COVENANT WITH DEATH - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick

COVENANT WITH DEATH   (c) Morris E. Ruddick     "Therefore, hear the word of the LORD, you scoffers, who rule this people, because you have said, "We have made a covenant with death, and with Sheol we have made a pact. The overwhelming scourge will not reach us when it passes by for we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception." Isaiah 28:14-15   False images and illusions permeate the portrayal of developments in today's world.   From the beginning, the people of God have been the standard bearers. When mobilized and trained, God's people will have reached a point to be deployed. Before any deployment there will be operation orders. From the operation orders the leaders being deployed develop strategy.   Yet before there can be a sound strategy, precision discernment is needed to discern the battle lines. Understanding the enemy and the alternatives of what can be expected is critical.   The enemy's strategy is falsehood and concealment. Its highest order of design is to keep us from the place of deployment. So, in approaching operational deployment, the planning to maximize our strategy must begin by identifying and removing entanglements embedded deep within the Body. The mission begins by exposing and canceling the covenant with death.   Some have observed that to a certain degree the reversals happening in the world today reverberate what has been operationally hidden and sometimes not so hidden within the Body. With the level of pollution that has found its way within the Church over the centuries, wisdom shouts the need to clean out the defilements before deploying. While some have reduced the issue to one of character and flesh, it entails more and taps the maturity and training necessary for a martial mobilization.   In other words, before the Body can deal with significant spiritual issues impacting the world with more than fragmented deployments, it needs to get cleaned up and properly prepared. "He will send out His angels and gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness." Matt 13:41   The prophet Isaiah saw past the illusions and false images in the camp of God's people and called it for what it was: an alliance with death. In short, Isaiah was saying that in playing it safe, in trying to be like everyone else and using a playbook guided by the world's standard, the rulers in Jerusalem had stubbornly made a pact with the devil.   Many leaders within the Body today are in over their heads. The Apostle Paul described the dynamic as having zeal without knowledge. The masks are being removed and the balance of Spirit and Truth is being restored.   When the response is shaped by anything short of biblical foundations and a truly humble dependence on the Spirit of the Lord, be it the precepts of men or the approval of men, we have entered a time in which the results will be catastrophic.   Authority to Meet the Challenge It is an issue of having the authority and focus to meet the challenge. The misguided leadership styles of modern-day Ahabs, acquiescing to domineering, power-mongering Jezebels will either draw the line or have their mantles removed.   Those whose exploits have been based on weak foundations and bluster, together with a touch of grace need to make the transition. The authority for the challenge has a cost. That cost was described by John the Baptist that: "He (Jesus) must increase and we must decrease." The Kingdom cost of authority begins with a fresh and potent dose of humility.   Despite illusions to the contrary, there is no single segment of the Body with sufficient grasp of the big-picture needed to deploy. Isaiah had strong words to say about those with their fingers pointed in scorn (Isaiah 58), who themselves failed to measure according to their own standard.   We need one another and the unique spiritual capabilities given to the various parts of the Body. It is the time in which every joint is needed to be fitted to the place of their purpose in preparing for deployment. That will take humility, wisdom and the leading of the Spirit. Segments in the Body depending solely on their own uniqueness or elitism will be at best vulnerable to the seductive encounters with the covenant of death.   Deployment will mark a time of restoration of the foundations of the ancient paths. "Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look. Then ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies. Then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls." Jeremiah 6:16   Restoring the Ancient Paths The Lord is restoring the biblical foundations of our faith that have been masked and replaced with paganistic precepts of men. From the days of the early Church the battle lines were fiercely deployed around issues empowering the Body, matters that kept its efforts connected to the flow of the Spirit.   Systematically, the power of the Spirit once ascribed to the early church has been replaced by an anemic institutional power that has resulted in a church history rife in corruption and politics. Even today, the precepts that encourage a weak institution rather than a vibrant Spirit-led organism that changes cultures are only exceeded by those who ridicule people of faith who have sought to emulate the power of the early church, only to fall. The deception is in treating the reach as sin rather than the fall.   The glory that has consistently manifested from the days of the patriarchs is being restored. From the forgotten covenants, to the foundations laid out by Moses, to the tabernacle of David, all significant elements of the vibrant dynamic of the early church, are being rediscovered and restored.   God's means of making His people the head and not the tail have from the start included the provision needed to compensate for the Chaldeans, Jihadists and alliances of sorceries that have amassed in a fallen world. As the Church increasingly sheds its non-biblical practices and blind-spots to get reacquainted with its Jewish roots, the times call for a re-embracing of the biblical feast-days and days of rest that the Lord set aside to corporately empower and align His people spiritually.   The Lord has always provided the means by which His people can avoid the spiritual ambushes and backlash created by the frenetic machinations of God's enemies. The doctrinal sacred cows with no foundations in Scripture that leave us unprotected are being scrutinized as the church restores its biblical foundations. Regaining the Maturity Standard Scripture outlines a sequence of Christian maturity. Beginning with being a follower, one progresses to become a disciple, then a servant. Servants graduate to become friends, with the design of them finally becoming the sons that Paul described to the Romans. "For creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God ..... that it might be delivered from the bondage of corruption." Romans 8:19, 21   Rick Joyner has commented that 90 percent of the Body in the West is stuck between the untrained and unprepared follower and the disciple stages.   Vital to the maturity standard is the recognition of the operational big-picture and the myopia that results from elitism. Like true Kingdom authority the cost is humility and an awareness of the reality of the roles of the various parts fitted together to accomplish the big-picture, grand-strategy.   