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Many Vatican-watchers interpreted the election of Pope Francis as Rome’s counter-offensive against the rise of neo-Pentecostalism in the global South. Pentecostalism is the fastest growing sect in the Latin America, where a third of the world’s Catholics live, and is giving the established Roman Church a run for its money — so to speak. The latest figures show that the numbers of Pentecostals throughout Latin America has soared since 1970 — when they represented a mere 4 percent of the population — to nearly 30 percent. In Guatemala it is estimated that four in ten are Pentecostals. Reasons for the...

Christian ministers like Joel Osteen, Rick Warren and Jamal Bryant are among a number of high-profile individuals and organizations apparently being used by scammers on Facebook to solicit funds from unsuspecting supporters.Miles McPherson, senior pastor of the Rock Church in San Diego, alerted his Facebook fans Wednesday that someone had set up a fake account on the social network pretending to be him.Joel Osteen Ministries, which has more than 3,630,000 "Likes" on Facebook, received several messages from supporters this week notifying the Lakewood Church ministry of account holders using Joel Osteen's name.The ministry has routinely responded: "Thank you for informing us...

It's a news flash with an asterisk: Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen has resigned from the mega church that he has led since 1999, a move prompted by his decision to leave the Christian faith due to his "lack of faith." The asterisk is needed, mind you, because the story is false, as in Internet hoax. Whoever devised the elaborate hoax didn't just stop at a fake church website - http://www.joelostenministries.com/ - which is almost identical to the genuine Joel Osteen Ministries website - http://www.joelosteen.com/. The hoaxer also has put up bogus news sites trumpeting the fictitious news, replicating news...

It’s no surprise that major news networks, casting about for an expert on Christianity, would ring up Joel Osteen, senior pastor of the nation’s largest megachurch. The title “senior pastor” rests a little awkwardly on someone whose shiny, eager demeanor recalls a perpetual 20-something, but when duty calls Osteen can turn down the smile and look thoughtful. Last week’s duty was to appear on Wolf Blitzer’s Situation Room on CNN and answer Blitzer’s questions relating to Mitt Romney as the Republican candidate for president, including one asking Pastor Osteen how he would respond to a congregant who wants to vote...

Joel Osteen, the popular megachurch pastor from Houston, appeared Tuesday afternoon on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and said that he considers both presumed GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, a Mormon, and President Obama to be Christians. Osteen, when asked about Romney's faith, said the former Massachusetts governor is indeed a Christian – which is a similar statement to the one he made in January. "When I hear Mitt Romney say that he believes that Jesus is the Son of God – that he's the Christ, raised from the dead, that he's his Savior – that's good enough...

Joel Osteen was in the Nation’s Capital last night. The popular pastor of Houston’s Lakewood Church threw out the first pitch at a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the visiting Houston Astros. Osteen, who boasts the nation’s largest congregation, running more than 43,000 worshippers through his megachurch every weekend, will return to D.C. at the end of the April when he holds his fourth annual “Night of Hope” at National’s Park. Not since evangelist Billy Graham has an American pastor so regularly filled arenas and stadia throughout the country. Osteen finds the ballpark an ideal backdrop for a...

(CBS News) Pastor Joel Osteen, one of America's most popular religious figures, said on "CBS This Morning" that GOP candidate Mitt Romney believes in Jesus like he does. "What I see about Governor Romney is that he says, 'I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God, he's raised from the dead and he's my savior.' I see him as being a believer in Christ, like me." Charlie Rose said, "That's enough for you?" "That's enough for me," Osteen said. "There's differences in all religion. I realize Mormonism is different from Christianity, but you know what, he's a man of...

Televangelist and senior pastor of Houston’s Lakewood Church Joel Osteen explained on Fox News Channel’s “Huckabee” over the weekend that President Barack Obama reached out to Osteen and Lakewood. “He has reached out to us,” Osteen said. “And we have done some of the leadership things there at the White House with him and been able to pray with him — just simple things like that. And he’s been very kind and friendly to our ministry.” A number of Americans still have questions about Obama’s religious beliefs. Whether it is due to his 20 year attendance at the Rev. Jeremiah...

