Issue 442

June 11th – June 17th, 2020


PRAY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION

President Trump directed the Pentagon to sharply reduce the number of U.S. military forces stationed in Germany reversing an increase in the American military presence there that occurred early in the Administration.

Attorney General William Barr pledged that law enforcement officials will seek to improve relations with the black community seeking constructive solutions while also vowing to prosecute what he described as “extremist agitators” emboldened among peaceful protesters.

Pray for wisdom for the president and those around him in dealing with the national unrest following the death of George Floyd.

PRAY FOR OUR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS

A report from the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations says the U.S. government and Federal Communications Commission failed to properly oversee Chinese-owned telecommunications companies for nearly two decades.

Legislation to limit presidential power under the Insurrection Act after President Trump warned that he could deploy active military troops into U.S. cities was introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

Pray for Senate Majority Leader McConnell and House Speaker Pelosi to focus on the best interests of America in their legislative pursuits.

PRAY FOR OUR JUDICIARY

A Tennessee judge ruled that the state must give all of its 4.1 million registered voters the option to cast ballots by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, as in-person voting would constitute “an unreasonable burden on the fundamental right to vote guaranteed by the Tennessee Constitution.”

The Florida Supreme Court blocked an assault weapons ban from going to voters in 2022, ruling that the ballot summary is deceptive because it doesn’t clearly state that a grandfathering clause applies to the owner, not the gun itself.

Pray for wisdom for state and county judges across the nation as they rule on issues involving voters and voting rights.


CURRENT EVENTS

WARS AND TERRORISM

Egypt is asserting its role as a “stabilizer” in the Middle East with its Cairo Declaration geared to align the goals of preserving Libyan national institutions and undermining the illegal foreign interventions in Libyan affairs “which contribute to fueling the crisis and deepening the effect on Middle East security.”

For the first time since a ceasefire was declared at the end of May, U.S. forces in Afghanistan carried out two airstrikes against the Taliban, targeting 25 armed Taliban fighters who were “executing a coordinated attack” on an Afghan forces checkpoint in western Afghanistan.

Pray for all efforts at establishing peace among peoples and nations in the Middle East.

FOREIGN INTERESTS AND CONFLICTS

North Korea is conducting a wide-ranging campaign against the U.S. and global targets, with cyber attacks against the finance sector as they try to fund their weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs.

United Kingdom’s prime minister Boris Johnson has vowed to give visas to nearly 3 million Hong Kong residents, giving them refuge from the Chinese imposition of a new national security law on the territory.

Pray for the people of Hong Kong who desire to live a semi-autonomous and peaceful life on their island.

ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST

If Israel annexes part of the West Bank on July 1 as planned, the Palestinian Authority says it will declare a Palestinian state based on the armistice lines from before the 1967 Six Day War and call on the international community to recognize it.

The UN Mideast envoy is trying to arrange a meeting of key global mediators to discuss prospects and threats to a two-state solution in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including representatives of the U.S., Russia, the UN, and the European Union, to take place “as soon as possible.”

Pray for the government and people of Israel and the conflict that may occur with the planned annexation of parts of the West Bank.

THE ECONOMY

Almost half of Americans say they or someone in their household has lost employment income in the last three months, according to a weekly survey by the Census Bureau that found 19 million Americans have reported lost income since mid-March.

Claims for unemployment benefits dropped below 2 million last week for the first time since mid-March, but remains astonishingly high as companies adjust to an environment that has been changed significantly by the pandemic.

Pray for the return of a solid and sustainable economy and the accompanying rise in consumer confidence.

ACROSS THE STATES

Lawmakers from Montana and North Dakota are discussing ways to dispose of radioactive oilfield waste as Montana gets ready to enact an official rule capping the radiation level of waste disposal at the state’s landfills.

The California Department of Education released a 62-page guidebook that offers local educational agencies detailed instructions for how to safely reopen schools this fall that includes classroom and school bus health protocols.

Pray for state lawmakers and agencies working to keep the public safe and healthy.


VERSE OF THE WEEK

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. – Colossians 4:2

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