Worthy Brief - 3/16/2018
Friend, enter the Kingdom as a child!
Matthew 18:3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrew is the only language in the world that was completely dead as an everyday tongue and then resurrected to become a living language after thousands of years. The "Father" of modern Hebrew, Eliezer Ben-Yehuda, was devoted to restoring Hebrew for the Jewish people of our time, when for centuries it was strictly a written language.
Ben-Yehuda knew that language fluency is best acquired in childhhood, and thus raised his first-born son exclusively speaking Hebrew, convinced that he would become a living sign for its future revival as a living language. He believed by raising his child exclusively in Hebrew, that a national linguistic revival was possible! Ben-Yehuda's conviction and hard work inspired the usage and training of Israeli children in Hebrew at schools throughout Israel.
So it was that the children who were born in Israel and went to school, learned Hebrew first -- and since, of course, the adults didn't know Hebrew, it was the children who taught their parents.
There is a profound example in Ben-Yehuda's inspiring act of faith -- for as Yeshua said, "Unless you are changed and become like little children you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven." If you want to speak the language of Heaven, you must learn it as a child would learn! Little children are open, receptive, hungry to learn, believing, humble,and lighthearted. According to Yeshua (Jesus), these qualities are necessary for entry into our Lord's realm.
Friend, they are also the qualities of mature saints, who, even as they grow in Him, never lose a childlike relationship with their Heavenly Father.
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Baltimore, MD
Editor's Note: We're speaking in Maryland this weekend! Be sure to see us while we're on the road! Check out our our updated calendar!
Trump administration blames Russian hackers with targeting energy grid, critical infrastructure
Russian government hackers have spent the last two years waging cyberattacks against U.S. government entities and multiple critical infrastructure sectors, the Trump administration said Thursday, marking the first time the White House has officially accused the Kremlin of attempting to breach its power grid amid rising tensions between Washington and Moscow.
US, Germany and France blame Russia for nerve agent attack
The leaders of the US, France, Germany have joined Britain’s prime minister in blaming Russia for the attempted murder of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in a nerve agent attack earlier this month.
South Korea gears up for summit, report shows North Korea testing reactor
South Korean officials began preparations on Friday for a summit next month with North Korea aimed at reducing tensions on the peninsula, as a report showed the North had probably begun testing a nuclear reactor as recently as late February.
U.S. Sanctions Russian Intelligence Services
The Trump administration on Thursday imposed economic sanctions on 19 Russians and two Russian intelligence agencies for their role in the 2016 election meddling and costly cyber attacks and penetrations.
With ‘new mandate,’ emboldened Putin to expand Russia’s adventurism abroad
There’s little suspense about Sunday’s Russian presidential election, but a lot of questions — and concerns — over what Vladimir Putin might do next with another six-year term in his pocket and a string of unresolved confrontations with the West.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF retaliates following explosion on northern Gaza border
Two explosive devices were detonated near the border fence along the northern Gaza Strip early Thursday morning. There were no casualties as the explosion was not near IDF soldiers. In retaliation, the IDF attacked five Hamas positions using tanks, and fired airstrikes at a sixth position.
TV report: Netanyahu tells cabinet Trump is likely to exit Iran deal by May
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told members of his cabinet this week that US President Donald Trump will likely walk away from the Iran nuclear deal this May, Channel 10 news reported Thursday.
Inside the United States
Mueller Broadens Russia Probe, Demands Documents from Trump Organization
Special counsel Robert Mueller is broadening his investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, subpoenaing the Trump Organization to hand over documents.
Top FBI official warned James Comey in 2014 of inefficiencies in warrantless phone surveillance program: Report
A retired FBI official who supervised the bureau’s warrantless phone surveillance program said then-Director James Comey took no action in response to his warnings about the inefficiencies of the program back in 2014.
Christian News
Bodies of 21 Christians Beheaded by ISIS to be Returned to Egypt
The bodies of the 21 Egyptian and Ghanaian Christians who were brutally beheaded by ISIS on the shore of a Libyan beach will be returned to their families in Egypt, according to Al Arabiya English.