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TORNADOES: BEING AT CHURCH SAVED OUR LIVES Their uncannily accurate predictions - combined with television and radio warnings, text-message alerts and storm sirens - almost certainly saved lives as rare late-season tornadoes dropped out of a dark autumn sky. Although the storms howled through 12 states and flattened entire neighborhoods within a matter of minutes, the number of dead stood at just eight. Let us give thanks for those who escaped death and injury by God's mercy. For some, it was because of their faithfulness to attend church. And now, following the principle from the Bible's book of James, which exhorts us to display good works as evidence of authentic faith, many Christians and their local churches are doing two things. First, they are praying for the surviving families who are affected, some of whom have lost all their possessions, including their homes - everything! Second, many are doing more, as they are able. They are collecting needed practical items, such as coats, sweaters and warm clothing for people who had temps in the 60s early this week but could be in freezing weather in a few days. If your church (or a local charity near you) is getting involved, we urge all first to pray. Then, those able to do more will find joy in reaching out to families who are now among "the least of these." Please consider sharing as unto the Lord Jesus and respond as you are led. "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,' but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:15-17)
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality." (Romans 12:10-13)  |
| HIGH COURT WON'T BLOCK TEXAS ABORTION LAW |  A sharply divided Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Texas to continue enforcing abortion restrictions that opponents say have led more than a third of the state's clinics to stop providing abortions. The justices voted 5-4 to leave in effect a provision requiring doctors who perform abortions in clinics to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The court's conservative majority refused the plea of Planned Parenthood and several Texas abortion clinics to overturn a preliminary federal appeals court ruling that allowed the provision to take effect. The four liberal justices dissented. The case remains on appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. That court is expected to hear arguments in January, and the law will remain in effect at least until then. Read more... |
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 RUSSIA'S LAST U.S. URANIUM SHIPMENT Take a canister, fill it with down-blended uranium worth $2.5 million, secure it and 39 others to the deck of a container ship, send it off toward Baltimore, and you've just about completed a deal that provided commercial uses in the United States for the remains of 20,000 dismantled Russian nuclear bombs.
On Thursday evening, under thick, wintry clouds, the M.V. Atlantic Navigator prepared to leave the dockyards here, closing out a 20-year program between the United States and Russia that safely defused 500 metric tons of weapons-grade uranium, known as HEU. Prayer points: Here is an opportunity to thank God for a "happy ending." Even in our present-day chaotic world, with social and political unrest in our own nation, now and again we come across a feel-good news item that reflects peaceful international cooperation for the betterment of two countries involved in a win-win transaction that is ending well. Here is a news story that will spark gratitude and thanksgiving for God's grace and mercy! This article is a straightforward account of closing a 20-year deal between Russia and the U.S., once hostile cold-war rivals, whereby a stockpile of uranium that could have ended up in bombs is being "recycled" for peaceful use as fuel in American nuclear plants that will provide electricity for homes and industry. Give thanks that nothing happened to derail a successful conclusion! Our Scriptures reflect God's forbearance in withholding judgment and showing mercy to nations. "Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)
"I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations. For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens, and Your truth unto the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth." (Psalm 57:9-11)
For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Psalm 86:5) |
|  WHY OBAMACARE IS ON LIFE SUPPORT There's nothing that Democrats want more than to change the subject from Obamacare, despite DNC Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz's protestations otherwise. Congressional Democrats don't want to be dealing with a drip-drip of news about premiums going up, patients losing their doctors, and a broken health care website as they face angry voters in 2014. Hillary Clinton doesn't want this issue lingering past the midterms. She hitched her presidential prospects to President Obama's wagon and she's not about to let someone else's crisis damage her presidential ambitions yet again, Even Vice President Joe Biden, who called the health care law a "big f---ing deal," didn't mention it once at a fundraiser last week for North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan. God is allowing Obamacare issues to remain in front of Americans every day. Last week, we suggested a prayer focus on President Obama and his advisors, since the U.S. presidency is such a vast responsibility. Since then, the president has admitted he "fumbled" in the ramping up and "pre-selling" of the law, including the now-famous campaign promises to allow people to keep current policies and that premium prices would not rise. We now know that the promises were not valid, and thus many citizens and political leaders, including defenders of Mr. Obama and those of his own party, have lost confidence in his leadership, but even worse, in his integrity. Democrat senators and representatives are concerned about reelection, while Republicans want to press the matter for personal and party advantage. Meanwhile, intercessors should ask God for insight and compassion in prayer. Almost lost in the political mix are great numbers of fellow citizens who are suffering and being disenfranchised from their prior protection because of canceled policies. Can these injustices be fixed? Many are calling on the Lord! Will God send revival, showing His great compassion and love, perhaps bringing multiplied thousands, including national leaders, to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ? Will all this disappointment lead to a better, more honest and protective law? Will God bring salvation to the White House and the First Family? Please pray accordingly.