Nationally known TV preacher and evangelist Joel Osteen is slated to join Mark Burnett, the producer of the popular ‘Survivor’ show, to create new primetime network TV show together. Burnett and wife Roma Downey are good friends of Osteen and wife Victoria. Their show would feature people who join Osteen to “start fixing things” throughout the United States. Osteen is viewed by more than 10 million people each week. He broadcasts from his Lakewood Church in Houston TX and could probably reach an even wider audience with the new venture. "We don't just want to do a reality show. We...

Televangelist and senior pastor of Houston’s Lakewood Church Joel Osteen explained on Fox News Channel’s “Huckabee” over the weekend that President Barack Obama reached out to Osteen and Lakewood. “He has reached out to us,” Osteen said. “And we have done some of the leadership things there at the White House with him and been able to pray with him — just simple things like that. And he’s been very kind and friendly to our ministry.” Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/11/28/televangelist-joel-osteen-obama-has-reached-out-to-us/#ixzz1f1Qe8ewQ

Dear Pastor Joel Osteen, Shame on You! I have just watched your remarks regarding Mitt Romney and his Mormon faith, recorded on video. http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=1465166 Shame on you! You have given the enemies of the Cross a great victory. Either through sheer ignorance of the Word or your apparent desire to never offend anyone, regardless of their sins, you have handed the Mormons a huge PR gift. You have insulted and denigrated the many former Mormons like me who have spent their lives bringing Mormons the truth and to the Real Jesus, who died for their sins on Calvary. You have...

He didn't know Jesus was such a stickler. Last Thursday Joel Osteen, senior pastor of Lakewood “Church” in Houston, Texas revealed to the world that he had recently read the Gospels for the first time during a segment of the MTV Special True Life: I’m Joel Osteen. “Ya know, I decided it was about time I toughed it through all four Gospels. They’re super long but I mean, I am a pastor, right?” Osteen said laughingly in his charming Texan accent. The author of Your Best Life Now, a theological dissertation concerning the Biblical hermeneutic of success, was shocked at...

It turns out that criticizing Joel Osteen ruffles feathers. Perhaps this shouldn't surprise. His congregation is more than forty-thousand strong, his sermons air worldwide, and his book sales are stratospheric. He's got more than a few fans available to take offense at someone holding his feet to the fire. In response to my piece Friday, “The insufferable Joel Osteen,� several people said that I was “judging� Osteen, which is a considerable no-no. I was told I should be ashamed and that I should apologize.But not so fast. Is saying that a man is wrong “judging� him? “Judge not, that you...

In his interview with Larry King (CNN, June 20, 2005), Joel Osteen said that he is not sure what happens to people who reject Christ. King followed up with the question about Jews, Moslems, and other non-Christians. “They’re wrong, aren’t they?” Osteen replied, “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 will 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...

An interview that begins with a statement like, “Well, Piers, to me, faith is all about learning to be happy where you are,” is probably not going to end well. Piers Morgan’s interview with Joel and Victoria Osteen Tuesday night was very revealing about the Osteens - but little Christian truth was revealed. At the same time, the interview deserves closer attention than you might expect. After introducing the Osteens, Morgan let Joel talk about his latest book, Every Day A Friday, How To Be Happier 7 Days a Week. Like the book itself, Joel’s presentation could be reduced to...

Joel Osteen and The Prosperity Gospel Written by Gary Gilley (June/July 2009 - Volume 15, Issue 4) The New Age book and video by Rhonda Byrne, The Secret, which gained popularity recently due to Oprah Winfrey’s strong promotion, teaches that we can “create [our] own happiness through the law of attraction.” Whether it is cash, health, prosperity or happiness, all can be ours if we will just learn to use “the secret.” Byrne tells us, “Disease cannot live in a body that is in a healthy emotional state.” But be warned: “If you have a disease and you are focusing...

WASHINGTON — A volunteer..has been charged with sexually abusing an autistic child. Alvaro Daniel Guzman, 25, was charged with indecency with a child over a February 2010 incident at a Lakewood Church activities program for special needs children, according to local media reports in Houston. The arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday but Guzman is still free. Lakewood is a Protestant "megachurch" run by pastor Joel Osteen, whose weekend services draw more than 40,000 people. Osteen's television ministry is broadcast in dozens of countries. Guzman allegedly fondled an 8-year-old autistic boy while he helped him climb into a play structure....

After reading about Nick Charles’ terminal illness with bladder cancer, one megachurch pastor decided to reach out to the dying sportscaster. Joel Osteen, according to CNN, personally called the former sports anchor, offering him his prayers and encouragement. “God is going to take care of you and your family,” Osteen told Charles, praying for his family over the phone and inspiring him to fight. The megapastor had grown up watching Charles as a sports fan, while Charles admitted to CNN that he too watched Osteen regularly. Cory, the sportscaster’s wife, had even attended Osteen’s church in Texas while her husband...

Popular preacher Joel Osteen's recent affirmation that homosexuality is a sin has garnered reaction from both gay rights advocates and evangelicals alike. LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign called for an immediate apology, arguing that his statement "adds a burden to those already struggling to accept their sexual orientation or gender identity." "One would hope Mr. Osteen would use his pulpit, with an audience of over 7 million people, to tell all human beings that they are loved just the way they are," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. "Instead he chose to send a dangerous and irresponsible message." Evangelical leader...

Joel Osteen didn’t get where he is today by staking out controversial positions on biblical and moral issues. America’s prophet of Your Best Life Now built his reputation and his international following on an updated version of prosperity theology, laced with ample doses of pop psychology. The ever-smiling and effervescent pastor of America’s largest congregation has done his best to avoid association with doctrinal matters. More to the point — he has done his best to avoid talking about sin. Osteen would rather offer platitudes about attitudes. “God wants you to be a winner, not a whiner,” he asserts. Talking...

ABC's "The View" hosted pastor Joel Osteen Tuesday, author of the book The Christmas Spirit – but the conversation took a controversial turn and went from Christmas to homosexuality. Co-host Joy Behar belittled Osteen about his conservative Christian beliefs on the matter. ABC's Barbara Walters first popped the question in the middle of the interview, flagging it was a "controversial" topic. She referenced a previous quote made by Osteen on the show about homosexuality not being "God's best" for a person's life. Walters asked him how he felt about a Georgia pastor who recently came out and said he was...

I cannot imagine why someone would dedicate himself to a religion that provides just one of many equally valid paths to salvation. That’s why I was taken aback by my old friend Neal Boortz’ somewhat harsh treatment of a man who called his show some months ago and quoted John 14:6 as evidence that Christianity is the only path to heaven. Of course, Neal isn’t a pastor and he tends to do things just to get a rise out of people. So his comments weren’t nearly as objectionable as Joel Osteen’s sidestepping of the “How many paths to heaven?” question...

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ~ (2 Timothy 4:3)

Restoration Today's Scripture "And the God of all grace…will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast" (I Peter 5:10, NIV). Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Have you experienced destruction in your past? God wants to completely restore you. He wants to make you strong, firm and steadfast—He wants to make you better than before! Sometimes, when you are in the midst of difficulty, you can't quite see the restoration God has prepared. You can't quite see how He can turn it around for your good. But that's when you have to take a step of...

Approved Today's Scripture "Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you…" (Jeremiah 1:5, AMP). Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Did you know that God was thinking about you before you were ever born? He knew everything about you before you were in your mother's womb. He created you on purpose, for a purpose. He carefully planned who you would be, the color of your hair, the color your eyes and skin. He gave you gifts, talents, and abilities to be used for His glory. He took one look at you and said, "Approved."...

I don’t know what you feel about the prosperty gospel; the health, wealth, and prosperity gospel. But I’ll tell you what I feel about it; hatred. It is not the gospel. It is being exported from this country to Africa and Asia. Selling a bill of goods to the poorest of the poor, “Believe this message, your pigs won’t die. Your wife won’t have miscarriages. You’ll have rings on your fingers and coats on your back.” That’s comin’ out of America! The people that out to be giving our money and our time and our lives, instead selling them a...

I haven’t heard a peep out of the whole of the Evangelical Church, the Protestant Church, the Baptists, Methodist? Anyone? Is it now an unspoken policy that no one in any church anywhere in America will dare to speak out on any topic that might be classified as “political”? A Google search of “Joel Osteen & Health Care Reform” produced nothing. So, the leader of the single largest congregation in America has apparently been mum on the subject; the entire subject inclusive of “excluding mandated coverage for abortion.” I Googled “Rick Warren and Health Care Reform” and similarly found nothing...

The Armor of God Today's Scripture "Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:11-12, NLT) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria God has equipped us to stand and fight every battle we will face in life. The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter 6 that we are to put on the...

