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The Daily Brief:
"Praying for All in Authority"
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven . . ." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse . . ." (Rev. 19:11)
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The Middle East in Focus
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"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)
1. Hamas Admits Gazans Behind Water Crisis, Not Israel - Israel National News
The Hamas paper Al-Risalah conducted an investigation into the subject of Jewish agricultural land in Gaza that was evacuated in the 2005 Disengagement plan, and found that despite Arab claims that Israel has caused a water crisis in Gaza, local residents are in fact to blame.
In its investigation, which relied on figures from the Hamas agricultural ministry, the paper found that excessive use of water for agriculture by local farmers was behind the shortage of water. (Read More)
2. Nabbed Hamas man reveals new war plans - Times of Israel
A Hamas fighter nabbed last month in a joint Shin Bet and police operation has provided a wealth of information on the terror group's tunnel-digging in the Gaza Strip, its strategy for a future conflict with Israel, and its methods for obtaining cash from Iran, the Shin Bet said on Tuesday.
The capture of Ibraheem Adel Shehadeh Shaer, 21, a resident of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, was only cleared for publication on Tuesday.
Shaer, a tunnel digger in the group's armed wing, was arrested at the beginning of July as he tried to pass though the Erez border crossing from Gaza into Israel. (Read More)
3. Israel releases 'Jewish radicals' detained in West Bank - BBC
At least seven were detained amid a crackdown on Jewish extremists in the wake of a deadly arson attack in the West Bank, which Palestinians have blamed on Jewish settlers.
The injured father of the family whose home was firebombed died on Saturday. His 18-month-old son died on 31 July.
There have been no arrests yet in direct connection with the attack. (Read More)
4. Benjamin Netanyahu to Democrats on Iran: It's not my place to tell you how to vote - BBC
In a meeting with 22 Democratic lawmakers on Sunday in Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he did not intend to tell them how to vote next month on the Iranian nuclear agreement, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told Haaretz in an interview published Monday.
Describing Netanyahu as "respectful," Hoyer said that the prime minister made it clear that the lawmakers' final responsibility is to their constituents, according to the report.
"He didn't tell them to vote one way or another, but it was clear he hopes they will vote against the agreement because [Netanyahu said] it is a bad deal that will allow Iran to have a path to a nuclear bomb in 13 years," Hoyer said, according to the report. "He said, 'It is not my place to tell you how to vote. It is up to you - but my opinion is . . . '" (Read More)
5. Israel: Iran deal is not just an 'American affair' - Israel Hayom
Sources close to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have declined to respond to comments made by U.S. President Barack Obama about Netanyahu in an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria that aired in full on Sunday.
"This is not a personal matter, so the prime minister has no interest in heating things up with the president," an associate of Netanyahu said on Sunday.
In the interview, Zakaria said Netanyahu had "injected himself forcefully into this debate on American foreign policy," and then asked Obama: "Is it appropriate for a foreign head of government to inject himself into an American debate?" (Read More)
6. Abbas planning visit to Iran in coming months - Times of Israel
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will visit Tehran in the coming months as part of a PA effort to strengthen ties with the Islamic republic, an official told the Chinese Xinhua news agency Monday.
Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO Executive Committee who was visiting Iran in recent days, said he had discussed arrangements for the Palestinian leader's visit with Iranian officials.
He said the trip would likely take place within the next two months. (Read More)
7. Arrest Netanyahu for war crimes, British petitioners demand - Jerusalem Post
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters have signed an online petition demanding that Scotland Yard arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes once he steps foot on British soil this coming September.
The petition was created through the British parliament website. It mandates that British lawmakers debate a motion if a petition reaches 100,000 online signatures.
"Benjamin Netanyahu is to hold talks in London this September," the petition's author, a British national who goes by the name of Damian Moran, wrote. "Under international law he should be arrested for war crimes upon arrival in the UK for the massacre of over 2,000 civilians in 2014." (Read More)
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The Daily Brief
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1. Feds: Farrakhan's anti-white rant 'protected speech' - WND
The U.S. Attorney's Office for Southern Florida has determined the racially charged July 30 speech by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan did not cross the line of what is considered protected political speech under the First Amendment.
