The Daily Brief - Tuesday, March 4, 2008

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." (I John 4:4)

Today's Daily Brief
1. FBI Agents Search Utah Home in Ricin Case - AP



FBI agents on Sunday searched a Utah house and two storage units linked to a man whose hospitalization led to the discovery of deadly ricin in a motel room he had occupied on the Las Vegas Strip.

· Praise God that the ricin seems located at just one confined place. Nevertheless, pray that this incident is an isolated case, not a terrorist attack. Pray that the ricin-poisoned man will recover and that this illness will lead him to salvation in Jesus Christ as well as those ministering to him in the hospital.

· "But unto you that fear My Name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth." (Malachi 4:2)

2. Ahmadinejad: Visit to Iraq Opens New Chapter in 'Brotherly' Relations - AP



Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday his landmark visit to Iraq opened a new chapter in "brotherly" relations between the two countries, which were once bitter enemies. Ahmadinejad is the first Iranian president to visit Iraq.

· Pray that this "brotherly" love of Iran does not smother the Iraqis with false promises and deceptions. Remember that in Islam, lying to your enemy is acceptable, for the ends justify the the means. Pray that this Iranian extended hand of friendship is not a Trojan horse, another means to take over Iraq and prevent its growth of democracy. ·

· "Keep me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings." (Psalm 140:4)

3. U.S. Military Kills Al Qaeda Leader in Iraq - AP

A U.S. military helicopter fired a guided missile to kill an Al Qaeda leader from Saudi Arabia, who was wanted in Iraq and who was responsible for the bombing deaths of five American soldiers, a spokesman said Sunday. U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Gregory Smith said Jar Allah, also known as Abu Yasir al-Saudi, and another Saudi known only as Hamdan, were both killed Wednesday in Mosul. According to the military, al-Saudi conducted numerous attacks against Iraqi and U.S. forces, including a Jan. 28 bomb attack that killed the five U.S. soldiers.

· Pray comfort for the families of the five American soldiers who were killed under the direction of this wicked man. Pray, too, for the family of Jar Allah -- that they meet the Lord unto salvation and become witnesses for him. · "Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him." (Proverbs 26:27)

4. Bush Refuses to Promise More Troop Returns From Iraq - AP

President Bush declined Saturday to repeat promises made by others in his administration that more U.S. troops will return home from Iraq than scheduled before he leaves office. Decisions about troop cuts beyond those planned through July would be based on generals' recommendations for what levels are necessary to ensure success in Iraq, the president said.

· Praise the Lord for President Bush's determination to see the work in Iraq successfully completed. He is not swayed by political pressure nor popularity. Whatever your views about the war, our enemies must not see us as a weak people, vascillating about what should be done, especially in this election year. Pray for wisdom for the president and his generals.

· "Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6)

5. Violent Jihad Under Assault? - AP

Al Qaeda leader Aymen Al-Zawahiri condemns in new book the wave of jailed militants calling for end to terror attacks.

· Pray for the deluded mind of Aymen Al-Zawahiri, that he would know the mind of Christ. Praise the Lord that some of the militants are having second thoughts about the violence they have engaged in

· "A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him." (Proverbs 12:14)

7. South America on brink of war - Washington Times

South America was on the brink of war yesterday as Venezuela and Ecuador amassed troops on the Colombian border in response to the killing of a Marxist rebel leader.

· So many areas of the world today are hot spots! Pray in the Spirit over all reports you see that come out of South America.

· "Pray without ceasing . . ." (I Thess. 5:18)

8. White House Awards Medal of Honor to Sioux Indian for Heroism in Korea - AP

President Bush apologized Monday that the country waited decades to honor Master Sgt. Woodrow Wilson Keeble for his military valor in Korea, giving him the Medal of Honor more than 25 years after he died. Pentagon officials had said the legal deadline had passed to award the medal to Keeble unless Congress specifically authorized it. Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Tim Johnson, D- S.D.; and John Thune, R-S.D., introduced legislation to award Keeble the medal, and it was signed by Bush last year.

The four Dakotas senators say Keeble's men twice recommended him for the Medal of Honor earlier but the paperwork was lost. He instead received the Distinguished Service Cross. "He felt he was cheated," Bush said. "Yet Woody never complained. See, he believed America was the greatest nation on earth - even when it made mistakes."

· Offer praise for this action on the part of the Bush administration, and for the tenacity of the four senators named who "pressed through" to see that Master Sgt. Keeble received the award that was due him. May this action serve to usher in a move of healing between the Sioux tribe and the American government.

· "Give honor . . . to whom honor is due." (Romans 13:7)


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:

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Is. 55:8-9)

1. U.N. Condemns Israel's Strike on Hamas Office - AP; Israel National News

The U.N. Security Council condemned the escalation of violence following Israel's attack on the office of the prime minister of Hamas-ruled Gaza.The Council adjourned its emergency session early Sunday and issued a statement that calls for all parties to respect their obligations under international law. Meanwhile, Israel National News has published photos of the other side of this story: "Israel under Rocket Siege by Palestinians." If a picture is worth a thousand words, these photos speak for themselves.

· Where is the UN's condemnation of Hamas's sending of thousands of rockets into Israeli villages near Gaza? What good does a statement do to help the situation in Israel? Hamas simply ignores the verbal reproaches and continues its violence. Pray that the US does not abandon Israel, not in the UN nor with our financial aid. Pray for more support for Israel from more nations.

· "Rejoice not against me [Israel],O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness , the Lord shall be a light unto me." (Micah 7:8)

2. Olmert: Gaza operation not a one-time thing - Ynet News

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert appeared before the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Monday, where he briefed the ministers about Operation Warm Winter, taking place in the Gaza Strip.

3. Hamas claims 'victory' as IDF withdraws
Abbas offers to broker 'all-inclusive ceasefire' - ICEJ News

Some 20,000 Hamas supporters attended a mass rally in Gaza City on Monday afternoon to celebrate the "great victory" over the IDF after Israeli forces withdrew from a two-day Kassam-search mission in areas of northeast Gaza this morning.

4. Casualties mount in IDF raid into Gaza
100+ Palestinians dead; Hamas fires hundreds of rockets into Israel - ICEJ News

After several days of incessant Kassam fire into Israel, the IDF staged a two-day raid into the northeast corner of the Gaza Strip over the weekend to deal with the rocket threat, killing over 100 Palestinians before withdrawing early Monday amid continued rocket barrages.