It is also an issue of commitment and sacrifice. Jesus admonished us to embrace this level of commitment and sacrifice, one that is willing to give your life for your friends (John 15:13). Veterans of real combat understand this. Commitment and sacrifice underscore Communist ideology in their zeal for a Communistic world. In the early 1940s, as a convert to Christianity from being editor of London's Communist tabloid, "The Daily Worker," Douglas Hyde was disillusioned by the lack of commitment he found in the church ("Dedication and Leadership," 1992, Notre Dame Press).   Yet, before us are days that will separate the tares from the wheat, during which the truly committed among the brethren will shine like the brightness of the sky.   The Deployment of the Josephs "Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers. His glory is like a firstborn bull. Together with them he shall push the peoples to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh." Deut 33:13-17   The Josephs are those apostolic-prophetic, forerunner-leaders who have submitted to the maturity process and have been prepared as friends and sons. They wield the authority to restore and with promotions orchestrated solely by the Spirit, they will establish redemptive alliances with modern-day Pharaohs and Cyruses.   They will be the challenge to the scoffers, the rulers who have made a covenant with death. They are the forerunners who will be in position to mobilize those willing to humble and yield themselves to the most rigorous training and are willing to face the highest risks in deployment. Within the military are those who play it safe with desk-jobs, who map out safe careers that keep them out of the perils of battle.   However, then there are those who operate beyond the political games with the hearts of seasoned lions who are willing to face the realities and costs of the battle. These are those who will wield the authority that changes the course of nations.   The Restoring of Israel "Yet the Lord will lift up a standard for the nations, and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off." Isaiah 11:12-13   Israel is the pivot point in this drama. Not only is it targeted as the enemy seeks to fuel the alliance with death, it is the flashpoint for the battle globally. It is the prize from which the promises to Abraham and his descendents will be gleaned by the great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1) who have paved the way before us, along with those in this hour who prove themselves as faithful friends and sons.   With the authority, along with the restoration of the ancient paths, the maturity standard and deployment of the Josephs will emerge an alignment that breaks the power of the covenant of death. It will be a demonstration of the Lord's judgment as we prepare and deploy. "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation. Whoever believes will not act hastily. I will make justice the measuring line, and righteousness the plumb line. The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters will overflow the hiding place. The covenant with death will be annulled, and the agreement with Sheol will not stand." Isaiah 28:16-18   Isaiah 60 portrays an intense time of turmoil and change. Isaiah 60 has begun to be played out in this day. It describes the spiritual battle ground as the Lord releases His order into His creation and brings the restoration to fulfill the promises He has long ago extended to His faithful ones. "Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples. But the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your rising." Isaiah 60:1-3   As the Body sheds its paganistic illusions and once again embraces its position of power, it will be deployed as one. Its light and power will shatter the darkness and restore not just ancient truths, but become the critical mass toward releasing the power that actuates the fulfillment of the resurrection in making all things new for the age being birthed. "Go through, go through the gates, clear the way for the people; build up, build up the highway, remove the stones, lift up a standard over the peoples. Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, say to the daughter of Zion, "Lo, your salvation comes; behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him." And they will call them, "The holy people, the redeemed of the LORD"; and you will be called, "Sought out, a city not forsaken." Isaiah 62:10-12 ___________________________________________________   Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace 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 where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. 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;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.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 the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card athttp://strategicintercession.org/support/ Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative. 2015 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 Initiative Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org Global Initiatives is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization

WHEN HONOR IS RESTORED - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick

WHEN HONOR IS RESTORED   (c) Morris E. Ruddick     "But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. In that day, He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse." Mal 4: 2, 6   These are times of restoration. Isaiah wrote that there would come a time when darkness would cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples. Yet, these would be the times in which the Lord begins to dramatically restore His order, as the Glory of the Lord comes upon His people, those walking in the fear of the Lord.   Ezekiel foresaw such a time when every vision would be fulfilled without delay. (Ezek12:23)   Malachi's prophecy similarly points to restoration in the face of great reprobation, a depravity which impacts even the household of faith. The opening scripture is in the context of a day of judgment, but also a day of preparation that restores key elements to the foundations established for God's people.   At the crux of the elements restored, that bring the turnaround, is honor.     The Dynamic of Honor What we refer to as "knowing" the Lord is a progressive thing. The life of Abraham illustrates this truth. It is a process that takes place over a lifetime. Even for those like Abraham who keep their hand to the plow, the depths of knowing Him are such that there is always more.   Central to knowing Him is the factor of honor. The book of Hebrews reveals that we cannot take this true honor to ourselves, but rather it is granted only by God. Job, an honorable man by his own accomplishments went through a major life-transition to find that when, stripped of the things this life was able to offer, he was able to see God for the magnitude of Who He truly is. When that happened, God bestowed an honor upon Job that far outweighed Job's previous honor.   It only takes a glimmer of His presence.   