Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
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The Daily Brief
"Praying for All in Authority"
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
"The Lord your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf . . ."(Deuteronomy 1:30a)
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"Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ"
| Focus on Israel | |||
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1. Israeli killed in terror stabbing attack in West Bank - Times of Israel
An Israeli man was killed on Monday afternoon after he was stabbed in the chest in a terror attack outside the West Bank settlement of Ariel, the army and medics said.
He was identified as Rabbi Itamar Ben-Gal, 29, a father of four from the nearby settlement of Har Bracha.
Video from the scene showed the Palestinian attacker crossing a road toward Ben-Gal, who was standing in front of a bus stop, and stabbing him. Ben-Gal then fled across the street with the stabber in pursuit. (Read more)
2. Israel legalizes settlement outpost after deadly terrorist attack - Israel Hayom
Israel on Sunday granted legal status to the previously unauthorized Samarian outpost of Havat Gilad, near Nablus, in response to the Palestinian shooting attack last month that killed one of its residents, Rabbi Raziel Shevach. The Israeli military is still searching for the terrorists.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the unanimous cabinet decision to retroactively authorize the 50-family outpost aims to "allow the continuation of normal life there." (Read more)
3. Likud Minister: We are going on the offensive - Israel National News
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) on Monday spoke at the first ever Legal Network Initiative (LNI) Conference about the Israeli government's new campaign to curb European funding of anti-Israel hate groups, including BDS. Participating in the conference were hundreds of lawyers from over two dozen countries. The conference was organized by the Israel Ministry of Strategic Affairs, the Israel Bar Association, and the International Legal Forum.
"We are already seeing the fruits of this effort," Erdan said. "Over the next year we will greatly increase our input and launch a major campaign to convince European governments that their funding BDS only encourages conflict and distrust. Instead, these funds should be channeled towards projects that bring Israelis and Palestinians closer together rather than driving them apart. We are moving from the defensive and going on the offensive." (Read more)
4. Thousands Of Beduins To Be Forced To Move In Advance of Mining Operation - Jerusalem Post
More than ten thousand Beduin citizens living on and near land slated to become a phosphate mine in the Negev will be compelled to relocate, with most of them being "concentrated" in a new town nearby, the senior government policymaker for Beduin affairs has told the Jerusalem Post.
Yair Maayan, head of the Authority for Development and Settlement of the Beduin in the Negev, said the relocation plan was not motivated by the mine. But his disclosure of it comes just two weeks after plans including a mine at Sde Barir, near Arad, were approved by the interministerial cabinet for planning, building, land, and housing (Cabinet HaDiyur). The approval came despite the objections of the health ministry, which says mining at Sde Barir would pose a "health danger" to nearby communities.(Read more)
5. Palestinians slam Jerusalem move to end tax breaks on churches, UN properties - Times of Israel
Palestinians on Sunday strongly denounced an Israeli decision to collect taxes from churches and United Nations agencies in Jerusalem, saying the move was aimed at "emptying" the city of its Arab residents and Christian holy sites.
"This is a new aggression against our occupied capital, Jerusalem," said Yusef Al-Mahmoud, spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority government in Ramallah. "The decision is designed to further strangulate our people [in Jerusalem] to fulfill the occupation authorities' illusions of displacing them."
The Jerusalem municipality has handed out fines totaling millions of dollars to properties owned by the UN and by churches, citing a new legal opinion that says the properties are not legally defined as places of worship and therefore aren't entitled to exemptions from the property tax. (Read more)
6. Greenblatt slams Hamas use of Iranian 'blood money' for terror - watch.org
Jason Greenblatt, the United States' Middle East envoy, slammed on Sunday the militant group Hamas's use of Iranian "blood money" for weapons and tunnels to attack Israel.
Following the revelation that Israel had foiled an attempt to smuggle explosive material hidden inside medical supplies into the Gaza Strip, Greenblatt took to Twitter to angrily condemn Iranian funding of terror and Hamas's use of these funds to finance attacks on Israel.
