10 Ways Not to Hate Being Single - ANDREA ALLEY/MORAL REVOLUTION CHARISMA MAGAZINE

10 Ways Not to Hate Being Single

 2/16/2016 ANDREA ALLEY/MORAL REVOLUTION   charisma magazine

Photo above: Here are many ways you can celebrate being single. (Lightstock )

It's not always easy being single: third wheeling it at the movies, persevering through some awkward dates and scrambling for a good answer when well-meaning friends and family members ask if you've met anyone "special" yet.

Although it has its fair share of uncomfortable situations and weekend nights sitting on the couch in pajamas, being single does not have to be the time in your life you barely get through.

Here are a few ways to live life fully and pursue growth in your single season:

1. Go on adventures. Travel. Take road trips. There might be a day coming when you can't just pick up and leave because you'll have a family, so go places. Take your friends, take pictures, see new things, try things you're scared of, spend time with people from other cultures and fill your journal up with stories.

2. Don't overdose on romance movies and books. There's nothing like getting totally absorbed in the life of someone else who has a girlfriend or boyfriend, to send you into a whirlwind of sorrow and loneliness. It may not be romantic movies that send you into the whirlwind. It may be certain music, websites or particular places or environments. Be kind to yourself and stay away from the things that make being single more difficult.

3. Do things that make you come alive. Write, draw, paint, exercise, cook, play field hockey, program computers—whatever it is that makes time disappear and makes you glad you were born.

Pursue other interests. You can even take risks on some of them that would be more difficult to take with a spouse and children, like starting a business.

4. Get dressed up. Ladies, put on a dress, really cute shoes and some lipstick. Guys, this isn't just for the ladies. Take a shower, shave the scruff, pull out your sharpest outfit. When you're single, there are times apathy can start to sneak in because you haven't gone on a date in 65 weeks and you'd rather sit on the couch watching reruns than try to go anywhere. Getting ready and putting time and effort into your appearance shows you value yourself and you will value whatever relationships you enter in the future.

5. Be nice to your friends in different seasons. Celebrate their engagements. Buy presents for their new babies. Don't shut down your relationships with people because you're in different seasons. Someday when you're having your moment, you're going to be so glad the people you care about are there celebrating you.

6. Hang out with families. People who are happily married have a wealth of wisdom for you to learn from. Ask questions, play with their kids and watch how they treat each other. What do they love and what do they find challenging? They've been in your shoes, and you will probably be in their shoes some day, so let them help set you up for success with healthy expectations for marriage and family.

7. Learn to get really good about having fun. Become a master at enjoying the moment and the season you're in. There will always be something to worry about or something more you feel like you need. Get good at enjoying your life right now, and you will be able to fully enjoy it later. This is a unique moment in time, and you'll never be here again. Don't miss it.

8. Realize that problems don't disappear when you're married. Married or single, you're still going to be you. All your problems, addictions and bad habits go with you. If you're struggling in the area of purity or sexuality, work through it now.

The reason God gave you a sex drive before you were married is because He knew you'd have to be able to manage it when you are married.

9. Hang out with Jesus. This is the only time in your life Jesus can have this much of your time. One day you might be up all night with a crying baby or running around trying to get your kids to school and you're not going to have time for a shower, let alone a nice long quiet time with your latte and your Bible. Get deeply rooted in His love. Write His Word on your heart so you have it inside you during the busier times in life.

10. Let God tell you who you are. You're not beautiful because boys say you are; you're beautiful because God says so. You're not a handsome stud of a man because all the ladies love you; you're a man because God says you are. Get your identity from Him because He knows you, created you, and His love for you is steady, unlike the wavering opinions of people. 

There are more ways than these to make the most of your singlehood. Figure out what works best for you. The important thing to remember is there is no part of your life where you simply have to survive and not thrive.

God uses every part our lives to grow us and prepare us for the incredible things He has ahead. Chase after complete freedom and abundant life, not only in this season, but in every one to come.

Andrea Alley is an intern for moralrevolution.com. For the original article, visitmoralrevolution.com.

