Monday, December 31, 2007

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners is SO grateful for the Fabulous friends and partners in this ministry. Please read their sites & pray for them in 2008.

Links to Other Resources

In order to keep our Briefs "brief," we ask you to explore other key sites on your own, as you continue to pray for our nation, for Israel, and for His Kingdom on earth.

Recommended sites include the following:

DOMESTIC NEWS:

a. Intercessors for America

b. Family Research Council

c. End-of-Day by Gary Bauer

d. Citizen Link (Focus on the Family)

e. The Daily Jot

f. Traditional Values Coalition

g. Christian Coalition of America

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

a Worthy News

Bridges for Peace

c. Intercessors for Israel

d. The JerUSAlem Connection

" . . . every joint supplies . . ." (Eph. 4:16)

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Who We Are

Who We Are

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry dedicated to encouraging prayer for our leaders, and for issues involving our national security. We are a 501 (c) 3, tax-exempt nonprofit ministry, relying solely upon the gifts of our friends to maintain this work.

Permission is granted to distribute this bulletin at will. HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT POST ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS ON ANY WEBSITE WITHOUT PERMISSION. Please cite Capitol Hill Prayer Partners as the source for this information. Thank you for praying with us for our leaders and our nation.

We greatly appreciate your help in supporting this publication. Offerings may be sent to:

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970.

Please make checks payable to: CHPP. THANK YOU!

Special Alert:

Pakistan; Primaries

December 28, 2007

"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." (Isaiah 9:7a)

Prayers for Pakistan

This call for prayer for Pakistan has been released by Mary Murphy, President, The International Prayer Network, prayer@cwoi.org; and is being retransmitted with permission.

Intercessors,

In light of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan yesterday, there is a great need for prayer; not only for her immediate family, but for the nation of Pakistan, which she loved so dearly. There is also a great need for prayer for our nation, as well as our president, his cabinet, and the upcoming election.

Some are very unconcerned with the events of yesterday, but they are crucial to Pakistan, the U. S., Israel and to the world.

-- Please be in prayer for God's Will to be done in this area.

-- Pray that President Musharref will make the right decision to hold his nation together and that it not fragment into warring factions, giving the terrorists control.

-- Pray for the Pakistani people who want freedom and liberty.

-- Pray for Pres. Bush that he makes the right moves to help Pakistan and not hinder it.

-- Pray for Godly Wisdom for the President, his Cabinet and all those in decision making positions.

-- Pray that justice is done for the murder of this outstanding and gallant woman, and that truth will prevail.

-- Pray that the rogue factions and terrorists do not gain control of the nuclear weapons.

-- PRAY FOR THE USA AND PAKISTAN

Bhutto was a very dedicated and brave woman who stood, fought, and ultimately died for what she believed; OH, that we would all be able to take a like stand as she did. Only time will tell what American believers will actually do in a time of crisis.

Blessings,
Mary

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." (Col. 4:2)

Prayer Points for the Primaries

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CALENDAR, JANUARY 2008

By February 20th, the Democratic (D) and Republican (R) parties will have held primary elections or caucuses in more than 30 states and selected some 2,600 (D) and 1,700 (R) delegates. For the month of January, 2008, primaries are scheduled for the following dates and states:

3- Iowa Caucuses

5- Wyoming GOP caucus

8- New Hampshire Primaries

9- Republican presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa

10- Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, Iowa;
Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

15- 2008 Democratic presidential candidate debate in Las Vegas;
Michigan presidential primary

19- Nevada caucuses; South Carolina GOP primary

23- Republican presidential debate in Florida

25- Democratic presidential debate in Florida

26- South Carolina Democratic primary

29- Florida primary

Earnestly intercede against media and special interest manipulation during this primary season. Pray that moral, God-fearing, pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-family men and women be selected, supported, and find favor in local, state, and national campaigns. Intercede that the Lord reveal His choices, expose corruption, immorality, bribery, the occult, and hidden anti-biblical agendas.

(Source: Intercessors for America)

" . . . if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:19)

A Brief Reminder . . .

We want to thank all of you who have responded to our emergency appeal for end-of-year giving earlier this month. Your response -- as well as your gracious notes -- have been very encouraging to us.

We continue to invite all who can to prayerfully consider sending an offering of at least $10.00 to help us at this time. Compared to many others, we are a "Gideon's few," but -- just like Gideon -- God IS seeking "a few good men" through whom to accomplish His will. We are so blessed to know that you ARE there!

May God bless you, keep you, and cause His face to shine upon you both now and throughout the New Year ahead. He is Lord!

In His Amazing Grace,

Jim and Sara Ballenger


* * * * * *

Checks may be made payable to: CHPP and sent to: CHPP
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970

Thursday, December 27, 2007

'Exploring the Early Americas': A Sense of Continent's Direction

Library staffers assemble the custom-made case for Martin Waldseemueller's 1507 world map, which introduced the word "America." (Susan Walsh - AP) - "America's Birth Certificate"

By Cathryn Keller
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, December 26, 2007; Page C01

It's not that Amerigo Vespucci discovered the place. Among the European explorers, Christopher Columbus got here first. But Columbus thought he'd reached Asia, while Vespucci later posited the "revolutionary concept," says the Library of Congress, that Columbus had actually sailed to a separate continent altogether.

In honor of Vespucci's new understanding of the world, German scholar and cartographer Martin Waldseemueller called this new continent America on his 1507 world map -- the first document to name our hemisphere and the first map to show the Pacific as a separate ocean. READ MORE

Sunday, December 23, 2007

December Answers to Prayer

Legislative Update
  • Foreign Policy: Iraq, Intelligence
  • Domestic Policy: Taxes, Spending
  • Heartland Issues: Energy, Farming, Global Warming
  • Health Care
The activity in Congress this month has been a remarkable example of what King Solomon meant when he said, The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes (Proverbs 21:1).

Jesus tells us to ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified (John 15:7-8). Thus, to give God the glory, we want to directly correlate our requests from the beginning of the month with the answers to those prayers.

Read today's edition of Inside the Mountain for those answers to prayer.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Annual Christmas Message

December 22, 2007

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder. . . Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." (Isaiah 9:6a,7a)

Presidential Message

Presidential Message - Christmas, 2007

Christmas 2007

"But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High . . . his kingdom will never end.'" (Luke 1:30-33)

During the Christmas season, our thoughts turn to the source of joy and hope born in a humble manger on a holy night more than 2,000 years ago. Each year, Christians everywhere celebrate this single life that changed the world and continues to change hearts today. The simple and inspiring story of the birth of Jesus fills our souls with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives and promises that God's purpose is justice and His plan is peace.

At this special time of year, we give thanks for Christ's message of love and mercy, and we are reminded of our responsibility to serve. America is blessed to have fine citizens who reach out with a compassionate hand to help brothers and sisters in need. We also remember our brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to defend us in distant lands. Many of those who have answered the call of duty will spend Christmas far from home and separated from family. We honor their sacrifice, ask God to watch over them and their families, and pray for their safe return.

Christmas is a time to rejoice and remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Laura and I pray your Christmas will be blessed with family and fellowship, and we wish you a day of glad tidings. Merry Christmas.


GEORGE W. BUSH


President Bush's Christmas Card

President Bush's Christmas Card

The following message was sent to thousands of personal friends of President and Mrs. Bush on their Christmas card.

This greeting appears under the seal of the President of the United States of America.

You alone are the LORD.

You made the heavens, even the highest heavens,

and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it,

the seas and all that is in them.

You give life to everything,

and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

NEHEMIAH 9:6 (NIV)



May the joy of all creation fill your heart this blessed season.

George and Laura Bush


[Note: The card was financed by the Republican National Committee.]


One Solitary Life

He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant. He grew up in another village, where he worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30. Then, for three years, he was an itinerant preacher.

He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a home. He didn't go to college. He never lived in a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place where he was born.

He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but himself.

He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied him.

He was turned over to his enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for his garments, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave, through the pity of a friend.

Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today he is the central figure of the human race. I am well within the mark when I say that:

all the armies that ever marched,

all the navies that ever sailed,

all the parliaments that ever sat,

all the kings that ever reigned

--put together--

have not affected the life of man on this earth

as much as that one, solitary life.



MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR PRAYER PARTNERS AND FRIENDS

FROM CAPITOL HILL PRAYER PARTNERS

DECEMBER 25, 2007



By prayer . . .

