> > > Please note FRC's urgent call
to prayer and action for the Boy
Scouts of America, below.
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief Friday, May 17, 2013
"My God of mercy shall come to meet me; God shall let me see my desire on my enemies."
(Psalm 59:10)
Guidelines for today's American Prayer Initiative can be found by going here.
Today's Daily Jot can be found by going to: www.dailyjot.com or by using
this link.
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The Daily Brief
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1. Official at center of IRS scandal got promotion, now runs 'Obamacare' division - Washington Times
The woman who ran the Internal Revenue Service's tax-exempt organizations division has been promoted, and now heads the agency's health care office, ABC news reported. Sarah Hall Ingram was commissioner of the embattled IRS office from 2009 to 2012, roughly the period that the agency is accused of singling out tea party and conservative groups for extra scrutiny, based on nothing but their political bent.
~Father, we have been praying for some time now, that You would reveal the secret things, and shine Your light in the dark places, exposing any wickedness. We thank You that You are doing that, and that You are Truth, and You desire truth to prevail. We humbly ask that You continue to bring those things to light that need to be seen and known and dealt with appropriately. We ask that those responsible for the lying subterfuge, would continue to be exposed, and dealt with in accordance with the law and our Constitution. We thank You that You love truth, and You are Truth! Amen.
- "Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth." (I Corinthians 13:6) "And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
2. IRS sued for seizing 60 million medical records -Washington Times
A healthcare provider has sued the Internal Revenue Service and 15 of its agents, charging they wrongfully seized 60 million medical records from 10 million Americans. The name of the provider is not yet known, United Press International said. But Courthouse News Service said the suit claims the agency violated the Fourth Amendment in 2011, when agents executed a search warrant for financial data on one employee - and that led to the seizure of information on 10 million, including state judges.
~Abba, we thank You that this, too, is being brought to light. We ask for righteousness to prevail in this nation, and in our government. We thank You that we have a Constitution that does give us certain inalienable rights, including the right to privacy. We ask that those agencies, and individuals who wish to violate those rights, would be exposed, and corrected. We love Your truth, and we thank You for Your love and protection. Amen.
-"This is the verdict" Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed." (John 3:19,20)
3. IRS Also Targeted Pro-Life Groups: Will Media Report? - NewsBusters
We've heard a lot in the past few days about the IRS applying extra scrutiny to groups with "Tea Party" or "patriots" in their name, but it appears the unfair targeting runs deeper than that. As the Thomas More Society, a non-profit public interest law firm, first reported yesterday, the IRS harassed at least two pro-life organizations that applied for tax-exempt status as early as 2009.
~Lord, we praise You for Your light and truth, and again, we ask You to expose these works of darkness. We ask that people will see and recognize the truth of the "harassment" by the government of those of a conservative persuasion, and condemn these actions. Amen.
- "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light." (Ephesians 5:11-13)
4. GOP eager to link IRS scandal to 'Obamacare' takedown efforts
- Washington Times
An exasperated Rep. Pat Tiberi on Friday asked the former acting chief of the IRS to explain to Congress why he would move the leader of the division that targeted conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status to a branch that is overseeing one of the most partisan issues of recent memory - President Obama's health care law.
~Father, again we ask that Your light will continue to shine, and illumine, and expose that which needs to be known, and corrected. We ask that this government will recognize that they are accountable to You and to us, and that this government was instituted to be "of the people, by the people, and for the people" of these United States. Give wisdom to our lawmakers we pray. Ferret out the lies, and replace them with truth, we pray. Amen.
-"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, Who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5)
5. Two 'known or suspected' terrorists vanished from witness program - LA Times
Two "known or suspected" terrorists who cooperated with the government and were placed in the Witness Security Program later were able to board airplanes and quietly vanish, the Justice Department's inspector general concluded in a report that was highly critical of how the government handles some of its most dangerous witnesses.
~Abba, we ask that these "known or suspected" terrorists will be located, and the appropriate action taken. We thank You that the Justice Department's Inspector General has exposed that inefficiency, and perhaps, subterfuge, in handling some of its most dangerous witnesses. We ask that this discovery would bring about change, resulting in tougher laws and practices that would protect our citizenry. We ask for transparency in any government "cover-up" that would protect the perpetrators, rather than the victims. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
-"Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." (Habakkuk 1:3,4)
6. DHS memo advises deference to Muslim extremists - DAILY CALLER
The Department of Homeland Security, which under Secretary Janet Napolitano has shown a keen interest in monitoring and warning about outspoken conservatives, takes a very different approach in monitoring political Islamists, according to a 2011 memo on protecting the free speech rights of pro-Shariah Muslim supremacists. In a checklist obtained by The Daily Caller entitled "Countering Violent Extremism Dos and Don'ts" the DHS's Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties notifies local and national law enforcement officials that it is Obama administration policy to consider specifically Islamic criticism of the American system of government legitimate.
