please read this critical update, pray, and consider calling your elected officials
Date: Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:56:24 -0500
From: chpp@patriot.net
To: debbiebloomer@hotmail.com
Subject: On Capitol Hill This Week: Vol. XIX, No. 5b
 | On Capitol Hill This Week: Vol. XIX, No. 5b |  |
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Capitol Hill Prayer Partners "Partners in Prayer for the Nation" P.O. Box 5152 Herndon, VA 20172-1970 chpp@patriot.net On Capitol Hill This Week Volume XIX, Number 5b DOMESTIC ISSUES February 13 - 17, 2012 "Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28) 
DOMESTIC ISSUES
1. U.S. BISHOPS: RESCIND THE OBAMA BIRTH-CONTROL RULE U.S. Catholic Church leaders said they will fight President Barack Obama's controversial birth-control insurance coverage policy despite his compromise that religious employers would not have to offer free contraceptives for workers, shifting the responsibility to insurers. In an abrupt policy shift aimed at trying to end a growing election-year firestorm, Obama on Friday announced the compromise. But the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said its concerns were not addressed and cited "serious moral concerns." In a statement issued Friday evening, the bishops said Obama's proposal "continues to involve needless government intrusion in the internal governance of religious institutions, and to threaten government coercion of religious people and groups to violate their most deeply held convictions." "We will therefore continue - with no less vigor, no less sense of urgency - our efforts to correct this problem through the other two branches of government," the bishops said in urging Congress to take action to overturn the rule. (Newsmax) Read more. - As the Catholic church moves to take action in opposition of the administration's new ruling, under- gird those efforts in continuous prayer. Obama would like to pretend or believe that this fight is now over, while in reality, it has only begun. He will be facing at least one lawsuit over this ruling. Ask that the Court of Heaven overrule this travesty, and for the courts on earth to follow suit. Pray! - "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne." (Psalm 89:14) 2. PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THE GIRL SCOUTS The victory for the Susan G. Komen Foundation was short lived in breaking away from the largest private and tax funded abortion business in America. Planned Parenthood's activist machine so bludgeoned Komen that they agreed to reverse their stand. The Girl Scouts, whose leadership has been collaborating with Planned Parenthood for years, have found out and their cookie sales are suffering. This is very sensitive for the Scouts. The Scouts had better confess their errors and make a clean break while they can. Yet Planned Parenthood doesn't let its captives go easily. (FRC Prayer Targets) - May Congress expose and defund Planned Parenthood and may private organizations refuse to submit to shakedowns by Planned Parenthood and others in the abortion advocacy industry. May the Pro-life Majority grow in America until abortion has been abolished. - "Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise . . . " (Ephesians 5: 11-14) 3. OBAMACARE: WHAT WE'RE LEARNING ISN'T GOOD: ESPECIALLY FOR SENIORS The jury is still out on the legality of Obamacare, but while we wait for the courts to rule on the constitutional issues involved, the Obama administration is rapidly implementing the program. By the time the courts finally reach a decision, our healthcare system won't resemble what we had prior to March 2010 when Nancy Pelosi used her oversized gavel to pound Obamacare through the House over strenuous objections from most Americans.Our senior citizens are most at risk under Obamacare -- especially those over 70. Rationing of services and death panels (only they're called "ethics panels" under Obamacare instead of death panels for obvious reasons) are now the rule, not the exception. Where Obamacare is concerned, we're beginning to be able to see through the fog, and what we're learning isn't good, especially for seniors, and it's just the tip of the iceberg. If Obama is re-elected and Democrats retain their majority in the Senate, those "ethics panels" will busily go about doing their job and senior citizens will die prematurely from maladies that are easily treatable, and for one reason: they are over 70. Read more (American Thinker) - Once again, this administration is violating the precepts of the Word of God, which clearly states that seniors are to be given great honor (and therefore, to be cared for.) Obamacare will go before the Supreme Court next month, who will determine whether this law is constitutional. Pray that the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will tear this plan down, decaring it null and void. Pray! - "A gray head is a crown of glory; It is found in the way of righteousness." (Prov. 16:31) 4. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND OUR MILITARY Recently, American war hero Lt. General William Boykin (USA, Ret.) was pressured to withdraw from speaking to Cadets at West Point about the importance of prayer in a leader's life. But a handful of atheist and Muslim cadets complained about Boykin's outspoken Christian beliefs. Now the Army Chief of Chaplains has ordered Catholic Army Chaplains not to read Archbishop Timothy Broglio's letter urging all priests to speak out in opposition to the Obama Administration demand that church organizations comply with edicts that violate Church teaching and conscience. The Archbishop oversees the Catholic Church's chaplain program. While 168 Catholic Bishops (90% of the total number across the nation) have spoken out, calling parish priests to do likewise, the Catholic faithful on military bases and in the field did not hear the letter from their Archbishop. The Chaplain Chief has authorized a "new version" (censored) to be read this weekend. Tony Perkins, himself a Marine, said this "shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's followed the seismic shifts in the military. . . [Chaplains] should consider the text of Acts 5:29 this coming weekend." The Obama administration has been chipping away at religious liberty since its beginning. If this stands, religious liberty has been greatly diminished in America. (FRC Prayer Targets) - May these administration actions finally stir the outrage in all God-fearing Americans. May the sleeping giant of the Church, Catholic and Protestant, awaken to take a stand and begin to reverse the nationwide effort to silence God's people! - "Arise, shine, for our light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you." (Isaiah 60:1-2) 5. AIR FORCE KICKS GOD OFF PATCH The Air Force removed a Latin reference to "God" from the motto of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) after receiving complaints from the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF). Thirty-five Members of Congress joined Congressman Randy Forbes (R-VA) in sending a letter to the Air Force expressing concern over the decision. The RCO patch, previously displayed the Latin motto that translated into "Doing God's Work with Other People's Money"; however, the Air Force altered it to now read "Doing Miracles with Other People's Money." Especially troubling about the move is the Air Force's implication that the very presence of the word "God" on a military patch-regardless of its context or intent-is somehow unconstitutional. Thirty-five Members of Congress joined Rep. Forbes in sending a letter to the Air Force expressing concern over the decision. The RCO patch, like many unit patches, included a line in Latin meant to be a clever pun understood by members of the unit. The patch previously displayed the Latin motto that translated into "Doing God's Work with Other People's Money"; however, the Air Force altered it to now read "Doing Miracles with Other People's Money." Especially troubling about the move is the Air Force's implication that the very presence of the word "God" on a military patch-regardless of its context or intent-is somehow unconstitutional. Watch the interview here. (Religious Freedom Coalition; Office of Congressman Randy Forbes) - Precious Lord, we come to You asking that You would turn back the anti-Christian tide that is seeking out every small mention of God, even in a dead language! We thank you for members of Congress who will stand up against this affront to Your people. Lord, strengthen them and make the perpetrators aware that they will have to stand before You one day to account for their actions. - "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalms 14:1) 6. POST-SOLYNDRA REPORT CALLS FOR BETTER ENERGY LOAN PROGRAM Cuts Risk Estimate An independent review of the Energy Department's loan program mandated by the White House recommends a series of steps aimed at better protecting the government's investments. The review - led by Herb Allison, the former Treasury Department official who oversaw the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) - calls on the Energy Department to establish an "early warning system" to identify problems with the loans. The "Management Information Reporting System," as the report calls it, would monitor market and regulatory trends that could affect the loans, as well as the status of "every loan, borrower, contractor and offtake party that can affect each project." (The Hill) Read more. - Father, we ask that this report would be a true guide to correcting the deficiencies in these loan programs and not just a show of correcting something that has brought a lot of criticism to the White House in an election year. Lord, we ask that You would bring out the truth of this matter as only You can do. - "These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:" (Zachariah 8:16) 7. HR 3785: AMENDING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT (NDAA) Conservative Action Alerts had reported the dangers relating to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 in the last months of 2011 before it was signed into law by Barack Obama on New Years Eve. Section 1021 of the NDAA contains language that endangers American citizens by nullifying essential liberties guaranteed by the Constitution -- rights to privacy and a fair trial. HR 3785 -- which repeals section 1021 -- was introduced by Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) on January 18, 2012. [ Read the Official Bill Text by going here.] A portion of Rep. Paul's statement is as follows: "Section 1021 essentially codifies into law the very dubious claim of presidential authority under the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force to indefinitely detain American citizens without access to legal representation or due process of law. Section 1021 provides for the possibility of the US military acting as a kind of police force on US soil, apprehending terror suspects - including Americans - and whisking them off to an undisclosed location