Worthy Brief - 2/8/2016
Friend, who do you know?
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
I've been married to my wife for almost fourteen years (we just celebrated our 5000 day wedding anniversary) and it would seem that I know her pretty well. But every once in a while, she says or does something that surprises me -- and I think to myself "Wow, I guess I didn't know her as well as I thought!" The more time I spend with her, the more I get to know her -- her heart, her character -- the more we become intimate.
The same is true with any relationship but especially our most important relationship, that is, our relationship with the Lord.
There's really no going around it. True intimacy doesn't come in an instant. It takes time. If we want to be close to the Lord, we must spend time with Him -- getting to know Him -- His heart -- His character.
Do you feel distant from the Lord? Let's commit to spending some special time with Him -- not only making requests and telling Him about our problems, but maybe listening a little. Perhaps there are some things He'd like to tell us!
Friend, there is much work to do for the Kingdom! Let's make intimacy with our Father a top priority so that we are able to get that work accomplished!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Pahrump, Nevada
Editor's Note: We hope to see you on our travels across the United States. Check out our schedule online.
Editor's Note: If you missed us in the States, then you can watch a typical message being preached across the States online!
Around the World
Anti-Migrant Protesters Rally in Several Major European Cities
Germany's anti-Islamic organization Pegida held rallies in several Euro pean cities Saturday to protest against mass immigration and what it calls the 'Islamization' of Europe.
Citi: World economy trapped in 'death spiral'
The global economy seems trapped in a 'death spiral' that could lead to further weakness in oil prices, recession and a serious equity bear market, Citi strategists have warned.
Twitter takes cyber battle to ISIS, shuts down over 125,000 terrorist accounts
Twitter has suspended over 125,000 accounts for threatening or promoting terrorist acts since mid-2015, the social media site announced Friday.
Syria conflict: Russia strikes 'undermining peace talks'
Russian air strikes in Syria are 'undermining' efforts to find a political solution to the war, Nato's secretary general has said.
Iran wants euro payment for new and outstanding oil sales
Iran wants to recover tens of billions of dollars it is owed by India and other buyers of its oil in euros and is billing new crude sales in euros, too, looking to reduce its dependence on the U.S. dollar following last month's sanctions relief.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israeli TV: Kerry set to come to Israel to try to restart peace bid
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will come to Israel in the next few weeks in a new effort to restart a diplomatic process with the Palestinians, Channel 2 reported Saturday evening.
Hamas calls for suicide bombings in Israeli buses
The Palestinian terror group Hamas called Sunday on activists to carry out suicide bombing attacks against Israelis, specifically on buses, in a manner reminiscent of the devastating attacks of the 2000-2005 Second Intifada.
Abbas signals solidarity for terrorism, as Gaza talks of war again
About two weeks ago, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) met with a group of Israeli journalists, myself included, in the Muqata in Ramallah. The rais made firm statements against violence and terrorism and repeated his call for the resumption of peace talks.
Fatah Facebook Page Presents Murderers of Israeli Border Policewoman as 'Role Models'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party on Wednesday praised the three terrorists who perpetrated the attack in east Jerusalem that left one Israeli Border Policewoman dead and another seriously wounded, Palestinian Media Watch reported.
Inside the United States
Obama reinstates 'catch-and-release' policy for illegal immigrants
The Obama administration has revived the maligned illegal immigrant 'catch-and-release' policy of the Bush years, ordering Border Patrol agents not to bother arresting and deporting many new illegal immigrants, the head of the agents' labor union revealed Thursday.
U.S. creates 151,000 jobs in January; unemployment 4.9%
The U.S. created 151,000 new jobs in January, a sharp slowdown after a torrid pace of hiring in the waning months of 2015. Economists polled by MarketWatch had expected an increase of 180,000 nonfarm jobs. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, dipped below 5% for the first time in eight years, falling to 4.9%.
Jeb Bush, allies go after Rubio over debate repetition
As part of one of his final pitches to New Hampshirites, Jeb Bush and his allies mocked former protege Marco Rubio Sunday after the Florida senator repeated the same line nearly verbatim numerous times in Saturday night's debate.
NY to probe 'radioactive' water leak at Indian Point
New York will investigate the Indian Point Energy Center after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he learned that 'radioactive tritium-contaminated water' leaked into the groundwater at the nuclear facility in Westchester County.
Trump on Obama mosque visit: 'Maybe he feels comfortable there'
Donald Trump revived questions of President Barack Obama's religion on Wednesday, saying the President went to a mosque in Baltimore because 'maybe he feels comfortable there.'
First research links California quakes to oil operations
A 2005 spate of quakes in California's Central Valley almost certainly was triggered by oilfield injection underground, a study published Thursday said in the first such link in California between oil and gas operations and earthquakes.
U.S. Politics
Poll: Trump, Sanders leading into New Hampshire primary
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders lead their respective fields with mere days before the New Hampshire primary.
Clinton spending more on polling than six GOP candidates combined
This year's presidential primaries have already broken several rules of politics, and new spending data suggests another shift in modern campaigning -- a decline in polling, at least among GOP candidates.