Ding Limeis Ten Prayer Points

1. By prayer I feel Christs presence, and the fellowship of a bosom friend.

2. By prayer I feel spiritually nourished, like flowers by sprinkling waters.

3. Righteousness, peace and joy, like three rays, surround me, whereby my heart is greatly encouraged.

4. By prayer and Bible-reading is the joy of my devotion to the Lord increased.

5. By prayer is my preaching secretly helped by the Spirit

6. By prayer is love for others increased, that there is not one under heaven who cannot be loved.

7. By prayer is hope added to faith, and that greatly multiplied.

8. Whenever I sin, hidden or seen, big or small, I am self-rebuked through prayer, and will not leave off without confession and repentance.

9. By prayer I find the way opened up before me and everything becomes smooth-sailing.

10. The gradual increase of prayer bands is not through my individual effort, but by one and all, individuals and groups.

Psalm 142 (please, pray this for our Nation ... thank you)

A psalm[a] of David, regarding his experience in the cave. A prayer.
1 I cry out to the Lord;
I plead for the Lord’s mercy.
2 I pour out my complaints before him
and tell him all my troubles.
3 When I am overwhelmed,
you alone know the way I should turn.
Wherever I go,
my enemies have set traps for me.
4 I look for someone to come and help me,
but no one gives me a passing thought!
No one will help me;
no one cares a bit what happens to me.
5 Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.
6 Hear my cry,
for I am very low.
Rescue me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me.
7 Bring me out of prison
so I can thank you.
The godly will crowd around me,
for you are good to me.”

Friday, December 21, 2007

The Daily Brief - Thursday, December 20, 2007

"He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in all things, and secured. For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? " (2 Samuel 23:5 NAS)

SPECIAL NOTICE

The Daily Brief will not be published tomorrow, Friday, December 21. Our next regular edition of The Daily Brief will be released on Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Today's Daily Brief

1. Questions for the Presidential Hopefuls- (CNSNews.com)

President Bush says he would have two questions for the current crop of presidential hopefuls: What core "principles" underpin their decisions? And which people will they rely upon for "unvarnished" advice?

·Father, we, too, ask these questions of the men and women running for President. We pray that the American people will remember the foundations of the United States as they vote in all upcoming elections, and that Your Spirit will hover over all of us during the process.

·"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. . ." (1Timothy 2:1,2)

2. Presidential Campaign: a) GOP Race Wide Open- Guiliani Relinquishes National Polling Lead -- Fox News

Rudy Giuliani has yielded his lead in the Republican presidential race, a new Wall Street Journal/NBC poll shows. According to the poll, Giuliani and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney are now tied in the contest for the GOP nomination, each at 20 percent among Republicans nationally. The poll showed Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 17 percent and Sen. John McCain at 14 percent.

b) Tancredo to Abandon Presidential Bid- Newsmax.com

Republican Rep. Tom Tancredo, whose forceful opposition to illegal immigration vaulted him to national prominence, plans to announce he is abandoning his long-shot bid for the presidency, a person close to Tancredo said Wednesday.

c) Guiliani Ok After Hospital Stay - MSNBC

Republican Rudy Giuliani will return to New York City on Thursday after spending the night in a St. Louis hospital getting checked out for flu-like symptoms, his campaign said.

d) Clinton Launches Obama Attack Web Sites

ABC News has learned that the campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., has registered the names of two Web sites with the express goal of attacking her chief rival, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

·Lord, You alone know the hearts of these candidates. We ask for health for all of them, and peace for those who have dropped out. We pray that Your truth, grace, and mercy would prevent us from choosing the wrong candidate. We bind anger and hatred, deception and lies, and loose Your Spirit to change the hearts of those running for office.

·"Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)

3. House Approves $50M To Launch National ID - Washington Technology

The legislation sets aside $50 million for helping states to comply with the Real ID Act of 2005, which was not requested by the president. Under the new law, states must meet new requirements for collecting, storing, publishing and sharing personal information on driver's licenses.

·Father we invite You to judge this bill, whether favorable for the people of America or not. If it is not, we ask that You defeat it.

·"A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)

4. China Fund Grabs Big Stake in Morgan Stanley - AFP

A state-controlled Chinese investment fund has snapped up a five-billion-dollar stake in Morgan Stanley, one of America's biggest investment banks, which announced multibillion dollar losses Wednesday.

· Lord, we ask that you remove our vulnerability to China's influence. We repent for allowing greed to cause these weaknesses. By the power of Jesus' Name we dissolve China's overall plans against us, and declare that no weapon formed against us shall prosper! (Isaiah 54:17)

5. Lakota Indians Withdraw from Treaties Signed with U.S. 150 Years Ago- Fox News

The Lakota Indians, who gave the world legendary warriors, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, have withdrawn from treaties with the United States.

"We are no longer citizens of the United States of America and all those who live in the five-state area that encompasses our country are free to join us,'' long-time Indian rights activist Russell Means said.

· Father we understand the anger that has flowed through much of the Native American community, and with often good reason. We ask that You release forgiveness both to and through all Native Americans. Let the Lakota people feel the wind of Your Spirit change their hearts to see as You see.

·"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)

"Divide Israel and I will divide your land." This is a spiritual issue, not a political, ethnic issue. It brings greater spiritual vulernability from and in the north. It's a matter of spiritual authority. ~ CCNews

6. Numerous Nativity Scenes Vandalized Nationwide- (CNSNews.com)

With Dec. 25 only days away, a central image in the celebration of Christmas -- the manger scene featuring replicas of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus -- has become the focus of attacks by vandals and leaders of "the secular Left," Christian groups charged on Wednesday.

· Lord as we go deeper into these days of anti-Christian sentiment, we pray for protection over your people and over the freedom to celebrate You all year 'round.

". . . above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Eph 6:16)


The Middle East in Focus

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

Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it. . . and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:14-16)

1. Successful test for improved 'Patriot' missile defense system - Ynet News

The defense establishment on Tuesday conducted a test with a new component of the Patriot system - the 'Yahalom' missile. The test, aimed at examining the various improvements that have been made in the system's operational capabilities, was crowned a success after an extensive review of the experiment results on Wednesday.

2. Hamas broadcasts from Temple Mount - WND

Hamas broadcast live from the Temple Mount on Wednesday morning and announced they would commence daily programming from the site - Judaism's holiest - while Israeli police forced banned all Jews and Christian from ascending the Mount as Muslims observe the holiday of Eid al-Adha.

3. Hamas appeals to Israel for truce - Washington Times

On Islam's most important holiday, the leader of Gaza's Hamas government appealed yesterday for a cease-fire with Israel and said his people -- battered by Israeli military strikes and international sanctions -- are greeting this year's feast with "tears in our eyes."

4. Two Islamic Jihad gunmen killed in Gaza clashes with IDF - Jerusalem Post

At least two armed Palestinians were killed in a gunfight which ensued between gunmen and IDF troops operating in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday morning.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

The Daily Brief - Wednesday, December 19, 2007

"He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in all things, and secured. For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? " (2 Samuel 23:5 NAS)

Today's Daily Brief
1. Fire Breaks Out in Building Adjacent to the White House - AP

Thick smoke hovered over the nation's capitol Wednesday after a fire broke out on the White House compound in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The blaze started at about 9:30 a.m. near the ceremonial office of Vice President Dick Cheney on the second floor of the building. The vice president was across the street in his office in the West Wing of the White House at the time. Cheney's ceremonial offices suffered massive water and smoke damage, and another staff member's office was damaged by fire. No one was hurt in the blaze.

· Give praise to the Lord for preventing loss of life and extreme damage to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building due to the fire today. The building, completed in 1888, will be quickly repaired and work resumed. · "In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works:" (Titus 2:7a)

2. Bush Signs Bill Boosting Auto Fuel-Efficiency Standards - AP

President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming. The legislation signed by Bush at a ceremony at the Energy Department requires automakers to increase fuel efficiency by 40 percent to an industry average 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The House passed the energy bill Tuesday by a 314-100 vote after the Senate cleared it last week.

· Although this is great news for the future, the rest of us also need mercy at the gas pumps now. Ask our Lord to intervene in the global energy markets, so that we all might find "grace to help in time of need." Amen. Perhaps He will grant the leaders of the gasoline industry "witty inventions" to reduce our fuel costs quickly! · "I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." (Proverbs 8:12)

3. Senate OKs $70B for Iraq, Afghanistan - ABC News

The Senate gave President Bush a big win on Iraq Tuesday night as it passed a massive $555 billion spending bill combining funding for 14 Cabinet departments with $70 billion for U.S. military operations there and in Afghanistan.