WND inquired last week with the U.S. Attorney's Office, asking for an opinion as to whether Farrakhan's call for 10,000 men to "rise up" and to "stalk them" and "kill them," warranted any sort of criminal investigation. Farrakhan, in a fiery sermon delivered from the pulpit of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Miami, referred to a "400-year-old enemy," which many took to mean white people.
Louis Delgado, spokesman for the South Florida U.S. Attorney's citizen complaints division, responded Friday with the following statement: ". . . after looking into the matter we have determined that the Farrakhan speech is protected by the First Amendment and we will not be pursuing an investigation into the speech." (Read more)
- Father, it is obvious this message was not given in love and has no place in your Church. Please raise up your Word in your Church and repentance from any leaders who give voice to these kinds of words. Father, we also ask that you would preserve the integrity of the First Amendment, especially as it relates to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion that gives honor to you.
-"Yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me." (John 16:2-3)
2. State of emergency issued in St. Louis County, Mo. - Fox News
St. Louis County, Mo. has issued a state of emergency following a spate of violence amid protests marking the one-year anniversary of the death of Michael Brown.
"In light of last night's violence and unrest in the City of Ferguson, and the potential for harm to persons and property, I am exercising my authority as county executive to issue a state of emergency, effective immediately," St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger said in a statement obtained by FOX2.
Stenger said Police Chief Jon Belmar will have the authority to "exercise all powers and duties necessary to preserve order, prevent crimes, and protect the life and property of our citizens." (Read more)
- Father God, we stand in agreement with the saints now on the ground in Ferguson and its surrounding areas to declare and decree that evil shall not rule in this city. Lawlessness is bound, and the spirit of order and of peace is loosed on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri. We decree this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen and amen.
- "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him." (Isaiah 59:19)
3. Corker Threatens to Subpoena Emails, Memos Relating to Alleged Politicization of Human Trafficking Report - CNSNews.com
With a senior State Department official declining to discuss with a Senate committee "internal deliberations" relating to the decision to upgrade certain countries in this year's human trafficking report, its chairman is threatening to subpoena information if the administration fails to hand it over.
At the center of the dispute are the department's decisions to give improved grades to Malaysia, a partner in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free-trade negotiations; and Cuba, which is in the process of normalizing diplomatic relations with Washington. Both are Obama administration foreign policy priorities.
Reuters reported last week on claims that senior U.S. diplomats had overruled the department's expert Trafficking in Persons (TIP) office in the case of 14 countries. They included Malaysia and Cuba, both of which were upgraded from the worst-possible "tier three" to an intermediate "tier two watch list." The department has rejected allegations of politicization. (Read more)
- Father, we thank you that these breaches of transparency have been noted, and we ask that a light would shine on the full reasoning of the Administration's decision to change its view of repressive governments around the world. We ask that you would raise up voices to which the President and his officials would have no choice but to answer regarding these decisions. Father, may this Administration live up to its promises of transparency in foreign relations.
-"And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. ... And all the congregation murmured against the princes." (Joshua 9:14,18)
4. Obama: Requiring Photo-ID to Vote is Wrong. - CNSNews.com
'Going to Vote In Somebody Else's Name Doesn't Happen'
Speaking at the White House Thursday, on the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, President Barack Obama said that people do not take advantage of the lack of voter ID laws to cast fraudulent votes in other peoples' names.
The president based his conclusion on government data on the number of people the government prosecutes for this crime. "Sadly, too many states are making it harder for folks to vote--instituting photo ID laws that on the surface sound good," said Obama. "But I am certain, because we've actually looked at the data on this, that almost nobody wakes up saying, I'm going to go vote in somebody else's name--doesn't happen." (Read more)
- Father, we thank you for the consent of the governed being integral to the foundation of this nation, and for the vote being one of the primary means by which that consent is indicated. We ask you to preserve the integrity of the vote, and may the common sense of the vast majority of Americans prevail in preserving the vote with voter verification. We also ask that any methods employed not pave the way for any additional surveillance or control over the governed.
- "Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand." (2 Samuel 6:1)
5. BREAKING: Ohio Makes Announcement That Should Put Trump 3rd Party Fears to Rest Permanently - Conservative Tribune
According to "sore loser" laws in the state of Ohio, any candidate who has chosen their party essentially can't, at the last minute, run on a third-party ticket in the state. With Ohio being a crucial swing state, that's a massive hurdle for team Trump to overcome, should they wish to run a third-party candidacy in the future.
