Worthy Brief - 6/3/2016
Friend, choose between the seas!
1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love of God, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
Here in Israel we have an interesting geographical phenomenon – there are two landlocked seas. One is alive and one is dead. The sea full of life is the Kinneret, better known as the Sea of Galilee. The dead sea is.......you guessed it, the Dead Sea. Now the Kinneret is constantly emptying as it flows through the Jordan River valley.... into the Dead Sea. But the Dead Sea does not empty its water at all. Instead, the Dead Sea is continually shrinking, because the intense heat at this lowest place on Earth actually evaporates more water than is flowing in. Do you see a parable here?
The Sea that is alive is the one that gives. The more of your self, of your life, of your love, that you pour out, the more alive, filled up, and refreshed you will become. The Lord Yeshua (Jesus) exemplified this to the greatest extent ever, by giving all He was and all He had, even to those who hated Him and were His bitter enemies. And the love that He gave was returned to Him by His Father in the resurrection, and by all the multitude of His redeemed people throughout all ages and into eternity. Could it possibly be any different for those of us who live lives of giving and loving? No. We will continue to be filled by the Lord's infinite abundance no matter how much we pour ourselves out. Of course, if we hold back, keeping all we have to ourselves, we will begin to evaporate and die...
Give and you will live. Love, and you will be filled with God’s love. Hold back, and even that which you have will vanish away. A friend of mine shares this limerick:
There once was a sea that was dead
It was, 'cause it only got fed
And never gave up
Not one single cup
Now that's something to keep in your head
Friend, let's be givers. Let's be lovers. Empty ourselves into His Kingdom, into His work, and be constantly refilled with His love, power and peace. With so much work to be done, I'm choosing the Sea of Life!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Negev Desert, Israel
Editor's Note: Watch George's message: Which voice will you listen to in the last days?
Around the World
Flooding in France, Germany expected to worsen
The German states of Bavaria and Rhineland-Palatinate, which have already been hit by four days of severe flooding, have been warned to expect further storms.
Germany arrests 3 suspected Syrian terrorists, foils possible Islamic State plot
Three Syrian men who entered Germany with a wave of migrants were arrested Thursday on suspicion of planning an Islamic State attack on the city of Düsseldorf, potentially thwarting a deadly operation that appeared eerily reminiscent of the recent assaults on Brussels and Paris.
The European Commission Wants You To Log Into Social Media Accounts With Govt-Issued ID Cards
The European Commission plans to attack citizens' right to online privacy, insisting that state-issued ID cards should be used to log into platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and even Uber.
'We want food!', Venezuelans cry at protest near presidency
Venezuelan security forces fired teargas at protesters chanting 'We want food!' near Caracas' presidential palace on Thursday, the latest street violence in the crisis-hit OPEC nation.
EU, US sign data deal to fight crime, terrorism
The agreement aims to protect personal data transferred across the Atlantic, following revelations of large-scale US snooping. The 'Umbrella Agreement' will aid in the fight against cross-border crime and terrorism.
NATO wishes no conflict with Russia, but will protect members
Ready for dialogue, but showing strength: That's the strategy for Russia that NATO is expected to confirm at a summit in July. Germany and NATO also want to increase cooperation in fighting human traffickers.
France floods: Louvre to close as Seine rises further
The world's most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, is to close on Friday amid worsening flooding caused by days of torrential rain.
State Dept. Admits Official Censored Sensitive Iran Nuclear Deal Video
A State Department official deliberately cut several minutes of videotape from a news briefing dealing with sensitive questions about U.S.-Iranian nuclear negotiations before posting the footage to its website and YouTube, the agency said Wednesday.
No EU plan for Brexit, Eurogroup chief says
EU leaders have not planned for a British exit from the EU after the 23 June referendum, the president of the Eurogroup said Thursday (2 June).
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Middle East peace talks open without Israeli, Palestinian representatives
In light of the Syrian civil war and the ongoing refugee crisis, the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians has been largely pushed into the background in recent months. But the conference in Paris opening on Friday will aim to begin a new peace initiative between the two conflict parties.
France says Israeli settlements main ‘threat’ to two-state solution, ahead of peace summit
Forget unrelenting terrorism, the Hamas-Fatah split, and m, the Hamas-Fatah split, and the consistent Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel as the national home of the Jews, a French pre-summit paper on Thursday said settlement activity is the main threat to a two state solution.
Inside the United States
After secret Harvard meeting, scientists announce plans for synthetic human genomes
Three weeks ago, 130 scientists, entrepreneurs and policy leaders held an invitation-only, closed-door meeting at Harvard University to discuss an ambitious plan to create synthetic human genomes. Now, after a flurry of criticism over the secrecy of the effort, the participants have published their idea, declaring that they're launching a project to radically reduce the cost of synthesizing genomes -- a potentially revolutionary development in biotechnology that could enable technicians to grow human organs for transplantation.
Syrian rebel whose group is linked to al Qaida visited U.S.
A senior figure from a Syrian rebel group with links to al Qaida was allowed into the United States for a brief visit, raising questions about how much the Obama administration will compromise in the search for partners in the conflict.
1,037 Syrian Refugees Admitted in May: Two Christians, 1,035 Muslims
The number of Syrian refugees admitted into the United States jumped to 1,037 during May - an increase of 130 percent over the previous month - but the proportion of Christians among them remains miniscule: two Christians (0.19 percent) compared to 1,035 Muslims.
California Senate sidelines bill to prosecute climate change skeptics
A landmark bill allowing for the prosecution of climate change dissent effectively died Thursday after the California Senate failed to take it up before the deadline.
5 dead, 4 missing after Army truck swept away in Texas flood
Five soldiers were killed and four were missing after an Army troop carrier was washed from a low-water crossing and overturned Thursday in a rain-swollen creek at Fort Hood, the Texas Army post said.
Smuggling network guided illegals from Middle East terror hotbeds to U.S. border
A smuggling network has managed to sneak illegal immigrants from Middle Eastern terrorism hotbeds straight to the doorstep of the U.S., including helping one Afghan who authorities say was part of an attack plot in North America.
ACLU Leader Resigns after Daughters' Experience in Public Bathroom
A former state executive director of the ACLU has resigned because her own daughters were frightened when transgendered men entered the women's bathroom.
Massachusetts House passes bill to protect transgender people
The Massachusetts House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would protect transgender people and permit them to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
U.S. Politics
Judge orders Obama administration to release new Clinton emails
A federal judge has ordered the Obama administration to release new emails connected to Hillary Clinton before Democratic National Convention in July.
Poll: 71 percent of Dems think Clinton should keep running even if indicted
A strong majority of Democratic voters think Hillary Clinton should keep running for president even if she is charged with a felony in connection with her private email use while secretary of state, according to a new poll.
Christian News
India: Pastor, Christians harrassed
The arrest of a pastor, his wife and another church member in Satna, India, on May 22 symbolically fell on the two-year anniversary of Narendra Modi's oppressive Hindu nationalist government.
India: Christian arrested for spreading the Gospel
Police arrested a Christian in Chhattisgarh, India, for distributing brochures printed with excerpts from the Gospel.
School Sends Deputy to Warn 7-Year-Old about Bible Verses
Officials at a California public grade school who dispatched a sheriff's deputy to stop a 7-year-old from sharing Bible verses with his classmates because someone could be 'offended' now are being warned of 'civil rights violations.'