· Offer a great chorus of praise that the impasse between the President and the Congress over the funding of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan for next year has been resolved, and that these monies will now flow to where they are needed most. Praise God! · "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

4. Spending Bill 'Guts' Border Fence, Critics Say - CNSNews.com

The House passed a large omnibus spending bill late Monday, including a provision that some conservatives say would "gut" plans to build a fence along the U.S.-Mexico border.

· Pray . . .pray . . . pray. The Department of Homeland Security has also created a "virtual fence" along our southern border, using the tools of high-tech systems to provide continuous monitoring and securing of that area. Lift up all in authority over this issue; may they continue to find God's wisdom to protect our nation. · "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

5. Bush Orders 'Significant' Cut in Nuclear Arsenal - NY Sun

President Bush has approved "a significant reduction" in the American nuclear weapons stockpile, cutting it to less than one-quarter its size at the end of the Cold War, the White House said today.

· Whatever his reasons, President Bush's reduction of nuclear power seems to fly in the face of common sense, considering the advance of terrorism and Russia's rattlings of its swords. Do we need to reduce or just not build more power? O, Lord, forgive us if we are being foolish as a nation to reduce our military strength. · "For I said, Hear me,lest otherwise they [enemies] should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me." (Psalm 38:16)

6. Ahmadenijad Unable to Complete Hajj - Agence-France Press

More than two million Muslims from across the globe gathered on Tuesday around Mount Arafat near the Mecca birthplace of Islam for the zenith of their annual pilgrimage. At Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, a massive crowd of the faithful was to spend the day praying and asking for God's forgiveness, in a symbolic wait, or "wuquf", for the final judgement. Among this year's pilgrims is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, invited by Saudi King Abdullah to become the first president of the Islamic republic to take part. Ahmadinejad was due to have joined Iranian pilgrims at Arafat but an announcement at the gathering said that "due to the heavy traffic, the president was not able to make it."

His pilgrimage has an added significance because of the sometimes rocky relations between Shiite Iran and Sunni-dominated Saudi Arabia. An Iranian demonstration during the hajj in July 1987 led to Tehran and Riyadh breaking diplomatic relations. Security forces tried to break up the protest and 402 people, including 275 Iranians, were killed. Iranian pilgrims stayed away from the hajj until 1991.

· The people of God prayed, asking that this burgeoning alliance between Iran and Saudi Arabia would be severed; and God has answered our prayers. Amen! We press on now for the souls of the two million Moslems who have made this pilgrimage, seeking forgiveness. Lift up the believers in this part of the world, asking both for their protection, and for opportunities to share the only way we can be forgiven of our sin -- through the Shed Blood of the Lamb, asking Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord. · "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)


The Middle East in Focus

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

Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it. . . and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:14-16)

1. 'Road map duties are not morally equal' - Jerusalem Post

With the world increasingly putting Israel's obligation under the road map to stop settlement activity on par with the Palestinian obligation to uproot the terrorist infrastructure, Israeli officials have begun taking the offensive, with one official saying Monday that the two obligations are not "morally equivalent." Construction on Har Homa, the official said, doesn't kill anyone.

2. Abbas welcomes idea of international force in territories - Jerusalem Post

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he supported a French proposal to deploy an international force to help shore up Palestinian security forces.

3. U.S., Britain to host investors' conference for PA in Bethlehem - Ha'aretz

The United States and Britain will host an investors' conference aimed at bolstering the Palestinian economy in Bethlehem in March or April next year, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Tuesday.

4. IDF test launches upgraded Patriot - ICEJ News

The Israeli military declared a success on Wednesday a test launch of an upgraded Patriot missile battery conducted in the Negev yesterday. The test was held after a number of improvements were made to the U.S.-built Patriot, and was able to take down an aircraft simulating an attack mission

5. Latin Patriarch rejects identifying Israel as 'Jewish state' - ICEJ News
Annual pre-Christmas address pro-Palestinian again

In his annual remarks ahead of Christmas observances, Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah insisted on Wednesday that Palestinians should not be expected to meet Israel's demand that they acknowledge it as a "Jewish state," maintaining that the Holy Land should be shared by all three monotheistic faiths.

6. Experts warn major Israel quakes fast approaching - AFP

As if political instability and rampant insecurity in the Middle East are not worrying enough, Israeli experts are warning that a major earthquake could strike the region at any time.


World Rallies to Aid PA

World Rallies to Aid Palestinian Government
Leaders Say Time to Act is Now

The world rallied to the support of the embattled Palestinian government Monday, and the co-chairman of a donors' conference said he was confident they could meet a $5.6 billion target in aid. World leaders at the conference also urged Israel to ease restrictions on movement in the West Bank and Gaza to make a recovery of the Palestinian economy possible. Some 90 countries and international organizations came together in Paris for the biggest pledging conference in more than a decade.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pledged $555 million for 2008. However, the money includes about $400 million that the White House announced but has not been approved by Congress. For renewed peace efforts to succeed, she said, "the continued and unwavering support of the international community is absolutely vital. That is why we are here today, and not a moment too soon.'' "The Palestinian Authority is experiencing a serious budgetary crisis,'' Rice said. "This conference is literally the government's last hope to avoid bankruptcy.''

From international Mideast envoy Tony Blair to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, participants called for urgent action, saying a new chance for an Israeli- Palestinian peace deal must not be missed. Peace talks resumed last week after seven years of diplomatic deadlock, and international aid is seen as key to making the process work. "We will not rest until we have that two-state solution a reality in this region of the world,'' Blair, a co-sponsor of the conference, told the conference.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the donors must "invest now, invest generously, and remain steadfast in their financial commitments over the next 36 months.'' Some of the biggest donors announced their pledges at the start of the conference. The European Union said it would give $650 million in 2008 and Norway pledged $140 million a year for three years. Britain, France and Germany announced a combined $1.08 billion for three years. Western donors have urged Arab states to do more. Since 2002, Arab League members have been promising the Palestinians $55 million a month but have not always paid in full.

· O, Lord, we ask for the American people to have a stronger voice in allowing so much of our own tax money to go to the Palestinans as has been designated by Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Forgive us for thinking that we can buy peace and cooperation with American money from a people that indulge terrorism. Help Secretary Rice to see the situation from a Biblical point of view. You alone are the Prince of Peace. · "He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him." (Proverbs 18:17)


Omnibus Spending Bill

This Pork's on the House

Mexico City Policy Saved

One of the few bright spots in an otherwise wasteful omnibus spending bill was yesterday's preservation of the pro-life Mexico City policy, which Democrats had threatened to strip from the $515 billion budget package. Facing a presidential veto and plummeting approval ratings, the leadership finally backed off and included the policy, which prevents U.S. tax dollars from funding overseas groups who perform or promote abortion.

Funding Increased for Planned Parenthood

While the outcome was a significant victory for the White House and validated weeks of hard work for the Hill's pro-lifers, its effect is somewhat dulled by the bill's increased funding of Planned Parenthood. The Title X program, which is a prime source of income for abortion organizations, received a $17 million increase--bringing its total funding to just under $300 million.

Abstinence Education Takes a Hit

Unlike past years, abstinence education did not receive a similar raise. Instead, abstinence-until- marriage programs are under intense attack. This week in the omnibus, the President's requirement that 33% of PEPFAR prevention funds go toward the "A" (Abstinence) and "B" (Be Faithful) approach was waived, dealing a severe blow to overseas abstinence efforts. As a result, the U.S. now faces a return to condom-based prevention programs, eroding the progress made in reducing HIV/AIDS rates abroad. Until now, America had been the only major international donor to promote the "A, B" approach in foreign countries.

Examples of "Pork" Abound

Unfortunately, Congress seems more intent on preserving their pet projects in the omnibus bill than saving thousands of human lives through PEPFAR. At last count, the spending proposal had over 8,000 earmarks, including some as inane as Senator Hillary Clinton's (D-N.Y.) "Hippie Museum" and as self- serving as Rep. Charlie Rangel's (D-N.Y.) near-$2 million "Monument to Me." Although (or more likely because) the proposal was chock-full of pork, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) gave the House just 24 hours to review the 3,565 page bill. In this Congress, haste really did mean waste.
(Source: Family Research Council)

· Mixed results like these demonstrate to us yet once again the TRUTH of God's word -- that we must "first of all" pray for "all in authority" that we might lead "quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness."

