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Worthy Brief - Christian Newsletter » Newsletters » 2016 » May » Worthy Brief - 5/2/2016

Worthy Brief - 5/2/2016

Friend, the world needs to see our love!

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

One day, a man was walking across a bridge and saw another man standing on the edge, about to jump off. He immediately ran to him and said, "Stop! Don't do it!" "Well, why shouldn't I?" he replied. The other said, "Well, there's so much to live for!" "Like what"? "Well ... are you religious or atheist?" "Religious." "Me too! And are you Christian or Jewish?" "Christian." "Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?" "Protestant." "Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?” "Baptist." "Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?" "Baptist Church of God." "Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God." "Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?" "Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!" To which he said, "Die, you heretic!" and pushed him off the bridge.

When we get together with our family here in Israel on Shabbat, we often find ourselves discussing and even arguing our views on various topics, political, spiritual, etc. You've heard the phrase two Jews, five opinions? That's our family. At the end, we all laugh about who argued best and try to learn from one another.

The body of the Lord is one big family. Yes, we differ in opinion on some issues. But we are going to be together for eternity and we must learn to live in peace with one another! In order for us to make a real difference in the world, the world needs to see us loving each other.

Friend, let's not be like the man who pushed the other off the bridge. Let's laugh about it and try to learn from one another.

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?

Today's Breaking News
Around the World
Israel, Hamas and Egypt form unlikely alliance against Islamic State affiliate
The Islamic State’s affiliate in Egypt is staging increasingly sophisticated and daring attacks, officials and analysts say, prompting Israel, Egypt and the Palestinian militant group Hamas to form an unlikely alliance against the terrorist group.
Iran to Build Seven New Nuke Plants By 2020
Iran is offering to help the global community construct nuclear power plants, according to a top official, who said that Iran would be home to seven new nuclear plants by 2020, according to recent remarks.
Sons of Hezbollah commanders sent to Europe to evade Syria fighting
Senior commanders in Hezbollah are smuggling their sons to Europe to prevent the Lebanese terror organization from recruiting them to fight in Syria against the rebel factions, the Egyptian news site Arabi 21 reported Monday.
Europe's First Islamic Constitution?
Calls by a top member of the ruling party of Turkey for an Islamic constitution to replace the secular basic law in place in the country, a NATO member and crucial U.S. ally, have been rejected by politicians from all stripes, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, himself a pious Muslim. But as Erdogan is trying to avoid a debate that could harm him politically, the question remains: How should the relationship between state and religion be defined in a country with a 99 percent Muslim population?
Shiite cleric's speech sparks protesters to storm Green Zone, Iraqi Parliament
Protesters inflamed by a Shiite cleric's speech about government inaction and corruption stormed the fortified Green Zone in Baghdad on Saturday and invaded the Iraqi Parliament building.
Turkey PM, Hamas chief meet as Ankara inks defense deal with Qatar
Turkish President Ahmet Davutoglu met Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Doha on Thursday during a state visit to the Gulf emirate of Qatar.
Islamic Jihad delegation visits Iran to 'discuss ways to strengthen intifada'
Islamic Jihad representatives are visiting Iran to discuss ways to strengthen the intifada in the West Bank and Jerusalem, Palestinian media reported on Sunday.
Russians 'barrel roll' over another U.S. Air Force plane
A Russian SU-27 conducted a 'barrel roll' Friday over the top of a U.S. Air Force RC-135 which was flying a reconnaissance mission in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, the Defense Department said.
Kerry urges Assad regime to quit bombing contested Aleppo
Secretary of State John Kerry urged Syrian government forces Saturday to stop bombarding the city of Aleppo as it moves in to retake it.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Dead Sea area contains oil worth NIS 1.2 billion
A new report released Sunday by Israel Opportunity Energy Resources LP and filed with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange claimed an oil reservoir near the Dead Sea is worth NIS 1.2 billion ($320 million).
Arab rioters on Temple Mount hurl stones at police
Police and Border Police officers were attacked on Friday by Palestinians throwing stones after Friday prayers in the Old City.

Inside the United States
Arrests in Seattle as May Day marchers take to streets
Seattle police used pepper spray to disperse black-clad anti-capitalist protesters authorities say threw rocks, flares, bricks and Molotov cocktails at officers during a rowdy May Day gathering.
Puerto Rico won't make $370 million in debt payments Monday
Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla announced that Puerto Rico's government will not make nearly $370 million in bond payments due Monday after a failure to restructure or find a political solution to the U.S. territory's spiraling public debt crisis.
Poll: Not a Single White House Reporter Is a Republican
Not a single member of the White House press corps is a registered Republican, according to survey results recently published by Politico.

U.S. Politics
Southern Baptist Leader Russell Moore Calling on Evangelicals to Stop Trump
Russell Moore, President of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, is leading the evangelical charge against Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump.

Christian News
China's President Outlines Effort to Restrict Religion
Chinese president Xi Jinping is asking leaders in the country to work to reassert the Communist Party of China as the controlling religion in the country.
Police: 2 US missionaries found slain in rural Jamaica
Police in Jamaica say two U.S. missionaries have been found slain in a rural area of the Caribbean island that has long struggled with high rates of violent crime.