5. Arab protests spread over IDF incursion into Gaza
Saudi official condemns Israel's 'Nazi war crimes' - ICEJ News

Spurred on by slanted Arab media reports, Arab governments and citizens throughout the Middle East condemned Israel for its incursion into Gaza to suppress Kassam rocket fire over the weekend, with angry protesters taking to the streets in a number of cities shouting "Death to Israel" and "Death to America."

6. Egypt allows Palestinian injured through Rafah crossing
Egypt reopened the Rafah border crossing on Sunday - ICEJ News

to allow Palestinians injured in the recent fighting with Israeli forces to be treated in Egyptian hospitals. With Gaza's medical facitlities filled to capacity, the border was opened the day after the IDF killed 54 Palestinians and wounded dozens more in its stepped-up effort to stop Kassam rocket attacks.

7. Israel sends humanitarian aid trucks into Gaza - ICEJ News

Despite the tense fighting in the area over the weekend, Israel authorized 62 trucks filled with humanitarian aid to deliver their loads of food and medical supplies into Gaza through the Sufa border on Sunday. The Gaza Strip Coordination and Liaison Administration arranged the delivery. Among the delivered aid was cooking, water santization, and medical supplies, as well as fish and meat, the IDF reported.


Pray for the Persecuted Church

Prayers for the Persecuted Church

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

1. INDIA: HINDU EXTREMISTS ASSAULT NEW CHRISTIAN LEADER

Following a Hindu extremist attack on five Christians meeting in a home here on February 22, the Madhya Pradesh town of Balaghat witnessed another assault last Wednesday (February 27) when the newly elected president of the Balaghat Christian Association was beaten for providing legal help to the previous victims.

2. INDIA: ANTI-CHRISTIAN SENTIMENTS BOIL OVER IN CAPITAL

India's national capital witnessed two incidents of anti- Christian violence this week, including an attack last night on a relief organization official by a large mob of Hindu extremists.

3. IRAQ: KIDNAPPERS DEMAND HUGE RANSOM FOR BISHOP

Kidnappers are demanding a huge ransom for a Chaldean Archbishop abducted last week in northern Iraq, sending fear through the country's Christian community, a local priest said. Since the Friday (February 29) kidnapping in Mosul, Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho's captors have refused to decrease the amount of money they are demanding for his release, according to Father Najeeb Mikhail. "They want money, but in addition they want to break all the Christians in Mosul," the priest said in a telephone conversation from Erbil.

[All headlines above were reported today by Compass Direct News.]


Obama's Theology

Obama: Sermon on the Mount Supports Same- sex Unions

Sen. Barack Obama's support for same-sex civil unions is nothing new. But on Sunday, he used Jesus' Sermon on the Mount to justify his stance.

During a town hall meeting in Nelsonville, Ohio, he said: "I don't believe in gay marriage, but I do think that people who are gay and lesbian should be treated with dignity and respect and that the state should not discriminate against them. So, I believe in civil unions. If people find that controversial then I would just refer them to the Sermon on the Mount." News reports surmise he was referring to Matthew 7:12: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you."

On Sunday, Obama went on to say: "In terms of my faith, you know, there has been so much confusion that has been deliberately perpetrated through e- mails and so forth. So, just here are the simple facts. I am a Christian. I am a devout Christian. I have been a member of the same church for 20 years. Pray to Jesus every night, and try to go to church as much as I can."

Pastor John Barner, manager of pastoral care at Focus on the Family, said: "We are always saddened as evangelical Christians when others who identify themselves as Christians do not have the high view of Scripture that we believe is so important. We believe isolated portions of Scripture should not be used to justify a personal preference or a social position that goes in a different direction than the overall message of Scripture. We believe Scripture is pretty clear in proscribing and affirming that marriage is to be an exclusive, lifetime relationship between a man and a woman. The compromising positions of these candidates are a disappointment to us as evangelical Christians."

(Focus on the Family: CitizenLink)


Islamic Plan Revealed

Islamic Plan Revealed:

Use Native American Legal Precedents
To Establish Sharia Law in the U.S.

Subversive Islamic interests in the United States intend to use the legal precedence of Native American Indian courts to establish Sharia law courts where Islamists will handle their own civic matters on such issues as crime, marriage, divorce, support, custody, adoption, legitimacy, abuse, and more. A 1993 article posted in February by The American Muslim entitled "Native American Courts: Precedent for an Islamic arbitral system," reminds Muslim legal organizations to explore using legal precedents found in the 1978 Indian Child Welfare Act and Article I Section 8 in the U.S. Constitution, giving Congress regulatory authority over Indian tribes, to seek to establish Sharia law courts in the U.S.

Establishing Sharia Law courts in the U.S. is one of the goals of the 1991 Muslim Brotherhood plan to wage a "Civilization Jihad" aimed at overthrowing the U.S. government and establishing Islamic rule. The plan, submitted as evidence in the Holy Land Foundation terrorist funding trial in Dallas, Texas, calls for the establishment of "comprehensive settlement organizations." These organizations are to take root in American society and establish an Islamic foundation that would be followed by generations of Muslims in the U.S. to "finish the march". The Muslim Brotherhood plan called for establishing "A Central Islamic Court," a "Muslims Attorneys Society" and organizations to defend rights of Muslims.

Since the writing of the Muslim Brotherhood plan, the National Association of Muslim Lawyers and others like it have been formed. The 2007 National Association of Muslim Lawyers conference tackled issues such as "Muslim Americans and Family Law in U.S. Courts," a discussion of the development and evolution of Muslim women's "Islamic" rights in America and the phenomena of Muslim women claiming their Islamic marital rights in U.S. courts." Another session was entitled "Islamic Jurisprudence and American Law". This session analyzed "how the underpinnings of the U.S. criminal, civil, and constitutional law are akin to principles articulated and practiced in Islamic jurisprudence."

The American Muslim article warns "Such a radical change in American law-allowing Muslims to take control over their family law issues - must be initiated from the indigenous Muslim community here in the United States. To have it seem that this initiative is originating from overseas or from organizations financed overseas, would create a very negative impression that would likely destroy this effort." While "The American Muslim" likes to position itself as moderate, its postings are quite radical even if they are couched in cooperative and peaceful terms. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:4, "Take heed that no man deceive you."

