• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• "Gay" Marriage on Military Base
• Thought Provoking!
• Today's Legislative Focus
• A Commentary by Joel Rosenberg
• NPC Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
• URGENT!! 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 - Thursday, June 7, 2012
" . . . be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite." (Deuteronomy 17:15)
The Daily Brief
1. Panetta says US Patience with Pakistan is "Reaching Limits" - AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday pressured Pakistan to do more to root out the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani terrorist network, saying American officials are "reaching the limits of our patience."
- Lord, grant our leaders the wisdom to know Your will in regard to Pakistan. We pray for truth to dispel deception in dealings with the Pakistani government.
- "Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight." [Psalm 9:19]
2. Syria bars diplomats, gunships in action - Reuters
Syria's government banned 17 Western diplomats and its helicopter gunships pounded rebels in a coastal province on Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad defied international pressure to halt his campaign to crush the uprising against his rule.
- Lord, as the massacres continue in Syria, we ask for Your Hand of mercy over its people. We pray for the removal of Assad, and protection for Syria against any groups that seek to take over with evil intent.
-"The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates." [Psalm 11:5]
3. a) Germany Finalizing Face-Saving Deal for Spain: Report - CNBC
A deal is in the works that would allow Spain to recapitalize its stricken banks with aid from its European partners but avoid the embarrassment of having to adopt new economic reforms imposed from the outside, German officials say.
b) Spain calls for new tax pact to save euro - UK Guardian
Spain is warning that Europe's single currency will unravel unless its leaders decide within weeks to centralize budget and tax policies in the eurozone and agree on a strategy to pool responsibility for failing banks.
- Father, we ask for stability for the world's currencies, and wisdom for the leaders of the nations.
- "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners." [Proverbs 1:19]
4. Splitting with Obama, Bill Clinton says he supports extending all Bush-era tax cuts - Fox News
Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that broad tax cuts that expire in January should be temporarily renewed, including for the wealthiest Americans, to give lawmakers time to reach a deal on a longer-term extension that should exclude the rich.
- Father, we pray that the tax cuts will be extended, so that average people will be able to pay their taxes.
- "The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure." [Psalm 111:7]
5. Opponents block Washington state gay marriage - Washington Times
Washington's gay marriage law was blocked from taking effect Wednesday as opponents filed more than 200,000 signatures seeking a public vote on the issue in November.
- Lord, we pray that Your hand will stay the implementation of this gay marriage law, and that the people of Washington will vote to stop it.
- "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners" [Psalm 1:1]
6. Drug-resistant gonorrhea has spread across the world, say health officials -UK Guardian
Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea have spread to countries across the world, the United Nations health agency says, and millions of patients may run out of treatment options unless doctors catch and treat cases earlier.
- Lord, we pray for Your mercy over the victims of this horrifying disease. We pray that you would release repentance and salvation across the world.
- "our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us" [Psalm 123:2]
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in." (Psalm 24:9)
1. Gantz: Israel super-ready to attack Iran if needed - Jerusalem Post
Israeli preparedness to attack Iran is a major deterrent, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.
2. Settlement regulation bill fails vote; settlers riot - Ynet News
The settlement regulation bill failed to pass its Knesset vote on Wednesday, as 69 MKs voted against it and only 22 voted in favor. A similar bill by MK Yaakov Katz (National Union) was withdrawn but may be presented to the House again to pressure the government on the matter.
3. Settlements to get 850 new housing units - Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a move meant to placate the Right following the failed vote on the settlement regulation bill, has approved new construction in West Bank settlements.
"Gay" Marriage on Military Base
Family Research Council Calls for Congressional Action
After Fort Polk Same-Sex Ceremony
June 06, 2012
- Family Research Council (FRC) expressed concern today over a recent "same- sex ceremony" conducted at a Fort Polk chapel in Louisiana, a state in which voters have approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Marine Corps veteran and former Louisiana legislator, made the following comments:
"This ceremony evades the intention and violates the spirit of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which remains the law in America, defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman for all purposes under federal law.
"The Obama administration is once again using the military as a vehicle to advance its social agenda which plainly includes tossing aside the marriage laws of forty-four states.
