Worthy Brief - 8/10/2016
Friend, remember you're on the winning side!
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.
As we are entering some of the most turbulent times in history, we've been receiving an unbelievable amount of email expressing concern about the future. But I want to tell you a little something – the future is VICTORY!
It's not defeat or loss. If you think about it, all the great leaders of the Bible shone in the hardest of times. When the giant Goliath stood against the army of Israel, David didn't sit around with his brothers complaining about how big Goliath was. Though David was a dwarf next to this evil giant, he was still convinced he was going to be victorious because God was on his side!
When the apostles saw Yeshua die, they must have felt utterly defeated -- then, suddenly, there he was, out from the grave, gloriously alive before them -- and from then on they walked in His victory! They didn't sit around complaining about Roman persecution, the Sanhedrin, or the Pharisees. They didn't get wrapped up in how evil the world was becoming; instead, they pressed forward in the worst of times and in those dark days they shone like the stars in the midnight sky.
Friend, in the face of everything that's happening around us, let's be sure we're not developing a defeatist attitude. We are called children of the King, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. Despite how bad things may be getting -- don't forget we're on the winning team! We can stand against this evil and overcome it... with good!
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
Bombing IS: Statistics Show War Far From Over
When the US-led coalition started bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, we were told by senior generals, politicians and whoever else had a stake in the PR-sell, that it would be a 'generational struggle' that would last 'many years'.
Turkey's Erdogan turns to Putin as tensions rise with the West
Nine months after Turkish forces shot a Russian warplane out of the sky near the Syrian border, the bad blood between the countries is over.
Brazil's Senate indicts Rousseff, opens impeachment trial
Brazil's Senate voted early on Wednesday to indict President Dilma Rousseff on charges of breaking budget laws and put her on trial in an impeachment process that has stalled Brazilian politics since January.
Vietnam moves new rocket launchers into disputed S.China Sea
Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China's runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials.
U.S. special forces in Sirte aiding Libya regime's fight to oust Islamic State
American special operations troops have for the first time started directly supporting Libyan forces battling the Islamic State group in their key stronghold of Sirte, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Islamic State and its allies were responsible for 26 percent of terrorism deaths in 13 years
Between 2002 and 2015, the Islamic State group was either directly or indirectly responsible for terrorist attacks that killed more than 33,000 people and wounded 41,000 more, according to a new analysis from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism.
US approves $1.15 bln sale of tanks, other equipment to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment, worth about $1.15 billion, to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Obama sets dangerous terms for generous military aid package to Israel
U.S. and Israeli officials are nearing completion of protracted negotiations over a planned decade-long deal for U.S. military assistance, despite deep bilateral political discord stemming mainly from nearly unbridled enmity between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli Museum Recreates the 'Jerusalem Jesus Knew'
A new museum tour has opened in Jerusalem featuring exhibits that show what life was like in Jerusalem during Jesus' time on earth.
Israel arrests UN employee suspected of aiding Hamas in Gaza
Israel's Shin Bet security agency on Tuesday announced the arrest of a United Nations humanitarian aid worker for allegedly providing 'material assistance' to Hamas' military efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Inside the United States
Study: Public water supply is unsafe for millions of Americans
Millions of Americans may be drinking water with unsafe levels of industrial chemicals, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. These chemicals, known as polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances or PFASs, have been linked to high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression -- and even cancer.
Obama Former Top Intel Official: ISIS Is Already in America
Affiliates of the Islamic State terror organization are already residing in the United States, though exact numbers are unclear due to the Obama administration’s efforts to downplay and hide information about this threat from the American public, the former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency told the Washington Free Beacon in a wide-ranging interview.
Out-of-control California wildfire grows, forces schools to close
A wildfire burning out of control in mountains and foothills east of Los Angeles mushroomed more than 50 percent overnight, forcing authorities to order three school districts to cancel classes due to heavy smoke and dangerous conditions.
Justice Department to release scathing report on Baltimore police force
Baltimore police officers routinely discriminate against blacks, repeatedly use excessive force and are not adequately held accountable for misconduct, according to a harshly critical Justice Department report being presented Wednesday.
Gunfire erupts in Ferguson on anniversary of Michael Brown's death
Gunfire broke out during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, on the second anniversary of Michael Brown's death, disrupting what had been a peaceful gathering.
Father of Orlando shooter attends Clinton rally, touts candidate
In a startling appearance Monday evening, the father of ISIS-inspired Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen showed up just steps away from the Democratic nominee, cheering her on and waving an American flag in the background - even as she paid tribute to the victims of his son's terror rampage and condemned his 'hatred.'
