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Please note:
The Daily Brief will not be published tomorrow, Friday, March 21,
in honor of Good Friday.
We wish to take this opportunity to wish all of our wonderful friends and prayer partners God's richest blessings during this weekend, as we all gather to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.
JESUS IS RISEN! HE brings Life to ALL . . .
AMEN!
Today's Daily Brief
1. New Bin Laden Tape Threatens European Attack - AP .. Religion of Peace?
Osama bin Laden warned in a new audiotape of a "severe" reaction for the publication of cartoons of Islam's Prophet Muhammad in what experts saw as a direct threat of a new attack in Europe.
· Lord we apply the Cross of Jesus Christ against all terrorist plans, and pray that all hidden secrets and desires of the enemy be thwarted.
· "Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves." (Psalm 140:8)
2. Bush Declares Major Disaster in Central U.S. As Floods Kill at Least 13 - AP
President Bush Wednesday evening declared a major disaster in Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in areaa struck by severe storms and flooding.
· Lord we pray for Your help for the people who are in the path of these floods. We ask that You help them in their need, and flood their souls with Your Presence.
· ". . . in wrath remember mercy." (Habbakuk 3:2b)
3. Top Automakers: We Are Ready For Economic Downturn - AP
If the economy continues to worsen and U.S. auto sales nosedive, the top executives of General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC say they are prepared to weather the downturn.
· Lord we thank you for an attitude of perseverance on the part of these automakers. We pray yet again for Your mercy over our economy, and wisdom for all of America's businesses.
· "He sent His word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)
4. Michigan Congressman Wants 50 Cent Hike on Every Gallon of Gas - AP
A Michigan congressman wants to put a 50-cent tax on every gallon of gasoline to try to cut back on Americans' consumption. . . Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., wants to help cut consumption with a gas tax but some don't agree with the idea, according to a new poll by the National Center for Public Policy Research.
· Father with people already struggling with high gas prices, we ask that You block this plan by Congressman Dingell to further deepen the financial struggles of Americans. We bind the deception that has gripped him, and loose Your truth over his heart and mind.
· "And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from his shoulder, and his yoke off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing." (Isaiah 10:27)
5. Tax-Control Advocates May Go to Jail in Oklahoma - CNSNews.com
A veteran activist for taxpayer ballot initiatives and two associates could face up to 10 years in prison in Oklahoma for exercising what libertarians say is a basic constitutional right: circulating petitions to get an initiative on the state ballot.
· Lord the people of our nation have circulated petitions for centuries. We pray that you will be with these people facing jail time, and bring Your comfort to them. If they have done a wrong in Your sight, have mercy. If they have done nothing, we ask Your vindication.
· "My defense is of God, who saveth the upright of heart." (Psalm 7:10)
6. Free Press Stifled at United Nations, Reporters Say - Newsmax.com
Reporters covering the United Nations complain that the organization, whose Universal Declaration of Human Rights calls for freedom of the press, has been trying to stifle reporters covering the U.N. itself.
· We ask, Lord that You break the hold of controlling spirits over the reporters and all persons involved in the UN by the power of the Blood of Jesus. May Your Spirit move within the UN to change hearts and minds.
· "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." (John 8:36)
7. Justices Agree on Right to Own Guns - Newsmax.com The Middle East in Focus 1. McCain in Sderot: That's no way to spend the holiday - Ynet News 2. McCain: 'Islamists want to destroy everything West holds dear' - ICEJ News 3. US to transfer $150 million in aid to Palestinians - Ynet News 4. Cheney claims Iran may have restarted nuclear program - ICEJ News Prayers for the Persecuted Church 1. Thousands Of Burma Buddhist Monks Embrace Christianity, Missionaries Say - Worthy News 2. Chinese Christian Evangelist Mistreated In Prison - Worthy News 3. Baptist Pastor Freed in Azerbaijan - Assist News Service (ASN) 4. Possible Terror Attacks on Indonesian Christians this Easter? - ASN
Americans have a right to own guns, Supreme Court justices declared Tuesday in a historic and lively debate that could lead to the most significant interpretation of the Second Amendment since its ratification two centuries ago.
· Lord as the Supreme Court makes their final ruling on this issue, we pray for Your wisdom in the wording. We thank You that they appear to be in favor of individual rights at this time, but we ask that no deceptions be allowed to enter in the final outcome.