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21 New Numbers That Show That The Global Economy Is Absolutely Imploding - Michael Snyder THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG

21 New Numbers That Show That The Global Economy Is Absolutely Imploding Posted: 16 Feb 2016  Michael Snyder  THE ECONOMIC COLLAPSE BLOG After a series of stunning declines through the month of January and the first half of February, global financial markets seem to have found a patch of relative stability at least for the moment.  But that does not mean that the crisis is over.  On the contrary, all of the hard economic numbers that are coming in from around the world tell us that the global economy is coming apart at the seams.   This is especially true when you look at global trade numbers.  The amount of stuff that is being bought, sold and shipped around the planet is falling precipitously.  So don’t be fooled if stocks go up one day or down the next.  The truth is that we are in the early chapters of a brand new economic meltdown, and I believe that all of the signs indicate that it will continue to get worse in the months ahead.  The following are 21 new numbers that show that the global economy is absolutely imploding… #1 Chinese exports fell by 11.2 percent year over year in January. #2 Chinese imports were even worse in January.  On a year over year basis, they declined a whopping 18.8 percent. #3 It may be hard to believe, but Chinese imports have now plunged for 15 months in a row. #4 In India, exports were down 13.6 percent on a year over year basis in January. #5 In Japan, exports declined 8 percent in December on a year over year basis, while imports plummeted 18 percent. #6 For the sixth time in six years, Japanese GDP growth has gone negative. #7 In the United States, exports were down 7 percent on a year over year basis in December. #8 U.S. factory orders have fallen for 14 months in a row. #9 The Restaurant Performance Index in the United States has dropped to the lowest level that we have seen since 2008. #10 This month the Baltic Dry Index fell below 300 for the first time ever. #11 It is now cheaper to rent a 1,100 foot merchant vessel than it is to rent a Ferrari. #12 Orders for Class 8 trucks in the United States dropped by 48 percent on a year over year basis in January. #13 Due to a lack of demand for trucks, Daimler just laid off 1,250 U.S. workers. #14 Even though Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to freeze oil production at current levels, the price of U.S. oil has still fallen below 30 dollars a barrel. #15 It is being reported that 35 percent of all oil and gas companies around the world are at risk of falling into bankruptcy. #16 According to CNN, 67 oil and gas companies in the United States filed for bankruptcy during 2015. #17 The number of job cuts in the United States skyrocketed 218 percent during the month of January according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. #18 All over America, retail stores are shutting down at a stunning pace.  The following list of store closures comes from one of my previous articles… -Wal-Mart is closing 269 stores, including 154 inside the United States. -K-Mart is closing down more than two dozen stores over the next several months. -J.C. Penney will be permanently shutting down 47 more stores after closing a total of 40 stores in 2015. -Macy’s has decided that it needs to shutter 36 stores and lay off approximately 2,500 employees. -The Gap is in the process of closing 175 stores in North America. -Aeropostale is in the process of closing 84 stores all across America. -Finish Line has announced that 150 stores will be shutting down over the next few years. -Sears has shut down about 600 stores over the past year or so, but sales at the stores that remain open continue to fall precipitously. #19 The price of gold is enjoying its best quarterly performance in 30 years. #20 Global stocks have fallen into bear market territory, which means that about one-fifth of all global stock market wealth has already been wiped out. #21 Unfortunately for global central banks, they have pretty much run out of ammunition.  Since March 2008, central banks have cut interest rates 637 times and they have purchased a staggering 12.3 trillion dollars worth of assets.  There is not much more that they can do, and now the next great crisis is upon us. Without any outside influences, the global economy and the global financial system will continue to rapidly fall apart. But if we do have a major “black swan event” take place, that could cause the bottom to fall out at any moment. In particular, I am deeply concerned about the possibility that World War III could be sparked in the Middle East.  In an article that I published earlier today entitled “Turkey Is Asking The United States To Take Part In A Ground Invasion Of Syria“, I included a quote from Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu that reveals just how eager Turkey and Saudi Arabia are for war to begin… “Some countries like us, Saudi Arabia and some other Western European countries have said that a ground operation is necessary,” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told Reuters in an interview. However, this kind of action could not be left to regional powers alone. “To expect this only from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar is neither right nor realistic. If such an operation is to take place, it has to be carried out jointly, like the (coalition) air strikes,” he said. The Turks and the Saudis very much want the United States to take a leading role in any ground invasion of Syria, but the Obama administration is not likely to do that. So we shall see if the Turks and the Saudis are willing to go ahead without us.  Let us hope that they do not decide to invade Syria, because that could start the biggest war in the Middle East that any of us have ever seen. Unfortunately, Turkey is already attacking. Turkey has been shelling Kurdish and Syrian military positions in northern Syria for four days in a row even though the Obama administration has been urging them to stop. The first month and a half of 2016 has already been quite chaotic, and the stage is set for global events to greatly accelerate during the months ahead. Sadly, the mainstream media in the United States is largely ignoring the preparations for a ground invasion of Syria, and they keep telling us that the global economy is going to be just fine, so most ordinary Americans are going to be absolutely blindsided by what is about to happen.