U.S. Politics
Newly released Clinton emails shed light on relationship between State Dept. and Clinton Foundation
Newly released emails from Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state raise questions about the nature of the department's relationship with the Clinton Foundation.
Trump suggests '2nd Amendment people' could stop Clinton
Donald Trump on Tuesday seemed to imply that people with guns could stop Hillary Clinton as president from appointing anti-gun judges.
House Speaker Ryan cruises to victory in GOP primary
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., easily defeated a longshot primary challenge from businessman Paul Nehlen Tuesday evening.
Secret Service 'aware' of Trump's 2nd Amendment remark about Clinton
The U.S. Secret Service could potentially take a step unprecedented in American political history -- investigate one of the candidates it is assigned to protect.
Parents of Benghazi victims sue Hillary Clinton in federal court
The parents of two of the Americans killed in the Benghazi terrorist attacks sued Hillary Clinton in federal court Monday, saying the former secretary of state is liable for their deaths.
Hillary's falls recall the health questions JFK tried to dodge
The health of a prospective president is one of the most important issues of any campaign, but whether to ask hard questions about a candidate is usually a matter of whose prospective president, and whose health. When the prospective president is a Democrat, the media only sends candy, flowers and best wishes.
Christian News
Swedish church to send Bible-dropping drones over ISIS caliphate
A Swedish church intends to use drones to drop thousands of digital Bibles into ISIS-controlled territory in Iraq, where Christians are among the terrorist organization’s main targets.
Faith Leaders: California Bill Harmful to Christian Colleges
Faith leaders are calling on the California Assembly to abandon a bill that would force Christian colleges to give up their religious convictions or lose state funding.
Manhunt for Belgian teen jihadi who called for extermination of Christians
Belgian police on Tuesday were hunting for a 15-year-old boy seen on a recent video calling for 'the murder of all Christians.'
Churches take new security measures in face of terror threats
The time-honored tradition was shattered when a car passed by the Riverside, Calif., church, slowing down as the front passenger leaned out of his window and bellowed menacingly through a bullhorn, according to witnesses. 'Allahu Akbar!' the unidentified man repeated several times as the unnerved parents drew their infants close and exchanged worried glances.
Christians: Retaking Mosul won't make it safe
As operations to retake the militant-held city of Mosul ramp up, Iraqi Christians displaced from the area by the Islamic State group say that even if the militants are defeated militarily, the country will not be safe for minorities.
Coptic Church Torched In Egypt
Christians in the southern Egyptian village of Naj al-Nassara looked on in horror as their Archangel Mikhail Coptic Church went up in flames, reports USA Today.
Algerian Christian Gets Maximum Sentence for 'Blasphemy'
A Christian in Algeria has been sentenced to five years in prison - the maximum term - and given a heavy fine for blasphemy against Islam and its prophet, for a social media post.
Around the World
Bombing IS: Statistics Show War Far From Over
When the US-led coalition started bombing Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria, we were told by senior generals, politicians and whoever else had a stake in the PR-sell, that it would be a 'generational struggle' that would last 'many years'.
Turkey's Erdogan turns to Putin as tensions rise with the West
Nine months after Turkish forces shot a Russian warplane out of the sky near the Syrian border, the bad blood between the countries is over.
Brazil's Senate indicts Rousseff, opens impeachment trial
Brazil's Senate voted early on Wednesday to indict President Dilma Rousseff on charges of breaking budget laws and put her on trial in an impeachment process that has stalled Brazilian politics since January.
Vietnam moves new rocket launchers into disputed S.China Sea
Vietnam has discreetly fortified several of its islands in the disputed South China Sea with new mobile rocket launchers capable of striking China's runways and military installations across the vital trade route, according to Western officials.
U.S. special forces in Sirte aiding Libya regime's fight to oust Islamic State
American special operations troops have for the first time started directly supporting Libyan forces battling the Islamic State group in their key stronghold of Sirte, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
Islamic State and its allies were responsible for 26 percent of terrorism deaths in 13 years
Between 2002 and 2015, the Islamic State group was either directly or indirectly responsible for terrorist attacks that killed more than 33,000 people and wounded 41,000 more, according to a new analysis from the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism.
US approves $1.15 bln sale of tanks, other equipment to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of more than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 armored recovery vehicles and other equipment, worth about $1.15 billion, to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said on Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Obama sets dangerous terms for generous military aid package to Israel
U.S. and Israeli officials are nearing completion of protracted negotiations over a planned decade-long deal for U.S. military assistance, despite deep bilateral political discord stemming mainly from nearly unbridled enmity between President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israeli Museum Recreates the 'Jerusalem Jesus Knew'
A new museum tour has opened in Jerusalem featuring exhibits that show what life was like in Jerusalem during Jesus' time on earth.