"Hamas should be improving the lives of those it purports to govern, but instead chooses to increase violence and cause misery for the people of Gaza," the US envoy wrote. "Imagine what the people of Gaza could do with the $100 million Iran gives Hamas annually that Hamas uses for weapons and tunnels to attack Israel!"
Greenblatt also condemned Iranian funding of terror across the Middle East, stating that the money should be invested domestically.
"Iran spends almost a billion dollars a year sponsoring terrorism in Lebanon, Israel and West Bank/Gaza. This blood money only increases violence and does nothing to help the Palestinian people," Greenblatt wrote.
"The corrupt regime in Tehran squanders the resources of the Iranian people on military adventures throughout the region instead of investing at home and promoting peace abroad." (No link available)
7. IDF Chief of Staff: War with Gaza likely in 2018 - Israel National News
In what has been the direct and pointed warning to date, IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot predicted at Sunday's cabinet meeting that a new conflict between Israel and the Hamas terror organization in Gaza was likely in 2018 resulting from Hamas' mismanagement of the Gaza Strip and the correspondingly difficult humanitarian conditions.
According to Eizenkot, a severe shortage of electricity and food during the cold winter makes it increasingly likely that Hamas will seek an escalation with Israel as a way of distracting the populace from its lack of basic services.
The warning follows a report in the Israeli media on Saturday night which claimed that Israel is considering sending direct humanitarian aid to Gaza in order to avert another round of bloodshed. If accurate, this would be the first time that Israel has sent direct aid to Gaza, likely pointing to the seriousness in which Israel sees the situation. (Read more)
8. Lebanon will be blown back to the 'Stone Age,' Minister Katz warns - Israel National News
Echoing messages conveyed to Iran and Hezbollah by the prime minister and IDF spokesperson, the transportation minister tells Ynet that 'Israel has set a red line-it won't allow Lebanon to become a factory for the production of precision-guided missiles for Iran'; Education Minister Bennett clarifies: 'If missiles are fired from Lebanon, Nasrallah will become Lebanon's destroyer.
Echoing messages conveyed to Iran and Hezbollah by the prime minister and IDF spokesperson, the transportation minister tells Ynet that 'Israel has set a red line-it won't allow Lebanon to become a factory for the production of precision-guided missiles for Iran'; Education Minister Bennett clarifies: 'If missiles are fired from Lebanon, Nasrallah will become Lebanon's destroyer.'
Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz on Sunday warned Hezbollah that Lebanon would go back to "the Stone Age" and maybe even to "the age of cavemen" if it turned into an Iranian factory of precision-guided weapons.
Echoing warnings issued by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Spokesperson Ronen Manelis as to the growing Iranian involvement in Lebanon and the missile factories being built by the Iranians in the country, Katz clarified in an interview to the Ynet studio that "Israel has set a red line-it won't allow Lebanon to become a factory for the production of precision-guided missiles for Iran. (Read more)
9. How Lebanon sees Israel's war threats - Israel National News
Analysis: Over the years, we have gotten used to seeing Lebanon as a war games field; no one asks for permission to fly IAF planes and UAVs on their way to hit Syrian targets, according to foreign reports. Suddenly, Lebanon is acquiring the status of a responsible sovereign state, and the Lebanese are flexing their muscles before signing oil-drilling contracts in disputed territory.
The flagship trio leading Lebanon-the Maronite Christian president, the Sunni Muslim prime minister and the Shiite Muslim parliament speaker-is having trouble deciding whether the flood of threats from Israel is aimed at revealing contingency plans for a military operation, or that the only purpose of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and senior IDF officers is to intimidate.
And we haven't mentioned Hezbollah, which is pulling all the strings in Lebanon and has no real interest in a third round of destruction and ruin. After 2,000 dead fighters in Syria and hundreds of disabled and wounded, as well as a painful cut in the Iranian funding budget, Hezbollah has more urgent matters to deal with. (Read more)
10. The United States' new nuclear policy brings humanity "closer to annihilation", Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said - France2.com
His comments late Saturday came a day after the Pentagon revealed plans to revamp its nuclear arsenal, largely in response to a perceived renewed threat from Russia.