The Grammy Winner the Media Ignored: The Holy Spirit - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Francesca Battistelli

The Grammy Winner the Media Ignored: The Holy Spirit

 2/16/2016 JESSILYN JUSTICE  charisma news

Join us on our podcast each weekday for an interesting story, well told, from Charisma News. Listen at charismapodcastnetwork.com.

---

You go, Taylor Swift! And what was up with Adele's sound? Did you see that Hamilton performance? 

The 2016 Grammy Award headlines fill social media streams, but few mention how the Holy Spirit won.  

"Holy Spirit," which proclaims: Holy Spirit, you are welcome here/Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere won best contemporary Christian music performance by Francesca Battistelli. 

 "I'm so grateful for @BryanTorwalt & @katietorwalt. They wrote an incredible song, & the Lord is honoring it! I'm thankful to get to sing it!" Battistelli tweeted after the win.  

Other Christian winners include TobyMac for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album and Kirk Franklin for Best Gospel Performance/Song. 

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Francesca Battistelli took home her first Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for “Holy Spirit.” The song is from her 2014 album, "If We’re Honest," an album that netted three Grammy nominations. Battistelli, who is anticipating the birth of her third child, was unable to attend the 58thAnnual Grammy Awards, which took place Monday, February 15 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

“Holy Spirit” (written by Bryan and Katie Torwalt) spent 15 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and topped 5 radio charts simultaneously in 2015, becoming her third consecutive No. 1 from the album, If We’re Honest, following “Write Your Story” and “He Knows My Name.”

This Grammy Award win caps off an extremely fruitful awards season. Francesca was voted Female Artist of the Year at the KLOVE Fan Awards last spring, received her first Billboard Music Awards nomination, and received three more nods at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards.

For more information, visit www.FrancescaMusic.com.

In Israel, US Jewish Leaders Study 'Timely, Realistic, Frightening' Middle East - MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN/JNS.ORG CHARISMA NEWS

In Israel, US Jewish Leaders Study 'Timely, Realistic, Frightening' Middle East

 2/17/2016 MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN/JNS.ORG   charisma news

Photo above: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses visiting leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations at the Inbal hotel in Jerusalem on Feb. 14, 2016. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)

"Timely, realistic and frightening" were the words that William Daroff, senior vice president for public policy and director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America, used to describe reports about the Middle East security situation. 

Speaking on the second day of the leadership mission of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Daroff's remarks came after an hour-long session focused on Iran after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, and just before another hour-long panel discussion on "the Middle East volcano."

The 42nd annual Israel mission for the Conference of Presidents, an umbrella body representing 50 U.S. Jewish organizations, kicked off Feb. 14 as the group of more than 100 delegates was welcomed with a speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

The meeting minutes and panel discussions reflected the current gloom-and-doom picture of the region.

"Syria will leave us with two bad options: We will have either Daesh (Islamic State) or Iran on our border," said Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Feb. 15.

"I don't think Israel has lost. I think the world has lost," Member of Knesset Yair Lapid, the Yesh Atid party's leader, said regarding Iran.

The Middle East has always been a region wrought with contradictions, but the conference highlighted how in the realm of security, Middle East experts are now unsure what is truth and what is façade, if what will happen tomorrow will be indicative of what will happen in 10 years, and if those we assume are our enemies might just be our friends (or vice versa).

Take the Iran deal. Dr. Emily B. Landau, senior research fellow at Tel Aviv University's Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), quoted IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot as saying at the INSS conference last month that the Iran deal entails both opportunities and dangers. Landau said both are true. 

"We are working on different timelines; there is a five-year timeline and there is a 15-year timeline," she explained. "On the five-year timelines, yes, this is a strategic turning point because [Eizenkot] believes the threat has been delayed. ... Iran will be focused on upholding the deal to get the economic and diplomatic benefits of the deal."

But nothing has changed in terms of Iran's strategic goals, and in 15 years Iran will likely have nuclear weapons, which translates into a nuclear Middle East, according to Landau.

"Delaying a threat is not taking care of a threat," she said.

