Hi Ken, First, thanks for checking us out this past weekend. It
   was great to see you there. Lets get right to it here.
   Unfortunately, I stepped out of the room to go to the restroom
   and did not hear what Dan said regarding the hell issue, but
   none the less, I can respond to it. Jesus said in John 14:6 " I
   am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the father
   but by me." So we do believe that scripture plainly says that we
   have to apply His completed sacrifice to our life for salvation
   and that there is "no other name under heaven by which we can be
   saved", Acts 4:12. Keeping that in mind, I do not see a need to
   discuss who we think is going to hell and going to heaven. In
   fact, that is the one thing we're told not to judge. You are
   right. Statements like that would never bring anyone to the Lord
   so why say them. I will talk to Dan to see just how it came down
   and use it as a teaching tool with him. I sincerely hope that
   you and I could spend some time together* to possibly discuss
   our beliefs. I bet we're not that far apart. Hope to see you
   again. In the mean time I'll have a talk with Dan. Thanks so
   much for telling me you're opinion. Some people would just leave
   and I would never know why, but you took the time to inquire,
   and that says a lot for you. God Bless, Pastor Don From: Kenneth
   Udut [mailto:simplify3@gmail.com] Sent: Sunday, June 06, 2010
   3:51 PM To: D Tomei Subject: Attended services on June 6th
   but... Hi Pastor Don, We attended your services today (June
   6th). (you gave me the bug repellent bracelet which is perfect
   'cause we live in the Estates). The music was top notch, the
   services were very free and yet organized and professionally
   done, the coffee and donuts, the friendliness of the people -
   very open and welcoming. Your sermon was fasctinating and we
   thoroughly enjoyed it. But - and it's a big but... Early on in
   the services, the man who was playing one of the guitars I
   think, said a prayer.* And to pray with somebody means you have
   to believe as they believe. At one point, he said something
   like, "...and the Muslims and the Buddhists and the Islamists
   are going to hell..." My stomach did backflips, and it took me
   about twenty minutes to recover. It was a culture shock to me.*
   Everything before that moment and everything since was
   fantastic, well done, interesting, fun, spiritual and freeing.
   But I felt a boulder drop on my back when he said that, the wind
   knocked out of me and I was stunned. I was raised Methodist,
   moved over to Russian Orthodox in my 20's (definite polar
   opposites) - almost became a monk in my late 20s and ended up
   moving to Florida instead and haven't really attended services
   much anywhere since. One line that always spoke to me is "In my
   Father's house, there are many mansions..." and the story of
   Isaac and Ishmael - that Isaac founded the Jewish and Christian
   peoples and Ishmael, who founded the arab peoples who were
   initially godless but later on in history (around 800ad I
   think)* repented and became an offshoot of Judaism They were
   "lost in the desert for a thousand years" in a sense... I
   believe there is definitely a hell for whom is reserved those
   who turned away from God, but it's not for us to judge who it
   will be - or WON'T be.* Just as the priests of old thought the
   half-assed sacrifices were good enough for God, or as Cain
   thought the fruit that fell to the ground and were half-rotten
   was good enough (instead of giving God the First Fruits (the
   ones off of the tree))... I always felt - "how will I know if
   I'm giving first fruits or if I'm giving God my leftovers" --
   and if I don't know for sure if I'm giving God my best, how can
   I say for certainty what's in another man's heart? And if I was
   a Buddhist or Muslim attending services and heard that, would
   that bring me closer to God? I believe that there are many
   rooms, and perhaps the Muslims and the Buddhists might just get
   a crappy room in the basement of the mansion, with a twin sized
   bed on the floor and a toilet that doesn't flush right, but if
   he was faithful to what he knew, to the shrouded fashion that
   the truth of things was presented to him - through no fault of
   his own - there would at least be a place for him. Wouldn't it
   be better to emphasize, "Do you want to spend an eternity in the
   broomcloset of God's mansion, or do you want to be on the top
   floor with all the priviledges that come with it?" Please let me
   know how the beliefs are at your church in this regards, because
   I like the fact that you're close to us, offer a lot for the
   community, are growing, have fantastic music, and you give a
   great, thoughtful sermon. And I apologize for the ramble, but it
   really soured my experience, like a glass of clean clear water
   with a drop of poop in it. Thanks for listening, Pastor Don, and
   I hope to hear your thoughts/feelings because we're stlll
   interested, but need to know the truth of the matter.* Thanks!
   Ken