Scripture clearly teaches that there will be a great falling away in the last days and there will be wolves in sheep's clothing who will try to enter into the fold and deceive even the elect." Lakewood is one of six churches targeted in this campaign.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/2008/01/soulfo...ue_wit.php

I never did trust Joel Osteen. Sure, he wins a lot of people over, but with that perfect smile and winning attitude, he could lead a bunch of people right off a cliff and they'd all follow. He's got more money than any preacher needs to have and he rarely even preaches. That's because Joel Osteen is not a preacher; he's an incredible motivational speaker with great wit, charm, and personality who just happened to chose religion as his field of work. He's one of those people that probably would have succeeded in anything he tried. Throw in a world famous preacher for a dad, plenty of wealth and a humungous church and there was pretty much no way he could fail. I honestly think he does it all for the fame and money, and yes, maybe a little bit to help people. I don't think he's evil, I just think his priorities and ambitions are in the wrong place. His intentions may even be good, but you know what they say about good intentions.

This post was last modified: Jan 22, 2008 04:02 PM by Dorian Gray.

I always wonder about if there was no money in it if we would have but just a few churches? But I saw on TV about fifteen years ago that out in Nevada the owner of a house of prostitution owed the IRS a bunch of money so they took over the place and ran it themselves.Money has a lure that few can resist.

Well, don't go to Maranatha in Baytown. Pastor Ronnie Trice has a multi-million dollar home, a handful of nice cars, he wears expensive suits, and tends to preach for 2 hours on tything alone. When my grandmother was sick with cancer, she would go to his services even if someone had to bring her in a wheelchair. She attended a very important service (at least important to her) where a noted "healer" was to attend. Instead of getting to the healing, they preached for a couple hours on... can you guess? Yep, tything. They talked about how important it is to give them money until my grandmother was so tired and weak that they had to take her back to the hospital. She never did get to go to the alter call and see the "healer". She's dead now. I bet Mr. Trice wouldn't remember her today if you asked him about her. He was too busy lecturing about giving him more money when she died, I'm sure. Take my advice, don't attend a church that's shaped liked the Astrodome and has a preacher wearing an Armani suit.

Yes.I have been there and I know what you are saying.

I personally like Joel Olsteen. I don't give him money. I don't go to his church. In fact I don't go to church at all. I just watch him every now and then on Sundays. I like the messages he preaches and I always feel good after listening to him. I don't think he needs all the money he has, but then I don't think any preacher does.