CHPP Daily Brief Friday, May 24, 2013

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Friday, May 24, 2013

"Having done all . . . stand . . ." (Eph. 6:12)


Guidelines for today's American Prayer Initiative can be found by going here.

We will not publish "On Capitol Hill This Week" on Monday in honor of Memorial Day. We invite all of you to join us this Monday to remember those who gave their lives, that we might live in freedom in our land.
 

	The Daily Brief

1. Boy Scouts vote to lift ban on gay youth - NBC News

The Boy Scouts of America voted Thursday to end its controversial policy banning gay kids and teens from joining one of the nation's most popular youth organizations, ditching membership guidelines that had roiled the group in recent years.

Over 61 percent of Scouting's National Council of 1,232 delegates from across the country voted to lift the ban, BSA officials said. The final tally was 757 yes votes, to 475 no (another 168 delegates did not cast a ballot since they were not present at the meeting). The ban on gay leaders was not voted on and will remain in place.

"This resolution today dealt with youth. We have not changed our adult membership standards. They have served us well for the last 100 years. Those were not on the table," said Tico Perez, BSA national commissioner.

The policy change will go into effect Jan. 1, 2014, "allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units," the BSA said in a statement.
- Father, we intercede over this decision by the Boy Scouts. We are grieved by this compromise. We ask that the wind of the Holy Spirit would blow across the existing structure of the Boy Scouts of America, causing its demise; and for a "new thing" to be raised up that would replace this dead and useless stump. In Jesus' Name we ask this prayer, amen.

- "Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble." (Isaiah 40:24)

2. Truck crash may have caused Washington state bridge collapse - Reuters

A truck crashed into a four-lane freeway bridge in Washington state Thursday evening and may have caused it to collapse, sending vehicles and drivers tumbling into a frigid river, officials said. A U.S. National Transportation Safety Board investigation into what led part of the Interstate 5 bridge to fall into the Skagit River 55 miles north of Seattle was expected to continue on Friday. Three people were rescued from the river and no one died, officials said. Two of those rescued were hospitalized with hypothermia.
- Abba, we thank You that there was no loss of life as a result of this bridge collapse. We ask for the full and speedy recovery of those who were rescued from the icy waters, and for their emotional recovery from their "brush with death". We do pray that they will realize the brevity of life, and the importance of knowing You as their Savior and Lord. In our world filled with violence and "natural" disasters, surely You alone are our Rock and stability, and we thank You for that. Amen.

- "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." (Proverbs 27:2)

3. Mandate for birth control coverage up for federal appeal - Washington Times

In the most prominent challenge of its kind, Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. asked a federal appeals court Thursday for an exemption from part of the federal health care law that requires it to offer employees health coverage that includes access to the morning-after pill. The Oklahoma City-based arts-and-crafts chain argues that businesses - not just the currently exempted religious groups - should be allowed to seek exception from that part of the health law if it violates their religious beliefs.

Read more:

- Father, we thank You for the courage of the Green family who own Hobby Lobby, and their testimony. We ask that You, the Judge of the Universe, will be their Advocate and Advisor, as they pursue this case through the courts. We ask for favor for them, and Your divine protection. Amen.

- "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it." (Isaiah 50:21)

4. Issa gives firmer indication he will recall high-ranking IRS official to testify - Washington Times

The top investigator in the House feels a high-ranking IRS official waived her Fifth Amendment rights and should have to testify about the targeting of conservative groups at the powerful agency from 2010 to 2012. Rep. Darrell Issa, California Democrat and chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, signaled on Wednesday he would take a hard look at whether Lois Lerner, the IRS' director of tax-exempt organizations, forfeited her right to silence by offering an opening statement to the committee before refusing, on the advice of her lawyer, to answer any questions.

- Lord, we thank You that You have revealed that which was done in secret, and thank You that You are continuing to do so. We do ask that those accountable for these underhanded practices will be revealed and will not escape the truth. We ask that this investigative committee will hold "the feet to the fire" of those who wish to brush this all under the rug. We thank You that You are Truth, and You have promised that we will know the Truth, and the Truth will set us free.

- "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name." (Psalm 86:11)

5. Holder Ordered Fox Seizures - Gary Bauer

NBC News reported last night that Attorney General Eric Holder personally signed the orders to seize personal and work phones and email records of Fox News reporter James Rosen. What is so shocking in this case is that Holder cited the Espionage Act and considered Rosen a criminal co-conspirator and a flight risk!

