Friday, December 16, 2011

CHPP Daily Brief - Friday, December 16, 2011

•  The Daily Brief
•  The Middle East in Focus
•  The Daily Jot
•  DOMA Hearing Held Today
•  The Good News Corner (Part One)
•  The Good News Corner (Part Two)
•  Worship with Us Today!

Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
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chpp@patriot.net
 
The Daily Brief - Friday, December 16, 2011

"Unto us a Son is given . . ." (Isaiah 9:6)

CONGRESS WILL NOT BE IN SESSION NEXT WEEK, BUT WE WILL CONTINUE "KEEPING WATCH" WITH YOU FOR SEVERAL MORE DAYS.

The Daily Brief WILL be published on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week: December 26 - 28.

"For such a time as this . . ."

Your editorial team
The Daily Brief

1. Senate leaders strike short-term deal on extending payroll tax holiday - The Hill

Senate leaders announced Friday evening a deal to extend the payroll tax holiday and unemployment benefits for two months, putting Congress on course to adjourn for the year well in time for Christmas. The deal includes House-passed language to expedite construction of the Keystone XL oil sands pipeline. The two-month stopgap measure would also freeze scheduled cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors until March.

- Thank you for your intercession over this criical bill, and offer praise that this has now been passed, as indicated. Two months of benefits is surely better than nothing; when it returns, ask that Congress begin to forge agreements that will be in effect throughout every fiscal year. Amen.

- "And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son." (John 14:13)

2a. Report: Nearly Half of American Schools Failed Federal Standards - Fox News

Nearly half of America's public schools didn't meet federal achievement standards this year, marking the largest failure rate since the much-criticized "No Child Left Behind" Law took effect a decade ago, according to a national report released Thursday.The Center on Education Policy report shows more than 43,000 schools -- or 48 percent -- did not make "adequate yearly progress" this year. The failure rates range from a low of 11 percent in Wisconsin to a high of 89 percent in Florida.

2-b. Married couples at a record low
- Washington Post

The proportion of adults who are married has plunged to record lows as more people decide to live together now and wed later, reflecting decades of evolving attitudes about the role of marriage in society. Just 51 percent of all adults who are 18 and older are married, placing them on the brink of becoming a minority, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of census statistics to be released Wednesday. That represents a steep drop from 57 percent who were married in 2000.

- Lord, we are saddened to see the downward spiral of both traditional marriage and our children's educational standards. It seems evident that when traditional values are abandoned, it has a domino effect, adversely effecting many areas of life.

Lord, we desperately need repentance and revival in this country! We, Your people, need to humble ourselves, and pray, and seek Your face, crying out for mercy and grace upon our Land. We ask that revival would sweep the White House, Congress, Supreme Court, and all 50 states; that we would truly function as the United States of Christ. In Yeshua's Name, we pray. Amen.

- " If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

3. US Ends Military Mission in Iraq - VOA

The U.S. military has formally ended its mission in Iraq. At a ceremony in Baghdad, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta watched as American troops lowered their command's flag, marking an end to the nearly nine-year war that drove out Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.

- Abba, as we watched the ceremonies yesterday, officially closing the "war" in Iraq, and sending our troops home, we thank You for the good that has been accomplished during the time we were there. We thank You for the almost 4,500 military men and women, who made the ultimate sacrifice, to help secure freedom for Iraq from the evil dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. We ask You to continue to protect them from those whose desire is to enslave them again.
Please bring these soldiers safely back home, and comfort those who still grieve from the loss of their loved ones, especially at this Christmas season. We pray the Iraqi people will be able to attain their chosen destiny. Amen.

- "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up; A time to weep, And a time to laugh; A time to mourn, And a time to dance; A time to love, And a time to hate; A time of war, And a time of peace."
(Ecc 3:1-4,8)

4. U.S. to leave Iraqi airspace clear for strategic Israeli route to Iran - Washington Times

The U.S. military's fast-approaching Dec. 31 exit from Iraq, which has no way to defend its airspace, puts Israel in a better place strategically to strike Iran's nuclear facilities.

