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, October 4, 2012
"The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him." (Lamentations 3:25)
Join us every night for ONE MINUTE OF PRAYER at 9:00 p.m. EDT (adjusted for your own time zone). Let's all cry out to God together for our nation! Amen! To learn more, go here.
To explore the many opportunities that are now available to all of us during the 40 DAYS and 40 NIGHTS of prayer, leading up to Election Day, please see our two-part series, "Praying for our Nation," by going here.
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The Daily Brief
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1. a) CNN Poll: Most watchers say Romney debate winner - CNN
Two-thirds of people who watched the first presidential debate think that Republican nominee Mitt Romney won the showdown, according to a nationwide poll conducted Wednesday night.
b) Romney goes on offense, forcing Obama to defend record - Washington Post
An energetic Mitt Romney launched a series of attacks against President Obama here Wednesday night, calling into question the president's record on the economy, health care and the deficit, and arguing that he would take the country in a fundamentally different direction.
- Continue to pray that truth will be the banner under which all debates are conducted. Pray that God will remind all of His people that we must rise up and vote righteously in the upcoming election.
- ". . . encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land . . . " [Deut 3:28]
2. AARP 180, Tells Obama: Keep Our Name Out of It - Fox News
Nation's leading seniors group - which endorsed ObamaCare - now doesn't want its name in campaign.
- Father, this is a surprising turn of events from a liberal organization. We ask for the leadership and members of AARP to finally see truth.
- "My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways." [Proverbs 23:26]
3. Deadly Meningitis Outbreak Spreads to at Least 5 States - AP
At least 18 cases of meningitis have been identified as outbreak that began in Tenn. spreads to other states.
- Lord, we stand in the gap against this new attack that may stem from a contaminated medication.
- "And he stood between the dead and the living: so the plague was stopped." [Numbers 16:48]
4. Turkey Renews Artillery Strikes on Syria for Second Day - AP
Turkey fired on Syrian targets for a second day Thursday but said it has no intention of declaring war, despite tensions after deadly shelling from Syria killed five civilians in a Turkish border town.
- Father we pray for the people of this region to find Your peace and Presence amidst the deadly attacks that have been launched against Turkey. We also ask that You renew Turkey's friendship with Israel and America, removing all doubt about their alliances.
- "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way." [Psalm 119:37]
5. a) Iranians rally against regime in Tehran as currency crumbles - Times of Israel
Iranian riot police clashed with protesters in Tehran on Wednesday as public anger over economic problems in the sanction-hit country erupted onto the street. The protests were the most dramatic in Iran since bitter demonstrations erupted after the 2009 presidential elections.
b) Report: Riot police quash Iran protests as currency crisis deepens - NBC News
Riot police clashed with demonstrators and foreign exchange dealers in Tehran on Wednesday over the collapse of the Iranian currency, which has lost 40 percent of its value against the dollar in a week, witnesses told Reuters.
c) A Rare Occurrence In The Saudi Currency Market Tells You That Trouble Is Brewing In The Middle East - Bloomberg
as pointed out by BNP's Bartosz Pawlowski, traders are expecting the riyal to depreciate against the dollar. Or to think about it another way, people are betting that in a year, people expect that the dollar will be able to buy more riyals than that dollar is able to buy right now. And that is something that almost never happens - unless markets are getting really worried about Saudi Arabia, one of the most stable countries in the region.
- Father, the Middle East has become an even more deadly powder keg. From currency collapses to tensions from attacks and murders, this region sits on the edge of conflagration. We pray on our knees for Your perfect will to be done in this area. Protect Your people in the midst of it, confound our enemies, dispel all plans against Your Beloved.
- "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy . . . He makes peace in your borders, and fills you with the finest wheat." [Psalm 147: 11,14]
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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:
"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing." (Genesis 12:2)
1. Int'l Christian lawmakers vow to stop Iranian nukes - Jerusalem Post
Dozens of parliamentarians from around the world gathered in Jerusalem on Wednesday to throw their support behind an effort to put pressure on their respective governments to stop Iran from attaining nuclear weapons.
2. Lawmakers from around the world gather in Jerusalem - Jerusalem Post
Dozens of Christian parliament members from 18 countries around the world will come to Jerusalem on Tuesday for a two-day conference in which they intend to send Iran a message about Israel's longevity.
3. Cold-shouldered by the US, Netanyahu shifting anti-Iran campaign focus to Europe - Times of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit Europe before the end of the year in an effort to persuade leaders to step up sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.
