People sometimes ask about my preaching, "Do you preach to individuals and their problems?" My answer is an emphatic "NO". The 'number one' rule of engagement for counseling is one of 'confidence' ... as in 'CONFIDE' -ENCE. That means I protect the privacy of those who 'confide' in me as their pastor.

While preparing for ministry I made it a point to study theology and psychology together. Why? ... Because I was not satisfied in knowing what we are supposed to do in relationship to God, without understanding (though limited) why we have difficulty doing it. And what I discovered are some basics about what it means to be a 'natural' man in relationship to a 'super-natural' God ... we are not the same. So when I preach, I'm preaching to 'mankind' about the things that most people struggle with ... simply because they are human.

I think one reason people wonder about my preaching is, they don't realize the problems they face are SO common to other people. Its just that the 'problems' are things people don't usually talk about in their social interaction. Sure, problems come in various degrees of difficulty, and not all situations are the same. But most people think they are the "only ones" to think, believe, behave, etc. etc. - a particular way. When in reality, people all around them may be experiencing - or have experienced the same things. In that regard, there really is "nothing new under the sun". So - NO! ... I have not been airing anyone's dirty laundry ... just our 'filthy rags'.