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted and his spokesman, Joshua Eck, have already decided that due to the fact Trump "voluntarily participated" in the Republican primary debate in the state of Ohio, he's already declared himself a Republican in the eyes of Ohio law and "chosen a party for this election cycle."
Legal experts said that mounting a third-party run is a daunting, close-to-impossible, expensive challenge, according to USA Today. Trump, should he proceed with his third-party option, would likely have to challenge laws like Ohio's "sore loser" law in court, mount massive grassroots campaigns in all 50 states to get on the ballot and spend even more of his own money in a process that political experts believe would hand the election to Democrats on a silver platter. (Read more)
- Father, we thank you for a robust political debate in this country, and one that the vast majority of Americans still believe will shape the outcome of the election and the direction of this nation in the years ahead. Father, we ask that your Word would illuminate the many questions before this country at this time. We ask you to raise up leaders, wherever they may be, to speak effectively into these matters, and may your Truth prevail, be understood, and acted on throughout the land.
-"Be of good cheer, Paul: for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome." (Acts 23:11)
6. Hacker's RollJam device can steal your car keys, open your garage - Fox News
A proven electronic code system that's kept millions of cars - and garages - safe from thieves soon may be rendered useless by a hacker's device - assembled from about $20 in parts. White-hat hacker Samy Kamkar, who last week cracked GM's OnStar smartphone app security and demonstrated his ability to illicitly unlock and start a car over a cellular network, has developed a device made from $20 worth of parts that he calls the RollJam, which does exactly what its name implies. (Read more)
- Heavenly Father, this report is quite frightening. Apparently, no matter what we do to try and protect our vehicle, if someone else has one of these RollJam devices they can access and control the car against our will. Father, we ask You to direct Your people and show them how to protect themselves as this world further sinks into darkness. We pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- "The violence of the wicked will destroy them, because they refuse to do justice." (Proverbs 21:7 NKJV)
7. U.S. consulate in Turkey targeted as wave of attacks kills nine - Reuters
Two women shot at the U.S. consulate in Istanbul on Monday and at least nine people were killed in a wave of separate attacks on Turkish security forces, weeks after Ankara launched a crackdown on Islamic State, Kurdish and far-left militants. The NATO member has been in a heightened state of alert since starting its "synchronised war on terror" last month, including air strikes against Islamic State fighters in Syria and Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in northern Iraq. It has also rounded up hundreds of suspected militants at home. A far-left group that killed a Turkish security guard in a 2013 suicide bombing of the U.S. embassy in Ankara claimed it was involved in Monday's attack. The Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C), considered a terrorist organisation by the United States and Turkey, said one of its members was involved, and called Washington the "arch enemy" of the people of the Middle East and the world. (Read more)
- Father, we bow before You in recognition that You hold the destiny and safety of our country and its representatives in Your hand. We ask that You would send angels to protect life and property belonging to the US, especially in countries that have elements that are so hostile to us. We pray for those who have done wickedly will be held accountable. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
- "The Lord says, 'I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.'" (Psalms 91:14)
8. ISIS Allegedly Plots to Attack Britain's Queen Elizabeth - The Jewish Press
The Da'esh (ISIS) terrorist organization allegedly is plotting to target Britain's Queen Elizabeth next weekend. On Saturday the country will mark the 70th anniversary of the World War II victory in Japan (VJ Day). British jihadists are allegedly planning to attack the queen at that time through a plot similar to the attack by the Boston Marathon bomber, using a pressure cooker in central London.
UK police received notice of a specific concrete threat made against the Queen herself, according to The Sunday Express. However, despite having been notified about the potential threat, the Queen has reportedly insisted she attend the events to "honor the fallen." On Saturday Her Majesty is scheduled to attend a service at St. Martins-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square.(Read more)
- Oh Lord, how evil to wish to attack the Queen! We speak protection over her and over her family as they attend these events. We pray that the officials will discover any and all devices intended to harm the people. May all traps that are set to go off be sprung ahead of time harmlessly. We pray for the individuals planning evil to be caught in the act and brought to account for it. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
- "Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; and through love his throne is made secure." (Proverbs 20:28)
9. Forecasters warn El Nino is getting stronger and could cause 'mayhem' but say it will bring relief to drought-stricken California - UK Daily Mail
Exceptionally warm water moving from the western Pacific Ocean towards South America has caused El Niño to get even stronger in recent weeks. In fact, scientists claim conditions in the Pacific are now as intense as they were in the summer of 1997, when a massive El Niño was brewing.
