Worthy Brief - Christian Newsletter » Newsletters » 2017 » November » Worthy Brief - 11/1/2017

Worthy Brief - 11/1/2017

Friend, have you seen the big picture?

1 Corinthians 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

We came across this powerful story and wanted to share it with you.

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted them to learn to not judge things too quickly, so he sent them each on a quest to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. He sent his first son in the winter, his second in the spring, his third in summer and his youngest in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no - it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen. The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

After hearing all his son's responses, the wise father replied, "Sons, you are all right -- because you have each seen only one season in the tree's life. But you cannot judge a tree, or a person, or anything else by only one season. Most things can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons have come to pass".

Friend, I think each of us has judged someone or something prematurely at some point in time in our lives, and we have also probably experienced the pain of being judged that way. Lord, forgive us! We need to give each other the benefit of the doubt! We need to look closely enough and long enough to see the big picture before we rule things out. Why? Because God does that for us all the time.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Arad, Israel

Editor's Note: We have our preliminary schedule online. Be sure to check it out and see where you can meet us on the road! There are still a few holes we are hoping to fill along the way. If you would like to us minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or host a Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyemail.com for more information.

Around the World
Putin Stokes Biological Weapon Fears, Saying Foreigners are Collecting Russian DNA
Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised alarm about mysterious foreign forces collecting DNA from ordinary citizens, triggering concerns in parliament about a biological attack—as well as memes from those less convinced of the danger of his pronouncement.
Iran Threatens Ballistic Missile Strikes on American Forces, Can Hit ‘All U.S. Bases’
A top Iranian military commander has threatened to launch ballistic missile attacks on U.S. forces in the region amid a public effort by the Islamic Republic to show off its advanced missile capabilities, according to U.S. officials and regional reports.
U.S. Pursuing Rigorous New Nuclear Inspection Regime in Iran
The United States is pursuing a rigorous new regime for international inspections of Iran's nuclear program that includes access to off-limits military sites as well as increased transparency on the Islamic Republic's often obfuscated enrichment of uranium, the key component in a nuclear bomb, according to U.S. officials and congressional leaders spearheading the new inspection effort.
Facebook: Russia-linked posts distributed as many as 126 million users
Facebook says a Russian group posted more than 80,000 times on its service during and after the 2016 election, potentially reaching as many as 126 million users.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Hamas Officials Praise Iranian Rejection of ‘Zionist Presence in Palestine,’ Affirm Continuation of ‘Armed Resistance’
Hamas leaders newly returned from an official visit to Iran have hailed their restored ties with the Tehran regime, praising the Islamic Republic’s 'making no secret' of the 'exceptional support' it provides to the Palestinian terrorist organization.
Australians in Israel honour Beersheba cavalry charge
Thousands of Australians had gathered in stands at a dust bowl called Be’ersheva River Park, where the Australian mounted troops began the charge that stormed the town a century ago.
Islamic Jihad official: Tunnel's purpose was to abduct soldiers for swaps
The tunnel the IDF blew up was 'meant to bring about the release of Palestinian prisoners from the Israeli prisons,' Khaled al-Batash, a senior Islamic Jihad official, said Tuesday.

Inside the United States
Facebook, Twitter: Russian actors sought to undermine Trump AFTER election
Top lawyers from Facebook and Twitter said Tuesday that Russian-linked posts and advertisements placed on the social networks after Election Day sought to sow doubt about President Donald Trump's victory.
Senate won't rule out putting repeal of Obamacare individual mandate in tax bill
Some Senate Republicans aren’t ruling out including a repeal of Obamacare’s individual mandate in a tax reform bill even though leaders of the House effort have nixed the idea in their legislation.
Manhattan Terror Attack Kills 8 and Injures 11
A driver plowed a pickup truck down a crowded bike path along the Hudson River in Manhattan on Tuesday, killing eight people and injuring 11 before being shot by a police officer in what officials are calling the deadliest terrorist attack on New York City since Sept. 11, 2001.
Army Corps of Engineers: Not all Puerto Rico officials are accepting FEMA's help
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Donald E. Jackson told Senate lawmakers on Tuesday that some Puerto Rico officials have refused to cooperate with the military and the Federal Emergency Management Agency during ongoing recovery efforts.
House GOP delays tax bill rollout
House Republicans postponed the much-anticipated rollout of their tax reform proposal Tuesday night, an ominous sign for a direly needed legislative accomplishment for President Donald Trump and his party.

Christian News
White juvenile accused of burning down black church
Authorities say a young white man is accused of setting fire to the sanctuary of a predominantly black church in Louisiana.