Zarif said the new policy was "in violation" of the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
"The US Nuclear Posture Review reflects greater reliance on nukes in violation of the #NPT, bringing humankind closer to annihilation," Zarif said on Twitter. Zarif said the same impulse was driving the United States to undermine the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which President Donald Trump has demanded be renegotiated. (Read more) http://www.france24.com/en/
11. Erekat says US is pushing a Palestinian 'coup,' tells Nikki Haley
to "shut up" - Times of Israel
Senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat on Saturday accused the Trump administration of trying depose the Palestinian leadership in a "coup" and told the "impudent" US envoy to the United Nations Nikki Haley she should "shut up" with her criticism of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Erekat, who has led the Palestinian peace negotiations and is secretary general of the Palestine Liberation Organization, singled out Haley, who slammed Abbas for a recent speech that was full of anti-Semitic tropes.
"She called for overthrowing the democratically elected Palestinian president," Erekat complained in an interview with the Palestinian Al-Watan Voice news website.
"This is the president who led the peace process and promoted the principle of the two-state solution," Erekat said, referring to Abbas. "Now this [US] ambassador is accusing him of lacking courage, and is calling for replacing him." (Read more)
- Lord, the "impudence" is on the part of the Palestinians who have lied, twisted the facts, and attacked Israel forever. We pray Your protection over Nikki Haley, understanding that not only politics is involved, but the anger at women in such positions of power.
"No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn." (Isaiah 54:17)
| The Daily Brief | |||
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1. Dow plunges 1,175 points in wild trading session - CNBC
U.S. stocks fell sharply Monday, extending a steep sell-off from the previous session, as investors rushed for the exits in the wake of rising interest rates. For the S&P 500, it was the worst day in six years.
The Dow Jones industrial average shed 1,175.21 points to 24,345.75 and briefly declined more than 1,500 points. The 30-stock index also briefly traded flat earlier in the session, before the selling returned. Overall, the Dow traveled more than 5,100 points during the session.
The Dow also broke below 25,000 and erased its 2018 gains. It also dipped into correction territory. (Read more)
> > > See also: Machines Had Their Fingerprints All Over a Dow Rout for the Ages - Bloomberg
Go here.
- Lord God, we ask that You would step into this scenario and halt this precipitous slide downward. Lord God, so much of our economy is tied up in the Stock Market . . . for good or for bad. Forgive us, Lord, if we have been foolish to rely on Wall Street for our sustenance, rather than to rely upon You and Your wisdom. We ask for that wisdom now, Father, in Your name, amen.
- "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)
- "Yet He commanded the clouds above And opened the doors of heaven; He rained down manna upon them to eat And gave them food from heaven. Man did eat the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance." (Psalm 78:24)
2. Pat Robertson recovering after suffering embolic stroke - Washington Times
Televangelist Pat Robertson is recovering after suffering an embolic stroke. In an online news release, The Christian Broadcasting Network, which Robertson founded, says he was rushed to the nearest stroke center Friday after a family member recognized the onset of symptoms.
The release says that within minutes of receiving clot-busting drugs, Robertson was awake, responsive and able to move all his limbs. The Virginia-based network says 87-year-old Robertson is alert and expected to make a full recovery.
In addition to founding The Christian Broadcasting Network, Robertson hosts its flagship show "The 700 Club." (Read more)
- Father, we speak health and life to our brother, and ask for a speedy recovery. We praise You that family members realized what was occurring in time to get him the help he needed.
- "Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security." (Jeremiah 33:6)
3.'They're Going After the Next Generation': Christian Psychiatrist Warns Parents about New Facebook App Aimed at the Very Young - CBN News
Mental health professionals are pushing back, even sending a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking him to reverse course. However, Facebook stands firm in its decision to expand its market share to children as young as kindergarteners. Christian child psychiatrist Daniel Amen told CBN News he's "very concerned" about the new app. "It reminds me of why McDonald's has Happy Meals: they're going after the next generation," he said. "And Facebook and other social media sites are doing exactly the same thing."
