Worthy News
President Donald Trump on Monday renewed his pledge to defend religious liberty, announcing forthcoming Department of Education guidelines that he said will provide “total protection” for prayer in America’s public schools.
Christians in Pakistan’s Punjab province were mourning Monday after a suspected Muslim gunman killed a Christian rickshaw driver and father of four in the latest anti-Christian attack to grip the Islamic nation.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou, 74, was to step down after losing a confidence vote on Monday over a controversial 44 billion euros (about $51.5 billion) austerity package, bringing his government to an end after only nine months.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday temporarily lifted restrictions on federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, siding with the Trump administration in a dispute over alleged racial profiling by immigration authorities.
A four-year manhunt ended tragically Monday when New Zealand police fatally shot fugitive father Tom Phillips during a shoot-out. All three of his children, now aged 9, 10, and 12, have been found safe after disappearing with him in late 2021.
At least 14 people were killed and dozens injured in Nepal’s capital Monday as riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters trying to storm parliament over a sweeping social media shutdown and mounting corruption, state television said.
A new installment of Arizona Christian University’s American Worldview Inventory finds broad agreement that sin exists — yet far less willingness among Americans, including many Christians, to personally identify as sinners. Research director George Barna calls the trend a “body blow” tied to churches’ reluctance to teach on sin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel is confronting a “war on multiple fronts” after two Palestinian gunmen opened fire at a bus stop in northern Jerusalem, killing six people and injuring more than 20 others.
Concerns grew Sunday about a frail elderly Russian pastor after he was sentenced to a prison camp for publicly criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
A month after the LGBTQ+ community held its annual Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade in decorated boats, Christians sailed through the Dutch capital’s historic canals over the weekend with a message of hope: “Jesus Christ gives eternal life to anyone who believes in Him.”
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Abraham’s rescue of Lot and his household from the four Mesopotamian Kings in the middle of the night was an act of holy chutzpah! Israel’s first patriarch demonstrated great faith, courage, family loyalty, and military strategy during this successful rescue operation.
This Sunday night people from around the world will celebrate Yom Kippur. In Israel, nothing, absolutely nothing is open — no radio, television or cable, even the street lights don’t work!
On Monday, we talked about “tashlich” — the traditional Jewish ceremony occurring between Rosh ha Shana and Yom Kippur, which involves casting bread crumbs into a river while confessing our sins and watching them be swept downstream. In this passage, however, we read about the importance of casting our crowns. These elders fell down before the Lord, casted their golden crowns and gave God the glory and honor He deserves. How much more should we do the same today?
When my family and I were re-deployed to the United States during the Covid outbreak, all my plans were wrecked. I had planned becoming a licensed tour guide in Israel, allowing the ministry to continue while my kids would serve in the Israeli army for three years. Instead, I’m looking back at 150,000 miles of cross country driving throughout the US, and 350 speaking/ministry engagements. “…Man plans his way…” but, stuff happens, and sometimes we simply need to adjust. So, the adventure continues…
The Bible seems virtually redundant on the theme of courage. More than 125 exhortations for God’s people facing overwhelming trials and dilemmas, resound against fear, notwithstanding how natural that response may seem. Courage based on faith is the universal attitude for saints in all situations. Our omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipresent (everywhere) Father says, and repeats, “Fear not! Be of good courage! Be strong and courageous!”
As my wife and I have been redeployed to the United States for a season we’ve traveled over 150,000 miles since 2020. Vehicles which deliver the kind of distances we travel need regular oil changes to stay reliable. So, our vehicles have enjoyed innumerable pit stops.
As we continue to inspect our hearts and take spiritual inventory of our lives during this month of Elul in preparation for the fall feasts, we should stay particularly aware of Yeshua’s prediction in Matthew 24:12, “The love of many will grow cold.” He warned that a sign of the last days would be abounding lawlessness and that callousness and hardness of heart would characterize the end times. The evidence of this is everywhere.
Traditionally in Jewish spirituality, these 40 days of prayer and repentance beginning the 1st of Elul to Yom Kippur parallel the 40 days that Moses spent on the mountain [Exodus 34:28] pleading God’s forgiveness for Israel’s sin of creating and worshiping the golden calf. Interestingly, Psalm 27 is read each day of the month of Elul, along with the shofar blast in preparation for Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
As we continue our study for Elul, a month set apart for repentance in preparation for the fall feasts, we find a message hidden in the four Hebrew letters spelling the name of this special month. Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed form an “acronym” for a well-known passage in the Song of Solomon: Ani l-dodi v-dodi li or in English, “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine.”
I happened (on rare occasion) the other day to see a CNN headline, “Health Officials Brace for Three Major Viruses this Fall”. Immediately, I thought, “Not again!” Yet, scouring the headlines, it now appears that several colleges are instituting mask mandates even though there isn’t a case of illness yet. While the world is being prepared for an “outbreak” of disease, I’m hoping we may learn a lesson from history so that, perhaps, we’ll see an “outbreak” of revival!
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