CHPP Daily Brief - Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014

Mass Animal Deaths for 2014! See our Signs and Wonders section, and go here for details.

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

The Daily Brief

"Praying for All in Authority"

Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014

" . . . the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13:13)

Thank you for praying for the Persecuted Church!
Please visit the website for the International Christian Concern to find ongoing needs for prayer among the persecuted around the world. Thank you.

	The Daily Brief

1. Iran and U.S. agree final nuclear deal may be unreachable - Reuters

The United States and long-time arch-foe Iran agree on at least one thing ahead of Tuesday's negotiations on a long-term nuclear deal - reaching an agreement will be very difficult, if not impossible. (Read more)
- Well, this is an answer to prayer. Thank You, God!

- "Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; State a proposal, but it will not stand, For God is with us." (Isaiah 8:10)

2. US Ambassador to Israel: Negotiations with Iran, PA Key to Peace - Arutz Sheva

Ambassador Daniel B. Shapiro, ambassador of the United States to Israel, addressed the delegation of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Monday, stressing that the US-Israel relationship is still going strong.
- Stand in repentance for these remarks made by Ambassador Shapiro to Israel; he is clearly only following orders. We ask our Lord to forgive all in our administration for their blindness towards Israel and to its right to its own sovereignty . . . an undivided nation with an undivided capital. May God's grace visit each one, bringing them to salvation and to truth. In Jesus' name, amen.

- "In wrath, remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2)

3. 6 cops among 18 dead as riot police storm Ukraine protest camp - Fox News

Using water cannons and stun grenades, riot police in Ukraine are moving in to dismantle a sprawling protest camp in Kiev that has become the flashpoint for violent demonstrations amid the country's political crisis. (Read more)
- Father in heaven, the nations are erupting with much violence and destruction. We therefore call out to You to reach down and save the innocent. We ask You to break up and dismantle the evil groups so that their strength is weakened and their plans will be defeated. In the Name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

- "You are the God that does wonders: You have declared your strength among the people. The voice of God's thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook." (Psalm 77:14,18)

4. Venezuela Orders Three American Diplomats to Leave - NBC Nightly News

The Venezuelan government has accused American diplomats of helping to organize anti-government protests. Huge protests took place today in the streets of Caracas. (Watch video here.)
- Father, we pray that the American diplomats will be protected and that You do a mighty work to stop the protests. Lord God, we thank You for the vibrant remnant of Your people who reside in Venezuela, and for their many, many years of heartfelt intercession they have offered to You for the salvation of their nation. We thank You that You will answer those prayers, and that You will bring many to their knees now in prayer and in repentance before You. Save souls by a sweet visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the people. We pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- "And when Jesus had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive you the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosesoever sins you retain, they are retained." (John 20:21,22)

5. Syria crisis: John Kerry calls on Russia to stop 'enabling' Assad regime - Telegraph Co. UK

US Secretary of State John Kerry attacked Russia on Monday for "enabling" Syria's President Bashar al-Assad to stay in power in the war-torn country, after Geneva peace talks broke off without result at the weekend. The so-called Geneva II process was initiated by the United States, which backs the Syrian opposition coalition, and Moscow, which supports the government in Damascus. (Read more)
- Lord God, when the wicked rule, the country comes under the power of the wicked leader in a war-torn country. We ask You to dispatch myriads of angels to come down upon Syria and its leaders, drawing their hearts toward the God of heaven, with sincere repentance and forgiveness of sins through the Blood of Jesus. In Jesus' Name we pray, amen.

- "Jesus says unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repents, more than over ninety and nine good persons, which need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)

6. Peace talks collapse as Taliban execute 23 Pakistani soldiers - Telegraph Co. UK

A Pakistan Taliban faction announced the execution of 23 soldiers on Monday, dealing a fresh blow to already dwindling hopes that peace talks might end years of violence. The militant group had been expected to announce a ceasefire this week as a precursor to substantive negotiations. (Read more)
- Father God, we ask that You send Your holy angels from heaven to stand against the Taliban in Pakistan and hold back the evil powers that work through them. There is no peace where evil prevails so we pray the Light of the Lord shine through and is a visible sign to these terrorists, as they feel Your great presence. In the Name of Jesus we pray.

