CHPP Daily Brief - Friday, July 20, 2012

•  The Daily Brief
•  The Middle East in Focus
•  The Daily Jot
•  JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE
•  Update: D.C. Abortion Ban
•  Today's Legislative Focus
•  Let's Support Chick-Fil-A!!
•  Ramadan Prayer begins TODAY!
•  The Good News Corner
•  Worship with Us Today!

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief - Friday, July 20, 2012

"You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne from generation to generation. Turn us back to You, O Lord, and we will be restored; Renew our days as of old . . ." (Lamentations 5:19,21)

	The Daily Brief

1. U.S. crops bake in searing heat, no relief for weeks - Reuters

A whopping 63.5% of the USA is now in a drought, the nation's highest percentage since the 1950s, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor. Midday weather updates indicate extreme heat and drought conditions were set to continue baking already scorched corn and soybean crops in America's breadbasket through early August. "It's the same old general theme, dry in the southwest Corn Belt and some showers in the north and east," said Drew Lerner, meteorologist for World Weather Inc. The most expansive drought in over a half century was drying up waterways and beginning to slow down river shipments of commodities to U.S. Gulf export ports and was leading to fresh cuts in estimates for this year's corn production.

- Father, we ask for relief from the heat and the drought, which is now spread over a large part of our nation. We know that drought can be a sign of judgment, and we repent for our national and individual sins. It seems that lawlessness and all kinds of perversion are running rampant, and we beg for Your mercy. Lord, we pray that we all would humble ourselves before You and seek Your face. We want You back in our schools, our nation, our hearts. Forgive us for seeking other gods, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved. Salvation is through You alone. Abba, we love you! We ask for Your mercy to rain upon our parched land, and upon our hearts. Amen.

- "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place." (2 Chronicles 7:13-15)

2. Survey finds 19% without religious affiliation - USA Today

Unbelief is on the uptick. People who check "None" for their religious affiliation are now nearly one in five Americans (19%), the highest ever documented, according to the Pew Center for the People and the Press.

- Abba, we as Your church seem to be failing in the area of bringing the Good News of the Gospel to a world that so desperately needs You. Forgive us, as Your children, for not reaching those who are lost, and for our lukewarmness in the face of a dying world. We ask that You would forgive us, and fill us with Your passion for the lost. Help us to be Your hands, feet and heart to those who need You. Break our hearts with what breaks Yours - the lost slipping into eternity without You. May we be firebrands in Your hands, and may we life You up, so that all would be drawn to You.

-" All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God." (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)

3. Home sales drop in June, mortgage rates fall again - USA Today

The National Association of Realtors says sales of previously occupied homes fell 5.4% in June from May, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.37 million homes. That's the lowest rate since October.

B.) Foreclosure Crisis Hits Older Americans Hard - CNBC

More than 1.5 million older Americans already have lost their homes, with millions more at risk as the national housing crisis takes its toll on those who are among the worst positioned to weather the storm, a new AARP report says.

- Abba, Father, we thank You that not even a sparrow falls from the sky without Your knowledge, and that we are of more worth to You than many sparrows. Lord, we pray for those who seek Your face, in their financial need, that You will hear their voices and respond with the necessary provision. We know You provide food for the sparrows, and clothing for the lilies of the field, whose lives are so transitory - how much more will You care for us, Your children. Thank You for being our Provider, and our Peace! Amen.

-" Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father's care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31)

4. Microsoft Posts First Ever Quarterly Loss - Sky News

Microsoft has posted its first ever quarterly loss as a public company as it made account changes to its struggling online advertising business.

- Father, we see the slow economy affecting many businesses and families. We ask that You would use this crisis, and all the other related crises, to draw all people unto Yourself, and that they would find in You their salvation, and their provision. We know that it is hard for men who are holders of riches to see that true riches are in You, but we ask that You would reveal that to them, and draw them unto Yourself. Amen.

- "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." (I Timothy 6:17-19)

5. Drones That May Fly 'Indefinitely' Can Be Recharged By Lasers - CBS News

A recently demonstrated breakthrough in technology may help Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), better known as drones, stay airborne for very long periods of time before having to return to Earth.