"This ceremony at Fort Polk is further evidence that Congress must act to adopt the current House of Representatives language in the Defense Authorization act to make very clear that the military should not be exploited to advance this administration's social agenda," concluded Perkins.
Thought Provoking!
Are We A Nation Of Men, Or A Nation Of Laws?
The USA was founded to be a nation of laws, not a nation of men. Our Founding Fathers knew all too well the European style of governance where the will of the King was the law of the land, and those laws were subject to the caprices of often mercurial monarchs. They did not want that here in their newly minted republic. They also wrote restrictions into the Constitution against bills or laws of attainder - laws that do not apply EQUALLY to everyone but target specific persons or groups in their enforcement. The Founders understood that in the hands of a corrupt official, such laws could be used as a weapon that would give an incumbent politician a major advantage over anyone else, and they knew that men COULD be corrupted. To balance HUMAN nature, they made us a nation of LAWS that would apply equally to all. (The Western Center for Journalism) Read more.
Today's Legislative Focus
From The Madison Project
www.madisonproject.com
Appropriations
This week, the House will continue work on the 12 annual appropriations bills for FY 2013 (meanwhile, the Senate refuses to pass a budget). The House has already passed the Mil-Con/VA bill and the Commerce-Justice-Science bill. This week, the House will resume consideration of the Energy-Water bill, which primarily funds the Energy Department.
Conservative Concerns:
While House leadership claims to support a balanced budget, they are not willing to eliminate the requisite number of programs needed to achieve that goal. As conservatives, we believe that the entire Department of Energy is wasteful or harmful, and should be eliminated. Yet, this bill would actually slightly raise spending levels from last year by $88 million. Throughout the open floor process, conservatives will be offering amendments that will cut more spending and eliminate green energy programs. We will urge all members to support those amendments as they are considered.
A Commentary by Joel Rosenberg
CANNIBALISM, PORNOGRAPHY, GAY RIGHTS DRIVING THE NEWS:
What in the world is going on?
by Joel C. Rosenberg
Forget the stagnant American economy and our severe debt crisis and the rapidly mounting troubles in Greece and Spain, at least for a moment.
Consider what's driving the news just this week:
* Pornography - Did you know the #1, #2 and #3 books on Amazon today (June 6) are the "Fifty Shades of Grey" novels that are being widely described as "Mommy Porn" and have already sold more than 10 million copies in just six weeks? Yes, you read that right -- 10 million copies in six weeks.
* Cannibalism -- "Exclusive: Causeway Cannibal Had Bible, Recently Smoked Pot When He Attacked," CBS Miami, June 6, 2012
* Cannibalism - "Cannibal Copycat? Police Say Man High On Bath Salts Threatened To Eat Officer," CBS Tampa, June 6, 2012
* Cannibalism -- "Cannibalism Trend Can Feed On Itself, Experts Say: 6 Acts Of Human Consumption Draw Lurid Attention," ABC Indianapolis, June 6, 2012
* Gay Rights - "Prop. 8: appeals courts set stage for Supreme Court review of gay marriage," Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2012
* Abortion - "President Obama, 168 House Members Defend Sex-Selection Abortion," National Right To Life news story, May 31, 2012
What in the world is going on? Yes, we face the very real possibility of an economic collapse in the not-too-distant future. But is it possibly we're already imploding culturally? The country is deep in a full blown political war between Democrats and Republicans, but do we honestly believe either party - or either presidential nominee - knows how to fix the mess we're in?And where is the Church? In a nation of tens of millions of self-professed born-again, evangelical Christians, how can we be in so much trouble? And is there any hope of turning this around?
Next week my new book release, Implosion: Can America Recover From Our Economic and Spiritual Challenges In Time? I was going to start writing about these moral and cultural issues then. But they cannot wait. Here are a few excerpts from the book.
"These are not normal times. Americans have been gripped by a widespread and deeply rooted pessimism in recent years. They are open asking whether our nation can survive . . . A growing number of Americans fear that this period of our history is different and the crises we face today - and those coming up over the horizon - may be far worse than anything we have experienced in the past. . . Many Americans genuinely fear that God is preparing to removed his hand of protection and blessing from our country, or perhaps already has. The fear that unlike previous dark times in our national history, God may not intend to help us turn things around and get us back on the right track . . .