- "When the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) is come, He will convict the world of sin because they believe not on Jesus, and of righteousness about what is right, and of God's judgment of the evil prince of the world." (John 16:8-11)

7. Nigeria's Boko Haram 'in village massacre' - BBC

Suspected Islamist militants have raided a Nigerian village and murdered dozens, according to witnesses. The gunmen reportedly rounded up a group of men in Izghe village and shot them, before going door-to-door and killing anyone they found. Officials said they suspected the Boko Haram group was behind the attack. (Read more)
- Oh Father, put a stop to this wild ungodly Islamist Boko Haram group and we plead the Blood of Jesus to stand before them that they cannot move forward. Disarm the enemy, O God, crush their power, and call them forth out of their world of darkness and save their souls by the holy Blood of Jesus. In His Name we pray.

- "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

8. Republicans open investigations into ObamaCare's disaster sites - The Hill

Republicans are launching investigations into three state-run ObamaCare exchanges that are failing disastrously. Lawmakers are setting their sites on exchanges in Oregon, Maryland and Massachusetts where Democratic governors embraced the healthcare law, and are demanding to know why their expensive online portals remain useless more than four months after launch. (Read more)
- Father God, through prayer ObamaCare was turned to sawdust as You held it in Your hands. This document sifted through Your fingers and fell on the floor at Your feet. It was totally destroyed. When You, God, do something this dramatic, it is forever dead and will never rise again. We thank You Lord God for Your mighty power. In Jesus' Name we declare this truth which is substantiated in heaven. Amen.

- "He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the world." (Revelation 2:7)

9. Minimum Wage Hike Would Cost Half a Million Jobs, Says CBO - Fox News

A plan by President Obama and fellow Democrats to increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would cost roughly 500,000 jobs but increase wages for roughly 16.5 million Americans, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office says in a new report. (Read more)
- Ask the Lord to turn the hearts of the president and those in leadership over the issue of our minimum wage laws in the direction of wisdom rather than greed. Praise God for the Congressional Budget Office, which over the years has been faithful to report the true facts regarding our national government. Pray that all policy would be based upon this truth.

- "How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver." (Proverbs 16:16)

10. Severe Thunderstorm risk Thur-Fri across Eastern 1/3 US; tornadoes possible 2/20-2/21 - National Weather Service

Severe thunderstorm chances will increase Thursday and Friday across much of the eastern third of the continental U.S. Primary threat will be damaging winds but some tornadoes also appear possible. (To see the map, go here.) Hint: scroll down the page a bit; map is on the right hand side.
- Father, we ask for Your Hand of protection to rest upon all who will be found in the path of these violent storms this week. We also ask journeying mercies for our own Prayer Partners, many of whom will be flying here on Friday to attend our celebration the next day. Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayer, in Your name, amen.

- "Even the winds and the waves obey him!" (Matthew 8:27)

	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:

"There are many purposes in a man's heart, but the counsel of Jehovah shall stand. " (Proverbs 19:21)

1. Official: Palestinian bid to haul Israel before court would 'suck air' out of peace process - Jerusalem Post

If the Palestinians take Israel to the International Criminal Court, it will fundamentally alter the relationship with Jerusalem and likely "suck the air" out of the diplomatic process, the Foreign Ministry's deputy legal adviser said Monday.

2. Chief West Bank Prosecutor says IDF may end long-standing night arrests of Palestinians - Jerusalem Post

In an exclusive interview and for the first time, the IDF's head West Bank Prosecutor, Lt. Col. Maurice Hirsch, officially announced a major policy change to The Jerusalem Post - that very soon the IDF will initiate a pilot program which may end its long-standing policy of night arrests of certain Palestinians.

3. Court rules key powers can be taken from Netanyahu - Jerusalem Post

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's political future suffered a major blow Monday when the Tel Aviv District Court ruled that the Likud's institutions can vote to take key powers away from him.

4. Hamas will endorse two-state deal, Fatah leaders assert - Times of Israel

Even as a top Hamas official warned Monday against Palestinian acceptance of an American "framework" peace agreement, West Bank leaders were asserting that the Islamist rulers of the Gaza Strip would in fact back a peace deal with Israel based on national principles.

	The Daily Jot

The Trend of America's Declining Liberty

Reporters without borders has released its 2014 World Press Freedom Index, which ranks the nations of the world by their freedom of the press. The report says, "The ranking of some countries has also been affected by a tendency to interpret national security needs in an overly broad and abusive manner to the detriment of the right to inform and be informed. This trend constitutes a growing threat worldwide and is even endangering freedom of information in countries regarded as democracies." Normal suspects such as North Korea and Eritrea (which persecutes Christians with impunity) are ranked at the bottom. But one country, usually a leader in freedom of the press, fell an alarming 13 places.