- Lord, we thank You for this advanced technology, and we pray it will be used for good, and not evil. May it be used to protect the lives of the innocent, we pray. Amen.

-" Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created." (James 1:16-18)

6. Most Congress members keep their tax returns secret - McClatchy Newspapers

While Democratic leaders emphatically attack Mitt Romney for failing to release tax records, those same standards they believe do not apply to themselves. The Democratic leaders of the Senate and the House of Representatives are among hundreds of senators and representatives from both parties who refused to release their tax records. Just 17 out of the 535 members of Congress released their most recent tax forms or provided some similar documentation of their tax liabilities in response to requests from McClatchy Newspapers over the last three months.

- Father, we thank You that You are no "respecter of persons", and that You require truth and integrity from all of us. We ask, Lord, that our Congressmen and Senators would not judge others by a standard that they are not willing adhere to. We ask that all things would be open for all to see - expose the darkness and hypocrisy and bring forth Your light to bare the facts before all. Amen.

- "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (James 4:12,13)

	The Middle East in Focus

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. IDF raises alert in north, limits soldiers' leaves - Ynet News

The IDF has decided to limit soldiers' leaves over mounting tensions in Syria, as well as raising the alert level across the Northern Command, Ynet learned Thursday.

2. US, Israel discuss destroying Syrian weapons - Jerusalem Post

The United States and Israel were in discussions over whether Israel should take out Syrian weapons facilities as the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad falters, The New York Times reported Thursday.

3. Pentagon reportedly seeking to avert Israeli strike on Syrian chemical weapon sites - Times of Israel

Defense officials are in talks with the Pentagon, which wants to prevent a possible Israeli strike on Syria's chemical weapons facilities, The New York Times reported on Wednesday.

4. Gloating Ahmadinejad hints at Iranian responsibility for Burgas terror attack - Times of Israel

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gloated publicly on Thursday over the deaths of Israelis in a terror bombing in Bulgaria, and hinted that Iran was responsible for the attack.

	The Daily Jot

A stern prophetic warning
We as a people need to repent and return to the one true God--YHVH--and begin to revive ourselves, our families, our communities and our nation from the basis of the Holy Scriptures in the Bible. We need to quit following emotional, strange and extra-biblical teachings and get back to the ancient paths. Just one small example--one small one--is our system of politics. We are supposed to choose righteous people who are of truth, fear YHVH and hate covetousness to represent our interests as a nation. But both the Republican and Democratic parties are out of control to the point they do not even know truth, especially in providing for our general welfare and national security--the very reason for government.
The occupant of the Oval Office is arguably the worst to have held that position in the history of our nation. His record and reputation speak for themselves. It is recorded in countless news stories that this president and his administration is actively in league with the Muslim Brotherhood in helping overthrow Arab countries in the name of "democracy." It has been proven and reported repeatedly that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's top aide Huma Abedin's family is intimately connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. The overall connections of this Administration to the Muslim Brotherhood have led to a Congressional investigation whether there is influence by the terrorist group on US policy.
From Senator John McCain to House Speaker John Boehner and many other Republicans we are hearing condemnation of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-Mn). She wrote letters to intelligence and national security agencies raising questions about the Muslim Brotherhood. The letters, signed by four other Congressmen, accused Abedin's deceased father and brother of being part of the Muslim Brotherhood, and her mother part of the Muslim Sisterhood. The Abedin family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood have been reported in both Arab and Western media. Bachmann was doing her job raising a concern for America's national security. Many of the most conservative members of her party condemned her for it.
As Christians, we know that politics, politicians, and political parties are corrupt. Most Christians also have essentially sat on the sidelines doing nothing about it. Most have opted to pray, but count prayer as the only needed action. Hence, when someone stands for the truth, condemnation follows. As Yeshua said in Matthew 5:13, "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." This nation and its people are headed down a similar path of ancient Israel. Whether by YHVH's hand or by our own, if we do not turn from our current condition, there is great mourning on the horizon.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

	JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE

JERUSALEM-ON-THE-LINE

July 18th, 2012 I writhe in pain...I cannot keep silent...for I hear...the alarm of war." (Jer 4:19)

