CHPP Daily Brief - December 9, 2008

In This Issue
· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· Pennies add up to abortion message
· Anh Cao: A New Member from Louisiana
· MT Judge: Assisted Suicide a Legal Right
· Water Crisis in Israel

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Tuesday, December 9, 2008

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55:7)

The Daily Brief

1. Just $15B left of first $350B of government bailout - USA Today

The government has $15 billion left to spend from the first $350 billion of financial bailout money, the Treasury Department said Monday. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, who is overseeing the program, is weighing tapping the second $350 billion. The main goal of the program is aimed at getting financial institutions to lend money more freely again, which would help revive the economy.

· Lord, we have elected officials who have forgotten that they are to represent us and that the budget of our government has to be like our own at home. We cannot overspend. We pray that You will give them Your wisdom and restraint.

· Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls. (Proverbs 25:28)

2. Accused 9/11 plotters say they want to confess - AP

The five men charged with coordinating the Sept. 11 attacks are in a hurry to enter guilty pleas on their apparent quest for martyrdom, with only six weeks remaining before President-elect Barack Obama takes office. The war-crimes detainees said they decided on Nov. 4 - the day Obama was elected - to abandon their defenses against the capital charges. Obama opposes the military trials and has pledged to close Guantanamo's detention center, which holds some 250 men.

· Lord, we pray for the salvation of these terrorists who have great designs to attack not only our nation but others; we pray for justice for the families of those who have been killed. Give us wisdom on how to punish these terrorists.

· The great God who formed everything Gives the fool his hire and the transgressor his wages. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. (Proverbs 26:10, 12)

3. Bush Says Creation 'Not Incompatible' With Evolution - Fox News

President George W. Bush said his belief that God created the world is not incompatible with the scientific theory of evolution. Asked about creation and evolution, Bush said: "I think you can have both. I think evolution can -- you're getting me way out of my lane here. I'm just a simple president. But it's, I think that God created the earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty and I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution."He added, "I happen to believe that evolution doesn't fully explain the mystery of life."

· Lord, many good people like President Bush have confusion over the inerrancy of the Bible. It is true - every word of it. You are able to guard over it so we have confidence to believe it is all true. Help these people to learn that.

· "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to His words, or He will rebuke you and prove you a liar. (Proverbs 30:5, 6)

4. Study: Americans pray just to get through the day - Washington Times

Ninety percent have a spiritual interlude with God every day, according to a study released Thursday by Brandeis University. Half pray several times a day, in fact. "Most prayer writers imagine a God who is accessible, listening, and a source of emotional and psychological support, who at least sometimes answers back," said Wendy Cadge, a sociologist who directed the research.The experience is intensely personal, with eight out of 10 beginning their prayers with a familiar greeting, like "Dear Lord" or "Hello Jesus."

· Let our hearts and minds never forget, Lord, that it is You who have made us and not we ourselves! All creation worships You. We pray that we shall also worship You with all our hearts, minds, and our strength.

· "Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest - when you have eaten and are full . . . then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' (Deuteronomy 8:11, 17) NIV

5. Poll: Netanyahu most likely to advance peace

War and Peace Index shows 31% of Kadima voters believe Netanyahu can promote peace while safeguarding Israel's interests. The index further showed a solid majority among the Jewish public of 58% (vs. 36%) who support the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, and a slightly larger majority (61% vs. 35%) who see the Palestinians' claim to an independent state of their own as justified.Most of the Jewish public is prepared to accept the idea of an independent Palestinian state while, at the same time, assuming that the Palestinians' intentions toward Israel are not to accept its existence but rather to destroy it.

· Lord, there seems to be confusion in the minds of Israelis about creating an independent Palestinian state. We pray that You will reveal to them and other nations Your desire for Israel and Your plan for their future.

· For all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. (Genesis 13: 15) It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (Zechariah 12: 3, 9)

6. Illinois Governor Arrested for Trying to Sell Barack Obama's Vacant Senate Seat - AP

Patrick J. Fitzgerald, the renowned federal prosecutor who won the conviction of both Daily Telegraph chairman Conrad Black and the US vice-president's chief of staff Lewis "Scooter" Libby, said in a statement that "the breadth of corruption laid out in these charges is staggering." They allege that Blagojevich put a 'for sale' sign on the naming of a United States senator, involved himself personally in pay-to-play schemes with the urgency of a salesman meeting his annual sales target; and corruptly used his office in an effort to trample editorial voices of criticism," Mr. Fitzgerald said. The prosecutor alleged that Blagojevich is heard on tape demanding a corporate board seat for his wife worth as much as $150,000 a year; promises of campaign funds, including cash up front; and the post of secretary of health and human services or an ambassadorship for himself in the Obama administration.

· Lord, we thank You for revealing the hidden things that corrupt officials are doing in our government. We pray that You will continue to remove those who are doing harm to our nation! We pray for officials that will uphold righteous laws!

· "Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken." (Deuteronomy 26:18, 19)

7. Democrats Hopeful of Auto Bailout Deal - Fox News

Weary Democratic congressional leaders pushed to clear the final obstacles to a $15 billion bailout of U.S. automakers Tuesday night, but the rescue plan faced new snags as Republicans raised deep concerns.

Top Democrats said they were still hopeful of a deal by the end of the night -- with a vote to follow by the end of the week -- though significant sticking points remained. Still unresolved were the precise requirements to be placed on carmakers by a new "car czar" who would be named by President George W. Bush and could ultimately force the carmakers to reinvent themselves. Republicans also were demanding -- so far unsuccessfully -- that Democrats scrap language that would force the carmakers to drop lawsuits challenging tough emissions limits in California and other states. Still, leading Democrats voiced optimism that a deal would emerge.

· As Congress prepares to enter into another marathon, late-night session tonight, intercede for each member -- and for your own congressman, in particular -- that in the heat of the battle and the weariness of the hour, mistakes will not be made that would be difficult to correct later on. Pray for wisdom as the 110th Congress meets to consider yet one more bailout at the end of this difficult economic year. Pray for "wisdom from above" to prevail in this very serious debate.

· "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)

The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE: "It is of LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23)

1. Israel gives NATO intel on Iranian nukes, says Iran is threat to Europe - Ha'aretz

Israel has provided NATO with substantial intelligence about the Iranian nuclear program and the development of long-range missiles by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, diplomats in Jerusalem said.

2. EU presidency to boost ties with Israel - Jerusalem Post

The EU's foreign ministers approved a significant upgrade in the body's diplomatic relationship with Israel on Monday, despite Palestinian opposition and some calls in Europe that this should be linked to developments on the ground.

3. Sarkozy calls for direct Israel-Syria talks - Jerusalem Post

French president Nicholas Sarkozy said on Monday that it was imperative that Israel and Syria commence in direct talks now. According to Sarkozy, this will not happen without Syrian President Bashar Assad, therefore he must not be isolated, Israel Radio reported.

4. Likud veterans prevail in primaries - Ynet News

A total of 48,458 out of 99,000 Likud members voted on Monday's primary elections, in all 49.17% of the party's eligible voters cast their ballots.

5. Mofaz: Dialogue with Iran needs timetable - Ynet News

Any dialogue with Iran needs to have a timetable, said Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz in a meeting with US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns on Monday.

