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Let me be perfectly honest with you. I have gone to Saddleback for services often, but I am not a member. I'm not even a strong believer. That right there makes me the devil's pawn for the anti Warren crowd, I'm sure. But the venom spewed against the man is really over the top.

I first went to Saddleback around 1990, when Sunday services were held in the Trabuco Hills High School gym and a few thousand showed up. I believe the church started with six members or thereabouts. Warren has been wildly successful at building the church, and right or wrong the man's trying to do what his faith tells him to. I believe he still lives in the same house he always has, drives modest cars and certainly doesn't dress in expensive Italian suits. I don't know what his pay is but he certainly deserves a salary of well over two hundred thousand dollars a year heading such a big organization.

Is he a "humanist"? I suppose if believing that God's human creations were made with a brain for a reason, and not to use that intelligence is a mockery of "God's image". So he uses marketing and business techniques that actually work on people. Of course, all the marketing in the world won't work if the product's no good. The lack of robes and organs, and five hundred year old church music upsets some people. Of course, that's why they have old line denominations and please don't tell these people that they're rockin' and rollin' in the black churches!

I am not going to argue theology with those better versed on the subject, but I will say that if anyone thinks that Saddleback does NOT teach that salvation comes through faith in Christ, that Jesus is the son of God and died on the cross for man's sins they are wrong. It is stressed every Sunday.

If Warren thinks man made global warming is a problem, I'd say he's off base. He's not perfect, and he admits that. If anything, he probably sees an opportunity to appeal to today's mentality that holds the Earth above man. I'd bet he'd admit he'd use just about any way he can, as long as it was honest and ethical, to lead folks to Christ. That's why he invites Jews and others to his services. He feels God's word is enough to make converts. Some people are scared to reach out, but not Warren.

I just moved from your area and in many ways miss it already. The Saddleback staff and Rick Warren have made tremendous impacts on people's lives for Christ as well as guiding and mentoring many church leaders struggling to to make a difference in their communities.

Sadly, there are those who are the Sunday arm-chair preachers who believe their spiritual gifting is in "picking the fly doo-doo out of the pepper" in other people's lives. The extent of the arguments so far include: a). they don't like the translations of the Bible Warren uses; b). truisms or quotes by non-Christians shouldn't be spoken of; c). sinners should not be allowed to step in our churches; d). theological opinions debated by people with little or no formal theological training are given more weight than a Seminary trained church pastor; e). nimbyism is now cool in church; and/or f). Warren should only talk in "stained glass." Did I get them all?

Peace to you on your journey.