-Father, now that our troops have officially been told that the war is over, and they are returning from Iraq at the end of this month, it seems that the Iraqi airspace could be used by Israel, or any other nation wanting to pre-emptively strike Iran's nuclear facilities, without having to get permission. We pray that You would give Israel's leaders the wisdom they need from You to know if, and when, such a strike should take place. In Yeshua's Name we pray, Amen.

- "BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight--My Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge."
(Ps. 144:1-2)

5. US fears Iran on verge of 20% enriched uranium
- Jerusalem Post

The Obama administration is concerned Iran is on the verge of being able to enrich uranium at a facility deep underground near the Moslem cult city of Qom, which may strengthen those advocating tougher action to stop Iran's suspected atomic weapons program.

-Abba, we are all concerned about the maniacal leader of Iran, and his hatred of Your land of Israel and the U.S. We believe this man is so deceived by the enemy and believes he can destroy tiny Israel, as soon as he acquires the nuclear technology to do so. We know that all the nations of the Mideast are on "high alert", anticipating war at any moment. Our own 6th fleet and Russia's aircraft carriers are in position in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Syria.
We thank You, Lord, for Your promise that Israel will not be destroyed and that You will fight for her, and give her the victory over her many enemies. We ask, Lord, that You would intervene, in any way of Your choosing, to thwart the plans of this evil dictatorship, and keep them from ever going nuclear. In the Name of The Lord of Hosts, we pray. Amen.

- "The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a human being. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!" (Joshua 10:14)
 
The Middle East in Focus

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

"Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, And rejoice before Him." (Psalm 68:4)

1. US alleges huge Hezbollah money laundering web - Ynet News

Several Lebanese financial institutions with alleged ties to Hezbollah were part of a massive scheme that funneled hundreds of millions of dollars in criminal proceeds through the United States, prosecutors here charged on Thursday.

2. Iceland formally recognizes Palestinian state within 1967 lines - Ha'aretz

Iceland on Thursday formally recognized Palestine and was to establish diplomatic relations with the state, two weeks after its parliament voted in favor of the move.

3. Israel forms special ops command; experts eye Iran - Reuters

Israel said on Thursday it was unifying its special forces under one command, a move experts say could help Israel strike countries like Iran, whose nuclear program the Jewish state deems a threat to its existence.

4. Israel's treatment at the UN 'obsessive' and 'ugly,' U.S. diplomat says - Ha'aretz

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice denounced the treatment Israel receives in the United Nations on Thursday, adding that American support of Israel's security was an "essential truth."

The Daily Jot
 
White House handling of drone should raise questions


According to Iranian engineers, the American bat-wing RQ-170 Sentinel drone was captured by Iran through hacking its GPS system and landing it safely intact. Just how significant this event is will be played out as Iran ups the ante in its nuclear, technological, and military advances and as it ramps up its political rhetoric against Israel and the US. But there is a question that should be asked by the mainstream media, and it should be asked in the context of the US involvement in radicalizing Arab states surrounding Israel. Why didn't the man who occupies the Oval Office insist this drone be destroyed before the Iranians could dissect it?

He told reporters, "We have asked for it back. We'll see how the Iranians respond." DEBKAfile reports that the drone had a self destruct mechanism, but it was never used. The president, according to the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Fox News, weighed options to recover or destroy the drone, but was "concerned such a mission could be considered an act of war." This is all pretty weak considering what is at stake with Israel, Iran and the Middle East. Unless, of course, this White House wanted Iran to have the drone and all of its high tech spy technology. That would explain the drone being essentially handed over to Iran.

DEBKAfile asks in its special report: "The enigmas surrounding its capture continue to pile up. How did Iran know the drone had entered its airspace? How was it caused to land? Most of all, why did the craft's self-destruct mechanism which is programmed to activate automatically fail to work? And if it malfunctioned, why was it not activated by remote control?" DEBKAfile reports that the decision to not recover or destroy the drone was not missed by Israeli security officials, who have a lot at stake. Israel's perception is that the decision was "symptomatic of a wider decision to call off the covert war America has been conducting for some months against Iran's drive for a nuclear bomb." The State Department denies this.