[A summary of issues we are tracking this week . ..]
1. SEVEN KILLED IN TERROR ATTACK ON ISRAELI TOURISTS IN BULGARIA:

At least seven people were killed and 35 others were injured Wednesday in a terror attack on a bus carrying Israelis in Bulgaria. Most of the casualties are youths. Bulgarian media reported the explosion took place while the bus was still in the Burgas Airport terminal. A total of 35 Israelis were wounded in the attack at least four are in serious to critical condition, as of this report. An 11 year old child and two pregnant women were among the injured. Following the assault, Israel suspended all flights bound for Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey and Azerbaijan. PM Benjamin Netanyahu said, "All the signs are pointing to Iran. Only in the past few months we've seen Iran try to target Israelis in Thailand, Indian, Georgia, Cyprus and more. Iranian terror is spreading worldwide. Israel will react to it with force," he said. The terror strike in Bulgaria Wednesday occurred on the 18th anniversary of a terrorist attack on the Jewish community in Buenos Aires, which killed 85 people and wounded several hundreds. Iran is highly suspected to have been involved in the 1994 attack. Interpol has issued Red Notices calling for the arrest of several Iranian suspects in the case, one of them being Iran's current Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi. (Ynet)
- Pray the lives of the injured will be spared in this terrible attack and that those who have lost loved ones will be comforted. Pray terrorist perpetrators will be tracked down and brought to justice and that such atrocities will cease.
2. SYRIAN DEFENSE MINISTER KILLED IN DAMASCUS BLAST

Syria's rebel commander has reported that his forces carried out an attack in Damascus that killed the defense minister and other regime officials. Riad al-Asaad said rebel fighters planted a bomb inside a room where senior government officials were meeting Wednesday. Defense Minister Dawoud Rajha and his deputy Gen. Assef Shawkat, who also was President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law, were killed. The rebel commander said the attack marked "the beginning of the end of the regime." The capital has seen four straight days of clashes pitting government troops against rebels, who are trying to bring down the regime. The fighting in Damascus is an unprecedented challenge to government rule in the tightly controlled capital. Wednesday's attack struck the city’s National Security building during a meeting of Cabinet ministers and senior security officials. (FOX)
3. HEAVY FIGHTING IN SYRIAN CAPITAL

Syrian opposition fighters have converged on Damascus, where fierce clashes with security forces have continued since last weekend. Overnight Tuesday, the revolt against Syrian President Bashar Assad came within sight of his presidential palace as fighting erupted in major Damascus neighborhoods. According to reports, an army barracks near the palace complex came under rebel fire around 7:30 Wednesday morning. Opposition activist, Mustafa Osso said there is a new strategy by the Free Syrian Army to bring the fighting into the center of the capital a tactic that will threaten the regime. On Sunday, the country's international airport was shut down by the clashes. Some of the worst fighting since the 16 month civil war began in March 2011 was seen about a mile from the airport highway Monday morning. Estimates are that opposition forces currently control more than 50% of the country. (Arutz-7)
4. ASSAD LEANING ON INNER CIRCLE IN REGIME'S FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL

As fighting rages in Damascus, and the Assad family that has ruled Syria for four decades struggles for its life against a growing rebellion, a picture is emerging of a tight inner group determined to ride out the crisis, even as support for the government falls away. At its head is Syrian President Bashar Assad, who inherited power from his father in 2000 and who friends and opponents alike say appears increasingly detached from reality, convinced he is fighting a conspiracy against him and Syria. Around him is a tight circle of family and clan members, plus a security establishment. "Even those who love him feel he can no longer provide security," said Ayman Abdel-Nour, a former advisor to Assad and now an opposition figure. "They think he is useless and living in a cocoon. He thinks of himself as God's messenger to rule Syria. He believes that he is right and that whoever contradicts him is a traitor. Many of his close friends and advisers have either left him or distanced themselves from him.” (Jerusalem Post)
5. SYRIAN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF DEFECTS TO REBEL FORCES