"We must not kid ourselves. The evidence suggests we may very well be aboard the Titanic, heading for icebergs and inexplicably increasing our speed toward disaster. So many on board are unaware of the dangers fast approaching and not concerned in the slightest. We haven't hit the icebergs yet, but if we don't make a sharp turn fast, we soon will, and we will sink. Who will serve as our captain and crew going forward? Will they understand the gravity of the threat and have the wisdom, courage and speed to take appropriate action before it is too late? What is our role as passengers? Are we to succumb to decadence, indulging ourselves in amusements and entertainment and alcohol with no regard for our own safety or the safety of others aboard? Or will we rise up, sound the alarm, and take action will we can?. . .
"Like the First Great Awakening [which I describe in a full chapter in the book], the Second Great Awakening [which I write a separate chapter about] was not a panacea. It did not save every soul or solve every social ill. No revival ever has or will . . . The good news is this: the historical evidence is clear and compelling that many Americans found salvation during these periods, and American society as a whole was dramatically impacted and improved by both of these revivals.
One piece of observable evidence in this regard is the explosive growth in the number of church congregations that were established in the wake of both Great Awakenings . . .
At the same time, Christians during this period sought to put their faith into action to improve their neighborhoods and communities and the nation as a whole. They persuaded millions of children to enroll in Sunday school programs to learn about the Bible and pray for their nation. They opened orphanages and soup kitchens to care for the poor and needy. They started clinics and hospitals to care for the sick, elderly and infirm. They founded elementary and secondary schools for girls as well as boys. They established colleges and universities dedicated to teaching both the Scriptures and the sciences. They led social campaigns to persuade Americans to stop drinking so much alcohol and to abolish the evil of slavery.
These Christians didn't expect the government to take care of them. They believed it was the Church's job to show the love of Christ to their neighbors in real and practical ways. They were right, and they made America a better place as a result - not perfect, but better . . .
"For me, the central question of our time for Americans is this: Will God in his grace and mercy decide to allow the American people to experience a Third Great Awakening? If so, may this spiritual renaissance begin immediately, for we are desperate for his help. If not, then I believe our days are numbered and a terrible implosion is coming. There is no more middle ground, in my view. It is one or the other."
NPC Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
National Prayer Committee (NPC) Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
Initiative to Begin on Friday, September 28, 2012
Last night, we received a note from Dave Butts, Chairman of the National Prayer Committee, announcing their support for a nationwide 40-dayprayer initiative leading up to the national elections on November 6, 2012.
Beginning on Friday, Sept. 28, every ministry, denomination, and prayer network is invited to enter into this movement of united prayer, fasting and repentance for the reasons outlined in the statement below.
We ask all of our Prayer Partners to prayerfully consider joining this time of corporate prayer for our nation, beginning this fall, and to forward the statement below to all who are on your own group lists. Thank you.
Sara C. Ballenger, Founder and President
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
ELECTION PRAYER INITIATIVE
The United States is clearly a nation in trouble. A battered economy, political divisiveness, the culture wars, racial uneasiness, and a sidelined church, provide the dry tinder for an inflammatory national election in November of 2012. Many stake their hopes or fears on the outcome.
While believing in and encouraging the importance of exercising our right to vote, we also call the Christian Church in America to do that which is even more critical in these days . . .to pray! The seriousness of our day requires an intensity of prayer that is unprecedented. Accordingly, we call for 40 days and nights of unrelenting intercession on behalf of our nation, immediately preceding the Nov.6th election.
Our focus in prayer is simple. We are praying for:
1. The elections - that God would intervene. This is not a partisan or political effort but a plea to bring God into a process that desperately needs His wisdom and direction. (Isaiah 48:17)
2. A standard of righteousness to be raised over this nation.(Proverbs 14:34)
3. Revival in the Church-that another Great Awakening would sweep across America as the Lord's people humble themselves in repentance and prayer. (2 Chron.7:14)
This is a call, not from one ministry or organization, but from diverse leaders from across the spectrum of the U.S. Church. It is also not a call to a particular event. It is a pleading for all Christians to do something proactive and powerful in prayer for the 40 days leading up to our fall elections.