Bill Wilson

Word of Life Ministry

www.dailyjot.com

A Call to Repentance: WEEK EIGHT

March 2, 2008

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32)



INTRODUCTION

This week, we continue to press in during WEEK EIGHT of the 40 Weeks of Prayer and Fasting, to offer prayers of repentance for the sin in the church, the sin in the nation, and the blessing of Israel.

We now address these areas:

1. SIN IN THE CHURCH: RACISM
2. SIN IN THE NATION: SLAVERY
3. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: SAFETY IN ASHKELON


SIN IN THE CHURCH: RACISM

REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH:

RACISM AND SEGREGATION

(Ezekiel 8:3-5)

"These are the sayings of the wise: to discriminate and show partiality, having respect of persons in judging, is not good." (Prov. 24:23 AMP)

Because it is written that "judgment must first begin in the House of the LORD," according to I Peter 4:17, we yet turn our hearts unto Him to reveal the sins in our Church that are wounding the heart of the Father and giving ground for all other ills to take root in our society. So today, we turn to a topic that is not often addressed: the sin of racism. And perhaps this is one topic that is usually avoided because, to be honest, it is a painful one . . . with roots that go back to the very beginning of our nation's history.

The church in America, and the Body of Christ in America, is made up of many different ethnic groups with many different languages, cultures, and gifts. When it comes to the matter of race, we must love every brother and sister no matter what color their skin.

When God made man, He didn't make clones. He wanted every person to be unique with his or her own unique character, personality, talents and looks. God does not create junk, and God does not create by accident. Every person He creates has for a purpose and has a destiny in this life and in His world. And, in giving us free will, He allows us to choose our own path. Which one are we on? The "straight and narrow" that leads to heaven -- or the "wide path" that leads to hell and destruction?

Some of us may be bound with a hatred -- perhaps even subtly so -- due to the actions of previous generations. The article on slavery, below, demonstrates only a few of the atrocities that were visitied upon "Negroes" in the time of slavery . . . but hatred is a two-way street. "Their" hatred towards us can trigger "our" hatred towards them; and vice-versa.

Only Jesus Christ, through the work of the Cross and the atoning power of His Shed Blood, can fix this -- and He has! Let's allow His Grace to visit us and to free us from this vicious cycle of racial hatred -- on both sides of the fence. Let's lay axe to that root through His Shed Blood and in His Name, amen.

Let's learn from the past but not live in it. Let's fix our eyes upon Jesus -- the author and finisher of our faith; and find a new beginning, a new release, and a firm foundation in His grace, in His truth, and in His mercy . . . towards each other.

LET IT END NOW.

"Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another." (Romans 12:9-10)

· Lord God, we repent of any vestige of racist thinking in our own minds, and for racist policies that still exist in our nation and in our churches. We ask You to open our eyes that we might see the injustices that remain among us, and help us to learn how to correct these iniquities. In Jesus' Name, amen.

(Source: Riding with the King in Unity, by Giles F. Mack, P.O. Box 1761, Branson, MO 65615, pp. 20 - 23; adapted.

SINS OF THE NATION: SLAVERY
REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION:

SLAVERY

This week, we begin to consider an area of sin that is HUGE: the matter of African-American slavery and (next week) racism in America today. Once again, we can only "point the way" in the space below to an area for prayer; and we trust the Holy Spirit to take each of you into much, much more as you seek Him in intercession over this issue.

The following information is an excerpt from an article, "Conditions of Antebellum Slavery." Specific points for repentance are boldfaced in this article. Also, as we continue in this emphasis on African- American slavery, you may also wish to rent the movie "Roots," and offer repentance, point-by-point, over the many abuses of black men and women that are shown in that excellent movie.

CONDITIONS OF ANTEBELLUM SLAVERY

By 1830 slavery was primarily located in the South, where it existed in many different forms. African Americans were enslaved on small farms, large plantations, in cities and towns, inside homes, out in the fields, and in industry and transportation.Though slavery had such a wide variety of faces, the underlying concepts were always the same. Slaves were considered property, and they were property because they were black. Their status as property was enforced by violence-actual or threatened. One of the worst conditions that enslaved people had to live under was the constant threat of sale. Immediate families were often separated. If they were kept together, they were almost always sold away from their extended families. Grandparents, sisters, brothers, and cousins could all find themselves forcibly scattered, never to see each other again.

The heat and humidity of the South created health problems for everyone living there. However, the health of plantation slaves was far worse than that of whites. Unsanitary conditions, inadequate nutrition and unrelenting hard labor made slaves highly susceptible to disease. Illnesses were generally not treated adequately, and slaves were often forced to work even when sick. The rice plantations were the most deadly. Black people had to stand in water for hours at a time in the sweltering sun. Malaria was rampant. Child mortality was extremely high on these plantations, generally around 66%-on one rice plantation it was as high as 90%.African American women had to endure the threat and the practice of sexual exploitation. There were no safeguards to protect them from being sexually stalked, harassed, or raped, or to be used as long-term concubines by masters and overseers. The abuse was widespread, as the men with authority took advantage of their situation. Even if a woman seemed agreeable to the situation, in reality she had no choice. Slave men, for their part, were often powerless to protect the women they loved.

Many slaves turned to religion for inspiration and solace. Some practiced African religions, including Islam, others practiced Christianity. Many practiced a brand of Christianity which included strong African elements. Most rejected the Christianity of their masters, which justified slavery. The slaves held their own meetings in secret, where they spoke of the New Testament promises of the day of reckoning and of justice and a better life after death, as well as the Old Testament story of Moses leading his people out of slavery in Egypt. The religion of enslaved African Americans helped them resist the degredation of bondage.

A Prayer of Repentance:

Father God, when we consider these genocidal sins, we can only come to You, our holy God and Father, to begin to cleanse this evil from our land. We ask You, Mighty God, the Author and the Finisher of our faith, to look down upon us now as we bring these sins to you, in weeping, in prayers, and in repentance for the evils our ancestors have committed against the African American people on our land. Father God, we ask You to have mercy upon us, and to show us Your ways in bringing healing to that which has been rooted and grounded in some of the vilest wickedness known to man.

