Worthy Brief - 12/1/2017
Friend, bring forth treasure!
2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.
When the apostle Paul compared our lives to clay pots, he focused not on the earthen vessels, but rather the contents of those vessels. Jars of clay deteriorate over time, become chipped, cracked, and eventually broken. However, the real value of those ancient pots was not in the clay containers themselves, but in what they contained.
We human beings tend to focus on the frailties and imperfections of our decaying "vessels", looking, characteristically, on the outward form rather than the substance within. But the inward reality is what matters to God, and ultimately, to us as well, since that reality is His living Presence within us; a treasure of wisdom, power and love with inestimable value.
Friend, the Lord's evaluation of us is not by outward appearance, which is corruptible and deteriorates with time. His indwelling Spirit, His Living Word, and the dynamic intimate relationship into which He invites us--- are where the real treasure lies!
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.
U.S. talks with Russia about military partnership in Afghanistan Wa
Top U.S. military commanders and diplomats are weighing a proposed strategy shift in the Afghanistan War centered on expanded military collaboration with Russia.
Yemen rebel missiles fired at Saudi Arabia appear Iranian - U.N.
Remnants of four ballistic missiles fired into Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Houthi rebels this year appear to have been designed and manufactured by Riyadh’s regional rival Iran, a confidential report by United Nations sanctions monitors said, bolstering a push by the United States to punish the Tehran government.
Shallow 6.0 earthquake strikes eastern Iran, causing damage
Three earthquakes hit eastern Iran in quick succession early Friday, the first a fairly strong magnitude 6.0 tremor that struck at a shallow depth close to the populous city of Kerman, the US Geological Survey said.
US officials confirm Trump planning to oust Tillerson
After months of clashes on policy and personality, President Donald Trump is considering ousting Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and replacing him with hard-nosed CIA Director Mike Pompeo following less than a year on the job, senior US officials said Thursday as turmoil within Trump’s national security team burst into the open.
German Jews stop wearing Kippot due to Muslim attacks
Members of the small Jewish community in the West German city of Bochum announced that they will no longer wear kippot because of attacks on them by Muslim youths.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Trump said to announce US embassy move, recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital
Israeli officials are reportedly expecting US President Donald Trump to make a landmark announcement in the coming days regarding the move of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognizing the highly-sensitive holy city as Israel’s capital, according to a local TV report on Wednesday.
Israeli soldier stabbed to death in apparent terror attack
A twenty year-old man was stabbed to death in the southern Israeli city of Arad on Thursday in what police said was an apparent terrorist attack.
Inside the United States
GOP scrambles for plan B tax increase after floor drama over Senate tax bill
Senate Republicans are considering a tax increase as a plan B to raise revenue to get their party’s deficit hawks to support their tax bill, Republican Whip John Cornyn said Thursday evening, as the 'debt trigger' idea the party had been working on ran afoul of Senate rules.
12 Years Since GDP Grew 3% in 3 Straight Quarters
With the Bureau of Economic Analysis announcing today that, according to its second estimate, real Gross Domestic Product grew at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the third quarter--following a second quarter rate of 3.1 percent--the United States took a step toward doing something it has not done in more than 12 years: seeing the economy grow at an annual rate of 3.0 percent or better in three straight quarters.
Tax cut plan slips out of Senate Republicans’ hands when ‘trigger’ compromise is nixed
Senate Republicans were struggling to keep their $1.4 trillion tax cut on track Thursday night after a key compromise crumbled, sending leaders scurrying for another last-minute rewrite to try to keep deficit hawks on board.
FBI Finally Investigates Planned Parenthood’s Human Remains Trafficking Scheme
After years of investigations that began primarily due to whistleblower videos, the FBI has finally decided to investigate Planned Parenthood for trafficking in human remains from abortion. Between that and the Center for Medical Progress’s latest undercover video showing how PP colluded with medical company StemExpress to sell the most aborted baby parts for the most profit, the GOP should finally defund this shady organization that still receives a large guaranteed taxpayer subsidy.
Senate tax plan would cost $1 trillion over 10 years factoring in growth: Study
The Senate GOP’s tax-cut plan would result in modest economic growth in the coming decade that would shave about $400 billion off its $1.4 trillion price tag, according to a report from congressional scorekeepers released Thursday.
Abortion issue powerful enough to swing Senate race in Alabama
Given the tenor of the campaign in the state, one might think Doug Jones was a doctor performing abortions on young women, not a former prosecutor and now Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.
Christian News
Mortar inside Jerusalem's Holy Sepulchre backs up story of how emperor's mother found Jesus's tomb
The discovery of late-Roman era mortar under a slab of marble at the site which some believe to be the burial place of Jesus Christ backs up contemporary accounts of the tomb's discovery, scientists say.