indefinitely. No right to attorney, no right to trial, no day in court." PLEASE STAND WITH CONSERVATIVE ACTION ALERTS, YOUR FELLOW AMERICANS, AND THE CONSTITUTION AND SIGN THIS PETITION AND SEND YOUR MESSAGES TO CONGRESS DEMANDING THEY PASS THIS BILL -- SELECT HERE! - As you write to your own member of Congress or senators, you may wish to see how they voted on the original NDAA bill (H.R. 1540). To see how the HOUSE voted, go here. To see how the Senate voted, go here. - It is time to roll back the darkness over the deception that rests upon this wicked and dangerous piece of legislation. THIS IS AN ELECTION YEAR. Let your member know you are going to watch how he votes on Rep. Paul's bill to remove the dangerous provisions of NDAA. IT IS TIME TO ACT. - "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." (Rev. 12:11) 8. H.R. 3166: THE ENEMY EXPATRIATE ACT The computer hacker group called Anonymous that recently shut down over 40 hard core child pornography websites, has its sights now set on the "Enemy Expatriation Act" (H.R. 3166) which it claims is another "Treasonous bill similar to the National Defense Authorization Act that was signed into law by President Obama on New Years' Eve." The group has released a statement saying the media refused to cover (until it was too late) the NDAA act, which authorizes the indefinite detention of American citizens on U.S. soil, and now the same thing is happening with The Enemy Expatriation Act, it alleges. "The Enemy Expatriation Act has been introduced in the House, and again, the media refuses to cover it. The American public have the right to know about a bill that could revoke their United States citizenship, and the continuing media blackout poses a serious threat to the freedoms this country pledges to provide its citizens," says the group's statement. The group claims H.R. 3166 is just as dangerous to individual liberty as is the NDAA act and is urging all Americans to rise up and stop it in its tracks. (Sky Valley Chronicle) - Father we bind the spirit of witchcraft that is trying to destroy our freedoms by legislation that seeks to control the people. - "This is why the law is ineffective and justice never emerges. For the wicked restrict the righteous; therefore justice comes out perverted." [Habakkuk 1:4 ]Holman Christian Standard Bible 9. DRONES OVER U.S. GET OK BY CONGRESS Look! Up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's ... a drone, and it's watching you. That's what privacy advocates fear from a bill Congress passed this week to make it easier for the government to fly unmanned spy planes in U.S. airspace. The FAA Reauthorization Act, which President Obama is expected to sign, also orders the Federal Aviation Administration to develop regulations for the testing and licensing of commercial drones by 2015. Privacy advocates say the measure will lead to widespread use of drones for electronic surveillance by police agencies across the country and eventually by private companies as well."There are serious policy questions on the horizon about privacy and surveillance, by both government agencies and commercial entities," said Steven Aftergood, who heads the Project on Government Secrecy at the Federation of American Scientists. According to some estimates, the commercial drone market in the United States could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars once the FAA clears their use. The agency projects that 30,000 drones could be in the nation's skies by 2020.(Washington Times) Read more. - George Orwell's classic book, 1984, promised that "Big Brother is watching you." And now, some 25 or so years later, this has come true. In these increasingly dark days, let's turn to the only Source of help, our Lord. May He protect us, for truly it is He that is watching over all of us, in love. - "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."(Zephaniah 3:17) 10. LAWMAKERS PRESS HOMELAND SECURITY ON INTERNET MONITORING Leaders of a congressional subcommittee are urging the Department of Homeland Security to extensively monitor social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to detect "current or emerging threats." The top Republican and Democrat on a House counter-terrorism subcommittee last month sent a letter to Homeland Security's intelligence chief encouraging department analysts to pore over huge streams of social media traffic. Representatives Patrick Meehan and Jackie Speier said in the letter to Caryn Wagner, undersecretary of homeland security for intelligence and analysis, that they "believe it would be advantageous for DHS and the broader Intelligence Community to carefully parse the massive streams of data from various social media outlets to identify current or emerging threats to our homeland security." Meehan, a Republican, is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee's counter-terrorism and intelligence subcommittee. Speier is the panel's ranking Democrat. The two lawmakers said such monitoring raises "privacy and civil liberties concerns" and suggested that the department issue guidelines which balance citizens' rights with the ability of analysts to identify threats. . . (Reuters) Read more. - Father God, we come before You concerned about the "thought police" in this Administration. We pray for protection for honest dissent from officials who are already trampling on our Constitutional liberties. Lord, we ask that Your people will be able to express themselves and bring others to You through these various media outlets. Where there