Worthy Brief - 8/24/2017
Friend, put your faith into action!
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Throughout the Bible, the faith of the saints was never something passive -- but rather a faith of action.
If Abraham never acted on His faith, He would never have departed to the "land of milk and honey" or birthed a new nation. If Moses never acted on His faith, He would never have led the children of Israel out of Egypt. If David never acted on His faith, He would never have defeated Goliath.
The Bible is filled with stories of saints whose faith was put into action -- action which God met with His own supernatural power to produce wonderful, miraculous and astounding results. God is a rewarder of faith!
Friend, put your faith into action today and let your actions be fueled by your faith -- and perhaps, this will be a new day of miracles, breakthroughs, and victory ... for a life of faith -- is a life of victory!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Around the World
Iran Caught Shipping Soldiers to Syria on Commercial Flights in Violation of Nuclear Deal
New photographs obtained by congressional leaders show Iran shipping militant soldiers to Syria on commercial airline flights, a move that violates the landmark nuclear agreement and has sparked calls from U.S. lawmakers for a formal investigation by the Trump administration, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
U.S. Sanctions Chinese, Russians for Illicit Trade With North Korea
The Trump administration on Tuesday slapped economic sanctions on 10 Chinese and Russian companies and six people for covertly assisting North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
US says doubts over Iran deal remain after meeting nuke watchdog
The United States still has doubts and concerns over the nuclear deal with Iran, the US ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday, after a meeting with atomic officials intended to allay American anxieties over the landmark accord.
US envoys meet Egypt officials after threatened snub over aid withdrawal
Egypt criticized a US decision to freeze $195 million in military aid on Wednesday, as a US delegation including presidential adviser Jared Kushner visited Cairo for meetings on the Middle East peace process.
Iran extends reach with fight for land link to Mediterranean
Thousands of Iranian-backed fighters in Syria’s central desert region are advancing east, bringing Tehran closer to its goal of securing a corridor from its border, through Iraq and all the way to the Mediterranean and providing it unhindered land access to its allies in Syria and Lebanon for the first time.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu to Putin: Iran continues to threaten our existence
Netanyahu told Putin that Iran's takeover of the Middle East and their stronghold in Syria present a threat to Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world.
Kushner arrives amid hazy hopes for effort to jump start peace talks
A high level US delegation including senior White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Israel late Wednesday, ahead of meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders aimed at looking for way to jumpstart peace talks.
Palestinian leadership considers dissolving PA, says Abbas insider
The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah is considering dismantling the Palestinian Authority, if there is no political horizon to establish an independent Palestinian state, Ahmad Majdalani, a confidant of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, said on Wednesday, a day before senior Trump administration officials are due in Ramallah.
US envoys meet Egypt officials after threatened snub over aid withdrawal
Egypt criticized a US decision to freeze $195 million in military aid on Wednesday, as a US delegation including presidential adviser Jared Kushner visited Cairo for meetings on the Middle East peace process.
Inside the United States
Democrats brand Trump as reckless, redouble resist vow after shutdown threat on border wall
President Trump’s willingness to brave a government shutdown in order to get funding for his border wall roiled Capitol Hill, where Democrats on Wednesday called him reckless and redoubled their promise to resist any more money for the president’s immigration crackdown plans.
Ryan seeks unity among House, Senate and White House for tax reform plan
Congressional Republicans working to craft a tax reform package are taking their pitches to major Fortune 500 companies this week, as they look to coalesce support from the business community ahead of an expected legislative push in the fall.
White House Sets Rules for Military Transgender Ban
The White House is expected to send guidance to the Pentagon in coming days on how to implement a new administration ban on transgender people in the military, issuing a policy that will allow Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to consider a service member’s ability to deploy in deciding whether to kick them out of the military.
Trump blames Congress for stalled agenda, urges Senate to abolish filibuster rules
President Trump has pinned the blame for his stalled agenda on Congress, chastising lawmakers of both parties who stand in his way and urging the Republican-run Senate to abolish filibuster rules in order to ram though bills for a border wall, tax cuts and a replacement of Obamacare.
Trump gives Republicans whiplash swinging from conciliatory to confrontational rhetoric
President Trump bookended a free-wheeling rally on Tuesday evening — which featured attacks on the media and incumbent Republicans — with a pair of disciplined speeches both before and afterward that promoted unity, creating a volatile three days for Republicans still reeling from the backlash to Trump's controversial comments on recent violence in Charlottesville, Va.
‘Bathroom bill’ fails in Texas
Efforts to pass a so-called 'bathroom bill' in Texas failed this week when the legislature abruptly ended a 30-day special session with no vote on the measure.
Christian News
Christian ministry sues over listing on Southern Poverty Law’s ‘hate map’
A conservative Christian media group has slapped the Southern Poverty Law Center with a defamation lawsuit after being listed alongside neo-Nazis and white supremacists on its 'hate map.'
