SUPER FUNNY UPDATE ON JOEL OSTEEN: Check out Joel Osteen’s super scammy books he sells on Amazon (24!!!) including his self help BS book
and his hilarious book on “Wise Choices”. If only he’d follow his own advice!
LOL! For all you Joel Osteen fanboys – remember he just cynically feeds on you to make money so he can live his fancy lifestyle. He couldn’t care less about you in reality.
Popular televangelist preacher Joel Osteen has been named the “Most Influential Christian in America” in 2006 by the Church Report, was one of
Barbara Walters, “10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 and operates an extraordinarily profitable religious scam operation that probably will one day end in scandal.
So who is this guy who has appeared on 60 Minutes, Larry King Live and has his own television shows?
Who is this guy who thinks he can share the mighty name of Joel?
Joel Osteen has not yet had major sex scandals, drug scandals or molestation scandals like the other megachurch pastors: Pat Robertson, Al Sharpton, Ted Haggard, Paul Barnes, D.E. (Earl) Paulk, Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, William Dodd and too many others to possibly mention here. What Joel Osteen DOESN’T do is the real question.
In his sermons, Joel Osteen does not talk about God. Joel Osteen instead talks about almost everything except God. He has a television ministry, a massive church, $43 million a year in tithes and another $36 million a year in mailed in donations, but he won’t talk about God. He, like Pastor Kevin Gerald, talks about more pleasant topics, such as donating money to him and positive thinking. He has written two books, the second of which sold 3 million copies, but his books don’t really talk about God either. It’s just his bland and boring advice on how to live a happy life that has been thought of by other people first, “Think positively about yourself” and other such drivel.
What does Joel Osteen say when people ask him about why he does not discuss God or Jesus Christ or sin or what you need to do to go to Heaven? “That’s not my gift.” What are you doing being a freaking megachurch pastor then, bonehead?!
If you are going to try to operate a religious scam, at least make it religious! I actually think that Joel Osteen operating a secular “Christian” church is more of a scandal than Ted Haggard and his transsexual prostitutes and meth! (Though not nearly as funny of a scandal).
Joel Osteen didn’t even found his megachurch; instead the business was handed down to him by his father. When Joel Osteen became the head pastor of his church, he had only preached ONE sermon in his entire life- and that was the week before. Joel Osteen does not have any training in the Bible (seminary, degrees, etc.), which is probably why he doesn’t want to talk about it much.
My loyal readers have pointed out to me many times that the ridiculous actions of leaders in religion do not invalidate their beliefs. They are absolutely correct on this. However, there has never been anything that VALIDATES their beliefs either. The Flying Spaghetti Monster has the same amount of evidence on his side as most other gods. Here is another question I put to you: Please find me a single megachurch pastor who is NOT a scam-running, meth-eating, prostitute-abusing criminal. Anyone?
Update March 3, 2008 on JOEL OSTEEN:
Many people have been discussing Joel Osteen in the comments and making statements about his beliefs, behavior and preaching methods that show a distinct lack of understanding of his profit driven motives. Below I have added a video of Joel Osteen on Larry King Live where he dances around the core question of the Christian faith: What does it take to get to heaven? Joel Osteen hems and haws and won’t even say that people of different religions won’t make it to heaven.
The partial transcript for Joel Osteen’s interview with Larry King is below. I have basically pulled out the most pertinent excerpts to the point I have tried to make on televangelist Joel Osteen.
Televangelist Joel Osteen Discusses Christianity with Larry King
First is Larry King’s impressive introduction of Joel Osteen:
LARRY KING, CNN HOST: Tonight, Joel Osteen, evangelism’s hottest rising star, pastor for the biggest congregation in the United States… Pastor Joel Osteen is here for the hour…. Joel Osteen is the author of the number one “New York Times” best-seller, “Your Best Life Now.” There you see its cover. “Seven Steps to Living at Your Full Potential.” There is now a compendium been published called “Your Best Life Now Journal,” a guide to reaching that full potential. Joel Osteen is pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. His father before him. He has been called the smiling preacher.