The United States, the true founder of the free press with its Constitution guaranteeing such, fell from its rank of 33rd to 46th. Equally amazing are the reasons. The report says: "Countries that pride themselves on being democracies and respecting the rule of law have not set an example, far from it. Freedom of information is too often sacrificed to an overly broad and abusive interpretation of national security needs, marking a disturbing retreat from democratic practices. Investigative journalism often suffers as a result. This has been the case in the United States (46th), which fell 13 places, one of the most significant declines, amid increased efforts to track down whistleblowers and the sources of leaks."
The report said that NSA analyst Edward Snowden was a warning to all "thinking of assisting in the disclosure of sensitive information that would clearly be in the public interest." This Administration's spying on and tracking down whistleblowers and journalists, the report says, is a reminder of the need to protect the confidentiality of journalist's sources at the federal level. The report mentions James Risen of the New York Times, who has been ordered by the court to testify against a former CIA employee accused of leaking classified information. The report mentions Barrett Brown, "a young freelance journalist facing 105 years in prison for posting information that hackers obtained from Strafor, a private intel company."
Couple these things with the growing unilateral power assumed by the president, and one has a tyrannical storm approaching at a fast rate. He joked on February 10, "That's the good thing about being president, I can do whatever I want." And he has. By Executive Order, he has changed the socialist health care law some 27 times. Also by decree, he softened political asylum rules, now allowing refugees who provide terrorists "limited material support." There are a host of other tyrannies well reported in the news. Congress will not act. The elected appear complicit. We need an Ephesians 6:20 moment from all people loving Godly righteousness--"that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Freedom of speech springs from religious freedom. You can't have one without the other. We had better act.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

	Presidential Lawlessness

PRESIDENTIAL LAWLESSNESS

By
Maj. Gen. Jerry R. Curry, US Army Ret.

(an excerpt)

Republican speaker of the House John A. Boehner says concerning the White House, "There's widespread doubt about whether this administration can be trusted to enforce our laws." The administration says it wants the Congress to pass comprehensive immigration laws. But to do so the administration must first begin to enforce existing immigration laws, starting with gaining control of the nation's southern border. Boehner's conclusion is that no matter what is agreed to by the Congress and no matter what the new comprehensive immigration laws may say, "Mr. Obama can't be trusted to follow through on them."
This is because President Obama has loosed a spirit of lawlessness in the land that is in great measure felt throughout not just our nation, but throughout the world. If the President of the United States cannot discipline himself or find it in his power to govern the nation by obeying the rule of law, there is little hope that the rulers of other world nations, especially in the third world, will respect justice and the rule of law.
. . .
President Obama's lawless rewrite of the Affordable Care Act means that the law is whatever he says it is without regard for the Congress and the Supreme Court. The Act does not give the Administration the authority to change the Act's date of implementation so when he cavalierly and lawlessly changes the date of implementation as he just did for the umpteenth time, he is placing himself above the law and the Constitution.

Where have all the statesmen gone and why do senior public servants find it so quick and easy to lie, evade responsibility and to blame others for their own failures and short comings? The nation's goal should not be to light a fire under its public servants, but rather to light a fire within them.

There is a four word sentence whose answer clearly spells out the first step toward resolving our conflicts? "Who is in charge?" Once that is settled, the next steps automatically fall into place.
(To read this article in its entirety, please go here.)

	Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Common Core

Top 10 Reasons to Oppose Common Core

1. Common Core is a Federal Takeover of Education

The ultimate goal of Common Core is to have every school district follow the same national standards. This is a failed educational approach that will undermine educational quality and choice. States and local communities better know how to design standards based on their students and parents' needs than Washington bureaucrats.

2. Common Core is Bad for Parents

Parents will not have a say in their child's education under Common Core. They will not be able to suggest changes to their local school's standards or enroll their child in another public school with better standards. Common Core would limit parental choice and shut their voices out of their child's education.
3. Common Core is Bad for Teachers

Teachers would have little control over their classrooms under Common Core. They will be forced to comply with standards decided upon by federal bureaucrat. This leaves little to no room for teachers to innovate to meet the unique needs of their students.