~Father, we want our nation back from those who wish to destroy it. We believe that You have given us this nation, and blessed us abundantly, in part because we have stood with Your people, Israel. We know our present administration does not love Israel, but is, in fact, very critical of her, and praises her enemies. We, the people, ask for fairness and justice to prevail. For the Homeland Security Department to advise deference to Muslim extremists, seems to border on treason! We ask, before it is too late, that sanity would return to our government, and that You would continue to expose the "unfruitful works of darkness"! Open the eyes of our people, Lord, we pray. Amen.
-"To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me."
(Acts 26:18)
7. 2nd court invalidates Obama labor picks - FOX NEWS
A national labor board which has long been accused of making union-friendly decisions was dealt another blow Thursday, after a second federal appeals court found President Obama exceeded his power when he bypassed the Senate to appoint its members. The ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia once again threatened to upend the National Labor Relations Board's decisions. And it has the potential to stall the board entirely, as well as challenge other federal agencies that have similar appointees.
~Abba, we thank You for this ruling in keeping with our Constitution, that has established a governmental system of "checks and balances" between the three branches - Judicial, Legislative, and Executive. We have been increasingly concerned about our President deliberately by-passing Congress, in order to further his own individual political goals. We ask that an investigation take place to ensure that the naming of "Czars", and appointments circumventing the Congress, would be studied and remedied, in accordance with our Constitution. Amen.
-"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and loving-kindness and truth go before Your face." (Psalm 89:1)
8. BREAKING! "Major Derailment"- Fox News
20 to 25 injured as Connecticut commuter trains collide in 'major derailment'. No fatalities have been reported. Read more.
- Join us in praying for this incident tonight. We ask our Lord to bring His healing touch upon all who have been injured, and to cause all hidden facts to come to light regarding the exact cause of this derailment. In His Name, amen.
- "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." (Matthew 21:22)
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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 betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the Lord." (Hosea 2: 19,20)
1. Fatah accepts Arab League land swap proposal - Jerusalem Post
The Fatah Central Commit- tee has accepted the Arab League's latest proposal authorizing land swaps with Israel.
2. Israel police ban Jews from Jerusalem holy site - AP
Israeli police have temporarily barred Israeli Jews and tourists from entering the most hotly contested Jerusalem holy site after Palestinian demonstrations.
3. Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men rally against army service - Times of Israel
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Israelis rallied on Thursday evening outside of the main army recruitment office in Jerusalem to protest government initiatives to draft yeshiva students into the army.
4. Unmoved by Israel, Russia will send top air-defense system to Assad - Times of Israel
Undeterred by pleas and warnings from Israel, Russia made clear on Thursday that it will go ahead with its planned delivery of a highly sophisticated air-defense system to Syria's President Bashar Assad.
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The Persecuted Church
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Today's Focus: The Persecuted Church
"God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble." (Psalm 46:1)
1. Indonesian President named for religious freedom prize. Anger and indignation of minorities - AsiaNews
Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Catholic leaders, civil society and prominent figures of science and faith in Indonesia are protesting against the choice of an American foundation to reward President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the promotion of interreligious dialogue. Philosopher and Jesuit priest Fr. Franz Magnis Suseno has sent a letter to the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (ACF), based in New York, criticizing the choice to grant the World Statesman Award to the Indonesian head of state. There have been a series of protests and demonstrations against the award, which will be given to a politician who - in reality - has done very little to ensure interfaith harmony and protect minorities.
2. AZERBAIJAN: Harsh fines cancelled, banned books list publication soon? - Forum 18
Two Baptists in Azerbaijan's north-eastern Zakatala District - Pastor Zaur Balaev and Hinayat Shabanova - have had harsh fines overturned on appeal, Forum 18 News Service has learnt. Both had been punished for participating in unregistered religious meetings in their home village of Aliabad. The State Committee for Work with Religious Organisations has announced that it will make a list of banned books public, but without giving a date for this. And more changes to the Religion Law restricting where religious literature and other materials can be sold, and requiring such items to be marked with special stickers before they can be sold, have been approved by President Ilham Aliev. Religious literature is often confiscated in raids on religious meetings and at the border, in mid-March Customs officers confiscating works by Muslim theologian Said Nursi at Gyanja Airport. Also, concern has been expressed about a school textbook that denigrates some faiths.
3. Blast hits packed church in Tanzania - Aljazeera
A bomb attack at a packed new Catholic church in northern Tanzania has killed one person and injured at least 30 people, police say.
