Worthy Brief - 12/25/2020
Friend, shalom!
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Yeshua (Jesus) is the Prince of Peace (Sar Shalom, in Hebrew). You may have already known that the word "shalom" means peace. But actually, it has several meanings in Hebrew. Shalom means peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest -- and not only that. Shalom is the common word for hello and goodbye.
So, when you greet someone or bid them a farewell "shalom", what you are actually doing is speaking all those blessings upon them -- and really, speaking over them the ultimate peace, Yeshua, Himself!
Friend, 'tis the season to speak shalom over one another -- in doing so, we'll truly be His ambassador of peace in this world so filled with chaos! Shabbat Shalom!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Lucas, Texas
Editor's Note: We're starting to schedule our Winter tour of the Southern United States. If you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
Editor's Note: Watch the latest YouTube video, The Prophetic Understanding of Chanukah!
Editor's Note: Be sure to visit Watchman in the Wilderness as George delivers fresh commentary relevant to the times in which we live. Read today's post, "Interesting Tweet Sent by President Trump."
Britain, EU Sign Christmas Trade Deal
Britian and the European Union avoided a messy divorce on Christmas Eve as they agreed on a trade deal worth nearly $1 trillion.
Migrants Face Bleak Christmas After Bosnia Camp Fire
Hundreds of migrants fleeing hardship faced a bleak Christmas without shelter amid harsh winter conditions after a refugee camp was closed and set on fire in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Netanyahu says ‘many, many more’ Arab states to normalize ties with Israel soon
Two days after Israel and Morocco signed their first deals in the process of establishing full diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that “many, many more countries” would be signing normalization agreements with the Jewish state “a lot sooner than people expect.”
Israel: Biotech students develop way to prevent spoiling of fruit juice
Biotechnology students in Israel have found a way to prevent fruit juice from spoiling: they harnessed and applied a strain of bacteria that is found in the natural environment, Israel 365 News reported Wednesday. The finding was made by a team of students from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology in Haifa, and earned them first prize in a competition held by the European food consortium EIT Food.
Inside the United States
Supreme Court in no hurry to hear Trump campaign case, sets response deadline two days after inauguration
The latest Trump campaign appeal to the Supreme Court won't see any action from the justices until after the inauguration.
U.S. mortgage rate for 30-year loans sinks to new record low
Long-term mortgage rates in the United States have fallen to a record low for the 16th time this year.
Trump rally in D.C. planned for Jan. 6, day Congress counts Electoral College votes
President Trump supporters have filed an application to hold a rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 – the legal date on which Congress counts the Electoral College votes that have certified Democrat Joe Biden as the next U.S. president.
Christian News
Washington State lifts restrictions on worship services; cites court rulings
Citing recent high court rulings, Washington State announced Monday that it is lifting its COVID-19 restriction on the size of gatherings at indoor worship services, the Christian Post reports. Masks and social distancing are still required but, under the new regulations, the 25% capacity and 200-person limit of gatherings indoors is a recommendation rather than a mandate.
California district judge refuses to lift COVID-19 restrictions on houses of worship – despite recent SCOTUS rulings
Despite US Supreme Court decisions to strike down COVID-19 worship service restrictions in two recent cases, a federal judge again refused to lift worship restrictions in a case brought by California’s South Bay United Pentecostal Church, the Christian Post reports.
Important new report on religious persecution in North Korea: Christians are the most targeted among faith groups
A groundbreaking new study entitled “Persecuting Faith” has found that Christianity is the most persecuted faith in secretive North Korea, Christianity Today reports. Drawing on the testimonies of 117 defectors, the 2020 report was published by the Korea Future Initiative (KFI) in the hope it will inform any future human rights sanctions applied to North Korea by Western countries.