• The Daily Brief
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot!
• Obama's Arrogance
• The ENDA the Rainbow
• Today's Legislative Focus
• Update: NDP Ruled Unconstitutional in Colorado Court
• Moslem Groups Confront Law Enforcement Agencies
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Wednesday, May 16, 2012
"But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King." (Jer. 10:10)
The Daily Brief
1. Speaking Of The Economy - Gary Bauer
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last Sunday, former Treasury Secretary John Snow warns that Obama's stated policies are threatening to derail the U.S. economy. Consider this excerpt:
"Unfortunately, - prominent proposals by the administration would triple the top dividend tax rate to nearly 45%, while doubling the top rate on capital gains to 30%. If one intended to cripple job creation, depress stock prices, and lower the value of retirement savings for working Americans, these proposals would be just what we should choose."
- Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider - as You have exposed - we ask You to remove from leadership those whose influence serves to destroy America's economy and its working citizens. In Jesus' Name we bind their destructive policies and the results that would surely follow! We proclaim You as LORD over America and its economy! We pray above all, that You will be glorified in this land, and that its prosperity will serve to further the Gospel of Your kingdom for the saving of souls, in Jesus' Name.
- " O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot." (Psalm 16: 5)
2. Obama, touting gay marriage stance, calls for repeal of Defense of Marriage Act - Fox News
Obama openly spoke of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act at a fundraiser Monday, as he defended his personal view that gay couples should have the right to marry. The president was raising money before an audience of gay and lesbian supporters in New York, hosted by the LGBT Leadership Council and openly gay singer Ricky Martin, as well as Latino group The Futuro Fund.
- Lord, hear the prayer of our grieved hearts, as we think of Obama making a proclamation in favor of homosexual marriage, and wrongly using Your Word to defend his proclamation. As You have openly exposed this Obama's position, we ask You to give this nation ears to hear and eyes to see in accordance with what is Your clearly revealed will. May Your people proclaim - with courage and perseverance - what Your Word says. Bring deliverance, salvation, and healing in this nation. In Jesus' Name.
- " Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. " (Romans 1: 24-27)
3. Privacy concerns as US government rolls out domestic drone rules - Fox News
Unmanned drones could soon be buzzing in the skies above many U.S. cities, as the federal government green-lights the technology for local law enforcement amid widespread privacy concerns. In doing so, the government is taking a tool that has become synonymous with U.S. counterterror warfare in countries like Pakistan and Yemen -- and putting it in the hands of U.S. law enforcement. Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union, "We don't want a situation where every time we walk out of our front door we have to look up and wonder whether some invisible eye in the sky is monitoring us, you know, constantly," he said. "There are good uses for drones that everybody agrees with, but what we don't' want to see are drones used for constant, persistent, suspicion-less surveillance where we are all being watched for no particular reason."
- Lord, today we are observed by unseen eyes even at simple traffic intersections. Now, we are threatened with drones overhead peering into our private dwellings. Be a shield to us, O Lord, in Jesus' Name! Bring forth a resurrection of those in leadership who value the precious protection and liberty given to us by You through the founding Fathers.
- "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my Fortress; my God, in Him will I trust." (Psalm 91:2)
4. Soros, Leftist Honchos Meet in Miami to Plot 2012- FreeBeacon.com
The Biltmore Hotel in Miami hosted a gathering of left-wing muckety-mucks plotting their strategy for the 2012 election cycle. The group hosting the meet-up was the Democracy Alliance, a 2005-created organization of high-powered liberal billionaires. As the Washington Free Beacon reports: Attendees roamed the grounds at the 150-acre tropical resort on their way to ...workshops such as "Occupy the Voting Booth" and "The 1 Percent Rule." George Soros showed up to party, as did Andy Stern, former SEIU president. Ari Rabin-Havt, executive vice president of Media Matters for America, walked around talking about his latest chat with Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for President Obama. Members of the Center for American Progress also showed up. This was a 1% gathering - a planning operation for the other 99%. And we will see its impact in the months to come.
- We thank You, Lord, that You have entrusted Your people with power. In the Name of Jesus Christ we bind every unlawful or ungodly plan conceived or enlarged in these meetings. Though the attendees have great expectations, we break the power of their unity in the Name of Jesus. We break the power of any plans which seek to over-ride the law, the foundations upon which America is built, and to harm those who profess Your Name. We pray in Jesus' mighty Name!
- "Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised." (Psalm 10:2)
5. Syria attack kills 21; rebels say protect U.N. monitors - Reuters
At least 21 people were killed on Tuesday in an attack in northern Syria, activists said, and members of a team of U.N. monitors caught in the incident said they were in rebel hands "for their own protection." "They are now with the Free Army which is protecting them. If they leave, the regime will terminate them because they have witnessed one of its crimes and it does not want them to tell the truth," rebel Major Sami al-Kurdi told Reuters. "We will get them out tomorrow," he said later. The internal U.N. document confirmed the U.N. team in Syria "will conduct a patrol to pick up the mentioned UNMOs (observers)" on Wednesday.