While this could be good news for drought-stricken areas such as California, researchers warn it may also lead to torrential and hazardous downpours elsewhere. El Nino events tend to warm the Earth's atmosphere by suppressing the upwelling of cold water from the ocean that can absorb excess heat.
But as well as bringing relief, El Niño can have devastating consequences for agriculture. It can trigger heavy rains and floods in South America and scorching weather in Asia and as far away as east Africa. (Read more)
- Heavenly Father, we bring before Your throne this report of a massive El Niño which is rising in the Pacific Ocean area. We are glad to hear that rain may come to counter the extreme drought in California but ask that it be tempered with mercy so that the land is not devastated with massive flooding, landslides and other destructive side effects. We pray that the hazardous threats to South America's agriculture and scorching weather for Asia and East Africa be tempered by Your mercy as well. We pray this in Jesus' Name, Amen and Amen.
- "He calms the storm, so that its waves are still." (Psalm 107:29 NKJV)
10. Second firefighter dies battling California blazes - Fox News
A 21-year-old U.S. Forest Service firefighter became the second first responder to die since California's scorching wildfire season got underway, officials said Sunday. Michael Hallenbeck, of Shingle Springs, Calif., was struck by a tree Saturday afternoon during the initial assault on a wildfire that broke out south of the Echo Summit mountain pass, the agency said in a statement.
On July 30, Forest Service firefighter David Ruhl, of Rapid City, S.D., was killed by a wildfire in the Modoc National Forest while he scouted the area for ways to fight the blaze. Ruhl, , had been on temporary assignment since June in California, where he was an assistant fire management officer for the Big Valley Ranger District.
"The grief we are feeling at the sudden loss of two of our firefighters . . . reminds us of the sacrifices these men and women make every day," Randy Moore, the Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Regional Forester said. (Read more)
- Lord, have mercy on the firefighters! Deliver them from harm and keep them safe. We pray for the families and friends of those who have given their lives to keep others from disaster. We pray for Your Holy Spirit to be with them through this loss. Father, we pray for rain and for cooling temperatures to help put an end to these constantly burning and even growing fires. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
- "The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." (Psalms 18:2)
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The Daily Jot (Part One)
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Friday, August 7, 2015
Finding hope
When the new congress was elected, there was high hope of setting things right. Republicans like Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell and Ohio Representative John Boehner promised they would repeal socialist healthcare, secure our borders, and protect traditional values. In reality, they have been utter failures in the first two years of the new Congress. Both keep paying lip service to the public by saying the right things, but they are ineffectual. The trouble is, replacing them with Democrats is akin to going back to the vomit. We keep seeking someone among them who will stand in the gap for the land that it not be destroyed, but we find none. We must realize that our hope is not in man, but in Christ.
If ever there were a case that the words of John Jay should be etched on the doorstep of every home, the behavior of Congress and the White House this past year would prove it. Jay, the first Justice of the US Supreme Court, wrote in a letter addressed to Pennsylvania House of Representatives member John Murray, dated October 12, 1816, "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as the privilege and interest, of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." Many a pastor has preached from the pulpit that Christians should not be involved in politics, and this current gaggle of evildoers in public office are the wages of this errant teaching.
