Ron, your take on being a "God professional" (I see it in all the pastors at our church) is very refreshing. It's one of the main reasons I came (and stayed) in this community of believers. Thank you for the honesty and humility and desire to seek for more of God. Regarding what you say about God speaking through others—yes! This is the tricky part of it all. It would be relatively easy to just tune people out and say "I'm busy listening to God." But I know, first-hand, that "People are God’s method, means, and purpose," as you say. For me, discerning which words are from God and which aren't has had a lot to do with gradually better understanding who God is—through the Bible and teachings and what I believe he's done in my life. As my understanding of God grows, my ability to identify his true voice grows, too.