URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
"Missionary in Philippines: 'Bodies Laying Everywhere'- By Dale Hurd and Heather Sells, November 12; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Truckloads-of-Bodies-Filipinos-Plead-for-Help/ - [PRAY that relief supplies will get to the needed area in time to help the tens of thousands who are in great need. PRAY that security can be established in the midst of looters causing problems in the midst of the devastation. - Stan]
NEWS ALERT: Oct. 23: "Christians Fleeing IRAQ Area Once Considered Safe," - CBNNews.com, http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/October/Christians-Fleeing-Iraq-Area-Once-Considered-Safe/ PRAY that believers in Iraq will know God's protection and provision; that believers will know[ whether they are called to flee or remain and persevere; and that their persecutors may come to hear the gospel and come to faith in Christ. - Stan]
Continue to Pray for EGYPT - Continue to pray for the tense situation in Egypt and especially for the Christian believers who are being targeted with violence by Muslim Brotherhood members.]
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.]
NEWS ALERT: Monday, November 04, 2013 - Saeed's Life in [Greater] Jeopardy After Prison Transfer - CBNNews.com, ; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/November/Saeeds-Life-in-Jeopardy-after-Prison-Transfer/ IRAN - Vigils Mark One Year Imprisonment of Pastor Saeed - CBNNews.com, Thursday, September 26, 2013 - Today marks one-year that American pastor Saeed Abedini has been held in an Iranian prison. He is serving an eight-year sentence because of his Christian faith. It has been a year of torment as he has suffered beatings, physical pain from untreated medical conditions, and separation from his wife and two children... The suffering has not dampened his passion for Jesus. Pastor Abedini has led more than 30 prisoners to Christ during his time in prison. This afternoon, thousands of Americans from coast to coast will pray for his release. Events will be held in 40 states at capitols, city halls, parks and churches. Thousands more will join from 15 nations around the world
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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"ESPN Gets Millions From Taxpayers" - Nick Sorrentino | Dec 30, 2013; http://townhall.com/columnists/nicksorrentino/2013/12/30/espn-gets-millions-from-taxpayers-n1769708?utm_source=thdailypm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl_pm
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[AS I SEE IT - Just the fact that the "New Year's" bowl games no longer happen just on Jan. 1st each year but as soon as a week before, tells you that sports has changed over the years. And as you watch a football game today - or in the week to come - and as you consider how much Americans pay in taxes (note the charts in yesterday's post #746), you are sure to raise your eyebrows over the following article. Then again, it shouldn't be any more surprising than that we pay Planned Parenthood (whose main income source is aborting unborn babies!) almost a half BILLION dollars a year (!) despite the fact that they make profits of almost a BILLION year! The greater surprise is that Americans generally allow themselves to be so taken time and again. - Stan]
Over the past 25 years ESPN has gotten millions in tax credits (tax dollars straight from the tax payer to the company) and tax breaks (which can still constitute a form of crony capitalism even if the taxpayer doesn’t directly pay for them) from Connecticut. The highly profitable business (even without the credits and breaks) has worked its way into the state legislature over the years and has, according to the New York Times, been able to effectively siphon off a steady stream of state revenue. Between the stadium boondoggles, taxpayers subsidizing college sports, and all the rest, sports in general is full of crony capitalism. It’s a key part of the culture.
I love sports. I grew up playing soccer, basketball, and football and spent much of my high school years surfing. (Which really is more art than sport – I still enjoy it when I can.) I have come to love golf. But the NFL, NBA, MLB thing mystifies me. I used to enjoy watching the big sports years ago, but now it’s all so slick. It’s so packaged. Americans spend so much money, time, and energy on spectator sports and as in ESPN’s case even pay taxes to circus ring leaders. I don’t get it.
I am probably being too hard. But can you imagine the reception the ESPN lobbyist gets when he shows up to meet with Joe Blow state delegate from Norwalk?
(From The New York Times)
ESPN is hardly needy. With nearly 100 million households paying about $5.54 a month for ESPN, regardless of whether they watch it, the network takes in more than $6 billion a year in subscriber fees alone. Still, ESPN has received about $260 million in state tax breaks and credits over the past 12 years, according to a New York Times analysis of public records. That includes $84.7 million in development tax credits because of a film and digital media program, as well as savings of about $15 million a year since the network successfully lobbied the state for a tax code change in 2000.
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