The Daily Brief: Wednesday, June 21, 2017

The Daily Brief: Wednesday, June 21, 2017

1. Terror attack at Michigan airport - Daily Mail UK

The man who yelled Allahu Akbar' as he stabbed a police officer at a Michigan airport on Wednesday has been identified as Amor Ftouhi, an approximately 50-year-old Canadian man who is originally from Tunisia. Ftouhi repeatedly stabbed Lt. Jeff Neville from behind at Bishop airport near Flint leaving him in serious but stable condition. The attacker was tackled to the ground by fellow police officers.

This afternoon the FBI confirmed it is treating the episode as a terror attack and said Ftouhi also yelled about Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan while he carried out his attack. The agency said he has 'a hatred of the US' and traveled to the US from Canada where he apparently worked as an insurance agent. Ftouhi is being charged with violence at an international airport, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the complete healing and restoration of Officer Neville. Give him and his family Your peace this evening. We pray our nation will no longer pretend Islam is not at the root of terrorism in our nation and around the world. Give our leaders wisdom and the fortitude to do what is right to keep our people safe.

- For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. (Psalm 84:11)

2. Tropical Storm Cindy to flood Texas to Florida coast - Accuweather

As Tropical Storm Cindy approaches the northwest Gulf of Mexico coast, the risk of flooding, severe thunderstorms and rip currents will increase over the Deep South. After little movement on Tuesday, Cindy has begun tracking to the northwest.

Strong winds aloft are shearing the storm. The winds are causing the swath of heaviest rainfall to focus on the northeastern side of the storm. A gradual turn to the north is expected Wednesday night," according to AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski. "Landfall near the border of Texas and Louisiana is likely early Thursday."
- Father, we pray strong winds will continue to reduce the severity of this storm. We pray there will be no destruction, only much needed rain to the Southeast.

- The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. (Deuteronomy 28:12a)

3. Rep. Steve Scalise's condition upgraded to fair one week after shooting - LA Times

The Republican congressman shot last week at a baseball practice is making good progress and has been upgraded to fair condition.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center issued a statement on Wednesday saying Rep. Steve Scalise, 51, of Louisiana is "beginning an extended period of healing and rehabilitation."

Scalise has undergone several surgeries since he was shot last week. Doctors said he had arrived at the hospital June 14 at imminent risk of death. (Read more)
- Father, even now . . . one week later . . . we refuse to believe the report of his doctors, and we choose instead to believe THE REPORT OF THE LORD.

- "It is written: He shall not die, but he will live, and declare the works of the Lord." (Psalm 118:17)

4. ObamaCare repeal bill on fast track in Senate; Ryan says tax reform next - Fox News

Republican congressional leaders put their two major legislative priorities on a fast track Tuesday -- aiming for a Senate vote to overhaul ObamaCare as early as next week and a vote on tax reform by year's end. "We are going to cut taxes," House Speaker Paul Ryan said in a major tax reform speech in Washington. "We are going to get this done in 2017."

Hours later, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Capitol Hill he expects to have a draft by Thursday of Senate Republicans' health care bill and a decisive floor vote by next week. The vote could be close. The House last month passed its legislation to overhaul ObamaCare. A group of about 13 Republican senators has since been working behind closed doors on a Senate version, eager to give President Trump and the entire party a major legislative win this year. (Read more)
- Father, we agree with these words from Speaker Ryan: "We are going to get this done in 2017." Help the Republican leadership overcome opposition from the left as they work to move these bills through Congress.

- Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards. (Proverbs 12:14)

5. Jeh Johnson Testifies: Russians Did Not Alter Ballot Counts - CNSNews.com

Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Wednesday that the Russian government did not alter ballots, ballots counts, or the reporting of votes in last November's U.S. presidential election.

