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Worthy Brief - 8/29/2017

Friend, red alert!

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Last week was a historic week beginning with an eclipse going across the United States, and ending with Hurricane Harvey as it developed it rapidly out of nowhere and may wind up becoming the most expensive natural disaster ever to face the United States. While many around the world are apathetic and lack understanding about the times in which we live, we as believers should realize these are merely signs of the times and have a sense of urgency to be about the Lord's business.

Dr. Albert Bartlett, an expert on compounding, gave this scenario. Let's suppose you're sitting in a water tight baseball stadium which seats over 50,000 people, and you're handcuffed to the top bleacher. Let's say a single drop of water is placed in the center of the stadium and is allowed to double at a rate of 1 time per minute. In other words, a single drop doubled, equals two drops added to the stadium. The next minute, two drops doubled equals four drops, next minute, four doubled equals eight, and so on.

How many minutes do you suppose you'd have before you'd drown? A few months? A few days? Get this -- how about 49 minutes?! That's right; it would take only 49 minutes to drown completely! What’s even more remarkable is that at 44 minutes, the amount of water in the stadium would only be at 7%! Seriously, do the math!

You see, the real action takes place only in the last five minutes. It seems there is all the time in the world and then…perhaps this is one reason the scriptures say the Lord will come as a thief in the night!

I do not want to be sitting there in the top bleacher, oblivious and helpless -- do you? Those of us who are aware of the times have a key to the handcuffs -- discernment, wisdom, and faith! We will begin preparing now for the times drawing nearer by the second!

Friend, let's get a sense of urgency about the hour in which we live. Let's pray earnestly, invest wisely, and be about His business while there’s still time! There’s SO much work to be done!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel

Around the World
North Korea fires missile over Japan, sharply escalating tensions
North Korea fired a missile that flew over Japan and landed in waters off the northern region of Hokkaido early on Tuesday, South Korean and Japanese officials said, marking a sharp escalation of tensions on the Korean peninsula.
Brexit: UK and EU negotiators call for more progress
The European Union's chief negotiator Michel Barnier has expressed concern about progress so far, as the third round of Brexit talks gets under way.
Iraq’s next tough moves: Finishing off Islamic State and establishing political stability
Iraq still faces tough military battles and hard political choices in the wake of the surprisingly quick advance over the weekend to oust Islamic State militants from the northern city of Tal Afar.
India and China end two-month border face-off in the Himalayas
The 'expeditious disengagement' comes two months after their soldiers began confronting each other at the Doklam plateau where India, China and Bhutan meet.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu to UN Chief: Iran Building Precision Missile Factories in Syria and Lebanon
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told visiting UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Monday that Iran is building sites to produce precision guided missiles in Syria and Lebanon.
Hamas leader hails Iranian military support
The Gaza head of the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas said on Monday (Aug 28) it had increased its military capabilities thanks to newly improved relations with Iran.
US changes proposed anti-Hezbollah sanctions to ease Lebanon's fears
Proposed tighter U.S. sanctions on Hezbollah have been altered enough to allay fears of major damage to Lebanon's economy, a sign Washington is taking concerns about Lebanese stability seriously, banking and political sources said Sunday.
Hamas leader: Iran helping Hamas prepare for war with Israel
Iran is helping terrorists in Gaza prepare for war with Israel, according to a leading Hamas official.
Israel: We'll Bomb Assad's Palace if Iran Expands in Syria
A senior Israeli official has issued a warning to Russia that the Israeli military will bomb Syrian President Bashar Assad's palace in Damascus if Russia allows Iran to make military advances in Syria.
Israel Finalizes Deal for 17 Additional F-35 Stealth Fighters
The Israeli Defense Ministry has completed the acquisition process of 17 more F-35 stealth jets. The purchase is part of a larger deal to buy a total of 50 F-35 planes, which will enter service in the Israeli Air Force in two squadrons. The initial order of 33 F-35 jets is expected to be completely delivered by 2021.

Inside the United States
Trump ready for shutdown standoff over border wall: ‘We will build the wall’
President Trump stood firm Monday on his threat to shut down the government if congressional Democrats block funding for a wall on the border with Mexico, saying the wall was crucial to U.S. security and stopping the flow of illegal drugs.
ACLU sues Trump over transgender ban
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing President Trump over his decision to ban transgender people from serving in the military.
Democrats hype up leftist base, remain silent after violent antifa attack in Berkeley
California Democrats who whipped up opposition to the weekend’s free speech rallies had little to say after radical leftist protesters, led by the antifa movement, attacked police and Trump supporters on Sunday in Berkeley, injuring six.

Christian News
Christians Fear Crackdown on Religion Under Evangelism Ban in Nepal
While attacks against the Christian minority has increased in Nepal, the Himalayan country's parliament passed a bill criminalizing religious conversion and the "hurting of religious sentiment," aiming to restrict evangelism. The move is likely to further escalate Christian persecution.
Pastors Arrested in Sudan as Government Moves to Take Over Church
Police in Sudan arrested and interrogated seven church leaders last week in Omdurman, Sudan before releasing them on bail, sources said.