1. Hundreds Of Thousands Flee California Wildfires - AFP, KNBC-TV, San Francisco Chronicle
Hundreds of thousands of people fled as out-of-control wildfires, now in their fourth day, raged across California threatening more homes and stretching emergency services to their breaking point. Orange County Fire officials are now stating that the 20,000-acre Orange County Santiago fire was purposely set after finding three separate "points of origin," and are thinking that other fires may have been deliberately set. According to estimates, almost 1 million southern Californians have been displaced in the biggest evacuation in state history as a result of at least 16 simultaneous wildfires. It is estimated that the fires have destroyed 1,600 homes in what has become the largest evacuation in state history.
President George W. Bush on Wednesday declared Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties major disaster areas, clearing the way for federal aid for victims of the wildfires. Bush, who mobilized the federal disaster relief establishment Tuesday, has scheduled a visit to California Thursday. It is estimated that insurance disaster claims could reach $500 Million.
· Dear Lord, only You know why these fires began on Sunday morning, and why they continue in their rampage of these seven counties in California. May the elected officials and the people who elect them; who insist on dashing Your Judeo-Christian principles in California and throughout our nation, stop and reconsider their ways because of these seemingly unstoppable fires. May Your mercy prevail to those who do honor You, and may many be saved both spiritually and physically by this catastrophe! May Your rain fall on the just and the unjust.
· "But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; they have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God, who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.' Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you." (Jeremiah 5: 23-25 NKJV)
2. Senate Confirms Judge Leslie Southwick to Federal Appeals Court - Fox News and VAT
The Senate today confirmed Judge Leslie Southwick to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in a 59-38 vote. Southwick, a law professor, judge and Iraq war veteran, was nominated by Bush in January to serve on the federal appeals court, which serves Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. His confirmation was sealed after minority Republicans overpowered a proposed filibuster and objections by Democrats who said he wasn't sensitive enough to the history of race relations in the region.
Southwick has been rated by the American Bar Association as "Well-Qualified," which is the ABA's highest rating. He previously served as a deputy assistant attorney general with the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2004, the Mississippi State Bar honored Judge Southwick with its Judicial Excellence Award.
U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee said: "Judge Southwick has an outstanding judicial record, a proven commitment to public service, and a remarkable dedication to his country. "I know that Judge Southwick will be a great addition to the federal appellate bench."
· Thank You Lord, for righteous leaders and judges. Thank You for delivering the confirming vote for a judicial nomination held in limbo, and freeing up the justice system for Your glory in the states of Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas! May Justice Southwick give You all the glory.
· "For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, 'Now I will arise,' says the Lord; 'I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.' '(Psalm 12: 5 NKJV)
3. Bobby Jindal Elected Louisiana Governor - CNSNews.com
Republican Rep. Bobby Jindal, a pro-life, pro-gun, anti-tax Rhodes scholar, won a landslide victory to become governor of Louisiana on Saturday. An Indian-American, he is the first person of color to be elected governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction. "Today, we begin a new chapter in the history of Louisiana," Jindal said in his victory speech. He promised to root out "corruption" and "incompetence," and he said he'd be the kind of governor "who travels the state relentlessly" in an effort to turn things around.
· We thank You, Lord for allowing this humble public servant, Bobby Jindal; who loves You with all of his heart, the second opportunity to run for governor of Louisiana, and win! May his tenure be a blessing to this state and to our nation; and be the continuation of Your revival throughout our land!
· "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly; to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8 NKJV)
4. Will President Bush Veto "ENDA" In The Workplace? - CBN News
Do Americans have the right to exercise their moral judgment and their religious discernment when hiring? Not if the Employment Non-Discrimination Act becomes law, which would make it illegal for businesses to refuse employment to people because of their homosexual, bisexual or transsexual lifestyles. The bill would also affect pay and promotion practices by those who employ homosexuals.
· We offer up fervent prayer to You, Lord, for the stopping of this perverse legislation and any like it, or related to it in the future. May those judges, officials and citizens who support homosexual equality and other sins be enlightened by You to change their positions and seek Your Face in all of their legislative, business and personal endeavors. May the spirit of homosexuality be defeated, and may You have mercy on all involved with ENDA and homosexuality.