As leaders in the Body of Christ, we commit ourselves to prayer during these days of decision regarding the future of our nation. Even more, we commit ourselves to mobilize prayer in our spheres of influence, that every part of the Lord's Church would join together in day and night prayer for the intervention of God on the part of our nation.
URGENT!! The Good News Corner
In Israel: "Just One Minute" Campaign Launched
by Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon
Yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon released a one-minute video as part of a new campaign, titled "Just One Minute", in which he calls on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to devote a minute of silence during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in remembrance of the massacre of eleven Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In response to last month's refusal of the IOC to formally honor the memory of the murdered athletes at this year's Olympics, DFM Ayalon is working to garner public support for the campaign led by the bereaved families who have been working for an official commemoration for 40 years. "The IOC should recognize the terrible tragedy that happened during the 1972 Olympic Games. The request to hold a minute of silence is reasonable and symbolizes the solidarity of the countries participating in the Olympic Games - it is undeniably the just and moral thing to do," Ayalon said.
Beyond Israel, the campaign has been joined by many international organizations as well as 20 British MPs and leading U.S. Congressmen Nita Lowey, Eliot Engel, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
We welcome you to join the campaign and spread the word.
To view the film "Just One Minute," go here.
To join the Facebook campaign, go here.
To sign the petition, go here.
Twitter hashtag: #JustOneMinute
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS GOOD NEWS, AS WE CAN ALL SUPPORT THIS VITAL EFFORT SO THAT THOSE ISRAELI ATHLETES WHO DIED IN THE 1972 MUNICH OLYMPICS MIGHT BE HONORED. THANK YOU FOR PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERING SIGNING THE PETITION, ABOVE.
Worship with Us Today!
Alive by Natalie Grant
Who but You
Could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies
and dream of me?
What kind of love
is writing my story till the end
with Mercy's Pen?
Only You. . .
• The Middle East in Focus
• "Gay" Marriage on Military Base
• Thought Provoking!
• Today's Legislative Focus
• A Commentary by Joel Rosenberg
• NPC Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
• URGENT!! 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 - Thursday, June 7, 2012
" . . . be sure to appoint over you the king the LORD your God chooses. He must be from among your own brothers. Do not place a foreigner over you, one who is not a brother Israelite." (Deuteronomy 17:15)
The Daily Brief
1. Panetta says US Patience with Pakistan is "Reaching Limits" - AP
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Thursday pressured Pakistan to do more to root out the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani terrorist network, saying American officials are "reaching the limits of our patience."
- Lord, grant our leaders the wisdom to know Your will in regard to Pakistan. We pray for truth to dispel deception in dealings with the Pakistani government.
- "Arise, O Lord, do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight." [Psalm 9:19]
2. Syria bars diplomats, gunships in action - Reuters
Syria's government banned 17 Western diplomats and its helicopter gunships pounded rebels in a coastal province on Tuesday as President Bashar al-Assad defied international pressure to halt his campaign to crush the uprising against his rule.
- Lord, as the massacres continue in Syria, we ask for Your Hand of mercy over its people. We pray for the removal of Assad, and protection for Syria against any groups that seek to take over with evil intent.
-"The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates." [Psalm 11:5]
3. a) Germany Finalizing Face-Saving Deal for Spain: Report - CNBC
A deal is in the works that would allow Spain to recapitalize its stricken banks with aid from its European partners but avoid the embarrassment of having to adopt new economic reforms imposed from the outside, German officials say.
b) Spain calls for new tax pact to save euro - UK Guardian
Spain is warning that Europe's single currency will unravel unless its leaders decide within weeks to centralize budget and tax policies in the eurozone and agree on a strategy to pool responsibility for failing banks.
- Father, we ask for stability for the world's currencies, and wisdom for the leaders of the nations.
- "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners." [Proverbs 1:19]
4. Splitting with Obama, Bill Clinton says he supports extending all Bush-era tax cuts - Fox News
Former President Bill Clinton said Tuesday that broad tax cuts that expire in January should be temporarily renewed, including for the wealthiest Americans, to give lawmakers time to reach a deal on a longer-term extension that should exclude the rich.
- Father, we pray that the tax cuts will be extended, so that average people will be able to pay their taxes.