Larry King knows Joel Osteen Ministries is huge and tries to play nice with him throughout the interview.
KING: Why are you a preacher?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I never was for 17 years. I worked with my dad there at the church. He tried to get me to minister. I didn’t have it in me. I worked behind the scenes. I loved doing production and things. But when my father died, I just knew — I don’t know how to explain it, it sounds kind of odd, but I just knew down to here I was supposed to step up to the plate and pastor the church. And it was odd because I had never preached before. But I just knew I was supposed to do it.
Hmmm… either God gave him the “calling” or he was scared of losing his father’s multi-million dollar preaching business.
KING: But don’t you think if people don’t believe as you believe, they’re somehow condemned?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I think that happens in our society. But I try not to do that. I tell people all the time, preached a couple Sundays about it. I’m for everybody. You may not agree with me, but to me it’s not my job to try to straighten everybody out. The Gospel called the good news. My message is a message of hope, that’s God’s for you. You can live a good life no matter what’s happened to you. And so I don’t know. I know there is condemnation but I don’t feel that’s my place.
Joel Osteen comes right out and says that he will refuse to condemn sinners. He is too afraid, it’s not his place, he just wants to spew bland niceties… hmmm.
LARRY KING: Where were you ordained? OSTEEN: I was ordained from the church there, Lakewood, under my dad’s ministry.
LARRY KING: So you didn’t go to seminary?
JOEL OSTEEN: No, sir, I didn’t.
LARRY KING: They can just make you a minister?
JOEL OSTEEN: You can, you can.
Wow. Joel Osteen never even attended Bible school or classes for future preachers. No wonder he is so clueless about Biblical theology.
LARRY KING: Is it hard to lead a Christian life?
JOEL OSTEEN: I don’t think it’s that hard. To me it’s fun. We have joy and happiness. Our family — I don’t feel like that at all. I’m not trying to follow a set of rules and stuff. I’m just living my life.
LARRY KING: But you have rules, don’t you?
JOEL OSTEEN: We do have rules. But the main rule to me is to honor God with your life. To life a life of integrity. Not be selfish. You know, help others. But that’s really the essence of the Christian faith.
Of course its not hard for Joel Osteen to lead a Christian life. BECAUSE HE’S NOT!!!
LARRY KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
JOEL OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know …
LARRY KING: If you believe you have to believe in Christ? They’re wrong, aren’t they?
JOEL OSTEEN: Well, I don’t know if I believe they’re wrong. I believe here’s what the Bible teaches and from the Christian faith this is what I believe. But I just think that only God with judge a person’s heart. I spent a lot of time in India with my father. I don’t know all about their religion. But I know they love God. And I don’t know. I’ve seen their sincerity. So I don’t know. I know for me, and what the Bible teaches, I want to have a relationship with Jesus.
The last exchange between Larry King and Joel Osteen hits the nail on the head of everything that is wrong with the Joel Osteen Ministry. All it is is fluff. He can’t even defend the single core belief of Christianity- that a personal relationship with Jesus Christ is a requirement to gain access to Heaven.
Below is more Joel Osteen preaching videos. Joel Osteen preaches on cheesy, transparent topics that have nothing to do with the Bible. He twists scripture around to serve his own purposes of mass produced drivel. My question to Joel Osteen is where in the Bible does it say Christians have a “right to total victory” over physical pain, financial problems and other issues? Did he completely miss the book of Job or the trials and tribulations that the early Christians had to suffer under the Romans? I don’t think that Joel Osteen has ever even read the Bible.
DO NOT LET JOEL OSTEEN CONTINUE TO GET AWAY WITH HIS BIBLE-CONTRADICTING, POLITICALLY CORRECT AND PROFIT SEEKING DRIVEL! JOEL OSTEEN’S SCANDAL IS OUTRAGEOUS!
Jesus once went into a temple and threw out currency traders and salespeople…. WHO WILL THROW THE SCANDAL CREATING JOEL OSTEEN OUT OF GOD’S ASTRODOME TEMPLE?
