News for Prayer!
"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name." (Zechariah 14:9)
The Daily Brief
1. Gulf states brace for unwanted US-Iran war - AFP
This very real fear is prompting the oil-rich states to enhance their defences while hoping that diplomacy can rein in Tehran's regional ambitions and put an end to its worrying nuclear programme. "No one in the Gulf States wants war but everyone is preparing for the possibility that it might happen," said military analyst Riad Kahwaji.
- Lord, all the earth's riches belong to You. We pray that a harvest of people will return to You and know that You are the provider and protector of riches. We do pray godly wisdom for leaders. We know what Your word says about the last days. We ask for mercy in the Gulf States. Open the ears to hear the voice of the Lord. May there be repentance where it is still needed. Please give us a President who will be led by the Holy Spirit and have godly wisdom in the areas of defense. In the name of Jesus we pray for mercy. Amen
- Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.(Jeremiah 35:15)
2. Report: Russian naval force arrives at Syria port in 'show of solidarity' - Ha'aretz
A large Russian naval force arrived at the Syrian port city of Tartus, the French AFP news agency reported on Sunday, in what the regime of President Bashar Assad is calling a show of "friendship."
- Lord, it seems that the unholy alliances are growing for the last days scenario. Help us to know when and how to pray as we go through the upcoming times. We again pray for the protection of Your people in the Middle East countries and for Israel. We pray a hedge of protection and the blood of Jesus over them. We pray that more will call out to You as they see these events unfolding. Lord, reveal to people the times we are entering.
- And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities. It may be that they will present their supplication before the Lord, and everyone will turn from his evil way. (Jeremiah 36:6-7)
3. UK sends most powerful vessel to Gulf - Jerusalem Post
The UK is sending its most powerful naval vessel to the Gulf to counter any potential Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, the Daily Telegraph reported Friday. The ship, a Type 45 destroyer named HMS Daring, will depart from Portsmouth on Wednesday and is set to arrive in the Gulf by the end of January. It is capable of shooting down "any missile in Iran's armory," according to the Telegraph.
- Lord, we thank You for the support of the UK against Iran, and that they are helping provide protection. We bless this naval vessel to do any work it needs to do and pray that leadership would know the right actions to take. Thank You for all those who will stand with us against evil. As we stand for freedom may people have revelation that it is You who really brings freedom. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen
- Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
4. China warns US on Asia military strategy - BBC
China's state media have warned the US against "flexing its muscles" after Washington unveiled a defence review switching focus to the Asia-Pacific.
- Lord, as we pray for our military and their strategy, we are aware that many believe there should be an increased focus on the Asia-Pacific. Help us prepare spiritually and physically to be ready for what our enemies are planning. Again, we pray for a President, Commander in Chief, who understands these issues and seeks guidance from You, that it may be Your army used for Your purpose. We pray protection for the military and our leaders. May the focus be in the right places and guided by You. In Jesus name. Amen
- And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. (Revelation 19:19)
5. US expels Venezuelan diplomat Livia Acosta Noguera over links to cyber-attacks - Fox News
THE Obama administration will expel Venezuela's consul general in Miami after allegations surfaced that she discussed possible cyber-attacks on US soil while she was stationed at her country's embassy in Mexico. The State Department said it had declared the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, persona non grata and given her until Tuesday to leave the country.
- Lord, we ask that more such people be exposed and be dealt with in wisdom. May things done for the forces of darkness be brought to light. We pray for protection over any information these people have acquired, so that it would not be used for evil. You are the one who spreads light, and said we are the light to this world. May Your people help to expose things done in the darkness. You are the Way, the Truth and the Light. Thank You for Your light. Amen.
- God is the Lord, and He has given us light. (Psalm 118: 27)
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. New threat from Sinai threatens Eilat bound aircraft - ICEJ News
After a long, violent 2011 in which thousands of portable anti-aircraft missiles have been looted from government arsenals in North Africa, civilian airliners headed for the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat from Europe are beginning to look for alternative routes which will allow them to bypass the Sinai Peninsula, which has slipped from the control of the Egyptian government and is rapidly turning into a lawless no-man's land. A missile was fired at Israeli Air Force helicopters in August during a terrorist attack launched from the Sinai, and the development has spurred interest in building a new airport north of Eilat around Timna Park.
