[Dear friends, Beginning last Sunday, and as the week went on, I’ve experienced physical exhaustion that I have not had in awhile. Maybe it’s related to the “processing” I’ve had to do for over 2 weeks now; I’m not really sure. But I do thank you for your continued prayers. I have found comfort in God’s Word, and in particular Psalm 25:15-21 (NIV). I do hope you enjoy today’s post that continues to look at “7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness.- Stan}
REMINDER: "Truth That Transforms" broadcast - (Mon., 7 pm. ch. 52.2; www.truthinaction.org, this week’s episode is entitled “Absolutes in a Relativistic Age.” The special feature is a special video about the pressure on the Boy Scouts to abandon their moral code Don’t miss another great broadcast
URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! - for the sake of possibly millions of children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7) - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor) who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) If you have not already, please join over 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it. http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith. *For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them. * For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..*For the growing world pressure to finally obtain the pastor’s release.
LATEST Update - April 15 - 1)".. During the weekly prison visit today, Pastor Saeed's family reported that his physical condition is worsening - seeing first-hand the marks and symptoms left by the recent beating. These beatings and the internal injuries are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting spells. Iranian officials are telling Pastor Saeed it could be an additional two months before he will receive medical treatment. Such a delay is inhumane and a gross violation of Iran’s international obligations. ...In addition to refusing to give Pastor Saeed the medical care he needs, it now appears authorities are stepping up their physical abuse and psychological torture. Pastor Saeed reported that cellmates, who appear to have connections to the Iranian intelligence police, recently threatened they would suffocate Pastor Saeed in his sleep, making his death look like an accident. The daily threat that his life could be taken by his internal injuries or by the hands of cellmates, weighs heavily on Pastor Saeed. .."(http://aclj.org/iran/beatings-intensify-american-pastor-saeed-condition-worsens-in-iranian-prison PRAY that Pastor Saeed might finally receive the medical treatment he needs. 2) More than 550,000 people from 180 countries have signed the petition to Save Saeed. Your voice has moved the U.S., the European Union, and many others to call for his release. But as Pastor Saeed's May 7th 33rd birthday approaches, it's time to encourage him directly. At the ACLJ, they've obtained the address of Evin Prison, and their goal is to flood the prison with thousands of messages of encouragement for Pastor Saeed. Just write a letter (or simply sign your name to one proposed greeting) and they will be sure that its delivered. These messages will let Pastor Saeed know that we're praying for him and his release, as well as send a signal to the Iranian leaders that Americans will not give up standing up for him. Go to Save Saeed.org and add your name to those sending letters to him.
REMINDER: "Truth That Transforms" broadcast - (Mon., 7 pm. ch. 52.2; www.truthinaction.org, this week’s episode is entitled “Absolutes in a Relativistic Age.” The special feature is a special video about the pressure on the Boy Scouts to abandon their moral code Don’t miss another great broadcast
URGENT PRAYERS/PETITIONS:
Same -Sex "Marriage"- PLEASE PRAY WITH ME (every day untill the decision is revealed around mid-June) THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL VOTE TO UPHOLD THE 2 LAWS REVIEWED SUPPORTING A TRADITIONAL DEFINITION OF MARRIAGE.. PRAY that the Court will resist any pressure to MAKE new law based on "cultural trends." PRAY as though the very future of the institution of the family is at stake because it is. PRAY! - for the sake of possibly millions of children, and for our country if it is to continue to be shown any more favor by our Heavenly Father, who I promise you will be very displeased if homosexual marriage is legalized; "GOD IS NOT [TO BE] MOCKED..." - (Gal. 6:7) - Stan [Be sure to check out my brief essay at post #478.]
CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR PASTOR SAEED (Iranian-born AMERICAN pastor) who just started an 8 year sentence for helping the underground churches in Iran) If you have not already, please join over 500,000 (was recently250,000) who have signed the petition for Pastor Saeed's release and tell your friends about it. http://aclj.org/iran/save-american-pastor-from-iranian-prison-sentence As the Lord leads, please pray: *For Pastor Abedini as he endures one of Iran’s most deadly prisons, potentially beaten and abused regularly, simply because of his Christian faith. *For the pastor’s wife and family and the Holy Spirit’s comfort upon them. * For God to visit his tormenters and all in his cell with him with supernatural dreams of the risen Christ, and use the pastor's actions and words to draw them to repent and turn to Christ; that God would use the pastor's time in that prison to spark a genuine spiritual revival that will bring scores of Iranians to Christ..*For the growing world pressure to finally obtain the pastor’s release.