Further discussion: Joel Osteen megachurch building – Joel Osteen paid the city of Houston $90,000,000 to remodel the former home of NBA team Houston Rockets and an additional $14,000,000 to lease the building for 30 years. Preacher Joel Osteen’s megachurch does not even own the building! Pastor Joel Osteen doesn’t care though- he’ll be dead by then and this church is all about him. The most interesting thing about the new church is that there is not a SINGLE cross in the whole building! Want to know why? Joel Osteen says that he wants to remove all “stumbling blocks” from the way of people coming to his church and being comfortable. Since when has Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross been a STUMBLING BLOCK for faith?! The scandal here is that the Joel Osteen is doing and saying blasphemous things… and no one is calling him out on it. The pastor of the largest church in America won’t even follow the basic tenets of Christianity!
Visit the Prayer Helpers site here to buy prayers for sale.
Joel Osteen is unable to even keep his own family under control. Pastor Joel Olsteen’s wife, Victoria Osteen, has been fined $3,000 and is being sued for assaulting a flight attendant on her first-class trip to the playground of the rich and famous Vail, Colorado.
Bible Verses that Condemn Megachurch Pastor Joel Osteen
I have had quite a few people post in the comments asking what does it really matter what Joel Osteen believes if he’s helping people? If Joel Osteen teaches nice things, isn’t it okay for him to be a Christian pastor? I understand that my opinions of right and wrong should not sway you, but I ask you to consider what the Bible says on the matter. First, let’s take the Bible verses that are the standard definition of who is a Christian:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV)
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 (NIV)
For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
To summarize, the only way to be saved and go to heaven is by the grace of Jesus and by faith in God. These are the basic verses that every Christian who has accepted Christ knows. Now for the verses that clearly state that only Christians who believe the above will go to Heaven:
-John 3:3: no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
-John 3:15: everyone who believes in him [Jesus] may have eternal life.
-John 3:18: whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of Gods one and only Son.
-John 14:6: Jesus answered: No one comes to the Father except through me
-Acts 3:23: And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people. (ASV)
-Acts 4:12: Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved
-Romans 10:9: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
-Hebrews 9:28: he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him
-1 John 5:12: he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The nine quoted verses above clearly state that only Christians can go to Heaven. Now, if Joel Osteen truly believed and was a pastor of a Bible-based church, would he preach a false message of hope to people? Joel Osteen is essentially subverting the word of God, which motivated me to write this post. I am not sure why Joel would do this, but my postulation (as above) is that he is doing it for financial gain. Joel Osteens father was a pastor and he has been a pastor for a long time now and he should know better than most people the MOST basic tenets of Christianity. Ignorance is an excuse for new Christians (as long as they work at it), but not for a shepherd of the flock.
Do you know what the Bible says about false teachers like Joel Osteen?
-2 Timothy 4:3,4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth , and be turned aside to fables.
-Matthew 7:15,16 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
-Acts 20:29-31 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves . Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
-2 Peter 2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
-2 Peter 3:16,17 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;
-Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.
-Hebrews 13:9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.
The Bible is very, very harsh in its condemnation of people who change, twist or leave out parts of its doctrine. False leaders (Joel Osteen), to me, are more disgusting than someone who is a hypocrite (Ted Haggard).
For more information on mega church pastor Joel Osteen you can search Google with the terms joelosteen.com or joel osteen.com to find the man’s website. You could also use terms such as Joel Osteen Website or Joel Osteen Lakewood Church for other sorts of information on him.
Why do I care what Joel Osteen does or doesnt do in his church, especially seeing that I am not religious? People who are cheats, fakes, and phonies really bother me. I have written quite a few other posts on various community leaders who lead people astray for their own personal gain. My tax dollars go to support Joel Osteen (every church in America is exempt from taxes, but Joel Osteen is making millions tax-free teaching his Prosperity Message when he is basically just another self-help guru). I also am very wary of megachurch pastors (I used to attend one and have seen many on television)- they often seem to be some of the craziest people (Jim Jones-Want some Kool Aid?)
I am frequently entertained by rantings such as this by those with limited intellect. So much so, I shant waste my time correcting your erroneous message except to note none of the disciples had degress of higher education nor did they attend seminary.
