Posted on 12/20/2005 4:08:06 PM PST by truthandlife
A dispute that involved the wife of Houston's most famous pastor, Joel Osteen, and a Continental Airlines flight attendant ended up delaying a flight for hours Monday. And now, Victoria Osteen's actions on that flight are in the spotlight. Also on ABC13.com: Send us a news tip | RSS feeds | ABC13 E-lert | Info mentioned on air Statements from Lakewood and Continental Following the incident on Continental flight 1602 Monday, both Lakewood Church and Continental Airlines released these statements. The Osteens run the largest church in the nation, so passengers on a Continental flight were shocked Monday when Mrs. Osteen was removed from that flight after a disturbance.
Taking time off from the high profile hustle and bustle of running a mega-church, Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen and his family boarded Continental flight 1602 Monday morning at Houston's big airport. They were bound for the slopes in Colorado.
Their trip was delayed and so was the entire flight by almost two hours. Fellow passengers blame the popular Osteens, specifically Joel's wife, Victoria.
According to passenger accounts, the Osteens were sitting in first class. Soon after the plane's door was closed, the FBI says Victoria Osteen was removed following what Continental would call only a disturbance. The Osteens' spokesman confirms it involved a flight attendant, but that's all. However, one passenger tells Eyewitness News she was alerted to the front of the plane when she heard a commotion.
"She violently ran towards the cockpit, scaring everyone around her," said passenger Knicky Van Slyke. "Everyone was terrified about what was going on. And a bunch of flight attendants ran up and had to restrain her. She was banging on the door."
"Of the cockpit?" we asked.
"Yes."
Passengers say Victoria was removed first. Joel and the children followed. Meantime, everyone waited.
"They unloaded all the luggage to get their luggage and deplaned her, Joel, and the kids," said passenger Dawn Dixon.
Passenger Chad Clay said, "They kept telling us they were waiting on some passengers to find their luggage underneath in the plane, and it was going to be delayed for looking for that luggage."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal air marshals were never involved. Local authorities also know nothing of this event. Continental would not discuss details.
The Osteens' spokesman denies a physical altercation, denies Victoria ever banged on the cockpit door, and says she left on her own.
"The account of the event which has come to our attention is inaccurate and overblown. The misunderstanding was minor and was resolved when Victoria voluntarily removed herself from the situation," read the statement.
The FBI says it was not voluntary. Though agents are not investigating, they will review the incident as the Osteens enjoy their Colorado vacation.
The Osteens' spokesman says they took another flight to Colorado Monday.
Nobody has been charged. As for the FBI's involvement, we're told it's standard procedure for them to review all passenger removal incidents. According to Continental, this one is a closed case.
Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to an average of 40,000 people a week at Lakewood Church services. Lakewood opened in the former home of the Rockets, Compaq Center, back in July. It took $90 million and a year and a half of renovations. Osteen's ministry is taped and aired around the world.
I believe it is the one on the corner. It apparently has a lot of space that will be used for Bible studies.
Pastor Stanley is great.. his son, Andy is pretty darn good also (www.northpoint.org).
I can believe her. It's possible to train your mind to instantly reject thoughts of anything--sex, booze, anything else that might tempt you. Just say no. It does work for many people.
I see this thread started yesterday so I'm a bit late. I don't know why but I just never liked this guy that much - not that he isn't sincere but for one I don't like the revolving glass globe - it just gives me the heebs. My best friend loves this guy and has bought his book, You're Best Life Ever." I don't like to judge people but he seems to preach the health & wealth gospel. Also, while I am not RC, I often think of Mother Theresa and how she devoted her life to the poor of India and can't imagine her ever reading a book like that! She is my model for Christlike behavior, though I know I will never even come close to her acts of charity.
That's downright funny!
hee hee - those Texans do like their big hair, ya know.
When everything you hear from the pulpit makes you feel good, then you know something is wrong. If you are not a Christian, you might not realize the importance of this, but the truth of the matter is God's Word often makes us very uncomfortable, which should be a way to make us search our hearts and minds so we can see where we need adjustments in our character and so on.
He is both the balm of Gilead as well as the stone that makes men stumble and the rock that makes men fall.
Oh, I like you!!!
*applauds*
Our Lord traveled as an itinerant for only 3 years, didn't ask for donations, didn't drive a fancy car or have access to mass media, yet changed the thinking and beliefs of a good portion of the world.
Regardless of Osteen's motives though, the Lord is using him for His own purposes to reach specific people. Personally I choose not to listen to televangelists solely because I think fame and fortune have a way of turning the focus away from God, but I would never support a movement to silence these preachers.
Again, regardless of satan's involvement, the Lord can turn any situation to good use. Some, like myself, trust the person who has been through the fire, others view things differently, so you are correct. It does take all kinds.
He was a man of God. I enjoyed listening to him. It seems like the truly great ones (a lot of the ones I enjoy) are not known at all, even among many Christians. I talk to people all the time about some of these men (and women) and nobody has heard of them (good example is Adran Rogers) but they've always heard of the people on TBN - oh how it breaks my heart. When I think of how the Lord cried over Jerusalem, I think he cries still.
I know this is a bit late but while I do not personally like the Osteen ministry and all the pomp and circumstance and some of what I perceive as phoniness, I can't fault anyone for flying First Class or taking a vacation or doing things that many Americans do on any given day of the year. I don't think he's required to live like a pauper if he isn't. I don't know what he does with his money but the Lord knows.
What? Why would you say something like that to me? Yes, the class was about welcoming new people and I was one of them. I was ignored. Sounds like you're one of the rude people who would've done it, too. Bah.
Yes. Merry Christmas Frapster!!!!!
Interesting posts in this thread. I don't care if a minister gets cocked and thrown off the plane, or his wife for that matter. A good toot every once in a while never hurt the disciples any. Any excuse to bash an evangelist. I don't care for Joel, he is a flipping phoney.
Certainly many of the TV preachers fall prey to the money and power that comes with these mega-ministries. Jimmy Swaggart and Jim Bakker are two prime examples. And as many millions that can turn to Jesus, they can turn 10 times more away when they fall. It is good that they can reach around the globe, but the millions of dollars that follow leads to temptation. Too many folks are quick to condemn all TV preachers. Seems like the biggest complaint against Osteen teaching is he is just too darn positive. They have a point, there needs to be a balanced message, but that is no reason to condemn him.
Jimminy. It looks like an Amway convention.
I get a kick out of people in the congregation on these shows scribbling during the sermon. Is there a pop quiz next week on the 5 steps to becoming a CHAMPION?
Whatever you need is already written down in that book you are holding!
Actually, as it turned out, Mrs. Osteen doesn't have big hair. Having lived in Texas for a spell, many do as you said. Some are amazingly big. Never will forget when I saw one woman's doo. It literally was shaped like an old bee hive, what is sometimes referred to as a "skep". I almost expected to see a few buzzing 'round her head.
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