The head of Syrian intelligence has left the country and defected. His whereabouts are unknown. The high-ranking Syrian officer was one of President Bashar al-Assad's closest confidantes. Rastam Ruzhilla's disappearance is the latest in a series of defections of top officials. Syrian Ambassador to Iraq, Nawef Fares, announced his resignation last week, changing sides to the opposition forces. "Where is the honor in killing your own people?” Fares said before leaving Iraq and moving to Qatar. Two Syrian Air Force pilots handed themselves over to Jordanian authorities last month. One of the two brought along a Russian made MiG 21 fighter jet as a gift to the Jordanians. Some 85 Syrian soldiers defected to Turkey two weeks ago, including a general and several other officers. The death toll in Syria this week rose to more than 18,000 people since the civil war was ignited in March 2011. (INN)
6. IDF INTELLIGENCE CHIEF SAYS FALL OF ASSAD ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi told the Knesset committee on Tuesday that Assad’s regime in Syria will not overcome the uprising against it. Kochavi warned the Golan Heights region could turn into a theater of anti-Israel operations, similar to the Sinai Peninsula region, due to the growing presence of global Jihadists in Syria. “The clashes in Syria are worsening on a daily basis, with 500 to 700 people being killed every week. In Lebanon, there are today between 70,000-80,000 rockets that could hit Israel,” said Kochavi. Israel is additionally concerned weapons from Syria’s vast chemical arsenal could fall into the hands of terrorists in Lebanon to be used against the Jewish state. (Ha’aretz)

7. NEARLY A DOZEN RECENT SINAI ATTACKS THWARTED

The IDF has stopped nearly a dozen attacks from Sinai, IDF intelligence chief Aviv Kochavi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday. He said the IDF is closely following terrorist networks in Sinai that continue to plan assaults against Israel. He warned that terrorist groups in Sinai may try to create a diplomatic crisis between Egypt and Israel through attacks. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Monday that Egypt's Sinai desert next to Israel could become an "operational base" for jihadists if security is not maintained. Clinton said the situation is dangerous for Israel, Egypt and for the US that still has forces in the area monitoring the Camp David Accords. (Jerusalem Post)
- Pray that security will be established and maintained against terrorist groups that are connecting to carry out attacks from Egypt’s Sinai desert.

8. ROCKET FIRE AIMED AT SOUTHERN ISRAEL

As US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met Monday evening with PM Netanyahu, residents of southern Israel were forced to grab their children, snatching them as they slept in order to race for bomb shelters. The first scream of the Color Red incoming rocket alert came at 9:30 p.m. Fifteen seconds later, a Qassam rocket fired by Palestinian Authority terrorists in Hamas ruled Gaza exploded in the western Negev. As IDF soldiers searched for the rocket's landing site, parents strove to calm their children and each other, working to minimize trauma symptoms triggered by the attack. One hour later, a second Qassam was launched, this one against the city of Sderot. No physical injuries were reported. (Arutz-7)
- Pray that alliances between terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip will collapse and that ongoing attacks will end. Pray for the safety and peace of many deeply distressed residents of Israel children as well as adults who reside within range of constant terrorist rocket fire.

9. ISRAEL'S FIREFIGHTING CREWS BATTLE BLAZE IN LOWER GALILEE:

Five firefighting crews battled a forest fire Monday evening that burned its way around the village of Iksal, in Galilee. Officials said the fire was likely due to an arson attack. A suspect was taken into custody for questioning by police. Hundreds of fires, including many deliberately set by terror arsonists, have been ignited around the Jerusalem area in recent weeks. Four arrests have been made in connection with several large wildfires that did extensive damage to forest land around Jerusalem. (Arutz-7)
- Continue to pray against arson attacks throughout Israel. All forested areas are at high risk during the dry, scorching heat of summer.