Might I suggest before you attempt to speak on Biblical teachings or theological matters again you study the works of Josephus and research the Bible. Take the time to develop beliefs not based on what others have told you to be so, but based on what you have discovered to be true. Then maybe, just maybe you will be sufficiently prepared to pen an accurate commentary.
I think you are the world’s biggest loser, You are just jealous of all of Joel success!
I thank God that I have a Bible believing Pastor that will preach God’s word unlike Joel Osteen. Mr. Osteen, I’m afraid, is leading way to many people down the wide path to destruction. If you are a true Christian believer you believe in the death, burial & resurrection of Christ. You also believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven. This guy is almost as bad as Benny Hinn.
I am not as well verse as you are on scripture, been born again just about a year and half. That being said i have been blessed with the holy spirit and allow to see where I could not see. It is funny that when I first used to hear this man I was mesmorized by his words but after my new found relationship with christ I see this man for what he is. I too find it disturbing that he continues to ignore talking about sin.For even someone as ignorat as I to our lords teaching understand that it is because of our sins that he came and establish the new covenent. I due pray that he would open his heart and allow our lord to use him as a tool for his glory since he has the attention of millions.For their is no greater joy then to turn your life to christ and allow him to be our sheppard and know that you do not die but rather live when you open his door to salvation. Thank you brother in christ for having the strengh and courage to have christ be you guide for with god how can one loose.
The person who wrote this article is extremely stupid and freedom of speech means even an idiot has it.
We go to heaven by accepting Jesus Christ of Nazareth as our Lord and Savior, not Mohammed etc. The God I know says to LOVE, not KILL others who don’t accept their beliefs. Why don’t you go preach to the killers who have no heart or soul?
WOW- first time I have read Joel’s analysis of Joel Osteen. I got a whole sermon message out of Joel the Blogger from reading the above! I don’t think he is trying to drag anyone down or discredit them, but compare the Word, God’s Word with what Joel Osteen is saying and doing. If you are going to be in a worldwide ministry,i.e., spotlight, you can expect to be examined under a microscope, in fact, be prepared for it. “For ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God….”
The ridiculous drivel that the author of this blog generates is absolutely hilarious. People like you are why I left the church (not neccessarily my faith) many years ago. Last time I checked, only God had the true power to judge people. Yet, you have decided to take it upon yourself to pass judgement on a man who has never been convicted of a crime or spoken a negative word about those around him. Instead he speaks of hope, happiness, and living life to the fullest. He is not a liar, he admits his lack of biblical schooling, yet you brand him as a deceiver.
You blast him for bringing in so much money. Have you once researched to find how many people have jobs now because of his success? How about how many charitble organizations now receive more money from his church? Sure he is successful and wealthy, but he doesn’t drive a Bugatti, doesn’t have a bowling alley in his house, nor does his wife walk around town in bling-bling jewelery.
You blast him for not stating on public national television that Muslims, Hindus, Jews, non-believers will not make it to heaven. Instead, he does give a vague answer and shows a respect for those who do have a belief in their God. Did you ever think that he is smart enough to realize that a direct answer saying “No, only devout bible-based beleivers in Christianity will go to heaven” would close any possible dialogue between his church and a non-believer?
Let me ask you this…What if a Muslim who wanted to open dialogue with you about becoming a Muslim said “since you have not accepted Allah and Mohammed as His prophet, you shall spend all eternity in damnation and pain.”? How open would you be to speaking with that person? It is easy to tell you wouldn’t. So maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t make such a direct statement in hopes that non-Christians will at least be willing to listen and have dialogue, with the end goal being converting those people to Christianity through a more personal process that isn’t seen on camera in front of millions of people.
So before, you simply spout off various biblical scriptures, which don’t even support your points by the way, (find me one that says that preaching joy and happiness is sinful and maybe you can quote it…), try opening your mind up and making a bigger analysis of the situation. Realize that people might try to reach people in a different way, one that doesn’t make sense to you, but makes sense to the people who are being reached. One that helps them make a small step in the right direction, maybe not the whole way quite yet, but at least a step in the right direction. If Joel Osteen’s minsitry gets a 17 year old drug-addicted female prositute to change her ways and at least live a better life simply by telling her she is worth it and she can be happy in a better way,… is that so wrong?
You know what the funny thing is…Joel Osteen annoys the hell out of me.
hey
who is the author of this article? or shall i say a rotten, nonsense critical article…hey author remember this, it’s hard to kick against the prick. God said do not pick on His anointed one…if you are a member of a christian church, u are a religious person just like any pharisse in the bible, Jesus hates them. or probobly you are a member of a satanist group, that’t what they do right? they want do destroy God’s work…you repent and accept Jesus as your Lord and saviour, so that God will not destroy you.
When we talk mega church,do we include Catholics(wealthest religion in world)?
Every show I have seen with Joel ends in,”Join a Bible based church”. I have never seen him ask for money like others on tv. His show sells for $15 a ticket! I wish people would investigate before making stupid comments. Oh, I forgot you watched Larry King-your idol, I take it. People with no faith always attack the faithful any way they can and they even interpret the Bible for us! Wow, what kind of training do you have? Sorry to be so negative, as God has a place for us all, including you.
God Bless
I understand your opinion on this matter and by far im not agreeing or disagreeing with you on the situation at hand, but what i do think is that its not your place to say whether you think he his a false prophecy or not. If you dont like what he preaches about or if you think he is not fully knowledged on the word of God, than dont listen to him, the worst thing you can do is go around talking bad about others, i believe there are all kinds of quotes in the bible about judging others and this whole web page has been nothing but that!!! Just drop it, your waisting your time because hes going to continue preaching and your thoughts are not going to change that!
I am a Christian. I believe their is a difference between being Christian and being religious. I have come to know God and Jesus Christ in the past 3 years and they ARE REAL!
I guess I would like to know as you have quoted many items out of the Bible.
The one I have to say to you is, You have no right to judge. “take the LOG out of your own eye, before you can remove the SPECK from someone else’s”.
I am a fan of the Bible. I have listened to Joel Osteen and have read some of his books. If nothing else, he gives hope and specializes in teaching people to have a personal relationship with God.
DO NO HARM
DO GOOD
PUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE.
Everyone for some reason LOVE’S a scandal. Look for the truth or scandal in your own life, clean it up, before you point fingers at others.
In His
I don’t watch Joel on tv so I can’t really say whether he is a good or bad preacher. One thing he says, though, struck me. I am a Christian because that is how I was raised and the religion I am most comfortable with. But I’m not so sure the Christ is “the only way” to heaven. I don’t think anybody but God can really know. We as humans only know a tiny bit of what God knows and there are few things we can say with certainty. Whether or not someone is going to heaven is not something we can say for sure – that is between that person and God. Personally I think there are different ways to God and Heaven. All of the world religions point to the same God. Is that just a coincidence? I don’t think so. Are the only people in Heaven Christians? I don’t think so. God knows I feel this way because I talk to Him about it often. And I feel that if I am wrong, then God will change my heart. So I would be careful about saying with certainty that certain people aren’t going to Heaven – because the fact of the matter is that you really don’t know.
I just want to say. THERE IS NO SCANDAL HERE DUDE. The author clearly needs to get a life and live it.
I have only heard 3 and1/2 minutes of a sermon Olsteen gave. He mentioned GOD 5 times in 3 and 1/2 minutes, so I think you don’t know what you are talking about. You probably need to quit commenting on religion.