4. Common Core is Bad for Taxpayers

Common Core has a hefty price tag that will be paid by taxpayers in states. Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction estimates that Common Core will cost the state $300 million. California Department of Education estimates it will cost $759 million to implement the nationalized standards. Common Core will cost taxpayers a lot of money while not improving education quality.

5. Common Core is Bad for Students

Common Core is a one-size-fits-all education policy that assumes every students learns exactly the same. A top down and centrally controlled standards will hurt students' creativity and learning. Good education policy realizes that all students have different learning styles, preferences, and paces.
> > > To read the other five reasons, please go here.
[Reported by FreedomWorks and the CPC Foundation]

	Urgent Prayer Request from HSLDA

Will Supreme Court take Romeike? Please pray!

Will Supreme Court take Romeike? Please pray! The United States Supreme Court is again considering whether to hear Romeike v. Holder, our German homeschool asylum appeal.

The Court will meet on February 21, and the cases they decide to hear will be announced on February 24.

We filed the appeal on October 10, 2013, and it first came up for consideration in November but was delayed when the Court ordered U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to respond in writing to our petition.

Now the Court is once again reviewing the Romeike case.
Will the justices uphold America as a place of refuge for those who are persecuted for their faith?

I believe we have made a strong and persuasive argument. The fact that the Court ordered the Justice Department to respond seems to indicate that at least one justice is interested in the case, but now at least four justices must agree to hear the case.

Will you join us beginning today, for five days of prayer? Let's pray that the Court will agree to hear our appeal and that God will move the heart of the justices in favor of the Romeike family.

Thank you for standing with us for freedom.
Sincerely,

James R. Mason III
Senior Counsel
Home School Legal Defense Association
[Please note: this letter was published on Monday of this week, so the fast encompasses the dates of Feb. 17 - 21. Thank you.]

	An Officer, but Not a Gentleman

An Officer, but Not a Gentleman

After more than a decade of war, the military is combating a new threat: ethics violations. It seems U.S. officers aren't just taking fire -- they're being fired for record cases of misconduct. The Associated Press furrowed plenty of brows with the news that the military's character problems start at the top, as internal investigations have caught hundreds of top brass in webs of gambling, corruption, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual assault, and taxpayer waste. According to internal documents, the lapses in judgment have exploded in the last three years, as the number of misconduct firings tripled. The crisis of character seems to be taking the biggest toll on the Army, which lost as many as 387 officers in 2013 (a far cry from the 119 forced departures in 2010).
Not surprisingly, the trickle-down effect has been huge, as the enlisted cases for breaking ethics rules doubled from 5,600 in 2007 to 11,000 last year. While the Pentagon scrambles to explain these "worrying" trends, others blame the relaxed standards on an overworked and under-monitored Force. " . . . [T]he fact of the last 10 or 12 years of repeated deployments, of the high op-tempo -- we might have lost focus on this issue. Sometimes in the past, we've overlooked character issues because of competence and commitment . . ." Gen. Ray Odierno admitted. But, he said, "We're paying a lot of attention to it now."
If the military is scrambling to identify the problem, look no further than the commander-in-chief. Like the rest of the administration, these officers are serving under a President who also picks and chooses which laws he'll uphold. He refuses to hold accountable his own leaders -- including an attorney general so ethically-challenged that he was held in contempt of Congress. He changes the laws on a whim without legal authority (18 unilateral changes to ObamaCare from the White House alone), and has been systematically removing the moral foundation of the military since the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Why do we expect order and discipline when this administration has bred chaos and contempt for the rule of law?
General Odierno realizes the impact these moral shortcomings have -- not just on the military, but on the global perception. "As we conduct operations around the world, we represent theUnited Stateswith our moral and ethical values. We believe we should be held to a higher standard." If only our President felt the same. (Family Research Council)

	The Good News Corner

The Good News Corner:

A Miracle and a Renewed Faith from Out of a Horrible Attack in Egypt

"I was away from God. I was upset at God, and He let me go through this to tell me He hasn't left me, and that He would be with me in all situations." -Marian Kamal Shafik

(Kom Ombo, Egypt)-Morningstar News reports on the February 8th attacks on several Christians in Egypt that left one woman dead and another injured.

The alleged attacker-a Muslim man named Mahmoud Mohamed Ali-is in police custody, awaiting trial; and the perception among most people there is that the three were assaulted because of their Christian faith, although it's believed Ali's defense will be insanity.