As all of the 435 members of the House of Representatives and the 100 members of the United States Senate return home now for the holidays, lift each one up in prayer from your own district or state. May our Lord increase His wooing of each one unto Himself, that he or she might find Him as Savior and return to act next year according to His will. Amen.

· "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."(I Timothy 2:1,2)


Bush's Judicial Nominees Stalled in Committee

Bush's Judicial Nominees Stuck in a Holding Pattern

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, likes to tout his progress in considering and confirming judicial nominees. But the numbers tell a different story. In the past 25 years, 17 circuit court nominees, on average, have been confirmed during the final Congress of a presidency. Fifteen of President Clinton's nominees were confirmed during his final two years; just five of President Bush's nominees have been confirmed this year.

Four of Bush's district court nominees - Thomas Farr, James Hall, Richard Honaker and Gustavas Puryear - have been waiting an average of 262 days for hearings. Four circuit court nominees also have been waiting for months: Peter Keisler, Catharina Haynes, Robert Conrad and Steve Matthews.

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst for Focus on the Family Action, said Leahy likes to bury conservative nominees. "The recent extended fight over Leslie Southwick's nomination to the 5th Circuit - which took 10 months - stands out as a classic case of Leahy obstructionism," he said. "Despite his public boasting, Leahy ignores the almost complete standstill this year on the critically important court of appeals nominees. "He routinely employs a 'get even' mentality to ensure that President Bush confirms far fewer federal judges in his eight years than Clinton did in his."

Since the summer recess, the Judiciary Committee has had only one hearing on one circuit court nomination. (CitizenLink)

· The battle over the judiciary still is raging . . . even if it sits on the back burner in the daily headlines. In the New Year, let's make this issue a priority for prayer . . . and for action. As believers, our war is not against any member of the Senate, but against the forces that seek to control them.

· "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph. 6:12)


Update: The Christmas Bill

[Note: On Monday, we reported to you that the House of Representatives voted to pass a bill, sponsored by Rep. Steve King, that honored Christianity in our nation, and upheld our rights to name Christmas as a national holiday. At that time, we reported that nine members of the House, who had voted FOR a similar bill earlier this year, honoring Islam and Ramadan, had voted AGAINST this bill. Please find below the full report on this bill, including the names of those nine members, which comes to us from the Family Research Council, Prayer Targets.]

Anti-Christmas/Pro- Ramadan Congressmen -

Last week the House of Representatives voted on H.R. 847, a resolution "recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith." Sponsored by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) the measure passed by a huge margin. Yet, 17 Democrats who voted either "nay" or "present" to Christmas, voted formally to recognize Ramadan and Islam in October. H. Res. 635, sponsored by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), which acknowledges the "commencement of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting and spiritual renewal, and commended Muslims in the United States and throughout the world for their faith."

The following members voted "no" to H.R. 847 but "yes" to H. Res. 635: Reps. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Fortney Stark (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D- CA). Those who voted "present" on H.R. 847 and "yes" on H. Res. 635 include: Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Barney Frank (D-MA), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Donald Payne (D-NJ), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Peter Welch (D-VT) and John Yarmuth (D-KY). Something is very wrong here.

· May God open the eyes of our leaders who have demonstrated inconsistency and bias toward American Christianity! May God give them an understanding and heart appreciation for our nation's Christian heritage - the very heritage that has given us the strength and disposition to extend tolerance toward people of other faiths!

· "You shall have no other gods before me." (Exodus 20:3)





Wednesday, December 19, 2007

The Daily Brief - Tuesday, December 18, 2007

"He has made an everlasting covenant with me, ordered in all things, and secured. For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow? " (2 Samuel 23:5 NAS)

Today's Daily Brief
1. Mexico City Policy Left Intact in Budget Bill - CNSNews.com

In what can be considered a victory for the Bush administration, Democrats were unable to override a promised presidential veto that would end their fight to reverse the president's ban on aid to family planning groups overseas that provide abortions.

· "Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." (Prov. 14:34)

2. White House Has 'Serious Concerns' About Climate Negotiations - CNSNews.com

Two weeks of tough negotiations at the U.N. climate conference in Bali ended at the weekend with an agreement that few seem genuinely happy about. The "Bali action plan" finalized on Saturday -- after talks went into overtime -- sets the stage for countries to negotiate a new climate change treaty within two years. That treaty would come into force when the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

President Bush has not submitted the Kyoto Protocol to the Senate for ratification. (President Clinton did not do so either.) Bush cited the potential damage to the U.S. economy, and the fact that Kyoto does not require nations like China and India -- big CO2 emitters but still defined as developing countries -- to meet specified emission reduction targets.

· Lord, we pray for people to come to understand why President Bush has not agreed to the Kyoto Protocol. Let them understand that it is not in our best interest to agree to it. We pray that President Bush will be imbued with Your wisdom, discernment, and fortitude to do the right things.

· "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." (Colossians 1:16)

3. Environmentalists Cheer as Senate Passes Energy Bill - CNSNews.com

The Senate passed the energy bill late Thursday to cheers from environmental groups, though critics argue the bill could have done more to boost energy production. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) noted that the House will take up the legislation next week.

· Lord, You are the creator of all things and You have given us the earth to take care of while we are here. We pray that we will not have a wrong view of the stewardship You have given us to take care of the earth! We are not to worship the created things, but rather worship the Creator!

· "I am the Lord, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images . . . Let all give glory to the Lord, And declare His praise in the coastlands." (Isaiah 42:8, 12)

4. Greenspan: U.S. Moving Closer to Recession - ABC News

Former Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan said this morning that even though it seems more and more probable that the United States is headed into a recession, what is remarkable is that the likelihood of a recession is not already higher.

· Lord, even in a time of trials and tribulations, we will have hope because You will be with us. We pray against this prophecy of a recession, that it will not be so. We pray You will give us a covering during hard times as You covered the Israelite children during famines.

· "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

5. Pakistan campaign kicks off after emergency lifted - AFP

Pakistan's election campaign began in earnest on Sunday, a day after President Pervez Musharraf lifted his unpopular emergency rule and restored the constitution.

· Heavenly Father, we know You love the people of Pakistan and want the best for them. We pray for order, peace, and unity in this nation. Let multitudes be saved and the gospel spread quickly, deeply, and mightily to all. We pray that they will be bonded to us in a godly way after the elections.

· "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:25)

6. China supplied the technology for Iran's first solid-fuel missile - World Tribune

Israeli intelligence sources said Iran has developed a solid-fuel missile with a range of 2,000 kilometers. The intelligence sources said Iran acquired solid-fuel technology from China. In 2002, Iran developed the Fateh-110 single-stage solid-propellant, surface-to- surface missile with a range of 200 kilometers, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said the Ashoura missile, similar in range to the Shihab-3, would enable Iran to rapidly prepare an attack against Israel. "This is a major development and exceeds the achievement of Shihab- 3," an intelligence source said.

· Father God, we thank You that it is written in Your word that, at that time, You alone will fight for Israel. May the nations learn of You quickly and bow their knee to You, lest judgment befall them. We pray tonight for the lost souls of China and Iran, that each one would come to know You as their Savior and Lord. Amen.

· "However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities."
(Luke 5:15) "And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women." (Acts 5:14)

7. Russia and Iran to Complete Nuclear Reactor at Bushehr - World Tribune

Iran and Russia have agreed on plans to complete the Bushehr nuclear energy reactor. Russia's state- owned Atomstroiexport, prime contractor of Bushehr, said the timetable would be announced over the next two weeks. "We have resolved all the problems with the Iranians," Atomstroiexport president Sergei Shmatko said. "We have agreed with our Iranian colleagues on a timetable for completing the plant, and we will make an announcement at the end of December."

· Lord, we pray that the Bushehr atomic power station will never be completed. Let there never be agreements between the Russians and the Iranians to share weapons, or work with each other on any projects. Let rogue nations pull back from acquiring weapons that would destroy other nations!

· "But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matthew 12:25)

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

Therefore thus says the LORD; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it. . . and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem." (Zechariah 1:14-16)

1. First Post-Annapolis Israel-PA Meeting: No Results - (IsraelNN.com)

A meeting between Israeli and PA final-status negotiating teams in Jerusalem Wednesday made no progress, except for an agreement to meet again at the end of December. The meeting was agreed upon during last month's Annapolis summit.