The honor bestowed by God changes everything. Jesus spent His earthly ministry conveying the dynamics tied to honoring the Lord and the secrets to abiding in His presence. From that honor and abiding we begin to grasp the principles Jesus imparted on how the Kingdom of God operates, of how we employ righteous power in a corrupt world. "For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. " John 5:21-23   The Sphere We have some friends who God called to the mission field. The area of their calling is extremely hard ground spiritually. Their first two years were grueling and exhausting. They were filled with what seemed as constant reversals and steep, uphill challenges. "Many will be offended, betray one another and hate one another. False prophets will rise up and deceive many. Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matt 24: 10-12   Yet they persisted in upholding the fear of the Lord. They never fell short in praying, which they sometimes did just to survive. They likewise never gave up.   Then they were invited to minister in a distant province from where they had been sent. The difference was startling and dramatic. This province was one of two in this nation known to be populated with Christians. They ministered in the same way as they did where they were plowing new ground, but instead miracles took place at every turn. It provided the impetus to return to their assignment and expect more largely from the result of the anointing and authority they wielded.   Many are those called to plow new ground. So it is with the hard ground of the times we have entered.   Paul wrote that to each is given a sphere or a boundary in which to operate. It is a boundary of authority, a sphere of influence. Within that sphere we have the potential of great power as agents of change. That change when employed according to the Kingdom model and not a religious model will impact the culture, as well as the economy and the power structures of that sphere.   Yet, there are places where the forces of darkness are so entrenched that it takes time for the change to take root. It will. It requires establishing the fear of God. "Your words have been arrogant against Me, says the LORD. You have said, 'It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning [repentance] before the LORD of hosts?'" Mal 3: 13-14   Establishing the fear of God involves upholding the magnitude of God's honor. It is not about us, but Him. When we get it reversed, we broach the realm of making an idol out of our ministry and the anointing given to pave the way for our calling. Jesus outlined the principles by which we would not be ensnared by this deception.   They are the principles of the Kingdom. Most are paradoxes to the way the world thinks and employs power. We live by dying. We gain by giving. We bless those who curse us. Wisdom comes from simplicity. Humility is a protective armor. We lead by serving. Honor comes from humility. The principles of the Kingdom are the keys to employing His power in unrighteous settings.   A Warrior's Honor Throughout the Word of God, reference is given to military people. Those who have repeatedly faced life and death battles hold to a code of honor. They are ones who recognize one another quickly and just as quickly differentiate the phonies, the braggarts and the glory hounds. They understand the serious risks of employing great power.   Jesus was amazed in His encounter with the Centurion who drew the parallel between his authority and how faith operates. God saw Cyrus long before his birth and relished in what He would do through Cyrus on behalf of His people Israel.   What is it about the warrior's honor? They understand authority. They are people of faith and strategy. They understand how to steward power. They are people of discipline. They respond to duty and know how to operate in unity. They are calculated risk-takers and people of action. They are willing to sacrifice for a cause. They have a willingness to die for what they believe in. They lead by serving.   Honor is at the core of the warrior's life-tenets, the warrior's way of thinking.   Understanding that we are agents of change requires a grasp of the honor of the warrior. Stewards of God's power must grasp and embrace this level of honor.   The Snare of the King's Tantrum Agents of change embracing the code of the warrior understand the importance of the big-picture and the long-term.   The story of Hezekiah is a story of the long-term being sacrificed for the short-term. Hezekiah was a righteous king. During his life there had been exploits as he had honored the Lord in the way he ruled Judah. His standoff against Sennacherib king of Syria (2 Kings 19:36) was striking. He restored the temple worship and Passover (2 Chron 29:20, 30:1) Yet, in his final days, he fell short in embracing the honor of the warrior.   Responding in a tantrum of bitterness when the prophet told him his days were concluding, scripture says after being healed, Hezekiah became proud. In his final days, Isaiah rebuked his spiritual short-sightedness and prophesied the impact of his actions on future generations (2 Kings 20:14).   Restoring the Generation Link Among the mysteries in God's Word is the link between generations. The restoration of the honor -- bestowed by God -- must begin with the restoration of honor within the community of God's people. It is the glue that will bring the unity and maturity Paul explained to the Ephesians. It is the catalyst in rebuilding the broken walls in the eroded values of our society. "You will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the foundations of many generations. You will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell." Is 58:12   Honor restored is what Malachi prophesied in terms of the hearts of the children being restored to the fathers so that the land would not be smitten with a curse.   It is what Gabriel told Zacharias of his coming son John who would operate in the spirit and power of Elijah, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. The honor that links the generations releases an exponential power within the community of God's people. It is the reason for the importance given to the father's blessing in the days of the Patriarchs. When the generations link together, then unity will come.   One of the facets of the spiritual turmoil of the 1960s was the cultural war against authority and honor. Duty was ridiculed. The media has mocked the authority of the fathers, in their scorn of shows such as "Leave It to Beaver." Honor was the bulls-eye in the undermining of the accepted righteous values of that day.   When honor is in evidence, it draws the attention of the Lord, as in Jesus' response to the Centurion and God's calling of Cyrus. Abraham was a man of honor, which attracted the presence of the Lord. It was the honor of the warrior in Daniel in the face of adversity that brought angelic intervention. "The angel touched me and strengthened me and said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" When he spoke I was strengthened and said, "Let my lord speak for you have strengthened me."  Dan 10: 18-19   It was the honor that emerged in the face of calamity when jailed (Acts 12:7), when Peter's heart had finally became undivided, that brought the angel to free him.   The Righteous Remnant When that level of honor is restored merely a remnant in the household of faith is all it will take to release the turning. When the hearts of the children once again can adhere to the authority of the fathers, with the honor of the warrior being restored to the fathers, it will mark the turning of the restoration of all things.   