PRAYER REQUESTS:
[URGENT PERSONAL PRAYER REQUEST – I believe that sometime back in April, I asked you to pray about a difficult situation I was dealing with. That “happening” resulted in my feeling hurt and confused and since then I have spent MANY hours seeking the Lord about it. Well, finally, THIS SUNDAY, Aug. 18th, I will have a chance to meet with those involved and by God’s grace the matter will be cleared up then. PRAY that God would guide the discussion and that afterwards I would clearly know what the mind of the Lord is as to how I should proceed. It is scheduled to take place after the church worship service, around NOON, EST. If God happens to bring me to your mind at that time, I would esp. appreciate your intercession that I would express myself clearly and fully guided by the Spirit. Thank you VERY MUCH. Stan]
URGENT PRAYER REQUEST- Update on Kenneth Bae: "US Ready to Bargain with N. Korea for Bae's Release,"- CBNNews.com, Aug 14, 2013 http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/S-Ready-to-Bargain-with-N-Korea-for-Baes-Release/ - The United States is willing to engage North Korea to secure the release of imprisoned American Christian Kenneth Bae.
State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the United States is "willing to consider a number of different options" to bring him home.In a video recently released by a North Korean newspaper, Bae requested the United States send a high-ranking official to North Korea to seek his pardon. It is unclear if he spoke of his own volition in the video. Bae, 45, was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for sharing his faith. He suffers health problems such as diabetes and is currently hospitalized.[PRAY for 1) God's healing of and presence with Pastor Bae, 2) His earliest release by the North Korean government, and 3) God's comfort for his family and friends.]
"Muslims Bomb Christian Homes, Church in Egypt," - CBNNews.com; Aug. 12, 2013; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/August/Muslims-Bomb-Christian-Homes-Church-in-Egypt/ [CONTINUE TO KEEP THE CHRISTIANS IN EGYPT IN PRAYER as they increasingly have become the targets of Islamic extremists during this uncertain time in one of the largest Arab countries in the Middle East.] Angry Muslims tossed gasoline bombs into a Christian church and four Christian homes in southern Egypt over the weekend, wounding 15 people. Officials say the incident began Sunday, when two families started fighting after a Muslim tried to stop a Christian neighbor from building a speed bump in front of her home. Tensions between Egypt's Muslim and Christian communities have been high ever since Islamist President Mohammed Morsi was ousted from power last month.
“Abandoned” For Christ" -
Franklin Graham is the latest to join the chorus of voices calling for U.S. State Department and White House officials to take a more vocal role in protesting the Iranian imprisonment of American pastor Saeed Abedini. September 26 will mark the one year anniversary of Abedini’s imprisonment for allegedly “endangering the national security” of Iran.
Graham pointed out that, in contrast to Iranian accusations, “Pastor Saeed was in Iran trying to help children. With the permission of Iran’s government, he was working to build an orphanage. But his humanitarian mission led to an arrest on bogus charges and nearly a year of inhumane treatment, simply because he loves Jesus Christ.”...
Behind the scenes, more than 600,000 people around the world have signed a petition sponsored by ACLJ in support of pastor Abedini. A concerted movement this past May brought together Christians from many nations to set aside Pentecost to pray for Abedini. On June 13, demonstrations were held at Iranian embassies in at least six countries to protest Abedini’s treatment. And, on July 29, Arizona Republican Representative Trent Franks spoke on the floor of the House to urge other Congressmen to join him in “adopting” Pastor Abedini through the bipartisan Defending Freedoms Project.
Saeed’s response…and yours
Through his family living in Iran, Pastor Abedini has been made aware of these efforts on his behalf, and is grateful. “I heard that the persecution, my arrest and imprisonment has united churches from different denominations, from different cities and countries. That the churches have united together in prayer to put one request (my freedom) on one day (Pentecost) before God,” he wrote in a letter.
The story of Saeed Abedini, the jihad against Syrian Christians, the attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the ongoing desecration of churches in Nigeria and India should cause every American to reflect on the blessings of freedom still enjoyed in this nation.
PRAY: For comfort and peace for Saeed’s wife and children here in the U.S.
- For a strong witness and testimony from Pastor Abedini in the prison where God has placed him
- For Christians around the world who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ
- BOLDly (Beside Our Leaders Daily) for leadership from the White House and State Department in defending the freedoms of Abedini and other Americans
- Go to SaveSaeed.org to sign a petition over 600,000 others asking for his immediate release.
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"Social Security Turns 78: What Was It Meant to Do?" - By Romina Boccia, August 13, 2013
When President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law on August 14, 1935, he referred to it as “a law which will give some measure of protection to the average citizen and to his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.” But today’s Social Security is an entirely different thing.It fails to protect too many seniors from poverty, while threatening younger generations with punitive tax rates or massive cuts to promised benefits—hurting their opportunities and means of building financial security. The program needs a major overhaul. (continues below chart)
BL-social-security-deficits [1]
Here are three problems with Social Security:
1. The trust fund is a liability.
The $2.7 trillion in IOUs [2] counted in the Social Security trust fund are part of the $16.7 trillion national debt. Congress immediately spent the surpluses Social Security collected from workers and counted on taxpayers to pay off this debt in the future. Even though Social Security is considered solvent through 2033, it is only so on paper.
2. The program is already running chronic and growing deficits.
Social Security has been running cash flow deficits since 2010, and the gap between what Social Security pays out in benefits and what it collects through its 12.4 percent payroll tax is only growing. The difference is paid for by general revenues or borrowing, imposing a large and growing burden on the federal budget.
3. Seniors remain in poverty while the wealthy get benefits.
There are about 9 million seniors left in poverty despite the program, while more than 47,000 millionaires get Social Security benefits [3], regardless of need. A flat benefit that focuses benefits to eligible seniors who need them most and phases them out for wealthier retirees would return Social Security to its original purpose of providing protection “against poverty-ridden old age.”
To reform the program, lawmakers should immediately: 1) Replace the current COLA adjustment with the more accurate chained CPI [4]; 2) Raise the early and full-retirement ages gradually and predictably and index both to longevity; and 3) Focus Social Security benefits on those who need them most and alleviate poverty in old age with a minimum flat benefit [5].
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
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Article printed from The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation: http://blog.heritage.org; URL to article: http://blog.heritage.org/2013/08/13/social-security-turns-78-what-was-it-meant-to-do/
URLs in this post:
[1] Image: http://blog.heritage.org/wp-content/uploads/BL-social-security-deficits.jpg
[2] $2.7 trillion in IOUs: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/05/2013-social-security-trust-fund-reports-massive-deficits-benefit-cuts
[3] more than 47,000 millionaires get Social Security benefits: http://www.facethefactsusa.org/facts/millionaires-receiving-social-security
[4] more accurate chained CPI: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2013/05/social-security-benefits-and-the-impact-of-the-chained-cpi
[5] minimum flat benefit: http://www.savingthedream.org/what-it-covers/social-security/
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