- "The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure." [Psalm 111:7]
5. Opponents block Washington state gay marriage - Washington Times
Washington's gay marriage law was blocked from taking effect Wednesday as opponents filed more than 200,000 signatures seeking a public vote on the issue in November.
- Lord, we pray that Your hand will stay the implementation of this gay marriage law, and that the people of Washington will vote to stop it.
- "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners" [Psalm 1:1]
6. Drug-resistant gonorrhea has spread across the world, say health officials -UK Guardian
Drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea have spread to countries across the world, the United Nations health agency says, and millions of patients may run out of treatment options unless doctors catch and treat cases earlier.
- Lord, we pray for Your mercy over the victims of this horrifying disease. We pray that you would release repentance and salvation across the world.
- "our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy on us" [Psalm 123:2]
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in." (Psalm 24:9)
1. Gantz: Israel super-ready to attack Iran if needed - Jerusalem Post
Israeli preparedness to attack Iran is a major deterrent, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.
2. Settlement regulation bill fails vote; settlers riot - Ynet News
The settlement regulation bill failed to pass its Knesset vote on Wednesday, as 69 MKs voted against it and only 22 voted in favor. A similar bill by MK Yaakov Katz (National Union) was withdrawn but may be presented to the House again to pressure the government on the matter.
3. Settlements to get 850 new housing units - Ynet News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a move meant to placate the Right following the failed vote on the settlement regulation bill, has approved new construction in West Bank settlements.
"Gay" Marriage on Military Base
Family Research Council Calls for Congressional Action
After Fort Polk Same-Sex Ceremony
June 06, 2012
- Family Research Council (FRC) expressed concern today over a recent "same- sex ceremony" conducted at a Fort Polk chapel in Louisiana, a state in which voters have approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, a Marine Corps veteran and former Louisiana legislator, made the following comments:
"This ceremony evades the intention and violates the spirit of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which remains the law in America, defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman for all purposes under federal law.
"The Obama administration is once again using the military as a vehicle to advance its social agenda which plainly includes tossing aside the marriage laws of forty-four states.
"This ceremony at Fort Polk is further evidence that Congress must act to adopt the current House of Representatives language in the Defense Authorization act to make very clear that the military should not be exploited to advance this administration's social agenda," concluded Perkins.
Thought Provoking!
Are We A Nation Of Men, Or A Nation Of Laws?
The USA was founded to be a nation of laws, not a nation of men. Our Founding Fathers knew all too well the European style of governance where the will of the King was the law of the land, and those laws were subject to the caprices of often mercurial monarchs. They did not want that here in their newly minted republic. They also wrote restrictions into the Constitution against bills or laws of attainder - laws that do not apply EQUALLY to everyone but target specific persons or groups in their enforcement. The Founders understood that in the hands of a corrupt official, such laws could be used as a weapon that would give an incumbent politician a major advantage over anyone else, and they knew that men COULD be corrupted. To balance HUMAN nature, they made us a nation of LAWS that would apply equally to all. (The Western Center for Journalism) Read more.
Today's Legislative Focus
From The Madison Project
www.madisonproject.com
Appropriations
This week, the House will continue work on the 12 annual appropriations bills for FY 2013 (meanwhile, the Senate refuses to pass a budget). The House has already passed the Mil-Con/VA bill and the Commerce-Justice-Science bill. This week, the House will resume consideration of the Energy-Water bill, which primarily funds the Energy Department.
Conservative Concerns:
While House leadership claims to support a balanced budget, they are not willing to eliminate the requisite number of programs needed to achieve that goal. As conservatives, we believe that the entire Department of Energy is wasteful or harmful, and should be eliminated. Yet, this bill would actually slightly raise spending levels from last year by $88 million. Throughout the open floor process, conservatives will be offering amendments that will cut more spending and eliminate green energy programs. We will urge all members to support those amendments as they are considered.
A Commentary by Joel Rosenberg
CANNIBALISM, PORNOGRAPHY, GAY RIGHTS DRIVING THE NEWS:
What in the world is going on?
by Joel C. Rosenberg
Forget the stagnant American economy and our severe debt crisis and the rapidly mounting troubles in Greece and Spain, at least for a moment.