Honor and authority, God's authority, are linked. God's honor in the face of tribulation actuates an authority that will change the spiritual climate of a nation. "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him." John 7:18-19   Many are called, but few are chosen. It is an hour in which even the elect are subject to being deceived. Yet, those who prevail will be given a mantle of fire, an authority that dispels darkness and brings the disruptive spiritual change that opens the gates to His presence.   Jesus indicated that His message of abiding would bring great joy. From that would come the heart of the warrior that would love as Jesus loved and be willing to lay down their lives for their friends. Peter once bragged that he would be of that heart, but braggadocio fails. He did. Similarly, when he tried to respond in his own strength in the Garden of Gethsemane with a sword, he again failed.    Peter had to get past himself. For Peter to assume the mantle of fire and authority that he was called to operate with took a level of humility and honor that accompanies the heart of a seasoned and tested warrior.   There is a righteous remnant that has been prepared. These are ones who have been tested, who have emerged from the fires without the smell of smoke. It is why humility and honor are the brandmarks of true warriors. It is these who will be the catalysts for revival who will wield the mantle of fire that brings the change and restoration being orchestrated by God in this hour. "I came to send fire on the earth and how I wish it were already kindled. But I have a baptism to be baptized with and how distressed I am until it is accomplished." Luke 12:49-50   "Bless the Lord all you His angels, who excel in strength doing His Word, heeding the voice of His Word. Bless the Lord all you His hosts, you ministers of His doing His pleasure. Bless the Lord all you His works in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord O my soul." Ps 103: 20-22 ______ _____________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace 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 where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world.   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;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooksand www.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 the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card athttp://strategicintercession.org/support/   Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative.   2015 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 Global Initiatives is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt ministry

THE MANTLE OF FIRE - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris E. Ruddick

THE MANTLE OF FIRE (c) Morris E. Ruddick "If you walk in my ways and perform my service, then you will be given authority over my House. I will let you walk in and out of my presence along with these others standing here." Zech 3:7 NASU and NLT Again and again, the word of God describes the Lord's presence and glory as a consuming fire. From Exodus, Deuteronomy, Isaiah to Hebrews, the awesome essence of the Lord's holiness is revealed in this manner. Throughout the word of God are instances in which individuals have been consumed by the fire of His presence. Isaiah describes the response of the unrighteous to His presence simply as being terrifying. "The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless. For who can dwell with the consuming fire?" Is 33:14 NIV There are also situations in which the Lord made allowance by covering ones with the shadow of His hand. Scripture then unveils a time of salvation, when supernaturally, God Himself will intervene to present the prophets, the saints and all who fear His Name, as faultless before the presence of His glory. (Jude 1:24-25 and Rev 11:18) In moving toward that time, we recognize if only by a glimmer, a role of the chosen in this pathway of walking with Him. It is a role marked by holiness, as described in the opening passage from Zechariah. It reveals those who are given authority, a mantle of fire, drawn from broaching the gates and accessing His presence. The Turmoil and the Expectation With the heightened level of confusion and disorder taking place in the world today, it is essential to stay focused on what God is doing. God is restoring His order to His creation. We are marching toward the fulfillment of restoration described in Isaiah 60, which points to the rebuilding of the broken walls of prophetic destiny designed for His covenant people. The mantle of fire marks the anointing of those whose callings usher in agendas that fulfill key prophecies and the release of accompanying moves of His Spirit. Once again, not unlike the days described by Acts 15, God is restoring the tabernacle of David. In the same way that this bore great significance for the early Church, so it will be the catalyst for the greatest move of God this generation has ever seen. "With this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written: 'After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it; so the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.'" Acts 15:15-17 When God is sovereignly moving, "more of the same harder" will run into the ditch. It is a time to hold steady and move with faithful caution. Being alert and prepared incorporates the need to understand what is to be expected. Embracing the New Thing. It is a time to look sharply to discern what has been embraced as truth, but in reality falls into the realm of the precepts of men. The times call for careful search of the ancient paths to discern and embrace the dimensions to be restored. This restoration will be a new thing to our generation. This new thing God is doing and the authority for the mantle of fire are tied to His holiness and power. It will be marked by the restoration of many ancient mysteries. "Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads and look. Then ask for the ancient paths where the good way lies. Then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls." Jer 6:16 Being alert to the new and restored dimensions of what God is doing may stretch us beyond our comfort zones and require a fresh alignment of our hearts with His. Such an alignment is predicated on seeking Him with a pure and unencumbered heart. Acting on Unusual Prophetic Authority. The clash in the spiritual climates taking place around us will trigger the release of unusual prophetic authority and the mantle to open gates. These are gates of opportunity for change in the alignment of God's purposes. These alignments will often be accompanied by miraculous signs not unlike the time Elijah called down the fire to break the grip that evil had over God's people. Recognizing the God-Alliances between Jews and Gentiles. The mantle of fire will result in unexpected alliances between committed believers and Bible-believing Jews. The latter-day restoration of the tabernacle of David will trigger the spark for manifesting great waves of God's glory. Enmities held for generations will dissolve and manifest in supernatural, biblically cooperative alliances between the most unlikely. Isaiah prophesied that jealousy, enmity and hostility generated by Ephraim (Hos 9:8) would end, giving rise to a coming together, a unity that would overcome the forces long being arrayed against Judah. "Yet the Lord will lift up a standard for the nations, and assemble the banished ones of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and those who harass