- Lord, we lift up Syria to you - this ancient nation destroying itself with internal wars and oppressive leadership. May all that the enemy is using to destroy this land become the very fuel for the fire of God to burn in hearts across Syria - breaking the ancient deceptive strongholds. We speak salvation to this nation in the Name of Jesus Christ - as even Abram's servant Eliezer loved and revered You - for with our God nothing is impossible! May Syria become a sign and wonder to the nations of Islam. We pray also that the UN monitoring team be kept safe, and used as Your instruments. Amen.
- " Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." (Genesis 24:26, 27)
6. Al-Qaeda releases English-language jihad manual, encourages attacks in the West - Times of Israel
Al-Qaeda's English media affiliate, Al-Malahem Media, published a 16-page online English-language jihad manual on Wednesday entitled "Expectations Full," which contains advice and instruction for Muslims who wish to wage holy war in the name of Islam. Much of the focus is on the day-to-day practicalities of waging jihad in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the author also devotes attention to encouraging Western-based Muslims to carry out attacks in the countries where they are living.
The writer, Samir Khan, a British-born Pakistani al-Qaeda operative who was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen last year, strongly recommends "all the brothers and sisters coming from the West to consider attacking America in its own backyard. The effect is much greater, it always embarrasses the enemy, and these type of individual decision-making attacks are nearly impossible for them to contain."
- O GOD, open the ears of this nation to understand who the enemy is; for our enemies continue to blatantly announce and taunt us with their destructive plans. We are only safe in Your protection, Lord. We ask Your forgiveness for the sins of our land which are many, and pray for such a move of the Holy Spirit in hearts across America that our enemies will fear and be turned back in Jesus' Name!
- " The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgement He executes; the wicked is snared in the works of his own hands. Selah. " (Psalm 9: 15,16)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun (Israel), who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty." (Dt. 33:26)
1. Top U.S. think tank warns against Israeli, American strike on Iran - Ha'aretz
The RAND Corporation, a think tank which advises the Pentagon, warned on Tuesday against an Israeli or American attack on Iran's nuclear reactors, and recommended the Obama administration try to "quietly influence the internal Israeli discussion over the use of military force."
2. Former Officials: 2012 U.S., Israel Attack on Iran Unlikely - US News & World Report
A U.S. or Israeli military strike on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons facilities is unlikely this year, but could happen as soon as 2013, say several former senior American officials.
3. Palestinians mark 'Nakba Day' - Ynet News
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as pro-Palestinian supporters in other Arab nations, will mark "Nakba Day" Tuesday, marking the "catastrophe" of the inception of the State of Israel.
4. US Leads Major War Drill in Jordan -- Israel Not Invited - Arutz Sheva
The United States is leading what it described as the "largest military exercises in the Middle East in 10 years" in Jordan on Tuesday.
The Daily Jot!
Practicing Christianity by supporting sodomite marriage
The man who occupies the Oval Office used Jesus as one of the reasons he is supporting same sex marriage. Anyone who supports same sex marriage and claims to be a Christian is not following the "Jesus" of the Bible, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. In fact, the president's concept on this particular issue demonstrates his lack of Christianity by cherry picking verses to support his position. But then again, isn't that the hallmark of much of the Christian church these days? Isn't this at least part of the reason why America is in the condition it is in? Many pastors are preaching a different gospel from the pulpit than what is written in scriptures, turning generations away from the ancient path.
The president said, "This is something that, you know, we've [he and his wife, Michelle] talked about over the years...in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people...we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president."
Those who promote same sex marriage cannot possibly justify their position with the Bible. It is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that homosexuality is "abomination." Those who promote this disgusting concept for marriage are saying that sodomy should be elevated to the same level as the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the very basis of societal structure. Those promoting sodomy support vile affections. Paul writes in Romans 1:24-25, "Wherefore YHVH also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of YHVH into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator..."
The president cites the Golden Rule in justifying same sex marriage. The Golden Rule can be found in Matthew 7:12, where Yeshua says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Yeshua also said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." He gave us a new commandment to love one another as he has loved us. If the president loved sodomites as the Messiah loves us, the president would not appease them and exploit them for votes. Love is not enabling people to remain in their sin. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." Turning a blind eye to this kind of leadership does not absolve one of its consequences.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Obama's Arrogance: Rewriting History!
Little in Washington surprises me anymore. But reports that the Obama White House has edited the biographies of previous presidents, including Ronald Reagan, to include references to Obama and his policies has got be the height of arrogance!
It's not only arrogant, it's creepy -- bringing to mind the way tyrants of the past have airbrushed pictures and rewritten history books. Is there no one at the White House with enough common sense to question this cult-like worship of the "dear leader"? I guess not. After all, Obama was the "one" they had been waiting for. He said so himself. (Gary Bauer)
The ENDA the Rainbow
If liberals think they can intimidate Congressman James Lankford (R-Okla.), they picked on the wrong guy. Last week, the far-Left's ThinkProgress tried to ambush Rep. Lankford on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which gives special workplace rights to homosexuals and cross-dressers. FRC has argued against the policy for years. Not only is it unnecessary, but it would be used as a weapon to bludgeon religious employers and businesses.