is activity that is against the good of the country, we pray it will be detected, but not at the expense of patriotic Americans. We declare our country a free and Christian nation! - "And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:" (Gal. 2:4) 11. THE GRID ACT: PROTECTING THE NATION FROM AN EMP ATTACK In mid-2010, the House of Representatives in the US Congress unanimously passed a bill known as the GRID Act (H.R. 5026). The bill was intended: "To amend the Federal Power Act to protect the bulk-power system and electric infrastructure critical to the defense of the United States from cybersecurity and other threats and vulnerabilities". Unfortunately, the bill subsequently stalled in the Senate and its future remains unclear, particularly after the Senate replaced it with a bill on "clean energy". This is of major concern, because the GRID Act would have done a lot to protect US infrastructure from dangerous electromagnetic events, including man-made E-bombs. In part the intent of the bill was to introduce "hardening" of the infrastructure so that equipment and systems were capable of surviving the damage effects of solar storms, nuclear and non-nuclear EMP. . . The lack of support for the US GRID legislation shows there is little (if any) public, political or mass media understanding of the risks being taken with public safety by integrating increasing numbers of critical services into an infrastructure which is increasingly vulnerable to broad disruption. Such critical services include emergency services, health information services, financial data processing, water and sewage processing, but also retail distribution of food. - This bill has been reintroduced under a new number: H.R. 2208 in the House, and S.1342 in the Senate. Please pray for quick passage of this legislation. Pray! - "The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." (James 5:16) 12. IRAN PLANNING TO STRIKE U.S. USING OPEN MEXICAN BORDER! Michael Braun, a former chief of operations at the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), recently testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee that Hezbollah has developed relationships with the powerful Mexican drug cartels to "move their agenda forward." The DEA just exposed a plot by an Iranian operative in Mexico to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington, D.C. . . and according to experts, there is more danger on the way. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), chairwoman of the committee, says Iran is working on plans to attack the United States. Their friends in Latin America give Iran "a platform in the region to carry out attacks against the United States, our interests, and allies." Democrats on the committee agreed that Iran is trying to exert influence in the Western Hemisphere. Representative Gary Ackerman (D-NY) conceded that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent trip to Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador and Nicaragua, is proof that Iran is "up to no good." (Conservative Action Alerts) Read more. - In these perilous times, praise God that He is our Strength and our Shield. Ask Him to dispatch His angels to help protect our borders, even as we bow in repentance before Him for our sins. May God yet grant us His mercy in the midst of judgment. Amen. - "The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."(Psalm 18:2) 13. ARE WE ALREADY LIVING UNDER MARTIAL LAW . . .? . . . AND WE JUST DON'T KNOW IT? This is a HUGE question...and the answer to it has enormous ramifications. We can speculate on this question and opionionate and midrash on it all we want, but, together, let us dig into some hard facts/evidence to seek the truth. Let's take a look at the facts, and then I ask you, my dear reader, to come to your own conclusions. If, in fact, we conclude from those facts, that we are indeed under a rollout of an "undeclared" martial law in the US, this is a whole new MIND SET to wrap our thinking around...it is difficult to do. You may have a visceral/gut reaction against it. I did! If you are seeking truth, and are willing to take a look at some facts that might upset you, challenge you, and turn things inside out, then continue reading. . . (Note: after February 20, this article will be found in the Archives section of the Hebrew Nation News Alerts home page. Please do take the time to read this excellent and well-researched article. The writing is now on the wall . . ) - Prayer: I praise you, Abba, that our true citizenship is not in any nation or country on this earth. Our citizenship is in heaven, and we, by faith, who are Abraham's seed, have been "grafted in" to the commonwealth/citizenship of Israel. - "For our citizenship is in the heavens, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Master Yeshuah Messiah." (Phil 3:20) Laura Densmore, Editor, Hebrew Nation News
