• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot
• FRC Congratulates Congress
• How Much Should The Rich Pay?
• Today's Legislative Focus
• Marriage Victory in Maryland
• Joel Rosenberg on Iran
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 13, 2012
"For thus says the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength . . ." (Isaiah 30:15)
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The Daily Brief
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1. House lawmakers make formal request to open leak probe, issue subpoenas - Fox News
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas,Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas, has sent a "member to member" letter to Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the top Democrat on the panel, to take him up on his offer to potentially subpoena witnesses tied to intelligence leaks.
- Father, we do ask that the truth be revealed concerning these intelligence leaks, that could potentially put our nation in a vulnerably dangerous position. We thank You that the House is moving toward investigating this issue, and pray that our Representatives on both sides of the aisle, will seek the truth and plug up any holes concerning our national security. In Yeshua's name, we pray.
- "He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light. If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day,for darkness is as light to you." (Job 12:22; Psalm 139:11,12)
2. U.S. foreclosures up for second straight month - Reuters
U.S. foreclosure starts rose year-over-year in June for the second consecutive month, as banks continued to clear their backlog of inventory after a nationwide mortgage abuse settlement, data firm RealtyTrac said on Thursday.
- Abba, it seems there is no good news on the economic front. We do pray for those whose homes are going into foreclosure, that You would show Yourself to them, not only as Savior, but also as their Provider, and the One who gives them the power to work and to provide for their families.
"So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:31-34)
3a. Student Debt: America's $1 Trillion Time Bomb - CNBC
Healthcare. Pension obligations. Student loans? A new report from Barclay's helps illuminate the degree to which student-loan debt is becoming one of America's structural challenges.
3b. Federal Reserve predicts new economic crisis - RT
A recent meeting of the US Federal Reserve revealed that members of America's central bank are not very optimistic about the future of the country's economy.
- Lord, we do cry out for mercy in the midst of judgment. We know that economic struggles are now worldwide. Father, we repent as a nation, for putting wealth on a pedestal, and looking to that as the measure of a man's success. We have shaken our fists in Your face, and have said that by our own hands we will produce wealth. We ask that You use this crisis to clarify our priorities, and get us back on track. We do acknowledge you as the Giver and Provider of life and ability to get wealth. Amen.
- " You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today." (Deuteronomy 8:17,18)
4. U.S. Olympic outfits made in China - CNN
The U.S. Olympic Committee is defending sponsor Ralph Lauren's uniforms for the opening ceremonies at the London Games after it was revealed American athletes will be wearing clothing manufactured in China.
- Father, we are disappointed and troubled by this move of the U.S. Olympic Committee to "outsource" the designing and manufacturing of the U.S. Olympic team's uniforms to communist China, an arch-enemy of the U.S. At a time when our economy is struggling, why would we invest in China's economy? We ask that as the public outcry increases, that this wrong would be righted. We realize the opening ceremonies are only two weeks away, but somehow we ask that this be turned around for good. May this also be an example to others needing goods and services, to invest in American jobs and American-made products. Amen.
- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)
5. Nearly two-thirds of the USA is in a drought - USA Today
Almost two-thirds of the nation -- around 61% -- is now in a drought, the highest percentage in at least 12 years, federal climate scientists announced today.
- Abba, again we repent and cry out for Your mercy to be upon our Land. We ask for an abundance of rain to soak the earth and revive the crops, but not flood it. We pray for those farmers watching their crops dying. We pray they would put their trust in You, and that You would rain blessing upon those who do, and their land. In Yeshua's precious name we pray. Amen.
- "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; He sends water on the countryside. The lowly He sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety." (Job 5:9-11)
6. Congressman Calls for Dismissal of Ambassador - ICC
Congressman Frank Wolf has called for the immediate dismissal of America's ambassador to Vietnam after showing little concern for the importance of human rights in that country, according to International Christian Concern.
- Pray that the Department of State will take heed to this request by Congressman Frank Wolf. America must be known as a nation that demonstrates true concern for human rights in every nation on earth.