Appeals court refuses to reinstate Bremerton coach who prayed after games
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to reinstate former Bremerton High School football coach Joseph Kennedy, who lost his job after he refused to stop praying on the field after games.
Iran Caught Shipping Soldiers to Syria on Commercial Flights in Violation of Nuclear Deal
New photographs obtained by congressional leaders show Iran shipping militant soldiers to Syria on commercial airline flights, a move that violates the landmark nuclear agreement and has sparked calls from U.S. lawmakers for a formal investigation by the Trump administration, the Washington Free Beacon has learned.
U.S. Sanctions Chinese, Russians for Illicit Trade With North Korea
The Trump administration on Tuesday slapped economic sanctions on 10 Chinese and Russian companies and six people for covertly assisting North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
US says doubts over Iran deal remain after meeting nuke watchdog
The United States still has doubts and concerns over the nuclear deal with Iran, the US ambassador to the United Nations said Wednesday, after a meeting with atomic officials intended to allay American anxieties over the landmark accord.
US envoys meet Egypt officials after threatened snub over aid withdrawal
Egypt criticized a US decision to freeze $195 million in military aid on Wednesday, as a US delegation including presidential adviser Jared Kushner visited Cairo for meetings on the Middle East peace process.
Iran extends reach with fight for land link to Mediterranean
Thousands of Iranian-backed fighters in Syria’s central desert region are advancing east, bringing Tehran closer to its goal of securing a corridor from its border, through Iraq and all the way to the Mediterranean and providing it unhindered land access to its allies in Syria and Lebanon for the first time.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu to Putin: Iran continues to threaten our existence
Netanyahu told Putin that Iran's takeover of the Middle East and their stronghold in Syria present a threat to Israel, the Middle East, and the entire world.
Kushner arrives amid hazy hopes for effort to jump start peace talks
A high level US delegation including senior White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Israel late Wednesday, ahead of meetings with Palestinian and Israeli leaders aimed at looking for way to jumpstart peace talks.
Palestinian leadership considers dissolving PA, says Abbas insider
The Palestinian leadership in Ramallah is considering dismantling the Palestinian Authority, if there is no political horizon to establish an independent Palestinian state, Ahmad Majdalani, a confidant of PA President Mahmoud Abbas, said on Wednesday, a day before senior Trump administration officials are due in Ramallah.
US envoys meet Egypt officials after threatened snub over aid withdrawal
Egypt criticized a US decision to freeze $195 million in military aid on Wednesday, as a US delegation including presidential adviser Jared Kushner visited Cairo for meetings on the Middle East peace process.
Inside the United States
Democrats brand Trump as reckless, redouble resist vow after shutdown threat on border wall
President Trump’s willingness to brave a government shutdown in order to get funding for his border wall roiled Capitol Hill, where Democrats on Wednesday called him reckless and redoubled their promise to resist any more money for the president’s immigration crackdown plans.
Ryan seeks unity among House, Senate and White House for tax reform plan
Congressional Republicans working to craft a tax reform package are taking their pitches to major Fortune 500 companies this week, as they look to coalesce support from the business community ahead of an expected legislative push in the fall.
White House Sets Rules for Military Transgender Ban
The White House is expected to send guidance to the Pentagon in coming days on how to implement a new administration ban on transgender people in the military, issuing a policy that will allow Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to consider a service member’s ability to deploy in deciding whether to kick them out of the military.
Trump blames Congress for stalled agenda, urges Senate to abolish filibuster rules
President Trump has pinned the blame for his stalled agenda on Congress, chastising lawmakers of both parties who stand in his way and urging the Republican-run Senate to abolish filibuster rules in order to ram though bills for a border wall, tax cuts and a replacement of Obamacare.
Trump gives Republicans whiplash swinging from conciliatory to confrontational rhetoric
President Trump bookended a free-wheeling rally on Tuesday evening — which featured attacks on the media and incumbent Republicans — with a pair of disciplined speeches both before and afterward that promoted unity, creating a volatile three days for Republicans still reeling from the backlash to Trump's controversial comments on recent violence in Charlottesville, Va.
‘Bathroom bill’ fails in Texas
Efforts to pass a so-called 'bathroom bill' in Texas failed this week when the legislature abruptly ended a 30-day special session with no vote on the measure.
Christian News
Christian ministry sues over listing on Southern Poverty Law’s ‘hate map’
A conservative Christian media group has slapped the Southern Poverty Law Center with a defamation lawsuit after being listed alongside neo-Nazis and white supremacists on its 'hate map.'
Appeals court refuses to reinstate Bremerton coach who prayed after games
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has refused to reinstate former Bremerton High School football coach Joseph Kennedy, who lost his job after he refused to stop praying on the field after games.