· "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance." (Ephesians 6:18)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai."
(Esther 7:10)
The grim situation in the rocket-battered town of Sderot has left a heavy impression on Republican presidential nominee John McCain, who visited there with Defense Minister Ehud Barak Wednesday afternoon.
Presidential hopeful says Iran an 'obvious threat'
Visiting US Republican presidential hopeful John McCain said on Tuesday that Hamas and Hizbullah are not only a threat for Israel but also for US interests. "If Hamas and Hizbullah succeed here, they are going to succeed everywhere, not only in the Middle East, but everywhere. Israel isn't the only enemy," Sen. McCain said in an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post during his current Israel stopover.
The US is transferring $150 million in aid to the Palestinian government in coming days, the Palestinian Prime Minister announced Wednesday.
US Vice President Dick Cheney said Wednesday that Iran may have restarted the nuclear weaponization program that a recent US intelligence report concluded had been halted in 2003. Speaking in the Arab Gulf state of Oman during a 10-day regional swing, Cheney told ABC News, "A nuclear-armed Iran would be very destabilizing for the entire area."
Pray for the Persecuted Church
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, "Fear not.."
(Lamentations 3:57)
Burma anticipated a nationwide boycott of upcoming Buddhist religious exams Thursday, March 20, amid reports that thousands of Buddhist monks have turned to Christianity.
A Chinese Christian who was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment last November for distributing Christian leaflets among Muslims is mistreated in a Muslim-majority prison, a Christian news agency reported Tuesday, March 18.
One of Azerbaijan s two religious prisoners of conscience was freed March 19 in the wake of President Ilham Aliev s amnesty to mark the spring festival of Novruz.
A charity providing assistance for the persecuted church has received what it calls "credible reports" that the Al-Qaeda linked terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah has threatened to target Christians in Indonesia this Easter.
"Try Ahmadinejad in International Court"
"Try Ahmadinejad in International Court"
In response to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's threats of genocide against Israel, Irwin Cotler, the former Justice Minister of Canada, once again on Monday called on the international community to hold him accountable for his hostile rhetoric. During his speech at an IDC conference in Herzliya, Cotler said that Ahmadinejad's behavior shows he is guilty of spurring on genocide, based on evidence far more extensive than that used to convict a Rwandan leader of incitement to genocide in Canada.
"What you have today is the toxic convergence of the advocacy of the most horrific of crimes, namely genocide, embedded in the most virulent of ideologies, namely anti-Semitism, dramatized by the parading in the streets of Teheran of a Shihab-3 missile draped in the emblem with the words, 'Wipe Israel off the map, as the imam says,' proving that this is state sanctioned incitement to genocide," Cotler insisted, according to The Jerusalem Post.
(Source: ICEJ News)
· Offer praise for Mr. Cotter's bold declaration! In his position as the former Justice Minister of Canada, his words have authority. Pray that his speech is met with favor not only in Canada, but in the international community, and that appropriate action will follow.
· "Let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just." (Psalm 7:9) Israel on alert for double Hizbullah retaliation As the 40-day mourning period for assassinated Hizbullah arch-terrorist Imad Mughniyeh nears its end this weekend, Israeli Intelligence has gathered bits of information indicating plans of possible revenge attacks both in Israel and abroad, prompting high alerts here and among Jewish organizations worldwide. The grieving period for Mughniyeh, who was killed in a car bomb blast on February 12 in Damascus, comes to a close on Sunday. Islamic tradition holds that revenge attacks for Muslims of his stature must be held in abeyance during this time period. Both Hizbullah and Iran blame Israel for Mughniyeh's death and have warned that vengeance is coming. Meanwhile, many attacks and threats of attacks have occurred around the Purim holiday, which falls this week, and Israel's Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered a lock down on the West Bank and Gaza that started at midnight last night, reported Ha'aretz. · As the Israelis prepare to celebrate the feast of Purim, beginning tonight, let us be even more diligent to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May their holiday be a true holiday, and not one that is filled with terror. · "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem." (Psalm 122:6)
Israel on Alert
(Source: ICEJ News)
Related articles:
Russian - Egyptian Nuke Deal Pending
Russian - Egyptian Nuclear Deal Could Be Upcoming
Egypt and Russia could sign a nuclear energy cooperation deal next week, according to a report from Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm. An official source told the paper the agreement would not necessarily mean that Russia would automatically be tagged to build nuclear reactors in Egypt, but an expert on Russian affairs cited in the article, Nabil Rashwan, said the deal could have broad implications.