- "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (I Peter 3:12)
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The Middle East in Focus
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The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"God is not a man that He should lie, neither the son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)
1. IDF intel units grow to cope with Mideast upheaval - Jerusalem Post
IDF boosted its ranks with additional officers to fill new positions in its research, analysis and technological units due to the ongoing upheaval in the Middle East and the perceived increase in threats to Israel.
2. US-Israel strategic talks open in Jerusalem to discuss Iran, regional issues - Israel Hayom
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns will meet with senior Israeli officials on Thursday, and lead the American side of the twice-yearly U.S.-Israel Strategic Dialogue. The talks are expected to focus on Iran and on the consequences of recent regional upheavals.
3. Yatom: Israel could go to war over Syria's chemical weapons - Israel Hayom
Syria's chemical weapons could end up in the hands of terrorist groups if President Bashar al-Assad's regime falls, and concerns are increasing that Israel may go to war against Syria to prevent this "doomsday threat," Sky News reported on Thursday, quoting Middle Eastern and other intelligence sources.
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The Daily Jot
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Behind the scenes of the Ezekiel 38 alliance
Turkey has been actively selling gold over recent months--so much so that it has caught the eye of traders and commentators alike. Bullion Vault, an online gold market analysis and gold investment research company reported July 12 that Turkey had exported $4.02 billion worth of gold between January and May. The information was confirmed in several independent stories, and the intrigue grows with each report. Iran is the purchaser of Turkey's gold--some $3 billion worth, amounting to nearly 60 tons. In turn, Turkey is buying millions of tons of oil from Iran despite a commitment to uphold US and European Union oil sanctions against Iran.
Iran is using the gold to buy food supplies such as wheat. In a typical end time "Beast"-like move, the European Union, toothless as it is, has banned the trade of gold bullion, oil and diamonds with Iran. Turkey is an associate member of the European Union and has applied for full membership. It is, however, skirting the sanctions issue by using gold to pay for Iranian Oil. According to Bullion Vault, the Vice Chairman of the Istanbul Gold Refinery Gokhan Aksu says, "Iran is very keen to increase the share of gold in its total reserves." This seems to demonstrate that a ban on buying foodstuffs is inconsequential when using gold as the currency. And Iran can further advance its nuclear program using gold.
It is obvious to many analysts that Turkey, while playing the West as a secular democratic ally, is in actuality using its Islamic political influence and economic capital to bring Iran and other Islamic states into its orbit. Turkey is considered a power broker in the Middle East that has gravitated from an ostensible secular democracy toward Islam in recent years. Another twist is that while the occupant of the Oval Office has publicly promoted sanctions against Iran, he has granted Turkey a temporary waiver exempting it from US sanctions, according to Reuters June 28 and July 6 reports, indicating the US exempted all 20 of Iran's top oil buyers from the sanctions because they slightly reduced oil imports from Iran.
In reality, Turkey has sidestepped the US and European sanctions on Iran by paying for oil with gold. Not many years ago analysts would have scoffed at the idea that Turkey, the gemstone of secular democracy in an Islamic dominated region, would go rogue and begin siding with fundamental Islamist regimes. Recall to memory, however, that only 90 years have passed since Turkey dissolved the Islamic Caliphate that ruled the entire region. Now it appears to be in a revival with the help of the US, and Turkey plays a major role both politically and prophetically. Remember Ezekiel 38:3 where YHVH says, "Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal." Magog, Meshech and Tubal are located in modern day Turkey.
Have A Blessed And Powerful Day,
Bill Wilson
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FRC Congratulates Congress
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FRC Action Praises U.S. House of Representatives
for Vote to Repeal Health Care Law
July 11, 2012
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Family Research Council Action (FRC Action), the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, praised the U.S. House of Representatives for voting today to overturn the 2010 abortion-funding health care law.
The President's health care law includes subsidies for health plans that include abortion coverage in state health insurance exchanges, and a mandatory abortion fee in all exchange plans that cover abortion. It includes direct funding of abortion through specific federal spending in community health clinics and high-risk insurance pools, as well as subsidies for elective abortion in government run multi-state plans. The law also mandates preventive care services with no religious liberty protections.