We thank YOU for the promise of Your word over us now, out of Isaiah 1:18:

"Come now, let us reason together," saith the Lord. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool."

THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: SAFETY IN ASHKELON
THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL:

SAFETY IN ASHKELON

FROM INTERCESSORS FOR ISRAEL:

THE SITUATION IN THE SOUTH OF ISRAEL GETS WORSE EACH HOUR

A Pattern of Escalation

Hamas' decision to put Ashkelon, and its 120,000 residents, within permanent range of their rockets from Gaza may turn out to have been a mistake on their part. A round of increased violence between Israel and Hamas takes place every two or three weeks. And each time, the latest round is more severe than the one preceding it. More than 30 rockets were fired at Israel Thursday, and close to 90 in the last two days. (Ha'aretz 2/28/08)

This week, Israel's top military commander warned that a major conflict with the Palestinians is drawing near. To understand why Israel is being pushed to the brink of war lets look at the numbers:

- If the current rate of Palestinian rockets and mortars continues to be shot at Israel, 4,800 will hit Israeli territory in 2008.

- Today, 190,000 Israelis live within the range of these weapons and are under direct threat.

- The number of Israelis killed or wounded by these weapons has steadily increased.

- To date, in 2008, there have been 31 Israeli victims. At this rate by year's end there will be over 250 Israelis killed or injured.

- Sderot has been on the receiving end of 45% of the rocket attacks. Ninety percent of Sderot residents have experienced a rocket on their street or an adjacent one.

For the past two days almost 100 missiles were fired at S'derot, other southern communities - and at Ashkelon. Israel wants to get the approval of the nations before she invades Gaza but may not have the liberty to wait as the death and severe injury toll of her citizens increases dramatically.

PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM

- Lord, despite the promises from President Bush, we reject America as being Israel's protector and proclaim that You - the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - were, are and always will be Israel's strength and shield. (Psa. 28:7; 33:20; 115:9)

- Abba, please give Israel's leaders much wisdom as they try to deal with this situation. "For by wise counsel you shall make war: and in multitude of counselors there is safety." (Proverbs 24:6)

- Allow the plans of the IDF's (Israeli Military) Chief of Staff Ashkenazi - to terrorize the terrorists. According to Your Word, let Hamas reap the harvest of terror they have sown: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

- Pray that Israel receive a deep revelation from God concerning who He is and who we (Israelis) are as a nation and people in His sight.

- We take comfort in the truth of this verse: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD...open his eyes, that he may see. And LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and . . . behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha." (2 Kings 6:16-17; see also 2 Chronicles 32:7-8)

- Thank You for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Protect him from all political ambitions and surround him with wise counsel. (Prov. 20:18; 24:6)

(Source: Intercessors for Israel)

A Closing Thought . . .

Charles Finney on Slavery . . . and the Church

The 19th century revivalist and 2nd president of Oberlin College, Charles Finney, wrote of the national sin of slavery in his Systematic Theology (1851):

No generation before us ever had the light on the evils and wrongs of slavery that we have: hence our guilt exceeds that of any former generation of slave - holders; and moreover, knowing all the cruel wrongs and miseries of the system from the history of the past, every persisting slave - holder endorses all the crimes, and assumes all the guilt, involved in the system, and evolved out of it, since the world began.

Finney's words surely apply to the justification of abortion, homosexuality, pornography, and other sins today. Finney's answer:

The Church must take right ground in regards to politics. The time has come for Christians to vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them. God cannot sustain this free and blessed country, which we love and pray for, unless the Church will take right ground. Politics are a part of a religion in such a country as this, and Christians must do their duty to their country as a part of their duty to God. God will bless or curse this nation according to the course Christians take in politics.

(Source: American Quotations, Bill Federer).

On Capitol Hill This Week; Vol. XV, No. 5

On Capitol Hill This Week

Volume XV, Number 5

March 3 - 7, 2008

"Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." ( I John 4:4)

On Capitol Hill This Week; Vol. XV, No. 5

1. UPDATE: CHARITABLE CHOICE - FAITH BASED INITIATIVES
2. PEPFAR PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE
3. CONGRESSMEN CALL FOR DEFUNDING OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD
4. HOUSE DEMOCRATS HOLD PLAN FOR ETHICS OFFICE
5. LEGLISLATORS TO PUSH FOR U.S. APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY
6. NORTH AMERICAN ARMY CREATED WITHOUT OK BY CONGRESS
7. "VIRTUAL FENCE" ALONG BORDER TO BE DELAYED
8. PRESIDENT BUSH: WITHOUT FISA LAW, AMERICA MORE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK
9. OBAMA RAISED FUNDS FOR ISLAMIC CAUSES
10. IRAQ SAYS TURKISH MILITARY WITHDRAWING
11. AHMADINEJAD CALLS IRAN WORLD'S "NUMBER ONE" POWER
12. NINE KATYUSHA ROCKETS HIT ASHKELON CENTER
13. POWER SHARING DEAL IN KENYA

1. UPDATE: CHARITABLE CHOICE - FAITH BASED INITIATIVES

In his second year of office, President Bush issued an executive order that protected faith-based groups seeking funds from federal programs from being pressured to sacrifice their religious beliefs. Last month he called upon Congress to "permanently extend Charitable Choice." In 2000, Congress put language guaranteeing Charitable Choice into the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Act (SAMHSA). The Senate Health Committee took up reauthorization of the law this week. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), supported by the Coalition Against Religious Discrimination (CARD), Americans United for the Separation of Church, and State and others, want to remove this all-important provision from the law - the provision that affirms the right of faith-based groups to hire persons who affirm their faith, without being forced to hire persons who do no share their tenets in order to accept federal funds.

Nearly every federal agency now administers grants under the Charitable Choice law. The effect of this change would be essentially to gut President Bush's Faith Based Initiative from the inside out. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 includes this exemption and U.S. courts have upheld it. But some liberals want to return to the days when only secular liberal organizations could qualify for federal funds. FRC is asking constituents to contact members of the Senate Health Committee:

Democrats: Edward Kennedy (MA); Christopher Dodd (CT); Tom Harkin (IA); Barbara A. Mikulski (MD); Jeff Bingaman (NM); Patty Murray (WA); Jack Reed (RI); Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY); Barack Obama (IL); Bernard Sanders (I-VT) and Sherrod Brown (OH).