While the violence has caused a great deal of fear among Believers especially in the area, Romans 8:28 (God works all things for the good of those who love Him . . .) seems to be ringing very true for one of the victims.
After Ali the attacker had stabbed and killed the Coptic Christian owner of a pharmacy in Kom Ombo that night, he ran out the door and saw two high school girls-Marian Kamal Shafik, 19, and Youstina Nasser Gendy, 18, both Christians-walking up the street.

Ali ran up to Marian and plunged the knife into her shoulder saying, "You deserve it."

Youstina ran for help and Ali was gone when she returned to her friend.
Youstina, who rode in the ambulance with Marian, was badly shaken, and says, "What was the girl who was killed guilty of? What are we guilty of that we are not able to walk the street? What have we done to 'deserve' this?"
But Youstina's friend, Marian, who is recovering from the knife wounds she suffered, looks at it differently.

Of the attack, she says Ali "came all of a sudden and stabbed me. I didn't turn around. I was stabbed quickly while my friend was screaming."

Noting that the knife had gone in deep, but missed any vital organs, she said, "It was a miracle." . . .
But for Marian there is even more to the picture . . . her faith in God has been renewed.

"I was away from God," she said. "I was upset at God, and He let me go through this to tell me He hasn't left me, and that He would be with me in all situations."

It's not easy for Believers in the west to really understand the danger faced every day by our brothers and sisters just because of their Christian faith, especially in the Middle East.

May this story help us to remember to keep them in prayer.
(Reported by: Breaking Christian News) To read this article in its entirety, please go here.

	Signs and Wonders

Signs and Wonders:

The Animals Are Dying

Mass Animal Deaths for 2014

Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away. (Hosea 4:1-3)

Below is a list of worldwide mass animal deaths for 2014, with pages also for mass die offs in 2013, 2012 and 2011. There are animals dying all over the world today in huge numbers, due to the polluted state of the sea and air. Millions of Fish and massive numbers of whales and dolphins are washing ashore dead. Birds are falling dead out of the sky, and millions of poultry are dying from avian flu. The animals of the land like cattle are also dying in large numbers from disease. Although animals and fish have been dying all throughout history, we have not seen the massive consistent numbers that we are seeing today. Please remember! This is just one of the MANY signs of the last days.

In many of these events people from all walks of life are saying that they have "never seen anything like this before".
> > > The list below documents 101 Known Mass Death Events in 28 Countries this year alone! Each report is linked to its original source . . . from all over the world.
This truly gives us pause to consider the hour we are now living in: so close to the return of the Lord, and yet so far from reaching millions with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

"Father, we repent that we have not yet done enough to bring in the harvest of souls that await You in Your Kingdom. Please help us, Lord, to know how to combine all of our resources more effectively in days to come, so that every soul on this planet is reached with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We ask this in Your name, amen."

"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:37,38)

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near." (Luke 11:25-28)

	Worship With Us Today!

Worship With Us Today!

Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around

(Listen here)

"And I heard as it were the noise of thunder One of the four beasts saying come and see and I saw And behold a white horse" (Revelation 6:1-2)

There's a man going around taking names
And he decides who to free and who to blame
Everybody won't be treated quite the same
There will be a golden ladder reaching down
When the man comes around

The hairs on your arm will stand up
At the terror in each sip and each sup
Will you partake of that last offered cup
Or disappear into the potter's ground
When the man comes around?
Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers
One hundred million angels singing
Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum
Voices calling and voices crying
Some are born and some are dying
It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come

And the whirlwind is in the thorn trees
The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn trees
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks
Until Armageddon, no shalam, no shalom
Then the father hen will call his chickens home
The wise man will bow down before the throne
And at his feet they will cast the golden crowns
When the man comes around

Whoever is unjust let him be unjust still
Whoever is righteous let him be righteous still
Whoever is filthy let him be filthy still
Listen to the words long written down
When the man comes around
Hear the trumpets, hear the pipers
One hundred million angels singing
Multitudes are marching to the big kettledrum
Voices calling and voices crying
Some are born and some are dying
It's Alpha and Omega's kingdom come

And the whirlwind is in the thorn trees The virgins are all trimming their wicks
The whirlwind is in the thorn trees
It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks
In measured hundred weight and penny pound
When the man comes around
"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts And I looked and behold, a pale horse And his name that sat on him was Death And Hell followed with him." (Revelations 6:7-8)