FRC Action scored the votes on the Obama health plan in its annual scorecard and aired a national/radio ad campaign against the legislation. It scored Wednesday's vote as well.
Of the vote, Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins made the following comments:
"Today the House of Representatives nobly voted again to repeal President Obama's health care law, which funds abortion and tosses aside the constitutional right to religious freedom. It does this by funding health plans with abortion coverage and mandating people pay an abortion fee. The law also forces religious institutions and employers to cover abortion-causing drugs, contraceptives and sterilizations without cost to the employee. This directly violates religious freedom protected by the Constitution.
"Since the Supreme Court surprisingly upheld the law and the U.S. Senate and President Obama continue to stand in the way of a full repeal, it is up to we, the people to let our voices be heard at the ballot box in November. Only a complete repeal of this law will ensure that our religious liberties are protected.
"In addition, Congress should act now to protect the religious liberties of all Americans by bringing Rep. Jeff Fortenberry's conscience protection bill to the floor."
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How Much Should The Rich Pay?
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How Much Should The Rich Pay?
Barack Obama wants to raise taxes. He said so Monday. He thinks the rich should pay more starting next year, and he wants everyone else to pay more in 2014. But how much more should the rich or the rest of us pay?
The Congressional Budget Office reported this week that in 2009 the top 20% of earners paid 68% of all federal income taxes. That's like ten people going out for dinner and two of them being told to pay nearly 70% of the bill!
The successful certainly seem to be doing their fair share to support America. Just try to imagine where we would be without them! Yet even with the top 20% paying nearly 70% of all the taxes, Obama is still running deficits in excess of $1 trillion a year!
Assuming Obama does raise taxes on the rich, it won't make a dent in the deficit. The New York Times reports that economists estimate raising taxes on those making $250,000 and more would raise about $85 billion a year. Last year's federal deficit was $1,300 billion. So even after raising taxes on the rich, we're still $1,215 billion short of balancing the budget.
There simply are not enough rich people in America, and they are not rich enough, to pay for all of Obama's spending. That's why Obama wants to raise taxes on everyone else in 2014.
The problem in Washington is not that you are under-taxed, but that Barack Obama is spending too much! He's growing the government, not the economy. He's creating more debt, and not creating jobs. . . (Gary Bauer)
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Today's Legislative Focus
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Today's Legislative Focus
From The Madison Project
www.madisonproject.com
Bonus Legislation
[Every week, we will try to spotlight some positive legislation that is worthy of conservative support.]
Phantom Fuel Reform Act - H.R. 6047
Here's a glimpse into the culture of dysfunction that prevails in the federal government regulatory regime. This, from Congressman Jeff Flake's office:
Since 2010, EPA has mandated the blending of more than 20 million gallons of a renewable fuel additive called cellulosic biofuel into the nation's fuel supply. The only problem - commercially available cellulosic biofuel does not exist. In fact, the Congressional Research Service reported this year that the federal government projects that this phantom fuel is "not expected to be commercially viable on a large scale until at least 2015."
Even though commercially available cellulosic biofuel does not exist, U.S. energy producers are faced with a vexing ultimatum: buy millions of dollars of EPA paper "credits" or face hefty fines. By February 2013, U.S. energy producers will have paid more than $14 million to the EPA for these phantom fuel credits. H.R. 6047, the Phantom Fuel Reform Act, is a commonsense fix that would simply require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rely on actual industry production rather than bureaucratic prediction when setting the annual cellulosic biofuel mandate, a mandate that is currently and needlessly costing U.S. energy producers millions of dollars.
