The Daily Brief:
Wednesday, September 20, 2017 (Short Form)
1. Full Text: President Trump's Historic First Speech to the United Nations General Assembly - VOX.com
"In remembering the great victory that led to this body's founding, we must never forget that those heroes who fought against evil, also fought for the nations that they love. Patriotism led the Poles to die to save Poland, the French to fight for a free France, and the Brits to stand strong for Britain. Today, if we do not invest ourselves, our hearts, our minds, and our nations, if we will not build strong families, safe communities, and healthy societies for ourselves, no one can do it for us." (Excerpt) Read full text here.
View the video of President Trump's Address to the United Nations by going here.
- Father God, we thank You that our President has indeed delivered this powerful speech to the members of the UN General Assembly. We pray that, as he has now laid down the gauntlet against the terror tactics of both North Korea and Iran, we pray that all other leaders will form a global coalition, bent on one goal only: the obliteration of the threats from these two nations. Lord God, let the U.N. rise up and fulfill their mandate: working to bring peace among all nations. Amen.
- "Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered. And let those who hate Him flee before Him." (Psalm 68:1,2)
2. Conservatives Welcome Trump's 'Blunt' Speech to the UN - NewsMax
President Donald Trump's "open" and "blunt" speech to the United Nations on Tuesday was enthusiastically welcomed by conservatives on Tuesday. Most maintained Trump's words needed to be said and warmly applauded his speech. "This is the international UN version of 'draining the swamp,'" Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., told Fox News. "He went in there and was extremely blunt. "That was exactly the message that needed to be sent. Bret Baier, chief political anchor at Fox News, called the president's speech "strong," "bold" and "direct."(Read more)
- Father, we pray that President Trump's clarity will result in peace and stability for Israel, South Korea and the United States.
- "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1)
3. Full text of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's UN speech - Times of Israel
PM vaunts 'revolution in Israel's standing among the nations,' goes on the offensive against the Iran nuclear deal
[Closing comments] As the prophet Isaiah said, "I have made you a light unto the nations, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth."
Today, 2,700 years after Isaiah spoke those prophetic words, Israel is becoming a rising power among the nations. And at long last, its light is shining across the continents, bringing hope and salvation to the ends of the earth.
Happy New Year, Shanah Tovah from Israel. Thank you.
To read the full text, go here.
To view his speech, go here.
4. Netanyahu praises Trump's 'bold and courageous' speech - Times of Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised US President Donald Trump's speech to the UN General Assembly Tuesday.
"In over 30 years in my experience with the UN, I never heard a bolder or more courageous speech. President Trump spoke the truth about the great dangers facing our world and issued a powerful call to confront them in order to ensure the future of humanity," Netanyahu said. (Read more)
- Father, we are grateful for the warm relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu. We pray they will continue to work together to increase the peace and security of Israel and the Middle East.
- "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress." (1 Timothy 4:15)
5. Netanyahu slams Iran deal in fiery UN speech, urges world to 'fix it or nix it' - Times of Israel
NEW YORK - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly condemned the Iran nuclear deal in a speech at the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, warning that the accord will pave the way for Iran to obtain nuclear weapons if it is not scrapped or altered.
After praising Donald Trump's address earlier in the day from the same podium, in which the US president called the Islamic Republic a "murderous" regime and the nuclear deal an "embarrassment," Netanyahu said the 2015 accord strengthened Iran's nuclear program and posed a grave threat to the entire world. (Read more)
1. 7.1 magnitude earthquake kills more than 100 in Mexico, collapses buildings - Fox News
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck near Mexico City Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, killing at least 149 people and leaving multiple people reportedly trapped in collapsed buildings.
Mexico City's international airport tweeted that it has suspended operations following the quake, although it's not immediately clear how many flights have been affected.
President Donald Trump tweeted "God bless the people of Mexico City" after news of the earthquake broke, and added that the U.S. is "with you and will be there for you." (Read more)
- Father, we pray for the people of Mexico to quickly find survivors and secure failing infrastructure.
- "Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven." (Luke 21:10-11)
2. Magnitude 3.6 earthquake hits Los Angeles - msn.com
A magnitude-3.6 earthquake hit Los Angeles late Monday. Experts said it was unlikely to cause any serious damage.