Judah will be cut off." Isa 11:12-13 Maintaining the Momentum. Between the turmoil and what God is releasing will be events that transpire fast. The potential to be overwhelmed must be resisted by a fervent focus giving priority to time in seeking the Lord. A word for this hour is that whatever sphere of influence we walk into, that we should immediately begin looking beyond it, lest it overwhelm us. Having appeared to Moses in a burning bush, God's awesome, holy manifested presence has a long history of providing strategic direction and changing the course of things. From the pillar of fire by night to the demonstration of the tongues of fire with the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost; the demonstration of fire has punctuated His power accompanying a holy and pure mantle. God's glory, operating through Moses, led the children of Israel out of bondage and into the threshold of the Promised Land. So the awesome manifestation of His presence will move God's modern-day, sold-out remnant, appointed and anointed, walking in repentance and consecration, into times that will see an application of His power that will exceed that of the Book of Acts. Stewarding the Mantle of Fire The mantle of fire incorporates the stewardship of power. Two of the three temptations the devil brought to Jesus involved the profane, misuse of power: "Command that these stones be made bread" and "throw yourself down, for it is written 'He will give His angels charge over you.'" The third involved the enticement of corrupt power: "All these things I will give to you." Each of these temptations was a profane, unauthorized means to replicate and bypass the power that comes from God's glory. They represented myopic, religious defilements of God's power and counterfeits of both the glory and the blessing. In the time before us, the enticements and evil use of power will abound. God's antidote is the mantle of fire which employs only a pure holy fire. "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." John 7:18 Before becoming the pure sacrifice that would bring fulfillment to what was outlined by the law and the prophets, Jesus gave his followers the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The Lord's Supper, referred to by some as communion, is a significant New Covenant practice paralleling the Leviticus 9 process to actuate the glory that releases the blessing and power of God. The Pure Mantle of Fire of Glory and Power Jesus warned of strange fire through the parable of the tares. When attempting to mix the impure with the pure, it backfires. Pure fire is the most potent catalyst to the release of the blessing and power of God. It is also the most powerful response to encounters with aggressive strongholds, and actuates the release of judgment. "If you have run with footmen and they have wearied you, then how will you contend with horses? If in the land of peace in which you trusted, they wearied you then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?" Jer 12:5 However, strange fire results when the pure process is modified or defiled with a replacement. Strange fire and replacement of the purity of God's process has been at the core of the enemy's strategy from the beginning. The pure was defiled by eating the forbidden fruit in the garden. Similarly, the pure process was corrupted by the sons of Aaron, just as the profane was added by Ananias and Sapphira. The defilement of the pure was reflected by the Hellenization of the Gospel, the expungement of the Jewish roots to the faith in the time of Constantine; and in each instance whereby the precepts of men employed the seductive use of strange fire that impeded entrance within the veil. It is within the veil that the pure fire is released. The times demand not just the pure fire, but the restoration of the holy process without the polluted add-ons. Daniel noted that in the time of the end many would be purified and refined, but that wickedness would increase and abound. The times upon us are bordering between the times of sorrow spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 24 and the times of the end described by Daniel. Wickedness is on the increase and gaining root. A recent dream received by a respected ministry associate of ours showed three gargoyles: one with its hands over its ears, another with its hands over its eyes and the third with its hands over its mouth. From the pit has been released an assault of spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness and a perversion of spiritual authority. High-level religious spirits wielding deception and confusion have been planting disorder and division (James 3:16) among the very elect. The cleverness of the clever will fall short. It is the time Jesus described (Matt 24) in which "many will be offended and betray one another; false prophets will arise and deceive many; and because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." The Unstoppable Dynamic The early church was seen by the world as "those who are turning the world upside down." Their faith-response involved sacrifice and, as a people, THEY became the catalysts to releasing the Glory and Power. There's nothing to compare with that complete exchange of His life for ours, within community, to actuate the maturity spoken of by Paul to the Ephesians. True spiritual maturity leads. It is evidenced by those who take responsibility beyond their selves, face the fire, and penetrate the veil to reverse the bondages. The full knowledge of the Lord (Eph 4) is not a head-thing or the resolution of all our soulish issues; but rather an operational application of the mantle of fire. That doesn't come from a Sunday-go-to-meeting, adapted to-the-world orientation. It demands a pure Kingdom mind-set and identity; by which we live by dying, our weaknesses become the seedbed for His strength, we advance by yielding and lead by serving, we bless our enemies, wisdom comes from simplicity, our purpose in life comes from giving it up, honor flows from humility and growth results from proactive generosity. Jesus raised the bar. We are in a time in which the wisdom and power that flowed in the early church is not just being restored. It will become the launch-pad for even greater levels of the release of His power and glory. Those wielding the mantle of pure fire will pierce the extremes of darkness with God's glory and power. The pure fire has always been tied to God's presence and the consumption of darkness in its wake. The word to the church for this day is to reach for the fire, the pure fire. "I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst. My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Then the nations will know that I, the LORD, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst." Ezek 37:26-28 ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace 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 where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. 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;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.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 the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card athttp://strategicintercession.org/support/ Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative. 2015 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 Global Initiatives Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt public charity.