2. Palestinians to Receive Billions of Dollars in Aid - CNSNews.com

Even before the international donors conference in Paris began on Monday, the Palestinian Authority seemed to be well on its way to receiving pledges toward its $5.6 billion budget for the next three years, reports said.

3. World Doesn't Grasp 'Severity' of Iranian Threat, Israeli Envoy Says - CNSNews.com

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told government ministers on Sunday to stop making statements about Iran and the recent U.S. National Intelligence Estimate, which said Iran stopped its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

4. Dichter: US report on Iran could bring about another Yom Kippur War - Ynet News

"US misconceptions regarding Iran could bring about another Yom Kippur War in our region," said Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter at a cultural event at the Holon Theater Saturday.

5. Hamas: We're ready for IDF invasion - Jerusalem Post

Hamas has completed preparation plans to counter an expected IDF invasion of the Gaza Strip, the military wing of the Islamic organization announced on Monday.

6. Palestinian UN envoy slams General Assembly adoption of Israeli resolution - Ha'aretz

Israel, often pilloried in the United Nations, claimed an unprecedented diplomatic triumph on Tuesday when a resolution it had drafted, on farm technology rather than Arab-Iraeli issues, was approved by a UN committee. However the decision was blasted by the UN's Palestinian envoy, Riyad Mansour.


Links to Other Resources
In order to keep our Briefs "brief," we ask you to explore other key sites on your own, as you continue to pray for our nation, for Israel, and for His Kingdom on earth.

Recommended sites include the following:

DOMESTIC NEWS:

a. Intercessors for America

b. Family Research Council

c. End-of-Day by Gary Bauer

d. Citizen Link (Focus on the Family)

e. The Daily Jot

f. Traditional Values Coalition

g. Christian Coalition of America

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

a Worthy News

Bridges for Peace

c. Intercessors for Israel

d. The JerUSAlem Connection

" . . . every joint supplies . . ." (Eph. 4:16)

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

On Capitol Hill This Week - Dec 17-21, 2007

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970

chpp@patriot.net


On Capitol Hill This Week

Volume XIV, Number 32a

* * * INTERNATIONAL NEWS * * *

December 17 - 21, 2007

"He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured. For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?" (2 Samuel 23:5 NAS)


On Capitol Hill This Week; Vol. XIV, No. 32a

  1. PRESIDENT BUSH EXERCISES VETO AUTHORITY
  2. DEMOCRATS ASSESS HILL DAMAGE, LEADERSHIP
  3. NAVIGATORS VP CHRISTIE: "THE PRESIDENCY OF GEORGE BUSH IS SURGING"
  4. CONGRESS: WORKING UNTIL CHRISTMAS?
  5. CONGRESS SAYS "MERRY CHRISTMAS"
  6. S. 2409: HONORING GOD IN THE NEW U.S. CAPITOL VISITORS' CENTER
  7. SENATE PASSES 6 BILLION DEFENSE POLICY BILL
  8. BILL INTRODUCED TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR SPACE SHUTTLE
  9. SUMMARY: FLOOR ACTION THIS WEEK
  10. REP. JULIA CARSON OF INDIANA DIES AT 69
  11. REPUBLICANS PICK UP TWO NEW HOUSE SEATS IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS
  12. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES BEGIN IN THREE WEEKS

1. PRESIDENT BUSH EXERCISES VETO AUTHORITY

Although their congressional wish list is a long one, House and Senate leaders are in danger of coming home for Christmas completely empty-handed. After suffering one defeat after another, liberals are beginning to understand the political costs of pushing a radical anti-life, anti-family agenda. Not only is it unpopular with their conservative colleagues and the American people, but it is completely unacceptable in the home that matters most--the White House. With a few swipes of his veto pen, President Bush has handed the majority stinging losses on SCHIP, war funding, tax hikes, energy, and general spending, largely because the leadership was unwilling to work on the issues in a morally responsible way.

The President's message to Congress may finally be sinking in. This week, the Senate panel that oversees the Mexico City policy is very close to dropping their push for repeal. For months, liberals have threatened to overturn the policy, which bans U.S. funding of any group that promotes or performs overseas abortions, by attaching it to a must-pass bill. Yesterday, their threats proved empty. Democrats conceded that they will likely pull the controversial language to give the omnibus spending bill a better chance of passing. We applaud President Bush for forcing the majority's hand on any bill that undermines life, faith, family, and freedom. When it comes to compromise, we are certainly grateful that this President refuses to do so at the expense of America's moral conviction. (Source: "The Veto Pen: Mightier than the Horde," Family Research Council, Washington Update, 12/14/07)

· Because of the prayers of so many Americans undergirding the president, George W. has stood firm against the attacks on American morality, a morality that in many cases encourages other nations to do the same. Give God the praise and worship that is His due. Pray for Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid so that he can know the joy of salvation in Christ Jesus and for Mrs. Nancy Pelosi, who is obviously held captive by certain agendas. It s so much easier to work with the Lord than against HIm. · "Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shall be fed." (Psalm 37:3)

2. DEMOCRATS ASSESS HILL DAMAGE, LEADERSHIP

Congressional Democrats will have plenty to ponder during the Christmas-New Year recess. For instance, why did things go so badly this fall, and how well did their leaders serve them? Partisan players will quarrel for months, but objective analysts say the debate must start here: An embattled president made extraordinary use of his veto power and he was backed by GOP lawmakers who may have put their political fortunes at risk. Also, a new Democratic leadership team overestimated the impact of the Iraq war and the 2006 elections, learning too late they had no tools to force Bush and his allies to compromise on bitterly contested issues.

Both parties seem convinced that voters will reward them 11 months from now. And they agree that Congress' gridlock and frustration are likely to continue until then - and possibly beyond - unless the narrow party margins in the House and Senate change appreciably.

In a string of setbacks last week, Democratic leaders in Congress yielded to Bush and his GOP allies on Iraqi war funding, tax and health policies, energy policy and spending decisions affecting billions of dollars throughout the government. The concessions stunned many House and Senate Democrats, who saw the 2006 elections as a mandate to redirect the war and Bush's domestic priorities. Instead, they found his goals unchanged and his clout barely diminished. (AP)

· Offer continual praise before our Lord for the wisdom of our Founding Fathers, who saw fit to divide the powers of our federal government into three segments -- judicial, legislative, and executive -- thereby creating the system of checks and balances we still enjoy today. Now that the leadership of both houses of Congress has been humbled, pray that, as they seek the way ahead for the year ahead, they would seek Him for guidance. He is able, and He will grant His wisdom, when asked. · "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

3. NAVIGATORS VP CHRISTIE SAYS "THE PRESIDENCY OF GEORGE BUSH IS SURGING."

"The policies and positions the president has advocated since 2001 have led to significant results in recent days. In short, the presidency of George W. Bush is surging, rather than waning, with little more than one year remaining in his term. From the surge in Iraq, vindication with his stem cell position and strong economic development on the home front, President George W. Bush has hit his stride and is surging rather than limping into his last year in office. For those who have counted him out, the president remains resolute, perhaps comfortable in the knowledge that history, rather than bitter partisans in Washington, will favorably reflect on his two terms in office for waging an effective war against terrorism while demonstrating capable stewardship and remarkable domestic accomplishments during a time of war." (Ron Christie, Op-Ed, "Bush Surging, Not Fading, As Tenure's End Nears," The Hill, 12/11/07)

· God hears our prayers! We have stood behind President Bush, and now he is standing with the Lord. Continue to pray that he will fully understand the Israeli/Palestinian problem in the coming year and not falter. Continue to decree with Mr. Christie that this last year of office will be the most fruitful for the president and that the voices of criticism will be silenced. · "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on Thee." (Psalm 25:21)

4. CONGRESS: WORKING UNTIL CHRISTMAS?

It seems that Members of Congress can expect to be in town right up until Christmas Eve due to their failure to pass many of the needed spending bills. Failing to do the jobs they are paid handsomely for, Congress is now moving towards a monstrosity of an omnibus bill that would likely contain a Christmas list of taxpayer- funded pork projects for a number of House and Senate members. Traditionally, omnibus bills are voted on and passed before anyone has a chance to actually read the legislation, resulting in pet projects for Members of Congress who have no qualms about using the public purse to help them get reelected. It is also likely the Democratic leadership will slip into any omnibus a drastic change to current pro-life policy by directing federal funds to international groups that perform or promote abortions. President Bush has vowed to veto any legislation that changes pro-life policy and has also vowed to finally toe the line on keeping federal spending down. A continuing resolution would be the best solution by keeping spending at current levels while also protecting decades-old policy. Rest assured we'll be keeping a close eye on Congress, checking their list twice and reporting back to you who has been naughty and who has been nice. (Family Research Council)

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement on a particularly frustrating morning (the day after there was only 1 roll call vote in the United States Senate and still 12 spending bills for FY08 have not been sent to the president): "It is now December 12, nearly a quarter of the way through the new fiscal year. To date we've only had one spending bill signed into law, the troops in the field haven't been funded, the energy bill is still pending, updates to the laws governing our terrorist surveillance program -- so that we can track terrorists and prevent attacks -- haven't been addressed, and the farm bill still isn't finished."