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The Daily Jot
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Debate Analysis from a Christian's perspective
The occupant of the Oval Office and his challenger debated domestic issues. The current officeholder's ears were literally red after the first salvo and remained so throughout the debate, he often looked down, rarely looked into the camera and seemed to be wanting coaching cues from the debate moderator, which were liberally given. The challenger spoke directly to the president or to the television audience, gave clear and concise answers and arguments. There was back and forth on many issues and some differences between the two on mandated healthcare, medicare, states rights, education, job formation and the deficit. But there was one distinct difference between the two on the role of government.
The president said the first role of government is to "keep people safe." He then said, "But I also believe that government has the capacity, the federal government has the capacity to help open up opportunity and create ladders of opportunity and to create frameworks where the American people can succeed. Look, the genius of America is the free enterprise system and freedom and the fact that people can go out there and start a business, work on an idea, make their own decisions...there are also some things we do better together." He named the government involvement in the transcontinental railroad, National Academy of Sciences and land grant colleges as examples of government's role.
The challenger responded: "The role of government: Look behind us. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The role of government is to promote and protect the principles of those documents. First, life and liberty. We have a responsibility to protect the lives and liberties of our people, and that means a military second to none." He said government should maintain the individual's "right to pursue their dreams and not to have the government substitute itself for the rights of free individuals. And what we're seeing right now is, in my view, a trickle-down government approach, which has government thinking it can do a better job than free people pursuing their dreams. And its not working."
The president seemed to be running against his own record, not wanting to admit that four years have gone by and the things he was criticizing were his own shortcomings. He didn't want to take responsibility for the deficit, for unemployment, for a diminishing middle class. He suggested, however, that his policies would work better than his challenger's ideas. The challenger said that these policies are not working: "And the proof of that is 23 million people out of work. The proof of that is 1 out of 6 people in poverty. The proof of that is we've gone from 32 million on food stamps to 47 million on food stamps. The proof of that is that 50 percent of college graduates this year can't find work."
Now for the real analysis. Neither candidate is ideal from a Judeo-Christian perspective. Their religious beliefs are well known. But one thing for certain, one of these men will be president of the United States barring that they are still alive. A write-in vote for another candidate, not voting for whatever reason, or over spiritualizing the election will not change that reality. From Saul to Zedekiah, from Washington to Bush, YHVH has used leaders for His purposes. In America, we get to choose our leaders. And choose we must. The Biblical criteria: "able men, such as fear YHVH, men of truth, hating covetousness (Exodus 18:21)." Which man most embodies those requirements? You will choose irrespective of whether you vote for one of them or not. The Lord will work through you one way or another.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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On the Campaign Trail
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On the Campaign Trail:
33 Days Until Election Day
News from the Madison Report
www.madisonproject.com
Post-Debate Analysis: Is Mitt Romney John Kerry?
Team Madison-
Last night was the first Presidential debate and it was an interesting one. Mitt Romney came out of the gates to win and President Obama, as one leftwing commentator said this morning, looked like a deer stuck in headlights because "he is not used to being spoken to in such a way."
Clearly Round #1 went to Mitt Romney, not only amongst the punditry, but among undecided voters. By a whopping 2/3s margin, the undecided voters polled by both CBS and CNN broke for Mitt Romney immediately after the debate. This is good news for Mitt Romney.
Just like it was for Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004. Folks, this was just the first debate. There are two more and if President Obama does just slightly better, guess what the media's narrative will be? "Look at this guy! He's The Comeback Kid!"
But was this a good debate for Mitt Romney? No, it was a great one and as Daniel Horowitz wrote this morning in his blog post, Beating An Empty Chair:
"We've all been critical of Mitt Romney from the beginning of the primary and throughout the general election for his lack of core principles, pale-pastel ideas, flaccid attacks on Obama, and lack of specifics. I have not shied away from pointing out that the Romney convention along with his acceptance speech was a disaster.
So what about his debate performance?
. . . Romney was sharp, prepared, fact-oriented, devastatingly focused, and specific enough for the target audience. He was armed with the facts of Obama's unprecedented period of stagnation and rising costs and had scathing and cogent answers for everything Obama said. Most importantly, he dominated." (To read more, go here. . . .)
On to victory.
Drew Ryun
The Madison Project
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The Debate: Best of America
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The Debate: Best of America
By Jon Hamill, President
Lamplighter Ministries
. . .watching tonight's debate I was proud to be an American. And I truly hope the world was paying attention.
