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"
Monday, May 12, 2014
"Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?" (Psalm 85:6)
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.
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The Daily Brief
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1. Ukrainians Love Their Country, Just Not the People Running It
As Ukraine prepares for presidential elections on May 25, the government in Kiev got a bit of encouraging news this week: a poll showing that an overwhelming majority of Ukrainians want their country to remain united. The poll, released on May 8 by the Pew Research Center, showed that 77 percent of Ukrainians-including 70 percent of those in eastern regions wracked by separatist violence-don't want the country broken up.
But the poll, along with another recent voter survey, also contained bad news for President Oleksandr Turchynov, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, and other members of the 10-week-old government: Their countrymen appear to have little confidence in them and doubt that the presidential elections will be fair.
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- Heavenly Father, this report shows how there is a crisis in governmental leadership in the Ukraine area. It reports how the majority of citizens do not want their nation split off into various sections, but they have no real trust of government leadership to serve them well. Father, abide with Your people in the Ukraine, Your special ones and Your remnant. We ask in the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.
- "When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation." (Proverbs 11:10)
2. Ukranian rebels hold 'self-rule' vote as US slams 'illegal referenda' VOTING HAS BEGUN in so-called 'self-rule' elections in two restive regions of eastern Ukraine despite calls from Russian President Vladimir Putin to postpone the vote and warnings from Western leaders that its results would not be recognized.
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- Heavenly Father, neither the Russian nor Ukrainian side wants this vote for 'self rule' to occur at this time. However, rebels within these eastern regions are holding the vote despite warnings. Father, we ask that this vote be honest without violence or fraud, and that You guide what follows the vote. We ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
-"The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out." (Proverbs 10:31)
3. South Sudan ceasefire violated, rebels and government say
The army and rebels in South Sudan have accused each other of breaching a ceasefire, only hours after it was meant to come into effect.
The army said rebels attacked government positions in the early hours of Sunday in the town of Bentiu in oil-rich Unity State.
The rebels said their positions were targeted by ground attack and artillery in Unity and Upper Nile states.
A deal to end the five-month conflict was signed on Friday in Ethiopia.
At the signing ceremony in Addis Ababa, President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Riek Machar met face-to-face for the first time since hostilities broke out and agreed to halt fighting within 24 hours.
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- Heavenly Father, we are so saddened to hear that somehow a cease-fire agreement has been violated. Father, abide in the midst of these divisive factions and lead them to be the nation that You want them to be, and for which so many have sacrificed so long to have. We pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright, but the wicked will fall by his own wickedness. (Proverbs 11:5)
4. Egypt set to reject U.S. in favor of Russia
The United States stands to lose its alliance with Egypt as Cairo turns to Russia for support, a development that would have major geo-political and strategic consequences, according to a team of national security experts who just returned from meeting with Egyptian officials.
While less than half of Egypt's armed forces' hardware is Soviet-pattern weaponry, Egypt's reliance on Moscow and other non-American suppliers may rapidly increase unless Washington lifts its current embargo on U.S. military aid and equipment.
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- Heavenly Father, this report shares how the US is standing to lose another ally in the Middle East due to its political response from our governmental leaders. Lord, confront these leaders with the seriousness of losing allies and with how they should respond. Give wisdom to our leadership as they respond to this new development. We pray in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- "Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually."(Psalm 52:1)
5. Rice: Every $1 spent on Israel's security is an investment
President Barack Obama's security adviser said US investment in Israel's defense shows it is committed to its security. Susan Rice said Friday that the Obama administration and Israel recently signed an agreement for further US investment in its Iron Dome system.
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- Heavenly Father, may what Susan Rice is saying here be the truth: that this nation will continue to support Your special land and people. We offer praise up to You for this further investment in the Iron Dome system in Israel. In Jesus' Name we pray, Amen and Amen.
- "Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but what is in the heart of fools is made known." (Proverbs 14:33)
6. Utah residents become next to confront Bureau of Land Management, in growing debate
A band of Utah residents rode all-terrain vehicles onto federally managed public land Saturday to protest the Bureau of Land Management closing off the area.
The protest comes weeks after Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy's successful standoff against the agency over grazing rights and appears to be the latest episode in the battle across the West over states' rights on federally managed public lands.
In Blanding, Utah, in the state's scenic southeastern, the protesters and their supporters say the agency has unfairly closed off a prized area, cheating them of outdoor recreation, according to The Los Angeles Times.
However, federal officials say the region, known for its archaeological ruins, has been jeopardized from overuse.
Bureau of Land Management Utah State Director Juan Palma, in a statement, said the riders may have damaged artifacts and dwellings that "tell the story of the first farmers in the Four Corners region" of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.
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- Heavenly Father, here is another example of how the land of this nation which You gave to us is being taken from the citizens. We do not know the true reason that it is being closed off, but we ask You to expose what is hidden, so all can know. We ask You to abide in the midst of these confrontations and to direct how the people are to respond. We ask this in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- "Do they not go astray who devise evil? But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good." (Proverbs 14:22)
7. Federal Agents Seek to Loosen Rules on Hacking Computers
A U.S. proposal to expand the U.S. Justice Department's ability to hack into computers during criminal investigations is furthering tension in the debate over how to balance privacy rights with the need to keep the country safe.