There are many who look within the world system and decry that it is impossible to turn things around for the better. Indeed, looking through the eyes of what we know as human beings--the immediate past and present Administrations have driven Americans into unprecedented debt; Constitutional rights have been trampled as if they were never written; enemies have been allowed unchecked entry into our nation for the purpose of colonization; secret societies and special interest groups have overcome our nation like thorns on an abandoned farm. But these adversities are no less than those faced by a handful of Pilgrims, or a small group of minutemen, or the brave souls at Normandy.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:31, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Yes we have drifted as a nation from our Lord, but let us remember the promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." God sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Psalm 103:2 says, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits." It all starts with Jesus. May your relationship with Him give you peace, comfort and strength.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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The Daily Jot (Part Two)
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Monday, August 10, 2015
Presidential politics--don't get caught up in the debate
Much has been written about the crowded field of Republican presidential candidates, especially how one of them is taking the lead by being rogue and aggressive. For me, it is too early to tell which of the candidates would be the best leader. I need to hear and see more. One thing for certain, one of them will arise as the party's nominee and the overwhelming Christian majority in this country needs to have a say in who that is. On the Democratic side, it is much easier to discern because of their support for the current Administration, past records and statements. Christians need to examine these candidates carefully as well. For all the candidates, we must look beneath what they say to what they do.
Bernie Sanders, D-Vt, is a 73 year old self-proclaimed socialist. Need I say more? Hillary Clinton is more politically astute to publicly call herself a socialist, but she is probably more socialist than Sanders. She also has a longstanding track record littered with accusations of misdeeds, investigations and possible criminal activity. Former Governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley is probably less socialist than the other two, but financial ruin follows in the wake of his presence. He was once mayor of Baltimore, where he did a terrible job. As Governor of Maryland, taxes were raised, deficits were raised, jobs were lost, businesses moved out, and he even passed a rain tax for homeowners. Yes, you read me right.
The Republican side has so many candidates right now that it is difficult to pick one or two as frontrunners. But don't be fooled by the "Republican" moniker. There are many "GOP" candidates who, like their Democratic counterparts, have supported socialist government--if not by their vote, by their passivity in opposing such. They, too, are unfit. Donald Trump is the frontrunner. He is saying out-loud what many are thinking should be said. But beware of his lack of statesmanship, his ego-fueled temper and abrasive personality. The left-wing news media is reporting on him with hopes of painting the entire party as his reflection. They would prefer a liberal masquerader such as Jeb Bush. Beware.
So how does one discern? Jesus warned us about false prophets as ravenous wolves in Matthew 7:16, "You shall know them by their fruits." This applies to political candidates as well. Actions speak louder than words. Find out what they have done and what they do. Jethro's Advice to Moses in Exodus 18:21 about selecting leaders should be foremost in our minds as we consider our vote: "Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.." Remember socialism seeks to abolish all religion and morals as it is a polite way of saying communism. It is against God. At this point, if you are selecting from a Christian worldview, you have your work cut out for you.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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Debate Fallout
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Debate Fallout
[Editor's comment: In general, we will refrain from commenting on the ins and outs of next year's election process at this early date. However, we are reprinting the article below, from Gary Bauer, as he is pointing out a trend that the polls already are reflecting in these campaigns. Please pray in the Spirit over all matters related to Election 2016. Thank you.]
Ripples from the GOP's Cleveland debate continue to hit the political shores. Late Sunday, NBC News released the first post-debate poll. There is some controversy about the poll's methodology and we'll have to wait and see if other polls confirm the results. But when voters were asked who they would support if the election were held today, the results were:
Donald Trump 23%
Ted Cruz 13%
Ben Carson 11%
Carly Fiorina 8%
Marco Rubio 8%
Jeb Bush 7%
Scott Walker 7%
Mike Huckabee 5%
Rand Paul 5%
No other candidate received at least 5% support.
Political analysts were puzzled by the results, but I think I see a pattern. Let's see if you agree.
Trump is the epitome of the anti-politician. He doesn't waiver, he isn't politically correct. He erupted on the scene a few weeks ago on two issues: illegal immigration and his disdain for the political class of both parties.
In second place is Sen. Ted Cruz, widely despised by the GOP leadership for forcing a government shutdown and for recently taking to the Senate floor to accuse Senator Mitch McConnell of lying to him and other senators. Cruz, too, is angry at the avalanche of illegal immigration.
Next is Dr. Ben Carson, an incredibly decent Christian man with zero elective experience. He is unambiguously pro-life, but clearly not taken seriously by Washington's political class.
Tied for fourth place are Carly Fiorina and Marco Rubio. Fiorina catapulted into "prime time" from the "happy hour" second-tier debate largely due to a blistering critique of Hillary Clinton's record of lies and deception.
