Worthy Brief - 9/1/2017
Friend, are you at rest in the midst of the birth pangs?
Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
Over the past week, the world has experienced some intense birth pangs. If you’ve been reading Worthy News over the past week, it's been a busy week.
Hurricane Harvey may become the most expensive storm in U.S. history. A devasting monsoon killed over 1,200 in South Asia. The threats on Israel's northern border have escalated. North Korea launched another missile while the United States and its allies were in the midst of war game exercises.
Wars and rumors of wars embrace the headlines! The world is on the brink of going over the edge!
Nevertheless, even in this climate of anxiety, we are preparing to enter into Shabbat (the Hebrew word for Sabbath) this afternoon. And as we do, we remember again, the deep lesson of God's entering into His rest following the six creation days.
After working for six days -- He entered into Shabbat. The word Shabbat comes from the Hebrew verb "shavat", which literally means "to cease". Shabbat implies that we need to stop working -- stop trying -- stop doing...simply, to cease from our own work. We need to simply let go, and let God! In a way, it's different kind of work.
The writer of the letter to the Hebrews puts it this way: "Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief." [Hebrews 4:11] So, this is a "work" of faith, where we are no longer working, but trusting God to accomplish the work He has begun and is perfectly able to complete!
This Shabbat, if you dealing with fear of the future, rest in the fact that YOUR future is already secure in the finished work of Messiah! You can trust Him, in faith, knowing that not a single hair of your head can fall to the ground without Him allowing it!
Friend, enjoy your Shabbat tonight and embrace the profound lesson of the Sabbath – let go, and let God! Remember that the only real rest from anxiety, worry and fear … is found in HIM – Yeshua, the Lord of Shabbat!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel
Putin warns North Korea situation on verge of 'large-scale conflict'
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that the tense standoff between North Korea and the United States was on the verge of large-scale conflict and said it was a mistake to try to pressure Pyongyang over its nuclear missile program.
UN atomic energy agency: Iran complying with nuclear deal
The top UN official monitoring Iran’s nuclear program on Thursday noted no violations by Tehran in its latest quarterly Iran monitoring report. At the same time, International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano’s report said that the agency continues to hunt for 'undeclared nuclear material and activities.'
US commander: IS leader al-Baghdadi probably still alive
Islamic State group leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi appears to be still alive, a top US military commander said Thursday, contradicting Russia’s claims that it probably killed the top counterterror target months ago.
Trump retaliates by closing Russian diplomatic outposts in U.S.
The Trump administration ordered Russia to close a consulate in San Francisco and scale back operations in New York and Washington in retaliation for Moscow’s expelling U.S. diplomats and closing sites in Russia a month ago, the State Department announced Thursday.
Al Qaeda affiliate mining uranium to send to Iran, Somali official warns US ambassador
An Al Qaeda affiliate has seized control of uranium mines in Africa with the intent of supplying the material to Iran, according to a diplomatic letter from a top Somali official appealing to the U.S. for 'immediate military assistance.'
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Russia stations S-400 batteries near Iranian arms factory in Syria
Russia has reportedly stationed its advanced S-400 anti-missile defense system near an Iranian arms factory in Syria, which allegedly manufactures long-range guided missiles for Hezbollah to use against Israel.
US to let Iranian-backed militias within 10 km of Golan Heights
US officials have agreed to let Iranian-backed militias take up positions in Syria less than ten kilometers from the Israeli Golan Heights, the Arabic daily Asharq Al Awsat reported Thursday.
Forced by court order, Netanyahu reveals 230 calls to Israel Hayom editor
Forced by a Supreme Court order to reveal the dates of his phone calls with the owner and chief editor of a newspaper seen as staunchly loyal to him, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed on Thursday that from 2012-2015 he spoke with American Jewish casino mogul Sheldon Adelson almost once a week and nearly double that with then-Israel Hayom editor Amos Regev.
Rabbinical court rules against Jewish marriage rites for Messianic Jews
Two messianic Jews, who are Jewish by birth and who believe Jesus is God and the Messiah, and who sought to get married through the Chief Rabbinate in a Jewish ceremony, have been told by a special panel of the Tel Aviv Rabbinical Court that their beliefs put them outside of the Jewish faith and therefore they cannot get married in a religious ceremony.
Inside the United States
White House preparing $5.9B request for Harvey recovery aid
The White House has prepared a request to Congress for an initial $5.9 billion package in Harvey recovery aid, a first down payment to make sure recovery efforts over the next few weeks are adequately funded.
Harvey may have wrecked up to 1M cars and trucks
Hurricane Harvey and its catastrophic aftermath likely destroyed more vehicles than any other natural disaster in U.S. history, according to several early estimates.
David Daleiden, attorneys fined $200,000 over undercover Planned Parenthood videos
A federal judge on Thursday fined pro-life investigator David Daleiden and two of his attorneys nearly $200,000 after finding them in contempt of court for the release of undercover videos.
Antidepressants Found In Brains Of 10 Fish Species
Antidepressants are increasingly building up in the brains of several species of fish in the Great Lakes region. A new study claims scientists detected traces of antidepressants in large clusters, according to research from the University of Buffalo (UB). Bass and walleye fish are among the 10 affected species.
Comey Decided He Wasn't Going to Refer Hillary For Prosecution Long Before FBI Investigation Was Over
According to new transcripts released by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday afternoon, former FBI Director James Comey made the decision not to refer then Democrat presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for prosecution long before ever interviewing key witnesses. Members of the Committee allege Comey made the decision months before FBI agents were finished with the criminal investigation into her mishandling of classified information during her time as Secretary of State.
Trump admin to cut 90 percent of ACA advertising budget
The Trump administration announced Thursday that it will cut advertising for the Affordable Care Act by as much as 90 percent, which health experts say could severely impact the healthcare legislation.
Gasoline at Two-Year High as Harvey Shuts Largest U.S. Refinery
Gasoline hit a new a two-year high as investors assess the impact of refinery outages and restarts as Harvey moves away from the Houston area.
Governor Abbott calls for day of prayer in Texas after Hurricane Harvey
As the state of Texas continues to suffer the effects of Hurricane Harvey, Governor Greg Abbott has called for a day of prayer.
Christian News
'Who Is the Real Hate Group Here?': Franklin Graham Unloads on Southern Poverty Law Center
Evangelist Franklin Graham is speaking out against the Southern Poverty Law Center for labeling several Christian groups, like D. James Kennedy Ministries and the Family Research Council, 'hate groups.'
Mother in Uganda Beaten, Driven from Home for Embracing Christianity
A woman in eastern Uganda who put her faith in Christ is in hiding after her husband beat her for leaving Islam, sources said.
Pastor in India Perseveres amid Persecution by Hindu Extremists
A band of Hindu extremists who had snuck into a house-church service beat a pastor with steel rods and sticks, one of them yelling that they would stop if he shouted, 'Hail, Lord Ram [Jai Sri Ram]!'