Joel Osteen serves up recession-themed positive thinking

I'm male, 26, and just this Christmas had a brief encounter with a mature woman. It was wonderful. We met via internet dating on this site:
SugarmommyMatch.Com- a good way to meet like-minded people, and she actually approached me first. It just so happens I like older women and she likes men

around my age. We had an amazing day and later on she joined me at a hotel. It was like a fantasy come true. Amazing company, amazing sex too and a really

warm and loving woman. She will turn 36 this month, and my goodness what a connection we had that day.
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The guy is not an ordained minister. He considers himself to be a motivational speaker and he is making a truck load of money.
Wonder what God thinks of him

Who knows how God intended the Bible to be used? Did he leave instructions behind? The bible would be used best to be understood by the people who need to hear the message. Churches are empty of several generations to date because people need a connection to the word. People routinely ask o.k. but what does this have to do with me? People who profess to know the bible and its uses rarely follow the bible. Therefore, no solid method that the bible can be used except for whoever is using it to encourage others to read for themselves the word. Piety is the reason why so many have loosed faith. The bible goes misused, unused.

I like Joel's messages too and I like Joyce Meyer but both of these 'ministers' are hiding something financially. So I've heard, but can we be so inspired if these messages were coming from folks other than millionaires? It's easy for them to preach on from a cushy pulpit. They both let you in for free but their sales associates nail you on the way out of their seminars and conventions. Joyce, Benny Hinn, Rod Parsley, even Pat Robertson's 700 Club all expound on the virtues of tithing regardless of your financial situation, all suggesting that by doing so you increase your income blessings. I grow weary of the pictures of well coiffed well fed white people holding starving fly infested black children. The juxtoposition is disturbing and leaves me feeling its more of a publicity stint and as soon as the cameras are not rolling the child is handed down and they are off to lunch. My faith has good reason to be shakey.

well good, at least you realize that. Now at some point in time to have the spiritual spine to tell him that he's pretty much a little silver tongued devil, about like Abel did to Cain before Cain killed his brother. Joel Osteen and the many SELF APPOINTED preachers like him are the ones that turn out the Carrie Prejeans who actually believe they are Christians and will even call themselves Christians as they parade before American as naked as they can get, lie about their past, become angry and offended when they are questioned about their past, present and future, and are far more sorry that they get caught than being sorry for the acts they committed.

Osteen is sell people on the idea that "HE" faith your support of his teaching will get you through life. I went to the University of New South Wales and it is one of the very few places where education has a "Common Sense" element. You take a nice looking man and fantastic looking wife, put the two (2) together and every person watch will sooner or later come to cherish the possibility that "They too could be like the Osteen's" portray their relationship. While he is not a out and out FRAUD he will tell you things in a way that create and stirs your desire to give him money to keep talking.

Joel certainly appears to be a decent individual but he only preaches middle of the road, uplifting sermons which in actuality fails to encourage people to follow Christ and much of what Christ teaches is difficult and requires sacrifice for others. I consider Joel a "milk toast" preacher but that does attract people who attend his church for "feel good" moments and then go right back to their normal "Jesus in the closet" lives.

He does not even believe in the Gospel. He had his chance on Larry King to say that Jesus is the only way and he totally failed.
I will never trust him until he publicly confesses that.

nobody preaches the whole bible. the vatican omitted some 'chapters' and will not release them. so, in fact, the bible you read is not complete. research it.

The whole Bible is Christ Jesus read John 1

Charlatan,with big Dentist Bills, and a legion of lawyers and advisors to keep the money they scam from you. do something intelligent, read Elmer Gantry instead of contemplating the innane.... Remember Jim and Tammy, Jesus bathroom towels...the
Rev Leroy Jenkins and the church of whats happening now...and they don't pay one dime in taxes......suckers

I agree with u 100%.

Yes so true ,,I agree. He doesn't do much justice to the Bible which he preaches from. He does not tell the whole story. He's right though when he say's "hold on ( as Mercy Me sang ) help is on the way !!" I'm sure Joesph never thought for one minute that GOD had a real purpose for his life when he was lying at the bottom of that well ,Left for dead by his own brothers. Or after he turned away from the King's wife who was making sexual advances that he might be thrown in jail anyway.Rotting for 2 yrs ,do you think he felt life was good and fair ? One thing GOD teaches us is HE is good to rememebr us , the righteous living crowd who live for HIM.

