Wife of Joel Osteen Asked to Leave Plane

Religion News Blog ^ | Dec 22nd 2005

[laney]

HOUSTON — The wife of the pastor of the nation's largest church was asked to leave a plane after she failed to comply with a flight attendant's instructions, the FBI said Tuesday.

Houston Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen, his wife, Victoria, and their two children boarded a Continental Airlines flight from Houston to Vail, Colo., Monday. The plane's door had been closed when Victoria Osteen and a flight attendant had a disagreement.

"She failed to comply with the flight attendant's instructions, and they were asked to leave the flight," FBI spokeswoman Luz Garcia said without elaborating on the disagreement.

The FBI reviewed a report from Continental after the incident, Garcia said. No charges will be filed, she said.

The flight was delayed more than an hour while the Osteens' luggage was retrieved, Garcia said. The family took another flight to Colorado, where church spokesman Don Iloff said they were skiing Tuesday.

Iloff called the disagreement with the flight attendant "minor" but would not say what happened.

"In semantics, they might have been asked to be removed," he said. "Really, it was more of a mutual thing."

Continental spokeswoman Julie King would not discuss the disagreement but said in a statement that the situation was resolved.

Osteen's sermons are broadcast across the country and his book "Your Best Life Now" has become a best seller. His church has more than 30,000 worshippers weekly and meets in a renovated arena where the Houston Rockets once played.

[HairOfTheDog]

It still may. "I'm sorry. I lost my temper and behaved badly. I apologize to the flight staff I was rude to and to those I inconvenienced and I am dreadfully embarrassed and ashamed about this" would have been better.

[The Lumster]

PS please send supplemental donations immediately so that on our return trip we will be able to fly private charter and avoid a repeat scene that will reflect badly on you, the church and Jesus.

LOL - I predict that this will lead to Joel soliciting funds for the purchase of their own private jet.

[MamaB]

Let me tell y'all a little story. Most of you know that our younger daughter died last year. About 2 months ago, I was in the grocery store. Someone I know came up to me and was telling that he had been watching me ever since she died. He said he knew I had a very strong faith because of the way I have acted since then. Believe me, that threw me for a loop. I never suspected that anyone was watching me that closely. I understood then that when someone says they are a Christian, they sure have to act that way, no matter where you are. I just can not get that little talk out of my head. So, everyone should behave because we never know who we are influencing.

Now, I am off my little soapbox.

[HairOfTheDog]

What a compliment to you and he was nice to say it.

[paul51]

Why not? It's all in the name of Jesus. The more you give, the better it reflects on Jesus. (It's for the children too if that helps)

[ruthles]

When I listen to him, I realize how many people stay on the "milk" of the scriptures and never move onto "meat." It's a testament to the little education of the average American.

[HarleyD]

There is nothing wrong with Christians who are wealthy. If God so deems to give them wealth than who am I to judge. Nor do I believe in the "10% rule". If wealthy Christians decided to keep all their income than that is fine as well and scriptural, IMHO.

But as a general rule I don't give to people who make more than I do. God doesn't want us to do it and says it will be on our head.

He...who gives to the rich, will only come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16

[Unknown Pundit]

I think you've summed it up nicely.

[The Lumster]

who knows what else is going on her life at that time

Yes, I can imagine that the stress of the Christmas week ski trip to Vail is overwhelming. I'll bet this sort of thing happened to Jesus all the time.

[Unknown Pundit]

Not to mention the fact that the "pastor" will be in Vail skiing over Christmas. Seems to me that he has his priorities wrong.

And you know he and his family will be in Vail this weekend?

Threads like this on FR are truly amazing. It's clear that envy is not the exclusive purview of the Left.

[laney]

It's almost like that saying *Would Jesus wear a Rolex Watch?

[wotan]

Passenger Barbara Griffith told the Colorado paper that Joel Osteen was "very calm, very professional."

The bitchiest women end up with the nicest guys. Nobody else can stand them.

This sounds like Jim and Tammy with personalities, not intellects, reversed. It works better that way.

[Revolting cat!]

Victoria: "And I promise you that I did not act in any way that would cast a bad light on you, my family, Lakewood Church or our Lord Jesus Christ."

Well, I don't care about the rest, but I'm glad to hear that Victoria "did not act in any way that would cast a bad light on our Lord Jesus Christ." That's a relief.

[laney]

Well Joel says GOD wants everyone to be rich and have Gold Star Treatment that is actually what he said in one of his sermons.. You never hear of Billy Graham or his wife throwing tantrums on planes.

[Gamecock]

Put two plus two together.

He flew to Vail this week.

From his website: "Pastor Joel Osteen will not be ministering this weekend."

Why are you standing up to this Jim Baker clone?

[Lurking in Kansas]

It is a neo-Pelagian therapeutic convention.

LOL! Good one, may I steal it?

[Gamecock]

Good one, may I steal it?

Feel free. (Though on second thought convention should be replaced with session)

[urtax$@work]

My wife's sis from Corpus Christi, almost missed connecting flight (in Houston) to Kansas City Tuesday afternoon. She
explained they had to sit awhile in CC before takeoff because Continental would not allow their flight into the Houston airport. No explanation given.

When i saw Wednesday's on-line Houston Chronicle article, i knew the mystery had been solved.

[Jaded]

mark for later

[isthisnickcool]

This web site does not seem to think to much of Joel and Co.