"As an example of suffering and patience, brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we call those happy who were steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful." (James 5:10-11)
"For the Lord will not cast off forever, but, though He cause grief, He will have compassion according to the abundance of His steadfast love; for He does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men." (Lamentations 3:31-33) |
|  TEXAS COUNTY POLICY TO PROTECT LGBT INMATES The new policy, which Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia's office believes to be one of the most comprehensive in the country, states "discrimination or harassment of any kind based on sexual orientation or gender identity is strictly prohibited," and outlines how such inmates will be searched, booked and housed, according to a copy of the policy obtained by The Associated Press ahead of an official announcement Thursday. How to pray into this situation? A basic U.S. legal principle has always called for "equal justice under the law." Using this standard, Christians want all people, whether in jail or not, treated as human beings made in God's image. As long as privately held sexual identity views (even if confused) do not break the law, such persons ought not to be singled out for mistreatment, but neither should taxpayers be charged for the provision of unnatural or unfair advantages for self-determined sexual identity. Issues of inequity arise when self-focused demands of a few seek to overturn logical and natural laws based on a society that recognizes male and female differing requirements. Intercessory prayer will not suddenly change a society's confusion and rebellion with God's design and His laws of male and female identity. That is not its purpose. Instead, let us cry out to God for His mercy to make Himself known in a sweeping national awakening with widespread repentance and a great harvest of souls turning to Christ. Only then will a yielding to God's Word and His reign in human hearts bring salvation and deliverance to those afflicted with sexual confusion. Only the righteousness shared in the Gospel has the power to make crooked ways straight and bring human lives into order. Ponder these Scripture passages that reflect God's desire and purpose to redeem, to save, to renew, and to deliver from darkness to His light. Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it ... 'I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand ... to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the Lord, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.' ...Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth ... Let [the people] give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands. I will bring the blind by a way they did not know [and] lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them." (Isaiah 42:5-16)
"Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." (Isaiah 40:3-5) |
|  BOEHNER CHEERED FOR DITCHING IMMIGRATION BILL
A pro-immigration reform organization is praising U.S. House Speaker John Boehner for effectively ending any chance of amnesty legislation passing this year.
Boehner announced November 13 that the House will not hold formal, compromise talks on the U.S. Senate-passed so-called comprehensive immigration bill, a fresh signal from Republican leadership that the issue is dead for the year. Prayer focus: It is both biblical and practical for us to pray diligently for all members of the U.S. Congress, especially as we consider that - together - the House and the Senate create the balance whereby all American citizens have representation. That is why Speaker Boehner's influence is so important at present, which is well illustrated by his role in keeping the so-called comprehensive immigration bill from consideration this year. Most Democrat support is for this bill, which many observers feel is a thinly veiled move toward granting amnesty to millions of people who have entered the country illegally. The Republican persuasion is that the issue must have more debate and stricter standards of investigation. Either way, the challenges associated with an open or porous border must be handled in a bipartisan manner, and for that reason, the Speaker's cautions are good news to conservative voters. Pray much as you weigh the issues. Ask God to once again lead the nation to truth and righteous standards. "Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:1-4) "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people." (Proverbs 14:34) |
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