Dr. Amen warned parents of young children to steer clear of the app for many years to come. "I think a good time to be thinking about allowing children on social media is around 14," he said. Dr. Amen sited a number of studies that reveal the amount of time a child spends in front of a screen is directly related to the deterioration of their mental and physical well-being. "The more time they spend on their gadgets, the more obese they become, the more depressed they become, the shorter their attention spans," he said.
The addictive nature of social media preys on adults, but Dr. Amen says it's particularly troubling when youngsters get hooked. "It actually works on the areas of your brain involved in pleasure," he explained, "And the more you push on those areas, the more worn-out they become, and so people need more and more to begin to even feel normal." (Read more)
- Father, we join in prayer together to stop this Facebook app aimed at the very young. May Mark Zuckerberg listen to these warnings and reverse course.
- All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. (Isaiah 54:13)
4. Amtrak train was traveling on wrong track before fatal crash - NY POST
An Amtrak train traveling from New York City to Miami appeared to be on the wrong track because of a bad switch when it slammed into parked CSX freight train early Sunday, killing two and injuring more than 100, South Carolina's governor said.
"It appears to me that the CSX train was on the track it was supposed to be on," Gov. Henry McMaster said at a briefing, according to The State newspaper. "It appears Amtrak was on the wrong track. That's what it appears to me."
The state's Office of Regulatory Staff said investigators are now trying to determine if a switch was misaligned, sending the Amtrak Silver Star, which was traveling under the 59 mph speed limit, from the main line to the side track and into the freight train, the newspaper reported. (Read more)
- Lord, this report makes us wonder how a "misalignment" could occur in this situation. We ask that ALL hidden things be revealed. We pray that if there be any nefarious activity, You will shine Your Light upon it.
- "Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." (Matthew 10:26)
5. Second arrest made in Starr County voter fraud investigation - Brownsville Herald
Starr County authorities have made a second arrest in their investigation into voter fraud.
Erika Lozano-Pelayo, 37, was arrested Thursday on charges of election fraud and fraudulent application for ballot by mail, confirmed 229th District Attorney Omar Escobar. The offenses are a Class A misdemeanor and a state jail felony, respectively.
The Starr County Elections Department discovered that an application for a ballot by mail allegedly was submitted by Lozano-Pelayo for a voter who already had died. The application was signed and dated in December 2017 after the voter died earlier that month, Escobar said, and was then mailed last month.
The investigation was launched in January by the district attorney's office after the county elections department notified him of questionable applications for mail-in ballots. (Read more)
- Lord this county in Texas has been in the middle of an investigation into voter fraud for months. Though liberals continue to claim voter fraud is not true, it seems now that it has been a problem in many areas for some time. We ask that more and more truth be revealed, and that You will prevent this from occurring again.
- "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8)
6. Super Bowl celebration in Philadelphia turns rowdy after Eagles win championship - Fox News5
What started on the streets of Philadelphia as a joyous celebration of the Eagles' first Super Bowl championship Sunday night, quickly turned rowdy and destructive as night gave way to morning.
Boisterous fans smashed a Macy's store window, looters broke into a convenience store and other revelers flipped over a car, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Three people fell to the ground from light poles and lost consciousness, while other fans were seen in an online video leaping off a hotel entrance's awning.
At least one car was seen ablaze in an online video. Video posted to social media showed the awning outside the Ritz-Carlton Hotel collapsing with more than a dozen people on it, but it was unclear if there were any injuries. (Read more)
- Lord, we pray that You will move among the people of Philadelphia, and particularly among those who participated in these lawless actions.
- "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work." (2 Thess. 2:7a)
7. Clinton associates fed information to Trump dossier author Steele, memo says - Fox News
Clinton associates were "feeding" allegations to former British spy Christopher Steele at the same time he was compiling the controversial anti-Trump dossier paid for by the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign, according to an unclassified memo from senior Senate Republicans who recently made a criminal referral.