In ThinkProgress's video, the interviewers ask Rep. Lankford if he could "support a law that says you can't fire someone for their sexual orientation--similar to protections for people on gender?" The Congressman replied that "[R]ace and sexual preferences are two different things. One is a behavior-related and preference-related and one is something inherently--skin color, something obvious, that kind of stuff. You don't walk up to someone on the street and look at them and say, 'Gay or Straight?'"
The crew pressed him more, asking if he believes people are born gay. "Do I personally? No. I don't. I think it's a choice issue. Are tendencies and such? Yes. But I think it's a choice issue." That day, ThinkProgress posted an outright lie as its headline, suggesting that Lankford wants to make it "legal to fire someone for being gay." Of course, he never said that--but ThinkProgress never lets a little thing like the truth get in the way of a good story. Since then, the Left has launched an all-out smear campaign against the Oklahoma Republican, hoping he'll back down. He hasn't--not even when threats to his office started pouring in. "Businesses hire and fire people based on their performance at work, not in their private lives outside of their work," he said.
The entire episode has been a case study in liberal tactics. Time and time again, the Left tries to bully or intimidate people into submission on their agenda. But when Americans are undeterred, as Rep. Lankford is, liberals are at a complete loss. Usually, after a few failed attempts, they become frustrated enough to move on to the next target. Bend and be trampled. Stand and be left alone. In the meantime, it takes lots of courage to weather the storm. Contact Rep. Lankford (202.225.2132) and tell him you're grateful he has! (Family Research Council)
Today's Legislative Focus
From The Madison Project
www.madisonproject.com
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Every year, before passing an appropriations bill for defense, Congress must pass an authorization bill which establishes the policy priorities of our national defense, in addition to the spending authorization. The House plans to bring the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the floor on Thursday. The total funding of the bill, H.R. 4310, would total $643 billion; roughly $554 for base defense spending and $88 billion for spending on the war in Afghanistan and some other Overseas Contingency Operations ("OCO"). The bill would strike the proper balance between undoing the irresponsible cuts supported by the Obama administration, while keeping the defense budget from growing at the same rate as earlier in the decade.
Conservative concerns:
- DADT: Conservatives should push members to use the NDAA to clock as many aspects of the homosexual social engineering that is being promulgated on the military by Obama's DOD since the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. The military during a time of war is not the place for such social experimentations.
- Domestic Detainees: Last year's NDAA caused some pungent divisions within the conservative coalition. Ambiguous language in the 2012 defense law led many conservatives to believe that the military would have the authority to suspend habeas corpus and indefinitely detain Americans who are suspected of engaging in terrorism for Al Qaeda - even on American soil.
Other conservatives contended that the 2012 law contained no such expansion. They argued that failure to pass this law would undermine the 2001 use of force law, which grants the president the power to "use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons" involved in the September 11 attacks "in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
In order to clear up the confusion and gratuitous infighting within our coalition, Reps. Buck McKeon and Jeff Landry amended the committee bill to explicitly clarify that "nothing in the Authorization for Use of Military Force . . . [2001] or the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 shall be construed to deny the availability of the writ of habeas corpus in a court ordained or established by or under Article III of the Constitution for any person who is detained in the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force."
This is a great unifying bill designed to ensure that our military and intelligence agencies will have wide latitude in fighting our foreign enemies, while preserving basic habeas corpus rights at home. Some of the hard-core libertarians, like Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) are still trying to combat the NDAA and remove any provision go after enemy combatants caught on American soil. It is our opinion that the new bill adresses those concerns, but some conservatives might still oppose the bill.
The National Day Of Prayer Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional, And Prayer Caucus Members Are Pushing Back
Last Thursday, on the National Day of Prayer, a Colorado court ruled such a day unconstitutional.
It began in 2008 when the Freedom From Religion Foundation sued the office of Governor John Hickenlooper for a Proclamation he made in compliance with the law established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan; establishing the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer.
Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado, a Member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, has issued a letter to the Governor urging him to appeal the decision with the Colorado Supreme Court. He is also asking Prayer Caucus members and citizens to be praying for this situation. We've attached his letter to the Governor to this email for your review. Read his press release here.
The Colorado Legislative Prayer Caucus is working with Congressman Lamborn and other key leaders to create a plan of action. They will also be issuing a statement shortly as well as the recorded program that includes CLPC co-chair, Senator Renfroe's interview with Dr. James Dobson. The CLPC is planning on sending a letter to the Governor asking that he pursue the case to the Colorado Supreme Court.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking citizens to contact Governor Hickenlooper to ask him not to appeal the decision. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is asking citizens to sign a petition asking the Governor to appeal the decision. Sign the petition here.
This is another example of how the State Legislative Prayer Caucuses that the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation are helping launch are effective against religious liberty issues.
Please pray for these courageous leaders and contact them to give them your support.
Sincerely,
Lea Carawan
Executive Director
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
"Mainstream" Islamist Group Attacks Law Enforcement and Whitewashes Jihadists
Few organizations in the United States have been as consistent in attacking law enforcement as the Muslim Public Affairs Council and its president, Salam al-Marayati.
Marayati, who attended last year's White House Iftar Dinner during Ramadan, has suggested that Muslim Americans are at war with both al-Qaeda and the FBI. "We in the Muslim American community have been battling the corrupt and bankrupt ideas of cults such as Al Qaeda," he wrote in October in the Los Angeles Times." Now it seems we also have to battle pseudo-experts in the FBI and the Department of Justice."