Pennies add up to abortion message

Pennies add up to abortion messageChurch fills glass house with symbolic protest

There's a half million dollars sitting on the corner of Mississippi and President streets in Jackson, but no one could possibly steal it.The Memorial to the Missing outside the Mississippi Baptist Convention building in downtown Jackson, Miss., is filled with pennies representing the approximately 50 million abortions performed in the U.S. since 1973.

That's because the cash is in the form of pennies -- 50 million of them -- that collectively weigh 156 tons. The coins, which fill a glass house outside of the Mississippi Baptist Convention building, provide a visual reminder of the number of abortions performed in the United States since the Roe vs. Wade decision in 1973.

"We just needed something to memorialize and help people see the magnitude of abortion over the last several decades," said Rev. Jimmy Porter, executive director of the Mississippi Baptist Convention's Christian Action Commission.Called the "Memorial to the Missing," the penny-filled structure is a project of the Mississippi Baptist Convention, which set out more than two years ago to collect one penny for each child who would have been born were it not for legal abortion.

The plaque says the coins not only represent aborted babies but "the difficult process of decision-making, fear and loneliness" involved with abortion. It asks passersby to "stop, pray, consider what we are doing as a nation, ask God to forgive us, seek ways to help those who are struggling with the decision and look to the Lord to restore each of us."

The coins are piled 6 feet deep in the 13-by-7 glass house. The structure weighs more than 300,000 pounds, or the equivalent of 100 sedans stacked on top of each other.Now that the convention reached its goal of collecting 50 million pennies, it plans to invest the money in a fund dedicated to anti-abortion causes. (Associated Press)

[To see a photo of this moving memorial, go here

Anh Cao: A New Member from Louisiana

House Now a Home for Louisiana's Anh Cao

A Vietnamese refugee at the tender age of eight, Louisiana's Anh Cao remembers a letter he received from his father, who spent more than a decade in prison after the fall of Saigon. "Give back to the community," it read. After an improbable victory over House incumbent William Jefferson (D), Cao is poised to do just that. Our sister organization, FRC Action, endorsed the long-shot candidate, who unseated Jefferson with 50% of the district's vote to his 47%, putting a Republican in the Second District seat for the first time since 1890. "I think people just ran out of gas a bit," the Democrat said in his concession speech.

More likely, voters ran out of patience with their ethically-challenged leader. Until now, Jefferson had been all but untouchable in New Orleans, despite allegations of money laundering, corruption, and racketeering. Even the $90,000 in bribes that authorities allegedly found in his freezer in 2005 did little to dent Jefferson's political invincibility. It took an outspoken pro-lifer, a compelling story, and a thirst for real leadership to finally oust a man whose scandals were an embarrassment to the U.S. House. In Cao, the city finally has a chance to move forward. When asked about his priorities, Cao said, "The only thing I am certain of is that I am anti-abortion."

We applaud his courageous campaign and look forward to working with him in defense of life. Social conservatives, now deep in the minority, will need all the help they can get from giant-slayers like Cao if they hope to challenge the House's liberal Goliaths. (Family Research Council)

MT Judge: Assisted Suicide a Legal Right

Treasure State Judge Ignores Life's True Riches

If Friday's ruling is not overturned, Montana could become the third U.S. state to legalize assisted suicide -- and the first to sanction it from the bench instead of the voting booth. Last week, state district Judge Dorothy McCarter issued her opinion in the case of Robert Baxler, who, according to Billings' KULR, died late Friday of incurable cancer. Using "human dignity" as justification, Judge McCarter created a "right" to euthanasia citing the state's privacy laws. In oral arguments, McCarter was unsympathetic from the start, equating euthanasia with putting down pets. "[Y]et, if we want to do it to our loved ones, it's considered murder," she said. For now, the ruling will allow "mentally competent" patients to take their lives through lethal prescriptions. State Attorney General Mike McGrath has indicated that his office will appeal.

If McCarter's opinion stands, Montana would be the only state to legalize euthanasia through the courts. In both Oregon (1997) and Washington (2008), voters approved their assisted suicide laws directly through ballot initiatives. According to the Oregon Department of Health, 341 patients have taken their own lives under the state's law. One hundred twenty-two of those deaths were funded by taxpayers through Medicare or Medicaid. Twenty experienced complications from the drugs.

Proponents of assisted suicide laws say the government should have no authority to interfere in patients' lives. Sound familiar? Here the authority at issue is really a temptation: will cash-strapped governments turn more and more to euthanasia and limits on life-saving care to protect the bottom line? Montana may not wish to open such a Pandora's Box and unleash the evils of a culture of death. (Family Research Council)

Water Crisis in Israel

Leaders Meet to Discuss the Regional Water Crisis

Delegates from Israel, Jordan, and the so-called Palestinian communities will meet this week to consider the severity of the current water crisis. The Friends of the Middle East will convene their fifth annual conference and mayors from the three regions will attend. Nader Khateeb, a Director of Friends of the Middle East said Israel is reducing agricultural water quotas and in the village of Auja, the entire agricultural sector has come to a complete halt due to the drying of the Auja Stream. Nader said these restrictions have also dried up local resources for income.

Gidon Bromberg, Israeli Director of Friends of the Middle East, said "while the national leadership seeks supply-side solutions such as desalination of sea water and various canals, the local leadership which experiences the impact directly, is focused on demand-side management, conservation and wise water use."

The conference held in the framework of Good Water Neighbors has the participation of the Ambassador of the EU delegation to the state of Israel, the Director of the US Agency for International Developments, numerous mayors, diplomats, community leaders and residents. The conference will be held at Baka Gharbia, at Al Kasami College-November 25-26. (By Ron Ross, BFP Israel Mosaic Radio, November 24, 2008)

Prayer Focus:
At Bridges for Peace we are encouraging our prayer supporters world-wide to seek the Lord for mercy and grace in Israel and the region. Pray that He brings relief to this very critical water shortage.

Scripture:
"He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth" (Psalm 72:6)

CHPP Daily Brief - December 5, 2008

In This Issue
· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· The White House in Transition
· The Center of Obama's Attention

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152H
erndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Friday, December 5, 2008

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."(Revelation 7:10)


The Daily Brief

1. Missile-shield shootdown test is success, Pentagon says - Fox News

The Pentagon conducted a successful test Friday of a missile shield system designed to protect the United States against attack, spokesman Bryan Whitman said. The test involved the interception of a long-range ballistic missile launched from Kodiak, Alaska, with a ground-based interceptor launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

· Lord, we thank You that there are scientific advances that will help to stop attacks from evil rulers. Help us to remember that our safety ultimately rests with You.

· "You will not be afraid of the terror by night, Or of the arrow that flies by day; Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon." (Psalm 91:5-6)

2. Planned Parenthood Tells 'Teen': Lie To Get an Abortion - Fox News

A college student posing as a pregnant 13-year-old was told at a Planned Parenthood clinic to lie about the age of her baby's father to skirt Indiana laws on parental consent for abortion and on reporting child sex abuse.

· We are pleased that the awful practices of this organization are coming to light. Lord, help these abuses become public so that children will be saved and that young women will be protected from abuses by both men and Planned Parenthood.

· By You I have been sustained from my birth; You are He who took me from my mother's womb; My praise is continually of You. (Psalm 71:6)

3. Unemployment Numbers Add Urgency to Automakers' Pleas - CNN

Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, says Friday's dismal jobs report is pushing lawmakers to find a legislative solution for the ailing auto industry. The figures released Friday showed employers cut 533,000 jobs in November, the most in 34 years, pushing the unemployment rate up to 6.7 percent. That alarming report has provided an impetus to finding a legislative solution to the automakers' woes, said Democratic Rep. Barney Frank, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.

