Showing posts with label crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crisis. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

OPPORTUNITY IN CHANGE - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris and Carol Ruddick

SIGN
OPPORTUNITY IN CHANGE

(c) Morris E. Ruddick
Note:
Many of you have read and been blessed by one or more of my marketplace books. It would really help others considering one of my books if you would take the time now to write a review on Amazon.com. You don't have to have purchased the book on Amazon -- only to have read the book that you're reviewing. 

Go to Amazon.com and select books -- then put in my name, Morris Ruddick. Select a book you want to review. Toward the bottom of the page is the heading CUSTOMER REVIEWS -- and below that are a couple of headings you can click on: "Write a Customer Review." Thanks.
Along with that, I have a special Facebook page for Joseph Calling Marketplace Testimonies (https://www.facebook.com/JosephCallingTestimonies/). Take the time to encourage others around the world by sharing a few words of your testimony. The call of God to the marketplace is still in the pioneering stage. We need one another and we need to be encouraged by one another by sharing what God has done in our lives.
Also, we are making videos from many of these messages on Jewish business secrets. Refer your friends to our web-sites below or to Morris Ruddick on YouTube.com.
Morris
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Crisis is a time when change overwhelms and is out of control. When the pace of change is accelerating, it cannot be ignored. It is time to prepare.
We've been taking a closer look at Jewish business secrets. We've learned that among the secrets tied to disproportionate Jewish achievement is a systematically creative way of thinking and a different way of responding to risk and unfolding events.
Historically, the response of prescient Jews to times of impending crisis reveals a pattern. It first accurately reads the signs of the times. It then sends warning signals from within its informal community communication networks. The response calls for adjustments to the realities. Despite what may seem as setbacks, opportunity eventually will be discerned in those realities.
Business is the art of managing change. Nothing is ever static in business. Managing change as crisis approaches is even more volatile. It involves a keen eye on the future and on issues that make a difference. It involves wise, anticipatory responses to the change that lands on the right side of the power curve.
One of the greatest miscalculations of Jews, as a people, of anticipating change was the holocaust. This was a time in which Jewish emancipation was hitting its peak. It was a time when the amazing growth of Jewish accomplishment became its Achilles heel.
Over two hundred years ago, the shift of power brought about by Napoleon released the Jewish people from years and years of societal constraint. It began a time of incredible achievement for Jews as a people: not just in business, finance, the arts, the media and education, but in the discovery of new inventions and ways of doing things, as well as in the level of influence they wielded in the world's power structures.
What was triggered was being recognized by the world around them. This recognition enshrouded the greatest virtue ever held by Jews: their identity. In diabolic subtlety it tapped the chief historic Jewish weakness: the desire to be like everyone else.
This amazing success blinded far too many of the Jewish elite to the amassing evil behind the approach of the holocaust, which had Jews in its cross-hairs.
Times of great change demand a closer look for the response. The days preceding the holocaust produced Jewish people like the Rothschilds who began using their resources to respond to the looming darkness, albeit too little too late. Likewise there were Christians, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose outlook, discernment and courage in his response to the times in standing with the Jewish people represented a brilliant standard among those ignoring the realities.
Response to Change
The issue for today is in determining what lies ahead. It involves discerning the safe places and those with whom alliances can be trusted and will endure. Jewish thinking, as a rule anticipates the future. It examines the alternatives and gives careful scrutiny to sources of danger.
It is written: "A prudent man is cautious and considers well his steps." Managing change and uncovering opportunity has the requirement to do your homework on assumptions and decisions bearing on the future.
It involves getting the perspectives of community leaders who may have greater insight into specific matters. That is the reason companies set up boards, in order to maximize the foundations used to make decisions. Yet, when leaders ignore their identity and the roots of their identity, then the community suffers.
Within Jewish wisdom is a story of a poor man's wisdom that was despised and words not heard. The words of the wise spoken quietly should be heard, rather than the shout of fools. This passage describes a time when the community was vulnerable to disaster from an overwhelming, outside influence and was saved through the shrewd strategy of a poor, wise man. Yet, the community wound up in the same place as it had previously been, because of their attitude toward the man's economic status, despite his wisdom. They were focused on the wrong way of viewing things.
Understanding the Times
Understanding the times is the greatest challenge when serious change and crisis is approaching. When King David emerged from the years of fleeing from Saul, he brought all of Israel together. At the forefront of his advisors was the smallest tribe in Israel, the sons of Isachaar, who understood the times and advised David on the wisdom of his response.
Jesus gave great emphasis to the importance of discerning the times. He made the point that such an understanding was critical in changing times. It provides not just the direction, but the focus.
Such an understanding was the defining characteristic of both Joseph and Daniel. It represents the identity and very mantle of the Jewish people historically to this day: of being a prophetic people of God, a prophetic people of destiny.
