Worthy Brief - 1/17/2017
Friend, determine to make the commitment!
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
When missionary Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him: "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?" Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."
There's a big difference between just being interested in doing something and actually making a commitment to doing it! Just being interested allows us the freedom do a thing only when our circumstances permit. But making a commitment to do that thing means accepting no excuses and no reservations -- it means putting aside our fears and reservations moving forward till we see the end result! Dr. Livingstone was looking for results, and this required men of commitment!
Friend, let's make some commitments! Our Lord, our families, our jobs and our congregations are awaiting us!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Folsom, Louisana
Editor's Note: Let President-Elect Trump know the Importance of Israel: Sign our Petition!
Editor's Note: We are on a cross-country speaking/music tour this winter and early spring in the United States! If you see that we will be close to your area and you want to hear a timely word from Worthy News Founder and Director, George Whitten and powerful Israeli Worship Music from Baht Rivka Whitten, Lazman Hazeh Music, as well as testimony of life and ministry in the Land, we invite you to join us -- or even invite us to speak/sing at your Congregation, Conference, Church, Midweek Meeting or Israel focused Event, especially if you see a free date on our way! We hope to hug you! Send us an email to george [ @ ] worthyemail.com for more information. Check out our calendar and see if we're speaking near you!
Around the World
Trump's NATO, EU comments spark fury, fear across Europe
Europe’s leading powers responded with alarm and anger Monday to President-elect Donald Trump’s comments published over the weekend that NATO is obsolete and that NATO’s European members are failing to pay their fair share to the alliance’s budget.
Will Prince William Become King? Duke Of Cambridge Takes On More Royal Duties
England's Prince William will be ending his career as a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance this summer to concentrate on more royal duties, local media reported. The move comes soon after Queen Elizabeth's absence from her usual public appearances during the festival season gave rise to speculation over her succession.
Istanbul nightclub attack suspect who killed 39 in New Year's Eve massacre captured by police
The gunman who killed 39 people during an attack on a nightclub in Istanbul during New Year's celebrations has been caught in a police operation, Turkish media reports said on Monday night.
Russia expects dialogue with Trump on nuclear weapons: Lavrov
Russia expects to have a dialogue with the Trump administration on strategic stability, including on nuclear weapons, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Britain PM to Signal EU Clean Break: No 'Partial Membership'
Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing to make a speech that will signal that Britain will make a clean break from the European Union and not seek to remain 'half-in, half-out.'
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Trump says he'll tap 'natural talent' Kushner to broker Mideast peace
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has confirmed that he intends to use his Jewish son-in-law Jared Kushner to try to broker an elusive peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.
Hezbollah claims to have found crashed Israeli surveillance drone
Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has claimed to have found an Israeli observation drone that crashed in southern Lebanon Monday, the Hezbollah linked Al-Manar network reports.
Wall dating back to King David era excavated at Timna mines
A copper smelting site and an ancient wall dating back to the 10th century BCE have been excavated at the Timna copper mines antiquities site in the Arava desert in southern Israel, lending credence to the biblical story of the capture of Edom in the time of King David.
Israel arrests 13 Hamas terrorists in Judea and Samaria
Israeli security forces recently arrested 13 Hamas terrorists, the Shin Bet security agency revealed on Sunday.
Obama speaks on Israel, Trump in last White House interview
The increase of Israeli settlements has 'gotten so substantial' that it is inhibiting the possibility for an 'effective, contiguous Palestinian state,' President Barack Obama said Sunday, in his final interview as president.
Britain questions the purpose, and timing, of Paris summit
Britain questioned the productivity of an effort in Paris on Sunday to cajole Israelis and Palestinians back to the negotiating table, warning that international pressure risked 'hardening positions' on both sides.
Inside the United States
Shootout at U.S. Consulate in Nuevo Laredo Part of Cartel-Terrorist Attack Plan for Trump Inauguration
A deadly shootout at the construction site of the new American Consulate occurred this week in a Mexican border town where Islamic terrorists and drug cartels plan to launch attacks against the U.S. during the period surrounding the presidential inauguration, high-level government sources tell Judicial Watch. An unknown number of gunmen fired multiple rounds adjacent to the new U.S. Consulate compound in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, a crime-infested city in the state of Tamaulipas that lies directly across from Laredo, Texas.
Battle for Supreme Court Already Underway? Trump Meets with Pryor
President-elect Donald Trump reportedly met with Judge William Pryor about the possibility of serving on the United States Supreme Court.
Dozens of Democrats will skip Trump's inauguration
A war of words between President-elect Donald Trump and civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., is one of the many reasons why more than two dozen Democratic lawmakers say they will boycott the upcoming inauguration.
Noor Salman, Wife of Orlando Shooter Omar Mateen, Arrested
The wife of Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen was arrested by the FBI on Monday in connection with the mass shooting and charged with obstruction and giving support to a terrorist organization, officials said.
McCain Calls For Major Boost to Defense Spending, Modernization of Joint Force
Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) on Monday released a plan to boost the national defense budget by $430 billion over five years in order to grow and modernize the U.S. military.
Clinton empire begins to crumble in wake of news probes
After Donald J. Trump devastated the once formidable Clinton political machine in November - the Clinton Global Initiative, the centerpiece initiative of the Clinton Foundation, the former first couple's political and financial power structure - is being shut down.
Parties, protests to take over DC for Trump's inauguration
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to clog the nation's capital for Donald Trump's inauguration and a major demonstration the day after. How many will actually arrive to party or protest is an open question.
Christian News
Mike Pence to Swear on Reagan's Bible, Will Place Hand on 2 Chronicles at Inauguration
When Vice President-elect Mike Pence gets sworn into office on Friday, he will place his hand on the same Bible and same Bible verse that former President Ronald Reagan used when he took his oaths of office.
Syria: Christians Are Being Killed for Refusing to Deny Jesus, Staying Behind to Help Victims
A Christian pastor in Syria says the country is 'being torn apart' in the midst of civil war, with Christians being killed for choosing to follow Jesus and staying behind to help victims.
Over 900,000 Christians Martyred for Their Faith in Last 10 Years: Report
Over 900,000 Christians have been martyred in the last 10 years, a Christian research firm affiliated with Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts estimates.