LATEST Update - April 15 - 1)".. During the weekly prison visit today, Pastor Saeed's family reported that his physical condition is worsening - seeing first-hand the marks and symptoms left by the recent beating. These beatings and the internal injuries are causing Pastor Saeed frequent fainting spells. Iranian officials are telling Pastor Saeed it could be an additional two months before he will receive medical treatment. Such a delay is inhumane and a gross violation of Iran’s international obligations. ...In addition to refusing to give Pastor Saeed the medical care he needs, it now appears authorities are stepping up their physical abuse and psychological torture. Pastor Saeed reported that cellmates, who appear to have connections to the Iranian intelligence police, recently threatened they would suffocate Pastor Saeed in his sleep, making his death look like an accident. The daily threat that his life could be taken by his internal injuries or by the hands of cellmates, weighs heavily on Pastor Saeed. .."(http://aclj.org/iran/beatings-intensify-american-pastor-saeed-condition-worsens-in-iranian-prison PRAY that Pastor Saeed might finally receive the medical treatment he needs. 2) More than 550,000 people from 180 countries have signed the petition to Save Saeed. Your voice has moved the U.S., the European Union, and many others to call for his release. But as Pastor Saeed's May 7th 33rd birthday approaches, it's time to encourage him directly. At the ACLJ, they've obtained the address of Evin Prison, and their goal is to flood the prison with thousands of messages of encouragement for Pastor Saeed. Just write a letter (or simply sign your name to one proposed greeting) and they will be sure that its delivered. These messages will let Pastor Saeed know that we're praying for him and his release, as well as send a signal to the Iranian leaders that Americans will not give up standing up for him. Go to Save Saeed.org and add your name to those sending letters to him.
"The U.S. Faces Dangers from Around the World," Genevieve Syverson April 24, 2013 http://blog.heritage.org/2013/04/24/the-u-s-faces-dangers-from-around-the-world/
James Clapper, Director of National Intelligence, recently told the Senate Armed Services Committee, “In my almost fifty years in intelligence, I do not recall a period in which we confronted a more diverse array of threats, crises, and challenges around the world.”
Clapper and Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, presented the U.S. Intelligence Community’s 2013 threat assessment to the committee on April 18. North Korea’s nuclear missile capability was the major focus of the hearing. Also of concern to Members of Congress were China’s power projection, growing military, and cyber capabilities; nuclear missiles from Iran; and the conflict in Syria. These are some of the gravest threats, but they do not paint the whole picture. Some of the threats to U.S. security that were not discussed are:
- Russia’s cyber capabilities. Russian cyber attacks receive little attention, even though they are more sophisticated than those coming from China, according to Heritage’s Steve Bucci. The hackers who attacked Estonia’s government agencies and private companies in 2007 were identified as members of the state-affiliated youth group, Nashi. Russian criminals also contract their cyber capabilities to state intelligence services.
- Iran’s cyber capabilities. Bucci also described Iran as one of the top three cyber offenders, “Nowhere near as sophisticated as [China and Russia], but with a lot more malice.” Iran does not have the economic links to the U.S. that China or Russia do, so a cyber attack on the U.S. would not have as high a cost for them.
- The Arctic opening. As ice recedes in the Arctic, new maritime passages open and more resources become available. While this does not present a threat in the traditional sense, the Coast Guard’s limited presence in the region inhibits the service’s ability to perform search-and-rescue missions, maintain awareness, facilitate traffic with icebreakers, and respond to emergency incidents. Ultimately, this limits the ability of the U.S. to ensure the rule of law and facilitate legitimate free trade.
- U.S. military presence in Europe. It was announced in January 2012 that two permanent bases in Europe would close down. Permanent bases are key to U.S. interests, specifically the military’s ability to respond to crises in Eurasia and the Middle East, and to training missions with America’s closest allies. “[F]orward-based military capabilities in Europe allow the U.S. to project power and react to the unexpected more quickly and effectively,” said Luke Coffey, Heritage’s North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) expert.
Clapper, in an oft-repeated statement before the House Intelligence Committee in April, illustrated the effects of cutting U.S. intelligence capabilities: "Unlike more directly observable sequestration impacts like shorter hours of public parks or longer security lines at airports, the degradation to intelligence will be insidious. It will be gradual, almost invisible, until of course, we have an intelligence failure.
While the elements of U.S. national security face budget reductions, the world is not any safer today than yesterday. U.S. national debt and out-of-control federal spending can be fixed, but using defense and intelligence resources solely as a fiscal tool will create more problems than it solves.
[bold AND italicizd portions are my emphasis]
Genevieve Syverson is currently a member of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation.