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE CHANGE - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick

SPIRITUAL CLIMATE CHANGE (c) Morris E. Ruddick "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a wedding for his son. But those invited made light of it and went, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest seized his servants and killed them. When the king heard, he was furious. He sent out his armies to destroy the murderers and their city. Then he said to his servants, those invited were not worthy; go into the thoroughfares of the city and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. They gathered all they found, both bad and good. So, the wedding hall was filled. When the king came in, he saw one without a wedding garment and said, 'friend, how did you come without a wedding garment?' He was speechless. Then the king commanded, 'bind him and cast him into outer darkness; where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."  Matthew 22:2-14 The spiritual climate defines the heart of a society. It controls the power that reigns. It has been a key target in the struggle between good and evil for ages past. The unrighteous quest for power, masked by the perception of a utopian society, ruled by an all-knowing, supposedly "for the common good" governmental system, manifested with Hitler's Germany. At its core was the strategy of the "big lie." These were propositions laced with hope, yet so outrageous that the inclination by those under its rule, was by faith to believe them, as the communications people were subjected to were controlled by the government. This is the same undercurrent and hope that draws adherents into radical Muslim sects. Such perverse, subtle perceptions are the foundation of the premise being presented by secular-progressive political thinkers. Yet, this mode of thinking is only superficially political. It is spiritual. The basis of today's world of political correctness is fast closing the gap with the world described in George Orwell's 1949 novel titled "Nineteen Eighty-Four." Orwellian "1984" terms include "Big-Brother," group-think, speak-crimes and new-speak. It portrays a government-controlled tyranny in which power, absolute power, is sought for its own end. It is a world of omnipresent government surveillance and public manipulation. Another "futuristic" novel of its time, published in 1931 by Aldous Huxley, "Brave New World," presents a world of pervasive psychological manipulation designed to bring the change to create a conformist, robotic-thinking society. One of the most subtle dynamics of this premise is the removal of honor from a society's leadership. Without honor, things quickly digress into unrighteousness and lawlessness. The opening parable in Matthew 22 uncovers the potent nature of this issue of honor. When the king announced plans for his son's wedding, pointing to the succession and his reign, it was met with rebellion and dishonor. Upon recovery, as the wedding finally was begun, those called who failed to meet the standard and respond with the honor due the spiritual significance of this event were dealt with decisively. The Keys and the Standard God's people, whose identities are fully in Him, hold the keys and are the key to drawing the line with this age-old conflict defining the spiritual climate. As bearers of this truth, God's people have been and are a target. If the strategy of convincing them to be like everyone else falls short, then they become objects for annihilation. Governments are the means rather than the end. Freedom is the banner by which the Lord reigns. Honor is the underpinning of godly, true freedom. Long ago, God established a standard within the community of His people. That standard is what we refer to as truth and the knowledge of His ways. When this standard, along with His presence are in full operation within the household of faith, then the impact of this spiritual climate on society produces positive ripples from His truth and presence. The spiritual climate that manifests God's presence holds the potential to change everything around it. The restoration of honor is crucial to this equation. "When the earth experiences His judgments, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness." Isaiah 26:9 The Two Sides of Honor The story of Job is a story of honor. Job experienced the bottom dropping out financially and health-wise. Despite his community long considering him as an honorable man, his circumstances drew accusations bringing his honor into question. Yet, when the realities faced by Job resulted in humility and repentance that triggered a new and profound revelation of God, God honored him with an honor that far outshined that of his community. The lynchpin that brought Job through to this new consciousness of God was that Job did not blame God. It is a factor marking the foundation of the spiritual climate in which God manifests. In all Job experienced, he upheld God's honor and as a result was conferred with an honor and a new authority that only could come from God. The Trust Factor Honor begets trust. In the same "two-sided" way honor is reflected in the story of Job, so the dynamic of trust operates. It is reflected by the trust conferred by man, but the trust that comes from God bears a higher level of knowing and abiding in Him and with that will engender much greater levels of authority and fruit. "Blessed is the man who has made the Lord his trust and has not turned to the proud or to those who lapse into falsehood." Psalm 40:4 Understanding the Times The spiritual dynamic at play in this hour has been manifesting for decades. It has involved the systematic rebranding and erosion of anything good tied to those called by His Name. It has sought to recast issues of foundational and honorable heritage. It has been a strategy of dishonor in the age-old conflict of Babylon and Chaldea. "O God, do not remain silent and do not be still. For behold, Your enemies make an uproar, and those who hate You have exalted themselves. They make shrewd plans against Your people and conspire together against Your treasured ones. They have said, 'Come and let us wipe them out that the name of Israel be remembered no more.' For they have conspired together with one mind; against You they make a covenant." Psalm 83:1-5 Babylon and Chaldea are the chief strongholds that war against God and His people. Babylon is the spirit of the world, without the true God, empowered and propped up by Chaldea, the spirit of sorcery, the very gates of the devil's supernatural power. The Confrontation Still, the Bible is replete with the history of individuals and communities who would not waver in the face of death and who changed kingdoms and nations as a result. God has long reversed the bondages of evil through ones who have refused to waver