Grooming of the Prophetic
Joseph and Daniel went through years of having their prophetic gift groomed and highly developed. Then each arrived at a time of destiny in which the authority of their gift became the deciding factor in the destiny unfolding for God's people, as well as for their host nation.
It was an authority that influenced the spiritual climate of the culture of which they had become a part.
The level in which Joseph and Daniel were called to administer God's purposes required their prophetic gift to operate beyond the ordinary. It was clear to those around them that the authority of their gift was from God.
I have had the privilege of working with people who have spent time in prison for their faith in God. Conditions were terrible. Hunger prevailed. Death loomed and many died. Yet these people of God who endured and did so faithfully emerged with a unique combination of faith, humility and a spiritual authority that goes far beyond their human abilities. Today, each bears a mantle of change, of being leaders of God's people through firestorms of change.
It is written that Daniel's gift was ten times greater than that of the astrologers and sorcerers in the king's court. When Pharaoh heard Joseph outline the interpretation of his dream and Joseph's authoritative, strategic response to what lay ahead, he proclaimed there to be no one wiser than Joseph because God was with him.
When conditions changed, Joseph and Daniel wielded the wisdom and authority to guide both their host culture, as well as their own people into the destiny that the change had been reshaping.
Identity in God
At the core of any genuine prophetic gift, but more so with those with modern-day callings like Joseph and Daniel, is a cultural identity solely in God. It forms the basis of the Jewish roots to Christianity.
Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day because they had lost sight of the purpose of their identity as a culture within a culture. Jesus rebuked them for the idle words they spoke in unnecessarily accusing the innocent. Their unholy alliances and lust for personal power and recognition was blinding them, so that they despised their own people and were failing to lead to the point that they were misdirecting the people away from what was essential.
Jewish identity all began with Abraham. As the father of those we refer to as Jews today, but in Jewish writings as the House of Israel, the mantle for Abraham's descendants was as a people who would shape the destinies of those around them. As a people, they have been described as restorers of the breach, rebuilders of broken down walls.
The descendants of Abraham are a people of God, a people of destiny whose destinies will shape the destinies of all the peoples of the earth. One of the specialties of their mantle, for those who have proved faithful, has been in discerning and navigating opportunity within times of crisis and great change.
Out-of-the-Box Thinking
These factors combine to spark a different way of viewing things. Responding to times of crisis requires thinking that is not constrained by the status quo.
One of the most respected creative corporate cultures of this generation almost lost its way when the founder, Steve Jobs, brought in a new president. Steve Jobs had built Apple based on a creative, entrepreneurial-thinking culture. The new president, John Skully, brilliant advertising strategist that he was, thought with a corporate view of things. This clash of cultures almost destroyed Apple.
Corporate thinkers tend to stifle innovation by attempting to maintain the status quo and minimize the risk. Entrepreneurial thinkers become expert in managing and capitalizing on risk. In other words, they thrive during times of change. Corporate thinkers place great emphasis on the goal of increasing market share. The perspective of entrepreneurial thinkers is focused on market creation. The motivator of corporate thinkers is to make money. For entrepreneurial thinkers, it is to make history.
The type of thinking needed during times of change and crisis requires a bigger picture perspective. Today is a day of accelerated change. The market response requires flexibility and innovation. Market share and money will follow the creative and innovative responses to business being approached as the art of managing change. However, without taking advantage of risk, without embracing and leveraging change, without the creative approach and the big-picture goal to make history, the pathway to market share and money is short-circuited.
Not many years ago, GE (General Electric) had become so large and institutionalized that their profits had lost the spark that they once had. Many divisions were losing money. Some divisions were being sold off to keep the balance sheet above water. It was at this time that GE brought in Jack Welch as their CEO. Jack Welch thought entrepreneurially. He began changing policies and with it the culture. Those resisting were replaced. GE began an amazing turnaround because they changed their thinking and response to the changing market conditions.
Stumbling Blocks to Discerning Change
The issue is in accurately discerning what lies ahead. This begins by identifying the stumbling blocks to viewing things wisely. The status quo is one of the primary blind-spots. Maintaining business as usual can be a death-trap that can mask not only the turns to be made, but in discerning new opportunity itself.
On the other end of the spectrum is overreacting to flurries of activity and change with the next hot trend. Responding to change takes wisdom and shrewd planning. The source of decision-making information needs to go beyond the glitzy, superficial and politically correct spins of the media elite and unsubstantiated Internet sources. Another trap tied to the status quo is blind loyalty. In today's world of questionable sources of information, knowing the facts is a guard against missing the market turns that can have disastrous results.
This bears on the balance and focus of the direction for community businesses. Jewish tradition has a long history of business owners meeting together to pray, to seek God and help each other in the success of their business. Known as minyans, these gathering in turn affect the way these businesses help one another and help their communities. Regularly meeting and praying with groups like this will help avoid the trap of chasing money or being influenced by magical and weird solutions birthed from the superficialities of the day.