· "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1Corinthians 6:9 NKJV)
5. Laura Bush Launches Saudi Breast Cancer Center, Meets Breast Cancer Survivors - Associated Press
First Lady Laura Bush helped launch a screening facility in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday as part of a U.S.-Saudi initiative to raise breast cancer awareness in the kingdom where doctors struggle to break long-held taboos about cancer. Today, Mrs. Bush met with breast cancer survivors in the western seaport of Jiddah. As a token of appreciation, they presented her with a long black scarf -- the kind Saudi women use to cover their hair in public -- with pink ribbons symbolizing the disease attached to both ends.
Breast cancer is the No. 1 killer of women in the United Arab Emirates, according to official statistics, with many dying because the stigma surrounding the disease prevents early detection and treatment. But many Saudis, like other Arabs, won't even refer to cancer by name, calling it just "that disease." Some families are afraid no one will marry their daughters if a mother's cancer becomes known. Others object to male doctors examining women for the illness. "No campaigns, ads or programs would have had the kind of impact that Laura Bush's trip has given to breast cancer awareness in the kingdom," said Samia al-Amoudi, a gynecologist who was diagnosed with the disease in 2006.
· Gracious Jehovah Rapha, the Lord Who Heals, we humbly ask You to bless Laura Bush and provide her safe passage as she travels throughout Saudi Arabia promoting awareness of breast cancer to help physically oppressed Middle Eastern women. May many be saved both physically and spiritually for Your glory and for Your plans to establish Your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. And, may our first lady and her family not be deceived by false religions, but cling to You, the One and True God.
· "Blessings are on the head of the righteous." (Proverbs 10: 6a NKJV))
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." (Psalm 27:14)
1. Iran's Ahmadinejad Criticized at Home - AP
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad cut short a planned two-day visit to Armenia on Tuesday, officials there said, as the hard-line leader faced growing unhappiness back home over the resignation of Iran's top nuclear negotiator.
2. Church damaged in fire in central Jerusalem; police suspect arson - Ha'aretz
A church in central Jerusalem was set afire before dawn Wednesday and suffered extensive damage, police said.
3. 'PA to skip summit if deal not reached' - Jerusalem Post
The Palestinian Authority won't attend the US-sponsored peace conference in Annapolis unless an agreement is reached beforehand with Israel on all the final status issues, Saeb Erekat, a member of the PA negotiating team, said Tuesday.
4. US to transfer $410 million to PA - Ynet News VOTE ON ENDA SCHEDULED FOR THURSDAY On Thursday, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) comes up for a vote in the House and the Democratic Leadership is continuing to use smoke and mirrors to mask just how dangerous this bill is. The Democrats' first action will be to try to reinsert protections for "sexual identity" - men who like to dress and act as women and women who like to dress and act as men. Additionally a vote is expected on Rep. George Miller's (D-Cal.) deceptive "religious exceptions" amendment. Mr. Miller's amendment seeks to protect certain educational institutions but is so deceptively written very few educational facilities would actually be covered. This amendment does not expand the protection for religious institutions, because it is conditioned on already being protected under the bill's existing language. It is a blatant attempt to persuade members that it protects religious liberty when in fact the amendment facilitates the overall bill's undermining of religious institutions. For that reason we reserve the right to score negatively any vote on the amendment in our annual Vote Scorecard. Put simply, you cannot improve a piece of legislation that is as fundamentally flawed as ENDA is. The true purpose behind ENDA is to destroy religious liberty in the name of sexual tolerance. We applaud President Bush for his statement today vowing to veto the ENDA bill. ENDA will force businesses to provide special employment rights and protected minority status to individuals who define themselves based upon sexual behaviors. Such efforts are a misguided infringement upon our constitutional rights to religious freedom. This legislation will be used by homosexual activists as a tool to punish employers that have moral and religious standards. Today President George Bush has signaled in a statement that he will likely veto this bill should it reach his desk. However, there is no guarantee that we will have enough votes to sustain a veto. Now more than ever we need you to contact your representatives and urge them to follow the president's lead and uphold their oath to defend the Constitution by voting "no" on this dangerous legislation. This dangerous bill would pit the government directly against the free exercise of religion, a situation which is unconstitutional on its face. Members of Congress need to join the President and exercise their sworn duty to defend the U.S. Constitution by voting 'no' on