Replies

What do you think of this?

Transcript of Joel Osteen's invocation prayer over Houston Mayor, Annise Parker, who was inaugurated as mayor of Houston. She is the first openly gay mayor of the city:

FATHER, THANK YOU FOR THIS TIME TO COME TOGETHER WITH OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO CELEBRATE YOUR GOODNESS AND THE GREAT CITY WE LIVE IN, AND THE NEW LEADERSHIP WITHIN OUR CITY. LORD, WE ASK YOU FOR WISDOM FOR ALL OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. LORD, WE PRAY THAT YOU WILL GUIDE THEM, DIRECT THEM, THAT YOU WILL HELP THEM MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS FOR OUR CITY. LORD WE JUST PRAY FOR YOUR STRENGTH AND YOUR PROTECTION AROUND THEM AND YOUR FAMILIES. WE ASK THAT YOU KEEP THEM STRONG AND HEALTHY. LORD, WE JUST THANK YOU THAT WE HAVE A GREAT CITY AND WE BELIEVE OUR CITY CAN EVEN BE BRIGHTER. WE CAN HELP PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. LORD, WE COMMIT THIS DAY INTO YOUR HANDS AND WE ASK THAT EVERYTHING WE DO WILL BRING HONOR TO YOU. Lord WE JUST LIFT UP ESPECIALLY MAYOR ANNISE PARKER. LORD, WE THANK YOU JUST FOR RAISING HER UP AND FOR YOUR GOODNESS AND MERCY IN HER LIFE AND JUST SUPERNATURAL WISDOM FATHER. WE HONOR HER TODAY AND OUR OTHER OFFICIALS, AND WE COUNT IT A JOY AND AN HONOR TO BE HERE IN YOUR PRESENCE WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS. WE JUST THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN

So you disagree with the scripture ‘render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” The government and it’s representatives are the authority, whether we like it or not. We have our say due to free speech, but what do we do if that is gone, and we can’t have our say...do we obey or do we not? WWJD?

The woman is Mayor, so he was respectful in his prayer, he did not call her holy but he did ask for wisdom for her;...her sin is what God hates. God loves her and wants her to have Salvation. Sin is sin, do you treat an adulterer or fornicator any different than a homosexual?

NO, all are sinners and in need of God’s grace. If you are a Christian you should be ashamed of yourself, as you were once a sinner too. When asked to give an invocation many Pastors accept at the urging of the Holy Spirit, so that they may be a good witness of God’s grace.

Keeping an open door to sinners is what causes many to come and seek counsel. Gods ways are not our ways, and I am guilty at times of not showing enough grace...that is where most Christians fail. We forget where we came from, and how we got here.

Do you think she would have thought well of Christ, if Joel Osteen had treated her terribly and refused to pray? NO, Ministers are to be an example of God’s love.

Something I was convicted of early in Obama’s administration.

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (AMP)
1 FIRST OF all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,
2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.
3 For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,
4 Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

They may be the dirties politician in the world, but as Believers, you lift them up in prayer - for them personally and for the city/state/nation etc.