Republicans: Michael B. Enzi (WY); Judd Gregg (NH); Lamar Alexander (TN); Richard Burr (NC); Johnny Isakson (GA); Lisa Murkowski (AK); Orrin G. Hatch (UT); Pat Roberts (KS); Wayne Allard (CO) and Tom Coburn (OK) (FRC Prayer Targets)

· Please pray over these Senators. May they hear from constituents who have benefited from faithful faith based groups! May a majority vote to keep religious freedom in the Charitable Choice law! May President Bush veto the bill if they fail to do so!

· "Thy people shall volunteer freely in the day of Thy power." (Psalms 110:3 NAS)

2. PEPFAR PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE

AIDS Relief Overseas Passes Congressional Committee - Yesterday, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, working with the White House, forged and passed out of committee a compromise AIDS relief package. During his State of the Union Address, President Bush called for a doubling of U.S. support for the "President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief" (PEPFAR) - from $15 billion to $30 billion. Democrats in Congress wanted to more than triple that amount to $50 billion, and to replace the original, highly successful abstinence and fidelity-based program with a one that focuses not on behavior, but condoms for prevention and treatment for the infected. Liberals also wanted to loosen restrictions to allow for abortion and to eliminate a provision that condemns prostitution and sex trafficking.

The original law, due to expire this year, requires one-third of the funds to be spent for abstinence-only programs. Pro-life, pro-family groups urged President Bush to veto the bill if it emerged in the format proffered by liberals to promote Planned Parenthood style sex education - the same old "solutions" that do not work. The compromise bill calls for 50% of the funds designated for prevention to be used for abstinence, delay of sexual activity, monogamy and fidelity, but it loosens administrators to use their judgment in applying the funds - a major loophole. It does retain the prostitution/sex trafficking measure. (FRC Prayer Targets)

· May God move upon the members of the House further to correct this mammoth bill. May the administration of allotted taxpayer dollars be left, not to the whims of administrators, but be spelled out plainly in law. May the finished bill focus on provisions that encourage change in the behaviors that lead to AIDS - exactly what has made the program so successful! May Christian revival in Africa and elsewhere bring changes in behavior that no government program can. Continue in prayer for the passage of PEPFAR, intact.

· "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him." (Psalm 91:15)

3. CONGRESSMEN CALL FOR DEFUNDING OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD

After reviewing materials posted on Planned Parenthood's teenwire.com Web site at the request of Cybercast News Service, three House Republicans are calling for the termination of Planned Parenthood's federal funding. Among other things, teenwire promotes the use of pornography by teenagers. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R.-Colo.) said teenwire "is another reason we should pull all federal funding from Planned Parenthood," a group that also performs abortions. "There should be no money that goes to any Internet site that promotes promiscuity or sexual license in any way," Rep. Steve King (R.-Iowa) told Cybercast News Service. "I don't believe taxpayer funding should be going to groups that put sexually explicit material on the Internet targeted at minors," Rep. Joseph Pitts (R.-Pa.), chairman of the House Values Action Team, said.

"I don't believe taxpayer funding should be going to groups that put sexually explicit material on the Internet targeted at minors," Rep. Pitts (R-Pa.) told Cybercast News Service. "Parents today already have their work cut out for them trying to keep their kids from viewing smut on the Internet. "The federal government shouldn't be funding groups that produce this sort of material under the pretense that it is educational," he said. Rep. King added that teenwire.com is part of Planned Parenthood's wider agenda, which he believes is damaging American culture. "I think it's part of its strategic plan to break down the moral order of our society so that the people on the other side of morality and integrity can take power in this country."

Planned Parenthood and other family planning organizations get federal tax dollars under Title X of the Public Service Health Act. In its 2005-2006 annual report, Planned Parenthood Federation of America reported that $305.3 million, or 34 percent of its annual income, came from government grants and contracts. (CNSNews.com)

· Praise and thank God for the plans of Congressmen Doug Lamborn, Steve King and Joseph Pitts, calling for the defunding of Planned Parenthood. None of us want to see our taxpayer dollars used to finance this filth! Ask God to forgive our government's help in financially sanctioning such evil. Pray in agreement with these congressmen that they will move forward in victory and bring to an absolute cessation this year of ALL federal funding to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. AMEN.

· "Put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes: cease to do evil." (Isaiah 1:16)

4. HOUSE DEMOCRATS HOLD PLAN FOR ETHICS OFFICE

House Democrats abruptly pulled an ethics reform proposal from consideration yesterday after widespread opposition surfaced from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle a day before a scheduled vote on the plan.The proposal would create a new Office of Congressional Ethics run by a bipartisan group of six non-lawmakers with the power to review ethics complaints against members and staff, and forward them to the existing Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The fate of the plan is now unclear, though Democrats vowed they would revisit the issue soon.

The ethics panel has been the subject of criticism from inside and outside the Capitol for its frequent partisan feuds and light workload. House members have been wary of filing ethics complaints against each other in recent years, and the panel initiates few probes of its own. As a result, the committee has been relatively inactive, even as numerous allegations against lawmakers have emerged and the Justice Department has launched several high-profile investigations. (Washington Post) Read more.

· Please pray for a viable, effective ethics committee proposal. Ask the Lord to bring honesty and courage to this office. The majority party never wants its members exposed in some scandal, nor does the minority; thus, everyone walks on eggshells around improper behavior. No one but the Lord knows how to set up this office.

· "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." (James 5:16b)

5. LEGLISLATORS TO PUSH FOR U.S. APOLOGY FOR SLAVERY

Five states did something over the past 12 months that no state had done before: expressed regret or apologized for slavery. This year, Congress, which meets in a Capitol built partly by slaves, will consider issuing its own apology."We've seen states step forward on this," says Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, citing the resolutions of Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Alabama and New Jersey." Harkin says he and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Ka) will propose in March an apology not only for slavery but for subsequent "Jim Crow" laws that furthered racial segregation. So far, they have 14 Senate backers, including Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. A similar House measure introduced last year has 120 co-sponsors.