Those Republicans, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., had asked the Justice Department in January to investigate Steele based on evidence they say suggests he lied to the FBI about his contacts with the media (a violation of 18 USC 1001) -- or the FBI misrepresented Steele's statements.
The lawmakers are now asking the FBI for an emergency review of their criminal referral so it can be made public, with limited redactions. (Read more)
- Father, we continue to be grieved by the collusion and corruption of what is known as the "deep state." We ask that You allow justice to prevail, but also that You will pour out Your Spirit over America.
- "He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice." (Deut. 32:4a)
8. RNC sides with Trump ban of transgender people in military - Washington Times
The Republican National Committee is siding with President Donald Trump on his order to bar transgender individuals from serving in the U.S. military.
In a resolution passed at its annual winter meeting Friday, the committee voted to support Trump's August demand that military recruitment policy consider transgender as "a disqualifying psychological and physical" condition.
Trump's order has suffered legal setbacks. Three federal courts have ruled against the ban, prompting the RNC to take the position standing with Trump. An effect of one court ruling was that the military would be required to allow transgender people to enlist beginning Jan. 1.
The issue has divided the GOP. Some Republicans in the Senate, including military veterans Joni Ernst of Iowa and John McCain of Arizona, have objected to Trump's ban.(Read more)
- Lord, we thank You that the RNC is standing with the President on the transgender issue. Wherever confusion is, danger lurks in the military.
- "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace." (1 Corinthians 14:33)
9. Schumer urges Trump to allow Dems' 'FISA memo' to also be released - Fox News
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and fellow congressional Democrats are ratcheting up the pressure on President Trump to release to Democrats' version of Republicans' so-called FISA memo, in the interest of "full transparency."
The New York senator and others made their plea Sunday, two days after Republican leaders of the House Intelligence committee released their memo, which alleges "abuses" by the FBI and Justice Department when requesting a surveillance warrant from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, or FISA court, on then-Trump campaign adviser Carter Page.
"I believe it is a matter of fundamental fairness that the American people be allowed to see both sides of the argument and make their own judgements," Schumer said.
The GOP memo alleges the warrant was requested by the two federal agencies based, at least in part, on a largely unsubstantiated anti-Trump dossier financed by Democrats. (Read more)
- Lord, grant President Trump wisdom to know what Your perfect will is regarding the Democrat rebuttal memo.
- "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom and in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7)
10. Super Bowl anti-terrorism documents left on plane - CNN
The Department of Homeland Security documents critiquing the response to a simulated anthrax attack on Super Bowl Sunday were marked "For Official Use Only" and "important for national security." Recipients of the draft "after-action" reports were told to keep them locked up after business hours and to shred them prior to discarding. They were admonished not to share their contents with anyone who lacked "an operational need-to-know."
But security surrounding the December 2017 reports suffered an embarrassing breach: A CNN employee discovered copies of them, along with other sensitive DHS material, in the seat-back pocket of a commercial plane. The reports were accompanied by the travel itinerary and boarding pass of the government scientist in charge of BioWatch, the DHS program that conducted the anthrax drills in preparation for Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis.
The reports were based on exercises designed to evaluate the ability of public health, law enforcement and emergency management officials to engage in a coordinated response were a biological attack to be carried out in Minneapolis on Super Bowl Sunday. (Read more)
- Father, we have seen Democrats leave classified documents in their car, and a presidential candidate willfully treat classified documents with disdain. We ask that any nefarious purposes by either CNN or the official who left the documents be revealed.
"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight." (Proverbs 12:22)
| The Daily Jot | |||
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Tuesday, February 5, 2018
The eyes of modern spies
A lot has been written about how the previous "president" used a secret court to spy on American citizens. Each year, the government seems to come up with a new way to spy on its people-all, of course, in the interest of public safety or protecting the public interest. Now the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has gained access to a nationwide license plate recognition database. The contract, awarded in December 2017, is rather vague, but the system reportedly comes from Vigilant Solutions, a leading network for license plate reading data, and will also give ICE real-time location tracking, according to TheVerge.com. This is a just another addition to the citizen spy tools of the government.
