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The Daily Brief
"Praying for All in Authority"
Thursday, April 26, 2018
"The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty" (Zephaniah 3:17)
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"Standing United Together . . . Under the Cross of Christ"
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President Trump Stands for Life!
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Trump Administration Declares Abortion is "NOT a Human Right"
During a briefing last Friday on the release of a State Department report on human rights around the world, a reporter asked Michael G. Kozak, an ambassador with the department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, why a section on "women's reproductive rights" had been removed from a list of American values. The language had been added under President Barack Obama.
Kozak explained that the language was originally meant to refer only to contraception access, and that it was recognized as such at the time. But since then "groups on both sides of that issue domestically have started to use the term," he said, "and both seem to think it does include abortion and then argue about it."
So the report's authors decided to instead use "the term that's used in the U.S. statute that requires the Human Rights Report, which is coerced family planning, namely coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization." He noted that these remain very real problems in China, North Korea, and Belarus, among other countries.
Kozak further said he reviewed the previous year's report and found contraception access to be a non-issue. "The answer in virtually every country was no, there were no obstacles other than, in almost every country, including our own, the availability in rural areas is less than it is in urban areas," he said. "But we were taking a lot of space to explain that."
In response to another question, Kozak stressed that under the past several administrations his office has "never taken the position that abortion was . . . a human right under international law." The scope of the report is limited to "internationally recognized human rights," so he said it would be improper to use it to take sides between countries that permit abortion and those that prohibit it.
"We don't report on it because it's not a human right," Kozak said. "It's an issue of great policy debate. You can have a good discussion, but there's no internationally recognized standard as to what's the right treatment." So far, the U.S. and several African nations have managed to prevent the UN from officially enshrining abortion as an international human right. (LifeSite News) Read more.
- Father God, we rejoice today at this GOOD REPORT coming out of the Trump administration and the State Department. We ask that You would continue to strengthen those who are defending LIFE at the global level, and we ask that You cause the voices of opposition to this policy to be silenced. In Your Name, amen.
- "Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous." (Psalm 31:18)
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Focus on Israel
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1. Report: Jordan to strip citizenship from Abbas, other Palestinian officials - World Israel News
Some of the most senior and well-known leaders of the Palestinian Authority (PA) are set to lose their Jordanian citizenship, according to a Jerusalem Post report quoting the London-based Raialyoum newspaper on Wednesday.
PA President Mahmoud Abbas and long-time PA negotiators Saeb Erekat and Abu Ala are three of the approximately 30 senior PA and Fatah officials and their families who are going to lose their citizenship rights, which they had requested - and received - many years ago.
The report added that those stripped of citizenship would also only be given temporary visitors' visas when they entered Jordan again in the future. It gave no explanation as to why King Abdullah II decided to make this move now.
(Read more)
2. Top Hamas Official Warns: Gaza Border Protests Will Continue After May 15 - Algemeiner
A top Hamas official warned on Wednesday that the ongoing Gaza border demonstrations - expected to reach their peak on May 15, known as "Nakba Day" by the Palestinians - would continue afterward, the Hebrew news outlet Maariv reported.
The protests, Ismail Haniyeh asserted in a speech, have drawn global attention back to the Palestinians and revived the issue of the so-called "right of return" of Arab refugees from the 1948 War.
Haniyeh, the head of the Hamas Political Bureau, threatened that the Trump administration would receive the "slap of the century," instead of achieving its goal of achieving the "deal of the century" - an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement.
He also predicted that the "Great March of Return" demonstrations would spread to Palestinian Authority-ruled areas of the West Bank.
(Read more)
3. Germany Agrees with Palestinians: Jerusalem NOT Israel's Capital - United with Israel
Germany is refusing to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Indeed, while its foreign ministry acknowledged that every country has the right to name its own capital, it said that this is not the case for Israel, insisting that the status of Jerusalem can be settled only through negotiations with the Palestinians.
"As a matter of principle, every state has the right to determine a city in its territory to be its capital," Niels Annen, a minister of state in Germany's Foreign Ministry, said in response to a query by a lawmaker from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party last week, The Times of Israel reported.
"Since the eastern part of Jerusalem that Israel occupied in 1967 contrary to international law is not part of Israel's sovereign territory, the international community, including Germany, has not recognized this declaration," he added.