Marayati was incensed over reports that the FBI and one U.S. Attorney's office had used training materials "revealing a deep anti-Muslim sentiment within the U.S. government." One example was a 2010 presentation by an analyst working for a U.S. Attorney in Pennsylvania which warned of a civilizational jihad that is "waged today in the U.S. by 'civilians, juries, lawyers, media, and charities'" who "threaten our values."
Marayati warned that if U.S. law enforcement continues to use such "incorrect and divisive" literature, the "partnership" between Muslim Americans and law enforcement "will slowly disintegrate."
"Such baseless and inflammatory claims shall best be left to those few who share Al Qaeda's agenda," Marayati wrote. "In other words, the rhetoric of Al Qaeda and those law enforcement trainers are opposite sides of the same coin of hate."
But the concept of civilization-jihad is not something conjured up by a consultant as a pretext to oppress Muslims. During the 2008 Hamas-financing prosecution of five former officials of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), FBI Agent Lara Burns testified about a 1991 internal memorandum outlining the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood-connected "Palestine Committee" which was created toadvance the Hamas agenda in the United States. (Investigative Project on Terrorism)
The Good News Corner
Found: First Evidence of Jewish Worship in Judah at the Time of King David
Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, the Yigal Yadin Professor of Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, announced on May 8 the discovery of objects that for the first time shed light on how Jewish worship was organized in Judah at the time of King David.
During recent archaeological excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified city in Judah adjacent to the Valley of Elah [where David fought Goliath, just west of Beit Shemesh], Garfinkel and colleagues uncovered rich assemblages of pottery, stone and metal tools, and many art and religious objects. These include three large rooms, which correspond to the biblical description of worship at the time of King David.
It is the first time that a place of worship [referred to as shrines] from the time of early biblical kings were uncovered. Because these rooms pre-date the construction of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem by 30 to 40 years, they provide the first physical evidence of a system of worship in the time of King David.
Located approximately 30 km. [19 miles] southwest of Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa was a border city of the Kingdom of Judah opposite the Philistine city of Gath. The city, which was dated by 10 radiometric measurements done on burned olive pits, existed for a short period of time between ca. 1020 to 980 BC.
The biblical tradition presents the people of Israel as conducting worship different from all other nations of the ancient Near East by being monotheistic and an-iconic (banning human or animal figures). The absence of cultic images of humans or animals in the three rooms provides evidence that the inhabitants of the place practiced a different way of worship than that of the Canaanites or the Philistines, observing a ban on graven images.
According to Prof. Garfinkel, "This is the first time that archaeologists uncovered a fortified city in Judah from the time of King David. Even in Jerusalem, we do not have a clear fortified city from his period. Thus, various suggestions that completely deny the biblical tradition regarding King David and argue that he was a mythological figure, or just a leader of a small tribe, are now shown to be wrong."
Garfinkel continued, "Over the years, thousands of animal bones were found, including sheep, goats and cattle, but no pigs. This suggests that the population of Khirbet Qeiyafa observed two biblical bans - on pork and on graven images - and thus practiced a different cult than that of the Canaanites or the Philistines."
The three rooms are part of larger building complexes. In this respect, they are different from Canaanite or Philistine cults, which were practiced in temples - separate buildings dedicated only to rituals.
The religious objects include five standing stones, two basalt altars, two pottery libation vessels and two portable shrine models. One of the models was made of pottery and the other of stone. These are boxes in the shape of temples and could be closed by doors.
The clay shrine is decorated with an elaborate façade, including two guardian lions, two pillars, a main door, beams of the roof, folded textile (curtain) and three birds standing on the roof. Two of these elements are described in Solomon's Temple: the two pillars (Yachin and Boaz) and the curtain in front of the Ark of the Covenant (Parochet). (From a press release by Hebrew University, May 8, 2012) [Reported by: Bridges for Peace]
Worship with Us Today!
"Yeshua"
by Zemer Levav
Yeshua is the light, that drives out the darkness
The darkness must flee from the presence of HaShem
Yeshua is the light, that drives out the darkness
The darkness must flee from the presence of HaShem
His light now shines, The darkness must flee
The darkness must flee from the living word
His light now shines, The darkness must flee
Yeshua is the light of the world
He came to the world, confounding the darkness
His word is a light, a lamp for our feet
He came to the world, confounding the darkness
His word is a light, a lamp for our feet
• The Middle East in Focus
• The Daily Jot!
• Obama's Arrogance
• The ENDA the Rainbow
• Today's Legislative Focus
• Update: NDP Ruled Unconstitutional in Colorado Court
• Moslem Groups Confront Law Enforcement Agencies
• The Good News Corner
• Worship with Us Today!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
"Partners in Prayer for Our Nation"
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
The Daily Brief - Wednesday, May 16, 2012
"But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King." (Jer. 10:10)
The Daily Brief
1. Speaking Of The Economy - Gary Bauer
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed last Sunday, former Treasury Secretary John Snow warns that Obama's stated policies are threatening to derail the U.S. economy. Consider this excerpt:
"Unfortunately, - prominent proposals by the administration would triple the top dividend tax rate to nearly 45%, while doubling the top rate on capital gains to 30%. If one intended to cripple job creation, depress stock prices, and lower the value of retirement savings for working Americans, these proposals would be just what we should choose."
- Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider - as You have exposed - we ask You to remove from leadership those whose influence serves to destroy America's economy and its working citizens. In Jesus' Name we bind their destructive policies and the results that would surely follow! We proclaim You as LORD over America and its economy! We pray above all, that You will be glorified in this land, and that its prosperity will serve to further the Gospel of Your kingdom for the saving of souls, in Jesus' Name.
- " O LORD, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot." (Psalm 16: 5)
2. Obama, touting gay marriage stance, calls for repeal of Defense of Marriage Act - Fox News
Obama openly spoke of repealing the Defense of Marriage Act at a fundraiser Monday, as he defended his personal view that gay couples should have the right to marry. The president was raising money before an audience of gay and lesbian supporters in New York, hosted by the LGBT Leadership Council and openly gay singer Ricky Martin, as well as Latino group The Futuro Fund.
- Lord, hear the prayer of our grieved hearts, as we think of Obama making a proclamation in favor of homosexual marriage, and wrongly using Your Word to defend his proclamation. As You have openly exposed this Obama's position, we ask You to give this nation ears to hear and eyes to see in accordance with what is Your clearly revealed will. May Your people proclaim - with courage and perseverance - what Your Word says. Bring deliverance, salvation, and healing in this nation. In Jesus' Name.
- " Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. " (Romans 1: 24-27)
3. Privacy concerns as US government rolls out domestic drone rules - Fox News
Unmanned drones could soon be buzzing in the skies above many U.S. cities, as the federal government green-lights the technology for local law enforcement amid widespread privacy concerns. In doing so, the government is taking a tool that has become synonymous with U.S. counterterror warfare in countries like Pakistan and Yemen -- and putting it in the hands of U.S. law enforcement. Jay Stanley, a senior policy analyst with the American Civil Liberties Union, "We don't want a situation where every time we walk out of our front door we have to look up and wonder whether some invisible eye in the sky is monitoring us, you know, constantly," he said. "There are good uses for drones that everybody agrees with, but what we don't' want to see are drones used for constant, persistent, suspicion-less surveillance where we are all being watched for no particular reason."
- Lord, today we are observed by unseen eyes even at simple traffic intersections. Now, we are threatened with drones overhead peering into our private dwellings. Be a shield to us, O Lord, in Jesus' Name! Bring forth a resurrection of those in leadership who value the precious protection and liberty given to us by You through the founding Fathers.
- "I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my Fortress; my God, in Him will I trust." (Psalm 91:2)
4. Soros, Leftist Honchos Meet in Miami to Plot 2012- FreeBeacon.com
The Biltmore Hotel in Miami hosted a gathering of left-wing muckety-mucks plotting their strategy for the 2012 election cycle. The group hosting the meet-up was the Democracy Alliance, a 2005-created organization of high-powered liberal billionaires. As the Washington Free Beacon reports: Attendees roamed the grounds at the 150-acre tropical resort on their way to ...workshops such as "Occupy the Voting Booth" and "The 1 Percent Rule." George Soros showed up to party, as did Andy Stern, former SEIU president. Ari Rabin-Havt, executive vice president of Media Matters for America, walked around talking about his latest chat with Stephanie Cutter, deputy campaign manager for President Obama. Members of the Center for American Progress also showed up. This was a 1% gathering - a planning operation for the other 99%. And we will see its impact in the months to come.
- We thank You, Lord, that You have entrusted Your people with power. In the Name of Jesus Christ we bind every unlawful or ungodly plan conceived or enlarged in these meetings. Though the attendees have great expectations, we break the power of their unity in the Name of Jesus. We break the power of any plans which seek to over-ride the law, the foundations upon which America is built, and to harm those who profess Your Name. We pray in Jesus' mighty Name!
- "Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised." (Psalm 10:2)
5. Syria attack kills 21; rebels say protect U.N. monitors - Reuters
At least 21 people were killed on Tuesday in an attack in northern Syria, activists said, and members of a team of U.N. monitors caught in the incident said they were in rebel hands "for their own protection." "They are now with the Free Army which is protecting them. If they leave, the regime will terminate them because they have witnessed one of its crimes and it does not want them to tell the truth," rebel Major Sami al-Kurdi told Reuters. "We will get them out tomorrow," he said later. The internal U.N. document confirmed the U.N. team in Syria "will conduct a patrol to pick up the mentioned UNMOs (observers)" on Wednesday.
- Lord, we lift up Syria to you - this ancient nation destroying itself with internal wars and oppressive leadership. May all that the enemy is using to destroy this land become the very fuel for the fire of God to burn in hearts across Syria - breaking the ancient deceptive strongholds. We speak salvation to this nation in the Name of Jesus Christ - as even Abram's servant Eliezer loved and revered You - for with our God nothing is impossible! May Syria become a sign and wonder to the nations of Islam. We pray also that the UN monitoring team be kept safe, and used as Your instruments. Amen.