In response to the growing media outrage, President Obama has ordered the Justice Department to review its guidelines on investigating journalists. In other words, Holder will be reviewing his own work.
- Father, we thank You again for revealing that which needs to be known. Laws have been enacted to protect the innocent; but there are instances, such as this, when those laws have been misused to abuse the privacy rights of innocent people. We ask that true justice will prevail. We ask for protection of the innocent, and exposure and accountability of the guilty. In Your name we pray, Amen.

- "The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." (Psalm 119:60)

6. Lerner On Leave - Gary Bauer

Lois Lerner, the director of IRS tax-exempt office at the center of the Tea Party targeting scandal, has been placed on administrative leave with pay after refusing to testify before Congress. Acting IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel reportedly asked for her resignation, but she refused. So, her "punishment" is that she is not allowed to go to work, and your punishment is that you must still continue to pay her!
- Thank our Lord that He is a God of justice and that nothing escapes His scrutiny. Ms. Lerner may feel that she can "plead the 5th" before men, but she cannot get away with this action before the High Court of Heaven. Keep praising Him and more will be revealed, and corrected, in time.

- "Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!" (Isa.30:18)

7. Obama Declares War On Terror Over - Gary Bauer

Yesterday President Obama tried to change the subject away from all the scandals engulfing his administration by giving a major address on foreign policy. He effectively declared an end to the "global war on terror." Well, we weren't the ones who declared war, and one side doesn't get to unilaterally decide it is over unless they are surrendering.

Obama also announced that he plans to dramatically scale back drone attacks. Ironically, this administration has launched more drone attacks than any previous administration, and it is one of Obama's more popular policies. But Obama announced that future drone strikes would be limited to situations where "there must be near-certainty that no civilians will be killed or injured," meaning there will be far fewer drone strikes against suspected terrorists in the future.

Lastly, the president announced another all-out effort to close Gitmo and bring the terrorist thugs to a prison near you.
- Wouldn't it be great if the War on Terror were over? But just ask the good people of Boston, Massachusetts -- it's not. Stand in the gap for this president, who continues to call good evil and evil, good . . . and who seems to have been blinded from seeing and ruling in truth. Again, ask our Lord to forgive him, for he knows not what he does, and pray that the scales will fall off of his eyes so that he may govern with wisdom. In Jesus' Name, amen.

- "These also who erred in spirit will come to understanding, And those who complained will learn doctrine." (Isaiah 29:24)

8. High Court Takes Up Prayer at Government Meetings- CBN

The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to weigh in on a case involving prayer during Greece, N.Y., town meetings.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Greece officials violated the constitution by opening meetings over an 11-year span with prayers that stressed Christianity. The appeals court said the town should have made more of an effort to invite people from other faiths. (Read more.)

- Ask our Lord to move on the hearts of the nine Supreme Court justices to overrule this decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Declare and decree that the highest court in America must yield to the Authority of the High Court of Heaven. Indeed, thank our Lord that He will even visit these justices with a "terror in the night," lest they disobey His Word and His Law. Pray!

- "In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings, to turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to preserve them from the pit, their lives from perishing by the sword."

	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:

" "It is by YHWH's kindnesses that we are not destroyed, because His mercies never fail. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

1. Air force chief warns of 'surprise war' with Syria - Times of Israel

The commander of the Israeli Air Force, which has reportedly bombarded targets in Syria several times in recent months, warned Wednesday that war could break out on Israel's northern border at any moment, demanding the full engagement of the IAF's resources.

2. Gen. John Allen appointed U.S. security envoy in peace process - Ha'aretz

Gen. John Allen has been appointed special U.S. envoy on security issues in negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. He will not mediate between the parties; his work will almost exclusively involve contacts with Israel. Allen will deal with the U.S. position on Israeli security needs and the security arrangements that would accompany the establishment of a future Palestinian state.

3. Hand-drawn map shows what Olmert offered for peace - Times of Israel

A sketched map of Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert's land-for-peace offer to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 2008 -- hurriedly drawn up by Abbas after a meeting with Olmert that December, and made public for the first time on Thursday -- suggests that Israel was prepared to withdraw to borders very similar to the pre-1967 lines and swap areas of northern and southern Israel in return for maintaining the larger settlement blocs.

4. Obama: Israeli-Palestinian peace part of counterterror strategy - Times of Israel

President Obama said the United States was trying to solve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in part because it could help "reshape attitudes" that foster extremism.