"Christmas is less than two weeks away. So you'd think there'd be a flurry of activity here on the floor; you'd think that we would be doing everything possible so that we could finish our work before New Year's Eve. But so far this week, we've had a grand total of ONE vote. One. (Senator McConnell's statement was issued on Wednesday and one vote had been conducted in the U.S. Senate up to that time!) And Senator McConnell complained that the Democrat Senate majority leadership, "have set aside the next three hours to try and show that this session's limited accomplishments haven't been their fault; that the endless investigations and midnight Iraq votes weren't the cause. .It's December 12. There is simply no time for political exercises on the Senate floor. We simply don't have the luxury of putting off our fundamental responsibilities any longer." (Christian Coalition of America)

· These articles speak for themselves. It seems that, by now, the entire population of Capitol Hill is being held hostage to political bickering, rather than being allowed to return home to enjoy this season with their families. Take up the Word of God, and decree a BREAKTHROUGH in this legislative logjam, so that the gears of government can function again.> · "Is not My Word like fire," says the Lord, "and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces?" (Jer. 23:29)

5. CONGRESS SAYS "MERRY CHRISTMAS"

Yesterday, the House of Representatives voted 372-to- 9 in support of a resolution recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith in the founding of the United States and formation of Western Civilization. The resolution was sponsored by Rep. Steve King of Iowa, a great conservative champion.

Earlier this year, the House passed measures honoring Ramadan and Diwali, a Hindu holiday. But Rep. King noted, "Watching Congress honor Islam during Ramadan, and also Diwali brought it home to me that we were doing that and not honoring Christianity. This nation has about 225 million Christians out of 300 million. And the foundations of this nation are a Christian foundation [and] our founders were Christian. So for us to move forward towards Christmas without honoring Christ is, I think a great omission, especially if we're going to honor other religions."

By the way, all nine "No" votes were Democrats, and eight of the nine voted in support of the Ramadan resolution.

· Praise the Lord for the alertness of Rep. King in honoring the Christian foundations of this nation. Shame on those who voted no. While we don't know their identities, the Lord does. Please pray for their salvation in Jesus Christ, who came to set the captive free. · "The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul." (Proverbs 16:17) May the Lord preserve the soul of America!

6. SENATE PASSES 6 BILLION DEFENSE POLICY BILL

The Senate on Friday passed a defense policy bill that would offer more help to troops returning from combat and set conditions on contractors and pricey weapons programs. The measure reflects the best Democrats could do this year on their national security agenda while holding such a slim majority. Powerless to overcome GOP objections in the Senate, the bill does not order troops home from Iraq, as Democrats would have liked. The 90-3 vote follows House approval earlier this week and sends the measure to President Bush to sign, which he is expected to do.

"Caring for our troops and their families must always be our top priority," said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., chairman of the Armed Services Committee, which helped write the bill. The bill, which covers the 2008 budget year, authorizes 6 billion in military spending, including 9 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

· Offer praise for this breakthrough, and continue in prayer, asking that the momentum begun with this passage would continue until all other bills have been passed to keep the government running next year! · "For . . . all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?" (2 Sam. 23:5)

7. S. 2409: HONORING GOD IN THE NEW CAPITOL VISITORS' CENTER

Sen. Jim DeMint [R-SC] introduced S. 2409: A bill to direct the Architect of the Capitol to ensure that the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the national motto "In God We Trust" are each displayed prominently in the Capitol Visitor Center on a permanent basis and to prohibit the Architect from removing or refusing to include language or other content from exhibits and materials relating to the Capitol Visitor Center on the grounds that the language or content includes a religious reference or Judeo-Christian content. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.

· Pray for quick passage of this bill! In this day and age, honoring God in the public square is now a matter of law. Pray that Congress will follow the example set by our Founding Fathers by including historic documents that reflect our nation's Judeo-Christian heritage in the Capitol Visitors' Center. Amen.

· "This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. . .'" (Jer. 6:16a)

8. BILL INTRODUCED TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR SPACE SHUTTLE

President Bush has ordered the shuttles retired in 2010 and directed NASA to develop new rockets and spaceships to carry astronauts to the moon. The policy, however, limits NASA to its current funding plus inflation, so a new fleet won't fly until at least 2015. In response, U.S. Rep. David Weldon today outlined legislation to extend shuttle flights beyond the scheduled 2010 retirement. Weldon has said he does not want the Chinese and Russians to be the only countries capable of launching humans to space for five years or more. A statement from Weldon's office said his proposed legislation would keep up employment at Kennedy Space Center.

· Please pray for momentum to build behind this legislation. If we can't fly the Shuttle for 5 years, we could potentially be very vulnerable, especially with the heightened strain in relations with China and Russia. While it may help the district economically, the real issue is national security and control of space. · " . . . if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven." (Mt. 18:19)

9. SUMMARY: FLOOR ACTION THIS WEEK

Week of December 17:

The Senate plans to debate a federal wiretapping bill that would give the courts and Congress some oversight of the spy program that taps into foreign calls through - and to - the US. What's up in the air is whether senators will give telecom companies (that went along with the allegedly illegal earlier wiretap program) retro-active immunity from a slew of lawsuits. One possibility is that senators will vote to keep the lawsuits open - but make the US government pay up for any damages won.

The House is expected to polish off an energy bill that made it through the Senate last week (after senators snipped out measures to add green energy use in electricity and roll back tax breaks for the oil industry). What did make it in to the final bill: a hike in gas mileage standards up to 35mpg by 2020 (from 25mpg today), mandates for gas companies to use 36 billion of biofuel by 2022 (with over half coming from "cellulosic" biofuel made from grass and woodchips) and efficiency standards which will kiss your incandescent bulbs goodbye.

House leaders may give up on pay-as-you-go rules to pass a final Alternative Minimum Tax bill this week. Like the Senate - and pretty much everyone in the US - the House wants to extend middle-class exemptions from the dreaded AMT. Unlike the Senate, the House preferred to cover the billion cost of a one year extension (through taxes on hedge funds and multi- national corporations). But with the Senate's heals dug in, House leaders may give pay-go the heave-ho and add the cost of the extension onto our national debt tab. (CitizenJoe.org)

10. REP. JULIA CARSON OF INDIANA DIES AT 69

Rep. Julia Carson, who rose from a childhood of poverty and segregation to become the first black and first woman to represent Indianapolis in Congress, died Saturday. She was 69. Carson died of lung cancer at her home, where she had spent the past several weeks, family spokeswoman Vanessa Summers said. Carson had persevered through major heart surgery and years of health problems before revealing her lung cancer last month, saying she would not seek election in 2008 to a seventh term. Carson had been away from Washington since late September, when she was hospitalized with a leg infection.

Carson, a Democrat, was first elected to Congress in 1996. She championed children's issues, women's rights and efforts to reduce homelessness, and was a staunch opponent of the war in Iraq. During her 11 years in Congress, Carson's highest-profile action came in 1999, when she pushed for the legislation granting the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks, the black woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Ala., and was arrested for her defiance.