(Read more)
4. Congressmen Call for Disclosure of U.S. Aid to Palestinian Terrorists - Free Beacon
Members of Congress hope to compel the State Department to disclose the amount of U.S. aid money the Palestinian Authority has given to convicted terrorists and their families, according to a congressional communication viewed by the Free Beacon that calls for a complete freeze in U.S. aid to the Palestinian government.
Reps. David McKinley (R., W.V.) and John Ratcliffe (R., Texas) are circulating a letter to Republican offices urging them to join an effort to compel the State Department to detail the amount of taxpayer money that has been used by the Palestinian government to pay terrorists under a longstanding policy known as "pay to slay."
Following passage of the Taylor Force Act, which requires the Palestinian government to stop these payments or face a full cutoff in aid, the lawmakers are seeking to immediately freeze U.S. aid to the Palestinians until the State Department explains to lawmakers how it plans to enforce the new law.
(Read more)
5. BDS' latest target: Israeli banks - Israel National News
A new stage of the BDS movement's war against the Jewish state is now underway, as anti-Israel groups convince financial advisors to divest from Israeli banks and financial institutions.
According to a Channel 20 report, BDS activists have recently been working to convince financial advisors, mainly in the US, that investing in Israel is tantamount to supporting human rights violations.
Among other means, the anti-Israel activists cite documents and reports authored by the UN Human Rights Council against Israel to make their case.
The efforts are already having an effect on two of Israel's largest banks, Bank Leumi and Bank Hapoalim.
"There are two very large churches, the Presbyterian Church and the Methodist Church - each one has a pension fund of tens of millions of dollars - that pulled their investments in Bank Leumi and Bank Hapoalim, because they convinced them that investing in Israel equals violating human rights," Israeli attorney Calev Myers, Chairman of the Anti-BDS Commission of the Israel Association of Bi-National Chambers of Commerce, told Channel 20.
(Read more)
6. Netanyahu Hires a Messianic Jew to His Staff Who "Unabashedly" Believes in Jesus - Israel Today
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office made waves this week when it hired long-time pro-Israel YouTube activist Hananya Naftali as its new deputy social media adviser. What makes Naftali "controversial" for many Israelis is his unabashed faith in Yeshua (Jesus).
We avoid calling Naftali a "Messianic Jew" because in a previous video he himself denied belonging to any particular denomination, instead explaining that he's "just a normal guy who made his own decision to follow Jesus."
It is very symbolic of the rising status of Israeli believers in Yeshua that Naftali would be hired by the Prime Minister's Office despite being so open about his faith.
(Read more)
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The Daily Brief
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1. Alert! Trump seems likely to win travel restrictions case - OneNewsNow
President Donald Trump appears likely to win his travel restriction case at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy both signaled support for the travel policy in arguments Wednesday at the high court. Challengers to the policy almost certainly need one of those two justices if the court is to strike down the restriction on travelers from several mostly Muslim countries. The case is the court's first comprehensive look at a Trump policy - one of considerable importance to the president and highly controversial since it was first rolled out a week after Trump took office.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the most aggressive questioner of Solicitor General Noel Francisco in his defense of the Trump policy, and the three other liberal justices also raised questions about it. The justices voted in December to allow the policy to take full effect pending their full consideration. Wednesday was the first time they took it up in open court. The Trump administration is asking the court to reverse lower court rulings that would strike down the travel restriction. The Supreme Court is considering whether the president can indefinitely keep people out of the country based on nationality. It is also looking at whether the policy is aimed at excluding Muslims from the United States. A decision is expected by late June. (Read more)
- Father, we are grateful for this favor from the court and pray their final decision will confirm President Trump's Executive power regarding customs and immigration policy.
- Since a king's word is supreme, who can say to him, "What are you doing?" (Ecclesiastes 8:4)
2. House Judiciary chairman rips DC judge for 'absurd' DACA ruling - Washington Examiner
House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte blasted a federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday for refusing to let the Trump administration rescind an executive order that the Obama White House issued. "For a federal judge to rule that the current administration cannot change a memo from the previous administration is absurd," the Virginia Republican said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon. "The DACA program was unilaterally created by the Obama Administration in a memo penned by former Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano. Just as easily as it was issued, it can be rescinded - presidential policy is not set in stone and often changes from one administration to the next."
