Worthy Brief - 9/15/2016
Friend, take the leap!
John 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"
One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee flames by jumping to the ground from the roof. His father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." But the boy was afraid -- he couldn't see his father -- all he could see was flame, smoke, and blackness. He was afraid. Still, his father kept yelling: "Jump son! I will catch you!" But the boy refused, crying, "Daddy, I can't see you!" His father replied, "It's ok son -- I can see you -- and that's all that matters!"
Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of the fiery trials of life and all we can see is the smoke and the flames. But faith is knowing who will catch us when take that leap. In Hebrew, the word 'truth' in this verse, is em-oo-nah, which is also translated faith. God delights in responding to our faith. He wants us to jump into His arms --- especially when we can't see Him.
George Mueller said, "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends."
Friend, let's practice some faith today. Our Father's arms are biggest and strongest they come!
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
Syrians still awaiting humanitarian aid despite ceasefire extension
The tenuous calm brought to Syria by a US and Russia ceasefire seems to be holding after an agreement by both parties to extend the deal for another 48 hours.
Dhaka flooding: Why are there 'rivers of blood' at Eid?
As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, people in Dhaka have been sharing pictures showing streets flooded with blood-stained water.
Super-Typhoon Lashes South Taiwan Leaving Thousands Without Power
Record-breaking winds and heavy rains disrupted transport today as Super-Typhoon Meranti cut a path across southern Taiwan and headed toward China.
Strongest typhoon since 2013: Meranti slams China with flooding rain after lashing Taiwan
Meranti will continue to barrel inland over eastern China after battering Taiwan and coastal China with flooding rain, damaging winds and mudslides.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
IDF hits Hamas targets in Gaza
The IDF launched a fresh wave of airstrikes overnight Wednesday against three Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip. The move comes as a retaliation for the firing of artillery shells on the Eshkol Regional Council late Wednesday.
Inside the United States
Obama raises refugee goal to 110,000, infuriating GOP
President Barack Obama plans to admit 110,000 refugees from around the world to the United States over the next year -- a figure that is 10,000 above his original goal and which immediately set off howls of protest from some Republicans.
Census Bureau: 118,395,000 on 'Government Health Insurance' in 2015; 28,966,000 Uninsured for Entire Year
There were approximately 118,395,000 people in the United States who had 'government health insurance' at some time during 2015 and 28,966,000 who were uninsured for the entire year, according to numbers released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
American trust in news media falls to lowest level in history: Gallup poll
A major pollster has some stark news: 'Americans' trust and confidence in the mass media 'to report the news fully, accurately and fairly' has dropped to its lowest level in Gallup polling history, with 32 percent saying they have a great deal or fair amount of trust in the media. This is down eight percentage points from last year,' writes Art Swift, an analyst for the Gallup poll, which first asked the nation to weigh in on the press in 1972.
U.S. Politics
New polls show Trump ahead of Clinton in 2 battleground states
A series of new polls published Wednesday show Republican nominee Donald Trump leading over Hillary Clinton in two key battleground states, in a reversal of recent weeks and especially last month when the Democratic nominee was comfortably ahead.
Franklin Graham: I'm Not 'Deplorable' to God, Even If Hillary Clinton Thinks So
Franklin Graham is criticizing Hillary Clinton this week for her now-infamous 'deplorables' comment, wondering if she has considered the gravity of sin and ones standing before Almighty God.
Doctor: Hillary Clinton is 'healthy and fit to serve as president'
Hillary Clinton is 'healthy and fit to serve as president' despite her bout of bacterial pneumonia, her doctor has said.
Christian News
Authorities Arrest Christian Leader in Al Jazirah State, Sudan, in School Takeover
Authorities in southeastern Sudan arrested the headmaster of a Christian school last week and took over its property, sources said.
Are American Christians Really 'Persecuted'?
Anti-Christian hostility is on the minds of many American Christians these days. Each new legal challenge to religious liberty at the state and federal levels raises the issue afresh. It seems that today, Christians must think through their cultural position more carefully than at any other point in US history.