Worthy Brief - 2/12/2024

[WorthyNewsBot]

Friend, focus on eternal rewards!

1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Last week, three students won the top award for using AI to translate Pompeii scrolls, discovered by an 18th-century farmer. The scroll, central to the AI contest, was named after Herculaneum, a Roman town destroyed by the Vesuvius eruption. These texts, trapped in carbon for 2,000 years, were preserved under the debris that buried Julius Caesar's father-in-law's villa.

Pompeii was a flourishing city in Southern Italy until 79 AD. Suddenly, for two days Mt. Vesuvius erupted and completely destroyed Pompeii in all its pomp. The city was covered in meters of ash and pumice for 1700 years until it was accidentally discovered in 1748. When archaeologists began excavations in 1910 they uncovered a petrified woman clutching some of the finest jewelry ever recovered from the ancient world. She was apparently attempting to flee the doomed city, and in her haste, holding desperately onto her valuable possessions –- she lost her life.

During its time Pompeii was a magnificent city, yet its destiny was destruction by a nearby volcano –- and so it is with our world today. There's so much beauty on our planet earth –- yet its destiny is certain! The day is soon coming when it's elements will be destroyed with fire, the earth and everything in it, laid bare, [2 Peter 3:10] –- and our earthly possessions will not come with us into glory, (only what we have done with them).

As the Apostle Paul said, we came into this world with nothing – and when we leave this world, we take nothing with us. We can make the mistake of holding too dearly onto our earthly possessions, making them our "treasure", (rather than storing treasure where moth and rust do not corrode etc.) – but this is a costly error, as illustrated by our "petrified lady". Instead, let's remind ourselves that we are stewards of God's possessions, responsible to use them with His interests in mind, to further His Kingdom with the things He has entrusted to us.

Friend, with so much work to be done, let's never allow our earthly possessions to petrify us with greed or fear thus preventing the eternal work we were preordained for, and stealing our eternal rewards.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX)
(Tulsa, Oklahoma)

Editor's Note: During this war, we have been live blogging throughout the day -- sometimes minute by minute on our Telegram channel. Be sure to check it out!

Editor's Note: We are planning our Winter Tour so 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.

Around the World
Prayers Said As Ukraine Reels From Bloody Russian Drone Attacks (Worthy News Radio)
Ukraine on Sunday came to grips with more casualties after a massive Russian airstrike impacted the war-torn nation. Outgunned and exhausted, Ukrainian forces faced an uphill battle Sunday while Catholics here and around the world observed the World Day of the Sick.
Trump ‘Asks’ Russia To Attack Underpaying NATO Member States
Europeans woke up Sunday with a headache after the presumed U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald J. Trump encouraged Russia to attack member states of the NATO military alliance who haven’t met their financial obligations.
Hungary’s President Resigns Over Pardon For Child Abuse
Hungary’s conservative president has resigned after massive protests over a pardon she granted to a man convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case.
Seven dead in Russian attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city (Worthy News Radio)
Ukrainian authorities say seven people, including three children, have been killed in a Russian drone attack on a petrol station in the city of Kharkiv in eastern Ukraine. The attack came after the Ukrainian president made changes in the military.
Pakistan’s Ex-PM Seeks Coalition
Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif says he will try to form a coalition government after his party trailed independent candidates backed by his imprisoned rival, Imran Khan, in parliamentary election results on Friday.
Putin: War Against Ukraine ‘Could Be Over’ Within Weeks Without Western Support
Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Russia’s war with Ukraine could be over within weeks if the West stops supplying weapons to Kyiv
Pakistan Counts Votes In Deadly Ballot; Ex-PM Khan Allies In Lead
Votes were being counted in Pakistan after Thursday's blood-stained general election, which was overshadowed by attacks and the suspension of mobile phone and internet services by authorities in the Islamic nation.
Ukraine President Fires Top Commander As Losses Mount
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired his top army commander, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, as hundreds of thousands of troops have been killed and injured as battlefields increasingly resemble the trenches of World War One.

Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Egypt Warns Hamas Israel Will Invade Rafah In Two Weeks Without Deal
Egypt has warned Hamas that it must agree on a ceasefire and hostage release agreement with Israel within about two weeks, or the Israeli military will launch a ground offensive in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah, several sources said Sunday.
Israel Discovers Hamas Tunnel Under UNRWA Headquarters In Gaza
Israel’s military says it has discovered a massive Hamas tunnel network under the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.
Israel’s Premier Plans Massive Evacuation Ahead Of Military Offensive
Israel’s prime minister has ordered the Israeli military to come up with a plan for civilians sheltering in Gaza’s southern city of Rafa to evacuate, his office said on Friday.

Inside the United States
Operation Lone Star Border Security Funding Totals More Than Multiple State Budgets
The Texas legislature has allocated more than $11.6 billion to border security efforts over a four-year period, the most in state history.
Trump Promises To Restore Gun Freedoms In Pennsylvania Speech
Former President Donald Trump said Friday he’d never limit gun rights for Americans amid surging crime, border insecurity and global instability – all side effects of a Democratic administration he deems corrupt and immoral.
Residents In Texas City On Edge Amid Civil War Fears Ahead Of Eclipse
Residents in a strategic border city of the U.S. state of Texas were preparing for another weekend of border tensions after thousands of migrants crossed the river illegally and Texas National Guard troops tried to stop them in recent days.
US ‘To Surpass China’ In Rare Earth Minerals After Massive Discoveries
The United States could soon surpass China as the world leader in rare earth minerals after more than 2.34 billion metric tons were discovered in the U.S. state of Wyoming, officials said Thursday.
US President Biden “Willfully” Retained State Secrets
In a significant setback for American President Joe Biden, the U.S. Justice Department has concluded that he “willfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials as a private citizen.

Christian News
Pakistan: Islamic Gunmen Slaughter 14-Year Old Christian Boy Saying “No Christian Should Be Left Alive Here”
Screaming that no Christian in the area should be left alive, Islamic gunmen in Punjab Province, Pakistan, murdered a 14-year-old Christian boy during an attack in a marketplace on Feb. 5, Morning News (MSN) reports.

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