· Lord, we pray for Your intervention into the financial affairs of this nation, but if you choose not to do so and in the interim, Lord help Your people rise to the occasion and help those in need.

· But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)

4. Huckabee and Palin top early 2012 list - CNN

Barack Obama is still more than six weeks from White House, and the next Iowa caucuses are more than three years away - so naturally, it's time to start talking 2012, as a new national poll suggests that Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee top the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls. In a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey out Friday that serves as an early measure of potential support for the next GOP presidential nomination, Huckabee tops the list. Thirty-four percent of Republicans and independent voters who lean towards the GOP say they are very likely to support the former Arkansas governor if he were to become their party's nominee in 2012.Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate in this year's election, draws nearly as much support: 32 percent of those polled said they would get behind a Palin nomination. And with the survey's sampling error of plus or minus 4.5 points, Palin and Huckabee are statistically tied.

· It feels as if there is a constant state of election in this country and Lord, we pray that there will be servants who rise to work to solve issues both out of office and in. May they be a force for real change even if they are doing so without the federal government's money and power.

· Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. (1 Corinthians 9:24)

5. Car Bomb Rips Through Pakistan Street, Killing Dozens; 'External Forces' Blamed - Fox News

A car bomb devastated a busy street in this northwestern Pakistani city on Friday, killing 20 people, injuring scores more and unnerving a region already dangerously on edge following the attacks on India's commercial capital. Neither the motive nor the culprits behind the Friday evening blast in Peshawar were clear. But provincial government chief Haider Khan Hoti said "external forces" could be to blame - a comment understood in Pakistan to mean India.

· Lord, we pray for restraint between India and Pakistan and for those who are called to mediate between these nations as tensions rise.

· "You shall not move your neighbor's boundary mark, which the ancestors have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the LORD your God gives you to possess." (Deuteronomy 19:14)

6. Zimbabwe Declares National Health Emergency - ABC News

Zimbabwe declared a national emergency over a cholera epidemic and the collapse of its health care system, and state media reported Thursday the government is seeking more international help to pay for food and drugs to combat the crisis.

· The people of Zimbabwe have suffered so much in the last few years. Lord, bring relief to them and bring provisions for those who are working so hard to make a difference in this country.

· If there be in the land famine, if there be pestilence, if there be blasting or mildew, locust or caterpillar; if their enemy besiege them in the land of their cities; whatsoever plague, whatsoever sickness there be; what prayer and supplication soever be made by any man, or by all thy people Israel, who shall know every man the plague of his own heart, and spread forth his hands toward this house: (1 Kings 8:38)

7. Sources: 5 Blackwater guards charged in Iraq deaths - CNN

Five security guards from Blackwater Worldwide have been indicted on charges related to a 2007 shooting in which 17 Iraqis were killed in a Baghdad square, two sources said Friday.

· Lord, let there be true justice and may those who are innocent be spared while those who are guilty pay for their crimes. May the courts in both Iraq and the US be led by justice, not by politics.

· And flight will be impossible for the quick-footed, and the force of the strong will become feeble, and the man of war will not get away safely. (Amos 2:14)

8. Georgian PM fires defense, foreign ministers - CNN

Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili has dismissed the country's defense minister and foreign affairs minister. Nato Chikovani, a spokeswoman for the Georgian Foreign Ministry, said Friday the dismissals were part of a reshuffling of the Cabinet. "We are facing new challenges, and there should be new people to meet them," she quoted Mgaloblishvili as saying. Meanwhile, the European Union announced this week that it had launched an inquiry into the August war between Georgia and Russia.

· As Russia continues to be a threat to the rest of the world, we pray that the Georgian government will be stabilized so they will not again be overrun by Russian leaders intent on seizing power.

· "Son of man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him." (Ezekiel 38:2)

The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

1. High alert in West Bank following Beit Hashalom evacuation - Jerusalem Post

Israeli security forces went on high alert across the West Bank Thursday night as Jewish extremists embarked on an unprecedented rampage through Hebron in response to the afternoon's unexpected and speedy evacuation of the city's disputed Beit Hashalom.

2. Israel 'prepared to attack' Iran nuclear plants - London Times

Israel is drawing up plans to attack Iran's nuclear facilities and is prepared to launch a strike without backing from the US, it has been reported.

3. Police evict Jews from Jewish-owned Hebron home - Jerusalem Newswire (JNW)

Israeli police forced their way into a Jewish-owned home in the ancient Jewish city of Hebron Thursday and forcefully evicted the Jews living there, as applauding Palestinian Arabs looked on.

4. Arabs shell Israel with impunity - JNW

As Israeli security forces moved in to evict tens of Jews from a Jewish-owned home in Hebron Thursday, Arabs in the Gaza Strip fired a mortar into the Negev, and were allowed to get away with it.

5. Aliyah fairs planned as record number of Israelis abroad returning - ICEJ News

After reporting a substantial rise in the number Israeli citizens wanting to return home due to the global financial crises and the number of Jews wishing to make aliyah by moving to Israel for the first time, two Jewish agencies plan to hold special aliyah fairs in hopes of encouraging tens of thousands of Jews to move to Israel.

The White House in Transition

1. Supreme Court may hear Obama citizenship suit - Washington Times

The Supreme Court planned to decide today (Friday) whether to hear a case that could determine whether President-elect Barack Obama ever becomes the nation's full-fledged president.

· Lord, whatever the truth may be, we pray that it will come out in a way that will still the concerns of those on both sides of the issue. If there has been corruption, we pray that it will come to light.

· Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; (2 Peter 1:10)

2. Obama's 3 Million Donors Asked to Pay Clinton Debt - Fox News

President-elect Barack Obama's vast list of donors is being asked to donate to Hillary Rodham Clinton as she scrambles to reduce her massive campaign debt before she becomes Secretary of State and federal ethics rules limit her fundraising, an Obama adviser said Thursday night.

· May this be a warning to those who have gone overboard with spending in election cycles. May the elections be dominated by ideas, not money.

· "Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8)

3. President-elect's team weighing auto industry options - Fox News

President-elect Barack Obama has kept a relatively low profile as automakers plead for billions from Congress, but behind the scenes, the incoming administration is working hard on finding ways to ease the crisis.

· Lord, may the Bush administration be respected as long as it is in power and allow both the incoming and outgoing administrations wisdom for dealing with companies seeking government money for private enterprise.

· "The wicked borrows and does not pay back, But the righteous is gracious and gives." (Psalm 37:21)

4. Mrs. Bush Previews White House Holiday Preparations - Associated Press

First lady Laura Bush talked to reporters Wednesday about the holiday choices for a 'A Red, White and Blue Christmas' during a sneak peek of a decked-out White House, including the official White House Christmas tree - an 18 1/2-foot Fraser fir from Crumpler, N.C., that brushed the Blue Room ceiling. While the official tree holds 369 decorations from artists around the country, the various fir trees scattered throughout the White House have red and blue ornaments from years past.

"This year, we're going to be very, very careful at Christmas. I suspect that a lot of other American families will be the same," Laura Bush said. 'We're going to try to be with each other, to have what really, really matters at the holidays, which is your family and friends around you, to be thankful for our blessings.'"

· Offer a prayer for the President and First Lady Bush, that this final Christmas at the White House will, indeed, be a very special one for their family. Amen.

