Worthy Brief - 8/31/2016
Friend, be qualified!
Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.
There's nothing we can do to earn God's love, however, if we want to experience His blessings we need to observe the qualifications that He's given us in His Word. Psalm 112 details a whole list of blessings, but the key to receiving them is verse 1.
"Blessed is the man that fears (puts his trust, honors, in awe of His majesty) the Lord, and delights greatly in His commandments. (Takes pleasure in what God says and obeys Him)."
Adopt that attitude toward Him and be assured, blessings are on the way! Your offspring will be mighty on the earth (vs 2), wealth and riches shall be in your house (vs 3), even in darkness the light shall shine on you (vs 4), you shall not be shaken (vs 6) in the midst of evil you will have no fear of bad news because your heart is set upon Him (vs 7).
Now I don't know about you, but I want to live in the blessings of God!
Friend, let's live a life that God will bless, honor the Lord with our whole heart, and delight in obeying Him!
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
UN funneled tens of millions to Assad regime under aid program
The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid program that critics fear is increasingly at the whim of the government in Damascus, a Guardian investigation has found.
WHO Urges Changes in STD Treatment Due to Antibiotic Resistance
Growing resistance to antibiotics has complicated efforts to rein in common sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday as it issued new treatment guidelines.
US drone enters Iran's airspace, leaves after warning
Iran's military detected a U.S. drone entering Iranian airspace on Monday and issued a warning for it to leave, which it subsequently did, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Monday.
Tension mounts across Venezuela as protesters gear up for Sept. 1 anti-Maduro rally
The political mood in Venezuela is starting to heat up as Sept. 1, the day picked for a massive pro-referendum rally, approaches. On that day, the opposition is hoping hundreds of thousands will descend on Caracas to demand a vote to decide whether President Nicolas Maduro should stay in power.
Thousands buried in at least 72 ISIS mass graves, AP finds
In exclusive interviews, photos and research, The Associated Press has documented and mapped 72 of the mass graves, the most comprehensive survey so far, with many more expected to be uncovered as the Islamic State group's territory shrinks.
Russia and Turkey restart talks on EU gas pipeline
Senior executives from Russian energy firm Gazprom will in Turkey on Wednesday (31 August) resume work on a potentially divisive gas pipeline project to the EU.
Islamic State spokesman and strategist killed in Syria by U.S. airstrike
The public face of Islamic State's worldwide propaganda campaign and the commander responsible for the organization's attacks against Europe and elsewhere has been killed, the terror group announced Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
UN: Violations of Israel-Lebanon cease-fire could spark war
The UN Security Council warned Tuesday that violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel could lead to a new conflict “that none of the parties or the region can afford.”
Israel shuts down Palestinian radio station for incitement in overnight raid
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) together with the IDF, Israel Police and the Civil Administration shut down the 'al-Snabel' radio station in the West Bank overnight, security forces said on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
Murdered nuns remembered in Mississippi for 'Christian love in action'
Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Mississippi's capital city on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy and were found stabbed to death last week in their home in one of the poorest counties of the state.
Homeland eyes special declaration to take charge of elections
Even before the FBI identified new cyber attacks on two separate state election boards, the Department of Homeland Security began considering declaring the election a 'critical infrastructure,' giving it the same control over security it has over Wall Street and and the electric power grid.
US News & World Report: A Candidate's Death Could Delay or Eliminate the Presidential Election
The presidential election could be delayed or scrapped altogether if conspiracy theories become predictive and a candidate dies or drops out before Nov. 8. The perhaps equally startling alternative, if there's enough time: Small groups of people hand-picking a replacement pursuant to obscure party rules.
Study finds 'staggering' signs of dementia in 9/11 first responders
In the first study of its kind, 9/11 responders at the World Trade Center are suffering increased symptoms of dementia at a younger age, results doctors call 'staggering.'
U.S. Politics
Rubio, McCain, Wasserman Schultz win primaries, CNN projects
The incumbents won the night in several highly watched races Tuesday night. CNN projected Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and John McCain of Arizona and Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida all won their primary races Tuesday night.
Trump announces surprise meeting with Mexican President
Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he will meet Wednesday with the President of Mexico just hours before he is set to deliver a speech focused on immigration policy.
Christian News
Atheist legal challenge could devastate National Baptist Convention gathering
The largest African-American denomination in the US is facing a funding crisis on the eve of its annual gathering next week because of a lawsuit filed by an atheist group.
Kirk Cameron's 'Revive Us.' Discover the Only Strategy for Restoring America
Actor Kirk Cameron is looking to inspire the nation with a live theatrical event called 'Revive Us.'
Obama Admin. Faces 'Massive' Lawsuit over Christian Genocide
The American Center for Law and Justice filed a 'massive' federal lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. State Department over what it calls the department's 'inaction on genocide.'
Egypt's New Law on Churches Angers Christian Critics
Egypt's lawmakers on Tuesday passed the country's first law spelling out the rules for building a church, a step Christians have long hoped would free up construction that was often blocked by authorities. But angry critics in the community say the law will only enshrine the restrictions.