TheVerge.com reports that Vigilant Solutions has amassed a database of over two billion license plate photos from vehicle repossession agencies and local law enforcement through camera-equipped police cars. The company has developed a way to track vehicles and tag them with a date, time, and GPS location. This is not unlike another system that was introduced in January 2016 called Beware. The Washington Post reported that Beware allowed police officers to access a database of more than two billion scans of license plates and locations nationwide. It also allowed officers to assign a threat level to the person of interest.
The Post reported in 2016 that Fresno, California was the first city to adopt Beware and cited another program, Media Sonar. Media Sonar, crawls social media looking for illicit activity. The Post wrote: "But perhaps the most controversial and revealing technology is the threat-scoring software Beware. Fresno is one of the first departments in the nation to test the program...As officers respond to calls, Beware automatically runs the addresses...to generate a color-coded threat level for each person." While ICE says it is not intending to build a database, but rather to use the Vigilant Systems database as a tool to support its investigations.
Protecting police officers from unnecessary risk is important. Protecting personal privacy is a Constitutional requirement. Instead of being stewards of public property, such as roads, parks, schools, government buildings and the like, the government--local, state, and federal--has become dictator over public property. There is a big difference between a steward and a dictator. Under the deceptive guise of protection, your rights, your religious beliefs, your ability to feel secure in the privacy of your home or car, can be violated by the all-knowing government. Exodus 20:3 says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Government is not God. We should ensure that it understands that while we still have a say.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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| More Daily Features | |||
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More Daily Features
(See below . . .)
- The Persecuted Church
- Classic Hymns
- Signs and Wonders
- The Good News Corner
- Worship with Us Today!
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Prayers for the Persecuted Church
"Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body." (Hebrews 13:3)
Please visit the website for International Christian Concern to lift up prayers for the persecuted around the world, every day. Their link is: www.persecution.org -- or go here to connect. Thank you for interceding for our brothers and sisters who are suffering in Asia, the Islamic World, and the Far East.
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O TO BE LIKE THEE!
"Who is like Thee, glorious in holiness." (Exodus 15:11)
Lyrics
O to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer, This is my constant longing and prayer; Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures, Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Refrain
O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit, Holy and harmless, patient and brave; Meekly enduring cruel reproaches, Willing to suffer others to save.
Refrain
O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming Now to receive anointing divine; All that I am and have I am bringing, Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
Refrain
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading, Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love; Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling, Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Refrain
Melody
Please go here to enjoy this men's choir singing this hymn with passion . . .
About the Author:
Words: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1897
Melody: William J. Kirkpatrick
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Signs and Wonders
PARASELENIC CIRCLES
When the Moon is full and it's really cold outside, strange things can happen in the sky. Consider the following: "Jan 31st was a very chilly night about, -24 C and with a windchill about -34 C," reports Sheila Wiwchar of Kaleida, Manitoba. "Stepping outside to look at the Moon, I saw something I've never seen before: One halo circling the Moon and another one cutting right through it."
I photographed this strange double halo using a Canon 6D with a Sigma lens at 10mm--lots of vignetting, but I was able to fit in both halos," she says.
Atmospheric optics expert Les Cowley explains the apparition: "These are ice halos, formed by plate-shaped crystals in high clouds."
The halo circling the moon is the familiar 22 degree halo," he says. "The circle through the Moon and around the sky is much more rare. It is a paraselenic circle, named after after Selene, the Greek goddess of the Moon and one of the ancient Titans. The equivalent around the sun is the parhelic circle after Helios, the personification of the sun and also a Titan."