President Obama and Governor Romney clashed in the arena of ideas, each with a radically different vision of the best course for America. They fought vigorously for their principles, and for our votes. After a fierce and spirited debate, the first Mormon presidential candidate shook hands with our first black President. And then, on the world stage, Michelle met Ann, and Ann's kids met dad's opponent. Who bowed down smiling to connect with them eye to eye.
What We're Fighting For
Ok this is admittedly naive. But that's what I believe we've been fighting for in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Egypt. Even in Iran. Where policies can be debated and leaders chosen and faith embraced with honor instead of retaliation and death. Where the unalienable rights bestowed by our Creator are granted to all of His creation--and enforced by government, not compromised by it. Life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness. . .
Freedom. But for freedom to prosper, this gift must be cherished, not tolerated. Like the pearl of great price, there's a price to pay to actually own it.
Freedom to Worship
I recently heard how many Muslims prefer to worship here in America precisely for this reason. They are free to express their faith, and believe what they want. Disagreements in theology do not become sentences of death.
Isn't it weird that many Muslims appreciate our freedom to worship more than many Christians? In our naivety we take for granted the very things much of the world is literally giving their lives to attain.
To our shame, Americans now tolerate religious persecution--especially of Christians--with an apathy unimaginable to our forefathers. They faced persecution and death to provide this freedom for us.
. . . More and more, Christians are being threatened, denied opportunity, maligned, discriminated against, even beaten. It is happening here in America, in 2012.
But that's a subject for another day. For tonight, through the debates we gave the world a glimpse of what makes America great. This is truly an answer to prayer!
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Obama's Foreign Policy Fiasco
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Obama's Foreign Policy Fiasco
When Barack Obama took office, he was intent on "fundamentally transforming" America's foreign policy. His first interview as President of the United States was granted to an Arab-language TV station. He has sent private letters to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Just six months into his first year in office, he delivered his "New Beginning" speech in Cairo, Egypt.
And there was more than just words. Obama put your hard-earned tax dollars behind his outreach too. According to CNSNews.com, Obama increased foreign aid by 80% between 2008 and 2011, with much of that money going to governments who hate us and vote against us at the U.N. Moreover, Obama spent nearly 80% more on foreign aid than he spent on securing our own border with Mexico.
What do we have to show for it? Iran is four years closer to a nuclear bomb, four Americans were murdered in Libya and two Border Patrol agents were shot in Arizona this week, one of whom was killed.
By the way, how's that investigation in Libya going? Consider this depressing excerpt from today's Washington Post:
"Three weeks after the attack that killed four Americans in this city, the investigation of its causes remains in its initial stages, with just a handful of suspects detained, the crime scenes minimally secured and Walid Faraj waiting for a phone call from someone, anyone, asking him what he saw on the night he was injured while protecting the U.S. diplomatic post here."
And while the evidence mounts that Al Qaeda was behind the terrorist attack on our consulate, the American left continues to make common cause with the militant Islamists. On MSNBC this morning, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jimmy Carter's National Security Adviser, was once again harping on that obscure anti-Islamic film.
Brzezinski said, "It's not a question of freedom of speech entirely." He suggested that government should investigate the producers of the film for "conspiracy," and added that they could be "liable" for the violence and deaths that occurred.
Once again, the left-wing mindset is on display: It's not the jihadists' fault, it's our fault, and Americans must surrender their freedoms to the radical Islamists if we want peace. (Gary Bauer)
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Hobby Lobby Stands True
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Retail Store's Fight Against Morning-After Pill
A coalition of liberal Christian groups has come out against Hobby Lobby's lawsuit challenging federal health care guidelines that require companies to provide insurance that covers the morning-after pill.
The Rev. Lance Schmitz says more than 80,000 people signed petitions opposing the Oklahoma-based arts and crafts chain's lawsuit. The Oklahoma City pastor tried to deliver the petitions Thursday to Hobby Lobby headquarters but was ordered to leave the property. He says he will mail the petitions instead.
Hobby Lobby, which operates more than 500 stores in 41 states, says providing coverage for the morning-after pill violates its Christian owners' "deeply held religious beliefs."
The petitions say Hobby Lobby's owners shouldn't use their beliefs to deny women access to birth control.
The company says it has no objection to preventive contraceptives.