2. Israeli meeting with the PA kept quiet - ICEJ News
Israeli meeting with the PA kept quiet Israeli officials held a second round of talks with their Palestinian Authority counterparts in Amman, Jordan on Monday, although the media was locked out and the officials did not make a statement to the press following the meeting. Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who hosted the event, also declined to make a statement to the press following the meetings, unlike last week when he made a brief statement. Officials have indicated that the less attention brought to bear on the meetings, the more likely they were to produce results.
3. Hamas leader warns PA against pursuing peace with Israel instead of Palestinian unity - Haaretz
If Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas bets on peace talks with Israel rather than reconciling his Fatah movement with Hamas, he will lose out, Zahar said in an interview with Reuters in his Gaza office.
4. Bahrain to Jewish leader: Iran is a threat to us all - jpost
Iran is a common threat to Bahrain, Israel and the US, the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was quoted as saying by a Jewish official on Sunday. Rabbi Marc Schneier, vice president of the World Jewish Congress, said the king told him he was alarmed by the Islamic Republic during a 45- minute meeting held in the capital city of Manama late last month.
The Daily Jot
US, EU, Turkey laying ground for the antichrist
The United States, the European Union and Turkey are conspiring together to make public criticism of Islam a crime and to spread Sharia law worldwide. They are working through the little known "Istanbul Process for Freedom of Religion, Belief." This summit was held in Washington, DC in December and the European Union will host the next one in July. In December, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in support of United Nations resolution 1618 which seeks to combat "intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief." This is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) push for a global law against criticism of Islam.
The December meeting was a follow up to a July meeting in Istanbul co-chaired by Clinton and OIC's Secretary General. It was also attended by EU foreign Policy Chief Baroness Ashton. The OIC website says the meetings are directed at "dealing with the issue of defamation of religions or incitement to hatred on religious grounds." It all sounds good--freedom of speech, protecting religious rights. The devil, however, is in the details. And the details are laying the groundwork for the rise of the antichrist from a prophetic end times standpoint. Islam is a global political system that uses false religion and violence to advance its political objectives, which are Marxist or fascist in nature.
Therefore, if one criticizes the terrorism or aggression of Islam, then one is also criticizing the Islamic religion. The OIC is intent on banning any kind of criticism of Islam, claiming protection from defamation as a religion. In reality, the OIC is fighting for the establishment of global Sharia law. One of its stated purposes is to "Strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation; in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market"--in other words, have Islamic control over all global markets. Another is "to remove misperceptions" of Islam and "Elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations."
The US, EU and Muslim States through the OIC began their quest in Istanbul to eliminate all criticism of Islam. Whether it's done in the name of free speech, religious speech or international dialogue on human rights, the goal is Islamic domination using the US and the EU as willing dupes. That it began in Istanbul, Turkey, modern day Assyria and Magog, has significance. There are multiple references in the Bible that the antichrist is the Assyrian. For example, the Lord says in Isaiah 14:25, "I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot." The spirit of the antichrist is revealed in the Istanbul Process and the prophecy clock is moving forward aided by Hillary Clinton and the EU.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Daley Done
There was a stunning announcement in Washington yesterday: White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley has submitted his resignation after just one year on the job and will be gone by the end of the month -- a year earlier than planned. It is difficult to imagine the political atmosphere in Washington getting worse, but Daley's departure does not bode well.
Daley was Bill Clinton's Commerce Secretary and a corporate executive. He was brought into the White House to replace the hyper-partisan Rahm Emanuel and to smooth over relations with Wall Street, the business community and Capitol Hill. When his appointment was announced last January, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said:
"I frankly think it's kind of a hopeful sign. He has the business background. This is a guy who's actually been out in the private sector, been a part of business. Frankly, my first reaction is that it sounds like a good idea."
According to various reports, Daley had promised to stay through the election. He told NBC's Chicago affiliate, "I made a commitment to the president through his reelection and then my wife and I will return to Chicago." Perhaps Daley was uncomfortable with Obama's class warfare rhetoric and the Democrats' embrace of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Perhaps he never fit in with the Obama White House at all. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day)
"The Obamas"
A new book about Barack and Michelle Obama is causing heartburn at the White House. The book was not written by Ann Coulter or some other conservative "attack dog," but by Jodi Kantor, a New York Times reporter who has extensively covered the Obamas since 2007. Two passages in particular have made headlines in recent days.
The first involved an extravagant Halloween party in the midst of the Great Recession. As unemployment was surging to double digits, the Obamas hosted an "Alice in Wonderland" themed party featuring actor Johnny Depp -- in full costume and character as the Mad Hatter. It appears as though the White House tried to keep the party a secret, worried about how the lavish event would seem to the public.
