Joel Osteen and others

[Mackman]

Sorry to say but I get much more out of listening to Joel Osteen , Billy Graham and others from time to time. I do this by myself because we all know any Mormon in good standing would never do that . Im in church right now as I text this message it is soooooo boring , worthless, uninspiring , not uplifting etc etc etc. Anybody else listen to other religious leaders ??? Im not saying some of these guys arent without their issues either example Joel Osteen not letting people in when the flooding in Houston occured a couple of years ago at his mega church but at least others have a more inspiring message !!!! Peace to all.

[1smartdodog]

Personally I think they operate off the same emotion elevation the church uses. They are just better at it.

[jfro18]

Personally I think they operate off the same emotion elevation the church uses. They are just better at it.

This sums it up better than I can.

[Ho Lee Turtle]

I’ve listened to Joel several times on the radio. I enjoy many of his sermons, but I have a hard time watching him on the TV as it looks very fake and disingenuous. Also, I don’t like that he lives a rock star life. However, he does spread a positive outlook on life and hope for something better, be kind to others and try to be useful type of message. Best part of his sermon is that he starts every one with a joke and it usually makes me laugh.

[2bizE]

I think the GAs and Q15 live rock star lives. They are well compensated and just have to make up $hit.

[Hagoth]

I get more inspiration from George Carlin and the Dalai Lama.

[Palerider]

I enjoy Ravi Zacharias for the most part. He takes more of an intellectual apologist's approach to Christianity.

He's one of the very very few non-mormon preachers who have been invited to speak at the Mormon Tabernacle. I think the other one was Dale Moody back in the 1940's?

Ravi and Dr. David Jeremiah seem to be fairly moderate, sincere and straight forward in their teaching.

Once when asked whether he thought Mormonism is a cult, Ravi Zacharias replied that in the modern sense of that word, with all of it's negative connotations, he didn't consider Mormonism to be a cult on the same level as say, Jim Jones and the People's Temple but that Mormonism was "cultish" in a more benign way.

He was trying to walk a fine line there.

I think he appreciates the goodness in the LDS people and even the possibly good intentions of leadership but he recognizes the doctrine is cow dung and doesn't lead to Christ.

[alas]

Max Lucado. Deseret Books even sells some of his kid books, so he has to be church approved, right. He has some adult books with individual sermons in them. I heard about him 20 years ago when we lived in San Antonio Texas. He ran a mega church just down the road from our stake center. I find him very focused on Christian principles and uplifting. He has a picture in his office of Jesus laughing because he doesn’t like the Jesus who is just a stuffed white shirt like BKP preached about. No Mormon Jesus who hates music with a neat, facial hair, and women with bare shoulders or toes, and who wore facial hair and sandals to church. He teaches things like you are good enough. Can you imagine that going over in a Mormon church?

[wtfluff]

Personally I think they operate off the same emotion elevation the church uses. They are just better at it.

This sums it up better than I can.

Yep, it's all about emotionally manipulative sales tactics.

But hay, if Joel's sales spiel makes you happier than LD$-Inc.'s sales sales spiel, why not? Just don't give any of your money to either of them. Both organizations have way more than "sufficient for their need$."

[Not Buying It]

Personally I think they operate off the same emotion elevation the church uses. They are just better at it.

This sums it up better than I can.

Yep, it's all about emotionally manipulative sales tactics.

But hay, if Joel's sales spiel makes you happier than LD$-Inc.'s sales sales spiel, why not? Just don't give any of your money to either of them. Both organizations have way more than "sufficient for their need$."

Joel Osteen makes me sick. No one who sells Jesus should have a house that big in a world where people go hungry. I don’t think Jesus likes what he is doing much either.

[Not Buying It]

This sums it up better than I can.

Yep, it's all about emotionally manipulative sales tactics.

But hay, if Joel's sales spiel makes you happier than LD$-Inc.'s sales sales spiel, why not? Just don't give any of your money to either of them. Both organizations have way more than "sufficient for their need$."

I mean really, how can a guy make millions selling his teachings about a Savior who told his followers to sell all they had and give to the poor? How is his gross materialism not a betrayal of everything Christ stood for?