- " Then the man bowed down and worshiped the Lord, saying, "Praise be to the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his kindness and faithfulness to my master. As for me, the Lord has led me on the journey to the house of my master's relatives." (Genesis 24:26, 27)
6. Al-Qaeda releases English-language jihad manual, encourages attacks in the West - Times of Israel
Al-Qaeda's English media affiliate, Al-Malahem Media, published a 16-page online English-language jihad manual on Wednesday entitled "Expectations Full," which contains advice and instruction for Muslims who wish to wage holy war in the name of Islam. Much of the focus is on the day-to-day practicalities of waging jihad in countries such as Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the author also devotes attention to encouraging Western-based Muslims to carry out attacks in the countries where they are living.
The writer, Samir Khan, a British-born Pakistani al-Qaeda operative who was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen last year, strongly recommends "all the brothers and sisters coming from the West to consider attacking America in its own backyard. The effect is much greater, it always embarrasses the enemy, and these type of individual decision-making attacks are nearly impossible for them to contain."
- O GOD, open the ears of this nation to understand who the enemy is; for our enemies continue to blatantly announce and taunt us with their destructive plans. We are only safe in Your protection, Lord. We ask Your forgiveness for the sins of our land which are many, and pray for such a move of the Holy Spirit in hearts across America that our enemies will fear and be turned back in Jesus' Name!
- " The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught. The Lord is known by the judgement He executes; the wicked is snared in the works of his own hands. Selah. " (Psalm 9: 15,16)
The Middle East in Focus
This week, for all the headlines cited below, please join us in proclaiming THIS DECREE:
"There is no one like the God of Jeshurun (Israel), who rides across the heavens to help you and on the clouds in his majesty." (Dt. 33:26)
1. Top U.S. think tank warns against Israeli, American strike on Iran - Ha'aretz
The RAND Corporation, a think tank which advises the Pentagon, warned on Tuesday against an Israeli or American attack on Iran's nuclear reactors, and recommended the Obama administration try to "quietly influence the internal Israeli discussion over the use of military force."
2. Former Officials: 2012 U.S., Israel Attack on Iran Unlikely - US News & World Report
A U.S. or Israeli military strike on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons facilities is unlikely this year, but could happen as soon as 2013, say several former senior American officials.
3. Palestinians mark 'Nakba Day' - Ynet News
Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as pro-Palestinian supporters in other Arab nations, will mark "Nakba Day" Tuesday, marking the "catastrophe" of the inception of the State of Israel.
4. US Leads Major War Drill in Jordan -- Israel Not Invited - Arutz Sheva
The United States is leading what it described as the "largest military exercises in the Middle East in 10 years" in Jordan on Tuesday.
The Daily Jot!
Practicing Christianity by supporting sodomite marriage
The man who occupies the Oval Office used Jesus as one of the reasons he is supporting same sex marriage. Anyone who supports same sex marriage and claims to be a Christian is not following the "Jesus" of the Bible, Yeshua Ha Mashiach. In fact, the president's concept on this particular issue demonstrates his lack of Christianity by cherry picking verses to support his position. But then again, isn't that the hallmark of much of the Christian church these days? Isn't this at least part of the reason why America is in the condition it is in? Many pastors are preaching a different gospel from the pulpit than what is written in scriptures, turning generations away from the ancient path.
The president said, "This is something that, you know, we've [he and his wife, Michelle] talked about over the years...in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people...we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it's also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated. And I think that's what we try to impart to our kids and that's what motivates me as president."
Those who promote same sex marriage cannot possibly justify their position with the Bible. It is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that homosexuality is "abomination." Those who promote this disgusting concept for marriage are saying that sodomy should be elevated to the same level as the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman, the very basis of societal structure. Those promoting sodomy support vile affections. Paul writes in Romans 1:24-25, "Wherefore YHVH also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of YHVH into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator..."
The president cites the Golden Rule in justifying same sex marriage. The Golden Rule can be found in Matthew 7:12, where Yeshua says, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Yeshua also said in John 14:15, "If you love me, keep my commandments." He gave us a new commandment to love one another as he has loved us. If the president loved sodomites as the Messiah loves us, the president would not appease them and exploit them for votes. Love is not enabling people to remain in their sin. Isaiah 5:20 says, "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." Turning a blind eye to this kind of leadership does not absolve one of its consequences.
Have a Blessed and Powerful Day!
Bill Wilson
www.dailyjot.com
Obama's Arrogance: Rewriting History!
Little in Washington surprises me anymore. But reports that the Obama White House has edited the biographies of previous presidents, including Ronald Reagan, to include references to Obama and his policies has got be the height of arrogance!
It's not only arrogant, it's creepy -- bringing to mind the way tyrants of the past have airbrushed pictures and rewritten history books. Is there no one at the White House with enough common sense to question this cult-like worship of the "dear leader"? I guess not. After all, Obama was the "one" they had been waiting for. He said so himself. (Gary Bauer)
The ENDA the Rainbow
If liberals think they can intimidate Congressman James Lankford (R-Okla.), they picked on the wrong guy. Last week, the far-Left's ThinkProgress tried to ambush Rep. Lankford on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which gives special workplace rights to homosexuals and cross-dressers. FRC has argued against the policy for years. Not only is it unnecessary, but it would be used as a weapon to bludgeon religious employers and businesses.
