My daughter-in-law pointed me to this excellent blog post by Jordan McCall, a young mother with cancer, who is trying to come to terms with her Bible class’s study of a Joel Osteen book.
This is one of the most honest, gospeled blog pieces I’ve read in a long time. (I’ll put the link in the comments.) I appreciate the McCalls letting me reprint her words here:
In our Sunday School Class, we have started a series of lessons on Joel Osteen’s “Your Best Life Now.” I have not read it, so as you read this post, please realize that it comes from someone who is mostly ignorant on what the book actually says. I only know of its ideas from other people who have read this book and the series that I mentioned. So, if you think the book is great and whole-heartedly believe it, then you should probably stop reading now. I am in a “hurting place” today and I think most of it is written to make Americans feel okay about themselves and their greed. I have to make this point first, I respect and admire the teachers that are presenting this study in our class. It is because of them that I haven’t just thrown up my hands and decided to skip Sunday School for six weeks. I am trying to have an open mind and looking for what God may be telling me through them. In the three weeks since they have started talking about this (I admit, we did miss one week because we were at Family Camp), I spend most of the class trying not to cry and leave feeling incredibly burdened. It’s hard to hear people talk about praying for a good parking space, and getting one, when most of your prayers are desperate pleas for God to take away your cancer, to give you a few more years to see your children grow up a little more, to ease the pain of your husband and children and parents if you do die. People who have cancer die of cancer. It may not be tomorrow or next year, but people with cancer do not live to see a ripe old age.I want to believe that God wants to pour out His favor on me, but it is so hard to find the favor when everyday is a struggle to be joyful and hopeful. Sometimes I feel like I am clinging to the edge of hope by my fingers and when I just can’t hang on anymore, I’ll fall into utter despair. I hold on with everything I have for Brad and Eli and Phoebe. Daily I pray for God to give me His hope, but so often I feel like I have to make myself feel it. Then we go to Sunday School where we hear to “be positive”, to “make today the day for your ’someday’ statements”, “you have to be specific about all your goals so you can make them”, and my favorite, “Look for God’s favor upon you this week.” I got a pretty bad sunburn on Monday at the pool because the Gleevec makes my skin very photosensitive. Monday night, the Gleevec made my back, hips, and legs ache so badly that I had to take prescription pain killer to get to sleep. Yesterday we learned that Phoebe has a hole in her heart that will require surgery when she’s two. I cannot claim to know the heart or plans of God, but it was pretty hard to hear. I am just not seeing the “favor.” Now most of this sounds very ungrateful. God has blessed us through all this mess. We have been showered with love and prayers. I have an uncle who writes me almost every week, just to say that he and my aunt are praying for me everyday. My side effects to Gleevec are pretty mild…I can mostly function (I say mostly because I have been expereincing some pretty heavy fatigue this last week). Our medical bills are not overwhelming us because Brad has a great new job. There are a hundred blessings, but it’s hard to see them through the hurt. I don’t feel like we are alone. I don’t know anyone who isn’t hurting in one way or another. I wonder if all of this “Best Life Now” stuff sounds shrill and hollow to them as well? More than likely, my attitude about the whole thing reveals more about me than about Joel Osteen and his book. But, this is my blog and I can write what I want. 
The post can be found here. And no, Jordan, what you wrote doesn’t reveal more about you than about the book. What it reveals about you is your courage, your faith, your love for your family, and your honesty. What it reveals about the book . . . . Oh, don’t get me started.
In thinking of Joel Osteen’s book and the outlook he promotes, a quote from Tom and Caspar Go to Church came to my mind: “Is this what Jesus told you guys to do?â€
Well, actually it’s JIM not TOM who goes to church with Caspar. Sorry Jim.
If Osteen was old, homely looking, poor, a laboring speaker, or chose to talk about sin on occasion, I wonder if his basketball-arena church would be full this coming Sunday?
What a great post. After reading it, my day seems pretty easy.
Yea, thanks for that dose of perspective!.
Joel Osteen blinks a lot. I think he’s an android.
Whatever we think of Joel Osteen (or Guy Smiley, as my wife likes to call him), it’s hard to read this post and not see that his book is written for middle-class to upper-class Americans. I would be interested to see what “Your Best Life Now: African Edition” would look like.
This is refreshing. Thanks for sharing it. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. Since then, I’ve felt at times like I’ve been pulling her one way while God is pulling her the other. I do know that even in the brokenness of this world, God is working to redeem, shape and prepare us for the world to come. In my heart I often say to myself, “I hate this damned disease.” I wonder if this is what Jesus was saying to himself while he wept at Lazarus’ tomb.
The prophetic words of Amos seem very appropriate here:
Amos 6:1 Woe to you who are complacent in Zion,
and to you who feel secure on Mount Samaria,
you notable men of the foremost nation,
to whom the people of Israel come!
Amos 6:2 Go to Calneh and look at it;
go from there to great Hamath,
and then go down to Gath in Philistia.
Are they better off than your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?
Amos 6:3 You put off the evil day
and bring near a reign of terror.
Amos 6:4 You lie on beds inlaid with ivory
and lounge on your couches.
You dine on choice lambs
and fattened calves.
Amos 6:5 You strum away on your harps like David
and improvise on musical instruments.
Amos 6:6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and use the finest lotions,
but you do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.
Amos 6:7 Therefore you will be among the first to go into exile;
your feasting and lounging will end.
Amos 6:8 The Sovereign LORD has sworn by himself—the LORD God Almighty declares: “I abhor the pride of Jacob
and detest his fortresses;
I will deliver up the city
Peace.
and everything in it.â€
I will deliver up the city
and everything in it.