before evil. "Through you I will break nations in pieces. Through you I will destroy kingdoms and strongholds. Through you I will shatter governors and rulers. And I the Lord will repay Babylon and Chaldea." Jeremiah 51:20, 23-23 These verses in Jeremiah unveil not only the stand and the confrontational role of the household of faith against the powers-to-be in the natural, but it uncovers the source of their power, which God Himself will judge when we have done our part. Rick Joyner recently commented on a word the Lord spoke to him: that revival would come when the hearts of the children return to the fathers. The issue evolves around honor. Whether it is the entertainment industry or news industry, the last few decades have seen a systematic erosion of the response to the honor of any who uphold righteous values, especially targeting the role of righteous fathers. The response begins with the household of faith. At the heart of this matter is the societal standard, how the household of faith lives in community. The honorable demonstration of the reality of God according to His standard is what the world, losing its grip on hope, longs for. It is the factor that prompts the reality of God to manifest. "So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him [and put him to flight]." Isaiah 59:19 NKJV and Amplified This manifesting consciousness of God's presence will short-circuit the masks and illusions perpetuated by evil and change the spiritual climate in its wake. At its root is the employment of power by God's people, righteous power. Spiritual Climate Change The spiritual climate is regulated by and governed by the role of the true intercessor and with that the culture of the community of God's people. "Justice is turned back and righteousness stands afar off; for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter. So truth fails and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. But the LORD saw it and it displeased Him. He wondered that there was no intercessor." Isaiah 59:14-16 Numbers 25:10 describes the intentionality of intercession needed to change the spiritual climate. It tells how Phinehas, the grandson of Aaron stood in the gap and made atonement for the sin of the Israelites. His intercession was described as being zealous for God's honor. Because of that his descendents were conferred a covenant of a lasting priesthood. The prophet Daniel stood in the gap, repenting and making atonement for the iniquity of His people. It takes the righteous to operate with this anointing and with this level of authority. "Then Daniel turned to the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, with fasting and sackcloth and ashes." Daniel 9:3 Today's righteous prophetic intercessors must accept their role of standing in the gap and repenting and making supplication as Phinehas and Daniel did. In no way overlooking the potential of the role of righteous political leaders, the household of faith in the West has been guilty of putting their trust in the government for their answers while succumbing to confusion, as the anti-God forces have systematically usurped the elements of authority bearing on the spiritual climate of our society. In the mid-1980s there was a planning conference held in Boulder, Colorado by gay activists. They mapped out a 25 year plan and proceeded to execute it. Their influence and agendas went beyond talking the talk and penetrated key circles of the media, entertainment industry, politics and even technology and business. They declared war, while the Christian community at the time was consumed with a mix of abuses of power and division -- or simply found themselves confusing their role in upholding a higher standard with projecting a superficial image of being "nice people."  Spiritual climate change will not come without unequivocal confrontation. "Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at the sorcerer saying, "You who are full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? Now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing for a time." Acts 13:9 The Maturity Factor Operational maturity within the household of faith is no longer an option. For far too long we've promulgated a mind-set of being a band of followers, ever-learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. The great deception in this mode of thinking is that spiritual maturity is somehow tied to a higher level of doctrinal knowledge. That's the "one ups-man" approach the Pharisees gave the people. It immobilized them. Jesus came to set the people free from that trap and mobilize them. True spiritual maturity is putting your faith in action, being doers of the word and not hearers only, who deceive themselves (James 1:22). Elijah risked it all to face overwhelming odds arrayed against him in order to confront evil and uphold God's honor. All it takes is a righteous remnant with the faith and courage to risk everything. "Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the storehouse of hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war?" Job 38:22, 23 The wedding feast is fast approaching, which will distinguish those who will be the chosen from those called. The heroes of faith spoken of in the book of Hebrews were not seduced by their comforts or their quest to sustain their survival. They conformed to the truth spoken of by Jesus that the greatest love (John 15:13) is that evidenced by those willing to give up their lives for God's honor and for those who would follow them. Some did just that. Some, in facing the crucible, walked into spectacular miracles. Such a resolute mind-set is the maturity factor needed to trigger His glory and change the spiritual climate. God's glory will not abide with the glory sought by men. The ground occupied by those willing to sacrifice at the level Jesus pointed to is sacred ground. God is not looking for glory-hounds, but rather the Stephens and those with the spirit and spiritual maturity to confront the realities and uphold God's honor with their all. "The LORD said to Moses, 'Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him.  He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.'" Num 25:10-13 ____________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace 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 where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. 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;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooksand www.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 the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card athttp://strategicintercession.org/support/ Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative. 2015 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 Global Initiatives Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt ministry.