Congress has apologized before, but not for slavery. It apologized to Japanese-Americans in 1988 for holding them in camps during World War II and gave each survivor $20,000. In 1993, Congress apologized to native Hawaiians for the overthrow of their kingdom a century earlier. In 2005, the Senate apologized for not enacting anti-lynching legislation. Apologies are controversial because of concern they could lead to reparations. They "carry weight" as a step toward racial healing and don't have to "open the door" to reparations, says Carol Swain, professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University. Other proponents say an apology should lead to remedies. An apology is a necessary first step because it recognizes a wrongdoing, says Hilary Shelton of the NAACP.

The state apologies have not given a boost to the reparations movement, says Ronald Walters, author of a book titled The Price of Racial Reconciliation. Alabama and New Jersey added language saying the apology cannot be used to sue the state. The House proposal does not include such a disclaimer, but the Senate one does, saying its apology cannot be the basis for claims against the United States. Harkin says his proposal does not address reparations. (USA TODAY )

· Praise the Lord for a bipartisan movement for an apology for slavery. America needs to put this issue behind her, for the Lord considers racism a sin. Pray for the passage of this resolution in the Senate. The matter of monetary reparations requires prayer, for those who perpetrated slavery are long deceased, much has been accomplished in race relations, and economic and educational opportunities are available.

· "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, Abba! Father!" (Romans 8:15)

6. NORTH AMERICAN ARMY CREATED WITHOUT OK BY CONGRESS

In a ceremony that received virtually no attention in the American media, the United States and Canada signed a military agreement Feb. 14 allowing the armed forces from one nation to support the armed forces of the other nation during a domestic civil emergency, even one that does not involve a cross- border crisis. The agreement, defined as a Civil Assistance Plan, was not submitted to Congress for approval, nor did Congress pass any law or treaty specifically authorizing this military agreement to combine the operations of the armed forces of the United States and Canada in the event of a wide range of domestic civil disturbances ranging from violent storms, to health epidemics, to civil riots or terrorist attacks.

In Canada, the agreement paving the way for the militaries of the U.S. and Canada to cross each other's borders to fight domestic emergencies was not announced either by the Harper government or the Canadian military, prompting sharp protest. The military Civil Assistance Plan can be seen as a further incremental step being taken toward creating a North American armed forces available to be deployed in domestic North American emergency situations. The agreement was signed at U.S. Army North headquarters, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, by U.S. Air Force Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, or USNORTHCOM, and by Canadian Air Force Lt. Gen. Marc Dumais, commander of Canada Command.

The statement on the USNORTHCOM website emphasized the plan recognizes the role of each nation's lead federal agency for emergency preparedness, which in the United States is the Department of Homeland Security and in Canada is Public Safety Canada. In an exclusive interview Vigilant Shield 2008, Gen. Renuart affirmed USNORTHCOM would deploy U.S. troops on U.S. soil should the president declare a domestic emergency in which the Department of Defense ordered USNORTHCOM involvement. In May 2007, President Bush on his own authority, signed National Security Presidential Directive 51, also known as Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20, authorizing the president to declare a national emergency and take over all functions of federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, without necessarily obtaining the approval of Congress to do so. (WorldNetDaily.com)

· While on the surface, this treaty looks benign, it can be extremely dangerous, blurring the lines of the borders between two nations. Canada is part of the British Commonwealth, a government quite different from ours. Surely this move is part of the North American Union. Contact your Congress representatives to demand that this move must not have authority and that the U.S. should withdraw from Security and Prosperity Partnership. Again, God established the borders of our nation, and we do not have the right to change those borders.

· "You shall not remove your neighbor's landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14)

7. "VIRTUAL FENCE" ALONG BORDER TO BE DELAYED

The Bush administration has scaled back plans to quickly build a "virtual fence" along the U.S.-Mexico border, delaying completion of the first phase of the project by at least three years and shifting away from a network of tower-mounted sensors and surveillance gear, federal officials said yesterday. Technical problems discovered in a 28-mile pilot project south of Tucson prompted the change in plans, Department of Homeland Security officials and congressional auditors told a House subcommittee.

Though the department took over that initial stretch Friday from Boeing, authorities confirmed that Project 28, the initial deployment of the Secure Border Initiative network, did not work as planned or meet the needs of the U.S. Border Patrol. The announcement marked a major setback for what President Bush in May 2006 called "the most technologically advanced border security initiative in American history." The virtual fence was to be a key component of his proposed overhaul of U.S. immigration policies, which died last year in the Senate. (Washington Post)

· Lord, we ask that You move on our officials to bring about the security of America's borders. May our security not be bogged down in politics and government red tape.

· "He brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps." (Psalm 40:2)

8. BUSH: "WITHOUT FISA LAW, AMERICA MORE VULNERABLE TO ATTACK"

THE PRESIDENT: "[Y]ou asked about whether or not the United States of America should be able to listen to terrorists' phone calls coming into the United States. And the answer is, absolutely we should be doing this. There is still an extremist threat. People still want to attack our country, and we better understand what they're thinking, what they're planning and who they're talking to. "And yet unfortunately a law passed to give our professionals the tools has expired. And it's expired because people want to take class action lawsuits against private phone carriers and other companies that . . . were believed to have helped us protect America. It's not fair to say to a company that was believed to have helped us, it's important for you to help us, and then you get sued for billions of dollars. And such a policy would make it very difficult to get companies to fully cooperate with us in the future.

"The law is expired, but my fellow citizens must understand the threat to America has not expired. And our citizens who are paying attention to this debate must understand, without [this] law America will be more vulnerable to attack. Democrats and Republicans supported this law, and the House leaders must bring it to the floor, where it will pass with both Republican and Democrat vote. And if this law is allowed to expire, America will be more vulnerable. And that's inexcusable and it's indefensible." (White House 2/27/08)

· Let us pray that the pending legislation would not be stalled but move through Congress and passed. Intercede for the cleansing of graft, corruption, and inefficiency in all federal agencies and throughout the federal bureaucracy. (Intercessors for America)

· "Here is my advice: It would be good for you to finish what you started. . . " (2 Corinthians 8:10 TLB)

9. OBAMA RAISED FUNDS FOR ISLAMIC CAUSES

Sen. Barack Obama has spoken at fundraisers for Palestinians living in what the United Nations terms refugee camps, WorldNetDaily has learned. In a conference call last month with Jewish and Israeli media aimed primarily at dispelling Internet reports he is anti-Israel, Obama stated "Palestinian refugees" belong in their own state and do not have a "literal" right of return to Israel. "We cannot move forward until there is some confidence that the Palestinians are able to provide the security apparatus that would prevent constant attacks against Israel from taking place," continued Obama during the conference with Jewish journalists.