Gov. Mitch Daniels will have to call a special election to choose a replacement for the last year of Carson's term. (AP)

· Lift up the family and friends of Rep. Carson, asking our Lord to comfort them in their time of sorrow. · "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." (Matt. 5:4)

· Lift up Governor Daniels, as he seeks the one who will fill this seat in the House through next year on behalf of the people of the State of Indiana. · "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (Psalm 32:8)

11. REPUBLICANS PICK UP TWO NEW HOUSE SEATS IN OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS
WITTMAN WINS IN VIRGINIA, LATTA WINS IN OHIO Bob Latta (R-OH) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) won special elections on December 11th for the House. The elections were important and conservative Republicans won both of them. These were not just Republican victories, but victories for the social conservative movement. Bob Latta and Rob Wittman are solid pro- life social conservatives. They won with very large margins despite a huge amount of money spent by the Democrat party. It seems that the word is out about Nancy Pelosi and the voters don't want to send her anyone else to help her in the House. (Religious Freedom Coalition)

· Continue to pray without ceasing, both over this Congress and the one to be elected next year. Ask for a special blessing for both Congressmen Wittman and Latta as they begin to serve the voters of their states for the remainder of this term of office. · "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)

12. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES BEGIN IN THREE WEEKS

(Source: Intercessors for America) The first of the primaries and caucuses for the 2008 presidential election are scheduled as follows:

-- Iowa (Jan 3)
-- New Hampshire (Jan 8)
-- Nevada (Jan 19 )
-- South Carolina (Jan 19 & 26 ).

· Intercede against confusion created by the accelerated round of early primary Presidential elections. Intercede that the Lord maintain constitutional order and domestic tranquility, and that He thwart undue political obsession by the media during the Christmas season.

· Intercede that moral, God-fearing, pro-life, and pro- family men and women be selected, supported, and find favor in local, state, and national campaigns. Pray that the Lord reveal His choices, expose corruption, immorality, bribery, hidden agendas, and controlling persons or special interests. · "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)


This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . .

GOD OF ALL GRACE (Ehlohay HaKhesed)

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (I Peter 5:10)

Dear Lord,

I know that You are waiting for me at the finish line of this trial. As I persevere, thank You for perfecting and establishing me in Messiah. Thank You, God of All Grace, for always bringing me through victoriously. Thank You that success is not dependent on my strength, but my reliance of Your strength and Your grace. How lovely is Your name, O God of all grace!

"In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted." (Isaiah 12:4)

(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)


On Capitol Hill This Week

Volume XIV, Number 32b

* * * INTERNATIONAL NEWS * * *

December 17 - 21, 2007

"He has made an everlasting covenant with me, Ordered in all things, and secured. For all my salvation and all my desire, Will He not indeed make it grow?" (2 Samuel 23:5 NAS)

On Capitol Hill This Week; Vol. XIV, No. 32b

  1. PAKISTANI TERRORIST ESCAPES
  2. SUDAN DIVESTMENT LEGISLATION
  3. S. RES. 399: CALLING FOR CONTINUED VIGILANCE OF NORTH KOREA
  4. BRITISH HAND OVER CONTROL OF BASRA TO IRAQ
  5. SUICIDE EPIDEMIC AMONG RECENT VETERANS
  6. IRAN MAKES PUSH INTO NICARAGUA
  7. AHMADINEJAD MAKES PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA
  8. U.S. OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH ARCH FOES: IRAN AND SYRIA
  9. PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES UNDERGO TRAINING IN RUSSIA
  10. ISRAELI-SPONSORED RESOLUTION PASSES IN THE U.N.

1. PAKISTANI TERRORIST ESCAPES

Pakistani authorities are hunting for a British man suspected in an alleged plot to blow up trans-Atlantic jetliners who escaped police custody, a deep embarrassment to the government of President Pervez Musharraf. Rashid Rauf fled Saturday after appearing before a judge at a court in the capital Islamabad in connection with an inquiry before his extradition to Britain, Interior Secretary Kamal Shah said Sunday.

Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz assured Ambassador Robert Brinkely that the suspect's capture was a "priority," British High Commission spokeswoman Laura Davies said. Rauf managed to open his handcuffs and evade two police guards who were supposed to take him back to jail in nearby Rawalpindi, police said Saturday. "We are still trying to ascertain where he managed to escape," Shah said, adding it was unclear if Rauf slipped away at the court complex or en route to the jail. "The two constables are being interrogated for their criminal negligence."

Rauf, who is of Pakistani origin, was arrested here in August 2006 on a tip from British investigators. Pakistan described him as a key suspect in a purported plot to blow up airplanes flying from Britain to the United States, prompting a major security alert at airports worldwide and increased restrictions on carry-on items. He was charged with possessing chemicals that could be used in making explosives and with carrying forged travel documents. (Fox News)

· "But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." (Luke 12:2)

2. SUDAN DIVESTMENT LEGISLATION

The Senate passed S - 2271, legislation which allows state governments, asset and pension fund managers to divest from companies that do business with Sudan. The bill passed this week by by unanimous consent. A sponsor of the legislation, Senator Sam Brownback (R - KS) said, "This divestment legislation allows the United States to work more effectively to change the economic calculations of the Sudanese regime . Since 2003, more than 400,000 people have died in Darfur and more than 2.5 million have been displaced. We must not stand idly by as more people are displaced from their homes or are killed. We have said not on our watch, and now we have said not on our dime." (Religious Freedom Coaltion)

· Praise the Lord that our Congress is taking a monetary stand against the wicked regime in the Sudan. Ask the Lord to bless Sen. Brownback for getting this legislation through the Senate; now it must move through the House. Pray also that God will bring down this ungodly regime in the Sudan through His divine intervention. · "Deliver me [Sudan], O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man." (Psalm 71:4)

3. S. RES. 399: CALLING FOR CONTINUED VIGILANCE OF N. KOREAN REGIME

Senator Sam Brownback today introduced S. Res. 399, a resolution that sets the conditions for the State Department's proposed removal of North Korea from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. "If the United States takes the step of removing North Korea from the terrorism list, let's at least make clear the conditions for such a removal," said Brownback. "I question the merits of the State Department's decision to remove North Korea from its terrorist list, but this resolution allows the Senate to voice its views on a key American foreign policy objective." Brownback continued, "It is important that the United States sends a loud and clear message to the North Korean regime that we will remain vigilant. There are talks underway to continue subsidizing the North Korean regime with tangible economic and political benefits, re-legitimizing the regime after its ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests of last year."

In October, North Korea agreed to disable its key nuclear facilities and declare its nuclear stockpile by the end of this year. Contingent on North Korea's execution of this agreement, the United States may remove North Korea from the State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The resolution, co-sponsored by Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Jon Kyl (R-AZ), and Joe Lieberman (I- CT), establishes benchmarks which must be met before the United States eases certain restrictions against the government of North Korea. The resolution also states that the United States government should not provide any financial assistance to North Korea until Secretary of State Rice ensures certifications regarding the submission of applications for refugee status. (Office of Senator Sam Brownback)

· Again, may the Lord richly bless Senator Brownback for his alertness to potential trouble with North Korea and the State Department's proposal to remove that vicious regime from the terrorist list. Sen. Brownback has visited North Korea several times and knows the oppressiveness of the regime. Pray that the State Department accepts the Senate's resolution in the spirit in which it has been given - that North Korea cannot yet be trusted. Wisdom works! · "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless, the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." (Proverbs 19:21)

4. BRITISH HAND OVER CONTROL OF BASRA TO IRAQ

The U.S.-led coalition has been gradually transferring control of security to the Iraqi government and Britain's handover of southern Basra this weekend was the latest in a series that began in July 2006. The coalition retains control over half of Iraq's 18 provinces, including Anbar and central areas where violence has waned but not stopped. "This is a step toward resuming security responsibilities in all of Iraq's provinces that is due in the middle of next year," Iraqi National Security adviser Mouwaffak al-Rubaie said in Basra. He represented Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki at the handover ceremony in the capital of the oil-rich region.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, en route to Paris for a gathering of world donors to the Palestinians, said she was "heartened" by Britain's handover of Basra. "We obviously recognize and the British recognize that there's still a lot of work to do in terms of building a stable foundation in the south and there continue to be problems there," Rice told reporters on the flight to Paris. "We're very heartened that there's a sense that security can be turned over. But it doesn't mean that there aren't continuing problems in the south." (AP)

· As we write this report, Congress has now approved funding for our troops in Iraq for the next year. Offer praise for this turn of events, and offer praise that the SURGE initiated by President Bush IS working! Ask our Lord to grace our troops with unusual strength, stamina, and endurance as they continue to secure the nation of Iraq from terrorist thugs. · "Run in such a way as to get the prize." (I Corin. 9:24)

5. SUICIDE EPIDEMIC AMONG RECENT VETERANS

They are the casualties of wars you don't often hear about - soldiers who die of self-inflicted wounds. Little is known about the true scope of suicides among those who have served in the military. But a five-month CBS News investigation discovered data that shows a startling rate of suicide, that some call a hidden epidemic.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, stated, "If you're just looking at the overall number of veterans themselves who've committed suicide, we have not been able to get the numbers." CBS News' investigative unit wanted the numbers, so it submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the Department of Defense asking for the numbers of suicides among all service members for the past 12 years. Four months later, they sent CBS News a document, showing that between 1995 and 2007, there were almost 2,200 suicides. That's 188 last year alone. But these numbers included only "active duty" soldiers.

