1. Total Web Failure Hits 2 Continents- AP
India's lucrative outsourcing industry struggled Thursday to overcome Internet slowdowns and outages after cuts in two undersea cables sliced the country's bandwidth in half. The disruption - which has hit a swath of users from Egypt to Bangladesh - began to affect much of the Middle East on Wednesday, when outages caused a slowdown in traffic on Dubai's stock exchange.
· Father we are so very aware of our dependence upon foreign markets and industries, and how dependent all nations are on the internet. We pray for the security of the internet worldwide to be preserved, and that no plan of the enemy be allowed to succeed. We also ask that no repercussions of this situation hit the United States in any way.
·"No weapon formed against you shall prosper." (Isaiah 54:17)
2. U.S. Military Not Ready for Catastrophic Domestic Attack, Independent Commission Says- AP
The U.S. military isn't ready for a catastrophic attack on the country, and National Guard forces don't have the equipment or training they need for the job, according to a report. Even fewer Army National Guard units are combat-ready today than were nearly a year ago when the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves determined that 88 percent of the units were not prepared for the fight, the panel says in a new report released Thursday.
· Lord, we ask that Your Heavenly Host stand in the gap for us. We put our complete trust in You for preservation.
· I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on HIm I lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust! (Ps 91:2 Amp)
3. Atheists Assail Bill Recognizing America's Religious History- (CNSNews.com)
A resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that recognizes America's "rich spiritual and religious history" is drawing fire from some of America's most prominent atheists.
· Father, we bind the lies of the antichrist spirit that operates within the halls of Congress. We take authority over the plans of our enemies. Let them fall into their own nets, while we pass by safely. We ask Your Holy Spirit to convict hearts and radically change our course back to You. We declare Your Lordship over our lawmakers and say that this nation was founded on Your words, and Your words will prevail.
· " whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)
4. Economy Nearly Stalled in 4th Quarter- AP
The economy nearly stalled in the fourth quarter with a growth rate of just 0.6 percent, capping its worst year since 2002. Wednesday's Commerce Department report showed that the economy deteriorated considerably during the October-to-December quarter as worsening problems in the housing market and harder-to-get credit, made individuals and businesses more cautious in their spending. Fears of a recession have grown, even as inflation remained elevated.
· Lord, we ask that Your truth be revealed to our leadership at this campaign season of false promises and deceptions. Let the realities bring Your answers to bear on the issue of the economy, and may leadership operate with wisdom rather than foolishness.
· "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted." (Proverbs 11:11)
5. Tighter U.S. Border ID Rules Begin- MSNBC
New rules for the types of identification U.S. or Canadian citizens must present to cross into the country shouldn't cause significant delays and won't be strictly enforced at first, a senior federal official said. Under the rules going into effect Thursday, people will no longer be allowed to simply declare to immigration officers at border crossings that they are citizens, said Jayson Ahern, deputy commissioner with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
· Lord, this law was intended to help secure our borders against terrorists and illegals. We pray that its original intent would be accomplished, and its ordinances would be properly administered. May Your truth be established in all actions along our borders.
· "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth." (Psalm 199:142)
6. ABUSE OF U.S. MUSLIM WOMEN IS GREATER THAN REPORTED, ADVOCACY GROUPS SAY - FOX NEWS
Here in America, advocacy groups say those who turn to their community for help do not always find it, in particular from some religious leaders who, although they are in the United States, still hold to cultural traditions of their homeland and do not clearly reject violence against women.
· Father, we pray for a mighty move of Your Spirit within the American Muslim community. We especially pray for freedom and Your liberty for the women of Islamic background worldwide. May they know the love of Jesus, and the value of their lives to the Only True Living God.
· "He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of prison to those who are bound." (Isaiah 61:1)
7. Weather Issues Across The Globe- AP, MSNBC
a) China Struggles to Cope with Winter Storms as More Snow Forecast
Crowds of frantic Chinese travelers shouted, shoved and climbed over each other as they fought for seats Wednesday on the few trains leaving southern China amid winter storms that have severely crippled the transport system during the nation's busiest travel season.
b) MSNBC- The nation's midsection woke up Thursday to more bad weather, this time a storm that iced over parts of the Southern Plains as it moved northeast to cities like Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The West Coast, meanwhile, was getting its fourth storm in a week. [I90, the main corridor across Washington State, was closed on Wednesday following an avalanche that buried at least one vehicle. It remains closed as of Thursday morning].
· Lord, we seek Your mercy over the people in this winter's icy blast. Wherever the severe weather has hit, it has created serious repercussions in the availability of food, travel, heating, and other safety issues. We ask for Your loving hand to touch all of these people and give them grace and protection in the midst of these storms.
· "Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation." (Psalm 27:9)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"[Nebuchadnezzar] was driven from the sons of men . . . till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and He appoints over it whomsoever He will." (Daniel 5:21)
1. Winograd: Political, military leadership failed during war - Ynet News
"Overall, we regard the Second Lebanon War as a serious missed opportunity. Israel initiated a long war, which ended without its clear military victory," the Winograd Commission concluded in its final report on the conduct of Israel's political and military leadership during the 33-day war in southern Lebanon in the summer of 2006.