Peace.
Wow. That is powerful. Thanks for sharing it, Mike.
I woke up feeling incredibly blessed. Turns out I didn’t thank God for a tenth of what He’s done. Thanks for sharing one of the most honest things I’ve read in a while.
Osteen. Feh.
Thanks Mike for a post that hits home. Suffering is exactly that, suffering. It hurts and it leaves you empty. I must admit my emotions get hot when I hear a gospel promising whatever we need. My family has been devastated by cancer. I can say God’s provision is encouraging and His comfort does arrive. How do we approach those who hurt? Love them. No easy answers just presence. Thanks again Mike. One other thing… In a discussion about compassion and suffering do we have to remark that Osteen blinks too much and looks like an Android? Do we have to comment on the size of his church and the only reason it is large is because of his appearance? Osteen’s stuff makes me nuts, a member of our congregation made me listen to his book on Tape. I didn’t like it for all the reasons stated. I have noticed though that when Osteen’s name appears on Blog’s like this it is a free for all. It seems we want compassion and grace but when we think about Osteen or Warren(insert other names here) we go personal. Just thinking.
The health and wealth / prosperity teaching of Osteen and others is very deceitful and they twist the scriptures. Like someone else has suggested , would he be willing to teach his false doctrine to the people in the streets of Bangalore or even in Houston. And yes if he really preached a text his crowd would dwindle. It is an a example of itching ears.
To Jim,
I understand and appreciate your concern, but my question is an honest one. Osteen can certainly attract a crowd. The question is, are people coming to Christ and disciples being developed. I don’t personally know Osteen or a single person attending his church, so I can’t say for sure.
I think Osteen is great. God has blessed him with a great ministry. When I was in ICU for over two and half weeks Joel Osteen was the only minister that I was able to watch as I suffered from GBS. As I a minister, lay depressed in incredible pain from the IVIG I was recieving, he was give the encouragement I needed. He told me not to give up, that God had a plan for my life. He told me to surrender everything over to the will of God and since then my relationship with God has been changed. I feel closer to God. I still have extreme pain and continue to suffer from GBS but God is answering prayers as I continue to heal. I am back in the pulpit preaching God’s grace, hope, forgive, power in our lives. I think God for all that he has done in my life. I know for those two and half weeks it as Joel who strengthen me with his messages.
It’s a powerful statement loaded with truth and straight talk about suffering. Something that is sorely needed.
Joel Osteen, like Oprah, knows that if you appeal to peoples’ love for themselves, that you can convince them of anything. It’s easy to convince someone that they deserve to be happy, healthy, wealthy, and wise. It’s a little harder to convince people that they deserve nothing, and must depend on the Grace of God.
Jordan had a very powerful message. I have started to pray for her and her family already.
Now, for Joel Osteen, I am so grateful for him and his ministry. My beloved son was so depressed after the divorce and the untrue accusations by people he had loved, he didn’t want to live any longer. He turned on the TV and listened to Joel and it gave him hope. He called me after listening to him and said “Please pray for me mama.” And proceeded to tell me of his pain. I can never say anything bad about Joel Osteen.
Thanks for the view to the reality that many live in. As a chaplain in a law enforcement I hear the question about God’s involvement and purpose for the situation at hand frequently. Most of the time I feel inadequate to represent God. I press on humbled each day for God letting me work for him.
A conversation about Joel Osteen is the most uninteresting theological conversation I can think of. Who cares? Give him a thumbs up or a thumbs down as you will. But to watch the process unfold on the blog is simply mind-numbing.
Thanks for posting this. This is very difficult stuff, and I’m praying that God heals Jordan completely.
I’ve lost two brothers, Marvin and Lowell, before their time (ages 43 and 50, I’m 45), due to this stinkin’ disease. Marvin passed away after rejecting God and organized religion most of his life. Lowell was a devoted believer all of his life. Many, many passionate, believing prayers were offered for both, but God took them anyway. God’s will for their lives wasn’t our will, and I’m still angry and sad that He took them when He did.
That said, I can look back and see God working through both of their deaths. Marvin had an opportunity to face death square in the face, and was able to accept the forgiveness that he had already been given, but just hadn’t yet. I’m not sure he could/would have done that if he been hit by a bus or lived to a ripe old age.
Lowell, on the other hand, was a witness and an encouragement to SO many people all over the world for most of his life. He truly reflected God’s love in the way he loved other people. I’m convinced he prepared me for my own death more than anyone ever will, and he was an encouragement for others in the same way, even more so on his death bed. Minutes before he died, he was lifting his arms in praise. Seconds before he passed he asked me how I slept the previous night. Little things, but astonishing selflessness given his circumstances.
He was very frank about his options during his treatment. He would say “One of the things will happen: 1) God can heal me 2) The docs can heal me 3) I can go to heaven. Those aren’t bad options to have.” I miss him terribly.
Unfortunately, my vision and my wants are very shortsighted most of the time. There is so much pain/death in this world which is simply unavoidable, and I have to remind myself on days like today, that we really are only here for a short period of time, and I need to make much better use of the time God is giving me right now. I haven’t lost hope in prayer by any means, but I’m gonna die just like my bros did.
I cry when I read Jordan’s candid post, and the hurt she has because of her family that she may or may not be leaving. But God does answer prayer and He _is_ in control. Sometimes I wish I was.
What a courageous young woman! I am by no means trying to judge Joel Osteen, but I tend to agree with Jordan. It is through the hurt, pain, and struggles of life that God shows us how much we need his power, presence, and guidance. Thank you for this raw, authentic post.
Amen, