I'm sorry, the hyper successful business man isn't an expert in charity/disastrous relief also? Anybody up for letting the pizza man do your open heart surgery? Can someone explain what your expectations of Joel where during this event?
Applause. I don't like Osteen. I don't like "religious leaders" living like billionaires. But I also don't like the obsessive focus on negativity.
If it wasn't a non-profit tax exempt organization, I wouldn't be as critical. Ethically speaking, they guy brings in 10's of million a year. Considering faith should include charity, I would actually expect him to be well versed in this area. More importantly, Osteen mocks and desecrates hollowed ground. Two championships were won in this building. It was bad enough to let Pippen in, but to sell it to Osteen?
Harden was visible from the start asking for love and prayers but I guess that doesn't count because $$ weren't mentioned at the end of the day after all announcements\publicity have been done Les donated 0.05% of his net worth JJ Watt 0.01% of his net worth and sneakily generous Harden 2% of his net worth
There's the problem - he promotes himself to be a religious leader promoting the word of God, not a hyper successful businessman. I think a reasonable expectation would be similar to what countless other churches, synagogues, and mosques did. Do you think that's unreasonable?
How do you know their actual net worth? How do you know what other causes they have donated to? I've seen an article that says based on money he has already earned he already has $160,000,000+. This does not include investment income or losses for that matter. The only one that can comment on Harden's net worth is his accountant, and maybe Harden himself.
1. How do you know the networths of any of these people? 2. I don't think anyone is measuring anyone by what % of their networth they donate to anything. Do you look at Harden and JJ Watt and think Harden's value to the relief effort has been 200 times JJ Watt's? It's not all about money - in fact, given that we're taking about tens of millions while the federal government will likely contribute $10 billion, money is only a tiny piece of the puzzle. I'm not at all criticizing Harden here either - he has a choice of if/what he wants to donate, and whether to do it privately or publicly, or whether to help out in other ways/etc. There's lots of wealthy Houstonians that we haven't heard from or whatnot but aren't being criticized. I was just pointing out that a "lack of cash flow" is not relevant to Harden and any contribution he can make - you don't need lots of money to make an impact. I think Osteen is different because he promotes himself as a religious and community leader. Harden does no such thing.
You are correct, his business is non-profit tax exempt. This is part of the reason it is very successful. I fail to see why that matters at all. You do not become rich by giving it away. Ethics in capitalism is so absurd let's just stop right now. I think you are wise beyond your years.
I know it's a good one. You and me have been on this forum forever. I understand you are a grown man. In all your years of experience, on earth, in this reality - you actually expect Lakewood to operate like a faith and religious based organization? You expect them to dig in deep and help the community? You actually expect Joel to put someone before his self and family? This is why he is rich. Make sure to buy his next book.
Of course not - I'm pointing out that's why he's getting criticism, though. It's not so much that he's a crappy person - it's that he's a hypocritical person that doesn't practice what he preaches. You and I might know what to expect, but lots of people - here and elsewhere - think or thought otherwise of him.
i don't take my morals from corrupt words written by corrupt men so "scripture" is useless. my morals come from thousands of years of evolution of humans and humanity. monogamy, family, society, social order and rule, etc... all existed before silly abrahamic religions were invented. as the late great hutch said, "human decency does not derive from religion, it precedes it." so that said, my human decency tells me that osteen and his ilk are monsters and predators. should be judged as evil men not by religion but by humanity. public shaming is a great tool especially for public/famous/infamous folks who's primary wealth/value is derived almost exclusively from the public. the people giveth and certainly have the right to taketh. frankly it's our duty as a society to protect society from evil. it's the humane thing to do.
see my previous post but it's not negative to help people avoid this evil predator monster in the future. that's POSITIVE!!!
It is time for this country to do what is right and start taxing churches as the businesses they are.... DD
First of all, def think harden went above and beyond with how much he donated, but where are you getting 2% of his net worth from? Dude has two contracts (rockets and adidas), both of which are $200MM+.
Prayer this morning as collection plates are passed around to flood victims: "oh Lord we just KNOW you're going to give these people even BIGGER houses and all the *favor* they can handle!" I wonder how the people who had loved ones die feel. I wonder how the people who DON'T reap *favor* (Lakewood's euphemism-of-choice for WEALTH) in the coming months will feel - perhaps God just doesn't like them as much as their neighbor, who now live in a nicer house, in a nicer area, while their own family loses everything. This is Lakewood's problem. An arena full of desperate people who need to hear the promise of the Great Comforter, not some tone deaf rich woman telling them that God will totes bless them financially if they just believe hard enough! "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" -Hebrews 13:5
LOL you know what net worth means? you know the one from adidas spans 13 years contract and other from the rockets spans 6 years