Among the cooperation activities the proposal would allow, according to Rashwan, would include Russia building power plants, providing training for Egyptians and supplying nuclear fuel. Rashwan said the United States is pressuring Egypt to place the nuclear program under US control, but that would be less advantageous for the Egyptians, as the US has tough conditions on a deal, such as continuous inspections.
The Russian-Egyptian deal could be signed when Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak visits Russia next week. The two countries have been mentioned in potential nuclear power cooperation endeavors for well over a year.
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, March 19, 2008)
· The region could be headed for a nuclear race. Pray that peace, responsible actions and wisdom would guide the situation.
· "Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but counselors of peace have joy." (Proverbs 12:20)
(Source: Bridges for Peace) McCain Believes Abbas Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate for president of the United States, visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem on [the] morning [of] March 19 and met with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. A person who visits the Western Wall and has been to Yad Vashem understands the Jewish people's deep connection to the Land of Israel and Jerusalem, McCain said, adding that history provided different aspects in terms of the Jewish people's conflict. Accompanied by two other senators, Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham, McCain was briefed on the deterioration in the security situation. "I believe that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen] wants to advance the diplomatic process and does not support what is taking place in the Gaza Strip," McCain told Livni, adding that the American government was committed to stop the violence. Senator Lieberman said, "Today we are the target of those radical Islamic elements, and together we can overcome them." In the Middle East, if you don't move forward you take a step backwards, said Senator Graham. "Below the surface Hamas is becoming stronger," Livni told her guests, clarifying that "a so-called calm on the short run, which will increase the danger in the future, is unacceptable." In terms of the battles against Iran, Iraq and Hizbullah, according to the foreign minister, "This is a critical hour. The entire world is watching the war against the radicals and we must not show weakness." Livni made three demands which must be maintained in the face of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip: A cessation of the rocket fire, preventing Hamas from getting stronger and foiling the establishment of a radical Islamic regime on the other side of the fence. "Hamas must not get legitimization and a situation in which the Palestinians and the entire Arab world perceive a certain reality as a Hamas victory cannot take place. All options for an operation are on the table in regards to this issue," she added. (YNetNews) · Pray that international leaders would have a correct view of Israel. US Plans to Send Palestinians Almost US $300 Million After a delay in Congress due to needed clarification as to what the funds would be used for, among other things, the United States has decided to send the Palestinian Authority [PA] government US $150 million dollars [NIS 507 million] in aid, according to a news report from Infolive.tv. In addition, a press release from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said the United States has also pledged to give UNRWA US $148 million [NIS 500 million] for Palestinian refugees. The US $150 million [NIS 507 million] for the PA government is part one of a pledge by the US to pay the Palestinians US $550 million [NIS 1.8 billion] over three years. This comes during a period of tension that has seen Israel suffer its first significant terror attack in Jerusalem in years. PA President Mahmoud Abbas [Abu Mazen] suspended the peace negotiations briefly due to the conflict in Gaza and US disapproval over Israel's intentions to expand Jewish neighborhoods in disputed areas of Jerusalem. U.S. $91 million [NIS 307 million] of the money for UNRWA will go towards the UN agency's general fund, which works with Palestinian refugees in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria], Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. The remaining US $57 million [NIS 192 million] will go to UNRWA's 2008 West Bank and Gaza emergency appeal. Among the applications of the money, UNRWA will use the funds for education, health care, social services, food assistance, and the creation of roughly 190,000 temporary jobs. The US government gave UNRWA more than US $154 million [NIS 521 million] last year. · Pray that these funds will go to helping the needy among the Palestinians, and not to supporting the enemies of Israel.
McCain Believes Abbas
· "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You." (Psalms 22:27)
(Source: Bridges for Peace)
U.S. to Send $300M to Palestinians
(By Joshua Spurlock, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, March 20, 2008)
· "He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me; for they were too strong for me." (2 Samuel 22:18)