[Mad Jax]

I personally can't stand to watch Joel Osteen for more than a few seconds. He's really off putting to me. But hey, whatever pops your popcorn in the "uplifting message" arena.

[crossmyheart]

I used to love Joyce Meyer. When I used to teach RS I would talk about watching her sermons just to see the ladies reactions. Some of them were so uptight about me watching someone from another religion and being inspired.
Now that I am no longer believer in any religion it's kind of hard to stick with the sermon. I would much rather watch Patton Oswalt's sky cake routine.

[wtfluff]

Joel Osteen makes me sick. No one who sells Jesus should have a house that big in a world where people go hungry. I don’t think Jesus likes what he is doing much either.

I mean really, how can a guy make millions selling his teachings about a Savior who told his followers to sell all they had and give to the poor? How is his gross materialism not a betrayal of everything Christ stood for?

Yeah... If my memory serves me correctly, I'm pretty sure that's why I typed:

... Just don't give any of your money to either of them ...

[Not Buying It]

Joel Osteen makes me sick. No one who sells Jesus should have a house that big in a world where people go hungry. I don’t think Jesus likes what he is doing much either.

I mean really, how can a guy make millions selling his teachings about a Savior who told his followers to sell all they had and give to the poor? How is his gross materialism not a betrayal of everything Christ stood for?

Yeah... If my memory serves me correctly, I'm pretty sure that's why I typed:

... Just don't give any of your money to either of them ...

Yeah, I wasn't reacting to what you said, it was more a reaction to Joel Osteen. Every time I see a picture of that guy and his smarmy smile I have an unChristlike urge to kick him in his perfect teeth.

[wtfluff]

Yeah, I wasn't reacting to what you said, it was more a reaction to Joel Osteen. Every time I see a picture of that guy and his smarmy smile I have an unChristlike urge to kick him in his perfect teeth.

I usually fantasize about aiming my first kick about 1/2 a body-length lower for the first kick.

[Palerider]

I happen to be traveling this week and am having breakfast at our hotel. The dining area TV is broadcasting Good Morning America and who should be one of their guests but Joel Osteen.

I'm a little taken aback....

I saw him awhile back and noticed, like all of us he was starting to age. But this morning he still looks "aged" but his facial skin is looking awfully tight....a little deformed.

No doubt he has recently gone under the knife for plastic surgery. And as usual, it doesn't look good on him, as it doesn't on most celebrities. Wayne Newton springs to mind.

Which raises the question. Why is Joel having plastic surgery in the first place? I guess it's really anyone's prerogative to do what they want that way but I just thought that being a man of the clothe that the worldly cares were a bit beyond him?

Maybe the answer here is, "If you can afford it why not"?

Still strikes me as a little odd....

[Hagoth]

Maybe the answer here is, "If you can afford it why not"?

Or maybe, if you can talk people who can't afford it for themselves into giving you enough money, why not?

I now have two rules regarding religious teachers:
1-If they claim they know what God wants for you, run away.
2-If they want your money, run away.

[Palerider]

Maybe the answer here is, "If you can afford it why not"?

Or maybe, if you can talk people who can't afford it for themselves into giving you enough money, why not?

I now have two rules regarding religious teachers:
1-If they claim they know what God wants for you, run away.
2-If they want your money, run away.

One of the Bible commentary websites that I visit from time to time has this as a part of his mission statement, I guess you might call it.

"John 3:16 says that God loved the world so much that He gave His Son.
It does not say that He sold His Son.

God never intended for His Word, or the study of His Word, to be sold.
He wants it to be available to "whosoever will."
And we can do no less."

He does not identify himself. As far as I can tell there is no contact information. Nothing.

There is no request to help support the ministry or the website. You couldn't make a donation even if you wanted to.

It's called:

www.lakesideministries.com

As far as I can tell he supports it completely on his own and prefers it that way. I'm sure some internet Wizkid could find out the info if they really wanted to but, why? This is obviously the core value this individual desires and maintains. Why intrude where one isn't wanted?

For some strange reason I trust this website to be as accurate and unbiased as you may find.

[Hagoth]

He does not identify himself. As far as I can tell there is no contact information. Nothing.

There is no request to help support the ministry or the website. You couldn't make a donation even if you wanted to.

I think I like this guy.