DEBKAfile reported that a senior Israeli security official summed it up: "...when it comes to Iran and its nuclear program, the Obama administration and Israel have different objectives. On this issue, each country needs to go its own way." Given the support for radicalizing the Middle East, the US partnership with the terrorist sponsoring Muslim Brotherhood, and this weak response to protecting a top secret spy plane, one has to wonder what side this president is on. It's a legitimate question no matter what your politics. Ephesians 5: 6,7 says, "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be ye not therefore partakers with them." Ask the questions, act accordingly.

Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com

DOMA Hearing Held Today
The case of a federal employee whose lesbian partner was denied spousal benefits under the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was heard in a federal court today - and in an unprecedented twist, the U.S. Department of Justice was fighting against the law of the land.

Karen Golinski, who works for the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, sued the government in January 2010 when her partner was denied spousal benefits. But six months later, after the Obama administration said it would no longer defend DOMA - which defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman - and after the House of Representatives and its attorney, Paul Clement, intervened in the lawsuit and asked the court to dismiss it, the Department of Justice filed a brief supporting Golinski's claim.

"Taxpayers should take special note of this case," said CitizenLink Judicial Analyst Bruce Hausknecht. "After the administration and the DOJ abandoned the defense of DOMA in all pending cases, and the House of Representatives hired Paul Clement to defend the law, the DOJ then filed a brief in this case arguing against Clement's position - effectively putting the force of the federal government and the tax dollars that fund it - on opposite sides in the same case. What an egregious waste of taxpayer dollars!

"What's worse, the administration and DOJ took the position that DOMA was unconstitutional after several federal courts had already held it constitutional. That undermines any possibility that the administration and DOJ were operating in good faith by declaring they didn't feel they could defend the constitutionality of DOMA." (CitizenLink)

- Repent that we have now become a nation that is calling good, evil; and evil, good. Only God can save us now.

- "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2)

The Good News Corner (Part One)

A Merry Christmas FLASH MOB!

Recently, students at the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota converged upon the lobby of their building and became a FLASH MOB FOR CHRISTMAS!
We hope you will enjoy viewing this video as much as we did . . . and are blessed by seeing how the next generation IS celebrating CHRISTMAS with such zeal and enthusiasm!

The Good News Corner (Part Two)

Franklin Graham:

Dad Recovering, Working on New Book
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2011

By Henry J. Reske and John Bachman

The Rev. Billy Graham is recovering from pneumonia at home, and the success of his most recent book has spurred him to write another, his son, the Rev. Franklin Graham, tells Newsmax.

The legendary evangelist, who had been hospitalized for six days until his release Dec. 6, is "doing much better" at his home near Asheville, N.C., said Franklin, who expressed hope that his father would "listen to his doctors."

"They've given him some instructions of some things he needs to do and I think he'll do them," said Franklin, who is president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the international relief organization Samaritan's Purse.

"At 93 years of age, he's really in fairly good shape," Graham said during an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV. We are just so thankful that his mind is so sharp, very clear. He just finished writing a book this year. Actually, he has started now working on another book so that's going to be his project for 2012."

The senior Graham's latest book, "Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well," is not just for those who are aging and facing the end of life, but, as the evangelist says in the introduction, "for people at every stage of life - even those who have never thought much about growing older."

"It has kind of encouraged him to see the book do so well, at 93 years of age, that people are still interested in buying a book that he's authored," Graham said. "He started it after my mother passed away and there were times that he just kind of - not that he lost interest, but I think he just got tired and he would quit working on it for a few weeks or a few months. And we just weren't sure that he would do it, but he kept plugging away at it and yes, the book has done very well . . . So that has encouraged him to start another book." (Newsmax) Read more.

- Join us in offering praise to the Lord for this wonderful news. Praise God!

- "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." (Phil. 1:6 NLT)

Worship with Us Today!

THE HALLELUJAH CHORUS!

. . . For the Lord GOD omnipotent reigneth . . .

Meanwhile, back in Alaska ...

We have received so much fan mail about how this small town, somewhere in Alaska, put together the Hallelujah Chorus, that we will repeat this now. Be blessed and HALLELLUAH, LORD!