Worthy Brief - Christian Newsletter » Newsletters » 2016 » July » Worthy Brief - 7/14/2016

Worthy Brief - 7/14/2016

Friend, don't murmur!

1 Corinthians 10:10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

Numbers 14:36-38 Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.

Numbers 16:3 They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"

Numbers 16:30-32 But if the Lord creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Lord." Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah, with all their goods.


Paul exhorts the church at Corinth about grumbling and complaining. He reminds the believers of the judgments that befell the 10 spies who brought a bad report of the land – and were struck down by a plague, and terrible fate of Korah and those aligned with him that came against Moses and Aaron and were swallowed up by the ground under them.

How easy is it to fall into grumbling and complaining? It reminds me of an old muppets skit with two old men, Waldorf and Statler.

Waldorf: That was wonderful!
Statler: Bravo!
Waldorf: I loved it!
Statler: Ah, it was great!
Waldorf: Well, it was pretty good.
Statler: Well, it wasn't bad...
Waldorf: Uh, there were parts of it that weren't very good though.
Statler: It could have been a lot better.
Waldorf: I didn't really like it.
Statler: It was pretty terrible.
Waldorf: It was bad.
Statler: It was awful!
Waldorf: It was terrible!
Statler: Take 'em away!
Waldorf: Bah, boo!
Statler: Boo!

It didn't take long for these two to turn something that was good into something they could complain about. It's especially easy for us to fall into this type of behavior – especially during this political season!

However, Friend, our calling is to exhort, uplift and bring encouragement to the world! So let's not descend into murmuring or complaining – it did not go well for any who did.

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?

Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Rouhani threatens to renew nuclear program
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday threatened that the Islamic Republic could restore elements of its nuclear program that were halted under the deal with the West, if world powers that backed the agreement don't live up to their end of the bargain.
Ex-Gitmo detainee connected to Turkey airport attack added to US list of terrorists
A former Gitmo detainee connected to last month's ISIS attack on the Istanbul airport that killed 45 and injured more than 230 others was officially added to the U.S. government's list of designated terrorists Wednesday.
U.S. launches quiet diplomacy to ease South China Sea tensions
The United States is using quiet diplomacy to persuade the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and other Asian nations not to move aggressively to capitalize on an international court ruling that denied China's claims to the South China Sea, several U.S. administration officials said on Wednesday.
Attacks in Saudi Arabia bear hallmarks of Islamic State: CIA head
CIA director John Brennan said on Wednesday recent attacks in Saudi Arabia bore the hallmarks of Islamic State, and that the militant group was a very serious threat to the kingdom.
US sends Marines to South Sudan capital to protect citizens
The U.S. military in Africa says it has sent 40 additional soldiers to South Sudan's capital, Juba, to help secure American personnel and facilities in the war-torn city.
Seeking peace in Syria, US offering new deal with Russia
Frustrated by months of failure in Syria, the Obama administration is taking what might be its final offer to Moscow: Enhanced intelligence and military cooperation against the Islamic State and other extremist groups if Syria's Russian-backed president Bashar Assad upholds a ceasefire with U.S.-supported rebel groups and starts a political transition.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Hamas-built underground tunnels from Gaza to Israel spark fear of new war
It has been two years since the July 2014 Gaza War, which killed over 2,000 Palestinians and 70 Israelis.
Former PM chief-of-staff taken in for questioning in Netanyahu probe
The former chief-of-staff to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was taken in for questioning by Israel authorities Thursday morning after he arrived at Ben Gurion Airport.
Netanyahu: 'Revolution' in Arab Ties Could Advance Peace With Palestinians
Israel's growing normalization with the Arab world could facilitate peace with the Palestinians, Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday.

Inside the United States
CBS Mocks 'Ignorant' Noah's Ark Attraction, Wonders Why It Was Built
CBS This Morning reporter Mark Strassmann on Thursday offered a sneering, condescending look at a new biblical theme park attraction in Kentucky. Speaking of the gigantic Noah’s Ark Experience, Strassmann dismissed, “Nothing like it built before. But critics wonder why it was even built at all.”
LGBT History Lessons Edging Closer to California Classrooms
After multiple delays, California education officials are moving to comply with the nation's first law requiring public schools to include prominent gay people and LGBT rights milestones in history classes.
House Passes Protection for Health Care Providers Who Don't Perform Abortions
The House of Representatives passed a bill Wednesday that aims to prevent the federal government from discriminating against healthcare providers that do not provide abortions.
US sentences Chinese hacker for stealing military information
A Chinese businessman who pleaded guilty to hacking sensitive military information has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison in the US.
Congress passes first major U.S. bill against opiate addiction; Obama expected to sign
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday gave near unanimous approval to a priority piece of bipartisan legislation that seeks to fight what's viewed as an escalating national health crisis -- addiction to legal and illicit opiates.

U.S. Politics
Pew: Most Evangelicals Will Vote Trump, But Not For Trump
More than three-quarters of self-identified white evangelicals plan to vote for Donald Trump in the fall (78%). But they aren't happy about it.

Christian News
Nationwide Manhunt Ensues for Pakistani Christian
Pakistani police are now on a nationwide manhunt in pursuit of a Christian man accused of blasphemy.
Christian Youth Choir Likened to Nazis, ISIS
Commentators in Scotland are aghast that a youth choir from a Christian church in America was allowed to perform at a shopping center there, and are comparing the kids from Texas to the Nazis, or ISIS.
Nepal To Prosecute Evangelical Christians For Spreading Bibles
Seven evangelical lay Christians and a pastor who were detained and allegedly mistreated in Nepal after being caught handing out Bibles to children have been released but could face a trial for 'proselytizing', church sources told BosNewsLife.
Hundreds of Christians Massacred in South Sudan
Now that a ceasefire has been declared in South Sudan, horrifying reports of the devastation that occurred are emerging.