Just a thought to remember...we must rightly divide the Word of God and not take any part out of context. Too many people only read parts of the Bible or even the entire Bible without digging in deep study and taking everything back to it's original meaning. Joel is not preaching out of God's context rather he is preaching within his gifts and callings. Some of us are to be encouragers, some hospitality, some givers etc. We all have a gift to bring to this world. Joel's is to preach faith and to be an encourager in Jesus. I've never heard him speak other than the truth. Not to mention we all need to understand faith and hear it over and over and over...without faith it is impossible to please God.

yes i agree he is a great guy and i think people may as well know that we are very much heading into the negative side of life that things are not going to get better...but it is all in the bible that the world will see wars and rumors of wars.and seasons shall change.bad times will be upon us.all this must happen, some preachers dont like to teach things that put fear in people but we may as well face the it ,like it says in matthew 24 for then shall be great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time nor ever shall be..but this should happen before jesus comes..God bless.

Another thing tm is that the world doesn't understand our ways. Just like the bible said if we had any miracle they still wouldn't believe it. If they hate us Jesus said remember that they also hated him too! And great is our reward in heaven when people persecute us for our beliefs. The devil have many people blinded by the truth that they think all christians are idiots. And what better person to think that we don't know what we're talking about then those flippin psychologist and scientist. Always trying to make the bible seem wrong. Adam didn't have a second wife as some fools believe. The bible was written many years ago before we even have wars and rumors of words of these last days as of today. Backsliders, and people who are disobedient to their parents, unthankful, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous without self control, brutal.... and here's the big one for the world... lovers of pleasure rather than God. If we ever brought any evidence into this world THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE IT!! That's how terrible the devil have these people blinded. We can't get them save... All we can do is pray for them... It's Gods' timing that will do it. The reason why people (don't want) to believe in God is because they know they will have to change their ways!!! It's not matter of believing world!! YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING THE BIBLE SAYS!!!

Nobody does...

If we are Christians, then our message needs to stay the same which is Christ, and him Crucified for our sins. Paul said if anyone preaches to you anything other than what is laid down by the Apostles let them be acursed. Our focus should never move to self, and what we can accomplish. The word of God says set your hope on things eternal. Jesus said I have given you a Kingdom which is not of this world, Rightousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost, Occuipy till I come.

OK everybody! Seriously, listen to yourselves. These people came from nothing and God has turned their life around. Joel was not sure he wanted to follow in his Dad's footsteps, but later relized that was his calling. Joyce was sexually, emotionally abused as a young girl and teenager. Jesse Duplantis was a rocker, John Hagee has had many struggles and ups and downs in his life as well....and if you ever really listen to their messages or go to their seminars you would know they are normal and human and give you day to day examples of how they STILL struggle just like us. Joel is truly that happy all the time in real life! We all struggle and he does too, but he knows God will get him through....why dwell in the unhappiness? None of them have a holier than thou attitude. They were called to spread the good word and are doing that and they are being rewarded by doing so. All their money goes out to orphanages, food services, schools, homeless outreaches...etc that you aren't even realizing are being run by these people. Joyce now has a program where, people are endangering their own lives to get women out of the sex trade. They are teaching these women how to get jobs, taking them to rehab (many are put on drugs and are addicted), shelter and feed them and give them a chance to live again. The bible and/or "the word" says we should tithe 10% of our earnings. The only way these ministries can be successful is because the preachers themselves are tithing as well. God does not reward the selfish. No one knows how they struggled to get to the size of their ministries now, and hey they are as large and successful as they are, because they have a huge following that wants to help others. Not only in the US, but around the world these ministries are truly and HONESTLY completely changing lives! The literal break down of what they are all saying, is obviously implemented in their own daily lives. You all need to step back and really evaluate yourself....are you helping as many people as they are by sitting here putting them down? You either believe or you don't want to. Maybe, you are thinking at times, these people have some truth to what they say, but you are too scared to find out for yourself what all this "happiness" is about. It is a lot easier to dwell in self-pitty and doubt.True.Then you wouldn't have to face people like yourself...hmm. We, as Christians, would say that you just feel convicted from your own life and that is why you need to see THEM in a negative light. However, we are ALL God's children. We want everyone to have success like this...is God knocking at the door of your heart right now? "We have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God," but "he has forgiven us 70x7." We are all human and make mistakes, but don't you want to be a part of something amazing that is helping people? God Bless them for touching so many lives! They listened to God's calling on THEIR lives and he is blessing them for it. The same holds true for your life. Just listen to God. He will "direct your path."