Goodlatte said the D.C. judge's Tuesday ruling that the Department of Homeland Security must continue accepting applications from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, as well as new applicants, is an abuse of the judge's office. "This ruling is yet another example of the type of abuse one district court judge of limited territorial jurisdiction can engage in to prevent the implementation of federal policies nationwide," Goodlatte added. He said the issue was as simple as the Obama administration overstepping its bounds by creating immigration policy despite the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 mandating only Congress set immigration levels. "The Constitution clearly delegates the power to write our nation's immigration laws to the Congress, not the president," Goodlatte said. "Our nation's immigration laws need to be improved, including a legislative solution for DACA beneficiaries, but the executive and judicial branches do not have the authority to rewrite the law." (Read more)
- Father, we pray the multitude of DACA cases will be settled quickly by either our courts or Congressional action. We also pray singular federal judges will no longer be able to overrule legislative or executive branches of the government.
- Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. (Leviticus 19:15)
3. Trump Warns: If Iran Threatens Us, They Will Pay "A Price Like Few Countries Have Ever Paid" - RealClearPolitics
At a White House press conference with the French President, U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran to never threaten the U.S. with nuclear weapons, or pay "a price like few countries have ever paid." He also warned the Arab States that they are going to have to pay if the U.S. is going to protect them from Iran, saying "the United States is embarrassingly into the Middle East." Trump said states like Qatar, Kuwait, the U.A.E., and Saudi Arabia are "immensely wealthy" and "would not be there if it were not for the United States (and to a lesser extent, France). They would not last a week," he said, implying that Iran would quickly seize dominance in the region if U.S. forces pulled out. Trump implied he wanted to make some kind of a larger regional deal with Iran, which backs military forces in Syria and Yemen and terrorist networks throughout the region. Trump is faced with a decision on May 12 whether or not to recertify the Iran deal made by President Obama.
"We have spent $7 trillion in the Middle East, and we have got nothing for it. Nothing. Less than nothing as far as I'm concerned," the president said. "And that is over an 18 year period." The countries that are there, that you know all very well, are immensely wealthy and they will have to pay for this," he said. "We have spoken to them and they will pay for it." Trump also said the Iran nuclear agreement "should never ever been made." "I blame Congress, and a lot of people for it," he said. "No one knows what I am going to do on May the 12th," Trump said, referring to the next Iran deal deadline. "Although you, Mr. President [Macron], have a good idea but we shall see." (Read more)
- Father, in Your mercy we ask that You would remind the rulers in Iran who the Almighty God is, the God of Israel. We pray for Iran and the Iranian people to be transformed by the power of Your Word.
- They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the Lord Almighty raises against them. (Isaiah 19:16b)
4. Trump applauds Debbie Lesko for Arizona special election win - Washington Times
President Trump gave a shout-out Wednesday to Debbie Lesko, who won a special election to keep an Arizona seat in the U.S. House in Republican hands. "Congratulations to Republican Debbie Lesko on her big win in the Special Election for Arizona House seat. Debbie will do a Great Job! Press is so silent," the president tweeted.
Mr. Trump took a shot of the left-leaning news media for giving short shrift to Ms. Lesko's win, although much of the reporting cast her win by a 6-point margin as an ominous sign for Republicans in this year's midterm elections. Mr. Trump won the district by 21 points. Ms. Lesko, a former state senator, campaigned as a supporter of the Trump agenda. She defeated Democrat Hiral Tipirneni, a former emergency room physician. The special election was to replace Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican who resigned in December amid sexual misconduct allegations. (Read more)
- Father, we pray Representative-elect Lesko will serve her district with integrity and distinction. Bless her as she transitions to her new job.
- For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.
(Psalm 149:4)
5. Claim: 71 percent of FBI's foreign counterintelligence budget diverted to Russia probe - Washington Times
One of the consequences of the Obama Administration's unprecedented decision to launch a counterintelligence investigation on the Trump political campaign in 2016 is the drain on Department of Justice resources to chase down the "Russia connection" at the expense of other national security concerns. Lt. Col. Tony Shaffer, a retired military intelligence officer and a Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research says that over seventy percent of the FBI's current budget dedicated to foreign counterintelligence investigations have been diverted to support the probe's activities. Shaffer made the revelation on my radio program Monday afternoon on WMAL in Washington DC:
Lt. Col. Shaffer: I'm going to drop some information with you and your audience which is not public yet and I want y'all to have it . . . According to my sources 71 percent of the FBI's foreign counterintelligence budget has been diverted to focus only on what we're talking about here, Clinton and The President. O'Connor: Seventy-one percent of the FBI's counterterrorism investigative budget right now is going to this thing? What things are they missing? What mad man in a white van is about to plow down Pennsylvania Avenue because they're looking at this? Lt. Col. Shaffer:
BINGO. So that's what I'm telling you. Everybody has been so focused on dealing with domestic political issues Larry, no one is actually working at the shop. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the Department of Justice will be alert to all threats to our nation and follow up appropriately.
- Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure- you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. (Psalm 7:9)
6. Supremes Weigh Appointments Dispute, With The Administrative State's Power In Balance - Daily Caller
The Supreme Court Monday heard a constitutional challenge to the process by which the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) appoints administrative law judges (ALJs), who preside over agency enforcement actions. Though the dispute may appear arcane, the Court's decision could have sweeping effects on the president's power to supervise and influence federal bureaucrats. The case comes at a moment when President Donald Trump's supporters accuse career officials of intentionally undermining the administration's agenda, and the president himself considers dismissing special counsel Robert Mueller. Anton Metlitsky, an attorney appointed by the Court to defend the SEC selection process, warned a decision favoring Lucia could deal a bodyblow to the administrative state, negating thousands of agency appointments. "Petitioners' rule could cast doubt on the constitutionality of the method of appointment of many thousands of civil servants," Metlitsky's brief reads. By extension, it could invalidate thousands of agency decisions.
The Trump administration argued in support of Lucia with an important caveat. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, the government's Supreme Court lawyer, said the justices should make clear the president has the power to remove inferior officers like ALJs. "Without the authority to remove an ALJ for misconduct or for failure to follow lawful instructions or perform adequately, the president (and his chosen principal officers) cannot properly supervise those who exercise executive authority," Francisco's brief reads. A decision in the case, Lucia v. SEC, is expected by June. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the Supreme Court will find for Lucia and reign in the power usurped by unaccountable federal employees.
- I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord. (Ezekiel 24:14)
7. Trump poised for major makeover of liberal 9th Circuit court - Fox News
The most liberal appeals court in America could soon be getting a Republican makeover if President Trump and Senate GOP leaders are able to fill seven open seats with conservative picks. Standing in their way is a wall of Democrats hellbent on protecting the long-standing leftward lean of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The stakes are sky high because of the size, caseload and clout of the court. If Trump is successful in getting young, ideologically conservative nominees through the confirmation process, he could significantly alter the court's DNA for decades to come.
Based in San Francisco, the 9th Circuit covers nine western states, has 29 active judgeships and seven vacancies, with an eighth coming in August. Its current political split is 16-6. Between 2010-2015, the Supreme Court reversed about 70 percent of the total cases before it -- the 9th Circuit's reversal rate was higher at 79 percent, though the highest in the nation was the 6th Circuit, which covers Ohio, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky and clocked in at 87 percent. During the court's 2016 term, however, the reversal rate for the 9th jumped to 88 percent. Still, most of the rulings that year were not reviewed by the high court, leaving them in place. That's why, some say, the liberal court needs a massive makeover and Trump might just be the president who gets it done. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the greater need, for the 9th Circuit to be broken up into two, perhaps three appeals courts to handle the caseload and bring balance to the ideological mixture of jurists.
- Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph. (Amos 5:15)
8. Religious Liberty Attorney Confirmed to Federal Bench - Free Beacon
Religious liberty advocates received a boost in federal courts after the Senate confirmed one of the nation's leading First Amendment attorneys to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Senate voted to approve President Trump's nominee, Kyle Duncan, to Louisiana's Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. Duncan is the former general counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a nonprofit law firm that "exists to defend the free exercise of all faiths, from Anglican to Zoroastrian," as it says on its website. The group has been involved in some of the most high profile religious liberty cases in the nation in recent years, helping nuns at the Little Sisters of the Poor and religious business owners at Hobby Lobby resist the Obama administration's contraception and abortifacient mandate. It also successfully defended the rights of Muslim prisoners and Sikh soldiers to abide by their religious teachings. Duncan joined the firm in 2012 after serving as Louisiana attorney general and participated in the Hobby Lobby case.