5. US, Israel raise hopes for Mideast peace restart - Times of Israel

The United States and Israel raised hopes Thursday for a restart of the Middle East peace process, despite little tangible progress so far from US Secretary of State John Kerry's two-month-old effort to get Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table.

6. PM to Kerry: Peace talks top Israel's agenda - Jerusalem Post

Reviving peace talks with the Palestinians tops Israel's agenda, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told US Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday as they met in Jerusalem at the start of the American diplomat's latest visit to the region.

	THANK YOU!!

THANK YOU!!

Dear Friends,

Earlier this week, we sent out a special message, alerting you to our financial need here at CHPP.
You have clearly heard our heartcry, and your response this week has been overwhelming!
You are an AWESOME network of intercessors: a rare breed that knows how to couple FAITH with ACTION to bring forth God's will.
> > > You have said "YES", so we now also say "YES" -- we WILL continue to STAND here in your nation's capital, calling forth His praises in the gates of our city, and trusting His grace to allow us to do that.
So, once again, THANK YOU.

We appreciate each and every one of you out there, now more than ever!
In His Amazing Grace,

Sara Ballenger
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners

	A Special Invitation

A Special Invitation:

Celebrating Jerusalem Day on Capitol Hill

From:

Jordanna McMillan
Director of Outreach & Development
Israel Allies Foundation
Washington, D.C.
Tel: 202-697-1540

http://www.iiacf.org/

Dear Friends,

I wanted to personally invite you to our upcoming commemoration of the reunification of Jerusalem this June 4, on Capitol Hill, Rayburn House Office Building, Room 338.
46 years ago Israel reunited Jerusalem and we, as Christians, have been able to worship freely throughout the city ever since. We are proud to stand with Israel together with Members of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus and a special guest from the Israeli Knesset as we celebrate a united Jerusalem - the city King David established as the capital of the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago and the only city where God has chosen to put His name.
We have the opportunity to ensure that Jerusalem remains the united capital of Israel by encouraging that the U.S. move it's embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. In this Congress, there is new legislation about to be introduced that would do just that.
Please join us on June 4th and encourage your friends and colleagues to join us as well - your presence on the Hill shows Congress that Jerusalem is important and just as the Lord will not forget Jerusalem, neither will we.
> > > IMPORTANT!

You must register in order to attend this free event. To do so, go here.

	For Scouts, a Badge of Dishonor

For Scouts, a Badge of Dishonor

After two decades of bitter back and forth, one of the last strongholds for morality in America finally buckled. Late this afternoon, despite a relentless push by Scouts in every state, the National Council exchanged a century-old legacy for a false compromise that puts an American tradition on the pathway to extinction. After 103 years of principled leadership, the organization proved that it was incapable of the same kind of courage it's been instilling in American boys since the beginning of the 1900s. By a lopsided vote, delegates ushered into the Boy Scouts a new era of moral compromise, allowing homosexual boys and turning against a majority of members in the process.
It took strong-arm tactics, political sharks, and corporate harassment, but the national leadership of the BSA finally succeeded in forcing through a piece of policy that robs the Scouts of its innocence. And now, by opening the door to gay young people, legal experts say it's only a matter of time before the rule on homosexuality extends to everyone--including adults. Almost immediately, BSA councils, Scouting parents, and leaders of the faith-based organizations that charter more than two-thirds of the packs and troops will have to decide how to respond to this decision, which obligates every unit "regardless of their religious convictions" to comply. In the last 12 months, BSA's official estimates show as many as 400,000 boys will leave the BSA as a result, devastating the Scouts financially and leaving them very few options legally.
In the meantime, Councils that believed the lie that this was just about the youth are about to find out that the fight for the Scouts is just beginning. "The Boy Scouts of America will not sacrifice its mission, or the youth served by the movement," a BSA statement read, "by allowing the organization to be consumed by a single, divisive, and unresolved societal issue." Unfortunately for them, that sacrifice was already made in today's tragic decision. Now we must stand with the troops across America who remain committed to the guiding principles of scouting that have helped millions of young boys successfully make the journey to manhood. (Family Research Council)