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Marriage Victory in Maryland
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Marriage Defenders Score One for the Record Books
It's now officially certified. In November, Maryland voters will have the final say on marriage. State law required almost 56,000 signatures but thousands of volunteers (including some FRC staffers) gathered almost three times that number (162,000), and we are told that it's a record number of petitions for the state! In fact, after reviewing 115,000 signatures, the election board announced on Tuesday that they had seen enough. The Maryland Marriage Alliance, led by Derek McCoy, now turns its focus to registering new voters, educating voters about the consequences of redefining marriage, and raising funds to remind voters why marriage as the union of one man and one woman is so important to the well-being of children and society.
Voters in Washington State, Maine, and Minnesota also will vote on marriage in November. Each of these coalitions would certainly appreciate your prayers, your donations, and your volunteer time as they seek to uphold marriage as it has always been defined: the union of one man and one woman. Congratulations to the Maryland Marriage Alliance and its volunteers who made this referendum one for the record books! (FRC)
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Joel Rosenberg on Iran
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IRAN LEADER: WE MUST PREP FOR THE "END TIMES"
(Jerusalem, Israel, July 12, 2012) -- My friend Reza Kahlili published a fascinating and sobering article this week and I commend it to your attention. Reza used to be an officer in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. Then he became a double agent for the CIA. Now he is an American citizen who is using his contacts and sources in Iran to gather information to expose the evil regime in Tehran and bring them down before they acquire nuclear weapons and try to usher in the reign of the Twelfth Imam.
I've posted excerpts from the story -- and a link to the full story -- on my blog. Here's one excerpt: "The issue of Imam Mahdi is of utmost importance, and his reappearance has been clearly stated in our holy religion of Islam," Khamenei said. "We must study and remind ourselves of the end of times and Imam Mahdi's era. We must prepare the environment for the coming so that the great leader will come." The article reads like an excerpt from "The Twelfth Imam" or "The Tehran Initiative" novels, but this is real life, and gives us a further indication of how much the end times and the coming of the Mahdi is driving the thinking and actions of the Iranian leadership, and creating an increasingly dangerous climate in the epicenter right now.
Please be praying for the nation of Israel, and the nation of Iran, and all the nations in between at this critical time. War doesn't quite feel imminent at the moment. But I still get the sense thus far that Israel could launch a major preemptive war before the end of this year, possibly this fall before the American elections.
I've also posted several other new stories on the blog, including a link to the audio & video of my sermon from Sunday and a column entitled, "When it comes to preaching repentance and revival, are you a Jonah?" Hope you find them helpful.
Finally, last night I had the honor of delivering the closing message at the "Back To Jerusalem" conference on Arab evangelism last night. It wasn't just a conference, it was a week long Gospel outreach. What a joy to be with Israeli Arabs and Jews (and quite a few internationals) who long to bring the good news of Jesus the Messiah back to the city and land where it all began. In the next few days, Lord willing, I'll post notes from my message.
God bless you!
[To read these stories in full -- and/or to read excerpts from IMPLOSION, and/or to find links to the latest news and analysis of events and trends in the U.S., Israel, Russia, and the Middle East -- please go to: http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/.]
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The Good News Corner
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The Good News Corner
Bow, Arrow, and Bible:
Olympic Archer Quotes Scripture While Competing
(Cheyenne, WY)-Olympic archer, Jennifer Nichols, 28, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, is a devout Christian from Texas who is intent on winning a Gold medal in the upcoming games in London.
With a tiny book of Bible verses in her quiver and an Olympic caliber bow drawn between her hands, American archer Jennifer Nichols, 28, recites some inspiring words quietly to herself.
"Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle."
"I take comfort in knowing that I'm here because the Lord brought me here and . . . I'm glad to be able to do whatever I can to be able to glorify the Lord in what I do," said Nichols.
"I memorize a lot of Scripture to recite while I'm shooting," she adds. "I carry a little book in my quiver that has Bible verses in it that I memorize as I'm walking back and forth to the target. And sometimes I'll recite them while I'm on the line shooting. It plays a large part."
(Source: Robert Klemko - USA Today) Read more.
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Worship with Us Today!
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Worship with Us Today!
Paul Wilbur - Hinei Ma Tov Umanaim
Lyrics are from Psalm 133:1 which reads, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