In his written testimony Johnson said, "To my current knowledge, the Russian government did not through any cyber intrusion alter ballots, ballot counts or reporting of election results. I am not in a position to know whether the successful Russian government-directed hacks of the DNC and elsewhere did in fact alter public opinion and thereby alter the outcome of the presidential election." (Read more)
- Father, we offer praise that this former official of the Obama administration has testified under oath, speaking truth in the midst of this unfounded controversy. May he receive a blessing as a result.

- These are the things which you should do: speak the truth to one another; judge with truth and judgment for peace in your gates. (Zech. 8:16)

6. Study supports Trump: 5.7 million noncitizens may have cast illegal votes - Washington Times

A research group in New Jersey has taken a fresh look at postelection polling data and concluded that the number of noncitizens voting illegally in U.S. elections is likely far greater than previous estimates. As many as 5.7 million noncitizens may have voted in the 2008 election, which put Barack Obama in the White House.

The research organization Just Facts, a widely cited, independent think tank led by self-described conservatives and libertarians, revealed its number-crunching in a report on national immigration. Just Facts President James D. Agresti and his team looked at data from an extensive Harvard/YouGov study that every two years questions a sample size of tens of thousands of voters. Some acknowledge they are noncitizens and are thus ineligible to vote. Just Facts' conclusions confront both sides in the illegal voting debate: those who say it happens a lot and those who say the problem nonexistent. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for integrity throughout our voting system. Help us identify and remove ineligible voters from the rolls while also investigating and prosecuting those who are corrupting the system.

- The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. (Proverbs 11:3)

7. Judicial Watch: Susan Rice's Unmasking Documents of Trump Team Now Sealed at Obama Library - CNS News

Judicial Watch announced on June 19 that the National Security Council has revealed that documents regarding the unmasking by President Barack Obama's National Security Advisor Susan Rice of "the identities of any U.S. citizens associated with the Trump presidential campaign or transition team" have been removed to the Obama Library.

Such documents, by law, cannot be released to the public for at least five years, and after that the library may still erect hurdles to access them. In effect, documents reportedly related to Congress' investigation of Russia collusion in the 2016 election are now sealed, including materials gathered by the Obama administration in 2015-16 and perhaps earlier. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for action by the Federal Court and/or Congress to release these records and resolve this controversy.

- Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. (Proverbs 26:26)

8. Delaware Legalizes Abortion through all Nine Months - Christian Headlines

Delaware gave pro-abortion advocates a rare but big win last week when Gov. John Carney signed a bill making it legal to kill unborn babies through all nine months of pregnancy. Proponents of the bill drafted it out of fear the Supreme Court might someday overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

"This is a reaction from the abortion lobby to President Trump winning, and Neil Gorsuch's confirmation, and the anticipation of President Trump appointing additional Supreme Court justices," Susan B. Anthony List spokeswoman Mallory Quigley told me. The pro-life group spent nearly $100,000 to run radio ads and digital campaigns, send mail, and call constituents to encourage opposition to the bill.

While many states, including Delaware, have adopted more protections for unborn babies, the new law does away with all restrictions on abortion-including an existing parental consent law for minors and a 24-hour waiting period-until viability. The law defines viability as a likelihood to survive outside the womb without "extraordinary medical measures" and allows abortion past that point if an abortionist thinks the mother's life or health is in danger. (Read more)
- Father, we repent for this unspeakable tragedy in Delaware, and pray Your Spirit would soften the hearts of the people toward the unborn.

- Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7)

9. Illinois careens into financial meltdown - and not even the lottery is safe - Fox News

Illinois is grappling with a full-fledged financial crisis and not even the lottery is safe - with Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner warning the state is entering "banana republic" territory. Facing billions in unpaid bills and pension obligations, the state is hitting a cash crunch that is rare even by Illinois standards.

A top financial official just warned 100 percent of the state's monthly revenue will be eaten up by court-ordered payments. Rauner is calling a special session of the Democrat-led General Assembly in a bid to pass what he hopes will be the first full budget package in almost three years. Reports have suggested the state could be the first to attempt to declare Chapter 9 bankruptcy -- but under the law, that's impossible unless Congress gets involved. (Read more)
- Father, we pray the leaders who have caused this crisis in Illinois will repent and make the needed reforms. Bless Governor Rauner with the wisdom he needs to lead his state back to solvency.

- Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. (Proverbs 6:5)

10. Phoenix nears 120 degrees as Southwest sees worst heat wave in years - Chicago Tribune

The first day of summer brought some of the worst heat the Southwest U.S. has seen in years, forcing flights to be canceled, straining the power grid and making life miserable for workers toiling in temperatures that reached 120 degrees or higher in some desert cities.

Arizona, Nevada and California saw dramatic temperatures Tuesday as researchers say deadly heat waves like this one were going to grow more frequent. Meteorologists in Phoenix said Tuesday evening the temperature topped out at 119 degrees - one that has been matched or surpassed only four other times. The forecast called for a high of 120 degrees in Phoenix, which it hasn't seen in more than two decades. Death Valley, Calif., reached 125 and Palm Springs hit 121, still a degree lower than the same day last year. (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the people of the Southwest to long for You and seek You, just as their parched land thirsts for rain and relief from the heat. We pray for protection of all living things and for You to bring cooler weather and rain in answer to prayer.

- I spread out my hands to you; I thirst for you like a parched land. (Psalm 143:6)

11. Belgium Terrorist Shouted 'Allahu Akbar' While Trying to Detonate Nail Bomb - CBN News

Belgium tightened security even more on Wednesday to counter fears that lone attackers could strike anywhere and at any time, a day after a failed bombing by a man shouting "Allahu akbar" at a Brussels train station put the nation on edge. A soldier killed the attacker, who had tried to set off a powerful nail bomb that could have led to fatalities among the two dozen or so travelers checking train times on a public display board at Brussels Central Station on Tuesday, officials said.

Similar attacks by lone assailants causing maximum mayhem but few victims have also happened in London and Paris in the past couple of days, putting European capitals on alert on the eve of the busy summer tourist season. The Brussels attacker was a 36-year-old Moroccan national not known to authorities for being involved in terror activities, federal magistrate Eric Van der Sypt told reporters. He declined to say if the man had a criminal record. (Read more)
- Father, thank You for Your protection. We pray the people of Belgium, especially the people near the attempted bombing, would be confronted with their mortality, repent and turn their hearts to You.

- The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9)

12. ALERT! Thousands of Witches Will Gather Tonight to Curse Trump. Is Satanism Behind It? - Breaking Israel News

At the stroke of midnight on Wednesday, some 13,000 people will connect via internet in yet another attempt to cast a curse on President Donald Trump, this time on the summer solstice. Though spell-casting may seem too absurd to be taken seriously, a rabbinic authority maintains that the 'witches' are tapping into Satanism, a disturbing theology making a strong comeback today in the guise of atheism.

The witches are a motley collection with a mixed bag of rituals and beliefs, incorporating the arcane and the religious. The solstice curse calls for colored candles, Tarot cards, and chanting, but also allows for using Cheetos and religious amulets. As irreverent as this may seem, Rabbi Daniel Asore, who investigates the threat Satanism poses today as a member of the nascent Sanhedrin, believes the connection between witchcraft and politics is more relevant - and dangerous - than ever.

"Witchcraft, or its real name, Satanism, is explicitly a power struggle, which is why it is so readily dragged into politics. Satanism, in its essence, pits the adversary against God," Rabbi Asore explained to Breaking Israel News. "Though this power struggle has been brewing all through history, today, when we are so close to Moshiach (Messiah), the role it is playing in politics could not be more clear.

"The politicians who believe that man can control all aspects of the world are coming from a belief system based in Satanism, whether knowingly or not." (Read more)
> > > Editor's comment: There is NO power greater on earth than that of the cleansing Blood of our Messiah. Please receive the Cup of Communion tonight before going to bed, or at midnight, and thank God for His unspeakable gift to men!

- "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)