2. 'Israel, Egypt meet on Gaza status' - Jerusalem Post
An Israeli defense delegation secretly visited Cairo on Monday and discussed the situation in Rafah with top Egyptian officials in a five-hour meeting, the London-based Asharq Alawsat newspaper reported Tuesday.
3. High Court approves limiting Gaza power supply - Ynet News Prayers for the Persecuted Church 1. Jordan: Authorities Expel Foreign Christians - Worthy News 2. China Police "Burning" Bibles and "Beating" Christians in Yunan Province - Worthy News 3. Pakistan Evangelical Pastor Killed Amid Growing Religious Tensions - Worthy News
The High Court of Justice rejected Wednesday the petitions against the limiting of power and fuel supply to the Gaza Strip.
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Mt. 5:44)
Jordan has increased pressure on foreign Christians living in the kingdom, expelling many long-time residents over the past 13 months in what local churches see as an attack on their legitimacy.
Members of a house church in China's Yunan Province were "severely beaten" by police officials, who earlier "burned" the church's Bibles, a Christian rights group said Wednesday, January 30.
Christians in Pakistan's volatile North West Frontier Province (NWFP) faced new tensions Wednesday, January 30, amid reports that a Pakistani pastor has been shot and killed because of his involvement in evangelistic work.
In the latest round of political musical chairs, when the music stopped last night in Florida Mayor Giuliani was knocked out. What happened to this front runner who just months ago was all but anointed as the GOP candidate, the only one who could beat Hillary Clinton? The pundits have been quick to say that the shift in voter focus over the last few weeks from the war to the economy led to his demise. If that were true, then why did John McCain win Florida? McCain is known for his positions on national defense; it is Mitt Romney, who trailed McCain in Florida, who is most identified with economic conservatism.
In reality Giuliani's Big Apple values were found to be too liberal for the Republican Party. His pro-abortion rights position and his support of special rights for homosexuals were too much for Republican voters. In an in-depth Washington Post article today, Michael Leahy and Michael Shear provide a revealing chronicle of the Giuliani campaign and his forced retreat from the early states because of his liberalism. The article quotes an evangelical state senator in Iowa who was a Giuliani backer, Jeff Angelo, who says the campaign was shocked at the intensity of the opposition to Giuliani from pro-life voters. They pulled out of Iowa when it was clear that Giuliani's support of abortion rights was a "pro-life deal-breaker." Giuliani's failed candidacy is evidence that values voters can sink a candidate, but can they elect a candidate? (Continue reading at FRCAction.org)
(Tony Perkins' Washington Update; Family ResearchCouncil Jan. 30, 2008)
Dr. Dobson: "A Lot of Things Happen in a Campaign"
Months ago, the mainstream media announced with confidence the presidential race would come down to Sen. Hillary Clinton and former Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman of Focus on the Family Action, was pressured to support the pro-abortion Giuliani in order to defeat Clinton.
Not so fast, said Dr. Dobson.
"We have seen elections, that they're very dynamic, they're volatile, they change," he told conservative talk- show host Sean Hannity in October. "We're assuming that Hillary is going to win. A lot of things happen in a campaign. All kinds of changes can occur. Candidates can fall on their faces."
Dr. Dobson was right: By the end of the day today, both Giuliani and former Sen. John Edwards were expected to be out of the running.
Dr. Dobson went on to say his pro-life values come first, not the electability of a candidate. "I evaluate the principles and the values that I care about most, that I've worked for most of my life, and then I have to determine who is most closely aligned with those values," he said.
Gary Schneeberger, vice president of media and public relations at Focus Action, said media consumers have to take what they hear about the election from pundits - even conservative pundits - with a large grain of salt. "We have to remember, especially in this 24-hour- news-cycle culture, that reporters and editors and analysts get paid to fill up airwaves and news pages," he said. "Their job is to have something to say every minute of every day - and that leaves them sometimes with little to do but find different ways to state the same opinion. That's what was happening this fall with the Giuliani candidacy - the conventional wisdom was that he was destined for the GOP nomination. Well, as it turns out, the conventional wisdom wasn't that wise."
"Dr. Dobson has never been someone who takes stands or issues statements based on polls. He just doesn't put a lot of stock in them - particularly when they are trying to predict who is going to win a presidential election that at the time was more than a year away. "Some people scoffed at him when he said, 'Hold on, there's a lot of campaigning still to do.' But time has proven him right."
(Focus on the Family; CitizenLink; Jan. 30, 2008)
Aborting Native American Babies
On January 22, the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) offered an amendment to S.1200, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. It prohibits the use of federal Indian Health Service (IHS) funds for abortions, except to save the life of the mother, or in cases of rape or incest of a minor. Although the Hyde Amendment has prohibited the use of federal funds to pay for abortions since 1976, IHS funds have continued to be used to pay for abortions due to a loophole - the absence of a "Hyde provision" in the Interior appropriations law.
· May Americans be shocked to know that their tax dollars have been funding abortions among Native Americans all this time! May this injustice be corrected by passage of the Vitter Amendment! If there are any other loopholes through which Americans fund abortion, may they speedily be exposed!
· "Thou shalt not kill." (Exodus 2)
Prayer for the Primaries
Next week is SUPER TUESDAY, when more than 20 states have scheduled their contests for the earliest date allowed by the party without special exception.
· 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)
For a complete guide to the Republican primaries, go here:
For a complete guide to the Democratic primaries, go here:
