Happy 4th of July!
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Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief Thursday, July 4, 2013
"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants." (Leviticus 25:10)
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The Daily Brief
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1. Muslim Brotherhood leader arrested- CNN
The Muslim Brotherhood's supreme leader has been arrested and flown to Cairo, Egyptian officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Egyptian prosecutors had ordered the arrest of Mohammed Badie and his powerful deputy Khairat el-Shater for the killing of eight protesters in clashes outside the group's Cairo headquarters this week, according to the country's official news agency.
- Father, in these days where we don't know who are our enemies and who are our friends, this news seems on the surface to be great news. We ask justice for these men who have murdered and plotted the deaths of so many.
- "Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, 'You will not require an account.' But You have seen it, for You observe trouble and grief."
[Psalm 10:13-14a]
2. Mursi Ousted as Egypt's President; Constitution Suspended - Bloomberg
Egypt's army ousted President Mohamed Mursi, the country's first democratically elected civilian leader, and suspended the constitution in a move it said was aimed at restoring stability.
- Thank You, Father, that this proponent of the Muslim Brotherhood and an enemy of Israel has been ousted from power. We pray for the people of Egypt to be free of the upheaval which has shattered their lives. We ask that the people of the world see the truth from what was called "Arab Spring."
- "Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil." [Proverbs 4:27]
3. EU Accuses 13 Banks of Derivatives Collusion - AFP
EU investigators accused 13 top banks including Barclays, Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs on Monday of colluding over derivatives trading, in a new move to tighten banking standards.
- Lord, we ask that You remove all corruption from the ranks of world banks.
- "They have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt" [Psalm 14:3a]
4. Rubio weighs sponsorship of bill to end abortions after 20 weeks - Washington Times
Sen. Marco Rubio is expected to sign on as the chief sponsor of a bill that calls for the end of most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy -- a move that would put him in the thick of another politically charged national debate and perhaps shield him from the barrage of criticism he is facing on immigration.
- Lord, we ask You why there should be any hesitation from any legislator to sign on to this bill. We pray that You will bring understanding to our legislators in the form of dreams and visions, regardless of their political stances, so that they will truly understand the value of human life.
- ". . . for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."
[James 1:6b]
5. Texas abortion battle heats up as activists Hail Satan! - Washington Times
Tensions in Texas ratcheted a bit higher Tuesday as activists on both sides of the abortion issue squared off at the Capitol in Austin for a somewhat odd religious-themed shout-down. Pro-choice protesters shouted, "Hail Satan!" as an attempt to drown out pro-lifers' rendition of "Amazing Grace."
- Father, as the true nature of pro-abortion forces is revealed, we pray that this situation will be spread far and wide so much that even liberal media outlets will be appalled.
- "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him." [John 8:44a]
6. RIGHT ON TIME! Statue of Liberty reopens to public - Fox News
The Statue of Liberty finally reopened on the Fourth of July months after Superstorm Sandy swamped its little island in New York Harbor as Americans across the country marked the holiday with fireworks and barbecues. (Read more)
- Today Americans all across this nation will celebrate the Fourth of July with picnics, parades, and fireworks; recalling that day 237 years ago when the Declaration of Independence was signed. We ask special prayer for all these public events -- especially the fireworks displays -- so that all are kept safe and sound during these glorious events. Thank you.
- "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1)
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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:
"Blessed is YHWH, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of YHWH, who made the heavens and earth." (Psalm 124:7,8)
1. There is no place the IDF can't reach, says Netanyahu - Times of Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday reminded the world of the IDF's capabilities, speaking during a Knesset ceremony marking the 37-year anniversary of Operation Yonatan, the raid on Uganda's Entebbe airport to free over 100 passengers held hostage after a terrorist hijacking.
2. PM: Palestinian leaders think its possible to destroy Israel - Jerusalem Post
The legacy of Likud ideological forebear Ze'ev Jabotinsky will help bring stable peace to Israel, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu told the Knesset Wednesday.
3. Israel keeping a wary eye on Egypt - Jerusalem Post
Israel likes stability, yearns for predictability. It abhors chaos.