But in the 1990s Obama was a speaker at events in Chicago's large Palestinian immigrant community to raise funds for U.N. camps for the so-called Palestinian refugees. Ali Abunimah, a Chicago-based Palestinian-American activist and co-founder of Electronic Intifada, a pro-Palestinian online publication, recalls introducing Obama at one such event, a 1999 fundraiser for the Deheisha Palestinian camp in the West Bank. "I knew Barack Obama for many years as my state senator - when he used to attend events in the Palestinian community in Chicago all the time," stated Abuminah during an interview last month with Democracy Now!, a nationally syndicated radio and television political program.

Abunimah previously described meeting with Obama at a fundraiser at the home of Columbia University professor Rashid Khalidi, reportedly a former PLO activist. "[Obama]came with his wife. That's where I had a chance to really talk to him," Abunimah recalled. "It was an intimate setting. He convinced me he was very aware of the issues [and] critical of U.S. bias toward Israel and lack of sensitivity to Arabs. He was very supportive of U.S. pressure on Israel." (WorldNetDaily) Read more.

· Please pray fervently that the media will begin to publish and announce the real facts behind the facade that Sen. Obama is presenting to the American people. The deception is widespread surrounding this candidate's true "resume." When questioned about his stand on Israel, the senator sidesteps a clear answer. Pray for the senator's salvation in Jesus Christ and for the Holy Spirit to give him a love for Israel.

· "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)

10. IRAQ SAYS TURKISH MILITARY WITHDRAWING

The Turkish military has begun withdrawing from northern Iraq, Iraq's foreign minister said Friday, a day after the U.S. pressured Turkey to end the offensive against separatist Kurdish rebels. "We welcome this move," Hoshyar Zebari told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "The timing is good. I think the military carried out its promises" to remove Turkish troops after finishing the operations. Zebari said regional Iraqi authorities had informed him that the Turkish troops were leaving northern Iraq, and the Turkish military had targeted only the rebels, not civilians living in the remote region. The foreign minister said he hoped Turkey "will respect the sovereignty of Iraq."

The move came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Turkish leaders during a visit in Ankara that they should end the offensive as soon as possible. In Washington, President Bush made a similar point Thursday, saying Turkey needed to move quickly and get out. Zebari credited the U.S. with playing an "instrumental" role in pressing Turkey to leave. "The U.S. played a very important role on all fronts to remind Turkey of the seriousness of the situation," Zebari said.

Turkey launched the incursion into northern Iraq more than a week ago against the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, a group fighting for the autonomy of predominantly Kurdish southeastern Turkey. The rebels have carried out attacks in Turkey from bases in Kurdish Iraq. Iraqi authorities have said they do not support the PKK but objected to Turkey's military action. The PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984. The fighting has killed up to 40,000 people. (AP)

· Father, we thank you and praise you for answering our prayers of just last week, and that this operation was swift. HALLELUJAH!!!

· ". . .and I will purge from you the rebels and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the land where they sojourn." (Ezekiel 20:38)

11. AHMADINEJAD CALLS IRAN WORLD'S "NUMBER ONE" POWER

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared on Thursday that Iran was the world's "number one" power, as he launched a bitter new assault on domestic critics he accused of siding with the enemy. "Everybody has understood that Iran is the number one power in the world," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to families who lost loved ones in the 1980- 1988 Iran-Iraq war. "Today the name of Iran means a firm punch in the teeth of the powerful and it puts them in their place," added Ahmadinejad, who on Sunday will become the first president of the Islamic republic to visit neighbouring Iraq. Ahmadinejad's comments come amid renewed Western efforts on the UN Security Council to agree a third package of sanctions against Tehran over its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear activities.

They also came a day after former top nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani launched an unprecedented attack on Ahmadinejad's foreign policy, accusing him of using "coarse slogans and grandstanding". "You can see how some people here . . try to materialise the plans of the enemies and by showing that Iran is small and the enemy is big," seethed Ahmadinejad. "These are the people who put the enemies of humanity in the place of God." Ahmadinejad once again insisted that Iran was winning the standoff over its atomic programme, which the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons but Iran says is peaceful. "The Iranian nation is on the verge of the final nuclear victory and no power can stop this nation. The enemies of the nation and bullying powers do not dare to admit that this nation has won in the nuclear field." (Agence France Presse)

· It seems that Mr. Ahmadinejad has identified the wrong source as the "bullying power." Instead, he needs only to look in the mirror to find the culpirt in this scenario -- the same culprit that Christ died for. Pray for the salvation of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.. Pray for a miracle! If God could impact and invade the life of Saul of Tarsus as he was making his way down the road to Damascus to stone those believers, can He not do the same for this enemy of the Cross? Salvation was freely given at the Cross of Calvary for ALL who would believe -- even the most vile of sinners. Father, we GIVE this man "Ahmadinejad" to you and ask for your will to be done, in the Name of Jesus!


· "The proud and arrogant man -"Mocker" is his name; he behaves with overweening pride." (Proverbs 21:24) "I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless." (Isaiah 13:11) "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

12. NINE KATYUSHA ROCKETS HIT ASHKELON CENTER

Nine Katyusha-style Grad missiles rocked the center of Ashkelon on the afternoon of February 28. One home suffered a direct hit; other missiles fell near the city's central bus station and elsewhere in the city. Magen David Adom reported that two people were lightly wounded in the attack and 24 others were treated for shock. All in all MADA have treated a total of 55 people in Ashkelon and Sderot since the morning.

On Thursday evening, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered the authorities to activate the Red Color alert early warning system in Ashkelon, which will be operational on Friday. Close to 80 Kassam rockets and missiles have been fired at southern Israel in the past 24 hours and nearly 1000 since the beginning of the year. On Thursday, the air force launched 21 air strikes targeting terror operatives, headquarters and Kassam rocket launchers in the Gaza Strip, and since Wednesday evening, 27 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip. (By Margot Dudkevitch, Infolive.tv, February 28, 2008; Reported by Bridges for Peace)

· Exchanges between Arab terrorists and Israeli Defense Forces are escalating dramatically. Pray the Lord will intervene to protect the innocent and thwart the plan of the enemy.