So what do these candidates have in common?
Bombastic Trump, sharp-edged, conservative intellect Cruz, soft-spoken pro-life Dr. Carson and female warrior Fiorina -- none of them are the choice of the GOP establishment. Yet, combined they are pulling more than half of the Republican vote because of each of them, in their own way, reflect the rejection of "business as usual."
Even Senator Rubio has a record of defying the establishment. He is in the Senate because he challenged the establishment's choice of former Florida Governor Charlie Crist, who is now a Democrat. Rubio overcame a 31-point deficit in the primary polling and won a three-way general election by double digits.
And what about the candidate EVERYONE said would clearly be the nominee -- Jeb Bush? The NBC poll shows him at only 7% -- in spite of having one of the best known names in American politics.
Tongues are wagging about Trump's antics in Cleveland. But no one is talking about Bush's performance because it was unremarkable in every way. Lacking was evidence of the one thing that at least half the country is waiting for -- courage and passion in defense of conservative ideas.
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The Writing is on the Wall
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The Writing is on the Wall for the US Military in the Persian Gulf
An excerpt from an article published in The American Thinker
by Stephen Bryen and Shoshana Bryen
The long U.S. military presence in the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt is likely drawing to a close. What once worked to assure stability in the region and keep the oil flowing will not work in the face of Iranian nuclear capability, and the administration is disinclined to rethink a workable strategy. The United States will likely reengage, but only when the resulting chaos spreads to our shores, as it surely will.
How different it was twenty-five years ago this month, when President Bush (41) said Iraq's invasion of Kuwait "would not stand." American and allied forces rushed to the battlefield despite concerns about Iraq's unconventional weapons -- primarily poison gas, which had already been used against the Kurds in the north. But Israel provided a counter-threat to Saddam, letting him know that if Israel were threatened with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons it would join the war. It was a threat Saddam took seriously, as his nuclear program at Osirak had been destroyed by Israel a decade earlier.
Israel's counter-threat worked. Iraq fired some 80 Scud missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia. None had chemical or biological warheads; and, of course, none were nuclear.
Without actually fighting, Israel proved to be a key security asset that allowed American troops to operate with relative freedom against Iraq.
Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, on the other hand, will similarly constrain American military planning, but this time Israel will not be able to offer a counter-threat. In the simplest terms, the U.S. facing a nuclear Iran will either have to significantly change how it deploys to the Middle East and Persian Gulf, or get out of harm's way. The weakening of the overall American military posture under sequestration makes the latter most likely.
[To read the entire article, please go here.]
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A Point of Interest
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A Point of Interest:
Remorse: Only 26% Would Vote For Obama Again
President Obama's claim he could win a third term was debunked by a poll showing only 26% would vote for him again. The Monmouth University poll released Monday also revealed that 68% would vote for someone else if the Constitution allowed Obama to run a third term.
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From Cindy Jacobs
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Cindy Jacobs Word of Encouragement
The Holy Spirit was speaking to me this morning, and I got one word at first, and the word was "fear." And I said, "What do You want to do with that, Lord?" And this is the word He gave me:
"For the enemy has released a spirit of fear upon My people," says the Lord. And the Lord says, "This is something he has sent to stop your advance. For I desire to give a great, significant advance to your life, for My kingdom is an ever-increasing kingdom. I never go less. I never go backwards. I want to do something new in your life. You're in a season of transition. And right in that season of transition, Satan has thrown a diversionary tactic into your way called 'fear.'" But the Lord would say, "I have not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. So speak to your mind and say, 'Fear not!'
Speak to your mind and say, 'The Lord is with me!'
Speak to your mind and say, 'The spirit of fear will not overcome me. I do not receive it. I will not despair.'"
[Thank you, Cindy!]
> > > Originally published on Wednesday, July 29th.
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Our Grandmothers' Songs
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Songs Our Grandmothers Sang:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty." (Isaiah 6:3)
Lyrics
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!
About the Author:
Words: Reginald Heber, 1826.
