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Victoria Osteen and FBI have different views on what occurred aboard airliner
Houston Chronicle ^ | 12-22-05 | ANNE MARIE KILDAY

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.


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: continental; houston; lakewood; megachurch; osteen; platichairedfrauds; victoriassecret
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To: indcons

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.


161 posted on 12/23/2005 9:07:17 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: pepperhead

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.


162 posted on 12/23/2005 9:08:26 AM PST by frgoff
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To: MineralMan

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.


163 posted on 12/23/2005 9:11:05 AM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: fella

I don't buy for a second this was anything other than a accident.


164 posted on 12/23/2005 9:11:09 AM PST by pepperhead (Kennedy's float, Mary Jo's don't!)
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To: MineralMan

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.


165 posted on 12/23/2005 9:12:37 AM PST by indcons (FReepmail indcons to join the MilHist ping list)
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To: Revolting cat!

And the cat may be right.....see post 160.


166 posted on 12/23/2005 9:13:32 AM PST by indcons (FReepmail indcons to join the MilHist ping list)
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To: Texas2step
Your scenario sounds very likely. This is how our Church does things, too.
167 posted on 12/23/2005 9:13:53 AM PST by hummingbird (Festivus, a Holiday for the Rest of Us!)
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To: truthandlife

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!>


168 posted on 12/23/2005 9:17:48 AM PST by poindexter
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To: frgoff
That's been in the back of my mind, too.
169 posted on 12/23/2005 9:18:46 AM PST by hummingbird (Festivus, a Holiday for the Rest of Us!)
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To: Revolting cat!

"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."




Yuppers. It's some really ugly folks in First Class at times. Lots of 'em are influential.

I hate boarding planes where you have to walk through First Class. There's always some suit standing in the aisle chatting it up with another passenger and blocking the aisle, while everyone is trying to make their way to the cattle car section.

I'm afraid I bumped one of those guys a little on the knee with my briefcase. He winced a bit, then sat down and let me pass. Creep!

I always try to upgrade to First or Business class when I fly to Europe, though. I've used my frequent flyer miles to do that several times, even though I've paid for a coach seat. Lots more comfortable, and the food's actually edible.


170 posted on 12/23/2005 9:18:51 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: poindexter

It was from her own double vodka cosmopolitan.


171 posted on 12/23/2005 9:19:24 AM PST by indcons (FReepmail indcons to join the MilHist ping list)
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To: indcons
The Lord takes care of his own....leave her alone.

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.

172 posted on 12/23/2005 9:21:48 AM PST by shield (The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instructions.Pr 1:7)
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To: AmusedBystander
That statement would apply to all recognized religions then. The Pope ain't living in the ghetto.

Of course! The Pope is at the top of the list.

173 posted on 12/23/2005 9:25:34 AM PST by Shalom Israel (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.)
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To: shield

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?


174 posted on 12/23/2005 9:27:49 AM PST by indcons (FReepmail indcons to join the MilHist ping list)
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To: Anita1

If they were asked to leave, she shouldn't be acting like she "chose to remove herself" from the situation.


175 posted on 12/23/2005 9:28:08 AM PST by TX Bluebonnet
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To: shield

"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.


176 posted on 12/23/2005 9:29:45 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: 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."

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.

177 posted on 12/23/2005 9:30:02 AM PST by marshmallow
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To: shield
"We could be heroes for just one day!"


178 posted on 12/23/2005 9:33:35 AM PST by Revolting cat! ("In the end, nothing explains anything.")
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To: marshmallow

"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.


179 posted on 12/23/2005 9:33:46 AM PST by MineralMan (godless atheist)
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To: MineralMan; shield

"I would give anything for you to have been on that plane"

And I'll throw in a free double vodka for good measure.


180 posted on 12/23/2005 9:36:47 AM PST by indcons (FReepmail indcons to join the MilHist ping list)
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