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Worthy Brief - 4/18/2018

Friend, celebrate freedom!

Romans 6:22 But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

Last night began Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) as Israelis remember the over 23,000 soldiers who've perished in various wars fought throughout the course of Israel's short history. Even right now, as we write this devotion, again the sirens ring aloud. Everyone in Israel can hear the sirens at this moment and just about all of them will stop what they are doing in remembrance of those who've laid their lives down for this country's freedom.

Today we mourn, but tonight we will celebrate as Israel enters into Yom Ha'atzmaut (Independence Day). Israelis will be in the streets singing, dancing, eating and bopping each other on the head with blue and white blow-up hammers and throwing confetti. Old, young, black and white -- it's really a site to see. I've never seen anything quite like it -- an entire country celebrating together. It is truly a sign of the freedom that has been won for us.

We as believers have been given a freedom far greater than this, however.  Yeshua (Jesus) laid down His life that we might have freedom from sin -- freedom from the chains of darkness, freedom to live as we ought to live, in purity, righteousness, and holiness! How much more should we honor the Lord's sacrifice by living a life that expresses that freedom! We need to be living memorials of His sacrifice as we show forth His freedom in our lives.

Friend, let's celebrate in the freedom He's provided -- fresh and new today for truly we can glorify in what He's done for us! 

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel

Around the World
Syria: Chemical weapons experts await UN security team clearance to enter Douma
Syria's UN ambassador told the United Nations Security Council Tuesday that a UN security team traveled to the town of Douma, outside the capital Damascus, to ascertain whether it was safe for global chemical weapons experts to visit the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack last week that killed dozens.
Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong-un to set up Trump meeting
CIA Director Mike Pompeo met secretly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in recent weeks to set up a meeting between Mr. Kim and President Trump, two administration officials said Tuesday.
Russia Sees No Need for U.N. Inquiry Into Syria Toxic Gas Attacks
Russia told the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday there was no point establishing a new inquiry to determine blame for chemical weapons attacks in Syria because the United States and its allies had already acted as judge and executioner.
Miniature human brain implants survive, grow inside mice for months
Miniature human brains, or human brain organoids, can survive and grow after being implanted in the skulls of mice. It's the first time human cerebral organoids have been installed inside another species.
Kudlow tamps down possibility of U.S. rejoining Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday downplayed the likelihood of the U.S. rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, saying the request by President Trump is more of a 'thought than a policy' right now.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel hints it could hit Iran's 'air force' in Syria
Israel released details on Tuesday about what it described as an Iranian 'air force' deployed in neighboring Syria, including civilian planes suspected of transferring arms, a signal that these could be attacked should tensions with Tehran escalate.
Thousands attend Israeli-Palestinian Remembrance Day ceremony amid threats
Almost 7,000 people attended the joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony held at the Yarkon Park in Tel Aviv Tuesday night.

Inside the United States
As GOP balks, McConnell shuts down bill to protect Mueller
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday thwarted a bipartisan effort to protect special counsel Robert Mueller’s job, saying he will not hold a floor vote on the legislation even if it is approved next week in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Supreme Court makes it harder to deport legal immigrants who commit crimes
The Supreme Court on Tuesday created a new deportation 'loophole' for legal immigrants, ruling that the federal law mandating removal for those convicted of violent felonies is unconstitutionally 'vague.'
New York City mice carry life-threatening superbugs, viruses, study finds
Rats may be the biggest rodents to plague New York City, but they may not be the germiest. Researchers recently made a disturbing discovery after studying mice in apartment buildings across the city in the past year: they're covered in disease-causing bacteria.
FEC hit with lawsuit over ignoring civil complaint accusing Clinton, DNC in election scheme
The Hillary Clinton Campaign and the Democratic National Committee allegedly used state chapters as strawmen to launder as much as $84 million in an effort to circumvent campaign donation limits, and the Federal Election Commission ignored complaints exposing the practice, a lawsuit filed Monday claims.
Cruz Introduces Legislation to Make Individual Tax Cuts Permanent
Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) introduced comprehensive legislation Tuesday that would make the lowered individual tax rates included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanent.
Barbara Bush, wife and mother of U.S. presidents, dies at 92
Former US first lady Barbara Bush, the only woman to see her husband and son both sworn in as president, died on Tuesday, the Bush family said. She was 92.
Judge in Michael Cohen’s case officiated George Soros’ wedding
Federal Judge Kimba Wood, who is overseeing the court case against Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, officiated the 2013 wedding of George Soros, a billionaire supporter of liberal political causes, according to news reports at that time.

Christian News
Trump Tweets support for American pastor on trial in Turkey
U.S. President Donald Trump voiced his support on Tuesday for Pastor Andrew Brunson, who is on trial in Turkey on charges he was linked to a group accused of orchestrating a failed 2016 military coup, in a case that has compounded strains in U.S.-Turkish relations.