1. CONTRACEPTION/ABORTION MANDATE IS STILL THE TOP ISSUE The President is releasing his budget for the year today, and while it has a lot of material that will give a lot of folks plenty to talk about for at least a week, the most consequential issue still at hand is the contraception/abortion mandate that is part of the 2010 health care law. The budget is a proposed document for one year of spending that changes little, has no force of law, and becomes obsolete hours after it is published; the mandate is a clear step forward in our descent to tyranny. Friday, the President gave a statement on the firestorm that was threatening to burn out of his control. While a lot of questions can be asked about his words, the bottom line came out three-and-a-half hours later in a document that twice stated that the rule would be adopted with the amendment as final "without change." Before Friday's announcement, a group of senators filed Amendment #1520 to S. 1813, the Surface Transportation bill, which is the same as the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act (S. 1467). Action is expected this week. - Father, we ask for a vote on this legislation. We ask for legislation that would protect the rights of your people to do your will according to the dictates of the consciences you gave us. We ask for a resounding chorus of support for this urgently needed legislation in the United States Senate. We ask for favor in the House. We ask that this protection become law this year. We pray for our President and his heart to be softened to your people. We pray for Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Lord, we know she feels she is in a war, and that is true. We ask that she would fight for your will. Father, we pray for the pastors in our country. We ask that they would awaken to the dangers lurking around the corner. We know that the fires of hell are licking at our path and seek to devour us. We ask that you would set our pulpits aflame with righteousness. We know that our laws are of daily relevance to every citizen. We ask for churches, preachers, and pastors relevant to all aspects of our lives in this nation. Lord, in your holy Name, we ask for prevention of the harm that is being done in the name of prevention. Open our eyes, Lord. Give us the will to act, to speak out, to not be silent, to hold fast to your Word. - "Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:5-6) 2. CONSCIENCE RIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED TO THE OFFICIALLY RELIGIOUS Getting lost somewhere in between the individual mandate and the narrowness of the religious employer exemption was the fact that the "preventive care for women" mandate that included drugs that cause abortion is set to be applied to all employers. As if, the only people who have conscience objections to paying for insurance that covers abortion work at religious institutions. Business owners have rights, too. While much can be said of how the statistics and numbers can be and have been manipulated over this issue, more should be said about the words. Hopefully we all know by now that surgical abortion and its evil cousins "emergency contraception" are not "health care." But what about this word "access"? When most people hear that, common sense would lead one to think that means (a) the product is available, and (b) someone is free to go purchase it, right? In Washington, "access" means the product is available to someone without limit at someone else's expense. Anything short of that and women are being "denied health care they need." There is a possibility some of the conscience legislation to be brought up this week will broaden conscience rights for all job creators, and not just those who are doing religious work. - Father, we ask for comprehensive protection of conscience rights in this country. We ask for freedom to worship you, and we know that our worship includes our work. We ask you to restore the freedom of job creators and employers in this nation to worship you in how we provide health care for those who work for us in providing useful services to society and your people. We ask you for clarity of definitions in terms. May people say what they mean, and may what people mean be heard. - "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2) 3. CONSCIENCE RIGHTS HEARING THIS WEEK The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), will hold a hearing entitled, "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" on Thursday, February 16th at 9:30AM in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. In the past, some legislators at hearings like these have portrayed conscience issues as going both ways and only applying to the individual and not the institution. That is, while some claim conscience rights to not perform abortion against their will, others invent a conscience right to perform an abortion against their employers will. When it comes to taking action, conscience rights are not about doing something, but about the right to not do something. If people claim a moral obligation to kill another human being, they have no right to take their employers along with them. When it comes to speaking, conscience rights are in fact about doing something--about being able to speak out. Today's culture in America tends to get both reversed. - Father, we pray that no one would be forced to do things against their conscience, and we pray that our rights to speak out against oppression are protected. We specifically ask that your way would be clear in this week's hearing, and that there would be no foothold by the enemy to confuse the issue, manipulate the argument, and make evil sound like good. - "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2 Corinthians 4:2) 4. HEALTH CARE LAW GOING BEFORE SUPREME COURT NEXT MONTH In just over a month, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments over the 2010 health care law. The headliner is the individual mandate. There's also the employer mandate. Conscience rights could come up as well. With the argument just weeks away now, briefs are being written and filed with the Court, and preparations are well under way for this