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- Heavenly Father, here is another example of our government saying that they must invade our privacy rights for 'safety' from criminal behavior. We know this could so easily be abused to harass people whose only 'crime' is not being politically acceptable by those currently in power. Have mercy, Father, and cause this action to come to nothing. We ask in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- "The righteous is delivered from trouble, and it comes to the wicked instead." (Proverbs 11:8)
8. Ark. judge strikes down gay marriage ban
An Arkansas judge on Friday struck down the state's ban on gay marriage, opening the door for gay couples to wed. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said the 2004 amendment's definition of marriage as allowable only between a man and a woman is unconstitutional and violates the rights of same-sex couples.
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- Heavenly Father, here again a judge has chosen to override what citizens voted on. It appears that leaders in this nation have totally forgotten what they agreed to support when taking the oath of office and assuming their positions. The interests and rights of the nation's citizens are being ignored and violated. We ask You, Father, to rise up and confront this judge in the spirit as to this 'violation'. We pray in the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.
-"Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man? The goodness of God endures continually." (Psalm 52:1)
9. Big Pharma's Favorite Prescription: Higher Prices
As evidenced by Pfizer's (PFE) proposed $100 billion-plus takeover of AstraZeneca (AZN), Big Pharma is in the throes of the greatest period of consolidation in a decade. One reality remains unchanged, however: Drug prices keep defying the law of gravity. Since October 2007 the cost of brand-name medicines has soared, with prices doubling for dozens of established drugs that target everything from multiple sclerosis to cancer, blood pressure, and even erectile dysfunction, according to an analysis conducted for Bloomberg. While the consumer price index rose just 12 percent during the period, one diabetes drug quadrupled in price and another rose 160 percent, according to an analysis by DRX, a provider of comparison and management software for health plans.
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- Heavenly Father, this article points out a serious issue of greed out of control. As the article reports, nothing has changed in these drugs except doubling or more the price. This impacts a lot of your people in that incomes are low, fixed or non existent, and the new healthcare law does not cover many of these drugs any longer, or covers less. Father, have mercy on those whose lives depend upon receiving these drugs in question. Rise up and confront this evilness we pray, in the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.
-"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34)
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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:
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
1. IDF declares Syrian border area a closed military zone as fighting nears Israeli Golan - Jerusalem Post
The IDF Northern Command declared the Quneitra crossing area a closed military zone on Sunday, following intense exchanges of fire between Assad loyalist forces and rebels in the region.
2. Sisi: If Needed, We'll Amend Peace Treaty with Israel - Arutz Sheva
Egypt's former army chief and leading presidential candidate, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, said Sunday that, if elected, he would be willing to consider making changes to the peace agreement with Israel.
3. More Than 200 Christian Leaders Call for Protection of Mideast Christians - Algemeiner
More than 200 Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant leaders, as well as several secular leaders, joined forces to call on the U.S. government to take action to protect Middle East Christians and other minorities under threat from extremism.
4. Israeli ministers approve bill aimed at blocking prisoner swaps - Ha'aretz
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation passed a bill restricting presidential pardons for convicted murderers by a majority of seven to three on Sunday. This approval paves the way for the bill to be brought to Knesset for a preliminary vote.
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The Daily Jot
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America still exists, I saw it
This past weekend was graduation day for many colleges and universities across the country. Chris and I traveled to Ashland, Ohio for our son's graduation from Ashland University--a former Christian college. The festivities for us started late Monday afternoon when we watched our son Christian defend his 80 page thesis about the unique greatness, and republican virtue of George Washington. Aside from attending Ashland on a football scholarship, he was also a four year academic scholar of the prestigious Ashbrook Center, which "seeks to restore and strengthen the capacities of the American people for constitutional self-government." This experience restored my faith that America still exists. I saw it.
His defense lasted an hour and a half. Professors were extremely engaged. Students in attendance were also engaged, asking tough questions and making significant points about self-government, the role of natural rights given by the Creator, and how Washington uniquely placed the public interest above his self interests to ensure a nation of the people, by the people and for the people. There was deep understanding and enthusiasm for the Founders' vision of government. These professors and their scholar students knew the America of the Founders, understood the challenges of today's America, and have good thought and direction on the future.
Friday night, there was a gathering of the Ashbrook scholars. They were introduced one by one, each giving a summary of their thesis, what they were going to do in the future, and we were told something about them. These are some 30 young people that can make a difference for God and Country. Their thesis is the "culmination of their entire undergraduate education and an expression of what they are capable of intellectually." These young people are intelligent, informed and prepared. The Ashbrook Center annually chooses the recipient of the Charles Parton Award for Outstanding Thesis. This year, the Director and Faculty chose three, my son's among them.
The next day was graduation. It began with the choir singing "My soul is anchored in the Lord." There were prayers, ending "In the name of Jesus, Amen." The speaker spoke about the challenges of today's youth, about Christian principles of good government. The two valedictorians were home schooled by Christian families. The President of the University sincerely included Christ in his remarks to the graduates. Scripture was quoted. Blessings were given. It was a slice of America that I had thought was lost, but it is found in this rural agricultural setting in central Ohio. It is a reminder of Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." There is a remnant. It has a heartbeat. Be encouraged. All is not lost.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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Worship With Us Today!
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Worship With Us Today!
Kari Jobe - "We Exalt Your Name"
Spirit come change the atmosphere
Convict and open hearts here
The anthems that the angels sing
The worship of the King of Kings
