PRAY FOR AMERICA: THANK GOD for His many blessings on America throughout it's history. May we then ask that AMERICA once again be a blessing TO GOD, by once again submitting to HIS will in our affairs - both personal and national - that He may truly "heal our land." (2 Chron. 7:14)
Month of RAMADAN - Please make note that the Muslim month of Ramadan this year is June 28-July 27. This is the second year I will join with the over 1 billion Muslims in their annual time of prayer and fasting (sun-up to sun-down each day) and ask God to reveal Himself to them in dreams and visions. As this is the time each year when they are most open to spiritual things, I ask you to join me that God would speak clearly to each one and come to lead millions to leave their kingdom of darkness for Jesus' kingdom of light. (Col. 1:13-14) - Stan
RAMADAN 2014 - Day # 19 - Love - For Takoosh, whose husband was killed by the IRANIAN government, Jesus' command to love her enemies was impossible. Hatred filled her heart...and then she prayed. From the depths of her heart love poured out releasing forgiveness. Father, may Your Spirit of love rule inn the hearts of Christians in countless countries where Islamic law governs justice. - from Open Doors Ramadan Prayer Guide for the Persecuted Church.
SIGN A PETITION TO THE UN FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHRISTIANS :" The church in Syria has shone brightly for 2,000 years. But today violence and persecution threatens its survival. Thanks to an incredible response, Open Doors is helping 8,000 families in Syria survive each month. We believe the signatures and prayers of 500,000 people will encourage the UN to act and protect the rights and lives of all Syrians, especially the vulnerable Christian community." Go to: http://lp.opendoorsusa.org/emails/nov-13-action/save-syria.html?utm_source=action&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button&utm_campaign=november
WORLD-WDE PRAYER REQUESTS:
6/13 - PRAY FOR THE CRISIS HAPPENING NOW IN IRAQ (see post #907)
LATEST SAHEED NEWS! May 22 - "Pastor Saeed Forcibly Returned to Prison after Beating" - By Caitlin Burke,CBN News, May 22, 2014;
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/May/Pastor-Saeed-Beaten-Sent-Back-to-Iran-Prison/ "Saeed Abedini, a U.S. pastor imprisoned for his faith, was severely beaten at an Iranian hospital before being returned to the brutal Rajai Shahr prison. His Iranian family claims the transfer was unexpected and the reason is unclear. But one of the guards involved in the transfer suggested recent Iranian nuclear talks could be a motive, the family said...""
We need to continue to pray for Pastor Saeed - that his health will improve and that he will be re-united with his wife and two young children who live in the United States. We also remain hopeful that in addition to getting the medical care he so desperately needs, that Iranian officials display the kind of humanitarian treatment that often accompanies the start of the Iranian New Year which began on March 21st. This is the time of year when the Iranian government frequently offers clemency to prisoners of conscience. [If you have not yet, please sign the petition for his clemency- http://beheardproject.com/saeed#sign]
PRAY ALSO : - 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
- 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
*For God to suppress President Putin’s ambitions to "restore" the Soviet empire.
*For the people of Ukrainen [esp. for the church 'to be THE church'] as they wait to see if the Russian troops will advance.
*About President Obama and to use wisdom in crafting our foreign policy, and wisdom for his advisers.
PRAYER ALERT!"Kim Jong-un Calls for Execution of 33 Christians" - 3/7/2014; http://www.presidentialprayerteam.com/Prayerwatch?pw=3651 "North Korea tyrant Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. The South Korean missionary - who was arrested last year - and his accomplices have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches..."[PRAY that the plans for execution would be rescinded, and these believers released.] [Che\ck out: They'll Be Dead By Morning (What Difference Will It Make) http://loristanleyroeleveld.blogspot.com/2014/03/theyll-be-dead-by-morning-what.html
NEWS ALERT/PRAISE! "Iran Allows Surgery on Ailing, Imprisoned Pastor" - CBNNews.com,March 07, 2014;http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2014/March/Iran-Allows-Dire-Surgery-on-Ailing-Imprisoned-Pastor-/ The Iranian government has finally allowed doctors to perform surgery on imprisoned Pastor Benham Irani.Irani suffered from a herniated disc and bleeding intestines and urgently needed medical care. PRAY for the final release of Pastor Irani and others imprisoned for their faith.
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.]
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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.]