Without success, CBS News went to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Then CBS News did an investigation - asking all 50 states for their suicide data, based on death records, for veterans and non- veterans, dating back to 1995. Forty-five states sent what turned out to be a mountain of information. In 2005, for example, in just those 45 states, there were at least 6,256 suicides among those who served in the armed forces. That's 120 each and every week, in just one year. (CBSNews.com)

· The Lord is telling us that we need to be putting the full armor of God on every one of our soldiers who are fighting in the war against terror. While their bodies are protected by physical armor, their spirits and emotions are exposed, even raw when they return home. If you live near a veterans hospital, be sure to pray over the veterans as you pass by; if there are veterans in your church and neighborhood, be sure to pray protection over them. Otherwise, put the full armor of God on our soldiers. Do not let lives be quenched by a spirit of death. · "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

6. IRAN MAKES PUSH INTO NICARAGUA

The San Antonio News-Express said Monday that Nicaragua, with the backing of its Venezuelan ally, has been forging a new partnership with Iran to the alarm of some U.S. state department officials. Part of that relationship comes in the form of a 0 million deep- water port at Monkey Point on Nicaragua's Atlantic coast that is to extend across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. Iran has also recently opened an embassy in Nicaraguan capital of Managua.

Some state department officials are concerned that Iran's presence in Nicaragua would allow Tehran to stage strikes on American interests by deploying the terrorist group Hezbollah and Revolutionary Guard operatives already in Latin America, the Express reported. Cargo-News Asia reported that the port, which is expected to provide connectivity to the ports in the East Coast of the United States and to Europe, could be a possible windfall for the poverty stricken country. The project is seen as an about-face for a country that has been reluctant to embrace foreign investment. (AP)

· As Iran works to establish a Central American foothold in Nicaragua, create a canopy of prayer over this part of our continent, asking our Lord to release His angels to bring protection to that nation and to ours. Pray for Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, asking that he not be lured by the pride of life and by false "riches," but that he would instead turn to the Lord for guidance as he seeks to lead his people out of poverty and into a future with a hope. Pray! · "Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die): Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:7-9)

7. AHMADINEJAD MAKES PILGRIMAGE TO MECCA

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was due to arrive in Mecca Monday to join millions of Muslims making the pilgrimage to Islam's birthplace. He is the first Iranian leader invited to make the trip since the 1979 Islamic evolution. The annual event known as the hajj brings together Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims from around the world for several days during which various rites are performed, including special prayers, animal sacrifices and a symbolic stoning of the devil. The Saudi government invited Ahmadinejad to take part this year when he attended a Gulf Cooperation Council summit in Qatar late last month. His attendance at the summit was also a first for an Iranian leader, and it is seen as a sign of an opening up to Tehran by the Sunni Arab world. (CNSNews.com)

· As the players on the end-time stage in the Middle East continue to assume their positions, cry out for the souls of all who follow the deception of Islam. The devil is not cowed by having stones thrown at him; but by the Blood of Jesus Christ, to whom he must bow. For now, decree that this new alliance between Saudi Arabia and Iran will not prosper, and that their ties will be undone. · "The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked." (Psalm 129:4)

8. U.S. OFFICIALS TO MEET WITH ARCH FOES: IRAN AND SYRIA

US and Iranian officials are scheduled to hold talks in Baghdad on December 18, in a joint effort to quell the violence in Iraq. Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari confirmed the meeting. According to reports the ambassadors of both countries, while bitter enemies have met three times in the past. Washington accuses Teheran of providing funds and arms for Shi\'te militias that operate in Iraq. However Zehari told reporters the meeting will be "technical and a follow up to the last meeting of security experts, not at the level of ambassadors deputy chiefs of missions and security experts."

There are also unconfirmed reports that US Administration officials intended to meet with Syrian officials in the near future. Possibly in an attempt to coax Syrian President Bashar Assad away from the Islamic Republic in order to isolate Syria from Iran and possibly encourage the Syrian regime to engage in peace talks with Israel. [Reported by: Bridges for Peace

· Pray that this new tactic of speaking with Iran and Syria will not lead to greater catastrophe and will not isolate Israel in future planning. This is a serious development to be watched carefully and regarded with commitment to prayer. · "Your fierceness has deceived you, the pride of your heart, O you who dwell in the clefts of the rock, who hold the height of the hill! Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring you down from there," says the LORD." (Jeremiah 49:16)

9. PALESTINIAN SECURITY FORCES UNDERGO TRAINING IN RUSSIA

Fearing a West Bank [Judea and Samaria] coup by Hamas, Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen] have been sent to Russia to undergo a 30 day course in weapons training, rescuing hostages and arresting armed suspects.

According to a report in the New York Daily News, the Palestinian counter terror unit called Al Himaya Wal Isnad (Protection and Reinforcement) has sent its first batch of 25 officers. The Palestinian security forces are undergoing training in a secret Russian base, and the Russian instructors are members of the elite Alpha unit, many of whom fought against Moslem rebels in Chechnya.

The report claims that similar courses are being conducted in France, Germany and Algeria, and there are plans to send scores of Palestinian security forces abroad each month. Dr. Ibrahim Khraishi the assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs said the troops are receiving good training.

In order to motivate the Palestinian security forces a cell phone video clip shows footage of a Fatah leader lynched by Hamas in July in Gaza being dragged through the streets. (Bridges for Peace)

· Pray that the major powers will not contribute to more killing in the Middle East by equipping militants for war. · "Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted." (Psalm 140:8)

10. ISRAELI-SPONSORED RESOLUTION PASSES IN THE U.N.
First Time Ever for Israel!

The United Nations General Assembly's Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today adopted an Israeli-initiated draft resolution dealing with agricultural technology for development. After a lengthy diplomatic process, which lasted more than six months, UN-member states supported the resolution in a vote of 118 countries in favor, with 29 abstentions and no objections. The resolution calls on developed countries to make their knowledge and know-how in the field of agricultural technology more accessible to the developing world, in particular the eradication of extreme poverty and hunger. The resolution calls on the UN Secretary General to submit a report to the General Assembly on its implementation within two years.

The resolution is the culmination of an unprecedented process in which Israel for the first time initiated a socio-economic resolution at the UN General Assembly, on the first subject which the UN has set among its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)- the eradication of poverty and elimination of hunger, with the goal of halving the world level of poverty and hunger by 2015. The resolution adopted today by the UN gives expression to Israeli know-how in the areas of agriculture, fighting desertification, rural development, irrigation, medical development, computers and the empowerment of women, as reflected for many years in Israel\'s contribution to developing nations, particularly in Africa.

This is an important achievement for Israeli diplomacy, reflecting Israel's desire to fulfill its role in the UN institutions and the international community in the professional arena, and to demonstrate our high level and capabilities in the area of science and research. Now, after the adoption of resolution, will begin the phase of implementation, in cooperation with the relevant UN bodies and states, in which Israel's contribution will be brought into practice.

Following the adoption of the resolution, Ambassador Dan Gillerman, permanent representative of Israel to the UN, said: "This first, historic Israeli-initiated resolution adopted by the UN is a signal of Israel's exceptional contribution to the world. Israel will continue to share its creative and innovative ideas, and will demonstrate that it is an equal, respected member at the UN, having much to offer to the organization's agenda, and beyond the Israeli- Palestinian conflict." (By Israel MFA Spokesman, December 11, 2007)

· Praise God for this wonderful success for the Israeli's in the United Nations. Israel has waited a long time for this moment. Join in their joy and pray the recognition will not be short-lived. · "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously." (2 Samuel 7:10)


This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . .

GOD OF ALL GRACE (Ehlohay HaKhesed)

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (I Peter 5:10)

Dear Lord,

I know that You are waiting for me at the finish line of this trial. As I persevere, thank You for perfecting and establishing me in Messiah. Thank You, God of All Grace, for always bringing me through victoriously. Thank You that success is not dependent on my strength, but my reliance of Your strength and Your grace. How lovely is Your name, O God of all grace!

"In that day you will say: "Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted." (Isaiah 12:4)

(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)