Israel arrests UN employee suspected of aiding Hamas in Gaza
Israel's Shin Bet security agency on Tuesday announced the arrest of a United Nations humanitarian aid worker for allegedly providing 'material assistance' to Hamas' military efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Inside the United States
Study: Public water supply is unsafe for millions of Americans
Millions of Americans may be drinking water with unsafe levels of industrial chemicals, according to a study published Tuesday in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters. These chemicals, known as polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances or PFASs, have been linked to high cholesterol, obesity, hormone suppression -- and even cancer.
Obama Former Top Intel Official: ISIS Is Already in America
Affiliates of the Islamic State terror organization are already residing in the United States, though exact numbers are unclear due to the Obama administration’s efforts to downplay and hide information about this threat from the American public, the former director of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency told the Washington Free Beacon in a wide-ranging interview.
Out-of-control California wildfire grows, forces schools to close
A wildfire burning out of control in mountains and foothills east of Los Angeles mushroomed more than 50 percent overnight, forcing authorities to order three school districts to cancel classes due to heavy smoke and dangerous conditions.
Justice Department to release scathing report on Baltimore police force
Baltimore police officers routinely discriminate against blacks, repeatedly use excessive force and are not adequately held accountable for misconduct, according to a harshly critical Justice Department report being presented Wednesday.
Gunfire erupts in Ferguson on anniversary of Michael Brown's death
Gunfire broke out during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri, on the second anniversary of Michael Brown's death, disrupting what had been a peaceful gathering.
Father of Orlando shooter attends Clinton rally, touts candidate
In a startling appearance Monday evening, the father of ISIS-inspired Orlando nightclub gunman Omar Mateen showed up just steps away from the Democratic nominee, cheering her on and waving an American flag in the background - even as she paid tribute to the victims of his son's terror rampage and condemned his 'hatred.'
U.S. Politics
Newly released Clinton emails shed light on relationship between State Dept. and Clinton Foundation
Newly released emails from Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state raise questions about the nature of the department's relationship with the Clinton Foundation.
Trump suggests '2nd Amendment people' could stop Clinton
Donald Trump on Tuesday seemed to imply that people with guns could stop Hillary Clinton as president from appointing anti-gun judges.
House Speaker Ryan cruises to victory in GOP primary
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., easily defeated a longshot primary challenge from businessman Paul Nehlen Tuesday evening.
Secret Service 'aware' of Trump's 2nd Amendment remark about Clinton
The U.S. Secret Service could potentially take a step unprecedented in American political history -- investigate one of the candidates it is assigned to protect.
Parents of Benghazi victims sue Hillary Clinton in federal court
The parents of two of the Americans killed in the Benghazi terrorist attacks sued Hillary Clinton in federal court Monday, saying the former secretary of state is liable for their deaths.
Hillary's falls recall the health questions JFK tried to dodge
The health of a prospective president is one of the most important issues of any campaign, but whether to ask hard questions about a candidate is usually a matter of whose prospective president, and whose health. When the prospective president is a Democrat, the media only sends candy, flowers and best wishes.
Christian News
Swedish church to send Bible-dropping drones over ISIS caliphate
A Swedish church intends to use drones to drop thousands of digital Bibles into ISIS-controlled territory in Iraq, where Christians are among the terrorist organization’s main targets.
Faith Leaders: California Bill Harmful to Christian Colleges
Faith leaders are calling on the California Assembly to abandon a bill that would force Christian colleges to give up their religious convictions or lose state funding.
Manhunt for Belgian teen jihadi who called for extermination of Christians
Belgian police on Tuesday were hunting for a 15-year-old boy seen on a recent video calling for 'the murder of all Christians.'
Churches take new security measures in face of terror threats
The time-honored tradition was shattered when a car passed by the Riverside, Calif., church, slowing down as the front passenger leaned out of his window and bellowed menacingly through a bullhorn, according to witnesses. 'Allahu Akbar!' the unidentified man repeated several times as the unnerved parents drew their infants close and exchanged worried glances.
Christians: Retaking Mosul won't make it safe
As operations to retake the militant-held city of Mosul ramp up, Iraqi Christians displaced from the area by the Islamic State group say that even if the militants are defeated militarily, the country will not be safe for minorities.
Coptic Church Torched In Egypt
Christians in the southern Egyptian village of Naj al-Nassara looked on in horror as their Archangel Mikhail Coptic Church went up in flames, reports USA Today.
Algerian Christian Gets Maximum Sentence for 'Blasphemy'
A Christian in Algeria has been sentenced to five years in prison - the maximum term - and given a heavy fine for blasphemy against Islam and its prophet, for a social media post.