Russia threatens power grids with cyber weapon.  The Washington Post reports hackers allied with the Russian government have devised a cyber-weapon that has the potential to be the most disruptive yet against electric systems that have the potential to disrupt all American lives.  The malware, which researchers have dubbed CrashOverride, is known to have disrupted only one energy system (Ukraine).  In that instance, the hackers shut down one-fifth of the power generated in Kiev.  Once modified the malware could be deployed against U.S. electric transmission and distribution systems to a devastating effect.   A cyber-security firm says the malware “is the culmination of over a decade of theory and attack scenarios.”  “It’s a game changer.” …Unfortunately the U.S. is slow addressing the threat and as a result is very vulnerable.

Russia stages 100,000 troops on NATO’s border.  Defense One reports Russia and Belarus are preparing for a military exercise on NATO’s flank.   Russia’s every-four-year joint exercise with Belarus, Zapad (“West”) 2017, simulates a full-scale conflict with the West.   Lithuania’s defense minister said “it’s not comfortable at all when we expect to have 100,000 troops around our borders.”   It is noteworthy the scheduled exercise will be the first since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.   Defense One reports several Baltic officials believe Russia may leave troops in Belarus after the exercise, something similar seen in past operations such as the Republic of Georgia, Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine conflict escalates.  Radio Free Europe reports the U.N. announced hostilities have been escalating in eastern Ukraine in recent months because parties to the armed conflict have “repeatedly failed to implement cease-fire agreements.”  The U.N. announcement said cease-fire violations on both Ukrainian armed forces and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine have allowed “hostilities to escalate and claim more live as the conflict moved into its fourth year.”    The conflict that started in mid-April 2014 has claimed 10,090 lives – including 2,777 civilians. Note: Russia fuels the conflict and will never back-down because Ukraine is the psychological birthplace of the Russian people.

Robert Lee Maginnis
https://www.facebook.com/RLMaginnis/

Pray that Russia will change its attitude and pull back from its aggressive actions on the border with NATO and in eastern Ukraine. Pray that a better relationship may develop with the USA and between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.

Syrian rebels close to victory over ISIS in Raqqa.  The Atlantic reports Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) could be days away from victory over ISIS in Raqqa.  The SDF, a group of Kurdish and Arab fighters backed by the U.S., have captured a number of key areas near Raqqa.  That announcement signals their progress of a larger offensive launched just this past week to overtake ISIS’ capital.  In May, the Trump administration offered critical support by agreeing to arm and train members of the SDF’s primary Kurdish militia, the People’s Protection Units (YPG).   Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reports ISIS is expected to retreat in the coming days.

U.S. troops in Raqqa.  The Military Times reports U.S. Special Operations troops are on the ground alongside partner militia forces in Raqqa, ISIS’ capital.  They began their advance against an estimated 2,500 ISIS jihadi backed by coalition air power and American combat advisers.  “Coalition SOF are in Raqqa, and they are close to the front lines,” said a spokesman for the U.S.-led coalition battling ISIS in Syria and Iraq.

ISIS’ caliph on the run.  Reuters reports ISIS’ leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is losing his main centers of power and is on the run.  ISIS is close to defeat in Mosul and Raqqa, said officials and they said Baghdadi is hiding in thousands of square miles of desert between the two cities.  “In the end, he will either be killed or captured, he will not be able to remain underground forever,” said the head of counter-terrorism at the Kurdistan Regional Government.  Reuters reports that one of Baghdadi’s main concerns is to ensure those around him do not betray him for the $25 million reward offered by the U.S.

Iraqi forces make gains in western Mosul.  The Washington Post reports U.S.-backed Iraqi forces pushed toward a medical complex in western Mosul, trying to dislodge ISIS jihadi’ hold.  Iraq’s 36^th brigade commander said his forces had established a foothold at the edge of the medical complex using artillery and coalition airstrikes.

Tortured corpses dumped in Iraq – Iraqi forces responsible?  The LA Times reports 26 corpses tossed to the side of deserted roads near Mosul had their hands tied behind their backs; they had been blindfolded. Human Rights Watch concluded the bodies were victims of extrajudicial killings probably carried out by government forces since the start of operations to retake Mosul from ISIS.   The Times reports that those residents fleeing the fight and who are flagged for ties with ISIS were held, often without charge, where they undergo investigation before being sent to trial.  Note: Extrajudicial killings are unfortunately commonplace in Iraq.  Years ago while visiting Iraq I was taken to the burial place for hundreds of people murdered by gunshot to their heads.  We were shown evidence that the victims were blindfolded and hands tied behind their backs.

ISIS’ chemical weapons capability degraded.  The Military Times reports Iraqi success in Mosul and the killing of ISIS’ chemical weapons experts has degraded the jihadi’ production capability, although it retains some capability to produce small amounts of sulfur mustard and chlorine agents.  There have been a number of reports of ISIS’ use of chemical weapons in both Iraq and Syria.  “The operation to isolate and recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul coincides with a massive reduction in Islamic State chemical weapons use in Syria,” said an analyst at HIS Markit.  The analyst continued, “This suggests that the group has not established any further chemical weapons production sites outside Mosul, although it is likely that some specialists were evacuated to Syria and retain the expertise.” Robert Lee Maginnis
https://www.facebook.com/RLMaginnis/

Pray for the conquest of ISIS and the remnants of its forces in both Syria and Iraq. Pray that its leaders will be apprehended and brought to justice for their horrific crimes against humanity. Pray that both nations will return to peace and that the needs of those millions whose lives have been disrupted my find that good, especially coming to know Jesus Christ, will come out of the appalling evil and trouble they have experienced.