	Of War and Remembrance

Of War and Remembrance

Ordinarily, America's Memorial Day is the beginning of our summer holidays. We often observe the day by having local Scout troops place small American flags on the graves of fallen warriors. Many of us make sure to tell our children about service members' sacrifice and use this time to explain to them the price of liberty. Freedom is not free, we tell them. And so, while we are grateful for a holiday, for extra time for family cookouts, church picnics, sports and games, for auto races, or sailboat regattas, we also recognize a somber undertone to the day.
Today, our observance of Memorial Day must be tempered with a real disquiet. For the first time in 238 years of American arms, that shield of the republic, our all-volunteer military, is itself a target.
In the last few months, militant atheizers have gained privileged access to our Defense Department. They are getting a sympathetic hearing from many there. These atheizers boast that they have made progress toward their goal of completely suppressing open expression of Christian faith in our armed forces. They want this and much more. They demand that anyone in uniform who shares his faith, who dares to proselytize, be court-martialed for treason and sedition.
This anti-American demand is deeply offensive to tens of thousands of our soldiers serving today. To the great World War II generation, it would have seemed we had fallen under a hostile occupation. If you visit the American Cemetery in Normandy, you will see why this is so. There, you can see row upon row of white crosses. They stand like sentinels, on guard. It's been called "the silent bivouac of the dead." Especially poignant are the white Stars of David among those crosses. . .
. . . why have we initiated a petition to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and started the American Hero Defense Fund. Our friend and colleague, retired Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin, is spearheading this Family Research Council drive to defend the religious freedom of those in our armed forces who have so ably defended our freedom.
I hope you and your family will truly remember on this Memorial Day. Please remember the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform over the centuries. Let's remember those patriot graves. And pass along to the next generation the accounts of their selfless service and valor.
But this year, please do one thing more: Won't you join our Christian defense ministry? Give us your prayers, your voice, your support. Write letters to local newspapers. Call in to local talk shows. Make sure your elected representatives know where you stand. Encourage your church's leader to speak, to engage the culture. Let's stand with our troops for God and country. (Tony Perkins; Family Research Council)
www.frc.org

	Memorial Day Tribute

Congressman J. Randy Forbes: Above all, this we'll defend

Always courageous. Always faithful. Always ready. Above all. This we'll defend.

These mottoes represent each of the five service branches of our military. They are at the core of what our men and women in uniform stand for as they serve our nation each day. Behind every one of these mottoes is a face ­- a father, a sister, a neighbor, a son - who lives these calls to action in times of physical hardship, camaraderie, sacrifice, surrender, peace, bravery, loyalty, and pain. Behind each of those mottoes, triumphs have been met. Hope has been extended. The ultimate sacrifice has been paid.
For over a century, our nation has taken time out of the year to mark special tribute to the men and women who have bravely given their lives in service of our nation. Today we know that day as Memorial Day, which specifically honors those who died in military service. On this day, we express our deep appreciation to those who gave everything for our freedoms, and unite in prayer for the families who have lost loved ones.
It is our privilege to honor these heroes and to share the unique legacies each has left throughout chapters in our nation's history. For many Americans, there is no question about how they will honor our military heroes on Memorial Day: they will remember a friend, visit a loved one's gravesite, or pull out old photo albums of a father or daughter. Still, many more Americans may be unsure of how to observe the true meaning of Memorial Day. As you are making Memorial Day plans, here are 10 ideas you and your family can consider as a way of commemorating Memorial Day this year. (See link here)
. . . This Memorial Day, many of us will gather and enjoy the company of family and good friends. As we do so, taps will ring out in ceremonies across the country. As the bugle player slowly lowers his horn, he will salute and a quiet hush will fall. As it does, may we be inspired by our heroes' legacies. May we remember in that moment those who were always courageous, always faithful, always ready, and - above all - answered the call of our nation.
(Reported by: Christian Coalition of America)
> > > We encourage each of our Prayer Partners to go to this link and find a way to honor the memory of those who have given their lives for our country, on this Memorial Day. Thank you.

	Pray for the Harvest!

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!

	Worship With Us Today!

Worship With Us Today!
"I See a Warrior"


Worship Our Lord by going here.

I See a warrior, I see a Man
I see the Son of God rising in the land
I see His army, begin to stand
I see the darkness giving way to light again
I see His glory across the land
Like water on the sea, touching every man
Oh, oh, oh (3x) He is Lord
Oh, oh, oh (3x) He is Lord
I see the broken, I see the lame
I see the sick healed and the dead come alive again
I see the lost ones coming home
I see them pouring in returning to the fold
I hear the Lion of Judah roar
I see the nations bow declaring He is Lord
Oh, oh, oh (3x) He is Lord
Oh, oh, oh (3x) He is Lord