Music: John B. Dykes, 1861
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Signs and Wonders
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Growing unrest: volcanoes rumble and are shaken by earthquakes
from Mexico to the Philippines
July 2015 - GEOLOGY - Mexico's National Disaster Prevention Centre said in its daily report that the volcano registered a total of 80 low intensity exhalations and six explosions yesterday, releasing plumes of smoke between 1.5 and two kilometers high. Authorities are urging people not to get close to the volcano and particularly to its crater. Popocatepetl is the second tallest volcano in Mexico and is in the centre of the country. -TVNZ
Quake near Alaska's Redoubt Volcano: A 6.3-magnitude earthquake has struck in Alaska, some 42 miles southwest of the active Redoubt Volcano, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said. Notably, the earthquake also struck near Mt. Katmai, the site of the largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century. The epicenter was 9 miles south of Mt. Iliamna, another volcano in the area, the Alaska Dispatch News reported. According to the USGS, the quake hit about 141 miles southwest of Anchorage. The agency is forecasting "very light damage." The earthquake was originally reported as having a magnitude of 6.2, but was later revised up slightly. USGS reported two minor tremors prior to the 6.3 magnitude one. Although the quake did not strike far from the Redoubt Volcano, there's nothing to suggest activity has been triggered by the quake. There have been four confirmed eruptions at the volcano since the 20th century began, in 1902, 1966, 1989 and 2009. -RT News
Philippines Mt. Bulusan shaken by quakes: At least eight volcanic earthquakes rocked Mount Bulusan volcano in Sorosgon, signifying that the volcano continues to show signs of restiveness, the Philippine Institute of Volcanolgy and Seismology (Phivolcs) said Wednesday. Phivolcs-Bicol resident volcanologist Ed Laguerta said the quakes and the swelling of the volcano's edifice are signs that pressure is building up in the volcano's vent. Aside from eight volcanic quakes, Phivolcs instruments recorded for the past 24-hour observation period slight inflationary trend at the volcano's edifice during the precise leveling surveys. Alert Level 1 (abnormal) remains hoisted over the volcano.
Laguerta warned the public to keep off the four-kilometer permanent danger zone due to the possibility of sudden and hazardous steam-driven or phreatic eruptions. The Phivolcs also advised pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano's summit as ash from any sudden phreatic eruption can be dangerous to aircraft. It also warned residents living within valleys and along river channels around the volcano of possible flooding and lahar flows in the event of heavy and prolonged rains. -Sun Star
Magma intrusion in Peruvian volcano: Only last week, scientists recorded the largest explosion at Peru's most active volcano, Ubinas, in the Moquegua region of Peru. Now, scientists have recorded an ascent of magma within the volcano, reports El Comercio. The explosion last week resulted in the emission of large rocks (some the size of small cars) which frightened the local communities. Ash and small rocks up to two centimeters in diameter made their way to the communities of Querapi, Ubinas, Sacohaya, Tonohaya, Anascapa, Escacha and San Miguel, according to the mayor of Ubinas, Luis Concha.
Following this explosion, the volcano emitted pulverized magma according to Geophysical Institute of Peru (IGP) scientist, Orlando Macedo. In other words, very fine sand and fragmented magma, or small rocks. "Villagers report that they saw incandescent rocks coming out of the crater. We will make a visit to the area to determine the size of the projectiles and the scope they had," said Macedo, according to El Comercio. -Peru this week (Read more)
"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea." (Luke 21:25)
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Support Rapidly Grows for Christian Institutions Asking Supreme Court to Take Contraceptive Mandate Case
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today 16 states, along with several religious groups, are filing friend-of-the-court briefs at the Supreme Court supporting Houston Baptist University (HBU), East Texas Baptist University (ETBU), and Westminster Theological Seminary in their HHS mandate challenge. Last month, the three religious groups appealed to the Supreme Court for relief from the government, which is forcing them to comply with the healthcare mandate in violation of their faith or pay millions in IRS fines.
"This strong show of support for HBU and ETBU demonstrates just how important it is that the Supreme Court address the impact of the HHS mandate, particularly on religious groups," said Diana Verm, Legal Counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. "It is especially significant that 16 state governments are supporting HBU and ETBU at the Supreme Court." (Read More)
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"Come Away" - Jesus Culture
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Two Daily Conference Calls
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners encourages you to participate, any day of the week, on these calls which are each ongoing, day and night! To learn more about how you can join these calls, please go here.