Discerning the Opportunity
At the heart of our series on Jewish business secrets has been the goal of each business making God their Senior Partner and becoming community builders. This is the intent, the strategy of the minyan groups.
These are vital first steps in discerning opportunity in changing times. The wisdom drawn from a group committed to pray and seek God and help each other be successful will be an essential element during challenging times.
At the heart of becoming a community builder is the Jewish tradition of tz'dakah, a community responsibility that gives back and strengthens the community for future generations. We've talked about tz'dakah before in this series. It is a community dynamic that will ignite and uncover opportunity.
Israel today is known for its advanced technologies and innovation. While Jews around the world have demonstrated technological achievements far outweighing their numbers, it was not until the early 1970s that Israel itself began assuming this mantle economically with the start of the Office of the Chief Scientist. At the time, Israel's economy was struggling to establish itself and be the safe haven to any Jews who wished to be a part.
What followed was an accomplished Israeli business owner, named Rina Pridor selling her business. She was looking for her next challenge. She found it. She began realizing that there were many world-class scientists sweeping the streets in Israel. Others with advanced technological skills were on unemployment.
Ms. Pridor began putting together what has become today the world's most renowned Technology Incubator program. Her program has expanded to support 22 business incubators across Israel, each specializing in commercializing specific technologies.
The two year program is applied for by inventors and people with developed technologies at a stage appropriate for bringing it to market. This program has a disproportionate ratio of companies going through their program that go public.
Ms. Pridor identified opportunity during a time of major economic change. In effect, she has contributed significantly to creating a culture of technology within Israel.
Triggering Opportunity
While the times are volatile and getting worse, for most economically they have not reached crisis proportions. Yet, in reading the signs of the times it is prudent to start looking ahead. We are indeed in times of accelerated change. They are times to be prepared, times to have backup plans. They are times to be ready for unexpected change.
Ancient Jewish wisdom states that a successful enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts.
Jewish thinking begins with its identity. It is an identity as a people of God, of being a culture within a culture. Times of change will be times to prepare in strengthening the inner culture and setting up opportunity that benefits the inner culture. It means giving focus to building and mobilizing community.
In the West many people live to support a lifestyle. In changing times, such lifestyles can be a trap. One should have no debt and live below their means. They should have an emergency reserve for the unexpected. This is the wisdom of the cautious, prudent man noted by Jewish wisdom. Yet, with this prudence will be opportunity.
Jews have always held to a higher moral standard. Today that standard is being raised. Jesus raised the bar during His day by teaching His followers the secrets to employing righteous power in corrupt settings. His day was a time of great challenge. These principles are vital in today's changing times.
These are days in which business decisions need to pursue wisdom to see the opportunity. They are days in which favor, along with that wisdom, needs to be recognized when new gateways are being considered.
There will be unusual alliances with modern-day Pharaohs and Cyruses, who provide safe places for God's people during times of great change. Within that context, there is a need to identify the genuine Josephs and Daniels, those with a true prophetic authority and avoid the self serving, the critical and the phonies.
An eye needs to be kept on disruptive technologies that bring change rapidly. Israel can be expected to lead the power curve in terms of opportunity for new innovations and technologies. Israel is beginning to assume the fullness of its mantle described by the prophet Isaiah, who noted that the wealth of the seas would be turned to them and the riches of the nations would come. It is time to wisely pursue investments and business opportunity with Israel.
While the change upon us may have a parallel to the days in the 1930s during the rise of the Nazis, there is a difference. That difference was described by the prophet Isaiah with the words: "Darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples. But the Lord will arise over you and His glory will be seen upon you. Gentiles shall come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising."
In our quest to understand Jewish business secrets, let us recognize the change, then prepare and reach harder for the opportunity that endures, the opportunity in change that bring light to the nations. 
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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the higher dimensions of business leadership since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders to be blessed to be a blessing where God's light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.
He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" "Leadership by Anointing;" and "Mantle of Fire," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.comwww.apple.com/ibooks andwww.BarnesandNoble.com.
Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at http://strategicintercession.org/support/
Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your group's gathering on the Joseph-Daniel Calling or on anointing the creative in business.
2016 Copyright Morris Ruddick -- sign@strategicintercession.org
Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check:http://www.strategicintercession.org
Morris Ruddick
Global Initiatives Foundation
www.strategic-initiatives.org
www.strategicintercession.org