10. ISRAELI MK TEARS UP BIBLE

Israeli Member of Parliament, Michael Ben-Ari, publicly tore up a Hebrew Christian Bible after lawmakers expressed outrage that the religious text was sent to all parliamentarians by a Christian group, Israeli media reported Tuesday. Ben-Ari, of the right wing National Union party said while throwing away the annotated Hebrew Old and New Testaments, "The place of this book and its senders is the dustbin of history." Several lawmakers said they were deeply offended to receive the text from the Tel Aviv based Bible Society in Israel, and have asked parliament to tighten Israeli laws restricting proselytism. (Ma’an/J.Post/Maariv)
- Pray such lack of reverence and disrespect for sacred scripture will not be repeated. Also pray bitterness in Israel regarding the role of the Church during the Holocaust and other dark periods in history will be forgiven. As Believers we must continue to set good examples by our prayers and deeds on behalf of the Jewish people everywhere so that heinous wounds and breaches of trust from the past may be healed.

	Update: D.C. Abortion Ban

The Need for D.C.'s Abortion Ban Is Pain and Simple

Washington, D.C. may be the capital of America, but it shouldn't be the capital of abortion. At least that's what 18 House Republicans concluded yesterday in a key vote of the Judiciary Committee. Led by Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), conservatives voted 18-14 to ban abortions in the District after 20 weeks after fertilization--when research suggests that babies can feel pain. Not one Democrat supported the bill. "We are talking about [legislation that] protects children from being torturously dismembered while they are capable of feeling pain," Franks repeated. Still, liberals not only opposed the bill but offered hostile amendments--which, to our relief, were all defeated.
If anything, the vote on H.R. 3803 again proves how stunningly out of touch the Left is. In a new poll released this week by the National Right to Life Committee, Americans overwhelmingly side with conservatives on this issue. Sixty-three percent of all respondents (and 70% of women) favor banning abortion after the point where the unborn child can feel pain, and 58% of all respondents and 62% of women would be more likely to vote for a Member of Congress who votes to ban abortion 20 weeks after fertilization in the District of Columbia.
Join the majority! Call or email your congressman and ask him to support H.R. 3803. Then, contact your senators and encourage them to cosponsor Sen. Mike Lee's (R-Utah) companion bill, S. 2013. (Family Research Council)

	Today's Legislative Focus

Today's Legislative Focus

From The Madison Project

www.madisonproject.com

1. Obamacare

As we noted earlier this month, we must fight to defund Obamacare alongside the effort to repeal it. This is something we can do this year, even with control of just one House, simply by refusing to vote for a budget bill that contains funding for Obamacare programs. The key bills will be the Financial Services appropriations bill, which funds the IRS implementation of the individual mandate, and the HHS appropriations bill, which funds the Obamacare health exchanges. Reps. Jim Jordan and Michele Bachmann are circulating a letter to leadership requesting all members to vote against any appropriations bill that contains funding for Obamacare. The letter was signed by 113 House Republicans. Remember that anyone who signed this letter is precluded from voting for the final omnibus or CR at the end of the fiscal year, which presumably, would contain funding for Obamacare.

2. Welfare Reform

One of the biggest accomplishments of the '90s - one that has been heralded by Democrats and Republicans alike - was the 1996 welfare reform bill. The seminal provision of the law was the requirement that those able-bodied adults who receive TANF cash assistance seek employment as a condition for receiving that assistance. Last week, in yet another illegal administrative run around Congress, Obama announced that he would grant waivers to those who seek welfare without any intention of working. The problem is that, as the Heritage Foundation explains, the law was originally written to preclude such rouge actions on the part of a subsequent administration. Once again, Obama is vitiating a law duly passed by Congress in order to conform to his perverted view of governance.
We must ensure that this issue is kept front and center throughout the election. We will push conservatives in Congress to hold hearings and introduce legislation to force the administration to comply with the Welfare Reform Act. This issue cuts to the core of Obama's "food stamp presidency," and it is something that resonates well with the broad electorate.

Bonus Legislation [Every week, we will try to spotlight some positive legislation that is worthy of conservative support.]