Becket president Mark Rienzi praised his former colleague on his confirmation. Rienzi said Duncan was a talented attorney and stalwart defender of the Constitution. He said religious liberty attorneys often find themselves facing strict hurdles to federal service, dubbing it the "stained glass ceiling," but said Duncan's two-year tenure at Becket would benefit Americans going through the federal judicial system. "Not only has our country gained a great jurist, but Kyle's confirmation is proof positive that defending religious liberty for people of all faiths is a core part of our country's long tradition of public service," Rienzi said in a statement. "Kyle was a steadfast defender of religious liberty for people of all faiths and was known for his intelligence and evenhandedness. His generosity and respect for others has made him a great advocate and will make him a fair and respected judge." Liberal interest groups sought to block the nomination. Planned Parenthood's political arm called him an "extreme ideologue" for his religious liberty work, saying in a tweet that he "aggressively fought to set back LGBTQ rights, voting rights, immigrant rights, and reproductive freedom." Gay activists also opposed the nomination. (Read more)
- Thank-You, Holy Father, for this victory! Bless Kyle Duncan with wisdom and longevity as he joins the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
- My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. (Proverbs 3:1-2)
9. Confirm Kenneth Marcus to the Department of Education - Washington Examiner
For months, Kenneth Marcus' nomination to lead the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights has been stalled amid staunch Democratic opposition. The head of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, Marcus is a staunch advocate of free speech and civil rights for all, which includes Jewish students, who face vitriolic hatred on college campuses nationwide. The organization fights anti-Semitism in higher education. At least 60 Jewish, Christian, education, and civil rights organizations are pushing for Marcus's confirmation, including many pro-Israel groups like StandWithUs.
"Kenneth Marcus is an outstanding defender of civil rights," StandWithUs co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein told Red Alert Politics. "He is being subjected to a smear campaign by anti-Israel groups due to his outspoken advocacy against anti-Semitism, including cases of bigotry that involve Israel. Anti-Israel extremists are worried that if Jewish students get all the protections they deserve, it will be more difficult to spread hate against Jews and Israelis." Jennifer Braceras, who served on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights with Marcus, wrote in The Hill in January, "After all, past nominees for the post have come from the ranks of civil rights organizations or affinity groups focused primarily on issues related to their own race, gender or ethnic identity." Braceras added, "But, unlike activists who focus almost exclusively on issues that impact their own communities, Marcus has spent a distinguished career fighting for the rights of all Americans, including women, racial and ethnic minorities, Sikh, Arab, and Muslim Americans, and Americans with special needs." (Read more)
- Father, we lift up this honorable man and pray for his swift confirmation to lead the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.
- A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45)
10. China Assigns Every Citizen A 'Social Credit Score' To Identify Who Is And Isn't Trustworthy - CBS China is rolling out a high-tech plan to give all of its 1.4 billion citizens a personal score, based on how they behave. But there are consequences if a score gets too low, and for some that's cause for concern, CBS2's Ben Tracy reported Tuesday. When Liu Hu recently tried to book a flight, he was told he was banned from flying because he was on the list of untrustworthy people. Liu is a journalist who was ordered by a court to apologize for a series of tweets he wrote and was then told his apology was insincere. "I can't buy property. My child can't go to a private school," he said. "You feel you're being controlled by the list all the time."
And the list is now getting longer as every Chinese citizen is being assigned a social credit score - a fluctuating rating based on a range of behaviors. It's believed that community service and buying Chinese-made products can raise your score. Fraud, tax evasion and smoking in non-smoking areas can drop it. China's growing network of surveillance cameras makes all of this possible. "It can recognize more than 4,000 vehicles," Xu Li said. Li is the CEO of Sensetime, one of China's most successful artificial intelligence companies. It has created smart cameras for the government that can help catch criminals, but also track average citizens. The fear, of course, it that the government may use this social credit scoring system to punish people that it deems not sufficiently loyal to the communist party, Tracy reported. And trying to clear your name or fight your score is nearly impossible, because there's no due process. (Read more)
- Father, this technology certainly appears to be a harbinger of the mark of the beast. Lord, we lift up Your precious ones in China. We pray they will remain faithful and strong in the face of oppression.
- And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17)
11. Source: Doctors Feared Former President H.W. Bush Wouldn't Pull Through in New Health Scare - Breaking Christian News
When he was admitted to the hospital on Sunday, Bush was in critical condition with his blood pressure repeatedly dropping, leading physicians to wonder if he was going to survive the night, a source close to the family reported to CNN.
The former president has been stabilized for now but has endured numerous health issues in recent years. According to Fox News, he was hospitalized twice for pneumonia last year.
President Trump said on Tuesday that he was praying for a "speedy recovery" for Bush, and Melania added that she is "sending healing thoughts of strength, along with prayers." (Read more)
- [Prayer offered by source] Please pray for the former president and his loved ones as they continue to go through these difficult times.