· "May the Lord continually bless you with heaven's blessings." (Psalm 128:5 TLB)

5. Mrs. Bush Thanks the Nation for "Your Prayers" - White House Communications Office

Mrs. Laura Bush was joined by White House Executive Chef Cris Comerford, and Bill Yosses, White House Pastry Chef, during the 2008 White House Holiday Press Preview Wednesday, Dec. 3., 2008, in the East Room. Said Mrs. Bush, "This is a special holiday for us. Our final in the White House. Thank you to the American people for their friendship, prayers, and support. The President and I wish you and your families a very happy holiday."

· AMEN!· "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16)

The Center of Obama's Attention

The Center for American Progress (CAP), part of the ever-expanding empire of liberal billionaire George Soros, is just three blocks from the White House, but it may be impossible to find an organization closer in ideology to the new administration. Working in unison with the Obama camp, CAP was the driving force behind key policies of Barack's campaign, including his plans for universal health care, energy, troop withdrawal, global warming, and the economy. Now, as Obama prepares to take over the executive reins, the Center's influence appears to be taking shape in the next President's inner circle.

In a city where "personnel is policy," CAP staffers are already starting to populate key posts in the Democrat's administration. John Podesta, who presides as founder of CAP's $27 million operating budget, is one of three people leading the President's transition team. Along with Podesta, Tom Daschle, Obama's choice to head the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), served as CAP's Distinguished Senior Fellow. Several others named to HHS are also CAP alums.

Their advice to Obama is largely contained in CAP's book, Change for America: A Progressive Blueprint for the 44th President, released just a week after the election. Though the organization has been counted on for its recommendations on domestic issues, the group's social agenda is devastatingly pro-abortion. On CAP's website, visitors will find two extra, online chapters from the Change book, which advocate, among other things, the radical Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), taxpayer-funded abortion, "comprehensive" sex education, a repeal of the Hyde Amendment, and a repeal of the abortion ban on military bases. CAP's political arm also spoke against the state marriage amendments and actively worked for the defeat of the state life initiatives on November 4. (Family Research Council)

CHPP Daily Brief - December 4, 2008

In This Issue
The Daily Brief
The Middle East in Focus
The White House in Transition
About That Birth-Certificate Question . . .

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Thursday, December 4, 2008

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:10)


The Daily Brief

1. Nuclear or Biological Attack by 2013- Panel Warns - AP

The United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear, or more likely biological weapons before 2013, reports a bipartisan commission in a study being briefed Tuesday to Vice President-elect Joe Biden.

· Lord, we pray that You will cover President-Elect Obama and all of his staff with Your wisdom and truth in the days and years ahead. We ask that You deploy Your heavenly host around our borders and around our international interests to protect and secure us from such a tragedy.

· "You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday." (Psalm 91: 5,6)

2. IDF preparing options for strike at Iran without US assent

The IDF is drawing up options for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities that do not include coordination with the United States, The Jerusalem Post has learned. While its preference is to coordinate with the US, defense officials have said Israel is preparing a wide range of options for such an operation.The "US European Command (EUCOM) has deployed to Israel a high-powered X-band radar and the supporting people and equipment needed for coordinated defense against Iranian missile attack, marking the first permanent US military presence on Israeli soil," Defense News wrote.Israeli officials said last week that the drop in oil prices and the continued sanctions on Iran were having an effect, although they had yet to stop Teheran's nuclear program. The officials said that while Iran was making technological advancements, it would not have the necessary amount of highly-enriched uranium for a nuclear bomb until late 2009.

· Pray that the Lord will grant intelligence information that is accurate and timely with regard to Iran. Pray that the U.S. President will work with Israel to protect her. Also pray that Israel will have God's wisdom, and hear directly from Him, and not move out of fear or anger.

· "I will plant them in their land and no longer shall they be pulled up from the land I have given them Says the Lord your God." (Amos 9:15)

3. Commission Recommends U.S. Use 'Direct Force', if Needed, to Stop Iran, N. Korea Nuke Programs - CNS News

Bipartisan panel warns incoming Obama administration and Congress that the U.S. may need to get tough with Iran and North Korea over nuclear weapons.

· Lord, we declare Psalm 91 over our nation as our leaders tackle this international crisis. We pray once again for Your wisdom for the President and Congress.

· "Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence." (Psalm 91:3)

4. Lawmakers: Auto Bailout on Verge of Collapse - Newsmax.com

As the Big Three auto chiefs return to Washington to plead once again for a bailout, key lawmakers are saying the deal may already be dead. Republican leaders are resisting any bailout, and Democrats are divided between union advocates and environmentalists.

· Father, as we are aware of the importance of the auto industry to our economy, we are also aware that there are consequences for our foolish actions in financial areas. We ask that wisdom and foresight be granted not only to our leaders, but to the auto industry leadership as well to prevent "good money after bad" in the bailout process.

· "So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners." (Proverbs 1:19)

5. Stop Using the Word 'Islam' in Reports on Terrorism, Islamic Bloc Says - CNS News

A bloc of Islamic nations says media reporting on terrorist activity should exclude "any reference to Islam," regardless of the affiliation, identity or motivation of the perpetrators. The perpetrators of terror attacks are "deviant and fanatic individuals," the Islamic bloc said.

· Pray that the international media will not bow to this request. While we can all agree that the attackers are fanatics, the fact remains that they have been Islamic in nature. Pray that God's truth be shown, and that the real Lord of heaven, Jesus, be revealed.

· "He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit." (Proverbs 12:17)

The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

1. IDF preparing options for strike at Iran without US assent - Jerusalem Post

The IDF is drawing up options for a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities that do not include coordination with the United States, The Jerusalem Post has learned.

2. Syria: Clinton nomination proves Obama wants Mideast peace - Ynet News

Syria commended US president elect Barack Obama's appointment of Hillary Clinton to the office of secretary of state, and an official Syrian source told the Qatari al-Watan daily that the appointment highlights the new administration's commitment to achieving peace in the Middle East.

3. NATO: Diplomacy, not defense, will determine deployment of peacekeepers in Mideast - Ha'aretz

Diplomatic, not military, considerations will determine whether or not NATO decides to deploy forces along the Israel-Syria border, or in the Israeli-Palestinian sector, according to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giampaolo di Paola, who spoke to Haaretz in Brussels on Wednesday.

4. Palestinians say nothing will change under Obama - Ynet News

Most Palestinians think the election of Barack Obama as US president will have no impact on the chances of a solution to the conflict with Israel, an opinion poll published on Wednesday said. It found that 57.5% of those Palestinians who were questioned thought that Obama's election "will make no difference."

The White House in Transition

1. Many Homeland Security Programs Can Be Ended Under Obama, ACLU Says - CNS News

Many of the programs created under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after 9/11 can be dispensed with, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. And the incoming Obama administration will make major renovations in the DHS that will strengthen privacy rights for individuals, civil rights activists said at a conference on Wednesday.

· Pray that any ideas for removal of Homeland Security programs be stopped unless they are God's plan for the hour. We know that the actions of the ACLU have often been at odds with America's security, as well as Christianity, so we must keep in contact with our leadership in Congress and voice our stance.

