Posted on 12/20/2005 4:08:06 PM PST by truthandlife
A dispute that involved the wife of Houston's most famous pastor, Joel Osteen, and a Continental Airlines flight attendant ended up delaying a flight for hours Monday. And now, Victoria Osteen's actions on that flight are in the spotlight. Also on ABC13.com: Send us a news tip | RSS feeds | ABC13 E-lert | Info mentioned on air Statements from Lakewood and Continental Following the incident on Continental flight 1602 Monday, both Lakewood Church and Continental Airlines released these statements. The Osteens run the largest church in the nation, so passengers on a Continental flight were shocked Monday when Mrs. Osteen was removed from that flight after a disturbance.
Taking time off from the high profile hustle and bustle of running a mega-church, Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen and his family boarded Continental flight 1602 Monday morning at Houston's big airport. They were bound for the slopes in Colorado.
Their trip was delayed and so was the entire flight by almost two hours. Fellow passengers blame the popular Osteens, specifically Joel's wife, Victoria.
According to passenger accounts, the Osteens were sitting in first class. Soon after the plane's door was closed, the FBI says Victoria Osteen was removed following what Continental would call only a disturbance. The Osteens' spokesman confirms it involved a flight attendant, but that's all. However, one passenger tells Eyewitness News she was alerted to the front of the plane when she heard a commotion.
"She violently ran towards the cockpit, scaring everyone around her," said passenger Knicky Van Slyke. "Everyone was terrified about what was going on. And a bunch of flight attendants ran up and had to restrain her. She was banging on the door."
"Of the cockpit?" we asked.
"Yes."
Passengers say Victoria was removed first. Joel and the children followed. Meantime, everyone waited.
"They unloaded all the luggage to get their luggage and deplaned her, Joel, and the kids," said passenger Dawn Dixon.
Passenger Chad Clay said, "They kept telling us they were waiting on some passengers to find their luggage underneath in the plane, and it was going to be delayed for looking for that luggage."
According to the Transportation Security Administration, federal air marshals were never involved. Local authorities also know nothing of this event. Continental would not discuss details.
The Osteens' spokesman denies a physical altercation, denies Victoria ever banged on the cockpit door, and says she left on her own.
"The account of the event which has come to our attention is inaccurate and overblown. The misunderstanding was minor and was resolved when Victoria voluntarily removed herself from the situation," read the statement.
The FBI says it was not voluntary. Though agents are not investigating, they will review the incident as the Osteens enjoy their Colorado vacation.
The Osteens' spokesman says they took another flight to Colorado Monday.
Nobody has been charged. As for the FBI's involvement, we're told it's standard procedure for them to review all passenger removal incidents. According to Continental, this one is a closed case.
Pastor Joel Osteen preaches to an average of 40,000 people a week at Lakewood Church services. Lakewood opened in the former home of the Rockets, Compaq Center, back in July. It took $90 million and a year and a half of renovations. Osteen's ministry is taped and aired around the world.
I saw her the other night and her hair looked really different. It seemed shorter, maybe she had it up, and it was gray. I could not believe the difference it made in her. She was actually prettier that night.
Untrue statements? *smile* So you think Jesus was whining when He stated He had nowhere to lay His head? Why do you think He would say that to the disciples who knew He was a trained carpenter? A skilled carpenter back then wasn't considered a bum.... but you know that, right?
Only if you think "Ye will not surely die." is the truth.
I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe you hear something different than I do. By the way, if you're going to judge me on which preachers I think are good, I guess I ought to mention that I also like Joel Osteen. He gets The WORD out to people who wouldn't ordinarily listen. Same with Joyce Meyers. [So there.]
This is the same AP who provides us hourly doses of anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Bush, anti-Conservative, anti-Republican, anti-capitalist, anti-EVERYTHING-WE-STAND FOR garbage...by the truckload! They are the #1 mouthpice for the enemy and we would, and should, dismiss virtually all of their crap out of hand before it hits the light of day.
This story contained, at best, sketchy 'witness' testimony that barely painted a picture of the horrible deed that many of you have morphed this into.
Regarding Joel Osteen, I personally don't follow him or his teaching, but certainly he does not portray himself as a man without sin, only as a man who follows his Lord and Saviour who was the only one who walked the earth without sin. If he can bring one person to Christ that would not have otherwise, then his life shall be a success.
Hey, that's a cute outfit.
the cat in that photo looks terrified.
Indeed, shame on us all! Let me be the first to apologize. You are absolutely correct, it's all a lie: it never happened, there is no Continental Airlines, the preacher and his loving spouse were in Monte Carlo at the time, there is no snow in Aspen this time of year! How absurd! The lies those Communists invent! Lord Have Mercy (and please send a generous donation!)
*sigh* If only Jimmy had better hearing, he'd have understood that he should give his money to the DEStitute.
It would be a good thing to get the details on this before people rush to judgement.
What's been reported makes her seem like a spoiled self absorbed woman. Maybe true. But`seeing how people sometimes are set up and misreported you never know.
What a lovely thread. SO good to see fellow FReepers being so non-judgmental; swallowing a media story hook, line, and sinker.
I'm disgusted.
Paul Crouch likes to have "hands on" sessions with his male co workers.
http://www.mindfully.org/Reform/2004/Crouch-Christian-Sex12sep04.htm
Can you spare me some of your sackcloth? I have extra ashes if you need them...
Hay wood and stubble....describes their ministry. I'd like to see his income from that church. I'd bet it's in 7 figures with loads of benefits. He is a fleecer of the flock!
Do you have the same disdain for all those other passengers who were bound for that same playground? Why should you have any sympathy for them if it's such an awful thing for anyone to go there?
Or could it be that despite the glitter, there may be some normal people there, maybe even believers, and maybe someone could be impacted or influenced to accept Christ as their saviour while there?
People come to The Lord one heart at a time and it can be anywhere.
Think about the point you are trying to make...it's pointless.
I'm not going to say a word against Victoria, as I was almost ejected from a health club after a big disagreement with the idiotic staff who treated me disgracefully. I objected on no uncertain terms, they called security. Meanwhile, I ducked out the side, went to the big boss with my story and the employees involved were immediately fired. As they should have been.
My guess is that Mrs. Olsteen got into a similar situation, simply expecting airline personnel to be polite and do their jobs. Many really do not.
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