- "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it." (John 14:14)
> > We offer this hymn, at this time, for the Bush family: "God Will Take Care of You." Amen.
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Pray for Asia Bibi
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Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi Given Final Appeal to Death Sentence (Newsmax)
After years of virtual silence about Asia Bibi, the falsely accused Pakistani mother of five who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in 2010, the Daily Times reported on April 21 that her appeal against the death penalty will be brought before Pakistan's Supreme Court.
That appeal may be her last chance to escape Pakistan with her life.
The Times reports: "Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar on Saturday announced that the Supreme Court will hear Asia Bibi blasphemy case, while he also ordered to restore security provisions to Asia's counsel."
The justice said that he personally knows the defense attorney, Saiful Malook, and considers his requests for bodyguards to be legitimate. He'd asked for protection because the Bibi case is so sensitive.
No hearing date for Bibi's death-sentence appeal has been announced. . . This latest pending hearing may be, quite literally, the court of last resort for Asia Bibi, who is a practicing Roman Catholic. (Newsmax) Read more.
Supreme Court Offers Sign of Hope in the Appeal of Christian Mother Asia Bibi, Currently Sentenced to Execution by Hanging in Pakistan - ACLJ/Jay Sekulow
Finally after things have looked so bleak for Asia Bibi, the Christian mother of five sentenced to death by hanging in Pakistan on absurd blasphemy charges, there has been a sign of hope.
. . . According to new reports, the Chief Justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court, Mian Saqib Nisar has now promised that the Court will take up Bibi's appeal. The Chief Justice assured Bibi's attorney that he will be presiding over the appeal in her case personally.
"Your appeal in Aasia Bibi [case] is going to be fixed soon as I myself will preside [over] the bench," Chief Justice told Saiful Malook, the counsel for 51-year-old Bibi, on Saturday.
According to her attorney, the appeal is likely to be reviewed and a decision made possibly as soon as this summer.
Malook expressed the hope that the case might be listed for hearing in the next couple of weeks as the CJP [Chief Justice of Pakistan] had also assured him that all criminal appeals would be decided by July. (Read more)
- Father God, we now join the literally millions of Christians around the world who are fasting and praying for the release of Asia Bibi. We ask that this sweet captive be set free, in Your name, amen.
- "For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary;
From heaven the Lord viewed the earth,
To hear the groaning of the prisoner,
To release those appointed to death . . ."
(Psalm 102:19,20)
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The Daily Jot
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Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Beware of communists in political party clothing
The Democratic Party is housing communists and passing them off as progressives-a word used to gain general public approval of communistic ideals. Failed presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) is one such individual. He is introducing a federal jobs proposal that would guarantee every adult American a $15-an-hour job with health benefits. The Hill reports that two additional Democratic Party presidential hopefuls, Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) have expressed support for similar proposals. Our economy, religion, speech--pretty much the entire Bill of Rights--are threatened by sweet sounding proposals laid as snares to liberty, baited by emotional self-righteousness.
With guaranteed government jobs and mandatory healthcare the government would have control over the financial and physical lives of every individual in the nation. This is where the guarantees of free speech and freedom of religion come into play. Jesus said in Luke 4:18,19, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord." He commissioned us to make disciples and to carry on his mission. The fundamental mission of government is far different than that of church.
From a Christian worldview, it is Christ's people, not a centralized government, that must minister to the poor, and provide healing, restoration, comfort and vigilance over Liberty. The earliest account of American history provided by Mayflower leader William Bradford indicates that the ability to worship freely was the central theme of the Pilgrims. And in that, he writes, "We are knit together as a body in a most strict and sacred bond and covenant of the Lord, of the violation whereof we make great conscience, and by virtue whereof we hold ourselves straightly tied to all care of each other's good." And they proved this when they were dying sometimes two or three per day in their care for one another's health.
When the Pilgrims were starving while trying to grow food communally, Bradford gave them their own land to till, which turned the colony around. He says, "The failure of this experiment of communal service, which was tried for several years, and by good and honest men proves the emptiness of the theory of Plato and other ancients, applauded by some of later times--that the taking away of private property, and the possession of it in community, by a commonwealth, would make a state happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God . . . community property was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment which would have been to the general benefit and comfort." Beware of communists in political party clothing lest we repeat this disastrous example.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
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AFA Alert
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AFA Alert:
If your school allows 'Day of Silence', keep your child home this Friday
On Friday, April 27, high schools (and many middle schools) across the country will be hosting the LGBT movement's annual "Day of Silence."