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Monday, November 30, 2015

Rick Joyner - Learning From Israel & the Events of Our Times PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVES


Learning From Israel 
& the Events of Our Times

Rick Joyner  PROPHETIC PERSPECTIVES 

Thursday, November 26, 2015
  
In this episode, Rick continues talking about the Syrian refugee crisis. He shares how we can glean wisdom from Israel and other nations in these kinds of situations by paying attention to how they have handled terrorism.




Order here: Army of the Dawn

LOVE FOR HIS PEOPLE Editor's Note: Thank you Rick for speaking up and speaking out! We appreciate your stand for truth and saying it like it is! 

Steve Martin, Editor

P.S. I bought your new book Army of the Dawn at the MorningStar book store yesterday. 


Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Prophetic Wisdom for Braving the Coming Storm - R. LOREN SANDFORD

U.S. Capitol Building
U.S. Capitol Building (Flickr/Roman Boed)
I have been hesitant to release this publicly since I began sensing it some months ago, but I feel that at this point I must. Christians must be forewarned and positioned to be peacemakers, reconcilers and purveyors of hope in the face of the trouble to come.
I have long known that at some point Barack Obama would face a crisis to his presidency that would rock the nation. I expected it in the third year of his administration, but I confess that I've never been good at hearing specific dates from the Lord. I now expect it beginning in the third and into the fourth years of his second term. Many issues have already surfaced, as have many scandals that would have sunk any previous president, but so far none of these has seemed to coalesce into something worthy of "crisis." Witness the Fast and Furious debacle, the truth of what actually happened at Benghazi that is now surfacing via those who were on the ground during the attack, the scandals surrounding the Secret Service (from soliciting prostitutes to incompetence that allowed a runner to get all the way into the White House), as well as the IRS scandal and the resignation of its director, Lois Lerner. It has been a growing list. I have sensed with some dread that, in these last two years of the current administration, corruption will be exposed and turmoil will erupt at such a level and depth that we simply won't know how to deal with it.
It would be a mistake to make the president responsible for all of this, although he bears a significant portion of the responsibility, as do his predecessors. No matter what anyone tries to make of it, know that this is not a racial crisis, but rather a crisis of fundamental integrity, and that it extends to both sides of the congressional aisle. What is coming is the culmination of decades of erosion in the moral fiber of the nation, our rejection of God, of godly principles and the relentless pressure of a culture of self that leads us to vote for whoever promises to give us the most at the expense of personal responsibility. Additionally, we increasingly tend to elect those who advocate immorality in the name of individual rights and freedoms. In the end, God's ways work and man's ways don't, but mankind has always had a difficult time accepting this as truth.
The enemy of our soul has always been an opportunist who stands ever ready to fill the vacuum left by godly people who either abandon the biblical standard or neglect to stand forth and pay the price that raising the prophetic cry against immorality and corruption exacts. Charismatic and evangelical Christians, committed to the historic faith, will pay an ever higher price for our stand in the days to come. How we choose to respond will make the difference between being permanently marginalized on the one hand or walking in victory on the other (and ultimately enjoying favor with God and man) in the midst of a time of increasing turmoil.
It's time to play our role as prophetic Daniels to our Nebuchadnezzars and as Josephs to our Pharaohs. As they did, we can become assets to a lost world, demonstrating the love and power that flow from our Savior and our Father God without compromising our integrity or entering into idolatry. It's time to position ourselves to receive and minister to a growing stream of the hurting and the broken without judgment, condemnation or bitterness. More than ever, it will be love and grace that win the lost, not cries of judgment and destruction. It's time for us to shine.
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Love For His People Editor's Note: On Oct. 30 I shared my thoughts about the need for Christians to stand strong, in my NOW THINK ON THIS message, "No More Restraints?" - in reference to Christians standing for what is right against the falling walls that once stood on a strong foundation here in America. 

