so i get home from school and see this book on my table wtf kind of message is that to me from my mom
lmao! I was talking to my mom about getting that book and she said to buy an extra one so that i can ship it to my brother. my bro needs help getting his priorities straight. but then again different moms have different messages to send.
My Mom used to take us every once in a while before it was at the Summit; quite a few times back when it was John and Dodie. In the later years I was genuinely impressed with the music, which seemed to contribute to a much more "electric" atmosphere. I was baptized and confirmed Episcopalian, so I'll probably never warm to anything overly charismatic or evangelical; but I guess as long as he keeps things apolitical I'll be happy for his success as a fellow Houstonian.
Joel Osteen might be the nicest guy in the world. He seems especially sensitive and caring. I bet he would be a neat friend, a fun dinner guest, a great sports buddy. He is an excellent motivational speaker and encourager. My problem is he has become the Face of the Faith. I have listened to probably over fifty of his messages. They are a mix of Eastern Religion, Humanistic Psychology, and Pop Christianity. His teachings are completely unlike the teachings of Jesus or His Apostles. I challenge you to read the Gospel accounts and tell me otherwise. It is a "judicial" gospel you will find there, not a "therapeutic" gospel. I am sure he means well, he appears sincere. He and Lakewood are the logical outcome of the Purpose Driven/ Seeker Sensitive Paradigm for growing churches. Essentially, the formula is tell people what they want to here, entertain them like they want to be entertained, provide them the services and amenities that they want, and they will come. It is working all over the world. Only one problem, it is not the Faith once and forever delivered to the saints. Call it something else, and I have no problem.
That is a balding, frowning, preacher on Sunday morning that looks remarkably like me. Notice the high end, fancy podium.
Jesus is alive today - He's just not walking around here on earth. But to your point - I think most would see Him as a cult leader. And the moment He tells them to leave their Mercedes and Belaire homes to follow Him and most likely be persecuted, is when they make the desicion - Lord, liar or lunatic. Even I would have a hard time unless I truely knew it was Him. Miracles would help but remember the desciples left everything without witnessing a miracle - and they didn't have the Holy Spirit living inside them. Personally I don't think He'd bring up Iraq because that is more of a government to government thing (I'm a supporter of the troops but have never supported the invasion).
