· The Daily Brief
· The Middle East in Focus
· Iran in the News
· Pray for the Persecuted Church
· Victory in California
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief Thursday, July 17, 2008
"The path of the righteous is level; O upright One, you make the way of the righteous smooth." (Isaiah 26:7)
The Daily Brief
1. Report: U.S. to Establish Diplomatic Presence in Iran for the first time in 30 years - AP
The United States in the next month will announce plans to establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran for the first time in 30 years, a British newspaper said on Thursday.
· Even with the Ayatollah Khamenai threatening President Bush today as well as a continual rant against Israel from the leadership of Iran, we have once again chosen a schizophrenic method of dealing with terrorists. Pray that the Lord will visit our leadership with a personal encounter with the "Captain of the Host", in a "Damascus Road" experience.
· "Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once, and he arose and was baptized." (Acts 9:18)
2. Inflation Watch- Consumer Prices Jump in June- AP
The price of a quart of milk, a plane ticket and a host of other products rose in June at nearly the fastest pace in a generation, taking an even bigger-than-expected bite out of the buying power of Americans.
· Father, we again plead for mercy over Your people in America, as well as those who do not know You. You are the God of mercy and we call on Your Name in our distress.
· "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears." (Psalm 18:6)
3. Congress Ratings Plunge in Poll - USA Today
Congressional job approval ratings have sunk to their lowest point in three decades, according to the latest Gallup Poll.
· Father, we have leadership that moves foolishly rather than with wisdom for the American people. We ask that You remove the unrighteous from power, and raise up leaders who love You, hear Your wisdom , and have love for our people.
· "O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers because we have sinned against You. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." (Daniel 9:8,9)
4. US Senate Triples Funding for Aids Fight - AFP
The US Senate gave a major boost Wednesday, to a program to combat AIDS and malaria around the world, voting to triple funding for a cause championed by President George W. Bush.
· Lord, at a time when we are sliding into incomprehensible debt, Congress has yet again made the situation worse. We ask that You would intervene in the AIDS epidemic around the world by Your Divine healing, so that this huge expenditure will be drastically reduced.
· "He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from all their destructions." (Psalm 107:20)
5. Calif Court Rejects Gay Marriage-Initiative Base - AP
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday, refused to hear a challenge to a ballot initiative that seeks to ban same-sex marriages.
· Father, we praise You that wickedness will not prosper in California, and that the challenge to gay marriage will go forward.
· "Do not grant, O Lord, the desires of the wicked, do not further his wicked scheme, lest they be exalted." (Psalm 140:8,9)
6. Economic Jitters Hitting Treasury Market? - ABC News
A stumbling economy and a potential federal bailout of home mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appear to have prompted some traders to try to profit by questioning what has been one of the most stable investments: U.S. Treasury bonds.
· Lord, we apply the Blood of Jesus to US Treasury Bonds and ask You to extend Your wings over them in protection. We ask that You spare the treasury bonds from destruction, for our hope is in You alone.
· "He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge." (Psalm 91:4)
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: " . . . mourn with those who mourn." (Romans 12:15b)
1. Blair says peace deal is being undermined by doubts over Ehud Olmert - London Times
A day after he was prevented from visiting Gaza by an assassination threat, Tony Blair raised doubts for the first time yesterday, that a peace deal could be concluded between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of the year.
2. FADC: Hand out gas masks immediately - Jerusalem Post
Israeli civilians are unprepared for nonconventional attacks, warned prominent members of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Tuesday afternoon, blasting the defense establishment for ignoring calls to fix the situation.
3. PA court sentences two to death for 'collaboration' - Jerusalem Post
A Palestinian Authority security court in Jenin, sentenced two Palestinians to death for "collaboration with the Israeli enemy" on Tuesday.
4. Nasrallah 'most admired' Arab leader - Jerusalem Post
Hizbullah leader Hassan Nasrallah is the most admired leader among the Arab public, a survey released Wednesday showed.
5. Israeli Mourns Soldiers, Awaits Hezbollah's Next Move - NY Sun
After the final chapter of the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah ended yesterday with celebrations in Lebanon and mourning in Israeli cities, Jerusalem officials and scholars warily eyed a possible future assault by the terrorist organization deployed on Israel's northern border.
Iran in the News
For all the headlines below, we thank God for the promise of His Word: "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you." (2 Chronicles 20:6)
1. In policy reversal, US envoy to meet Iran's nuclear negotiator - AFP
Experts said the White House had appeared to undertake a major shift in its hardline stance toward Tehran when it announced that a senior US diplomat would attend international nuclear talks with Iran.
2. US "ponders Iran diplomatic base" - BBC
The US state department has refused to confirm or deny reports of plans to establish a US diplomatic presence in Iran for the first time in 30 years.
3. Iran threatens President Bush - Ynet News
Iran's spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a personal threat against American President George W. Bush Wednesday, warning the US leader that he will be punished by the Iranian nation if he orders a strike on Iran.
Pray for the Persecuted Church
Prayers for the Persecuted Church This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE: "May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob defend you." (Psalm 20:1)
1. Bush Condemns Religious Rights Abuses In Iran, Eritrea, Sudan and China - Worthy News
United States President George W. Bush on Monday, July 14, condemned Iran, Eritrea, Sudan, North Korea, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and China for violations of religious rights, saying thousands of people are suffering and "languish in the nation's" jails, but noted some progress in Communist-run Vietnam.
2. Muslim Mob Attacks Protestant Church In Pakistan - Worthy News
A tense calm returned Tuesday, July 15, to the outskirts of Pakistan's largest city, Karachi, after several Christians, including a pastor, were injured when Muslim militants stormed a Protestant church during a prayer service, officials told BosNewsLife.
3. Spike in Attacks against Egyptian Coptic Christians - Worthy News
The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org has learned that a recent increase in attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christians has prompted various Christian groups to organize demonstrations condemning fanatic Muslims engaging in these attacks and the officials of the Egyptian government who have failed to protect Christians against such attacks.
Victory in California
Calif. Supreme Court rejects lawsuit against Calif. marriage amendment
ADF attorneys say lawsuit was frivolous attack upon the right of Californiansto vote on marriage Alliance Defense Fund and ProtectMarriage attorneys are calling the California Supreme Court's rejection of a lawsuit against the state's proposed marriage amendment an appropriate decision on a frivolous lawsuit. The attorneys say they will vigorously defend against any additional legal attacks filed to deny the right of Californians to vote on marriage.
"Equality California and its allies were desperate to evade the democratic process. They already used the courts to erase the votes of nearly 5 million Californians who voted to protect marriage. We're pleased the court did not allow them to silence the people's voice this November as well," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Brian Raum. "The opponents of marriage have proven that they are willing to use any means necessary to impose their will."
The California high court declined to hear the anti- amendment lawsuit, Bennett v. Bowen, filed June 20 by Equality California. The suit sought to prevent Californians from voting on the state's marriage amendment even though it already qualified for inclusion in the Nov. 4 election (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4592). The California Secretary of State certified the citizen initiative for the November ballot on June 3. If approved by voters, Proposition 8, the California Marriage Protection Act, will add the following words to California's constitution: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."
(Sources: Alliance Defense Fund and DOMA Watch )
· Offer praise to the LORD for this decision by the California Supreme Court, upholding the law of the land, and in alignment with the Law of God. Praise God!
· "Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8)
