TODAY MARKS THE 50th YEAR OF DR. KING'S SPEECH
Fifty years to the day after Dr. Martin Luther King's historic "I have a dream" address, President Barack Obama will stand today in the same place the civil rights icon stood at the Lincoln Memorial as he commemorates the 1963 March on Washington.  (Read more.)

 
SYRIAN STRIKE NOT DECIDED
While Western powers tell Syrian opposition that a US strike against the Assad regime will happen within days, Washington signals decision has not been finalized; opposition reportedly offered West list of 10 proposed targets.

President Barack Obama has not made a decision to order military strikes against the Syrian government in response to last week's alleged chemical weapons attack near Damascus, a senior administration official said on Tuesday.

There appears to be little doubt, if any, that Syrian president Bashar Assad has, in fact, broken long-standing international law with the use of poison gas against his own constituents, albeit rebels forces. The horror is exacerbated by memories of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich and his infamous and ghastly "Final Solution" against innocent civilians, primarily Jews. Thus, President Obama must make a difficult but necessary decision that will demonstrate a strong stand against such a barbarous practice. Let us pray for the president and his advisors, who want to move with restraint because of the volatile atmosphere, with Iran becoming a player in a "protective" role for Syria by threatening Israel. Intercessors should utilize their knowledge and discernment and pray accordingly. This is a major Middle East "bomb" waiting to be detonated or defused, as God will allow. The stakes are high. Strong intercession is called for. While our Scripture is out of context, it appears fitting for that part of the world, especially as Israel is, in part, a focal point.

 

"Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness;and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, 'Peace, peace!' When there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? No! They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush. Therefore, they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the Lord. (Jeremiah 6:13-15)

    

THE OTHER IRS SCANDAL   
While Americans rightly have been appalled by the ugly details of the Internal Revenue Service crackdown on conservative groups, another scandal much longer in the making has been festering.

Left-wing nonprofits such as ACORN's successor groups are flouting federal law by spending tax-exempt funds for partisan political activities, using "fiscal sponsorship" to shift those funds through a shell game of various activist groups. That's the finding of Cause of Action, a nonpartisan good-government group, in its new report, "Conprofit: How the IRS' Failed Enforcement Allows Nonprofit Money Laundering."

  

Despite the Apostle Paul's exhortation that we "not grow weary in doing good" (Gal. 6:9) - which includes commitment to ongoing intercessory prayer - the truth is we do grow weary. Faithful intercessors are sometimes tempted to wonder if God is still listening; and, more pointedly, if or when He will act righteously to bring the scandal-perpetrators in our government to justice. When discouraged, one veteran intercessor said she ponders how dark the situation looked just before Jesus was crucified, when it appeared all was lost and that the enemy had triumphed. Then she remembers: the cross was God's plan. Jesus died willingly, and the resurrection confirmed forever that the enemy is defeated. So take heart, intercessors. God's purposes will prevail. The nations are His (Psalm 2), and all things will be reconciled for His glory. Let us keep praying in hope and faith. Perhaps we are nearing that tipping point just before revival sweeps across our sinful nation. God always has a remnant, and He will reward those who stand in the gap and intercede.

 

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." (John 10:17-18)

"So Pilate said to him, 'You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?'
Jesus answered him, 'You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above ...'" (John 19:10-11)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."(2 Peter 3:9)

 

HOMOSEXUAL LIFE IN SAN ANTONIO, TX    
San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is running hard to become Hillary Rodham Clinton's vice presidential running mate. Last glimpsed delivering the keynote address to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, the 38-year-old mayor is trying to win the spurs of higher office by placing the gay-rights agenda squarely before the San Antonio City Council. Just after Labor Day, its 10 members will vote on a tough new "non-discrimination ordinance." 

