The reason that we can tuck our little ones in at night
in peace is because of you," Osteen told the troops.
Posted on 05/03/2006 9:28:14 PM PDT by shield
The reason that we can tuck our little ones in at night
in peace is because of you," Osteen told the troops.
Crusing at 37,000 feet is nothing new for Pastor Joel Osteen
Jetting off to another night in another town has become common.
But this trip is different because there is no airport, just an airfield.
He is greeted by a different kind of welcoming committee, a decorated one.
This is no church, but it is still holy ground. Custer, Eisenhower and MacArthur were at Fort Leavenworth, KS, training ground for the U.S. Army.
Joel Osteen made a special trip for the troops. It started with a chance meeting between the pastor and soldier on a commercial flight to D.C.
"He was before me being seated and I thought I'd not bother him until tafter the plane landed and after it did I went up to him and introduced myself as the chief of chaplains," said Maj. General David Hicks, Army Chief of Chaplains.
Osteen takes command at special service for the troops Maj. Hicks is the man in charge of all the men and women who minister on a less than holy place, the battlefield.
It started as a simple request to speak from the Army. Joel Osteen thought that a sermon is just a sermon, especially to a group of Chaplains. So he brought the works.
"Tonight is not about Joel. It is not about Lakewood. Tonight is all about you," said Osteen to the troops.
Osteen says he's always nervous, more so here.
"You feel a greater responsibility because these are people that have to potential to give their lives. You know they have been there, they are about to go that way," said Osteen.
It is the full Lakewood-style service, minus the offering.
No thanks required, but plenty given.
"Thank you for getting your face marred with dust and sweat and blood. Thank you for your great enthusiasm and devotion. Thank you for giving your life to a worthy cause. The cause of freedom," Osteen said.
"I get a reconciliation with God. I get a time that I was able to examine. An opportunity to put a whole year in perspective and be able to move forward," said Nils Juarez.
"The spiritual value of what is going to happen tonight is just immeasurable. In terms of what is going to happen tonight and what is going to happen with all these people who are going to go out and tell the story," said Maj. Hicks.
Carron Jones just got back from a year in Afghanistan. "Take that energy. To take that energy and that excitement and that passion to the combat zone," she said.
"They say hey chaplain can I have a word. And they gather around. I say hey you know what I heard from a meeting I attended...I bring a piece of this," said Houston native and Army Chaplain Dave Root.
Reaching out halfway around the world, reaching the front lines, all from this room
"The message is needed and people are listening. It's just very rewarding to see that level of influence wanting us to pour into our military and into our country. To me that is kind of the ultimate," Osteen said.
In a blink the night is done, the set is gone, packed up for another journey.
But the echoes linger with resonance and exponential power.
Video of Cindy Cruse-Ratcliff sings "God Bless America"
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Osteen takes command at special service for the troops
Video of 11 News reporter Jeremy Desel interviews Joel Osteen on the flight to Leavenworth
Joel Osteen and Lakewood Church are a sellout attraction all over the nation, but they are breaking new ground this week.
The latest request for Osteen's message came from high command: the Pentagon.
It is a ministry with power, passion and praise. It always has a receptive crowd – just maybe not this disciplined.
"They are so gracious to us, just bent over backwards,” said Osteen. “We feel like it is our joy to come."
Long before the songs and the sermon, came the invitation.
"I think that it is going be a great spiritual renewal opportunity for many people,” Maj. Gen. David Hicks said. “Joel has a great viewing audience and many of those people are military."
Maj. Gen. Hicks is the U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains.
The Osteen Ministry has played some big venues: Madison Square Garden, the Staples Center, and now Fort Leavenworth.
"Praise always precedes the victory,” Osteen said. “The reason that we can tuck our little ones in at night in peace is because of you."
It is the entire Lakewood team: Powerful music and a simple message heard loud and clear: "We just honor all of you tonight for what you do for our country,” Osteen said. “For serving, for being down there where the rubber meets the road."
"To be able to see him in person to be able to really hear him like this is just a blessing for me and my family," Houston soldier Wendell Hobley said.
Hobley was one of 1,100 soldiers and their families in the audience e ither just back from the front lines -- or heading there next.
"Tonight was just a wonderful, wonderful God given experience," Maj. Nils Juarez said.
It is moving, bringing Joel Osteen to tears.
And a special challenge to the room, long after the sermon and the songs have faded.
"Take that energy. To take that energy and that excitement and that passion to the combat zone," said Carron Jones with the U.S. Army.
A place where faith is needed most.
The genesis of the visit is a story all its own.
ping
Occasionally we are able to catch Joel Osteen on a Sunday morning. We are always impressed with his sermons.
He is a precious pastor and person.
Even a charlatan sometimes does something nobel.
Scratch that.
Judgment is MINE saith THE LORD...I didn't realize you were God...
He is a false prophet. He distains doctrine. Nuff said. Sorry if this offends. I am simply stating my opinion.
I'm sure that'll happen but there are plenty that love Joel Osteen.
ping
I just find it sad how people can get so vicious every time his name comes up.
I didn't know that Joel claimed to be a prophet?
Good for Osteen. This is a very good, helpful thing to do.
Those need The Lord much more than they realize. Unfortunately, Our Lord will deal with each and everyone of them. Yikes!
Yea, but he has a "megachurch" that's about 2% the size of Houston's Catholic population, and almost 3% the size of Houston's Baptist population. Oh, and his church has (gasp!) a drum set.
I have never heard him preach the gospel.
Exactly. I'm actually not an Osteen fan - not my cup of tea - but I give credit where credit is due.
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