I don't know why the White House is so defensive -- I thought "Alice in Wonderland" was the theme at the Obama White House every day!
The second passage is more disconcerting. Michelle Obama worked in the administration of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley from September 1991 to April 1993. But according to Kantor, "[Michelle Obama] particularly resented the way power in Illinois was locked up generation after generation by a small group of families, all white Irish Catholic -- the Daleys in Chicago, the Hynes and Madigans statewide."
Why would the first lady be so upset by "white Irish Catholics"? The Obamas were supposed to transcend race and move America into a new era of post-racial harmony. I wish it were so. But knowing that the Obamas attended a racist church for so many years -- where the pastor gave an award to Louis Farrakhan -- might provide some context for the first lady's alleged resentment. (Gary Bauer)
Lest We Forget . . .
Jeremiah Wright: Lest We Forget . . .
While they were living in Chicago, Barack Michelle Obama attended a church pastored by Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
In the last presidential campaign. reporters began investigating the message that came out of the Obama's home church. The information they unearthed was quite disconcerting to us, and was reported here.
Now that Obama is running for a second term of office, we thought to revisit this information, to wit:
Their pastor yelling loudly from the pulpit one Sunday: "God DAMN America."
Lest we forget . . . you can still view that sermon by going here.
In addition, ABC News posted an article on March 8, 2008 entitled, "Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11." You can view that article by going here.
- On the day that the first primary has taken place in this election, in the State of New Hampshire, pray that every hidden thing be revealed about the character of each candidate. May the voters choose wisely throughout this campaign season when it is their turn to go to the polls.
- "For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." (Eccl. 5:14)
The Good News Corner:
No, God is not a Denver Broncos fan - certainly not in the sense of the people who paint their faces half orange and half blue and cheer on the home team at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. So Sunday's exciting-as-it-was-unlikely playoff win over the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers was not, in any way that would suggest the creator of the universe picks sides in a football game, an "act of divine intervention."
But that doesn't mean His name wasn't glorified in the Broncos' 29-23 victory led by quarterback Tim Tebow, whose unconventional playing style and uncompromising expressions of his Christian faith have made him one of the NFL's top stories this season.
I've been to plenty of football games - some of my dearest friends in the world are the families of former Detroit Lion and Bronco Luther Elliss and former Bronco and Atlanta Falcon Jason Elam - but I've never experienced anything like I did Sunday. Yes, the action on the field was thrilling - but it is the discussions in the stands I'll remember, which will have real impact long after the details of yet another "Tebow Time" comeback have faded.
As an evangelical Christian, like Tebow, I am called to share my faith with others - that's why we call it the "good news." Sometimes, that can be a daunting responsibility - the Bible tells us that the way of Jesus can be offensive to those who don't know Him. But there was an openness to hearing the Gospel all around me and my friends Sunday, as complete strangers asked us, in the midst of the game's tensest moments, if we "pray like Tebow does" when circumstances turn challenging. (This is as good a place as any to point out that Tebow is hardly the only, or even the most outspoken, follower of Christ in pro football. Devout Christians suit up every weekend for every team in the NFL.) . . .
After the win over the Steelers, the social media world began lighting up with the fact that Tebow had thrown for 316 yards - as in John 3:16. A friend posted this fact on his Facebook page, not to prove that God roots for Denver, but in the hope that some of his friends who did not know Jesus might look the verse up and learn more about God's goodness and plan for salvation. Sure enough, one of his friends did just that. And John 3:16, like it did when Tebow scribbled it into his eyeblack during his days at the University of Florida, became one of the Internet's top search terms again. (CitizenLink) Read more.
- Offer a word of praise about how the LORD is using this one young man of conscience to draw others to Himself, and to seek the Scriptures for truth. Praise the Lord!
- "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (I Timothy 6L:12)
Worship with Us Today!
With Everything
Hillsong Live
"Open our eyes to see the things that make Your heart cry
To be the church that You would desire
Your light to be seen.
Break down our pride
and all the walls we've built up inside.
Our earthly crowns and all our desires we lay at Your feet . . ."
• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• Daley Done
• "The Obamas"
• Lest We Forget . . .
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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
• Daley Done
• "The Obamas"
• Lest We Forget . . .