The blast happened on Sunday in the town of Arusha, where the Vatican's ambassador to Tanzania, Archbishop Francisco Montecillo Padilla, was attending the official opening of the church. He escaped unharmed.
Witnesses said at least one person had been trampled to death in the stampede after the blast.
"There have been 30 people wounded, three in a serious condition, and one person has been arrested," Liberatus Sabas, the regional police chief, said.
For more news about the Persecuted Church, and how you can be more involved in intercession for these precious saints, go here.
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"Don't Dismiss Benghazi"
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Watergate's Woodward: "Don't Dismiss Benghazi"
While the IRS scandal has taken center stage, famed Watergate reporter Bob Woodward said this morning that the Benghazi scandal is still a very potent issue that has not been put to rest. His remarks are worth repeating:
"You were talking earlier about kind of dismissing the Benghazi issue as one that's just political and the president recently said it's a sideshow. But if you read through all these emails, you see that everyone in the government is saying, 'Oh, let's not tell the public that terrorists were involved, people connected to al Qaeda. Let's not tell the public that there were warnings.'
" . . . this is one of the documents with the editing that one of the people in the State Department said, 'Oh, let's not let these things out.' And I have to go back 40 years to Watergate when Nixon put out his edited transcripts to the conversations, and he personally went through them and said, 'Oh, let's not tell this, let's not show this.'
"I would not dismiss Benghazi. It's a very serious issue -- four people were killed. You look at the hydraulic pressure that was in the system to not tell the truth . . . we use this term and the government uses this term, talking points. Talking points, as we know, are like legal briefs. They're an argument on one side. What we need to do is get rid of talking point and they need to put out statements or papers that are truth documents."
(Source: Gary Bauer)
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Good News from Georgia
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Good News from Georgia
Governor Nathan Deal refuses to budge on his decision to allow Bibles in the Georgia State Parkcabins
If you're looking for a hero in the fight over religious liberty, try Georgia. There, Republican Governor Nathan Deal refused to budge on his decision to allow Bibles in the Georgia State Parkcabins. Ed Buckner, a former head of American Atheists, challenged the Gideons' bedside placements when he vacationed in the Peach State. At a state-run lodge, he found Bibles in the nightstands and complained to the local Department of Natural Resources that they were unconstitutional. As a precaution, state officials removed the books until the Attorney General's office could review the case.
This week, the Governor announced that his administration had come to the conclusion that the Bibles are perfectly legal and ordered the parks to replace the books. "The attorney general and I agree that the state is on firm footing as we move to return the Bibles to rooms. These Bibles are donated by outside groups--not paid for by the state--and I do not believe that a Bible in a bedside table drawer constitutes a state establishment of religion," Gov. Deal said. "In fact, any group is free to donate literature." Now that's leadership! (Family Research Council)
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Boy Scouts: Urgent Call for Action!
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Boy Scouts: Urgent Call for Prayer and Action!
Dear Praying Friend,
Please read this letter, and pray; then, pass it on to your pastor and ask him to communicate with your church this Sunday. Take special note of the action lines at the end of the letter. Time is of the essence!
Sincerely,
Rev. Pierre Bynum
Chaplain & National Prayer Director
Email: pbynum@frc.org
Family Research Council
801 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-393-2100
Next week, on Thursday, May 23rd, between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, the 1,434 members of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America will vote on whether to change Scout standards to admit scouts regardless of "sexual orientation."
FRC and a coalition of pro-family, pro-Scout groups have worked hard to let Americans know what is happening. Urge your people to visit OnMyHonor.net to send their thoughts to over 100 key Scout executives and commissioners with a single click, and check out the other resources available on this site.
Three requests:
1) Please include the Scouts in your remarks this Sunday and call for prayer;
2) Urge everyone to pray between the hours of 11 AM and 2 PM next Thursday;
3) Urge your people to visit OnMyHonor.net to send their thoughts to key Scout executives and commissioners.
This is critically important to the future of the Scouts and the moral fiber of our nation.
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Update: Putin, Netanyahu Talks End
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Syrian-Israeli War of Words via Putin Edges into Syrian-Hizballah War of Attrition
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Netanyahu ended their three-hour meeting in Sochi Tuesday, May 14, at loggerheads on Syria. In fact, Putin warned his guest that Israel and its army, the IDF, were heading for war with Syria in which Russia might well be involved - and not just through the advanced S-300 anti-air missiles supplied to the Assad government. The case Netanyahu and Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi put before Putin and Russian foreign intelligence chief, SVR Director Mikhail Fradkov, fell on deaf ears. Neither Putin nor Netanyahu put all their cards on the table, but the conversation ended with the Russian leader fully confident that his capabilities for safeguarding Assad were greater than Israel's ability to destroy him.
