WHITE HOUSE REJECTS CRIMEA REFERENDUM      

President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke after residents of Ukraine's Crimea region voted in favor of seceding to Russia, with the White House saying it would reject the results of the referendum held "under threats of violence and intimidation."  

 

More than 95 percent of Crimea voters, who are largely ethnic Russians, approved splitting off and joining Russia, with more than 50 percent of the ballots being counted, the referendum committee said late Sunday
  
This article illustrates IFA's approach to praying into the news. Our mission banner defines The Informer 's alert ministry as follows: "A biblical, prophetic look at current events for those who have a heart to pray for our nation." Intercessors do not "use" prayer to manipulate God, but seek to pray in cooperation with His purposes, seeking His mercy for our nation in its distress. Pray for revival to begin in the Church and for lost people to be saved through the Gospel. May God's kingdom come and His will be done. Pray for President Obama and other world leaders to be guided by His wisdom and restraining power. Our prayers, together, reinforce our unity in intercession.
 

"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." (Matt 5:6:9-13)

 

"For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding. God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have gathered together ... For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted." (Psalm 47:7-9)

        
 

HOUSE GOP PASSES 'ENFORCE THE LAW' ACT

Tired of watching helplessly from the sidelines as President Obama decided how to enforce the laws they wrote, House Republicans on Wednesday pushed back, passing a bill they said would at least rope in the courts to serve as potential referees between the branches of government.

 

The bill, which passed on a near party-line 233-181 vote, says that when either the House or Senate passes a resolution finding that a president is failing to execute a law, lawmakers will have legal standing to sue in federal court, with a speedy appeal to the Supreme Court.

    

Perhaps nothing illustrates the frustration U.S political leaders are experiencing than for the Republican led House of Representatives to pass a bill they know the Senate will not support and, even if passed, President Obama will not sign into law. Opinion polls show both political parties in steep decline, while the president's own ratings continue to plummet. "Conservative" and "liberal" media outlets boldly state their concerns about government gridlock. Now, with new domestic and international crises looming, Christians must ask, "Where can we go but to the Lord?" Let us pray!

"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you. You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men." (Hosea 10:12-13)

"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan." (Proverbs 29:2, RSV)

 


HOLDER BACKS PLAN TO SHORTEN DRUG SENTENCES

The Obama administration is forging ahead with its plan to refocus the war on drugs and reduce the size of the U.S. prison population. Last month, the U.S. Sentencing Commission proposed changing federal guidelines to reduce the average prison sentence for dealing drugs by a year, from 62 months to 51 months. On Thursday, Attorney General Eric Holder will testify before the commission to endorse the plan. "Certain types of cases result in too many Americans going to prison for far too long, and at times for no truly good public safety reason," Holder plans to testify, according to an excerpt provided to the Washington Post.

 

Rather than praying about "symptoms," guided by personal opinion or political views as regards shorter drug sentences, let us pray for widespread revival throughout our nation. Such revival can bring rehabilitation to those inside and outside of prison, through conversion by the transforming power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is well known that drug lords often remain in control of vast narcotics empires even from prison, so the issue may not be the length of sentences, but in stemming the demand of such substances through redeemed lives. Pray accordingly.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12)

[Jesus said,] "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)

        


U.S. TO RELINQUISH CONTROL OVER THE INTERNET  

U.S. officials announced plans Friday to relinquish federal government control over the administration of the Internet, a move that pleased international critics but alarmed some business leaders and others who rely on the smooth functioning of the Web.

 

Pressure to let go of the final vestiges of U.S. authority over the system of Web addresses and domain names that organize the Internet has been building for more than a decade and was supercharged by the backlash last year to revelations about National Security Agency surveillance.

 

The Internet is a vast electronic world of commerce and communication. Like any instrument, tool, or medium, it is morally neutral. Through it, one can gain an education or learn how to devise evil plans of destruction. One can hear the Gospel unto salvation or feed habits of lust with pornography. Its use produces millionaires and reduces others to poverty. It can be a servant or a harsh taskmaster. Like the human tongue, its use can bless or be a curse. For a prayer focus, think of family and others you know and love. Pray for each to be a master of the Internet and not its slave.
 

"Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.... But no man can tame the tongue... With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:5-10)


"Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:16-18)  

  

         


ISRAEL LAW: REFERENDUM NEEDED FOR JERUSALEM

Israel's parliament on Wednesday passed a law requiring a national referendum to approve any future withdrawal from east Jerusalem - adding a new hurdle to any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

 

The U.S. is mediating peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians in which the fate of Jerusalem is being debated. There has been little sign of progress in the talks so far.

 

The issue of sovereignty over east Jerusalem, home to key religious sites, is the most sensitive in peace talks. Israel captured the area in 1967 from Jordan and says it is part of its eternal capital.

 

According to the Bible, Jerusalem belongs to Israel by divine edict-the city of the great King. Yet, in its turbulent Old Testament relationship to God, Israel had so many years out of favor with Him that the wall of the city and the temple had to be rebuilt following periods of captivity (divine discipline). Now, Jews have been restored to their land, as God promised. But is the nation restored to God? Prayerfully imagine that, in its valiant battle for survival and for Jerusalem, modern Israel returns to the Lord. Would He not come to their aid swiftly and decisively? Intercede for Israel, for the peace of Jerusalem. Pray from the Scriptures for full restoration and reconciliation with the Lord God.

"Thus says the LORD: In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.'" (Isaiah 49:8)

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.'" (Psalm 122:6-7)

"I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." (Isaiah 62:6-7)   

        







 WH REJECTS
CRIMEA REFERENDUM


 HOUSE PASSES "ENFORCE THE LAW"

 HOLDER BACKS
SHORTER SENTENCES


U.S. TO RELINQUISH
THE INTERNET


ISRAEL LAW SAYS REFERENDUM NEEDED

BIBLE VERSE
SPARKS DEBATE


CROSS DISMANTLING DISHONORS FALLEN

 GOV'T COMPUTERS AND WINDOWS XP