"Good Morning. This is God! I will be handling all your problems today. I will not need your help-so...have a good day!"

Too good to be true? Not for those of us who embrace Jesus and the Word of God as our lifestyle. Too frequently we run to another person, fretting all the way, over something God wants to handle, but that means we have to acknowledge He can and I will let Him.

All the 12 step programs begin with three easy steps(though not very simple-we get in the way!). My annotated version is this. I can't, He can, I will let Him. And while I recognize the errant theology behind the first in itself, (Christians can't say "can't" for "I can no all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me"-they sure can and do say "I won't" frequently enough!), the reality is the reason we can is Jesus Christ, giving us the power. But, "we can do it ourself"(which tells me all the women who think and say it is a "man" thing to "fix it", would really have to agree they too get in trouble by doing it in their own strength!) and we disallow God His "job".

Dependence on God (or anything!) smacks our flesh right in our darkest, soulish thoughts. It is this which prevents people from coming to Jesus. A week ago I received a letter from a family member regarding the altar call I did at my dad's funeral. Many hurtful things covered the 6 pages, and would have taken a toll, except I realized we will be persecuted. When Jesus is preached, and man's independence shown to be in error things get stirred up. As one preacher said, "everyone comes out of the woodwork".

To me, the sign that Jesus is working, isn't "oh pastor, that was wonderful!", but more in line with that "really made me angry til I thought about it!". I have realized there is no middle of the road with Jesus. When the church realizes that those who come become they have heard messages that don't speak of repentance, the problems will be immense.

I came to the Lord when I realized that my lifestyle had reached a place of no return. I was the opposite of a Christian and certainly did not want to give up. Did I want to repent of my sin? Not really. Why? We are flesh!!! Flesh draws pleasure in the flesh.

The greatest lie given to the man (and His church all too frequently!) is you don't need God. It has been permeating meetings since the day of Adam. "We can be like Him." I have seen so many meetings where people think they "control" God, more disrespect for God in churches. All in the name of "Jesus".

I am so blessed by the letters that tell of God's work through vessels that are willing, recognizing their sins and how much they truly need God. I am a fruit inspector, and if you want a little idea of what trying to do things in our own flesh leads to, scan the text of Galatians 5, and while you're there see what begins to grow in a repentant heart, that recognizes God is all that I need.