· "Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom; I Am understanding, I have strength." (Proverbs 8:14)

2. Congresswoman 'Flabbergasted' Over Obama Phone Call - Fox News

Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen said she thought it was a prank when President-Elect Barack Obama called her by phone to congratulate her on her re-election. Obama tried convincing her that he truly was the president-elect, but Ros-Lehtinen says she "wished him the best of luck and told him I was going to hang up on him." She said Obama called to congratulate her on her re- election, saying he was looking forward to working with her as the ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs committee.But she assumed it was a radio station prank. Typically, when high-ranking officials call, an aide calls in advance to verify. That was the procedure recently when Ros-Lehtinen received a call from Sen. Hillary Clinton.

A few minutes later, Rahm Emanuel, Obama's chief of staff, called the congresswoman with Obama on the line to tell her it wasn't a joke."I said I really do appreciate it. I love these pranks more than anybody and I'm honored that you would prank me, but I'm gonna hang up."And she did.It took a call from Rep. Howard Berman, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, to persuade Ros- Lehtinen that Obama really did want to talk to her. She asked Berman to tell her an inside joke about a colleague that only they would know to make sure the phone call was legitimate.

3. The Bushes are coming to Dallas - Fox News

The White House announced Thursday that President Bush and the first lady had purchased a home in Dallas' Preston Hollow neighborhood, and though they declined to offer up the couple's new address, local speculation placed the future Bush residence at 10141 Daria Place. The four-bedroom property, appraised at about $2 million . . .An adjoining $1.67 million property is currently under contract to an unknown buyer, leading to speculation it could be used as a place for the Secret Service agents who will accompany the president back to Texas.

· After serving our nation for eight consecutive years in the "fishbowl" of the White House, offer praise that the President and First Lady Laura Bush will now be granted the privacy they so richly deserve. Continue to lift up the Secret Service agents that will be detailed to offer this president, as all former presidents, ongoing 24/7 protection. May they be found FAITHFUL in this mission!

· "They were a wall to us both by day and by night . . ." (I Samuel 25:16)

About That Birth-Certificate Question . . .

Of Journalists, the Constitution and a Would-be President

There are a lot of rumors flying around Washington, D.C. with respect to whether Barack Hussein Obama is a natural born citizen and whether he meets the Constitutional requirements to be eligible to hold the office of President of the United States. Checking them out could be a full time job for any journalist. But the journalists are the problem. An inside source at the White House relays the story that when the question was asked whether Obama was qualified, reporters from major news outlets were aghast at the information and behaved as if they had never heard that Obama's citizenship was in question. Since then, some outlets such as Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, even Pravda have carried reports on the story.

There are several issues surrounding this story. And its not only those with liberal bias who have refused to cover it. Several months ago, I was having a discussion with two leading conservative journalists. When I brought this story to their attention, they nearly laughed me out of the room. Their point was that Obama's mother was a natural born American citizen, case closed. And my reputation with these guys was now on thin ice. But they refused to even consider the technical aspects of Obama's citizenship-if his mother had renounced her citizenship to marry an Islamist from Kenya or another Islamist from Indonesia; whether Obama's stepfather's adoption of him caused a loss of US citizenship, etc.

Now we are at the point of the US Supreme Court considering whether Obama is a natural born citizen. Rumor had it that Obama had until December 1st to answer to the Supreme Court. This may or may not be true. In fact, we will not know for several days whether the Obama team responded to the Supreme Court. What we do know from Philadelphia attorney Phillip Berg, who filed the original case questioning Obama's citizenship, is that his petition would be distributed to all the Justices after December 1st and a conference between them would be set within ten days. At that time, if four of the nine Justices agree, Obama will have to respond. The Justices can also make other orders during the conference.

Ignoring the Constitution has been a staple of American politics, especially in the past 40 years- limiting religious speech in public places and the legalization of abortion are two blatant examples. If Obama's citizenship was not an issue, it would seem that Obama, himself, would step forward and prove his eligibility beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, his lawyers have played it coy. Only bad things happen when the Constitution is not followed-secular humanism at the expense of religious freedom, 40 million pre-born babies killed-just to name two. Shall we add the atrocities that come from an illegally elected "president" to the list? Jesus said in John 8:32 that the "truth shall make you free." We need more freedom.

Bill Wilson
Word of Life Ministry
www.dailyjot.com

CHPP Daily Brief - December 3, 2008

In This Issue
The Middle East in Focus
The White House in Transition
Religious Hostility on Display at U.S. Capitol
YWCA Proudly Supports Abortion
Urgent Prayer for GHANA
King Herod's Tomb May Be Found

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Wednesday, December 3, 2008

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:10)

The Daily Brief

1. Georgia Sen. Saxby Chambliss Wins Re- election in Runoff - Fox News

Georgia Republican Sen. Saxby Chambliss handed the GOP a firewall against Democrats eager to flex their newfound political muscle in Washington, winning a bruising runoff battle Tuesday night that had captured the national limelight. Chambliss' victory thwarted Democrats' hopes of winning a 60 seat filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.It came after a bitter month long runoff against Democrat Jim Martin that drew political luminaries from both parties to the state and flooded the airwaves with fresh attack ads weeks after campaigns elsewhere had ended. With 70 percent of the precincts reporting, Chambliss captured 60 percent to Martin's 40 percent. Chambliss' win is a rare bright spot for Republicans in a year where they lost the White House as well as seats in the House and the Senate.

· Praise the Lord that this Republican win of the Georgia seat for the US Senate prevents runaway voting on the Senate floor for various bills. A check in the balance of power is almost always beneficial, forcing thoughtful consideration before the passage or voting down of any bill. Debate often brings about more excellent thinking than sheer control by any political party. Pray for Senator Chambliss so that his mind is clear and his thinking is based on the Word of God.

· "Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law . . . turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1:7)

2. Atheists want God, Bible out of homeland security law - USA Today

A group of atheists filed a lawsuit Tuesday seeking to remove part of a state anti-terrorism law that requires Kentucky's Office of Homeland Security to acknowledge it can't keep the state safe without God's help.

· Pray for the state of Kentucky so that its recognition of God's help in protecting its land is upheld. Let the atheists take their petition to the Lord if they don't want His help. Pray that all states will follow the example of Kentucky.

· "The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight: Thou hatest all the workers of iniquity." (Psalm 5:5)

3. Abortions linked to mental illness - Telegraph co.uk

Women who have an abortion are 30 per cent more likely to develop a mental illness, research has shown. They are also three times more likely to develop a drug or alcohol addiction compared with other women, another report claimed. It comes as the number of women having an abortion in England and Wales exceeded 200,000 for the first time last year. More abortions - 57,000 - were carried out on women aged 20 to 24 than any other age group. There were 4,400 on the under-16s. A study of 500 women published in the British Journal of Psychiatry showed that anxiety and drug abuse are the most common mental problems following an abortion.

· Pray for these women who have had abortions, both here in the USA and in the rest of the world. They do not know that the Lord can deliver them from their stress-causing behaviors and will forgive them. Do all you can to persuade any woman you know to never submit to having an abortion. What irony - abortions, according to the world, are supposed to aid the health of a woman, not defile it. Surely we can instead trust the Lord and His Word.

· "Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: Incline Thine ear unto me, and save me." (Psalm 71:2)

4. Conservatives Upset with Episcopal Church Break Off, Form Rival Religion - Fox News

Conservatives within the Episcopal Church angered by the liberal views of the church's leaders plan to form a rival denomination. The new Anglican Church in North America will include four Episcopal dioceses that recently split from the U.S. church, along with breakaway Anglican parishes from Canada. "The time for the recognition of a new Anglican body in North America had arrived," Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh said last month. As the moderator of Common Cause Partnership, a group of more than 100,000 Anglican Christians in North America, Bishop said the group would release its draft constitution on Wednesday. "The public release of our draft constitution is an important concrete step toward the goal of a biblical, missionary and united Anglican Church in North America," he said.

