Worthy Brief - 9/5/2016
Friend, have you experienced catastrophe?
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
The Grand Canyon Park bookstore operated by the National Park Service found itself in the midst of some controversy a few years ago when they were selling a book written by creationists much to the ire of the National Center for Science Education.
The book detailed how the Grand Canyon could have been formed from a 'catastrophic' event -- a catastrophe such as the flood of Noah's day. Imagine that, it may have been a catastrophe that created such beauty!
Nearly 2000 years ago, the disciples witnessed a catastrophe -- the crucifixion of our Lord. But the Lord used this tragedy to redeem all mankind. This great catastrophe was turned to ultimate beauty.
Each of us has experienced tragedy in our lives. Inevitably the question arises -- Why? Let's be encouraged by one of God's most beautiful masterpieces. The Lord can turn our great catastrophes into great beauty -- into great victory!
Friend, let's turn to the Lord with our catastrophes. He can turn the most difficult tragedy into an incredible work of art!
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?
Around the World
Obama and Putin meet in China amid struggle for Syria deal
The United States and Russia struggled Monday to keep alive negotiations to end the bloodshed between US-backed rebels and Syria’s Russian-aligned regime. Even as top diplomats vowed to keep trying, President Barack Obama expressed skepticism that an unlikely alliance between rivals would yield the breakthrough needed to end the 5-year-old civil war.
Obama makes trade deal top priority in remaining months
Despite formidable opposition across the political spectrum, President Barack Obama is using his final months in office to fight for congressional approval of a 12-nation free trade pact called the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
Saudi Arabia, Russia to call for oil market cooperation: Report
Top oil producers Saudi Arabia and Russia are due later on Monday to make a joint statement during the G20 summit in China calling for cooperation to support oil markets, several sources with knowledge of the matter said.
North Korea flood displaces tens of thousands, state media says
A flood has led to the displacement of tens of thousands of North Koreans in its northeastern region.
Russian president is gearing up for atomic war with the West by building top-secret nuclear shelters, security experts
The Russian president has invested heavily in decking out top-secret facilities around Moscow in the event of war.
German anti-immigrant party beats Merkel in her home district
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats were beaten into third place by the anti-immigrant and anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a north-eastern state election on Sunday, TV exit polls showed.
Defiant Merkel says refugees not taking away benefits from Germans
German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose conservative party faces possible defeat in an election in her home state on Sunday, rejected charges by anti-immigrant critics that her government was spending less on Germans due to a large influx of refugees.
North Korea Fires Three Ballistic Missiles Off Eastern Coast
South Korea's military says North Korea has fired three ballistic missiles into the waters off its eastern coast.
End-Times Geopolitics Revolving Around Turkey
Only weeks after an attempted coup threatened his rule, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is on the move both militarily and diplomatically.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
In first, Germany admits PA is likely paying terrorists' families
The German government has for the first time admitted that the Palestinian Authority likely grants financial support to terrorists and their families, and vowed to further investigate the matter.
Syrian shell explodes in Golan Heights, IDF attacks in response
Following the 'spillover firing' of a mortar from Syrian that landed in the Golan Heights, the IDF attacked on Sunday night Syrian army artillery. The shell fired into Israel was part of intra-national Syrian fighting, and it landed in an open area, not causing any injuries or damage.
Israeli army introduces Dragon advanced firing system
Elbit Systems Dragon makes it possible for armored vehicles to accurately hit distant targets without exposing soldiers.
Inside the United States
Louisiana flood did more than $8 billion in damage
The Louisiana floods last month caused a $8.7 billion in damage, a number that is expected to increase as officials continue to take stock of the damage, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced this week.
Hermine spins away from East Coast, batters shore with waves
Hermine spun away from the East Coast on Sunday, removing the threat of heavy rain but maintaining enough power to whip up dangerous waves and rip currents and keep beaches off-limits to disappointed swimmers and surfers during the Labor Day weekend.
The Fed may be preparing for the unthinkable -- negative interest rates in America
Negative interest rates are spreading like a virus. Central banks in the Eurozone, Switzerland, Sweden, and Japan all have below-zero policy rates. 'NIRP,' as economists call a negative interest rate policy, is a desperation move--but the only move those central banks have.
FBI Releases Clinton Email Investigation Files
The FBI on Friday publicly released files from its investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server, including a summary of the bureau's interview with Clinton in July.
Record Gun Sales in August
Newly released FBI figures show that last month saw the most gun-related FBI background checks of any August on record.
U.S. Politics
21 things we learned from the FBI notes on Clinton's emails
Notes from the FBI's year-long investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email network offer fresh insight into the steps the former secretary of state and her team took to conceal their records from the public.
Christian News
Indonesian pastor injured as suicide bomber attempts attack during church service
In the middle of a church service on Sunday 28 August in Medan, Sumatra, a Muslim man attempted to detonate a suicide bomb but when this failed he attacked the pastor leading the service with an axe. The pastor escaped with minor injuries when the attacker, who was carrying a drawing of the Islamic State (IS) flag, was restrained by the congregation.
Christians Need Not Apply: Few Syrian Christian Refugees Allowed into US
The Obama administration has surpassed its goal of receiving 10,000 Syrian refugees by Oct. 1, but very few of the new arrivals are Christian.
Mel Gibson confirms new film project on Jesus' resurrection
Mel Gibson confirmed that he is making a movie about the resurrection of Jesus, recalling that he had the 'tar kicked out of' him for his movie about the last days of the Christian messiah, 'The Passion of the Christ.'