Christians as 'Target Practice'
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by Muslims is growing. The report posits that such Muslim persecution is not random but rather systematic, and takes place in all languages, ethnicities, and locations.
Around the World
UN funneled tens of millions to Assad regime under aid program
The UN has awarded contracts worth tens of millions of dollars to people closely associated with the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, as part of an aid program that critics fear is increasingly at the whim of the government in Damascus, a Guardian investigation has found.
WHO Urges Changes in STD Treatment Due to Antibiotic Resistance
Growing resistance to antibiotics has complicated efforts to rein in common sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhoea, chlamydia and syphilis, the World Health Organization warned Tuesday as it issued new treatment guidelines.
US drone enters Iran's airspace, leaves after warning
Iran's military detected a U.S. drone entering Iranian airspace on Monday and issued a warning for it to leave, which it subsequently did, Iran's Tasnim news agency reported Monday.
Tension mounts across Venezuela as protesters gear up for Sept. 1 anti-Maduro rally
The political mood in Venezuela is starting to heat up as Sept. 1, the day picked for a massive pro-referendum rally, approaches. On that day, the opposition is hoping hundreds of thousands will descend on Caracas to demand a vote to decide whether President Nicolas Maduro should stay in power.
Thousands buried in at least 72 ISIS mass graves, AP finds
In exclusive interviews, photos and research, The Associated Press has documented and mapped 72 of the mass graves, the most comprehensive survey so far, with many more expected to be uncovered as the Islamic State group's territory shrinks.
Russia and Turkey restart talks on EU gas pipeline
Senior executives from Russian energy firm Gazprom will in Turkey on Wednesday (31 August) resume work on a potentially divisive gas pipeline project to the EU.
Islamic State spokesman and strategist killed in Syria by U.S. airstrike
The public face of Islamic State's worldwide propaganda campaign and the commander responsible for the organization's attacks against Europe and elsewhere has been killed, the terror group announced Tuesday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
UN: Violations of Israel-Lebanon cease-fire could spark war
The UN Security Council warned Tuesday that violations of the cessation of hostilities agreement between Lebanon and Israel could lead to a new conflict “that none of the parties or the region can afford.”
Israel shuts down Palestinian radio station for incitement in overnight raid
The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) together with the IDF, Israel Police and the Civil Administration shut down the 'al-Snabel' radio station in the West Bank overnight, security forces said on Wednesday.
Inside the United States
Murdered nuns remembered in Mississippi for 'Christian love in action'
Hundreds of people filled a cathedral in Mississippi's capital city on Monday to remember two nuns who spent decades helping the needy and were found stabbed to death last week in their home in one of the poorest counties of the state.
Homeland eyes special declaration to take charge of elections
Even before the FBI identified new cyber attacks on two separate state election boards, the Department of Homeland Security began considering declaring the election a 'critical infrastructure,' giving it the same control over security it has over Wall Street and and the electric power grid.
US News & World Report: A Candidate's Death Could Delay or Eliminate the Presidential Election
The presidential election could be delayed or scrapped altogether if conspiracy theories become predictive and a candidate dies or drops out before Nov. 8. The perhaps equally startling alternative, if there's enough time: Small groups of people hand-picking a replacement pursuant to obscure party rules.
Study finds 'staggering' signs of dementia in 9/11 first responders
In the first study of its kind, 9/11 responders at the World Trade Center are suffering increased symptoms of dementia at a younger age, results doctors call 'staggering.'
U.S. Politics
Rubio, McCain, Wasserman Schultz win primaries, CNN projects
The incumbents won the night in several highly watched races Tuesday night. CNN projected Republican Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and John McCain of Arizona and Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida all won their primary races Tuesday night.
Trump announces surprise meeting with Mexican President
Donald Trump announced Tuesday night that he will meet Wednesday with the President of Mexico just hours before he is set to deliver a speech focused on immigration policy.
Christian News
Atheist legal challenge could devastate National Baptist Convention gathering
The largest African-American denomination in the US is facing a funding crisis on the eve of its annual gathering next week because of a lawsuit filed by an atheist group.
Kirk Cameron's 'Revive Us.' Discover the Only Strategy for Restoring America
Actor Kirk Cameron is looking to inspire the nation with a live theatrical event called 'Revive Us.'
Obama Admin. Faces 'Massive' Lawsuit over Christian Genocide
The American Center for Law and Justice filed a 'massive' federal lawsuit Tuesday against the U.S. State Department over what it calls the department's 'inaction on genocide.'
Egypt's New Law on Churches Angers Christian Critics
Egypt's lawmakers on Tuesday passed the country's first law spelling out the rules for building a church, a step Christians have long hoped would free up construction that was often blocked by authorities. But angry critics in the community say the law will only enshrine the restrictions.
Christians as 'Target Practice'
While not all, or even most, Muslims are involved, persecution of Christians by Muslims is growing. The report posits that such Muslim persecution is not random but rather systematic, and takes place in all languages, ethnicities, and locations.