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Tuesday, January 10, 2012
"The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name." (Zechariah 14:9)
The Daily Brief
1. Gulf states brace for unwanted US-Iran war - AFP
This very real fear is prompting the oil-rich states to enhance their defences while hoping that diplomacy can rein in Tehran's regional ambitions and put an end to its worrying nuclear programme. "No one in the Gulf States wants war but everyone is preparing for the possibility that it might happen," said military analyst Riad Kahwaji.
- Lord, all the earth's riches belong to You. We pray that a harvest of people will return to You and know that You are the provider and protector of riches. We do pray godly wisdom for leaders. We know what Your word says about the last days. We ask for mercy in the Gulf States. Open the ears to hear the voice of the Lord. May there be repentance where it is still needed. Please give us a President who will be led by the Holy Spirit and have godly wisdom in the areas of defense. In the name of Jesus we pray for mercy. Amen
- Turn now everyone from his evil way, amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them; then you will dwell in the land which I have given you and your fathers.(Jeremiah 35:15)
2. Report: Russian naval force arrives at Syria port in 'show of solidarity' - Ha'aretz
A large Russian naval force arrived at the Syrian port city of Tartus, the French AFP news agency reported on Sunday, in what the regime of President Bashar Assad is calling a show of "friendship."
- Lord, it seems that the unholy alliances are growing for the last days scenario. Help us to know when and how to pray as we go through the upcoming times. We again pray for the protection of Your people in the Middle East countries and for Israel. We pray a hedge of protection and the blood of Jesus over them. We pray that more will call out to You as they see these events unfolding. Lord, reveal to people the times we are entering.
- And you shall also read them in the hearing of all Judah who come from their cities. It may be that they will present their supplication before the Lord, and everyone will turn from his evil way. (Jeremiah 36:6-7)
3. UK sends most powerful vessel to Gulf - Jerusalem Post
The UK is sending its most powerful naval vessel to the Gulf to counter any potential Iranian attempt to close the Strait of Hormuz, the Daily Telegraph reported Friday. The ship, a Type 45 destroyer named HMS Daring, will depart from Portsmouth on Wednesday and is set to arrive in the Gulf by the end of January. It is capable of shooting down "any missile in Iran's armory," according to the Telegraph.
- Lord, we thank You for the support of the UK against Iran, and that they are helping provide protection. We bless this naval vessel to do any work it needs to do and pray that leadership would know the right actions to take. Thank You for all those who will stand with us against evil. As we stand for freedom may people have revelation that it is You who really brings freedom. In Your name, Jesus, we pray. Amen
- Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
4. China warns US on Asia military strategy - BBC
China's state media have warned the US against "flexing its muscles" after Washington unveiled a defence review switching focus to the Asia-Pacific.
- Lord, as we pray for our military and their strategy, we are aware that many believe there should be an increased focus on the Asia-Pacific. Help us prepare spiritually and physically to be ready for what our enemies are planning. Again, we pray for a President, Commander in Chief, who understands these issues and seeks guidance from You, that it may be Your army used for Your purpose. We pray protection for the military and our leaders. May the focus be in the right places and guided by You. In Jesus name. Amen
- And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. (Revelation 19:19)
5. US expels Venezuelan diplomat Livia Acosta Noguera over links to cyber-attacks - Fox News
THE Obama administration will expel Venezuela's consul general in Miami after allegations surfaced that she discussed possible cyber-attacks on US soil while she was stationed at her country's embassy in Mexico. The State Department said it had declared the diplomat, Livia Acosta Noguera, persona non grata and given her until Tuesday to leave the country.
- Lord, we ask that more such people be exposed and be dealt with in wisdom. May things done for the forces of darkness be brought to light. We pray for protection over any information these people have acquired, so that it would not be used for evil. You are the one who spreads light, and said we are the light to this world. May Your people help to expose things done in the darkness. You are the Way, the Truth and the Light. Thank You for Your light. Amen.
- God is the Lord, and He has given us light. (Psalm 118: 27)
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. New threat from Sinai threatens Eilat bound aircraft - ICEJ News
After a long, violent 2011 in which thousands of portable anti-aircraft missiles have been looted from government arsenals in North Africa, civilian airliners headed for the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat from Europe are beginning to look for alternative routes which will allow them to bypass the Sinai Peninsula, which has slipped from the control of the Egyptian government and is rapidly turning into a lawless no-man's land. A missile was fired at Israeli Air Force helicopters in August during a terrorist attack launched from the Sinai, and the development has spurred interest in building a new airport north of Eilat around Timna Park.