Here's the next dichotomy: Conference experts said that while they feel the JCPOA has stunted the immediate growth of Iran's nuclear program, the deal has empowered Iran in other ways. The reintegration of Iran into the world economic system has led to a real change in Iranian behavior, said Michael Segall, senior analyst for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs think tank. He said Iran has moved from covert operations in the Middle East to overt operations.

"No one is trying to hide behind secrecy anymore," said Segall. "We see Iran going from being perceived as part of the problem in the Middle East to part of the solution."

But Segall said that is only a perception and that Iran remains a very dangerous threat for Israel. While Iran partners with Russia to keep in power Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who the Americans were confident would be out of office a few years ago, the Islamic Republic is simultaneously training and bolstering the Lebanese terror group Hezbollah. Even if Hezbollah is beaten down and banged up by its participation in the Syrian civil war, Segall said that ultimately, "Hezbollah will come out strong and experienced in fighting. Hezbollah will be even more threatening in the future."

How could the United States let this happen? Delusion? Ignorance? Innocence? It is likely a combination of all of the above, according to what Dr. Michael Doran, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute think tank, told the Conference of the Presidents. There lies the next contradiction: a world superpower entrapped by what Doran called "fantasy."

"The president (Barack Obama) doesn't understand Iran the way we do," said Doran. "The president represents a trend in the U.S. national security elite, which sees Iran as a natural ally of the U.S. This is a strongly held secret opinion. They don't like to advertise it because it is unpopular politically."

Doran said this false belief is widely held—not only by Democrats but by Republicans too. He said President Obama has convinced himself that in the end, Iran and the U.S. have the same interest of defeating Islamic State and that Iran doesn't really want to destroy Israel. 

"That is what Iran tells the U.S. behind closed doors. ... I don't believe it for a second," said Doran. 

In the meantime, according to Segall, the U.S. has lost its place in the game—and it lost it in August 2013 when Obama's "chemical redlines were crossed" by failing to push through military action against Syria following Assad's use of chemical weapons. Russia has moved in to fill the American void.

"We all know the end result," Segall said.

In Israel, the U.S. seems to be losing its foothold too. In January, one Israeli poll named Russian President Vladimir Putin as its "person of the year" for 2015. Putin, whose country in 2015 was considered by international analysts to have surpassed North Korea as the United States's greatest adversary, was the clear winner of the Jerusalem Post poll, with almost 30 percent of the vote. 

Netanyahu told the Conference of Presidents, "We live in an era where there are two parallel but contradictory trends regarding the State of Israel." On the one hand, Israel faces ongoing diplomatic hostility from longtime friends, including from the European Union and its member countries. On the other hand, nontraditional partners like India, China, Japan, Russia, and African and Latin American nations are warming up to Israel.

"The first reason is the concern with the spread of militant Islam, which has become a global plague and the terrorism that it produces," said Netanyahu. "And countries want to have, to benefit from Israel's experience, our intelligence. I mean military intelligence, special service intelligence, operational experience. They want to partake of that experience to help defend themselves."

The old Middle East is gone, said Segall, and we don't really know what the end result of the shifting dynamics will be.

Avi Issacharoff, the Middle East correspondent for the Times of Israel, added, "The new Middle East is not about black and white. It's about 50 shades of gray."

For the original article, visit jns.org.

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

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Heidi Baker's Prophetic Vision Over America: 'I Was Undone by What I Saw' - JESSILYN JUSTICE CHARISMA NEWS

Heidi Baker's Prophetic Vision Over America: 'I Was Undone by What I Saw'

2/16/2016 JESSILYN JUSTICE  charisma news

Iris Ministries' Heidi Baker told a conference audience she had a vision of famine sweeping across America.  

"I had a vision in your church and it wasn't what I expected to see. ... I saw bread lines, soup kitchens, and I saw people wearing beautiful clothing. Their clothing was not worn out. Now in my nation when people are hungry you can tell. I mean they are in shredded rags. They don't have shoes or they have flip flops. Most of them [have] no shoes. They are hungry and they know they are hungry. They come for food, not because they are beggars, but because they are hungry," Baker said. 

"I have held starving children in my arms. I know what starvation is. I know what pain is. I know what suffering is. But in this vision that I had that was in your nation, my nation, which the Lord is helping me to say, I will identify with America as well as Mozambique," Baker continued.  

Watch the video to see the rest of her vision. 

For a limited time, we are extending our celebration of the 40th anniversary of Charisma. As a special offer, you can get 40 issues of Charisma magazine for only $40!