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The Persecuted Church
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Today's Focus: The Persecuted Church
"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." (Deut. 31:6)
1. Indonesia: Hundreds of Muslim Radicals Rally Against Church Construction - Asia News
Hundreds of Muslim extremists staged a two-day protest against the construction of the Saint Stanislaus Kotska Catholic Church in Kranggan, a sub-district in Bekasi Regency, West Java province.
In what looks like a repeat of events in Bogor, where members of the Yasmin Church are up against local authorities, Catholics in Kranggan might see their efforts come to naught, including their application for a building permit. They had first applied for the latter began in 2003 and met every bureaucratic request. However, protesters object that a Christian building in a Muslim area would only fuel sectarian conflict and undermine peaceful coexistence among religious groups.
2. Pakistani Woman and Family Rescued from Blasphemy Charges - BosNews
Mariam was a 15-year-old Christian from Qusair, a city of the governorate in Homs, 35 km south of the capital. The city, which had become a stronghold of the Syrian rebels, was reconquered by the troops of the regular army at the beginning of June. Mariam's story - sent to Fides thanks to the report of two Catholic priests - is a sign of the brutality of the conflict and the extreme vulnerability of religious minorities. Mariam's family was in town when militants linked to the jihadist group "Jabhat al-Nusra" conquered and occupied it. While her family was able to escape, Mariam was taken and forced into an Islamic marriage.
Fides sources point out that, through social networks, the fatwa was widespread in Syria produced by Yasir al-Ajlawni - A Salafi sheikh of Jordanian origin, resident in Damascus - who declared lawful, for opponents of the regime of Bashar al-Assad, rape committed against "any non-Sunni Syrian woman." According to the fatwa to capture and rape Alawi or Christian women is not contrary to the precepts of Islam.
3. Student Ordered to Remove Cross Necklace at California College - Daily Caller
An official at Sonoma State University ordered a student working at a freshman orientation fair to remove or hide a cross necklace on two separate occasions. The unnamed official feared that other students could be offended by the two-inch-long symbol of Christianity.
The first of the two incidents occurred at the public school in Northern California's wine country on June 27, reports Fox News. The official, an orientation supervisor, warned Sonoma State student Audrey Jarvis that "the chancellor" enforced a policy against wearing religious items.
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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Celebrating Independence Day
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Celebrating Independence Day
Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays -- celebrating patriotism, our history and the tremendous courage, faith and sacrifices of our Founding Fathers. As the 237th birthday of America dawns tomorrow, millions will get together with friends and family for backyard barbeques, games and fireworks.
By all means, enjoy the day! But please take a moment to remind your children and grandchildren about America's exceptionalism and the significance of Independence Day.
Remind them about the sacrifices made to create this nation and preserve our freedoms. Tell them about America's "values statement." It can be found in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed . . ."
. . . Last week, the notion of a government "of the people, by the people and for the people" suffered a devastating blow when the Supreme Court refused to consider Proposition 8. A law passed by the majority of voters of our most populous state, preserving one of our most cherished institutions, was ignored by arrogant elected officials and imperious judges.
The disenfranchisement of millions of Californians was a chilling exercise of raw political power more suited to the tin pot thugs and dictators who terrorize Third World countries. In many respects it was a sad day for freedom and self-governance.
I have to be honest with you, I wonder if America under Obama is experiencing a "fundamental transformation" that may forever change the character of this great nation. This July 4th is no doubt one of the most important in our history. The future of our liberty depends on whether folks like you and me can come up with renewed courage to fight back. (Gary Bauer)
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A Word for our Pastors
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A Word for our Pastors
I would like to offer a brief word of encouragement to our pastors, who are on the front lines of the culture war, now more than ever, given the assault on marriage and religious liberty.
John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg is a lesser-known hero of the War for Independence. He was a pastor and a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses.
In 1775, he preached a sermon on Ecclesiastes 3:1 -- "For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven." Pastor Muhlenberg closed his sermon with these words:
"In the language of Holy Writ, there is a time for all things. There is a time to preach and a time to fight. And now is the time to fight."