historic week of arguments. What is also important for which to begin preparations is a legislative response whichever way the Court rules in whole or in part. Though Congress often forgets this, Constitutionally the Court serves at the pleasure of Congress. It is not a coequal branch. - Father, we ask for your will and your way to be clear as it relates to all of health care in America, and that this would be clear to the Justices, their clerks, the lawyers, the providers, and legislators in how they respond. We ask for your Justice in our legal system and in our health care system. - "Close the book on Evil, GOD, but publish your mandate for us. You get us ready for life: you probe for our soft spots, you knock off our rough edges." (Psalm 7:9) 5. MARCH ON WASHINGTON IN MARCH After the 2010 shellacking in the mid-term elections, the Administration adopted a strategy of silence on the 2010 health care law. If it was out of sight and out of ear, it would be out of mind. It's better to talk about science fairs and medals than the record of the last three years. On March 24, 2010, two days before the Supreme Court oral arguments begin on the health care law, a group of patriotic Americans are planning a visit to Washington. It is expected to be a large group. It needs to be a very large group as there are very large issues in a very large country at stake. - Father, we thank you for a country in which we are free to express ourselves, and in which we are still free to worship you. We ask that you would prepare the message and the hearts of those bringing their message to Washington. We pray that you would raise up many both near and far to make it known to all that you are the God we serve in all areas of our lives, including our health care, and including the exercising of our rights of conscience. We pray for the counterprotestors and that you would keep their numbers, their message, and their effects small. We saw the destruction in Greece this weekend over the austerity vote, and we know that but for your amazing grace for us, there go we. We ask for humility as a people, as your Church to be your messengers, and to do your will. - "Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city." (Acts 18:9-10) 6. WHITE HOUSE FISCAL YEAR 2013 BUDGET RELEASED While it is not the biggest story or issue of the year so far, it is by no means inconsequential. The White House has proposed a $3.7 trillion budget. The executive branch is planning on spending $1.3 trillion more than it takes in during 2012 and $0.9 trillion in 2013. Last year the total national debt of the United States exceeded its gross domestic product. It seems this year no one wants to look at the total debt number, and so we're just looking at the publicly held portion of that number (currently more than two thirds of the total). The 10-year outlook for the United States has even that lower number reaching 100 percent of GDP in 10 years. To put this in a little perspective, the eyes of the world were on Greece this weekend, and whether or not their legislative body would cut spending (austerity) to decrease their debt-to-GTP ratio from 160 percent to 120 percent. Greece's total GDP is about a third the size of one year's budget deficit for us. The eyes of the world, and specifically credit rating agencies, are also on the United States. This budget projects a national debt north of $21 trillion by 2022. - Father, we know that more important than anyone else, your eyes are on our nation, and they are filled with tears. We ask for humble clean hearts. We ask for humility, even when unreciprocated, for our leaders. We thank you for your great mercy on our nation. We ask for faith to believe you can heal our land. We ask for faith that the heart of the king is like water in your hands. Lord, turn our hearts like water in your hand. Lord, dissolve our distractions and focus our eyes on your great will for your people here on earth. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. - "If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name-the LORD your God-the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses." (Deuteronomy 28:58-59)
This Week, Worship Our Lord As . . . THE ANGEL OF HIS PRESENCE (Meh-lekh Pah- nav) "In all their distress He too was distressed, and the angel of His presence saved them."(Isaiah 63:9) Thank You, father, for the Angel of Your Presence that is there always to protect me. May I never stray from Your ever-watchful eye. Thank You for all of the dangers from which You have protected me, many of which I shall never be aware. How I praise the Angel of his Presence! Amen.! "I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints." (Psalm 52:9) (Taken from: Intimate Moments with the Hebrew Names of God, by Barri Cae Malin and Shmuel Wolkenfeld; Bridge-Logos Publishers; Gainesville, FL, 32614. ISBN: 0-88270-801-5)
On Capitol Hill This Week (the "OCAP") is published by Capitol Hill Prayer Partners. For further information about legislative matters on Capitol Hill, you may call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to be connected to the representative or senator of your choice. Permission is granted to distribute this bulletin at will. HOWEVER, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT POST ANY OF OUR PUBLICATIONS ON ANY WEBSITE WITHOUT PERMISSION. Please cite Capitol Hill Prayer Partners as the source for this information. Thank you for praying with us for our leaders and our nation.
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