Worthy Brief - 5/21/2018

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Worthy News Brief - May 21, 2018
Friend, stay in faith, no matter what! James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. During the Biblical festival of Shavuot, the book of Ruth is read. It's a powerful story of faith, restoration and redemption. The book opens with a famine in all the land surrounding Bethlehem, forcing a difficult decision upon Naomi's husband, Elimelech. Now, Bethlehem (beth: "house", lechem: "bread") literally means “house of bread”, so the irony of Elimelech's departure from his home, "house of bread", during a famine, is lost on English speaking readers, but reveals that every detail in the word of God can be meaningful, especially the meanings of names. Now the name "Elimelech" literally means, “My God is King” -- so immediately, another irony appears: a man whose name expresses the personal testimony of God's authority over every circumstance and His complete trustworthiness, decides to leave the Promised Land, and settle in Moab, across the Jordan -- a land that had become alien territory for the Israelites because of the Moabites' inhospitable treatment of Israel during the sojourn from Egypt. Elimelech either forgot or ignored the example of the patriarch, Isaac and failed to apply the same faith as his forefather had, and to remain true to his own name! Genesis 26 recounts how that Issac had thought of leaving Gerar (modern day Gaza) to go to Egypt in hope of finding food in the midst of a famine, but instead, he stood firm in faith and remained in the Promised Land. The Lord's response was to bless Issac a hundredfold that same year! [Genesis 26:12] However, we also read in Genesis 12 how Abraham had left the land during a famine and had encountered problems in Egypt that were as frightening or worse than the famine. So Elimelech had these two illustrations, one positive, one negative, both of which might have moved him to choose to persevere through this difficult time, and remain in the place of his inheritance. Whatever the immediate cause, it seems that Elimelech's departure from the Promised Land was not to be reversed. He died in Moab, leaving a discouraged widow, and eventually, two widowed daughters-in-law. We might ask, what would have been Elimelech's legacy had he stayed and prayed through this extremely difficult and frightening trial in Caanan? What might have been his "hundred-fold" blessing? Our world today is experiencing famine in various places, and there are recent warnings that a crop funguses could lead to famine conditions across the globe. Yet famine has many faces, and the various trials and afflictions in our lives can have the same frightening effect to test the metal of our faith. Many of us are being severely tested these days with trials that are shaking us to the core. There are examples of the faithful who have persevered through to victory and received tremendous blessings from the Lord for their stand of unswerving faith. Yet there are also examples of those who somehow did not live up to their own testimony, for failure to stick it out through tough situations. We have these two paths before us. Friend, Yeshua (Jesus) asked this question; "Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?"? And in another place He spoke directly to Satan these timeless words; "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word from the mouth of God." If there was ever a time to believe these words, it is now, even as the world stands on the brink, and the earth groans in the travail of childbirth. Some of us have the opportunity of a lifetime to get through our particular trial, in faith. The Lord Yeshua will be faithful to us, and He will abundantly reward our faith in Him. Let's stay the course. Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah Arad, Israel
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Around the World US, China Putting Trade War on Hold After Progress in Talks The United States and China are pulling back from the brink of a trade war after the world's two biggest economies reported progress in talks aimed at bringing down America's massive trade deficit with Beijing. Indonesia's most volatile volcano erupts again Indonesia's most volatile volcano has spewed smoke and ash in the latest of several eruptions in less than two weeks. Lead for Repeal of Ireland's Pro-Life Amendment Narrows The number of Irish voters who favor repealing that nation's Eighth Amendment versus those who want to keep it has narrowed, according to polling. Congressional Report: Iran's Economy Could Collapse The U.S. decision to drop out of the Iran nuclear agreement could cause the Iranian economy to decline and ultimately collapse, a report from the Congressional Research Service affirms. Israel-Palestinian Conflict Trump team still debating timing of Mideast peace plan release The Trump administration will unveil its plan for Israeli- Palestinian peace sometime in the coming months, but no decision has been made as to the precise timing of its release, two US sources told The Jerusalem Post on Friday. US envoy to Israel: Evangelical Christians firmer Israel backers than many Jews The US Ambassador to Israel said evangelical Christians are more passionate supporters of Israel than many Jews. Suffering chest pains, Abbas taken to hospital for the third time in a week Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was taken to a Ramallah hospital Sunday for the third time in a week. Inside the United States Trump's stealth victory: Reshaping the courts With less than two years under his belt, President Trump has managed to make a substantial imprint on the U.S. judicial system -- one that could be felt for decades to come -- by getting the Senate to confirm key judicial nominees. Trump demands Justice Department probe if campaign ‘infiltrated’ President Donald Trump said Sunday that he will 'demand' that the Justice Department open an investigation into whether the FBI infiltrated his presidential campaign, an extraordinary order that came hours before his legal team said that the special counsel indicated its investigation into the president could be concluded by September. Lava From Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano Has Reached the Pacific Ocean and It's Creating a New Danger A volcano that is oozing, spewing and exploding on Hawaii’s Big Island has gotten more hazardous, sending rivers of molten rock pouring into the ocean Sunday and launching lava skyward that caused the first major injury. Defunding Planned Parenthood: Donald Trump's Good Start Thursday evening the Trump administration announced a measure that pro-life advocates have been seeking since the Clinton administration -- restoration of Reagan-era rules that 'require a ‘bright line’ of physical and financial separation between Title X services and providers that perform, support, or refer to abortion as a method of family planning.' To understand Title X, and its role in the abortion debate, requires a bit of background. Op-Ed: With the individual mandate dead, the rest of Obamacare is unconstitutional In 2012, Chief Justice John Roberts famously ruled the Affordable Care Act’s provision mandating most people purchase health insurance or else pay a fine constitutional on the basis that Congress has the authority to tax individuals, and the so-called Obamacare 'fine' is effectively a tax. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio Preparing City for Marijuana Legalization, Instructs NYPD to Halt Arrests New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is set to instruct NYPD to stop arrests of New Yorkers smoking weed in public while additionally forming a task force to ease what he sees as an inevitable full-on legalization of recreational marijuana. Christian News Sentence Upheld for Pastor in Algeria Stopped for Carrying Christian Literature A case that began with police in Algeria stopping a Christian suspected of carrying Bibles in his car ended yesterday with a large fine for the church leader. Museum of the Bible Visitors Top Half a Million in First Six Months The Good Book is shaping up to be a good draw on the crowded landscape of museums in the nation’s capital. Church of Scotland takes another step towards allowing same-sex marriages The Church of Scotland's General Assembly voted yesterday in favour of a motion that will take it a step closer to approving ministers conducting same-sex marriages. 'Hope and Healing': Texas Town Worships After School Attack Congregations in this deeply religious community near Houston gathered Sunday for their first worship services since a teenager with a shotgun blasted his way into a high school art classroom and killed 10 people — eight students and two teachers.
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