David Green, CEO and founder of the Hobby Lobby Stores says, "When my family and I started our company 40 years ago, we were working out of a garage on a $600 bank loan, assembling miniature picture frames. Our first retail store wasn't much bigger than most people's living rooms, but we had faith that we would succeed if we lived and worked according to God's word. From there, Hobby Lobby has become one of the nation's largest arts and crafts retailers, with more than 500 locations in 41 states. Our children grew up into fine business leaders, and today we run Hobby Lobby together, as a family.
"We're Christians, and we run our business on Christian principles. I've always said that the first two goals of our business are (1) to run our business in harmony with God's laws, and (2) to focus on people more than money. And that's what we've tried to do. We close early so our employees can see their families at night. We keep our stores closed on Sundays, one of the week's biggest shopping days, so that our workers and their families can enjoy a day of rest. We believe that it is by God's grace that Hobby Lobby has endured, and he has blessed us and our employees. We've not only added jobs in a weak economy, we've raised wages for the past four years in a row. Our full-time employees start at 80% above minimum wage.
"My family has lived the American dream. We want to continue growing our company and providing great jobs for thousands of employees, but the government is going to make that much more difficult. The government is forcing us to choose between following our faith and following the law. I say that's a choice no American - and no American business - should have to make."
Pray that God's will will be administered in this forthcoming litigation. God is the Creator of all life, and therefore man's attempt at perverting this truth is certainly answerable to God's judgment. Pray that the evil motives of this current Obamacare law be exposed and rendered null and void.
- "For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb... Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:13, 16)
"There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers." (Proverbs 6:16-19)
[Reported by: Intercessors for America]
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Military Faces "Epidemic" of Troop
Suicides
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Military Faces "Epidemic" of Troop Suicides
U.S. Military Also Threatened by Budget Cuts, Moral Decline, Voter Suppression
As sequestration threatens military budget cuts of 10%, our Armed Forces face an epidemic of troop suicide and lawsuits alleging system-wide sexual intimidation and rape. The Obama administration crows that the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell has not made an appreciable difference, but it is unrealistic to believe that catastrophic failure would be evident in such a short span. It already appears that sexual standards in the military are already slipping. Furthermore, requests and demands have grown for broader homosexual rights, benefits and services and we are seeing more intimidation and religious censorship of chaplains, officer and enlisted men. It is beginning to make a difference.
After delays in delivering absentee ballots, the military voting turnout will be the lowest in memory. Because military families are significantly more conservative in their voting habits than civilians, this trend will hurt conservative candidates. In a related scandal, the Obama administration has asked military contractors to ignore the law and wait until after the election to notify their employees that layoffs are likely under sequestration, promising firms a taxpayer bailout to cover the cost of any lawsuits or expenses they incur. (Source: FRC Prayer Targets)
- May strong moral Military leaders restore moral standards in the ranks. May God stir our military men at home and abroad to move quickly to make their right and their family member's right to vote count, by voting in this year's Election!
- "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:22)
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The Good News Corner
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The Good News Corner
Thousands pray for US at 'America for Jesus' rally
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Thousands of conservative Christians gathered Saturday on Independence Mall in Philadelphia to pray for the future of the United States in the weeks before the presidential election.
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and Family Research Council president Tony Perkins topped a full day of speakers at "The America for Jesus 2012" prayer rally.
Robertson, a former Republican candidate for president, called the election important, but didn't mention either major political party or candidate by name.
"I don't care what the ACLU says or any atheists say. This nation belongs to Jesus, and we're here today to reclaim his sovereignty," said Robertson, 82, who founded the Christian Coalition and Christian Broadcasting Network, and ran for president in 1988.
Organizers plan another prayer rally Oct. 20 in Washington, D.C., two weeks before President Barack Obama faces Republican Mitt Romney in the presidential election.
Perkins asked the crowd to pray for elected officials including Obama. "We pray that his eyes will be open to the truth," Perkins said.
A number of event organizers, though, have been vocal critics of the Democratic president.
Steve Strang, the influential Pentecostal publisher of Charisma magazine, which was distributed at the rally, recently wrote in a blog post that America is under threat from a "radical homosexual agenda." He also said Obama "seems to be moving toward some form of European socialism."
. . . Speakers throughout the day condemned abortion, gay marriage and population control as practiced by Planned Parenthood. Christian rock music filled the historic mall as speakers challenged the crowd to overcome the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and slothfulness.
The rally was held outside of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Pennsylvania is also where evangelist George Whitefield preached during the first Great Awakening, the 18th-century religious revival that spread through the American colonies. (Read more)
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Worship with Us Today!
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Worship with Us Today!
You Never Let Go
Southside Baptist Church
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near