Consider what's driving the news just this week:
* Pornography - Did you know the #1, #2 and #3 books on Amazon today (June 6) are the "Fifty Shades of Grey" novels that are being widely described as "Mommy Porn" and have already sold more than 10 million copies in just six weeks? Yes, you read that right -- 10 million copies in six weeks.
* Cannibalism -- "Exclusive: Causeway Cannibal Had Bible, Recently Smoked Pot When He Attacked," CBS Miami, June 6, 2012
* Cannibalism - "Cannibal Copycat? Police Say Man High On Bath Salts Threatened To Eat Officer," CBS Tampa, June 6, 2012
* Cannibalism -- "Cannibalism Trend Can Feed On Itself, Experts Say: 6 Acts Of Human Consumption Draw Lurid Attention," ABC Indianapolis, June 6, 2012
* Gay Rights - "Prop. 8: appeals courts set stage for Supreme Court review of gay marriage," Christian Science Monitor, June 6, 2012
* Abortion - "President Obama, 168 House Members Defend Sex-Selection Abortion," National Right To Life news story, May 31, 2012
What in the world is going on? Yes, we face the very real possibility of an economic collapse in the not-too-distant future. But is it possibly we're already imploding culturally? The country is deep in a full blown political war between Democrats and Republicans, but do we honestly believe either party - or either presidential nominee - knows how to fix the mess we're in?And where is the Church? In a nation of tens of millions of self-professed born-again, evangelical Christians, how can we be in so much trouble? And is there any hope of turning this around?
Next week my new book release, Implosion: Can America Recover From Our Economic and Spiritual Challenges In Time? I was going to start writing about these moral and cultural issues then. But they cannot wait. Here are a few excerpts from the book.
"These are not normal times. Americans have been gripped by a widespread and deeply rooted pessimism in recent years. They are open asking whether our nation can survive . . . A growing number of Americans fear that this period of our history is different and the crises we face today - and those coming up over the horizon - may be far worse than anything we have experienced in the past. . . Many Americans genuinely fear that God is preparing to removed his hand of protection and blessing from our country, or perhaps already has. The fear that unlike previous dark times in our national history, God may not intend to help us turn things around and get us back on the right track . . .
"We must not kid ourselves. The evidence suggests we may very well be aboard the Titanic, heading for icebergs and inexplicably increasing our speed toward disaster. So many on board are unaware of the dangers fast approaching and not concerned in the slightest. We haven't hit the icebergs yet, but if we don't make a sharp turn fast, we soon will, and we will sink. Who will serve as our captain and crew going forward? Will they understand the gravity of the threat and have the wisdom, courage and speed to take appropriate action before it is too late? What is our role as passengers? Are we to succumb to decadence, indulging ourselves in amusements and entertainment and alcohol with no regard for our own safety or the safety of others aboard? Or will we rise up, sound the alarm, and take action will we can?. . .
"Like the First Great Awakening [which I describe in a full chapter in the book], the Second Great Awakening [which I write a separate chapter about] was not a panacea. It did not save every soul or solve every social ill. No revival ever has or will . . . The good news is this: the historical evidence is clear and compelling that many Americans found salvation during these periods, and American society as a whole was dramatically impacted and improved by both of these revivals.
One piece of observable evidence in this regard is the explosive growth in the number of church congregations that were established in the wake of both Great Awakenings . . .
At the same time, Christians during this period sought to put their faith into action to improve their neighborhoods and communities and the nation as a whole. They persuaded millions of children to enroll in Sunday school programs to learn about the Bible and pray for their nation. They opened orphanages and soup kitchens to care for the poor and needy. They started clinics and hospitals to care for the sick, elderly and infirm. They founded elementary and secondary schools for girls as well as boys. They established colleges and universities dedicated to teaching both the Scriptures and the sciences. They led social campaigns to persuade Americans to stop drinking so much alcohol and to abolish the evil of slavery.
These Christians didn't expect the government to take care of them. They believed it was the Church's job to show the love of Christ to their neighbors in real and practical ways. They were right, and they made America a better place as a result - not perfect, but better . . .