DID IT COUNT? - Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick

Note from Morris: Today is a day of remembrance in America: to give honor and memory to those who served, to those who have sacrificed for the cause of freedom. SIGN is a part of Global Initiatives, a non-profit with its main thrust of equipping and mobilizing the brethren in lands where religious freedom is most challenged.   God used my service as a US Marine in a Vietnamese unit during the Vietnam conflict to give me a special love for and rapport with the Vietnamese people, who are now the prime focus of our efforts with Global Initiatives.   What the Lord is doing among these remarkable brethren today is extraordinary. Yet, there has been a cost, a high cost, not unlike the cost paid by those this day serves to honor and remember, who risked their all for the cause of freedom.   For those who who either didn't understand or those who simply were never exposed to the realities of the Vietnam conflict, the question remains: did it count?  I pray that this testimony will stir you to pray regularly for our brethren in Vietnam and any other members of the household of faith where religious freedom is at risk. Morris         DID IT COUNT?  (c) Morris E. Ruddick Growing up in the sixties in South Vietnam was a struggle. Phuc (name changed) shares that he was almost always hungry. His first remembrance of not being hungry was after a meal served at his primary school by a group of Marines from the Danang air base. It was Christmas. The children were exposed to some very different, but tasty food they had never before experienced and there was plenty. Members from the Marine band played festive Christmas songs. The program for local kids was sponsored by Toys for Tots. Each left not only with their belly full and toys from the Marines, but the memory of the kindness of the Americans. Not many years later, Phuc's village, known to be friendly to the Americans, came under attack from the VC. Five members of Phuc's family were killed in one night, including his mother and grandparents. With little to hope for, Phuc now a teen and his father, heard a radio message about the God of hope and His son Jesus. Phuc remembered the Christmas meal provided by the Marines years before. Despite their Buddhist background, Phuc and his dad began praying and believing the message of Jesus. With 1975 and the change of governments, things became much worse. People were afraid. Many told things to the authorities in order to gain favor. Phuc was a young man now and began looking for others who believed as he did, to pray with them. Then his father disappeared. Like many others in those days, no one knew what happened to him. He never saw his father again. Phuc read his Bible and prayed. It was his source of hope for the future. Even within the church, people would inform on one another, so finding people you could trust became a necessity of life. Phuc began meeting and praying regularly with trusted friends. Since he was a natural leader and was growing in his faith, soon other believers began looking to Phuc for spiritual answers. As time progressed into the eighties, these were very hard times for the Vietnamese, as many lived according to the law of the jungle in order to survive. Many risked everything to escape, in their quest for freedom. For believers, prayer made a difference. However, those meeting together for prayer had to be planned carefully, as authorities accused them of conspiring against the government. By now, Phuc was recognized as a pastor. As time progressed, these gatherings were happening all over and became the basis of what became known as the "house-church" movement. It spread across the entire land, not just in the newly occupied south, but across the north as well. Authorities began questioning Phuc and accusing him of being CIA. With the inception of the 90s, Phuc's spiritual leadership was deemed a threat and he was arrested and put in a hard-labor prison. Conditions were terrible. His day began before daybreak with the only provided meal, a watered-down bowl of rice gruel. Daylight hours were spent toiling in sweltering fields. Hunger, starvation and sickness were the mode. Prisoners, ravished by hunger, ate the bark off trees. Families slipped scraps of foods through chain-link fences in the middle of the night. Men died fighting over a piece of food. Something happened to Phuc during those 31 months in the prison-work camp. His faith took him beyond himself. Despite the degrading humiliations and physical hardships, there came a wisdom, and with that, a fearlessness of what man could do to him. At one point, certain camp authorities tried to break him. He was put in a cramped solitary confinement cell without food or light. His physical condition went from bad to critical. He was told he was dying, but that by signing the paper before him, he would be released that day. It was a statement renouncing his faith. His stubborn faith prevailed. He straightened up and looked his captors in the eye and told them: "I'll die before signing that paper." When the camp commander learned of his plight he gave the command to take him out of solitary, saying "he is not a criminal." What Phuc also had no way of knowing was a humanitarian group was also working on his full release. It happened one week later. When released, he was given the option of going to the US. He chose to stay and help his people. Since that time, he has become the founder of a network of house-churches that are located from the far north of Vietnam to deep into the Mekong Delta. Through his efforts, the poor are fed and orphanages are supported. He lives humbly, yet tirelessly in helping the poor and disadvantaged. When I first met this man and he learned I had served twenty-five months in Vietnam as a US Marine in the sixties, he stood at attention, sharply saluted me and thanked me for my service to his nation. In mid-1966, as an I-Corps grunt, I frequently heard the admonishment to give heed to "the hearts and minds of the people." Rules of engagement determined whether we could shoot back or not -- a tough standard when you're under fire. Yet, almost 50 years later that standard, along with the not-forgotten kindnesses from efforts like Toys for Tots is precisely what we're seeing transcend the years in the response of the Vietnamese to America. In 1998, it took courage and it took leadership for Vietnam's Prime Minister Kiet to go before the people of Vietnam and tell them it was time to put the past behind them and invite the Americans back. From the north to the south of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will tell you that everything began changing for the better, from the horrible conditions of that day, as word that the Americans were coming back spread across the land. In the business world, it's what is referred to as value-added. It's the meal eaten by the hungry kid who years later became a pastor. It's the Toys for Tots Christmas program that will always be remembered by thousands. It is the integrity and discipline and honor that make the Marines what they are known for in combat that endures to establish who they are in the hearts and minds of the people, a generation later. To answer the question "did it count?" Yeah! Without a doubt, you bet it did.

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org P.O. Box 370291 Denver, CO 80237 USA SIGN is a part of Global Initiatives, a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 ministry