"Why Are So Many More Central Americans Trying to Cross the Border Illegally Now?"- Ana Quintana / July 13, 2014 /http://dailysignal.com/2014/07/13/white-house-blame-influx-immigrants/?utm_source=heritagefoundation&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=morningbell
Photo: Orlando Sierra/Getty Images/Newscom
A massive influx of unlawful immigrants from Central America has policymakers searching for quick fix. While inadequate border security and false perceptions of U.S. immigration law have undoubtedly helped fuel the problem, they are just part of the equation. A thorough understanding requires a look further south.
No longer do Mexicans constitute the majority of unlawful migrants to the U.S. Currently, they are estimated to account for only about 25 percent of border-crossers. Clearly, Mexico’s economic growth — combined with an improving security situation — has lessened the incentive to migrate. The same cannot be said for the Northern Triangle countries of Central America.
Located directly below Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras are caught in the cross hairs of drug trafficking organizations and the violent regional gangs that support them. The erosion of Colombia’s cartels and subsequent growth of their Mexican counterparts shifted drug trafficking routes to the isthmus. With that came the violence and criminality associated with these organizations.
In Guatemala, impunity reigns supreme. El Salvador remains home base for the most violent regional street gangs, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18 (M-18). Honduras holds the dubious honor of being the murder capital of the world, averaging 91 murders per 100,000 citizens every year. Its most dangerous city, San Pedro Sula, averages 169 homicides per 100,000 residents. By comparison, the U.S. murder rate is 5 per 100,000, and in Chicago, our most dangerous city, the average is 15.
The White House cites these statistics to explain the burgeoning crisis at our border. Yet the administration neglects to mention its inadvertent complicity. In overlooking traditional partners and embracing emerging foes, the administration has left the entire Central American region in limbo.
Consider the Obama administration’s response to Honduras’s constitutional crisis in 2009. For months, it tried to reinstate Manuel Zelaya, Honduras’s legally deposed president — a man who had blatantly violated his country’s constitution. Rather than support the democratic ambitions of a traditional partner, the administration responded by declaring the legal impeachment a military coup. It suspended critical aid and joint military operations, much in the form of counternarcotics assistance. Control over the country’s Caribbean coastline quickly fell to the drug traffickers. Predictably, homicide rates spiked. Honduras is now the layover spot for nearly 80 percent of northward bound drug flights. Sadly, considerable restrictions on U.S. security assistance remain in place.
Conversely, the administration continues cozying up to leaders who undermine American interests. Following the lead of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s now-deceased strong man, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Bolivia have shut down counternarcotics efforts, expelled U.S. diplomats and hampered trade relations. Just this year alone, Ecuador abruptly expelled all U.S. military staff and prematurely terminated USAID programs. Prior to that, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa shutdown access to the country’s Manta military base. As a result, surveillance operations over the Andean Ridge, the exclusive source for coca, have never recovered. However, the Obama administration continues making futile attempts at friendship.
The humanitarian and security crisis on the southwest border should be a wake-up call for Congress. Lawmakers need to recognize that ensuring regional security is essential to protecting U.S. interests.
Security cooperation with the Northern Triangle countries must be expanded. The Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI) was conceived as a supplement to Mexico’s Merida Initiative. Follow-up efforts have proven to be insufficient. Burdensome cooperation restrictions must also be lifted. Since fiscal 2012, Congress has withheld at least 20 percent of promised security cooperation funding to Honduras. In FY 2014, that increased to 35 percent. These same prohibitions limit Washington’s ability to help Guatemala secure its porous 600-mile-long border with Mexico.
As Congress deliberates how to address our border crisis, it needs to look beyond securing our border and fixing a broken immigration system. Lawmakers must also reconsider whether funding restrictions are in America’s national interest. If security conditions in those countries continue to deteriorate, the incentives to flee to the United States will only increase.
[bold and italics emphasis mine]
Originally posted on Washington Times.
Ana Quintana is a research associate in The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies. She specializes in U.S. policy toward Latin America.
"Border Crisis: Why Are the Kids Coming to America?" - By Heather Sells, July 15, 2014; http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2014/July/Border-Crisis-Why-Are-the-Kids-Coming-to-America/
exas - [You will find a great video of this report at this weblink.] "The federal government estimates that 90,000 unaccompanied immigrant children will cross the border on their own this year. That's 10 times the number from just a few years ago. Add to that the number of young mothers coming with their children and it equals an incredible flood of immigrants...."
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