"For me, the central question of our time for Americans is this: Will God in his grace and mercy decide to allow the American people to experience a Third Great Awakening? If so, may this spiritual renaissance begin immediately, for we are desperate for his help. If not, then I believe our days are numbered and a terrible implosion is coming. There is no more middle ground, in my view. It is one or the other."
NPC Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
National Prayer Committee (NPC) Endorses 40 Days of Prayer
Initiative to Begin on Friday, September 28, 2012
Last night, we received a note from Dave Butts, Chairman of the National Prayer Committee, announcing their support for a nationwide 40-dayprayer initiative leading up to the national elections on November 6, 2012.
Beginning on Friday, Sept. 28, every ministry, denomination, and prayer network is invited to enter into this movement of united prayer, fasting and repentance for the reasons outlined in the statement below.
We ask all of our Prayer Partners to prayerfully consider joining this time of corporate prayer for our nation, beginning this fall, and to forward the statement below to all who are on your own group lists. Thank you.
Sara C. Ballenger, Founder and President
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
ELECTION PRAYER INITIATIVE
The United States is clearly a nation in trouble. A battered economy, political divisiveness, the culture wars, racial uneasiness, and a sidelined church, provide the dry tinder for an inflammatory national election in November of 2012. Many stake their hopes or fears on the outcome.
While believing in and encouraging the importance of exercising our right to vote, we also call the Christian Church in America to do that which is even more critical in these days . . .to pray! The seriousness of our day requires an intensity of prayer that is unprecedented. Accordingly, we call for 40 days and nights of unrelenting intercession on behalf of our nation, immediately preceding the Nov.6th election.
Our focus in prayer is simple. We are praying for:
1. The elections - that God would intervene. This is not a partisan or political effort but a plea to bring God into a process that desperately needs His wisdom and direction. (Isaiah 48:17)
2. A standard of righteousness to be raised over this nation.(Proverbs 14:34)
3. Revival in the Church-that another Great Awakening would sweep across America as the Lord's people humble themselves in repentance and prayer. (2 Chron.7:14)
This is a call, not from one ministry or organization, but from diverse leaders from across the spectrum of the U.S. Church. It is also not a call to a particular event. It is a pleading for all Christians to do something proactive and powerful in prayer for the 40 days leading up to our fall elections.
As leaders in the Body of Christ, we commit ourselves to prayer during these days of decision regarding the future of our nation. Even more, we commit ourselves to mobilize prayer in our spheres of influence, that every part of the Lord's Church would join together in day and night prayer for the intervention of God on the part of our nation.
URGENT!! The Good News Corner
In Israel: "Just One Minute" Campaign Launched
by Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon
Yesterday, Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon released a one-minute video as part of a new campaign, titled "Just One Minute", in which he calls on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to devote a minute of silence during the opening ceremony of the London Olympic Games in remembrance of the massacre of eleven Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In response to last month's refusal of the IOC to formally honor the memory of the murdered athletes at this year's Olympics, DFM Ayalon is working to garner public support for the campaign led by the bereaved families who have been working for an official commemoration for 40 years. "The IOC should recognize the terrible tragedy that happened during the 1972 Olympic Games. The request to hold a minute of silence is reasonable and symbolizes the solidarity of the countries participating in the Olympic Games - it is undeniably the just and moral thing to do," Ayalon said.
Beyond Israel, the campaign has been joined by many international organizations as well as 20 British MPs and leading U.S. Congressmen Nita Lowey, Eliot Engel, and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Chairman of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.
We welcome you to join the campaign and spread the word.
To view the film "Just One Minute," go here.
To join the Facebook campaign, go here.
To sign the petition, go here.
Twitter hashtag: #JustOneMinute
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS GOOD NEWS, AS WE CAN ALL SUPPORT THIS VITAL EFFORT SO THAT THOSE ISRAELI ATHLETES WHO DIED IN THE 1972 MUNICH OLYMPICS MIGHT BE HONORED. THANK YOU FOR PRAYERFULLY CONSIDERING SIGNING THE PETITION, ABOVE.
Worship with Us Today!
Alive by Natalie Grant
Who but You
Could breathe and leave a trail of galaxies
and dream of me?
What kind of love
is writing my story till the end
with Mercy's Pen?
Only You. . .
