Posted on 02/21/2014 6:03:50 PM PST by Gamecock
Full Title: Joel Osteen's $10.5 Million Mansion, Cross-Less Church and Other Surprising Facts About the Mega-Pastor
Joel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, and the bestselling author of books like Your Best Life Now and I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak Over Your Life, has been dubbed "the smiling preacher" due to his toothy smile and upbeat attitude. Here are a few facts about Pastor Osteen and his ministry you might not know.
1. Joel Osteen Met Victoria Osteen in a Jewelry Store
Pastor Osteen and his wife Victoria Osteen met in 1985 when he went to a jewelry store to buy a new battery for his watch. Osteen has shared the story about how he met his wife with the Lakewood Church family.
2. Joel Osteen Takes No Salary From Lakewood Church
People magazine reported in a 2007 feature on Pastor Osteen and his family that the megachurch pastor stopped taking a salary from his Houston church in 2005, as his book deals have proven to be lucrative. The same article reported that Osteen was paid an advance of $13 million for one book.
3. The Osteens Live in a Mansion
Houston CultureMap reported in 2010 that the Osteens moved into a home in the River Oaks area of Houston, Texas, that was valued at $10.5 million. The same article reported that the Osteens had kept a former residence valued at $2.9 million while listing a vacant lot near their former home for $1.1. million.
4. Lakewood Church Has No Cross
Pastor Osteen acquired Lakewood Church's new home at the former Compaq Center in 2005. The 16,000-seat arena is home to the nation's largest congregation (43,000 members) and underwent $95 million in renovations, according to a 2005 New York Times article. "Like many new evangelical churches, the building has no cross, no stained glass, no other religious iconography. Instead, it has a cafe with wireless Internet access, 32 video game kiosks and a vault to store the offering," the paper reported.
5. Joel Osteen Was an Extremely Nervous Public Speaker
Pastor Osteen told Esquire magazine earlier this year that he used to be an extremely nervous public speaker, although he does not show it nowadays manning the Lakewood Church pulpit. He overcame his fear and nervousness by pretending that his audience members were old basketball buddies from the local YMCA.
Quite the passive-aggressive teaching.
Sounds very LDS.
Then why did God command the sculpting of cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant?
"And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat."
Sculptures like the Lincoln Memorial and the cherubim on the Ark are not intrinsically evil.
God forbids the worship of idols.
"They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.'
Exodus 34:17
"Do not make any idols.
Leviticus 19:4
"'Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 26:1
"'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.
You'll have to ask Him. Ours is not to question why . . .
So far; NO one has bought ANY of my books!
But, if they did, I sure as &&&& would spend the money!
And he is WAY off base on Mormonism!
(Of course; he may be more up to speed by now!)
There is probably some place in the Scriptures that states a maximum limit to the cost of a dwelling here on earth.
Oh?
Would those same people be turned ON to Christianity by Mother Theresa?
Then the Poverty Gospel ought to really, really turn them on!
It definitely seems that way.
I received one of his books for Christmas one year.
(It seemed like a good gift for me as the giver is not one is is very knowledgeable about a lot of things going on in Christianity)
I don't think I got halfway when I just HAD to put it down.
Yup!
Them thar flyin’ thingies look like Burds to me!!
Almost....
“if we didn’t have to feed goats, we’d be rich.”
NOW you've done it!
This'll bring the Mormons to this thread faster than my rattling a 'tater chip bag brings my goats to me at a gallop!
What about:
Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I find these descriptions similar.
Swedenborg published True Christianity in 1771, long before Joseph Smith's time.
Haha - I don't think I could get past one chapter.
Sorry to hear that, Doug. Believe me, I know exactly how that feels. Prayers sent hoping you prevail.
no but there is one about hypocrisy. bilking people that have far less money than you do to give to your organization, whilke taking a huge personal salary and living in one or more mansions and having private jets.
actually i’d say more people would admire mother teresa more than osteen,because she lived her faith far more genuinely than osteen. she was in the trenches caring for the ones least wanted by society. if those not yet saved want to see evidence for God and that God cares personally for them, too, mother teresa beats osteen any day of the week by her actions. she letGod’s light and love shine through her to others tyo let them experience God’s lovefor them, personally.
you can’t compare the two, they are world’s apart.
the deal here isn’t to amass worldly wealth, it’s to build up trreasures for yourself in heaven, ie bringing others to Christ. these are the only things we can take with us to the next life.
I do not believe is mentioned in the Gospels.
shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach
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