Paraselenic circles aren't the only strange thing that happened ion Jan. 31st. Millions of people also witnessed a total eclipse of the Moon. Browse the photo gallery for moonshots. (Read more)
"I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke." (Acts 2:19)
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The Good News Corner
Loudspeakers on Mosque in Germany Ordered Silent:
"It Represents Allah Over Our God of Christians
A German court has ruled to silence loudspeaker calls to prayer from a local mosque that was disturbing local non-Muslim residents.
Authorities in the town of Oer-Erkenschwick in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia had initially granted the local mosque the right to use the loudspeakers for Friday prayers in 2014.
However, Hans-Joachim Lehmann and his wife, who live just over half a mile away, won an injunction by arguing that the call to prayer violated their own religious rights.
The Lehman's argued that "the Adhan contains phrases like, 'Allah is great. I testify that there is no deity but Allah.' This is an exclusively Islamic claim at the expense of other religions."
"This represents Allah over our God of Christians," said Lehman. "And I cannot accept that as a Christian who grew up here in a Christian environment."
This is the first such ruling in Germany, which is home to millions of Muslims.
In Israel, proposed legislation limiting the use of similar loudspeakers passed its initial Knesset reading in March.
The Israeli legislation would limit the time of day and volume that Israeli mosques can use for their traditional calls to prayer, addressing a longstanding complaint of noise pollution by non-Muslims in proximity to mosques. (Read more)
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Worship With Us Today!
"Your Great Name" - Natalie Grant
To worship with us today, please go here . . .
| About CHPP | |||
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About Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
Our Mission Statement
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a ministry which is positioned on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., helping members of the Body of Christ to "pray for those in authority over us" in our federal government. Our primary purpose is to offer intercession on site for the members of Congress and their staffs each day that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in session; and our chief prayer focus is that "God's will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." [Matthew 6:10].
Because Jesus Christ has shed His blood for all, we, too, pray for ALL, in a nonpartisan manner. Also, because the scriptures indicate that "the effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 4:17), we are confident that fervent prayer, offered in the halls of the highest chambers of government in our land, can avail much for America. Capitol Hill Prayer Partners welcomes those who feel called to join us, engaging in this strategic work of intercession for our nation: "For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God." [Romans 13:1]
Friends may participate by receiving our daily prayer alerts. You may contact us at chpp1994@gmail.com for more information. CHPP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt ministry. Thank you and God bless you!
Note: You may also learn more about CHPP by going here to visit our blog. Thank you!
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We Welcome Your Gifts
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners (CHPP) is a 501(c)(3), tax- exempt, faith-based, ministry, dedicated to praying for our leaders (1 Tim. 2:1-4). CHPP relies solely on the gifts of our readers to continue this work; thus 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!
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"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philippians 4:23)
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Our Bible Readathon Continues
"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)
We are now reading the Word of God every night from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EDT. We are reading through the whole Word, from Genesis to Revelation, and beginning again in Genesis when finished.
Our numbers of readers continues to grow over time. All are welcome to join!
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The access code is: 350430#. Please call at any time from midnight to 6:00 a.m. EST. WELCOME!
[Note: we are reading from these versions of the Scripture: King James, New King James, New American Standard, and NIV.]
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New Feature!
Now you can join the Salt & Light Council, praying for our nation six days each week on a conference line!
Repentance and Restoration Prayer Line
Editor's note from CHPP:
For many years now, the Salt & Light Council has sponsored this outstanding half-hour of prayer, six days per week, with additional time available for Bible reading and fellowship.
We are delighted to make this "hidden treasure" available to all of you who make up our CHPP family.
You can also view their daily prayer calendar by going here.
The following press release was issued by the Salt and Light Council. Praise the Lord!
This is a 30 minute national conference prayer call offered Monday through Saturday. We pray daily for our President, Cabinet, Supreme Court, one or two state legislatures, preambles, plus a moral topic and Israel. All are welcome to participate in prayer for our nation. Fellowship and Bible reading is optional for those who would like to remain on the line. The call is hosted by The Salt & Light Council.
605-468-8015 / Access Code 338083#
Monday - Saturday
8:30 am PT 9:30 am MT
10:30 am CT 11:30 am ET