The quake struck nearly 4 miles northwest of Westwood at 11.20 p.m. local time. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
"We get these size earthquakes fairly frequently. Any severe damage would be pretty unlikely," said U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Zachary Reeves, according to the Los Angeles Times. (Read more)
- Father, we recognize that Your Hand of mercy has prevented any major quakes from occurring on the West Coast . . . yet. We come to You in repentance, for only You can protect us from these natural disasters. Thank You, Lord, amen.
- "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
3. Hurricane Maria takes aim at Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands as Category 5 storm strengthens - Fox News
Hurricane Maria is taking aim at Puerto Rico as the Category 5 storm barreled toward the U.S. territory Tuesday night with disastrous winds and "life-threatening" flooding, according to forecasters.
Maria, a "potentially catastrophic" storm, has top sustained winds near 175 mph, and was located about 160 miles southeast of San Juan, as of the National Hurricane Center's 8 p.m. advisory. The major hurricane was moving to the west-northwest at 10 mph, and "some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two," according to the NHC.
"Conditions will continue to deteriorate across the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, with the worst conditions there early Wednesday morning," Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean said Tuesday. "Puerto Rico is forecast to take a direct hit from this major hurricane on Wednesday, with the worst conditions from late Wednesday morning through Wednesday afternoon." (Read more)
- Father, we come to You again, interceding for the people of Puerto Rico - we pray for the forgiveness of their sins, that they would turn to You in repentance and in Your mercy shift this storm away from them.
- "The Lord responded by shifting the wind." (Exodus 10:19a)
4. Jose to swipe northeastern US with rain, wind and dangerous surf - Accuweather
Hurricane Jose will bring coastal flooding, beach erosion, gusty winds and rain to the mid-Atlantic and New England coasts much of this week. Jose, currently a Category 1 hurricane, is expected to pass within 200 hundred miles of the coast on its closest approach around midweek. By this point, Jose will either remain at minimal-hurricane intensity, weaken to a tropical storm or become a sub-tropical system. Regardless, Jose's anticipated track will bring the most significant impacts along and just east of the Northeast Interstate 95 corridor.
"A hurricane does not need to make landfall to cause significant adverse effects in the Northeast, since the shape of the coast tends to enhance storm effects and trap ocean water," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "The slow-moving, lingering and spread-out nature of Jose will lead to prolonged impact on beach communities and offshore interests," Sosnowski said. Areas from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to Maine can expect rough surf to continue to pound the coast as Jose churns waters offshore.
Extensive beach erosion is likely. Intense rip currents and large waves will endanger anyone who ventures into the water. (Read more)
- Father, we pray hurricane Jose will move away from the coast and quickly dissipate.
- "For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds." (Psalm 108:4)
5. Italy Supervolcano Near Mount Vesuvius May Soon Erupt, Scientists Say - International Business Times A volcano in southern Italy might be getting ready to erupt, according to scientists who have found and studied the source of magma building up beneath the surface. The team said in a study in the journal Scientific Reports that their research on the volcano Campi Flegrei could help experts better predict when volcanoes are going to explode. The volcano just west of Naples is classified as a supervolcano because it has experienced an eruption of a magnitude 8 on the Volcano Explosivity Index - a scale that runs from 0 to 8. It is only several miles away from Mount Vesuvius, the volcano that famously erupted almost 2,000 years ago and destroyed the ancient Roman city Pompeii, covering it in ash and sending out rapid flows of hot gas and material that burned or choked the people in the city. Campi Flegrei hasn't erupted in hundreds of years. The last time it blew was in 1538, after earthquakes and uplifting of the ground allowed the molten rock known as magma to accumulate beneath the area. "An eruption of similar scale would be highly destructive for the dense metropolitan city of Naples," which is nearby and where there are more than 3 million people, the study says. (Read more)
- Father, we pray this volcano will not erupt and that Your mercy would be the only thing to rain down upon the people of Italy. May this report cause them to reflect on Your goodness and repent.
- "Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me." (Psalm 69:16)
6. Senators push for churches to get disaster relief grants - Washington Times
Four Republican senators introduced a bill Monday that would allow churches to apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance program grants, putting the houses of worship on the same playing field as non-religious nonprofits. Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt and Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, say churches should be eligible for disaster relief money, because houses of worship often serve as shelters in communities plagued by natural disasters.
FEMA allows nonprofits that serve the public benefit to apply for disaster relief funds, but the agency explicitly excludes facilities primarily used for religious activities.