· Praise the Lord that most of the Episcopal congregations in the USA have taken a stand based on God's Word and separated themselves from those engaged in what the Lord calls "abomination." How beautiful when men trust in the Word of the Lord and forsake cultural thinking. Pray for the new Episcopal churches that they prosper and reach out to their fellows who have abandoned the Lord.

· "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many rebound to the glory of God." (2 Corinthians 4:15)

5. NATO Ministers Agree to New Russia Talks - Wall Street Journal

NATO foreign ministers agreed to gradually resume talks with Russia that were frozen after Moscow's August invasion of Georgia.

· Ask the Lord to cause the NATO ministers to consider all the ramifications of these talks and to yield nothing to Russia that might harm other nations.

· "Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men; protect me from men of violence, who devise evil plans in their hearts and stir up war every day." (Psalm 140:1,2)

The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

1. Iran dismisses Israeli military threats as 'psychological warfare' - Ha'aretz

Iran's Foreign Ministry on Monday sought to downplay efforts by Israel to halt its nuclear program, saying that while Tehran does not take military threats emanating from Jerusalem seriously, it is fully prepared to respond in the event of an attack.

2. PA to purge Hamas-controlled councils - Jerusalem Post

The Palestinian Authority is planning to replace all the Hamas-controlled municipalities and village councils in the West Bank in the coming weeks, PA officials in Ramallah told The Jerusalem Post on Tuesday.

3. Barak: Leave IDF out of political debate - Ynet News

Defense Minister Ehud Barak urged West Bank settlers on Tuesday to "leave the IDF out of the political debate."

The White House in Transition

1. Clinton's Confirmation May Spark Constitutional Battle - Fox News

The biggest obstacle facing Hillary Clinton's Senate confirmation as President-elect Barack Obama's top diplomat may not be her husband's wheeling and dealing abroad for his foundation, as many suspected. Instead, it could be the U.S. Constitution. According to an emolument clause in the Constitution, no lawmaker can be appointed to any civil position that was created or received a wage increase during the lawmaker's time in office. President Bush ordered Cabinet salaries raised to $191,300 from $186,600 by executive order early this year, while Clinton was senator.

"My understanding is that does prohibit her unless they can find some way around it and I gather that they have in the past," former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger. "This isn't the first time this has come up," he said, referring to appointees of other presidents, including Presidents Nixon and Clinton. "Maybe she has to renounce the salary increase but I'm sure they'll find a way around it."

· Gracious Lord, we ask You to be the only Judge of who should serve in our nation's White House and Administration. Before time began, You knew who would be the 44th President of the United States of America and who would serve in their administration. Please continue to reveal Your plans for America and her leadership. For Your Glory and Honor we pray this. Amen.

· "The Lord makes poor and makes rich; He brings low and lifts up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the beggar from the ash heap, to set them among princes and make them inherit the throne of glory. " (1 Samuel 2: 7-8 NKJV)

2. Pro-Amnesty Activist Joins Obama White House Staff - CNS News

An 18-year veteran of the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), who advocated for federal legislation to give the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a path to citizenship, has been tapped for President-elect Barack Obama's White House staff. Cecilia Muñoz, who currently serves as senior vice president for the office of research, advocacy and legislation at the NCLR, will serve as director for intergovernmental affairs in the Obama administration. Obama announced the appointment of Muñoz and Jonathan Favreau as director of speechwriting last week. In her new post, Muñoz will be responsible for managing relations between the Obama administration and state and local governments. She is a first-generation American whose parents came to the United States from Bolivia.

· Dear Lord, we pray that You will be consulted and glorified in any appointments to the administration of America's next President. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

· "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Proverbs 21: 1 NKJV)

3. Obama, DNC elude citizenship lawsuit deadline - WorldNetDaily

President-elect Barack Obama and the Democratic National Convention have let a Dec. 1 deadline slip by without responding to Pennsylvania attorney Philip J. Berg's petition for writ of certiorari demanding Obama produce a legitimate birth certificate to document his eligibility for office.

· Pray that the Supreme Court Justices demand that Barack Obama and the DNC produce the birth certificate without delay. Are the citizens of America to endure the thumbing of the nose? Have Americans forgotten that our government exists "of the people, by the people, and for the people?"

· "Arise, O Lord: O God, lift up Thine head; forget not the humble." (Psalm 10:12)

4. Fox News, Russia's Pravda Report On Obama Birth Question/ Eligibility - Fox News and Pravda

Fox News Reporter Brett Baier reported Tuesday that people are questioning Obama about his birth in a news piece titled: "Obama Citizen Of the World." Also, Russian newspaper Pravda reported: "Barry Sotero, AKA Barack Obama, along with the Democratic National Committee and the Federal Election Commission have successfully ignored a Federal Lawsuit asking him to produce a valid Birth Certificate. When the time to respond to that lawsuit expired, under Federal Court Rules, they all admitted that he was not a citizen of The United States of America and deemed to have committed fraud. A normal man would have been found to have admitted he was not a US citizen. . .

· Thank You Lord for allowing others to see that there is clarification needed as to where Senator Obama's birth certificate is located and that it needs to be presented before he can Constitutionally take office as the next President of the United States. Please allow this to happen for Your glory and honor. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

· "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." (2 Chronicles 16:9 a,b NKJV)

Religious Hostility on Display at U.S. Capitol

Yesterday, the U.S. Capitol unveiled what one congressman has called a "$600 million godless pit," a palatial underground visitors' center which is at the heart of an ongoing debate over the place of America's religious heritage in the nation's capital. Not only does the basement of the House and Senate's home have new galleries, theaters, and gift shops, but, as 108 congressmen rightly argue, it should also include an honest and complete portrayal of America's religious roots.
Initially, planners had scrubbed references to "In God We Trust," the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Founders' faith. The Architect of the Capitol, who is responsible for the renovations, came under fire from the building's own residents, the U.S. Congress, for omitting such basic references to the Almighty. Although some of the concerns were addressed before the center opened this afternoon, dozens of leaders and organizations like FRC are still troubled by the politically correct nature of the exhibits, which are historically incorrect.

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.) and Sen. Jim DeMint (R- S.C.) have been the most vocal opponents of this spiritual "whitewashing" of America's most recognizable symbol. A last-minute plaster job tries, poorly, to hide the inaccurate reference to "E Pluribus Unum" as our national motto ("In God We Trust" was established by Congress as the national motto in 1956). Even the U.S. Constitution is said to be grossly misrepresented in the exhibit. As the Heritage Foundation's Matt Spalding writes, the excerpts on display are a "temple to liberals' 'living Constitution.'"

We join the chorus of citizens, who, as patrons of this Visitors Center, demand fidelity to the Founders and a more accurate portrayal of the important role of faith in American life. To help sound the alarm, contact your congressmen and ask them to restore Christianity to its place of prominence in the U.S. Capitol. (Family Research Council)

YWCA Proudly Supports Abortion

Organization with Christian roots embraces the overreaching Freedom of Choice Act.