In ThinkProgress's video, the interviewers ask Rep. Lankford if he could "support a law that says you can't fire someone for their sexual orientation--similar to protections for people on gender?" The Congressman replied that "[R]ace and sexual preferences are two different things. One is a behavior-related and preference-related and one is something inherently--skin color, something obvious, that kind of stuff. You don't walk up to someone on the street and look at them and say, 'Gay or Straight?'"
The crew pressed him more, asking if he believes people are born gay. "Do I personally? No. I don't. I think it's a choice issue. Are tendencies and such? Yes. But I think it's a choice issue." That day, ThinkProgress posted an outright lie as its headline, suggesting that Lankford wants to make it "legal to fire someone for being gay." Of course, he never said that--but ThinkProgress never lets a little thing like the truth get in the way of a good story. Since then, the Left has launched an all-out smear campaign against the Oklahoma Republican, hoping he'll back down. He hasn't--not even when threats to his office started pouring in. "Businesses hire and fire people based on their performance at work, not in their private lives outside of their work," he said.
The entire episode has been a case study in liberal tactics. Time and time again, the Left tries to bully or intimidate people into submission on their agenda. But when Americans are undeterred, as Rep. Lankford is, liberals are at a complete loss. Usually, after a few failed attempts, they become frustrated enough to move on to the next target. Bend and be trampled. Stand and be left alone. In the meantime, it takes lots of courage to weather the storm. Contact Rep. Lankford (202.225.2132) and tell him you're grateful he has! (Family Research Council)
Today's Legislative Focus
From The Madison Project
www.madisonproject.com
National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
Every year, before passing an appropriations bill for defense, Congress must pass an authorization bill which establishes the policy priorities of our national defense, in addition to the spending authorization. The House plans to bring the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to the floor on Thursday. The total funding of the bill, H.R. 4310, would total $643 billion; roughly $554 for base defense spending and $88 billion for spending on the war in Afghanistan and some other Overseas Contingency Operations ("OCO"). The bill would strike the proper balance between undoing the irresponsible cuts supported by the Obama administration, while keeping the defense budget from growing at the same rate as earlier in the decade.
Conservative concerns:
- DADT: Conservatives should push members to use the NDAA to clock as many aspects of the homosexual social engineering that is being promulgated on the military by Obama's DOD since the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell. The military during a time of war is not the place for such social experimentations.
- Domestic Detainees: Last year's NDAA caused some pungent divisions within the conservative coalition. Ambiguous language in the 2012 defense law led many conservatives to believe that the military would have the authority to suspend habeas corpus and indefinitely detain Americans who are suspected of engaging in terrorism for Al Qaeda - even on American soil.
Other conservatives contended that the 2012 law contained no such expansion. They argued that failure to pass this law would undermine the 2001 use of force law, which grants the president the power to "use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons" involved in the September 11 attacks "in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons."
In order to clear up the confusion and gratuitous infighting within our coalition, Reps. Buck McKeon and Jeff Landry amended the committee bill to explicitly clarify that "nothing in the Authorization for Use of Military Force . . . [2001] or the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 shall be construed to deny the availability of the writ of habeas corpus in a court ordained or established by or under Article III of the Constitution for any person who is detained in the United States pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force."
This is a great unifying bill designed to ensure that our military and intelligence agencies will have wide latitude in fighting our foreign enemies, while preserving basic habeas corpus rights at home. Some of the hard-core libertarians, like Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI) are still trying to combat the NDAA and remove any provision go after enemy combatants caught on American soil. It is our opinion that the new bill adresses those concerns, but some conservatives might still oppose the bill.
The National Day Of Prayer Has Been Ruled Unconstitutional, And Prayer Caucus Members Are Pushing Back
Last Thursday, on the National Day of Prayer, a Colorado court ruled such a day unconstitutional.
It began in 2008 when the Freedom From Religion Foundation sued the office of Governor John Hickenlooper for a Proclamation he made in compliance with the law established in 1988 by President Ronald Reagan; establishing the first Thursday in May as the annual observance for the National Day of Prayer.
Congressman Doug Lamborn of Colorado, a Member of the Congressional Prayer Caucus, has issued a letter to the Governor urging him to appeal the decision with the Colorado Supreme Court. He is also asking Prayer Caucus members and citizens to be praying for this situation. We've attached his letter to the Governor to this email for your review. Read his press release here.
The Colorado Legislative Prayer Caucus is working with Congressman Lamborn and other key leaders to create a plan of action. They will also be issuing a statement shortly as well as the recorded program that includes CLPC co-chair, Senator Renfroe's interview with Dr. James Dobson. The CLPC is planning on sending a letter to the Governor asking that he pursue the case to the Colorado Supreme Court.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking citizens to contact Governor Hickenlooper to ask him not to appeal the decision. The National Day of Prayer Task Force is asking citizens to sign a petition asking the Governor to appeal the decision. Sign the petition here.
This is another example of how the State Legislative Prayer Caucuses that the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation are helping launch are effective against religious liberty issues.
