Posted on 12/23/2005 4:39:24 AM PST by truthandlife
Victoria Osteen, the wife of Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen, said an incident that delayed a Continental Airlines flight for two hours earlier this week was "a minor misunderstanding."
Osteen posted a "Letter from Victoria" on the church's official Web site Wednesday, saying the Monday incident resulted from her choice "to remove myself from the situation."
Osteen left the plane, Continental Flight 1602, with her husband and their two children. The family took another flight to Vail, Colo., where they are taking a ski vacation.
A church spokesman said the family left the plane voluntarily.
However, FBI Special Agent Luz Garcia has said that the Osteens were asked to leave the jetliner after "an altercation."
Garcia also said that Victoria Osteen "failed to comply" with instructions from a flight attendant.
The FBI said the airline contacted the agency about the incident. The agency decided not to investigate.
Continental Airlines spokeswoman Julie King declined any further comment about the incident Thursday.
"There have been various accounts of an incident that occurred on one of our flights, and I have issued earlier statements about that," King said. "We can confirm that there are no remaining issues between Continental and those passengers. ... Both parties feel no further comment is necessary."
King declined to comment on Victoria Osteen's explanation of the incident.
In her letter, which can be read at at www.lakewood.cc, Osteen stated:
"Regardless of how some have portrayed the situation, please know that it was truly a minor misunderstanding and did not escalate into what you saw or read in the news. Contrary to those reports, it was my choice to remove myself from the situation. Nonetheless, it was a most unfortunate event and I truly regret that it happened."
Osteen's letter continued, "The last thing I would ever want to do is let any of you down. 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. I value the position that God has placed me in and I can assure you that I will always walk in love and integrity. While I am not perfect, I will always seek to be a peacemaker and seek the high road."
The incident apparently stemmed from a spilled liquid on Osteen's seat in the first class section of the airplane. A church spokesman said the spill was not cleaned up to Osteen's satisfaction, and the family left the plane voluntarily.
Joel Osteen is a nationally known author of self-help books, including the best-selling Your Best Life Now. He became pastor of Lakewood Church in 1999. The church, in the former Compaq Center, is one of the nation's largest with more than 30,000 weekly participants in church services.
Bingo! First Class passengers are always whining about something, anyhow. The First Class section Flight Attendant just smiles, gets them a pillow, fixes their little problem, and the flight goes on.
It takes a lot to get thrown off a plane, especially if you're in First Class. It takes screaming, fighting, or some really obnoxious behavior and, even then, it rarely happens.
This woman did something outrageous, I guarantee. I've flown in First Class (on ticket upgrades) a few times. The Flight Attendants are a lot nicer there. They cater very heavily to the passengers' desires.
I'm not surprised. You kind of have to dig for the information. It comes from snippets of news articles about rededicating the Welfare complex, speeches given at the National Press club and various relief organization, articles from the African press and other news organizations, etc.
The woman did something outrageous and the hubby succeeded in persuading the airline and the FBI to hush it up, is the cat's theory.
I don't buy for a second this was anything other than a accident.
See post 160....the "split soda" that Her Majesty referred to in her proclamation appears to have come from the vodka which she was quaffing BEFORE the flight took off. If true, this explains her behavior!! I hate drunks who make a fuss on a plane too.
And the cat may be right.....see post 160.
Heaven forbid her majesty's heiny should encounter some moisture from the previous occupant's highball. Or...Good Lord...she should wipe it up herself! </good grief!>
"The woman did something outrageous and the hubby succeeded in persuading the airline and the FBI to hush it up, is the cat's theory."
It was from her own double vodka cosmopolitan.
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Rom 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
2Co 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Of course! The Pope is at the top of the list.
What do you mean by "leave her alone?" I did not pour that alleged double vodka down her throat. She acted like any drunk brat would without any help from me or anybody else on this thread.
Don't like your celebrities being criticized, do you?
And stop quoting the Bible to me....I have read it too. Finally, here is some advice for you: you called everybody on this thread a "moron" for even daring to criticize your heroes. Why don't you follow the advice that you are so fond of quotng in bold?
If they were asked to leave, she shouldn't be acting like she "chose to remove herself" from the situation.
"The Lord takes care of his own....leave her alone. "
Hah! She can do no wrong, then, in your eyes? I would give anything for you to have been on that plane, delayed for two hours because this spoiled brat of a minister's wife cause all the luggage to be unloaded.
Excuse me? One person delays a flight for two hours?? Who is she, the Queen?
That is way, way out of line. It's one hell of a long time for a "minor misunderstanding." People have places to go, things to do, people waiting on them at the other end and you delay the flight for two hours?
Such arrogance.
The fact that these people were on the way to Vail tells me that Mr. Osteen's church is proably one of those with a "closed for Christmas" sign outside.
Figures.
"The fact that these people were on the way to Vail tells me that Mr. Osteen's church is proably one of those with a "closed for Christmas" sign outside. "
Nah. They're having services on Christmas Day. I checked.
"I would give anything for you to have been on that plane"
And I'll throw in a free double vodka for good measure.
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