In the end, Netanyahu and his party arrived home Tuesday evening with a bad feeling. They were certain that Moscow had given Assad the green light to go through with his threat to make the Syrian Golan and the Horan of southern Syria "a front for resistance" - i.e. the platforms for embarking on a war of attrition against northern Israel with the help of a flow of advanced weapons to Hizballah. The Syrian ruler is strongly encouraged to adopt this path by Tehran. Hizballah's leader Hassan Nasrallah has embraced it. And the radical Palestinian leader, Ahmed Jibril, head of the Assad-satellite Popular Front-General Command, has eagerly offered his services.
And indeed, Wednesday, the day after Netanyahu's trip to Sochi, Jibril's group let loose with mortar fire on the Israeli Mt. Hermon ski site, firing from a Syrian army position. Israeli military sources confirmed later that these were no stray shells from a Syrian-army-rebel battle as in former cases, but a deliberate attack. In Jerusalem, it was taken as a direct consequence of Moscow's account to Assad of the conversation between the Russian and Israeli leaders. They concluded that Assad took it for granted that he was now at liberty to go on the offensive against Israel.
Depending on the next move decided on by Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, this incident could mark the tipping-point of a slide towards a war confrontation against Israel by Syria, Hizballah and other Assad proxies. (DEBKA) Read more.
- O Heavenly Father, it appears that war had already been decided before Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Netanyahu met. No matter what was presented to President Putin, the facts were not heard and anger rose higher. Lord, abide fully in the midst of Israel and give special wisdom to her leaders as to what they should do, how and when. We pray that all the factions in Israel will rise up and unite, putting aside their dividing issues. Confront them Lord, and draw them to You alone as their safety and resource. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen and Amen.
- IT IS WRITTEN:
- "For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people." (1 Samuel 12:22 NKJV)
- "Give us help from trouble, for the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies." (Psalm 108:12-13 NKJV)
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The Good News Corner
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The Good News Corner:
Faith in God Makes Positive Difference in Treating Mental Illness
Belief in God is associated with improved treatment outcomes in psychiatric care. More centrally, our results suggest that belief in the credibility of psychiatric treatment and increased expectations to gain from treatment might be mechanisms by which belief in God can impact treatment outcomes. Given the prevalence of religious belief in the United States-over 90% of the population-these findings are important in that they highlight the clinical implications of spiritual life.
(Belmont, MA)-Belief in God may significantly improve the outcome of those receiving short-term treatment for psychiatric illness, according to a recent study conducted by McLean Hospital investigators.
In the study, published in the current issue of Journal of Affective Disorders, David H. Rosmarin, PhD, McLean Hospital clinician and instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, examined individuals at the Behavioral Health Partial Hospital program at McLean in an effort to investigate the relationship between patients' level of belief in God, expectations for treatment and actual treatment outcomes.
"Our work suggests that people with a moderate to high level of belief in a higher power do significantly better in short-term psychiatric treatment than those without, regardless of their religious affiliation. Belief was associated with not only improved psychological wellbeing, but decreases in depression and intention to self-harm," explained Rosmarin. . .
The study concludes: "Belief in God is associated with improved treatment outcomes in psychiatric care. More centrally, our results suggest that belief in the credibility of psychiatric treatment and increased expectations to gain from treatment might be mechanisms by which belief in God can impact treatment outcomes."
Rosmarin commented, "Given the prevalence of religious belief in the United States-over 90% of the population-these findings are important in that they highlight the clinical implications of spiritual life. I hope that this work will lead to larger studies and increased funding in order to help as many people as possible."
(Source: McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School Affiliate/Eurekalert) Read more.
[Reported by: Breaking Christian News]
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Pray for the Harvest!
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Pray for the Harvest!
"Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." (John 4:35)
Every day, in every nation on earth, tens of thousands of men and women are making decisions for Christ. Now, you can monitor this amazing fact online by literally "watching" as these souls are born again into the Kingdom.
Of course, the identities of those who are coming to the Lord are never revealed, but our God knows who they are!
Join us as we monitor these "names" daily, praying over each one to be mentored and to grow in his or her faith . . . even in these perilous times. You may visit either or both of the sites below, to pray for fields that are ripe for harvest.
> > > OPTION ONE: AboutJesus.net
Go here!
> > > OPTION TWO: The Great Commission Map!
Go here!
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Worship With Us Today!
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Worship With Us Today!
Peace
Rich Mullins
Though we're strangers, still I love you
I love you more than your mask
And you know you have to trust this to be true
And I know that's much to ask
But lay down your fears, come and join this feast
He has called us here, you and me
And may peace rain down from Heaven
Like little pieces of the sky
Little keepers of the promise
Falling on these souls
