our leaders in dreams and visions - prevent them from denying citizens the basic right to not be detained without just cause! Prevent them from giving permanent authority to the president to order the military to imprison without charge or trial. God of heaven, we know that dark days are upon us, but all good gifts are from You. Protect us Lord in mercy, prevent this legislation as it now stands from becoming a reality!
--"For the Lord will not cast off His people, Nor will He forsake His inheritance." (Psalm 94:14)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, And rejoice before Him." (Psalm 68:4)
1. Abbas raises Palestinian flag at UNESCO - Ha'aretz
The Palestinian flag was raised at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris Tuesday, in a ceremony attended by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
2. Netanyahu calls urgent meeting after rightists attack IDF base - Ha'aretz
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called an emergency discussion with Israeli defense officials on Tuesday, following an attack by right-wing activists on an IDF base in the West Bank.
3. Netanyahu: Small Group Thinks It Can Cancel Loyalty to State - Jerusalem Post
A small group thinks it can cancel loyalty to the state and law, said Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, speaking out against the break-ins to IDF bases on Tuesday.
The Daily Jot
The favor of God
One of Tim Tebow's pastors has created quite a stir in the sports arena and it has crossed over into the mainstream. Of the Denver Broncos' Wayne Hanson of Summit Church told TMZ, "It's not luck. Luck isn't winning six games in a row. It's favor. God's favor." Immediately, the buzz went out. Sports commentators were saying that God only favors Tim Tebow and that all other teams and Christians on those teams were obviously not favored by God. Many raised questions that God's favor was only to those who He chose and all others who believed in Him were not favored. The remarks came after Denver's come from behind win over the Chicago Bears, whose coach Lovie Smith is also a committed Christian.
The remarks stirred nationwide controversy. For example, if God favors Tebow, God must not favor Marion Barber who ran out of bounds stopping the clock too early and who also fumbled the ball away when the game was on the line for the Bears. Why isn't Barber favored, too? Many questioned whether God even cares about sporting events. Let me say this. I have coached football and basketball over a 40 year span. I have seen tremendous athletes compete, win and lose. I have seen some with great ability never perform up to their talent because of their attitudes. I have seen others, who have great faith in Jesus Christ, perform far above their abilities. I have seen some Christians who were not good athletes.
The favor of God is a wonderful thing. Do I think that God favors one team over another? My answer would be that God can do whatever he wishes for his own results. But my observations are that many athletes who sincerely have a relationship with God can do amazing things. My son is an example. He prays before games. He reads the Bible. He readies his mind to play. And when he gets on the field, good things happen for him and his teammates. Does his team win every game, no. But is there a spirit, or presence of God on the field, yes. I have seen kids injured to the point that they shouldn't be able to play. But after prayer and by their faith, they are able to get back in and do well.
Galatians 6:7 says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Tim Tebow and his parents have sown good seed. Tebow is reaping that seed as he walks out his faith. The broadcasters, analysts, critics, and opposing fans have mocked Tebow's ability and his faith. It seems the more they mock the better he does. Favor with God is a wonderful thing. Proverbs 8:35,36 says, "For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord. But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death." You know, everybody that participates in life does not get a trophy. You reap what you sow. Sow in such a way that God's favor is upon you!
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Intelligence Disaster
The United States suffered a serious intelligence loss when a super-secret drone aircraft crashed in Iran and President Obama failed to act. He requested that the Iranian government return the drone, but, predictably his request was rejected. Iranian scientists are now harvesting a treasure trove of information on how the drone works and the technology of its stealth characteristics. Iran's Islamist radicals will use the information for their own gain and perhaps sell it to Russian or China. In either case it is a disaster.
Leaks here in Washington, D.C., indicate that when the Pentagon officials confirmed the drone had crashed, they presented President Obama with a number of options to retrieve or destroy it before the Iranians could get to it. Obama rejected all the options, thus insuring an intelligence bonanza for the Iranians.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney told CNN that it was inexplicable why Obama didn't act to make sure technology did not fall into the enemy's hands. Senator Joe Lieberman agreed. Speaking at a media roundtable Lieberman said, "I think it would have been very difficult to rescue it, but at least try to destroy it so the Iranians and anyone that they might share it with, would not have the benefit of the technology breakthroughs it represents."
The White house had no further comment, but I am sure they will soon say it is all Bush's fault! (Gary Bauer)
Time's "Person" Of The Year
The elites at Time magazine put their thinking caps on this week and pitched "The Protestor" as their "Person of the Year." Focusing specifically on "the Arab Spring," Time's cover story is a hymn of praise to the crowds that have overthrown a number of autocrats in the Middle East. Apparently Time hasn't noticed that the autocrats are being replaced by Islamists whose zeal for Sharia law hardly suggests that freedom is coming.
But Time doesn't focus on messy details. They then travel to Occupy Wall Street, where once again they see nothing but reformers looking to make the world a better place. Apparently Time has missed the hundreds of pounds of excrement that occupiers are dumping daily into public parks while they push their socialist agenda and class warfare.