2. Israeli meeting with the PA kept quiet - ICEJ News
Israeli meeting with the PA kept quiet Israeli officials held a second round of talks with their Palestinian Authority counterparts in Amman, Jordan on Monday, although the media was locked out and the officials did not make a statement to the press following the meeting. Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh, who hosted the event, also declined to make a statement to the press following the meetings, unlike last week when he made a brief statement. Officials have indicated that the less attention brought to bear on the meetings, the more likely they were to produce results.
3. Hamas leader warns PA against pursuing peace with Israel instead of Palestinian unity - Haaretz
If Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas bets on peace talks with Israel rather than reconciling his Fatah movement with Hamas, he will lose out, Zahar said in an interview with Reuters in his Gaza office.
4. Bahrain to Jewish leader: Iran is a threat to us all - jpost
Iran is a common threat to Bahrain, Israel and the US, the King of Bahrain Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was quoted as saying by a Jewish official on Sunday. Rabbi Marc Schneier, vice president of the World Jewish Congress, said the king told him he was alarmed by the Islamic Republic during a 45- minute meeting held in the capital city of Manama late last month.
The Daily Jot
US, EU, Turkey laying ground for the antichrist
The United States, the European Union and Turkey are conspiring together to make public criticism of Islam a crime and to spread Sharia law worldwide. They are working through the little known "Istanbul Process for Freedom of Religion, Belief." This summit was held in Washington, DC in December and the European Union will host the next one in July. In December, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke in support of United Nations resolution 1618 which seeks to combat "intolerance, negative stereotyping and stigmatization of, and discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against, persons based on religion or belief." This is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's (OIC) push for a global law against criticism of Islam.
The December meeting was a follow up to a July meeting in Istanbul co-chaired by Clinton and OIC's Secretary General. It was also attended by EU foreign Policy Chief Baroness Ashton. The OIC website says the meetings are directed at "dealing with the issue of defamation of religions or incitement to hatred on religious grounds." It all sounds good--freedom of speech, protecting religious rights. The devil, however, is in the details. And the details are laying the groundwork for the rise of the antichrist from a prophetic end times standpoint. Islam is a global political system that uses false religion and violence to advance its political objectives, which are Marxist or fascist in nature.
Therefore, if one criticizes the terrorism or aggression of Islam, then one is also criticizing the Islamic religion. The OIC is intent on banning any kind of criticism of Islam, claiming protection from defamation as a religion. In reality, the OIC is fighting for the establishment of global Sharia law. One of its stated purposes is to "Strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation; in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market"--in other words, have Islamic control over all global markets. Another is "to remove misperceptions" of Islam and "Elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations."
The US, EU and Muslim States through the OIC began their quest in Istanbul to eliminate all criticism of Islam. Whether it's done in the name of free speech, religious speech or international dialogue on human rights, the goal is Islamic domination using the US and the EU as willing dupes. That it began in Istanbul, Turkey, modern day Assyria and Magog, has significance. There are multiple references in the Bible that the antichrist is the Assyrian. For example, the Lord says in Isaiah 14:25, "I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot." The spirit of the antichrist is revealed in the Istanbul Process and the prophecy clock is moving forward aided by Hillary Clinton and the EU.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Daley Done
There was a stunning announcement in Washington yesterday: White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley has submitted his resignation after just one year on the job and will be gone by the end of the month -- a year earlier than planned. It is difficult to imagine the political atmosphere in Washington getting worse, but Daley's departure does not bode well.
Daley was Bill Clinton's Commerce Secretary and a corporate executive. He was brought into the White House to replace the hyper-partisan Rahm Emanuel and to smooth over relations with Wall Street, the business community and Capitol Hill. When his appointment was announced last January, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said:
"I frankly think it's kind of a hopeful sign. He has the business background. This is a guy who's actually been out in the private sector, been a part of business. Frankly, my first reaction is that it sounds like a good idea."
According to various reports, Daley had promised to stay through the election. He told NBC's Chicago affiliate, "I made a commitment to the president through his reelection and then my wife and I will return to Chicago." Perhaps Daley was uncomfortable with Obama's class warfare rhetoric and the Democrats' embrace of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Perhaps he never fit in with the Obama White House at all. (Gary Bauer; End-of-Day)
"The Obamas"
A new book about Barack and Michelle Obama is causing heartburn at the White House. The book was not written by Ann Coulter or some other conservative "attack dog," but by Jodi Kantor, a New York Times reporter who has extensively covered the Obamas since 2007. Two passages in particular have made headlines in recent days.