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Innovative Israeli Cancer Cure Seeing Amazing Results - Israel Today

Innovative Israeli Cancer Cure Seeing Amazing Results

Wednesday, February 17, 2016 |  Israel Today Staff

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An innovative Israeli-developed cure for leukemia that is currently being tested in the US is seeing amazing results.

The clinical tests have been run primarily on patients with advanced leukemia that were given only a matter of months to live. An astonishing 94 percent have reportedly shown improvement, and in more than half symptoms related to the cancer have disappeared all together.

Professor Stanley Riddell of the University of Washington, who is running the tests, cautioned that much work remains to clarify the results of the study, and it is still unknown if the treatment managed to remove the cancer completely, or if it will return in the aforementioned patients.

The treatment was originally developed by Professor Zelig Eshhar (pictured) of Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science.

In a Wednesday morning interview with Israel Radio, Prof. Eshhar said the challenge was now to expand the range of this treatment to target other forms of cancer, including those involving solid tumors.

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[MORRIS RUDDICK VIETNAM REPORT] OUT OF THE BOX

Morris & Carol Ruddick [MORRIS RUDDICK VIETNAM REPORT] OUT OF THE BOX "My heart burns with the fire of God when I talk with you." This was a recent comment of a Vietnamese pastor I work with. This man is a part of those who embody the future of Vietnam, who are paving the way for the new thing God is doing globally. Our time in Vietnam since mid-January has been rich, full and fruitful with a series of unexpected God-things taking place. All we've been working toward is maturing. It is dovetailing with God's sovereign moves across the earth, as we're witnessing the fire of God manifesting. It is linked to the shift that we believe is the forerunner of the new thing the Lord is doing between the generations. So, thank you for your prayers. At the forefront of our strategy has been an approach that mobilizes Vietnamese to help Vietnamese. Our aim has been to help them become self-sufficient as a culture within a culture, to mobilize believers to be a people of God who bring influence, as they become a blessing within their communities. Our goal has been to build community builders as we work toward establishing God's blueprint in the roles served by both pastoral and business leaders bridging the generations. These are ones who are a part of the ground-swell of God's purposes manifesting for Vietnam's believers. While we have started (and have continued) with a unique business startup program, our efforts plant what we call the God's economy program, "how to do business God's way." It is business with a purpose. In many ways, it's a different way of thinking. It is not unlike that of the Jews, the people of the Book, who have had to think strategically over the centuries to survive. But it is more than just survival. God's pathway has been for His people to be the head and not the tail. As our efforts have taken root and begun bearing fruit, we have begun preparing experienced business leaders to mentor the next generation. We have also long had the vision to tap the secular community with our efforts. This has spilled over into the field of education. From Orphans to Community Influence Here is one story to illustrate what is emerging. One of our closest associates, a successful business owner, has been caring for a group of orphans he and his wife have taken responsibility for. With very little help from the West, he has built the housing for this group of orphans on a property he owns. We have prayed with him as he has taken steps of faith and the opportunity has morphed. Through the orphanage now they reach out to their neighbors with gifts and food onholidays. They also conduct free English classes for many in the neighborhood who want to come, which broadens the spiritual foundations of those attending. However, their long-term vision is to establish a private Christian school. Taking one step at a time, their application for a private kindergarten is expected to be approved soon. New Emerging Opportunity In another "unexpected" from this trip, we were introduced to and broke bread with the boss of a close Vietnamese associate of ours. Our friend is in charge of the language program for a private college. Interest was expressed in our program for these students. Having been a part of a group (ICCC) that prepared a video series for the Chinese educational TV system in the late 90s, I am acquainted with the challenges of communicating spiritual things to a non-believing audience. It is an additional challenge when there are governmental restraints over spiritual things. Within the arena of doing business God's way are matters tied to the wholesomeness of faith, the spiritual values which comprise the faith-culture for doing business successfully. Interestingly, many within China, promoting the Chinese video series have surmised THIS to be the key edge defining Western business success. This premise ties in to the biblical mind-set of why the Jewish people have been so successful in business over the centuries. So we have been discussing the applicability and uniqueness that our approach will offer the students of this college. Before our departure, we conducted an informal workshop with a group of these students at a private Bistro. Our expectations were exceeded as we shared openly on topics related to the Lord andpertinent to these students. The matters we broached ranged from how to discover their gifts, discerning their destiny, God's plan for their lives, entrepreneurship, factors of leadership, community and the cultural similarities between the Jews and the Vietnamese. This wonderful time of exploration was concluded by my praying a