H.R. 1167 - Welfare Reform Act of 2011
In light of Obama's nullification of welfare reform (see above), conservatives in Congress need to launch a counteroffensive - one that will not only restore the welfare reforms of 1996, but will also build upon them and extend those provisions to all welfare programs. The '96 reform bill, imposing work requirements and spending caps, was only applied to 1 of 77 anti-poverty programs (TANF).
Last year, RSC Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) introduced H.R. 1167, a welfare reform bill that would impose an overall spending cap on all 77 programs not to exceed 2007 levels adjusted for inflation. The cap would only be triggered once unemployment falls below 6.5%. The cap would be enforced by subjecting anti-poverty programs to multiple constraints of the annual budget resolution, thereby eliminating its status as a permanent entitlement program. The legislation also extends work requirements to those receiving food stamps (now 46.7 million strong). The bill currently has 71 cosponsors.
Senator DeMint has introduced a companion bill in the Senate (S. 1904) with 11 cosponsors. Please ask your congressman and senators to cosponsors welfare reform and fight back against Obama's inexorable pursuit of government dependency.

	Let's Support Chick-Fil-A!!

Let's Support Chick-Fil-A!!
Fortunately for the marriage movement, Chick-fil-A's slogan is "Eat More Chicken"--not act like one. The popular food chain, which is even more beloved by employees for its family-friendly policies, isn't shying away from its biblical roots. Despite fierce pressure from the Left, CEO Dan Cathy is planting his feet in the face of criticism and reiterating that their business is as God-centered as it ever was. Asked about the franchise's support for family values, Dan responded, "guilty as charged."

"We are very much supportive of the family--the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that... We know that it might not be popular with everyone, but thank the Lord, we live in a country where we can share our values and operate on biblical principles."
The company became a favorite punching bag of the Left when it donated lunches to a healthy marriage seminar last year. To most people, it was just a box of chicken. But it ruffled the feathers of homosexual activists, who saw it as a declaration of war. Shortly after, liberals started recruiting schools to boycott the restaurant--and some have. Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Duke, North Carolina State--they all want us to believe that Christians have no business doing business in America. Now, as more customers see Chick-fil-A standing for something definitive, not in the mushy middle, even more are rallying to the company's side.
Yesterday, to the outrage of the liberal media, Dan put his passion for man-woman marriage on full display. "I think we're inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.' I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think we can try to define what marriage is all about." Unlike J.C. Penney, whose homosexual pandering is driving the stock to record losses, Chick-fil-A is catering to mainstream America.
Join FRC in thanking the Cathys for standing their ground and refusing to be intimidated. Start by clicking over to our "EAT MOR CHIKIN" Facebook post. Then, drive through Chick-fil-A and drive home your support!
(source: "At Chick-Fil-A, Thigh Will Be Done," Family Research Council)

	Ramadan Prayer begins TODAY!

Ramadan Prayer begins TODAY!

PART ONE: FROM AGLOW

(Focus on praying for the people of Islam in the United States)

Ramadan begins on Friday, July 20. There is a heightened awareness spiritually during these 30 days of prayer - for the Muslims (who receive prayer) and for the Christians who are interceding for them.

. . . there are also many things in our nation that need to be shared, understood and then covered in prayer; strategic concerns regarding Islam that affect the Seven Mountains of Influence: Religion, Family, Education, Government, Media, Business, Entertainment.

Our plan is to write a brief national concern each day, based upon one of the seven mountains. Day One (Friday, July 20) will be an introduction, Day Two through Day 29 will be one of the focuses of the Seven Mountains (7 X 4 targets = 28 days) and Day 30 will be our conclusion.

At the end of the concern each day we will also include one or more prayer points. We will pray about Islam, but always include our focus on God's love for the Muslim people.
To begin to participate, it will simply involve clicking on the link below. That will bring you to the concern for that day. To receive it each day, follow these simple instructions:

1. Go to: www.bestcurrentnews.com (Note: If this does not connect to the site, you may also click on www.bestcurrentnews.wordpress.com)

2. Once the page opens, look down at the bottom right of your computer screen. A small box will say "FOLLOW".

3. Click on this box and type in your email address.

4. Click on "sign me up." This will enable you to receive an update daily during the 30 days of prayer.

5. You will then receive an email at your email address from Word Press asking you to confirm that you have signed up with Best Current News.

6. Once you have confirmed your email address you will receive email updates for each day for Ramadan prayer for the United States. (You may unsubscribe at any time.)
We believe this will not only generate prayer but will be used to open eyes to the concerns we are facing in our nation. Let us know if you have any questions and we will love hearing your feedback. (This is a new project for us too, and we are walking it out together!)