How to determine when Joel Osteen is speaking heresy:

Sometimes I get confused watching these mega-church preachers. Are they reading the same Bible I'm reading? Do they really have an intimate relationship with the same Jesus I know? Is the Holy Spirit actually working within them – providing the kind of discernment He promises believers? These questions came to mind while watching Joel Osteen and his lovely wife, Victoria, on CNN's "Larry King Live" last week. Is this the new face of American Christianity? Is this why Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected? Is this the Good News? Or is this some other religion altogether? Admittedly, Osteen...

When one really takes the time to look deeper into the “feel-good� message of smiling Joel Osteen it becomes crystal clear that his doctrine is actually far worse than spiritual junk-food. As you’ll see in this article, originally published August 30, 2005, it is indeed the spiritual poison of the Word Faith Movement which is seeping up through its decadent and decaying root in the metaphysical Mind Science cults and then thoroughly saturating Osteen’s own-far from innocuous-teachings.The “Cotton Candy� Appeal of Joel OsteenJoel Osteen, pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, is perhaps the fastest rising TV preacher in...

This review first appeared in the Christian Research Journal, volume 28, number 2 (2005). For further information or to subscribe to the Christian Research Journal go to: http://www.equip.org. C. F. W. Walther wrote, in his classic book The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel, "The doctrinal contents of the entire Holy Scriptures…are made up of two doctrines differing fundamentally from each other, viz., the Law and the Gospel….Without the Law the Gospel is not understood; without the Gospel the Law benefits us nothing."1 One of the most popular methods of preaching today is to leave out the law entirely and...

Apparently last Sunday, Father Michael Pfleger -- the fiery liberal activist and longtime friend and associate of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois -- gave another sermon mentioning the Clintons disparagingly, in addition to the one he gave at Obama's (now former) church. At his own church, St. Sabina's, Pfleger said, "Hillary and McCain would wish they had a preacher with the integrity of Jeremiah Wright. … They got some old weak preacher…some old Joel Osteen cotton candy preacher."

With a message that is centered on hope, the Revs. Joel and Victoria Osteen have seen Lakewood Church, their non-denominational church in Houston, become one of the largest in the country, boasting 45,000 members. Joel Osteen has been billed as the pastor for a new generation, and Barbara Walters named him one of the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006. Millions of people around the world watch his weekly television broadcasts, read his bestselling books and follow his weekly podcasts. Osteen is the author of Become a Better You and Your Best Life Now. The Osteens will play host...

I would personally like to thank those Seventh-day Adventists who have adopted the Joel Osteen version of Christianity. Finally, Seventh-day Adventists now have a popular message that appeals to the mass of humanity. Who in the Adventist church of the 19th or 20th century would have even imagined that the most important message in the world today is that we need to pursue feeling good about ourselves and just love everybody? There is no question that many Seventh-day Adventists are following Joel Osteen's lead and happily dismiss every teaching of the Bible that creates argument and controversy. Giving credit where...

Joel Osteen will be in Greensboro for a book signing and worship event Friday. By Nancy McLaughlinStaff Writer When people cynically point out that Joel Osteen is no Billy Graham, television's most popular preacher today says yeah, they're right — with no disrespect intended toward the outgoing evangelist."I feel this is what I'm called to do — I know it's not the only way," Osteen said of the comparison and the criticism of his ministry, which some people refer to as "Christianity lite." Osteen, who spoke by telephone from his Houston home, will hold a worship event and book signing...

The American Family Outing, a gay-friendly outreach to mega-churches, responds to Family Research Council fund-raising letter.Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 10, 2008 -- On Thursday, April 3, 2008, The Gay City News reported on a Family Research Council (FRC) fundraising letter devoted to the American Family Outing, a project that aims to create dialogue between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) families and members at six American mega-churches. The letter, dated March 2008 and signed by FRC President Tony Perkins, asks for $50,000 to create "Church Crisis Response Teams" to react to same-sex couples and their children who have expressed a desire...

Become A Better Calvinist April 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment Joel Osteen has decided to help out Calvinists, especially, the ones who miss the big picture.Q: For Calvinists, what is your advice for how they can slow things down and find peaceful moments and smile?A: What Calvinists need to realize is that their predestination is the key. See, what Victoria and I have realized is that when you pronounce the word “predestination� your mouth starts to naturally form a smile. They just need to learn to hold that smile throughout the whole word, claim it and take the smile...

Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., signs autographs for supporters before speaking at the 26th Annual Jefferson-Jackson-Hamer Day Dinner at the Canton Multipurpose & Equine Center in Canton, Miss., Thursday, March 6, 2008. U.S. Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Hillary Clinton speaks during a meeting with retired military leaders and senior officials to discuss current foreign policy and national security challenges in Washington March 6, 2008.

2007 Trends Analysis: Americans Reformulating Christianity By Audrey Barrick Christian Post Reporter Tue, Dec. 04 2007 09:34 AM ET As fewer Americans identify themselves with Christianity, research indicates that those who remain Christian are redefining what "Christian" means. Study: Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus Younger generations are not bound by traditional parameters of the Christian faith and instead are embracing values that are not necessarily based on biblical foundations, according to a recent analysis by The Barna Group. Although faith is an acceptable attribute and pursuit among most young people, their notions of faith do not align with conventional...

How to determine when Joel Osteen is speaking heresy:

National Talk Show Host Reuben Armstrong will be filing a Racial Discrimination and Breach of Contract Suit against the largest Christian website

National Talk Show host Reuben Armstrong has put TD Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, and Joel Osteen, the top four Mega-pastors, "Under Fire." Dallas, TX (PRWEB) August 7, 2007 -- The Reuben Armstrong Show airs on Streaming Faith which is the largest Christian based website in the world and broadcasts in eight states and on TV around the World. Armstrong will release a new book titled "Snakes in the Pulpit." The book is scheduled for release on August 29th, 2007. Armstrong will be sending a certified letter to these four pastors asking them to resign from their positions as Pastors...

Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One Out of a cancelled storm watch in Houston and into sunny California, Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church - one of the largest churches in the nation - is getting a refresher before heading into another weekend of services with some 40,000 attendants. Thu, Feb. 15, 2007 Posted: 14:31:19 PM EST Out of a cancelled storm watch in Houston and into sunny California, Pastor Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church – one of the largest churches in the nation – is getting a rare refresher before heading into...

You are a young documentary filmmaker with a reputation for capturing politicians’ antics. In a deliberate departure from politics, your latest film is a road trip into the world of evangelical Christians that includes a drive-through church, a Christian wrestling federation, a stand-up Christian comic, an evangelical Elvis and a biblical miniature golf course complete with the empty tomb of Jesus. It just so happens, though, that your designated tour guide in that world is the Rev. Ted Haggard, then president of the National Association of Evangelicals who, after your film is finished, is accused of buying illegal drugs from...

He is rich, famous, handsome, and adored by millions of fans on television each week, but he's not an actor. He's an evangelical pastor from Houston named Joel Osteen. They call him "the smiling preacher," and Osteen has a lot to smile about. He's the head of the largest church in America, the author of a best-selling book, and the religious leader for a following of faithful, often frenzied fans. He's achieved all that with an approach critics call "Christianity lite" — no sin, no suffering, no sacrifice, replacing fire and brimstone with a motivational message. Barbara Walters asked Osteen...

just a TV heads-up

My brother sent me this link from Thinklings.org: Joel Osteen examines the role of suffering in the Christian life.It reminds me of the Dr. Zilch series from Living Waters.

Lakewood Church in Houston is the fastest-growing U.S. church, according to Outreach Magazine's 2006 church growth study. In 2005, Lakewood, led by Joel Osteen, gained a total of 12,000 members. The annual report listed the top 100 fastest growing churches in America, including 52 new churches and 48 returning from last year's list. Texas was the most represented state with 19 churches featured in the top 100. Lakewood jumped from the third to the top spot this year and was followed by Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas which gained 5,018 people in the past year. New Birth Missionary Baptist...

This is satire. If you have a problem with satire, STOP READING NOW. If you have a problem with literacy, i.e. you can't read, I'd tell you to STOP READING NOW but I doubt you'd understand me. ============================ Larry King Live with J-O (Part of a lost transcript of Larry King Interviewing Joel Osteen) ... LK: Can animals go to heaven? JO: Animals can have a good life now. They shouldn't say, "This is just a dog's life." They can be blessed today! LK: Can you explain the Mormon concept of Holy underwear? JO: There's better underwear for you today!...