prayer of blessing over them and then our being encouraged by these students and invited back for "more." Ripples from Generational Blessings One of our God's economy programs on this trip was done for the Methodists. Both pastoral and business leaders attended. One of those attending is the owner of a private kindergarten program. Her comment upon completion of our time together was that God had spoken to her about expanding her already successful operation into a K-12 school. This is the same thing the Lord has spoken to our business friend with the orphanage, who is awaiting approval for the first step with their kindergarten. Many business leaders from this workshop indicated they now understand how to better use their businesses for the Kingdom as they serve as community builders. I have a friend who has commented that he has enough in-laws to make a denomination! The family that has spawned the leadership of the Methodists in Vietnam didn't start that way. However, they have become an example of what is now significant with the generations strategically cooperating to bring in the "new thing" God is doing. Not long after the government change in 1975, the oldest of nine siblings came to faith. He then brought all the other members of the family to the Lord, including their parents. The parents went on to become pastors and half the siblings are now pastors and half are business owners with all the extended family being believers. From the beginning to this day they have supported one another. And their influence now extends across the nation. Yet, at the time they came to faith, things were not easy for believers. They formed a close family-community and prayed. They reached out and blessed their friends and neighbors. The youngest son (the pastor hosting us), is almost a generation younger than the oldest. As a young teen he felt a strong call into the ministry and upon completing school in Vietnam, they all came behind him and he was sent first to Korea and then to the US to study for the ministry. He has his doctorate from a respected U.S seminary. Their Bible School, where members from across Vietnam attend and where we did our workshop was property that was owned and donated by their parents. Unexpected Multiplication The participants of another of our workshops felt so strongly about the significance of what we taught that they asked us to do another workshop in conjunction with another group in another part of the city. We did. These folks are not only ready but eager to put into action what our program teaches. What was distinctive about this group was the number of successful business owners, who in addition to running quite successful businesses, have opened their homes to their friends and now are also pastoring congregations of 45 to 60! One of the most unusual "unexpecteds" was a request from a secular source to minister spiritually to a business professional. We did and it was received and embraced, an indication of the spiritual hunger that is resulting from the years of prayers and the spiritual climate change underway at this time in Vietnam. Unexpected Convergence Yet among all the things that took place, personally the most exciting was the start of plans for a coalition of Christian business leaders to mentor the next generation. Strategies have been laid out and steps taken for what we believe will trigger the opening of unusual doors for spiritually hungry people eager to do business patterned after the ways of the people of business described "in the Book." After these steps, before leaving, we "unexpectedly" were invited to share a meal with a group of three Vietnamese businessmen and a pastor. Two of them had gone through our program about four years ago. They were on their way back from another Asian locale putting on a seminar on how to start a business It was for an expatriate Vietnamese group preparing to return to Vietnam. They are the mobilized business community already doing what we are talking about. They are eager to bring our program into their efforts. These are the highlights. There was more, but I think you get the idea. God has been bringing it all together. It has been eight years since Easter of 2008, when the Lord opened the doors for usinto Vietnam. With the God's economy program at the forefront, we've invested over two years into our efforts with these amazing people. Now the fruit is coming forth as we plan for our next two trips, as we expand our efforts with strategies in education, make plans for successful business owners to mentor the next generation, get key materials translated, and walk through the open doors with university students hungry to embrace alternatives to the world's pathway of success with new (biblical) mind-sets. Again, thank you for your prayers. The fire of God is truly burning in Vietnam. Our efforts have been supported by literally a couple of handfuls of dear friends. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I pray that you recognize the shift and the opportunity we have before us and that your very vital support continues and should the Lord speak to you, will increase. The opportunity has never been greater. For those who may have only considered helping us, we are prudent with our expenditures and do a LOT with a little. We pray that you'll consider getting in the boat with us for this time of opportunity the Lord is opening for us. The year that began with Christmas of 2014 proved one of our greatest times of challenge. Our dear grandson Isaiah unexpectedly died. Twice while we were ministering in Vietnam in 2015, the ground floor of our home offices flooded. In the time following, my computer crashed with the loss of important data. We KNEW that God had something significant coming soon. That "something more" is happening now. Thank you again for your prayers and support. In His love and ours,

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org Global Initiatives is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt organization