He then removed his clerical robes and revealed to the congregation that he was wearing the uniform of an officer in the Continental Army.
Pastor Muhlenberg's example of a man of God fighting for our God-given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should give increased fervor and devotion most especially to those who lead us in the fight for faith, family and freedom. And like few times in our nation's history, this is a time to fight for the values we cherish!
God bless you, my friends, and may God bless the United States of America!
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Another Look at the Obamacare Delay
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White House Violates Law with Obamacare Delay
Obama administration officials are illegally delaying enforcement of a central provision in the president's namesake legislation in a desperate attempt to manipulate the 2014 midterm elections and swell the ranks of those who look to government for healthcare.
The White House is beginning to sense that when Americans realize the price of "free" healthcare, they're likely to take swift vengeance on those responsible.
Section 1513 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA, better known as Obamacare) requires all large employers to provide health insurance for their employees. "Large employers" are those with at least 50 full-time employees, and "full-time" is defined as averaging 30 or more hours per week.
Section 1513's "Employer Mandate" is one of five parts of the ACA that are absolutely essential for this government-run system to work, with the most well-known of those five being the infamous "Individual Mandate" upheld by the Supreme Court as a tax by a controversial 5-4 decision in 2012.
And the Employer Mandate is mandatory. The law Congress wrote explicitly commands that this provision takes effect in January 2014. The ACA does not permit the government to grant a reprieve or an extension.
Yet in a blatantly illegal move, the Obama administration is presuming to rewrite the ACA by choosing not to enforce provisions that are causing visible problems. The IRS-which is tasked with enforcing the Employer Mandate-will simply not enforce it until 2015. Every large employer in the country is under the mandate. If they don't comply, then they are breaking federal law.
. . . the White House is doing nothing to stop Section 1501's Individual Mandate. Almost every American is still being commanded to buy insurance or face a penalty (now called a "tax" by the Supreme Court). If you work at a large company, you might be on your own and need to buy insurance somewhere else.
This will force millions of Americans instead to purchase insurance on government-run healthcare exchanges. Not able to get insurance at work, and not able to buy full-price policies on the individual market because of the enormous increase in prices resulting from the ACA's laundry list of new entitlements and mandates, these individuals will buy it on a state-based exchange where the prices are heavily subsidized by taxpayers.
. . . Bad policy makes for bad politics, however; sooner or later everyone has to pay the piper. Maybe Obama will delay the most onerous parts of Obamacare until after the 2014 elections in an attempt to keep the Senate and retake the House, but it might take a miracle to keep this shell game going until after the 2016 election, when voters decide on a new president and what direction we take as a nation. . . . (Breitbart; edited. To read the full article, go here.)
[Breitbart News legal columnist Ken Klukowski is on faculty at Liberty University School of Law and is one of the lawyers involved with Obamacare litigation.]
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Battle Over Texas Pro-Life Bill Continues
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Battle Over Texas Pro-Life Bill Continues
Texas lawmakers began a new special session Monday. Among other things, they will reconsider a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks, when preborn babies begin to feel pain.
The House passed the legislation late last month.
When the bill moved to the Senate, Sen. Wendy Davis blocked the bill last week with a filibuster. After more than 11 hours, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst stopped her after her discussion veered off topic. Then more than 400 abortion activists interrupted the proceedings, preventing the final vote from happening before the midnight deadline.
"Unfortunately you have one member of the Texas Legislature that was able to stop the will of the Texas people," Jonathan Saenz, president of Texas Values, told CitizenLink. "This common- sense pro-life measure was well-supported by the Senate and the House and that's a reflection of what people have voted on in the state of Texas. That's the type of representation that they want."
Gov. Rick Perry announced the second special session last week. He said "mob rule" would not impede the vote this time around.
If passed, the newly renamed bills - HB 2 and SB 2 - would also require abortionists to be qualified to treat life-threatening complications. They would also need to have hospital admitting privileges.
