Worthy Brief - 11/28/2017
Friend, wake up -- the eruptions are here!
Zephaniah 2:2-3 Before the decree is issued, Or the day passes like chaff, Before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, Before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord's anger.
As Mount Agung has caused roughly 150,000 to evacuate their homes
in Indonesia, it reminded me of a story that happened in the late 1800's when witnesses of a volcanic eruption believed the end of the world had come.
It was 1883 when Captain Sampson of the British navy witnessed one of the greatest volcanic eruptions in history which took place in Indonesia. The eruption was so powerful that its shock waves traveled around the world seven times. The volcano shot miles of debris into the atmosphere which fell to earth as far away as Madagascar - over 2000 miles distance. Captain Sampson wrote in the ship's log: "I am writing this blind in pitch darkness. We are under continual rain of pumice-stone and dust. So violent are the explosions that the ear-drums of over half my crew have been shattered ... I am convinced that the Day of Judgment has come."
These men witnessed something extraordinary, and it caused them to ponder the inevitable question -- Is this the end? What was the crew thinking and feeling as they were deafened by the massive explosions, and blinded by the clouds of smoke and ash? To them it must have been as if the sun had become like sackcloth! Did this experience change their lives? Were they now powerfully aware of how fragile life is? Did they suddenly begin to examine what their lives had consisted of up to that moment?
Imagine yourself in that boat as these events are taking place. Now picture yourself at the present moment ... are you thinking about what your life has been about, or what it is now? Are you thinking about what it could be??
Friend, wake up. Recognize that eruptions are already taking place, and these are the Lord's warnings to this sleeping world; warnings that His return is NEAR! We are privileged to be witnesses and participants in the most extraordinary times as the end of the age draws near. But God is looking for people who are awake, who are wise, who understand the signs of the times, and who know Him ... so they can do exploits and can shine like stars in a darkening world -- will you be one of them?
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Orlando, Florida
Editor's Note: Just a reminder, we'll be ministering in the Florida, George and the Carolinas over the next few weeks! Be sure to check out our schedule for more details!
Editor's Note: We have our 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.
Bali volcano: 150,000 people to evacuate erupting Mt Agung, airport closes for another day
About 150,000 people will leave their homes on the slopes of Mount Agung, Bali's Governor says, as the volcano's eruptions grow more powerful, while the island's main airport will close for another 24 hours due to ashfall.
Suicide attack targets area southeast of Baghdad
Two attackers shot several civilians on Monday in the Nahrawan area southeast of Baghdad before one blew himself up and the other was killed by security forces, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said, without providing official casualty figures.
Russia seeks two-day ceasefire in Damascus suburb; dozens killed by air strikes
Russia proposed a two-day ceasefire on Monday in the last major rebel stronghold near the Syrian capital Damascus, where warplanes killed at least 41 people in two days of air strikes as Russian-backed government forces tried to capture the area.
WHO: Plague outbreak in Madagascar is slowing
Madagascar’s 'unprecedented' outbreak of plague is slowing, but responders cannot afford to ease off the fight until the risk of transmission dies down in the spring, the World Health Organization said Monday.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Iran-backed militia in Syria says it’s ‘fully prepared’ to battle Israel
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Israel's Iron Dome system deployed on ships for first time
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Rather than disarm, Hamas vows to attack Israel
Palestinian terror movement Hamas again refused to disarm on Monday ahead of a key reconciliation deadline, instead threatening to carry out attacks against Israel in the West Bank.
Inside the United States
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Rep. Raul M. Grijalva quietly arranged a 'severance package' in 2015 for one of his top staffers who threatened a lawsuit claiming the Arizona Democrat was frequently drunk and created a hostile workplace environment, revealing yet another way that lawmakers can use taxpayer dollars to hide their misbehavior on Capitol Hill.
Supreme Court shoots down gun cases, upholds ban on assault weapons and open-carry
The Supreme Court announced Monday it had declined to hear two Second Amendment cases, leaving intact gun control laws in Maryland that restrict the types of weapons that can be bought, and in Florida that largely prevent gun owners from carrying their weapons in the open.
Christian News
European Christians March Against ‘Christianophobia’ After Court Rules to Remove Cross from Pope Statue
Some 350 Europeans rallied together to protest a French court's decision to remove the cross from Pope John Paul II's statue.
U.K. Raises Awareness of Persecuted Christians by Lighting Buildings up Red
On Nov. 22, the British Houses of Parliament and more than 30 churches and schools, mostly in the U.K., bathed their buildings in red light to bring attention to the worsening problem of Christian persecution around the world.