You can read that here: Now Think On This blog or see the message on this blog or the link to all my Now Think On This messages in the left hand column. 

Steve Martin, Editor

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Key to Overcoming Fear by SANDRA CLIFTON, D.MIN.

Fearful Woman - The Key to Overcoming Fear

The Key to Overcoming Fear

“OK, background players,” announced the assistant director through the bullhorn, “this scene is supposed to be hairy and scary. You’re trapped in a bad flight that has hit rough air. You are victims—got that?”
At the time I was working as a screen extra for a TV movie. It was early morning, and I was fresh and eager to give my all to the “hairy and scary” scene. “Lights, camera, action!”
Soon the mock airplane was alive with victims—with some (including me) gyrating violently in our seats, creating the illusion of turbulence. Gripping the sides of my passenger chair, I imagined a series of worst-case scenarios to help me with the scene: What if the bumps get worse? How worse? Would I survive?
“Cut!” yelled the voice through the megaphone. “Nice job of fear—but let’s do it again, only with more fear.”
Hours and many retakes later, I emerged tired and drained. Days later when faced with a real-life crisis, a dental emergency, I found myself imagining: What if I need surgery? How can I afford it? Will I financially go under? Again, I wound up tired and drained from the worst-case scenarios going through my head.
Over the years from reading God’s Word, I have discovered that you and I are to be “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5, NKJV). In fact, Jesus has admonished us not to worry about tomorrow (see Matt. 6:25-34).
As we head into new seasons, I invite and challenge you not to imagine worst-case scenarios, but instead to turn to God—a good God whose perfect love casts out all fear (see 1 John 4:18), a loving God who desires the best for you and me (see 3 John 2).
Starting today let the Lord be your vine, the source from which you derive all strength to face the day (see John 15:1-8). Instead of building fear from within yourself, why not build your faith in a Sovereign God who has all in His powerful hand? You will emerge more than a conqueror through Him who loves you (see Rom. 8:37).
PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 4/7/2014
This week thank the Lord for His love and goodness.  Ask Him to help you put aside fear and worry and to concentrate on His ability to provide every need and fulfill all His promises. Pray for revival to sweep across our nation and touch every city, state and national office. Pray that God’s people would recognize the seriousness of this hour and gather in fasting and prayer regarding the future of our nation.  Pray for our military and especially the families of the victims who died in the recent Ft. Hood shooting. Continue to pray for those who lost loved ones in the disappearance of flight 370, as well as the victims of the mudslides in the state of Washington. Pray for wisdom and protection for our president and those working with him for our security and safety. Remember Israel, the persecuted church and those continuing to serve our country in all branches. 2 Cor. 10:5; I John 4:18; John 15:1-8
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