The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year. For most of those years, it did not champion abortion rights. Yet, CEO Dr. Lorraine Cole now is claiming her group has "always been pro-choice" and even supports the Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA), CNSNews.com reported. FOCA could nullify virtually every state, local and federal pro-life law. The YWCA adopted a pro-abortion position in 1967 and reaffirmed that position in 1988, CNSNews reported. (Read more) (By Jennifer Mesko, Editor, CitizenLink)

[The following prayer and commentary was sent in by Mary Fox Murphy, Founder and President of Christian Women's Outreach, Incorporated; Stillwater, OK.)
--In light of the YWCA support of abortion, please go to prayer for this. If it requires a boycott of the organization or praying for the removal of funds, causing people to stop their giving and support, then so be it. Ask forgiveness for all involved for the deception that they have believed--they really don't know what they are doing. As you remit their sins to the Lord, He can go to work in their lives.
Father, we ask that one by one, you put every person in this world-wide organization under the conviction of the Holy Spirit--convicting them of murder by their flippant belief in the abortion process. We ask that you then make them responsible for what You have imparted to them and that their opinions will change. In His Holy Name, we pray, Amen.

(Please note: Obama has vowed to sign into law The Freedom of Choice Act, which sanctions all kinds of abortion. He has said this would be one of his first assignments. What an awful and terrifying thing to which to sign your name!! Signing his name to a murder document is atrocious. Forgive him, Lord, because he truly does not know what he is doing. Ask the Lord to stop him from placing his name on this bill. Lord, convict him of this sin.)

Urgent Prayer for GHANA

Pray for Ghana's 5th General Democratic Presidential ElectionVoters Go to the Polls This Sunday, December 7th

In Ghana, where elections are being held this Sunday, December 7, some members of the public have raised concerns over the possibility of violence during the impending presidential and parliamentary elections. Already a few clashes have been reported among some supporters of the two dominant parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress. (Voice of America)

· In this election, President Kaffour is trying to hold onto his seat; and the oppostion leader, Mr. Rawlings, is fighting to defeat him. According to one pastor in Ghana, "Anywhere in his campaigns, Rawlings threatens Ghanaians for war if they donʼt vote his party to power. . . War is not a welcome friend; war is destruction and devastating to every nation."

Elections in three other African nations this year have brought bloodshed: Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. Lift up the elections in Ghana in prayer on Sunday, asking our Lord to intervene to quell any emotions that would lead to violence, that that land might yet live in peace. Amen.

· "I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness." (I Timothy 2:1,2)

King Herod's Tomb Almost Certainly Found

The remains of a sarcophagus believed to be King Herod's on display during a press conference at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Israeli archaeologists excavating what they believe is the tomb of biblical King Herod said Wednesday they have unearthed lavish Roman-style wall paintings of a kind previously unseen in the Middle East and signs of a regal two-story mausoleum, bolstering their conviction that the Jewish monarch was buried here.

Ehud Netzer, head of the team from Jerusalem's Hebrew University, which uncovered the site at the king's winter palace in the Judean desert in 2007, said his latest finds show work and funding fit for a king. "What we found here, spread all around, are architectural fragments that enable us to restore a monument of 25 meters high, 75 feet high, very elegant, which fits Herod's taste and status," he told The Associated Press at the hillside dig in an Israeli- controlled part of the West Bank, south of Jerusalem. Herod is known for extensive building throughout the Holy Land.
Netzer said that since finding fragments of one ornately carved sarcophagus in 2007, he and his team have found two more, suggesting that the monumental tomb may have been a royal family vault. Netzer described the winter palace, built on a largely man-made hill 680 meters (2,230 feet) high, as a kind of "country club", with a pool, baths, gardens fed by pools and aqueducts and a 650-seat theater. (Fox News)

· Again the Lord is revealing the actuality of Biblical sites, proving that the Bible is accurate in its accounts. Each new find proves the Moslems wrong when they try to say that Israel never existed before 1948. Give thanks to the Lord for His never failing truth. It is now time for each of us to ask the Lord to improve our evangelistic skills, for the days of Jesus' return are close.

· "Go ye, therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)

CHPP Daily Brief - December 2, 2008

In This Issue
· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· Pray for the Persecuted Church
· The White House in Transition

Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net

The Daily Brief Tuesday, December 2, 2008

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." (Revelation 7:10)

The Daily Brief

1. Churches Stand to Lose Several Billion Dollars in Lost Donations Due to Economic Downturn - Barna Group

A new survey from The Barna Group shows that more than 150 million adults said they have been affected by the economic turbulence, and most of them expect it to take several years before the nation fully recovers. Americans are now passing on their financial pain to churches and other non-profit organizations, by cutting back substantially on their giving during the fourth quarter of 2008.

· Lord, we pray pastors and church leaders will begin instructing believers about tithing and giving. People are being robbed when they do not know of God's promise to bless them if they are faithful to tithe. Let Your people become tithers.

· Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. (Malachi 3:10 -13)

2. Early data show strong Black Friday - USA Today

The nation's retailers got a much-needed sales boost during Black Friday's traditional shopathon, as consumers, lured by deep discounts, spent nearly 3% more than they did last year. "Under these circumstances, to start off the season in this fashion is truly amazing and is a testament to the resiliency of the American consumer, and undeniably proves a willingness to spend," ShopperTrak co-founder Bill Martin said in a statement.

· Thank You, Lord for giving our people confidence to get their lives back in order. Let them be prudent to spend on the right things. Give all our nation a desire to save and be thrifty. Especially impress our leaders to show restraint.

· A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:10, 11)

3. God in middle of security debate - Washington Times

State Representative Tom Riner, a Southern Baptist minister who was instrumental in establishing that requirement in 2006, disapproves of the fact that Homeland Security doesn't currently mention God in its mission statement or on its Web site. Included in the law is a requirement that the office must post a plaque at the entrance to the state Emergency Operations Center with an 88-word statement that begins, "The safety and security of the Commonwealth cannot be achieved apart from reliance upon Almighty God."

· We thank You, Lord for people like this minister to be bold and to speak up for righteousness! Bless him and give our other church leaders boldness also to speak out against those who go against You, and Your laws.

· But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2 Timothy 4:17)

4. U.S. 'Not Getting What We Pay For' - Washington Post

Talk to the chief executives of America's preeminent health-care institutions, and you might be surprised by what you hear: When it comes to medical care, the United States isn't getting its money's worth. Not even close. One fundamental problem is how doctors are paid, he said. Under the current fee-for-service scheme, "the more you do, the more you make," Kaplan said. There is no incentive to keep people out of doctors' offices, hospitals, imaging centers and dialysis clinics.

· We pray that this new administration and its leaders will get rid of wasteful programs and institute only the programs You would have in our government. We pray that no laws would be passed in healthcare to provide for abortions.

· Oh, that my ways were directed to keep Your statutes! Then I would not be ashamed, when I look into all Your commandments. (Psalms 119:5, 6)

5. Prop 8 Rematch Possible in 2010; Vt. Gov. Opposes 'Gay Marriage' Bill - Baptist Press

The American Civil Liberties Union, the city of San Francisco, and a host of liberal and homosexual activist groups remain hopeful that the California Supreme Court will overturn Prop 8 - a constitutional amendment that defines marriage between one man and one woman - but if they fail, they have a Plan B. The backup plan - already in the very early stages - is to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot to reverse Prop 8's effect. With Hollywood backing it, such a signature drive no doubt will be well-funded.

