Worthy Brief - 1/26/2017
Friend, are you on rocky ground?
Matthew 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
I came across an old legend about three cowboys crossing the desert on horseback by night. Suddenly, as they reached a rocky spot, a voice came from heaven and commanded them: "Friends, pick up some pebbles, put them in your pockets and do not look at them till morning." The men looked at each other in astonishment and began to do as they were told. The voice went on to promise that if they obeyed, they would be both glad and sad. The perplexed men put a few pebbles each in their pockets and went on their way.
As the very first sign of dawn arrived, the cowboys pulled out their pebbles. To their amazement, the ordinary pebbles they had picked up the night before, had all been transformed into diamonds, rubies, and other precious gems. At that moment, they realized the significance of the promise that they would be both glad and sad. They were happy to see their beautiful treasure, but sorry -- oh so sorry -- that they had not collected more.
All of us were once ordinary looking pebbles -- shabby, discolored pebbles among many others of the like -- seemingly nothing special. But we were so mercifully picked out of the dust and gently placed for safekeeping into the pocket of the faithful saints who loved us or prayed for us or shared the Gospel with us and took us along on their journey. And God continues to refine us that we would become precious gems when morning comes. Thank God for His great mercy!
Friend, it is yet dark -- and the pebbles are many. We still have a little more time to pocket as many as we can. But morning is drawing near! We don't want to regret that we didn't get more! Love, share, pray in faith! There's so much work to be done!!!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Hot Springs, Arkansas
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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
Pro-lifers pack Paris streets to March for Life
Tens of thousands of European pro-lifers marched through the streets of Paris on Sunday for the first time in two years.
Senate, House intel panels launch probes into alleged Russian hacking
The House and Senate intelligence committees separately began investigating allegations this week involving the Russian government's attempts to meddle in the 2016 White House race as lawmakers from both sides of the aisle look for evidence indicating the Kremlin ordered hacking campaigns and other initiatives against American targets prior to President Trump's election.
Strange Bedfellows: The Russian-Turkish-Iranian Axis
Sixty years have lapsed since the Baghdad Pact which grouped together Turkey, Iran, Iraq and the West in an alliance against the Soviet Union and the concomitant Communist danger. Nowadays this Middle Eastern architecture has shifted 180 degrees to where Russia, Turkey and Iran are in an ad hoc alliance against Islamic State but which may turn against the West as well. Still, the new alliance might be termed as a marriage of inconvenience where each of the parties has different motives and is acting at cross purposes in partitioning the Syrian bear.
Trump executive order to stem refugees from 'terror-prone' regions
President Trump is readying executive orders to restrict refugee admissions to the U.S. from 'terror-prone' regions, and to scale back U.S. funding for United Nations agencies, officials said Wednesday.
Trump orders 'safe zones' in Syria despite fears of deeper U.S. involvement in war
President Trump is ordering the Pentagon and State Department to develop a series of 'safe zones' in Syria, a move that administration critics claims could draw the U.S. military deeper into the country's civil war.
ISIS drone dropping precision bombs alarms U.S. military
In a new threat to the West, the Islamic State on Tuesday debuted on social media a commercially available drone dropping small bombs with pinpoint accuracy onto Iraqi targets in and around Mosul.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Trump said set to halt funding for UN agencies, other groups that give PA, PLO full membership
In a dramatic policy shift, President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing two executive orders that would halt US funding to the UN and other bodies that grant full membership to the Palestinian Authority and the PLO, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
David's Sling test concludes successfully
The Israeli security apparatus completed an experiment stretching over a number of days of the new advance David's Sling system capable of defending against mid-range missiles.
Inside the United States
Trump eviscerates Obama's immigration policy in two executive orders
With a couple strokes of his pen, President Trump wiped out almost all of President Obama’s immigration policies Wednesday, laying the groundwork for his own border wall, unleashing immigration agents to enforce the law and punishing sanctuary cities who try to thwart his deportation surge.
House Cuts Off Taxpayer Subsidies for Abortion
The House of Representative passed legislation on Tuesday that will cut off any use of taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion just days before the annual March for Life.
Trump Plan to End Catch-and-Release Encourages Border Agents
Border agents are pleased with President Trump's plan to end a 'catch-and-release' loophole in current border control policy, Fox News correspondent William La Jeunesse reported Wednesday.
Economist: Stock Market Gained $2T in Wealth Since Trump Elected
Club For Growth founder Stephen Moore reacted to reporting that since President Trump was elected, the stock market gained $2 trillion in wealth.
State Department reviewing Obama administration's decision to send Palestinians $221M
The State Department announced Tuesday that it will review the last-minute decision by former Secretary of State John Kerry to send $221 million to the Palestinians late last week over the objections of congressional Republicans.
Christian News
Rare Noah's Ark Mosaic Uncovered in Ancient Synagogue in Israel
Mosaics depicting prominent Bible scenes were uncovered during annual excavations of an ancient synagogue in Israel's Lower Galilee.
US Missionary May Get Russia's Anti-Evangelism Law Overturned
One Sunday morning in August, three policemen came to Don Ossewaarde's home in Russia, where the Baptist missionary from Illinois was holding his weekly Bible study.
Bill would bring 'Bible literacy' to Ky schools
If two Kentucky lawmakers get their way, the crucifixion of Jesus, the trials of Job and the Ten Commandments could land on high school syllabuses.
Archaeological Discovery: 10th Century BC Wall Evidence of King David's Battle in 2 Samuel 8:13
Archaeologists have excavated an ancient wall dating back to the 10th century B.C. in southern Israel's Arava desert region, which some experts say alludes to the biblical story of King David capturing the land of Edom, as found in 2 Samuel 8:13.
China Forcing Churches to Conform to Communist Agenda: Watchdog Report
The government of Chinese president Xi Jinping focused heavily on forcing Christianity in the country to conform to the Communist Party's agenda, according to a major report on religious persecution.