Buddy
I have been screwed by so many so called legit organizations, starting with the united states government, one more isnt going to hurt,if that it what this thing is. The rest of them just didnt feel as good as this one! you can fool some of the people some of the time but not all of them all of the time. Joel has got something all these people like and there is a lot of them and they aint stupid either. if you dont like what he is dishing out go find another line to boo hoo in and get off OUR cloud jerk! I am going to stay around for awhile.
let me get this straight some one speaks of being positive and loving your self and others. walking in faith and gods glory and you have a problem with that. maybe your problem is in your narrow view of your self and your world… correct me if im wrong but didnt this happen once before??? Let me tell you a story!!! A baby was born to a virgin and a shepard …. If you dont know how that turns out you should as mr osteen says ” get into a good bible based church” and may god have mercy on your soul
I THINK JOEL IS GREAT…THE REAL THING! THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE SAYING ALL THIS NEGATIVE JUNK ABOUT HIM IS PROBABLY JUST “FAKE” PEOPLE THEMSELVES!!
I COULD LISTEN TO JOEL ALL DAY….HE HAS A GREAT GIFT SO PEOPLE CAN UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING HE IS TALKING ABOUT……NOT SOME OF THESE FAKE PREACHERS WHO DON’T EVEN UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE AND READ STRAIGHT FROM IT …….ANYBODY CAN DO THAT!!
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK JOEL…..YOU ARE GENUINE……NOT A HIPICRIT LIKE ALOT OF PEOPLE….
To preface: I am an atheist, and so this comment may play directly to the point you’re trying to make…
I am soundly non-religious and find almost every telepreacher/scammychurchthing/literalbibletakers to be absurd. I find the fundamentalist position on homosexuality to be arcane, bigoted and depressing. I don’t trust these people one bit…All this being said, Joel Olsteen seems like an ok sort of guy to me. I’m not planning on giving him money or accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior, but I don’t see what’s so wrong with a preacher giving kinder, more well-rounded and welcoming sermons than his fire-and-brimstone fellows. Olsteen may be a charlatan, I don’t know, but to pick on him for being TOO accepting?
For allowing that there may be value in other belief systems and focusing on positive rather than negative aspects of his own chosen faith?
That just seems weird.
With half the other Jimmy-swaggart-y people running around with blow and underaged hookers, I think that if the only scandal Joel Olsteen has gotten himself into is this benign and ( to go so far) this encouraging, then he should be commended not decried.
If your position is that of the moral majority, or you’re all right-wing christians then you’ve probably stopped reading by now anyway, but I stumbled upon this blog and being as Olsteen is the only one of these people I can stomach, the topic seemed worthy of comment.
Anyway I just thought this was about people named Joel, not religion but apparently I was wrong.
I just happened to flick the TV on last night, and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but Joel Osteen having some kind of interview by Dateline. Joel said himself, that he wants “all people leaving his church to feel good about themselves and maybe have hope that they can accomplish something that has only been a dream previously. I think thats great. But the Bible is very clear that there are ways to get close to God. Read your Bible, pray, spend time talking to God, trusting in Him to do whats best in your life. The Bible is also very clear that we are in a “war” down here on this earth. The devil and his rebellious demons who fell from heaven as lightening with him, and Jeus Christ. Right now, until Christ’s second return for his church or “Bride” Satan is in charge of this planet. Don’t ever underestimate his desire to ruin your eternity and the lengths he will go to do it.
I want a preacher who preaches the “full Gospel.” Not just that which calms my fears momentarily and makes me “feel good.” So many hurting people today, are all searching for meaning in their lives and to “feel Good.” I think everyone is entitled to their own opinions about preachers and televangelists…but I want to know that everything they are saying is the entire Truth from the Word of God, not just some little cliches that warm my heart momentarily. I know enough by now, to know that the only way, and I mean the Only Way to feel good about who I am and what I am doing, is to KNOW WHO God says that I am, and what He wants me to be doing, even if its just working with babies in the nursery at church, cleaning the church sanctuary up after church, praying for our church’s leadership. I am so grateful to God, I have failed him and those closest to me so miserably-yet He welcomed me home with open arms and a “banquet feast” in my honor. I think the Joel that writes this blog is a deep thinker, a bit of a tease and torment and really testing everything he has been told by those “in the know in church , and those he knows that call themselves: “Christians.” I think he is just dying to see someone living out at whatever personal cost to themselves what they say they believe. He has probably heard many a fine preacher, but seen few lives that actually give 100% to live what they say they believe! People watch us all the time, do our words match up with our actions?