· Lord, we pray that all the plans that people have to legalize actions that go against your laws will be brought to nothing. We pray that they will come to an intimate knowledge of You, Lord, leading to salvation.

· You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22) Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. (Deuteronomy 7:26)

6. Russia to Upgrade Missiles to Evade US Space Arms - Townhall.com

Russia's military is planning to upgrade its missiles to allow them to evade American weapons in space and penetrate any prospective missile shield, a Russian general said Monday. Although windfall oil revenues allowed the Kremlin to boost military budgets, Russian arms makers have had trouble producing new weapons because of the loss of key technologies and the exodus of qualified workers.

· Heavenly Father, we pray that all the tension between the United States and other countries - especially Russia, calms down.

· O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed; Let not my enemies triumph over me. (Psalms 27.1)

7. India: Pakistan must take 'strong action' against those behind attacks - Jerusalem Post

India has formally demanded that Pakistan take "strong action" against the people behind the Mumbai attacks.

· At last report, five terrorists who committed the atrocities last week in Mumbai, India, had not yet been found. Pray that they be found quickly, and stand against any further attacks in this normally peaceful and friendly city. Pray for wisdom and for calm, measured dialogue between the leaders of these two nations, as justice is served. Pray!

· "For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light." (Mark 4:22)

8. Thailand slips further into chaos as court dissolves government - London Times

Thailand's government has been disbanded and the Prime Minister barred from politics for five years in a court ruling that has prompted fears of a slide into civil war.

· South Asia seems to be in turmoil these days, with Thailand the next nation that clearly needs our prayers. Ask our Lord to visit the people of Thailand with a supernatural infusion of His peace, and to grant their leaders "wisdom from above" as they seek to avoid civil war in the land. Pray, too, for the safety and the protection of the many Christian missionaries who are now inside Thailand. In these days of turmoil, may they find many opportunities to bring the unsaved to find the peace that salvation brings though the Blood of the Lamb.

· "The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." (Psalm 33:5)

The Middle East in Focus

The Middle East in Focus This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming
THIS DECREE: "Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you." (Isaiah 60:1-2)

1. 'Iran and Israel-PA peace to top agenda' - Jerusalem Post

President-elect Barack Obama named the Iranian threat and the effort to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians as two of the top three issues facing the incoming US secretary of state, in announcing Hillary Clinton as his choice for the post Monday.

2. Olmert refuses to heed Kadima call to resign - Jerusalem Post

The rift between Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and members of his Kadima Party is widening, with Olmert apparently working behind his finance minister's back by trying to come up with his own pension safety net plan.

3. Police heighten alert in Tel Aviv area - Ynet News

Police raised their alert level in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area following a warning on Palestinians' plan to carry out a terror attack. Roadblocks were set up in the entrances to, and exits from Tel Aviv, causing traffic jams.

Pray for the Persecuted Church

For all the needs listed below, let's pray THIS PROMISE this week for the persecuted church across the world: "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40)

1. Hundreds Dead As Christians, Muslims Clash In Nigeria - Worthy News

At least some 400 people have been killed and thousands forced to flee their homes in the central Nigerian city of Jos where Christians and Muslims clashed in the worst sectarian violence in Africa's most populous nation in years. Fighting began Friday, November 28, amid a dispute over the result of a local election, witnesses said Saturday, November 29.

2. Egypt: Thousands Protest, Vandalize Church - Worthy News

Thousands of Muslim protesters on Sunday (Nov. 23) attacked a Coptic church in a suburb of Cairo, Egypt, burning part of it, a nearby shop and two cars and leaving five people injured.

3. Mexico: Oppression of Christians Persists in Various Parts of Country - Worthy News

As the number of evangelical Christians in southern Mexico has grown, hostilities from "traditionalist Catholics" have kept pace, according to published reports.

4. Egypt: Christians Arrested, Shops Looted in Village - Worthy News

Authorities in an Egyptian village arrested 50 Coptic Christians, whose shops were then looted, to pacify Muslims following violence that erupted on Nov. 4 over a Christian boy's unwitting break with custom.

The White House in Transition

1. World leaders welcome Hillary Clinton nomination - AFP

US allies gave a warm welcome to Hillary Clinton's return to the world stage as secretary of state but her husband, former president Bill Clinton, remained tight- lipped about the appointment. Britain, Japan and Israel all said they relished the opportunity of further strengthening relations with Washington under Clinton, although her nomination appeared to inspire little confidence of an upturn in ties in Russia.

· Hillary Rodham Clinton, in fifteen short years, has moved from serving the nation as our First Lady, to serving the people of the State of New York as their Senator, and now (potentially) to serve as our next Secretary of State. Mrs. Clinton has shown grace and wisdom in each postion she has held; pray that she will be blessed with a smooth transition now into the new mantle she is about to wear.

· "Ask, and ye shall receive . . ." (John 16:24)

2. Obama Dazzles Dems and GOP with Cabinet Picks - Fox News

President-elect Barack Obama has named half of his Cabinet members at record speed and earned positive reviews from both sides of the political aisle. After naming his economic team and his national security team at record speed, President-elect Barack Obama will now focus on filling the last half of his Cabinet. Rounding out his Cabinet will be the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Transportation and Education.

· Offer praise the our prayers for the new President- Elect - that he be granted "wisdom from above" - have been heard and are being answered. Continue to pray for "all in authority."

· "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (I Tim. 2:1-4)

3. Gates: I'll Be More Than 'Caretaker' - Fox News

Defense Secretary Robert Gates, speaking one day after he was formally tapped to stay on in the next administration, said Tuesday he has made an "open- ended" agreement to remain at the helm of the nation's military under Barack Obama.

· Some of Barack Obama's liberal critics are not pleased that Robert Gates has been chosen to remain on as the Secretary of Defense under the new administration. Offer praise that this very skilled leader will be able to continue to lead our defense policy in the days ahead, and ask that he will gain favor in the eyes of many.

· "When a man's ways are pleasing in His sight, He causes even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16:7)

4. Obama to Name Richardson as Commerce Secretary - Fox News

New Mexico Gov. Richardson will join President-elect Barack Obama at a news conference in Chicago on Wednesday.

· As each new name surfaces in this developing cabinet, lift up each one in prayer, again asking that each one be granted wisdom and understanding in his or her new position.

· "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5)

5. Chasm dividing Americans over birth certificate widens - WorldNetDaily

Opinions include, 'Constitution means what we say'The chasm between those who want President-elect Barack Obama to produce his birth certificate to verify his eligibility to hold the nation's highest office and those who simply support the Democrat is widening. "The Constitution means what we today decide it means," opined one participant on a new WND forum that offers readers an opportunity to express their opinion on the birth certificate dispute. Meanwhile, more than 120,000 have signed WND's petition seeking full disclosure of Obama's information.The petition cites the U.S. Constitution's requirement that no one can be sworn into office as president without being a natural born citizen. It also asserts there are questions about Obama's reported Hawaii birth, that the Democrat has refused repeated calls to document his birth, that activist judges have declined to require him to shed light on the issue and that Hawaii - at the time of Obama's birth - allowed parents whose children were born in other locations to register the birth there. (Read more.)

· At the end of the week, the justices of the Supreme Court will go into conference to weigh whether to pick up this case. Pray for wisdom as these justices meet. May our nation yet be not only "one Nation under God," but also "One Nation Under Law." Amen.

· "The Lord loves righteousness and justice . . ." (Psalm 33:5a) ". . . you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother." (Deuteronomy 17:15)