The first involved an extravagant Halloween party in the midst of the Great Recession. As unemployment was surging to double digits, the Obamas hosted an "Alice in Wonderland" themed party featuring actor Johnny Depp -- in full costume and character as the Mad Hatter. It appears as though the White House tried to keep the party a secret, worried about how the lavish event would seem to the public.
I don't know why the White House is so defensive -- I thought "Alice in Wonderland" was the theme at the Obama White House every day!
The second passage is more disconcerting. Michelle Obama worked in the administration of Chicago Mayor Richard Daley from September 1991 to April 1993. But according to Kantor, "[Michelle Obama] particularly resented the way power in Illinois was locked up generation after generation by a small group of families, all white Irish Catholic -- the Daleys in Chicago, the Hynes and Madigans statewide."
Why would the first lady be so upset by "white Irish Catholics"? The Obamas were supposed to transcend race and move America into a new era of post-racial harmony. I wish it were so. But knowing that the Obamas attended a racist church for so many years -- where the pastor gave an award to Louis Farrakhan -- might provide some context for the first lady's alleged resentment. (Gary Bauer)
Lest We Forget . . .
Jeremiah Wright: Lest We Forget . . .
While they were living in Chicago, Barack Michelle Obama attended a church pastored by Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
In the last presidential campaign. reporters began investigating the message that came out of the Obama's home church. The information they unearthed was quite disconcerting to us, and was reported here.
Now that Obama is running for a second term of office, we thought to revisit this information, to wit:
Their pastor yelling loudly from the pulpit one Sunday: "God DAMN America."
Lest we forget . . . you can still view that sermon by going here.
In addition, ABC News posted an article on March 8, 2008 entitled, "Obama's Pastor: God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11." You can view that article by going here.
- On the day that the first primary has taken place in this election, in the State of New Hampshire, pray that every hidden thing be revealed about the character of each candidate. May the voters choose wisely throughout this campaign season when it is their turn to go to the polls.
- "For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil." (Eccl. 5:14)
The Good News Corner:
No, God is not a Denver Broncos fan - certainly not in the sense of the people who paint their faces half orange and half blue and cheer on the home team at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. So Sunday's exciting-as-it-was-unlikely playoff win over the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers was not, in any way that would suggest the creator of the universe picks sides in a football game, an "act of divine intervention."
But that doesn't mean His name wasn't glorified in the Broncos' 29-23 victory led by quarterback Tim Tebow, whose unconventional playing style and uncompromising expressions of his Christian faith have made him one of the NFL's top stories this season.
I've been to plenty of football games - some of my dearest friends in the world are the families of former Detroit Lion and Bronco Luther Elliss and former Bronco and Atlanta Falcon Jason Elam - but I've never experienced anything like I did Sunday. Yes, the action on the field was thrilling - but it is the discussions in the stands I'll remember, which will have real impact long after the details of yet another "Tebow Time" comeback have faded.
As an evangelical Christian, like Tebow, I am called to share my faith with others - that's why we call it the "good news." Sometimes, that can be a daunting responsibility - the Bible tells us that the way of Jesus can be offensive to those who don't know Him. But there was an openness to hearing the Gospel all around me and my friends Sunday, as complete strangers asked us, in the midst of the game's tensest moments, if we "pray like Tebow does" when circumstances turn challenging. (This is as good a place as any to point out that Tebow is hardly the only, or even the most outspoken, follower of Christ in pro football. Devout Christians suit up every weekend for every team in the NFL.) . . .
After the win over the Steelers, the social media world began lighting up with the fact that Tebow had thrown for 316 yards - as in John 3:16. A friend posted this fact on his Facebook page, not to prove that God roots for Denver, but in the hope that some of his friends who did not know Jesus might look the verse up and learn more about God's goodness and plan for salvation. Sure enough, one of his friends did just that. And John 3:16, like it did when Tebow scribbled it into his eyeblack during his days at the University of Florida, became one of the Internet's top search terms again. (CitizenLink) Read more.
- Offer a word of praise about how the LORD is using this one young man of conscience to draw others to Himself, and to seek the Scriptures for truth. Praise the Lord!
- "Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (I Timothy 6L:12)
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Our earthly crowns and all our desires we lay at Your feet . . ."