Please pray for these courageous leaders and contact them to give them your support.
Sincerely,
Lea Carawan
Executive Director
Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation
"Mainstream" Islamist Group Attacks Law Enforcement and Whitewashes Jihadists
Few organizations in the United States have been as consistent in attacking law enforcement as the Muslim Public Affairs Council and its president, Salam al-Marayati.
Marayati, who attended last year's White House Iftar Dinner during Ramadan, has suggested that Muslim Americans are at war with both al-Qaeda and the FBI. "We in the Muslim American community have been battling the corrupt and bankrupt ideas of cults such as Al Qaeda," he wrote in October in the Los Angeles Times." Now it seems we also have to battle pseudo-experts in the FBI and the Department of Justice."
Marayati was incensed over reports that the FBI and one U.S. Attorney's office had used training materials "revealing a deep anti-Muslim sentiment within the U.S. government." One example was a 2010 presentation by an analyst working for a U.S. Attorney in Pennsylvania which warned of a civilizational jihad that is "waged today in the U.S. by 'civilians, juries, lawyers, media, and charities'" who "threaten our values."
Marayati warned that if U.S. law enforcement continues to use such "incorrect and divisive" literature, the "partnership" between Muslim Americans and law enforcement "will slowly disintegrate."
"Such baseless and inflammatory claims shall best be left to those few who share Al Qaeda's agenda," Marayati wrote. "In other words, the rhetoric of Al Qaeda and those law enforcement trainers are opposite sides of the same coin of hate."
But the concept of civilization-jihad is not something conjured up by a consultant as a pretext to oppress Muslims. During the 2008 Hamas-financing prosecution of five former officials of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development (HLF), FBI Agent Lara Burns testified about a 1991 internal memorandum outlining the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood-connected "Palestine Committee" which was created toadvance the Hamas agenda in the United States. (Investigative Project on Terrorism)
The Good News Corner
Found: First Evidence of Jewish Worship in Judah at the Time of King David
Prof. Yosef Garfinkel, the Yigal Yadin Professor of Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, announced on May 8 the discovery of objects that for the first time shed light on how Jewish worship was organized in Judah at the time of King David.
During recent archaeological excavations at Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified city in Judah adjacent to the Valley of Elah [where David fought Goliath, just west of Beit Shemesh], Garfinkel and colleagues uncovered rich assemblages of pottery, stone and metal tools, and many art and religious objects. These include three large rooms, which correspond to the biblical description of worship at the time of King David.
It is the first time that a place of worship [referred to as shrines] from the time of early biblical kings were uncovered. Because these rooms pre-date the construction of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem by 30 to 40 years, they provide the first physical evidence of a system of worship in the time of King David.
Located approximately 30 km. [19 miles] southwest of Jerusalem, Khirbet Qeiyafa was a border city of the Kingdom of Judah opposite the Philistine city of Gath. The city, which was dated by 10 radiometric measurements done on burned olive pits, existed for a short period of time between ca. 1020 to 980 BC.
The biblical tradition presents the people of Israel as conducting worship different from all other nations of the ancient Near East by being monotheistic and an-iconic (banning human or animal figures). The absence of cultic images of humans or animals in the three rooms provides evidence that the inhabitants of the place practiced a different way of worship than that of the Canaanites or the Philistines, observing a ban on graven images.
According to Prof. Garfinkel, "This is the first time that archaeologists uncovered a fortified city in Judah from the time of King David. Even in Jerusalem, we do not have a clear fortified city from his period. Thus, various suggestions that completely deny the biblical tradition regarding King David and argue that he was a mythological figure, or just a leader of a small tribe, are now shown to be wrong."
Garfinkel continued, "Over the years, thousands of animal bones were found, including sheep, goats and cattle, but no pigs. This suggests that the population of Khirbet Qeiyafa observed two biblical bans - on pork and on graven images - and thus practiced a different cult than that of the Canaanites or the Philistines."
The three rooms are part of larger building complexes. In this respect, they are different from Canaanite or Philistine cults, which were practiced in temples - separate buildings dedicated only to rituals.
The religious objects include five standing stones, two basalt altars, two pottery libation vessels and two portable shrine models. One of the models was made of pottery and the other of stone. These are boxes in the shape of temples and could be closed by doors.
The clay shrine is decorated with an elaborate façade, including two guardian lions, two pillars, a main door, beams of the roof, folded textile (curtain) and three birds standing on the roof. Two of these elements are described in Solomon's Temple: the two pillars (Yachin and Boaz) and the curtain in front of the Ark of the Covenant (Parochet). (From a press release by Hebrew University, May 8, 2012) [Reported by: Bridges for Peace]
Worship with Us Today!
"Yeshua"
by Zemer Levav
Yeshua is the light, that drives out the darkness
The darkness must flee from the presence of HaShem
Yeshua is the light, that drives out the darkness
The darkness must flee from the presence of HaShem
His light now shines, The darkness must flee
The darkness must flee from the living word
His light now shines, The darkness must flee
Yeshua is the light of the world
He came to the world, confounding the darkness
His word is a light, a lamp for our feet
He came to the world, confounding the darkness
His word is a light, a lamp for our feet