We encourage you to share this information with others in the body of Christ; those who will have a heart to learn . . . and to pray! May God be glorified as we pray from heaven to earth! Blessings,

Diane Moder and Scarlet Stone
AGLOW Islam Mandate


PART TWO: FROM WINDOW INTERNATIONAL NETWORK

Preparing the way for the Gospel of the Kingdom
From July 19th 2012 until August 18th, most Muslims will be celebrating Ramadan - the month of fasting. It is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith and coincides with the month in which they believe Mohammad received the Qur'an.

During Ramadan, Muslims carry out a "complete fast" during daylight hours. This means no food or water. The fast is broken each night with the Iftar dinner. These are usually community events involving extended families and neighbors. Many mosques also host nightly Iftar dinners.

The purpose of fasting during Ramadan is to purify oneself of bad habits and thoughts. It is also a time to focus on God. Expectations rise and many Muslims hope to see supernatural visions or have divine dreams.

Laylat al-Qadr - the night of power. This is the night they believe an angelic messenger gave Mohammad the Qur'an. According to the Qur'an, angels descend to earth on this night. It is thought to be "better than a thousand months" and Muslims hope to have their prayers answered at this time.
Our Call to Prayer:

During Ramadan, millions will be praying from the Muslim world - what will you be doing? Will you join us as we pray? Will you stand in the gap for Muslims globally? Do you believe God will use your prayers and open their eyes to the revelation of Jesus Christ?

Intercessors are encouraged to join Christians worldwide who are taking part in Ramadan prayer initiatives. Islam is the largest non-Christian World Religion in the 10/40 Window with over 1 billion followers.

What can I do?

-- Hold a prayer meetings during July 19th-August 18th 2012
-- Follow our Pray4Saudi Initiative on Facebook and Twitter which will have daily prayer points
--Pray with Christians globally through Visual Chats -- Prayerwalk around local Mosques

Pray For:

- the Lord to reveal Himself to Muslims all over the world during Ramadan. (Deuteronomy 4:29)
- their blind minds to be opened to the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ( II Corinthians 4:4)
- their hearts to become good soil for the seed of God's Word. (Matthew 13:23)
- the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin and show them they cannot do enough "good works" to earn their way to heaven. Pray for them to accept the truth that salvation is found only in Jesus Christ, the one and only Son of the Living God. (II Corinthians 7:10; Matthew 16:16)
- the Lord to give Muslims dreams and visions - especially on the Night of Power. (Acts 2:19)
- the salvation of members of Islamic terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda, Hamas, the Taliban, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and Lashkar-e-Taiba. Pray they will have a supernatural encounter with Christ. ( I Timothy 2:4)
- a tremendous harvest of souls as Muslims realize who Jesus Christ is and put their faith in Him as Savior and Lord. (John 4:35)


(Source: Beverley Pegues, Window International Network | PO Box 49127 | Colorado Springs | CO | 80949 )

	The Good News Corner

The Good News Corner

States: Stop Spending Welfare Money on Vices

As the economic slump doesn't appear to be over yet, several states are trying to find ways to cut unnecessary spending - and as a result, several have passed laws this year telling welfare recipients they can't use aid money on vices, and even more states are considering it.
For example, Washington state now says welfare recipients can't use their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards - which work much like bank debit cards - to pay for tattoos, body piercings, alcohol or tobacco. Meanwhile, bars, casinos, bail bond agencies and strip clubs have been ordered to reconfigure their automatic withdrawal machines to no longer accept EBT cards.
"They are defrauding the taxpayers of the state of Washington," said state Sen. Mike Carrell, after an investigation revealed that one-third of the state-issued EBT cards were being used at casinos. "The welfare check is not for adults, it's not for adult activities - it's for children. (by Karla Dial, CitizenLink)

	Worship with Us Today!

Worship with Us Today!

You're the Lion of Judah

Robin Mark (Revival in Belfast)
You're the Lion of Judah, the Lamb that was slain
You ascended to heaven and ever more will reign
At the end of the age when the earth You reclaim
You will gather the nations before You