The senators' Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act comes after three Texas churches damaged by Hurricane Harvey asked a federal court earlier this month to rule FEMA's policy unconstitutional. "This policy is discriminatory and wrong," Mr. Cruz said. "We must ensure that religious organizations are eligible for federal assistance on the same terms as other nonprofits after being damaged or destroyed during natural disasters such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma." (Read more)
- Father, we pray this bill will pass through Congress and be signed by President Trump, giving much needed aid to those who love and serve You.
- "Leadership gains authority and respect when the voiceless poor are treated fairly." (Proverbs 29:14)
7. Lindsey Graham: Paul Ryan told me House would pass Senate Obamacare fix - Washington Examiner
House Speaker Paul Ryan has said the House would pass new legislation from Senate Republicans that would send Obamacare funding to the states to use as they like, according to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "Paul Ryan told me to my face, 'if you pass it, we pass it,'" Graham told reporters Tuesday. Graham was talking about a plan he developed with Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., to give states more control over healthcare spending.
The plan is drawing support from Republicans, who may try to pass it by next week, when they can still advance it in the Senate with just 51 votes, instead of the usual 60. Graham indicated that the idea that the House might follow suit and pass the bill quickly next week could help prompt Senate passage in the coming days. "Mitch McConnell and the leadership has done everything we've asked and then some," Graham said. "I spoke to Paul Ryan, the speaker of the House. He says, 'I like it. You send it to the House, it's gonna pass.'" (Read more)
- Father, we pray this Obamacare fix will pass quickly and bring stability to our healthcare system.
- I will give you back your health and heal your wounds," says the Lord.
(Jeremiah 30:17)
8. Feds were wiretapping head of Donald Trump's presidential campaign - Washington Times
U.S. government investigators were wiretapping the head of Donald Trump's presidential campaign, both before and after the election, CNN reported Monday night. Citing "three sources familiar with the investigation," CNN Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had his phones tapped under secret orders from a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) court.
"The government snooping continued into early this year, including a period when Manafort was known to talk to President Donald Trump," CNN reported. Mr. Manafort has owned a home in Trump Tower since 2006. In March of this year, Mr. Trump tweeted that he had "just found out that Obama had my 'wires tapped' in Trump Tower just before the victory. Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" (Read more)
- Father, we lift up the integrity of our federal agencies and pray those who violated the rights of U.S. citizens will be held accountable.
- "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed." (Proverbs 10:9)
9. Senate backs massive increase in military spending - Reuters
The U.S. Senate passed its version of a $700 billion defense policy bill on Monday, backing President Donald Trump's call for a bigger, stronger military but setting the stage for a battle over government spending levels later this year. The Republican-controlled chamber voted 89-8 for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018, or NDAA, which authorizes the level of defense spending and sets policies controlling how the money is spent.
The Senate bill provides about $640 billion for the Pentagon's main operations, such as buying weapons and paying the troops, and some $60 billion to fund the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere. The 1,215-page bill includes a wide range of provisions, such as a 2.1 percent military pay raise and $8.5 billion to strengthen missile defense, as North Korea conducts nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests. It also bans Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs products from federal government use. (Read more)
- Father, we pray our military will be equipped to strengthen our interests and preserve peace around the world. We pray none of our military assets will be diverted for other purposes or used to harm the innocent.
- "I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name." (Psalm 44:6-8)
10. Israel and US open first American military base in Israel - Associated Press
BISLACH AIR BASE, Israel (AP) -- Israel and the U.S. inaugurated the first American military base on Israeli soil on Monday, which will serve dozens of soldiers operating a missile defense system.
The move comes at a time of growing Israeli concerns about archenemy Iran's development of long-range missiles. Together with the U.S., Israel has developed a multilayered system of defenses against everything from long-range guided missile attacks from Iran to crude rockets fired from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.
The base's opening is largely symbolic and isn't expected to bring operational changes. But the Israeli military says that along with other measures, it sends a message of readiness to Israel's enemies.
"It's a message that says Israel is better prepared. It's a message that says Israel is improving the response to threats," said Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, the commander of Israel's aerial defense. (Read more)
- Father, we thank You for this news of a tangible blessing released to Israel by our nation. We call forth the blessing that will now return to our country, according to the promise of Your Word, in Your name, amen.
- "And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Genesis 12:3)
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