Robert Maginnis who once was a Pentagon insider has helped guide our prayers about security issues. Here is his analysis about some of the hot spots of our world:

Mattis declares North Korea “most urgent.”  The Washington Post reports Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared North Korea the “most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security” in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee.  That statement bumps Russia from first place among the threats facing the U.S.  The change comes as Pyongyang moves forward with what the U.S. calls an unprecedented number of tests on nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. “North Korea’s continued pursuit of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them has increased in pace and scope,” Mattis said.  “The regime’s nuclear weapons program is a clear and present danger to all, and the regime’s provocative actions, manifestly illegal under international law, have not abated despite United Nations’ censure and sanctions.”  

South Korea’s president says denuclearizing North is matter of survival.  Yonhap News reports South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed to work with Japanese and American leaders to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons, calling it a threat to his country’s survival.  “North Korea’s denuclearization is needed to ensure peace in the world and Northeast Asia, but for South Korea, it is a matter of survival,” Moon said.  Japanese leaders stressed to South Korea the need to keep the pressure and international sanctions on Pyongyang until the communist state abandoned its nuclear ambitions.   "President Moon said because it will not end with only pressure and sanctions, we must bring North Korea back to the negotiating table before we can completely denuclearize the North," Park told a press briefing.

Robert Lee Maginnis
https://www.facebook.com/RLMaginnis/

Pray that a peaceful way will be found to bring the North Korean regime to denuclearize their country and avoid all out military conflict with the U.S. and South Korea. War that would result in possibly hundreds of thousands dying in the two Koreas is unthinkable.

These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers. - Acts 1:14

The Book of Acts is one of the most fascinating studies of the efficacy of prayer in all of Scripture. Luke's account of the birth and growth of the early church gives us insight on what was to become a priority in their development; what worked and what didn't. One of the activities that worked was prayer . . . continual prayer, a lesson I fear that has been lost in much of today's church. 

Before his ascension, Jesus promised His followers that they would be empowered with a supernatural gift unlike anything they had ever experienced, a gift from the Holy Spirit that would enable them to do even greater works than when He was with them (John 14:12-17). All they were told to do was wait - it was on the way. He called it being, "baptized with the Holy Spirit," and as He was ascending into heaven Jesus reminded them once again of a power that would enable them to "tell people about Me everywhere" (Acts 1:4-11). 

Can you imagine what their discussions were like as they immediately returned to Jerusalem and gathered together in "the upper room" to pray? What would the power be like? How would it come? When would it come? What would it be like? Having no answers but our Lord's promise . . . THEY PRAYED CONTINUALLY.

The Bible says that as they prayed they were "all of one mind" (Acts 1:14). That phrase literally means, "to be in unanimous consent together, to be in one accord." It's interesting that the same idea is used six other times in the book of Acts, all having to do with unanimity and prayer (2:1, 2:46, 4:24, 5:12; 8:6; 15:25).

Please notice that this was no ordinary Jewish prayer meeting. Had it been, there would have been no women present. When my wife and I made our first trip to Israel, we went to pray at the Western Wall. We both had to enter through separate gates, into areas that were divided by a partition. Here, however, we see three distinct groups represented; the apostles, the women, including the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. This would become a hallmark of the new church of Jesus Christ: all believers would praise, worship, celebrate communion, and be taught the Scriptures together (Acts 2:42).  

Does group prayer like this work outside of the powerful examples that we see in Scripture? Perhaps this illustration will answer that question: 

When David Livingstone (1813-1873), known as "Africa's greatest missionary," first began his ministry in the inner parts of Africa, some of the native tribes opposed him. One particular warlike tribe said they were going to kill him and everyone in his party. One afternoon as they were setting up camp, word was out that these warriors had been tracking him all day, and they were outside the camp and they were going to attack and kill everyone when it got dark. Making reference to that evening he wrote these words in his journal on January 14, 1856:

"It is evening. I feel much turmoil and fear in the prospect of having all of my plans knocked on the head by savages who are just now outside the camp." Those who studied his handwriting said you could even see the fear in the way he wrote the letters. He wrote, "But Jesus said, 'All power is given unto me in heaven and earth, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the ends of the earth.'" Livingstone wrote, "This is the word of a gentleman of most strict and sacred honor, so that's the end of my fear. I feel quiet and calm now."

They didn't attack that night. Later the tribe was brought to faith in Christ. A couple of years later, David Livingstone asked the chief of the tribe, 

"Do you remember the night you were tracking my party?" 

"Yes." 

"We had heard rumors you were going to attack us." 

The chief said, "That's right, we were ready to attack the camp that night and kill you and everyone else." 

David Livingstone then asked, "Why didn't you attack?" 

The chief said, "When we got close to the camp, we looked and saw 47 warriors surrounding your camp with swords in their hands." 

David Livingstone was baffled. They didn't have any guards, any warriors. 

Later when he was on furlough in Scotland, he shared this story at a church that was supporting him. A man came up to him afterwards with his prayer journal. He said, "Look, I wrote it down, January 14, 1856, was that the night?" David Livingstone said, "Yes." The man said, "That night a group of men came to pray for you. We prayed for your protection. I wrote it down. There were 47 men praying that night for you."*

So, does God respond when the church comes together, "with one mind . . . continually devoting themselves to prayer"? What do you think? Is your church willing to do it on a regular basis?  If not, are you the one God would use to start it?

British pastor and evangelist F. B. Meyer believed that "the greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, but unoffered prayer."

*From a sermon by Bob Joyce, "Putting Your Heart Where Your Money Is," 8/4/2011. Posted by Sermon Central.com