ENDA. Please call your Representative at 202-225-3121 and urge him to oppose ENDA and the Baldwin amendment which would add "gender identity" or similarly bad language to the bill. Update: The DREAM Act Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) as promised introduced the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act (DREAM) as a stand-alone bill. This legislation would extend amnesty to the millions of illegal aliens who entered the United States before the age of 16. The illegal alien can then use his newly acquired status to seek green cards for the parents who brought him in illegally in the first place. This amendment has nothing to do with border security which absolutely must be our top priority. Please call your Senators at 202-224-3121 and urge them to oppose this legislation. (Source: Concerned Women for America) A deadlocked federal jury in Dallas did not convict any leaders of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development who were charged with supporting Middle Eastern terrorists, and the judge Monday declared a mistrial in what has been widely viewed as the government's flagship terror-financing case. Monday's developments were a setback for the Bush administration, which had frozen the group's finances three months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and indicted its officials three years later on charges that they provided funds in support of Hamas, a militant Palestinian group that the United States considers a terrorist. (Source: Intercessors for America) The Western third and the Southeastern United States is under severe to extreme drought conditions, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Southern California is experiencing raging fires which have caused the evacuation of nearly 300,000 people. New Orleans is experiencing flooding. National gasoline prices are averaging over $2.80. China and Japan have been dumping the dollar on foreign markets, devaluing the dollar against other currencies. Oil prices are hovering at record levels. Recently, California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law bills designed to teach homosexuality as normal in California's public schools. A school board in Maine voted to give birth control pills to sixth graders without parental notification. The U.S. Congress is considering legislation to require employers to hire homosexuals by not allowing businesses to discriminate based on "sexual orientation." The Bush Administration's relationships with China, Russia, Iran and Turkey have been strained in recent weeks, calling some attention to those nations that are prophetically involved in end time prophecies. In addition, President Bush has bent over backwards to promote other god's at the expense of his own Christianity. In meeting with the Dalai Lama, Bush called him "His Holiness" and a great spiritual leader. Congress followed suit by awarding the Buddhist the Congressional Medal of Honor-the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a civilian. Earlier, the President, in responding to Ramadan said that he believes, ". . . in an Almighty God, and I believe that all the world, whether they be Muslim, Christian, or any other religion, prays to the same God. That's what I believe." Meantime, his Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is pressuring Israel to divide the city of Jerusalem in a land for peace deal. Most people would never connect all these current events. But from a spiritual sense, they may well be connected. First, the United States through its leadership is on a fast track in turning against God. Psalm 33:12 says, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." If the leadership of this nation reflects the nation, it is apparent that America is turning away from the Lord. In Zechariah 12:9, the Lord says, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem." These are days of great prophetic significance. The prophecies contain both blessings and judgments and while people cannot stop the march of prophecy, they may determine their place in it. It is time to stand firm in the Lord. Bill Wilson
The American government is planning to transfer $410 million to the Palestinian Authority in an effort to strengthen its president, Mahmoud Abbas and prime minister, Salam Fayyad, Ynet reported Wednesday.
President Bush Promises a Veto; Congress Has Enough Votes to Override
(Tony Perkins; Family Research Council)
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Please call the White House at 202-456-1414 and thank President Bush for his strong stance which is vital to defending the sanctity of marriage.
(Wendy Wright; Concerned Women for America)
NO CONVICTIONS IN TRIAL AGAINST MUSLIM CHARITY
Prosecutors said in the courtroom that they would probably retry the charity's leaders.
The jury acquitted one of the five defendants on all but one charge, on which it deadlocked. A majority of the jurors also appeared ready to acquit two other defendants of most charges, and could not reach a verdict on charges against the two principal organizers and the foundation itself. (New York Times)
California Wildfires May Be Linked to Bill Signed by Governor Schwarzeneggar last week. Almost one million now evacuated in that state.
Word of Life Ministry
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