Joel Osteen's $10.5 Million Mansion

Christian Post ^ | October 18, 2013 | Alecia MacKenzie ,

[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.

[BipolarBob]

If I was Jesus, I’m thinking I would avoid buildings that had a caricature of me hanging from a cross.

I'm not a big fan of that either. Nor statues. Some people are so accustomed to the accessories (along with their rosary beads),rituals and the experience they get from it that I wonder what they would do in a church like Jesus had in His day.

[lupie]

But Joel Osteen is NOT a brother in faith in Christ Jesus, so no caution is necessary. Thanks for playing though.

[GBA]

Far better to pray for him and his correction than to make yourself his judge.

Your judgments, and your rationalism for your judgments, could be your downfall when you are Judged by your own measure, just as we all will be.

Lest your mouth and your heart condemn you, first think carefully how you will justify your words when called to account, and if that is even possible.

[lupie]

You assume that I do not pray for him. You assume that I “judge” by my measure and not the Word of God. You assume wrong.

It isn’t about my thinking, but about the Truth. Osteen preaches a false gospel. That is very clear. It isn’t my “judgment”, God’s words makes it clear that Osteen is accursed. What is really sad is that so many people follow him and think that is the true gospel of Jesus Christ. :(

[Hot Tabasco]

Osteen and his ostentatious life style is what turns people off to Christianity.

Yep

[GBA]

I've made no assumptions either way, whether you don't pray for Osteen and his congregation or that you do.

However, for me, your claim that "Osteen is accursed" goes well beyond my pay grade.

What I do know is that I, wretched mess that I am, sin as easily as breathing and those cautions I posted are what I tell myself based on what I've learned so far.

[Gamecock]

In places with a strict regulative principle of worship and 2nd commandment derived scruples about images, this would be a good thing.

I'm sure churches that follow the regulative principle of worship have an issue with paper butterflies.
(And this is not directed at you Lee!)

[Gamecock]

If I thought Osteen was not a snake oil salesman putting the souls of all of those people who attend Lakewood, watch on TV and buy his books at risk of eternal damnation I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

BTW, you do know he denied Jesus on national TV, don’t you?

[metmom]

The Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.

Osteen is a shyster and preaches a false gospel.

He’s so bad, even Benny Hinn comes down on him....

Benny Hinn confronts Joel Osteen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThnD7G9tlZc

[metmom]

Some catholics like the pope have austere lives...the present one is very selfless. He just happens to like commies, though.

I should live so austere a life as to live in a mansion rent free, have use of a armored vehicle with body guards every time I go out, have my clothes paid for, and all my meals free.

He doesn't take a salary, some say? Who needs it when you live like that.

For free.....

[Graybeard58]

Reminds me of what I tell my wife from time to time. “if we didn’t have to pay bills, we’d be rich.”

[exit82]

Hey there, FRiend.

One of my favorite comedians.

And that was a classic Kinison bit.

Hope all is well on the Left Coast.

[DaveMSmith]

We were just studying this in our Church group last week:

2590. I have been taught in many ways that gentiles who have led a morally correct life and have been obedient ones, who have led charitable lives one with another, and have received some kind of conscience in keeping with their religion, are accepted in the next life, where with anxious desire and care angels instruct them in the goods and truths of faith. While they are being instructed they behave in an unassuming, intelligent, and wise manner, receiving and taking in what they are taught with ease. For they have not formed for themselves any ideas which are contrary to the truths of faith and need to be dispelled, still less any obstacles to the Lord, as with so many Christians who have led a life of evil. What is more, such gentiles do not hate others, or seek revenge for injuries, or plan devices and deceits. Rather, they wish well to Christians, even when Christians for their part despise them and so far as they are able do them violence. But they are rescued by the Lord from the merciless ways of those Christians and are protected by Him. For the situation with Christians and gentiles in the next life is that Christians who have acknowledged the truths of faith and at the same time have led a life of goodness are received ahead of gentiles; but such at the present day are few. Gentiles however who have led obedient and charitable lives one with another are received ahead of Christians who have not led so good a life. For everyone throughout the whole world who has led a good life is in the Lord's mercy received and saved; for good itself is that which receives truth. Good in a person's life is the ground itself for the seed, that is, for the truth, but evil in his life cannot possibly receive it. Although those immersed in evil are taught in a thousand different ways, indeed even if they are fully taught, the truths of faith with them still do not advance beyond the memory and do not penetrate through to the affection, which is in the heart. Consequently in the next life truths present in their memory are dispersed and cease to have any real existence. ~ Swedenborg, Secrets of Heaven

So, the implication is the Lord Jesus Christ is God and all will receive instruction and continue to learn after the death of the body. Osteen's response to Larry King was honest: he didn't know for non-Christians.

[metmom]

No kidding......

[Gamecock]

Nice heretical cult you belong to.

Melds well with LDS/Papist heresies.

[peter the great]

In The bulletin from my Church one Sunday there was an article about the woman who wanted John the Baptists head on a platter. The article went on and reminded us of the story from the Bible and went into detail about how she died and how the story has been passed down through the years from generation to generation and closed by making the point that sometimes the way that we die tells the story of our greatest sin. In case you have not guessed the woman from the story from the Bible was beheaded and when I think of Sam Kinison I can not think of those jokes in any other way after all he was killed by a drunk driver in the desert.

[DaveMSmith]

400 [10] (j) The evil qualities generally found in people who love themselves are contempt for others, jealousy, unfriendliness toward people who do not favor them; a resulting hostility; and various kinds of hatred, vengefulness, guile, deceit, ruthlessness, and cruelty. Where you find evils like this, you also find contempt for God and for the divine things that are the true insights and good actions taught by the church. If such people honor these things, their respect is only verbal, not heartfelt. Because evils like these are present, related falsities are also present, since falsities come from evils. ~ True Christianity ~ Swedenborg

[Lee N. Field]

I'm sure churches that follow the regulative principle of worship have an issue with paper butterflies. (And this is not directed at you Lee!)

Just guessing, Mr. Osteen's Sunday meetings probably aren't a hotbed of exclusive acapella psalmody.

[St_Thomas_Aquinas]

I came across one and the speaker was talking about the $500,000 addition to some Catholic official’s home in the NE. I changed channels again when I heard he added an indoor pool plus an outdoor one.

I don't know what a Catholic "official" is.

If it's a college president, then certainly that would be possible.

Clergy? Possibly, if the money came from his family, an inheritance, or something similar. Parish priests do not take vows of poverty. But it would not have come from his congregation, unless the money was embezzled.

Parish priests live on a fairly modest stipend of $18-32k/year, not including free room and board, and a car allowance.

[doug from upland]

Hi, doing fairly well and hope you are well. I am involved in major litigation regarding a mall my partner and I own in Minnesota and it has been quite draining and taking all my productive time.