  

We are careful here to ensure that we define our prayer points accurately and pray in agreement, with united hearts. Our prayer focus will not be an "anti-homosexual" lament or lecture. Yes, biblically aberrant lifestyles
are of spiritual concern to informed Christians, who understand that all lost people, regardless of sexual orientation, need the release and freedom only Jesus Christ can impart. However, the real thrust of this expos� is on freedom of speech and freedom of religious expression. Let us pray for Ms. Chan to be exonerated from false charges and not be bullied. On the wider horizon, pray that San Antonio's Christian pastors and other leaders will not allow the city council to define their God-given freedoms. Many astute observers see a larger discrimination battle looming against Christian expression not only in Texas but across the nation. Please pray accordingly.

 

"Nebuchadnezzar spoke [to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego], saying...'If you are ready...and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?' [And the three] answered and said to the king, 'O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you...that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.'" (Daniel 3:14-18)

 

"So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.' So when they had further threatened them, they let them go..." (Acts 4:18-21)

 


HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE ON THE MOVE THIS FALL    

Homosexual marriage advocates are on the move this fall, pressing their advantage in the wake of favorable court rulings and sympathetic public officials.

In some cases, homosexual couples and officials are not even waiting for laws to change.


"Who's going to make history?" The Campaign for Southern Equality said in a video about its strategy to find "a local elected official in the South who will grant a marriage license to a LGBT couple because it's the right thing to do."

 

A well known prayer leader of a generation ago said, "There is nothing wrong with the United States that would not be turned toward healing and sanity by an old-fashioned, heaven-sent revival to awaken the Church and bring salvation and deliverance to many." Some who heard the statement at that time thought it a bit simplistic. Upon reflection, however, one wonders, "Where are we to turn if not to continue crying out to God for mercy?" Reports such as the one above suggest some officials sworn to upholding the law border on anarchy, while the homosexual lobby is becoming more brazen in its demand not only for acceptance but full approval. This spirit of lawlessness is deeply offensive to a holy and righteous God. May we, as intercessors, lead the way in asking God for mercy, and in doing so, let us intercede with repentant hearts. Daniel was a righteous man, but he confessed "we have sinned...we have done wickedly." Let us embrace the same spirit of humility as we intercede for our nation.

 

"Then I [Daniel] set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, 'O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments, we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name ...O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day ...because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You... [but] to the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness...'" (Daniel 9:3-9)

   

AMERICAN AL QAEDA PROPAGANDIST: U.S. DIPLOMATS      
American al Qaeda propagandist Adam Y. Gadahn has released an audio message calling for the assassinations of U.S. diplomats across the Middle East, highlighting how the terrorist network is trying to capitalize on the deteriorating security situation in the region as post-revolutionary chaos tightens its grip on Libya.

In his 39-minute message, Gadahn congratulates "Muslim brothers in Libya" for killing U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans in Benghazi last year, calls on others to follow their example and savages elected leaders of the Libyan government as tools of the West.

 

Adam Gadahn, an American-born Jew, renounced his roots and U.S. citizenship, turning to Islam and its terrorist organization, al Qaeda. He displays the spirit of hatred connected with militant Islam, commending the "brothers" who killed the U.S. ambassador and three others in the Benghazi massacre. He now urges more killings of our diplomats in various embassies. He is a wicked man whose heart is filled with evil, but  like all lost people, he will be saved if he turns to the Lord. How to pray for him requires divine wisdom. Intercessors and intercessory groups are urged to inquire of the Lord and be guided by the Holy Spirit. God can as easily call the high-profile sinner or one of lowly rank to Himself. We do not know how many prayed for the murderous Saul of Tarsus. It is highly likely some early believers did. By God's grace, he was transformed into the Apostle Paul. No doubt we know people whom God has prepared to respond to a kind word of witness backed up by our prayers that they be saved. 

 

"Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he journeyed ... suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice ... 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?'  Then the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.' So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?'" (Acts 9:1-6)

 

"Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."  (Acts 17:30-3`)

   






SYRIAN STRIKE
NOT DECIDED


THE OTHER
IRS SCANDAL


HOMOSEXUAL IN
SAN ANTONIO, TX


GAY MARRIAGE
ON THE MOVE

AL QAEDA AND
U.S. DIPLOMATS


 WIRED BUT
DISCONNECTED


YOSEMITE:
HUGE WILDFIRE