During this all-day event, student activists and even school officials encourage students to be silent for the entire day as a sign of solidarity with the international LGBT movement. Students are encouraged to wear special pro-homosexual badges, stickers, and bracelets - which are often handed out at the school entrances that day. There are also pro-LGBT posters in the hallways, handouts, and even workshops.
Although the adult activists claim that the "Day of Silence" (DOS) is put together by "students," it is in fact organized behind the scenes by adults with the enthusiastic cooperation of school officials. They use materials and instructions from a national homosexual activist group.
Please join the national effort to restore to public education a proper understanding of the role of government-subsidized schools.
You can actively oppose this hijacking of the classroom for political purposes and help de-politicize the learning environment by keeping your child out of school if your child's school participates, promotes or allows "Day of Silence" activities.
> > > To learn more ways to take action tomorrow to protest this movement, please go here.
Source: American Family Association
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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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Classic Hymns
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
"We also are weak in Him, yet by God's power we shall live with Him."
(2 Corinthians 13:4)
JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE
"We also are weak in Him, yet by God's power we shall live with Him."
(2 Corinthians 13:4)
Lyrics
I am weak, but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain
Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Through this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain
When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain
Melody
Please go here.
By Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson
About the Author:
Words: Unknown
Melody: Traditional Folk Song
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Signs and Wonders
NASA baffled by mysterious ice circles in Arctic
A NASA aircraft has spotted something in the Arctic that it can't explain and it has "never seen before."
On April 14, NASA's Operation Ice Bridge captured images over the Beaufort Sea, 50 miles northwest of the Mackenzie River Delta. The images, taken by mission scientist John Sonntag, show unusual or "curious" circles that the government agency can't explain. "We saw these sorta-circular features only for a few minutes today," Sonntag wrote from the field, according to NASA. "I don't recall seeing this sort of thing elsewhere."
NASA released the above-image, in conjunction with the mission. Some of the oddities can be explained, such as "finger rafting" (the ridges near the top right), but the others are baffling scientists.
"It's definitely an area of thin ice, as you can see finger rafting near the holes and the color is gray enough to indicate little snow cover," said IceBridge project scientist Nathan Kurtz, according to NASA. "I'm not sure what kind of dynamics could lead to the semi-circle shaped features surrounding the holes. I have never seen anything like that before."
One theory is that it could be a drainage feature, according to Walt Meier, a scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center. It has also been suggested it could be due to the way the water washes over the snow and ice as seals come up for air.
Chris Polashenski, a sea ice scientist at the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, said he has seen these features before, but cannot properly explain them. He added that it could be seals popping up for air, but was not certain.
For now, the holes remain a mystery, even as scientists attempt to explain what they are.
"This is in pretty shallow water generally, so there is every chance this is just 'warm springs' or seeps of ground water flowing from the mountains inland that make their presence known in this particular area," said Chris Shuman, a University of Maryland at Baltimore County glaciologist, according to NASA. "The other possibility is that warmer water from Beaufort currents or out of the Mackenzie River is finding its way to the surface due to interacting with the bathymetry, just the way some polynyas form." (Fox News) 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
Oklahoma's Governor Just Made "I Can Only Imagine" the Official State Inspirational Song
When Bart Millard wrote and released the song "I Can Only Imagine" with his band MercyMe, he likely had no idea what far reach and impact the song would have.
Recently, the song was the inspiration for the movie of the same name. The film tells the true story of Millard's relationship with his father and how he was inspired to write the song.
The song reached double platinum-the only Christian song to ever do so-and the film exceeded expectations at the box office. "We knew that it was going to do well but we never expected a $17 million opening," said Howard Cohen of Roadside Attractions-Lionsgate which produced the film. (Breaking Christian News) Read more.
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Worship With Us Today!
"The Old Rugged Cross"
To worship with us today, please go here . . .
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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
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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!
DONATE ONLINE!
Now you can also donate online by going here. Or . . . if you prefer, simply paste this link into your browser to access our secure online donor system:
https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=3B77E058-983E-4415-AA4E-2F82ED1A4DEA#
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (Philippians 4:23)
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Join our Bible Readathon!
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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)
Our numbers of readers continues to grow over time. All are welcome to join!
Our conference number is: 712-770-4340.
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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Pray for America!
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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
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