So once again I dissent from Time's idea of greatness. My selection would have been Navy Seal Team Six, which in just a few minutes eliminated Osama bin Laden and sent him to his well-deserved "reward." (Gary Bauer)
Silent Night For Christians
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, particularly here in America where we are free to celebrate the birth of Jesus without fear of outright persecution. Sadly, as most of you know, millions of Christians around the world cannot openly worship without fear of persecution and even death. The persecution is actually increasing as radical Islamists rise to power in the Middle East and Africa.
Meanwhile many here in Washington, D.C., are silent or worse about the violence. In fact, on this very day the Obama administration is meeting with representatives of dozens of countries to discuss hateful speech and religious persecution, not against Christians but against Muslims!
We are unveiling a new video today that highlights the plight of Christians across the globe. (Warning: the video contains some graphic images and is not suitable for children.) Please do me a favor: Watch this video and share it with your family members, friends and colleagues. And ask them to share it with their friends. (While on my YouTube page, you may subscribe to my YouTube channel and watch other short videos that we've produced.)
If you are on Facebook, you can watch the video on my page, and share it with others. Knowledge is the first step to making a difference. I am asking each of you to do everything you can to promote this video. We cannot remain silent in the face of such evil. Thank you.
NDAA: Mixed Bag of Policies
Defense Authorization Bill Mixed Bag of Policies
On Monday night, federal legislators reached a compromise on two versions of the national defense authorization bill for Fiscal Year 2012.
The revised measure includes several provisions pertaining to homosexuality in the military. One aims to protect chaplains' conscience rights, saying that none can be forced to perform a same-sex union ceremony against their will.
"This particular provision makes it very clear homosexual marriage is not something that is going to be embraced by the Pentagon, wherever it is operating," said retired Army Lt. Col. Bob Maginnis, vice president for policy at the Family Research Council. "There is a lot of political pressure on chaplains to toe the line, to do what their seniors are telling them to do. This protects those people. We have support from a variety of organizations saying this is something that's critically needed in this time when values are being tossed out on their head, not only by the Defense Department, but by this administration."
The bill, which the House is expected to vote on later this week, also leaves intact the current language in the Uniform Code of Military Justice banning acts of sodomy and bestiality; an earlier Senate version had aimed to repeal that sodomy ban.
Though the version of the bill passed by the House of Representatives contained a measure affirming the Defense of Marriage Act within the Department of Defense, that provision didn't survive the conference committee.
More on NDAA Passage
Under Siege, Liberals Surrender on Troop Bill
If Congress has been consistent about anything, it's passing the Defense Authorization bill. This week, members could make it 51 consecutive years of approving the measure. Late yesterday, the House and Senate tried to keep the streak alive by finalizing the language out of conference. And to our great relief, they addressed every one of FRC's concerns.
In Monday's report, liberals finally retreated on their repeal of Article 125 in the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which would have made sodomy and bestiality legally protected acts. By night's end, House and Senate leaders had fought to keep both bans intact, handing FRC an incredible victory on an issue that other conservative organizations refused to fight.
Although the Pentagon tried to intervene in the eleventh hour, it never could allay our concerns--or the concerns of members who, without FRC, would have never realized the implications for repeal.
This morning, homosexual activists griped about the defeat and insisted that the prohibitions on sodomy and animal sex were "outdated." Fortunately, PETA disagreed--and said as much to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. Together, we sank what would have been a disastrous license for perversion among our troops.
And our success didn't end there. Conferees also reinforced the conscience protections for chaplains, who worried their careers would suffer if they refused to officiate same-sex "weddings" on base. By adopting Sen. Roger Wicker's (R-Miss.) amendment, any chaplain who objects or doesn't "wish to perform a marriage may not be required to do so." Under this new language, ministry leaders should no longer fear retaliation for living by the tenets of their faith.
The pro-family gains are all summarized on page four of the conference report, which states:
"DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT-- No part of this act contravenes or amends the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), nor is the Department of Defense relieved from the prohibition on federal recognition of same sex marriage therein.
CONSCIENCE CLAUSE PROTECTION FOR MILITARY CHAPLAINS-- Includes a provision to protect chaplains' rights to not perform same sex marriages on the basis of their conscience or moral principles. This would be the first such conscience clause enacted.
UCMJ ARTICLE 125 PROHIBITION ON SODOMY-- Retains current prohibition on sodomy."
Liberals did try to slip in some travel benefits for same-sex partners, but House staffers caught them at the last minute and stripped the perks before they latched on to the final bill. After weeks of battling these changes, FRC is proud of the outcome and thankful for how hard our friends in the House worked to make the victories a reality. We salute House Armed Services Chair Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and Reps. Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.), Todd Akin (R-Mo.), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Randy Forbes (R-Va.) and so many others who did their part to shield our troops from this administration's radical agenda.
Worship with Us Today!
Angels We Have Heard On High
. . . sweetly singing o'er the earth . . .