Americans United for Life (AUL) President and CEO Charmaine Yoest praised Perry and members of the House and Senate for "standing up for the rule of the law."
"(They) should be commended for advancing this comprehensive protective legislation," Yoest explained. "We know that abortion harms women and girls, as well as unborn infants, and we see a growing consensus across the country, especially after the Kermit Gosnell trial, that abortions after five months of pregnancy are a horror." . .
Davis sees it differently. Following her filibuster, she has told media outlets that she is standing for matters of "personal liberty." Headlines have referred to her as a "hero." (CitizenLink) Read full article here.
> > > We are sad to share this report with you from Breitbart:
Pro-Lifers sing Amazing Grace while Pro-Late-Term-Abortionists chant "Hail Satan".
To view this report, go here.
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The Good News Corner
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The Good News Corner:
The Declaration of Independence and the American Creed
(July 2, 2013)
As the Fourth of July approaches, it might be good for us to revisit our great charter of liberty, to remind ourselves of its true meaning and to see why modern liberalism wasn't baked into the Founding cake.
We begin, not on the Fourth of July, but today, on the second of July. For it was on July 2, 1776, that the American colonies actually declared their independence from Great Britain. With twelve colonies voting yes and New York abstaining, the Continental Congress approved a short resolution declaring that "these United Colonies are, and, of right, ought to be, Free and Independent States."
The next day, John Adams wrote a letter to his wife Abigail, in which he called the second day of July 1776, "the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America . . . It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
Adams, of course, was off by two days. In America, we celebrate not the day on which we declared our independence, but the day on which we justified our independence to "a candid World." What we call the Declaration of Independence-"The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America"-is, in fact, a justification of independence, an argument for independence. The actual declaration of independence only takes up one paragraph at the very end of the document. . .
. . . The Declaration ends with the humble appeal for "the protection of divine Providence" and the noble pledge to support this declaration with "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor." America is not a country for servile men. We believe that we have not only a right to be free, but also a duty to be free. Like the founders before us, we too must pledge to oppose "with manly firmness [any] invasions on the rights of the people." (David Azerrad, The Heritage Foundation)
[Read the full document here.]
On this Independence Day we are reminded of all those who have sacrificed for our freedoms, following the example of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let us not take our freedom, both physical and spiritual, for granted. May we always remember that our liberties were purchased with a very high price. Help us to live our lives in a way that glorifies You, Lord, and remembers the sacrifices of those who have gone before us. Give us the strength to be a blessing to others, and grant us many opportunities to lead others into the freedoms that can be found only in knowing Christ.
Pray, too, for the emergence of patriotic, God-fearing patriot-citizens who believe that America is still "one nation . . . under God." Pray that the myth of church and state separation will be exposed as the untruth it is, and that officials will be elected in 2014 who believe the U.S. government should protect and serve its citizens, not that honest citizens should be fearful under the heavy heel of government. Pray for a revival of an honest, balanced patriotism that embraces the cooperation of biblical principles with Constitutional freedoms. (Prayer offered by Intercessors for America)
- "Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants." (Leviticus 25:10)
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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! "Days of Elijah!"
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Worship With Us Today!
"These are the Days of Elijah!!"
[Note: please ignore the "plug in" notice and enter this worship song. Hallelujah!]
These are the days of Elijah
Declaring the Word of the Lord, yes
And these are the days of his servant, Moses
Righteousness being restored
And these are the days of great trial
Of famine and darkness and sword
So we are the voice in the desert crying
Prepare ye the way of the Lord
CHORUS: Behold he comes
Riding on a cloud
Shining like the sun
At the trumpet's call
Lift your voice
It's the year of jubilee
Out of Zion 'till salvation comes
And these are the days of Ezekiel
With dry bones becoming as flesh
And these are the days of his servant, David
Building the temple of praise, yes
And these are the days of the harvest
The fields are all white in the world
And we are the laborers that are in your vineyard
declaring the word of the Lord
CHORUS 2x
There's no God like Jehovah (x8--)
There's no God like Jehovah (x8-)
There's no God like Jehovah (x7)