· "For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood." (Prov. 1:16)

13. POWER SHARING DEAL IN KENYA

Kenya's political leaders signed a power-sharing deal that will overhaul the way the country is governed. The deal comes after spates of ethnic violence and a prolonged political impasse following disputed December 27 presidential elections, which returned President Mwai Kibaki to power. The terms of the agreement establish Kibaki's main opponent, Raila Odinga, as Kenya's new prime minister, and invest substantial powers in the new post. Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete mediated the agreement. (AP; Daily Nation; Economist 2/29/08)

· Offer thanks for this breakthrough in negotiations, and that Kenya can now enjoy a time of relative peace and stability. May the Gospel now be preached freely throughout this land, and may multitudes come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord!

· "Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord . . ." (Psalm 150:6a)


This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . .

SAVIOR (Mo-shee-ah)

"For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour."
(Isaiah 43:3)

Savior . . . Redeemer . . . Lord.

You laid down Your perfect, sinless life so that I might be saved. You took my place on the Cross; You suffered, died, rose on the third day, and now You sit at the right hand. Even though I shall never fully understand this, I accept it by faith. May I live this day as only You would live it. Help me to be a vessel of love to all that I meet. Thank You, my Savior, my deliverer, my Lord. Amen.

(Taken from: Intimate Moments with the Hebrew Names of God, by Barri Cae Malin and Shmuel Wolkenfeld; Bridge-Logos Publishers; Gainesville, FL, 32614. ISBN: 0-88270-801-5)

The Daily Brief - Friday, February 29, 2008

"But the Lord your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." (II Kings 17:39)

Today's Daily Brief

1. McCain, Obama Tilt Over al-Qaida in Iraq - NewsMax

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain mocked Barack Obama's view of al-Qaida in Iraq, and Democratic contender responded that GOP policies brought the terrorist group there.

2. House OKs New Taxes on Big Oil Companies - AP

The House approved $18 billion in new taxes on the largest oil companies Wednesday as Democrats cited record oil prices and rising gasoline costs in a time of economic troubles.

3. Rebate Checks Expected to Be Delivered in May - CNSNews.com

U.S. taxpayers should expect to receive their rebate checks as part of the $152 billion economic stimulus package in May, President Bush said Thursday.

4. Russia tells Iran to halt enrichment or face sanctions - Int'l Herald Tribune

Russia warned Iran on Wednesday that unless it ceased uranium enrichment within days Moscow would support new UN sanctions being prepared by the West against the Islamic Republic.

5. China may scrap one-child policy, official says - Reuters

China, worried about an ageing population, is studying scrapping its controversial one-child policy but will not do away with family-planning policies altogether, a senior official said on Thursday.

6. Rare criticism in Iran of Ahmadinejad rhetoric on Israel - AFP

A top Iranian cleric made a rare criticism of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's verbal attacks on Israel on Wednesday, saying a foreign policy of "coarse slogans" was not in the national interest.

The Middle East in Focus

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"On that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that attack Jerusalem." (Zech. 12:9))

1. As bigger rockets reach Ashkelon, Barak warns war is approaching - Israel Insider

Terrorists in Gaza stepped up their campaign against southern Israel on Thursday, firing dozens of Qassam rockets and ten longer-range Grad rockets, ten of which hit Ashkelon, some 10 km from the Gaza border, one of them slamming into a home.

2. Israel prepares for assault on Gaza - Jerusalem Post

As Hamas drew Ashkelon into the circle of communities coming under heavy rocket attacks, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and the Foreign Ministry on Thursday began preparing both Israeli and world opinion for the possibility of a large-scale incursion into Gaza.

3. First Temple seal found in City of David - Jerusalem Post

An ancient seal bearing an archaic Hebrew inscription dating back to the 8th century BCE has been uncovered in an archeological excavation in Jerusalem's City of David, the Israel Antiquities Authority announced Thursday.

Prayers for the Persecuted Church

This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8)

1. KENYA: Ministry Shares Impact of Violence - Mission Network News

A spokesman for a ministry that is active in Kenya, CURE International, says the spiritual impact has already been severe. Reports Dale Brantner: "Of the 247 people who gave their lives to Christ in a recent evangelical crusade, when the team went back two weeks ago, they found only 117 of them. 130 of them were no longer in that area. . . a lot of those who are missing are probably ones that were killed in the violence."

2. TURKEY: Radical Revision of Islamic Texts Underway - ICC

Practices such as honor killing of women, discrimination against women, and restrictions on the freedom of religion among Islamic communities emanates from various Islamic texts. Turkey is attempting to reinterpret those texts to make them in line with the modern way of life.

3. ERITREA: Eritrea Releases Christian Prisoners; Torture Continues Elsewhere - Worthy News

An influential independent Christian rights group confirmed late Wednesday, February 27, that Eritrea has released dozens of evangelical Christians, but warned that some 2,000 other believers remain imprisoned in the African nation "due to their faith in Christ."

4. ALGERIA: Algeria Expels American Protestant Pastor - Worthy News

An elderly American pastor and former chairman of the Protestant Church of Algeria was preparing Thursday, February 28, to launch an appeal against plans by authorities to deport him from the country.


Prayer for the Primaries

PRIMARIES, CAUCUSES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH:

Tuesday, March 4

(D) (R) Ohio Primary
(D) (R) Rhode Island Primary
(D) (R) Texas Primary
(D) (R) Vermont Primary

Saturday, March 8

(D) Wyoming Caucus


Tuesday, March 11

(D) (R) Mississippi Primary

Prayer Points:

- Pray that the truth regarding the candidates and their agendas would surface and that people would see beyond race, gender, age or rhetoric to choose the best.

- Pray that the spirits of delusion and deception would lose their ability to operate effectively in this election.

- Pray that the nation would unite to elect God's choice when hidden agendas that threaten our nation's security and freedoms are exposed.

(Source: National Governmental Alliance)

For a complete guide to the Republican primaries, go here:

For a complete guide to the Democratic primaries, go here: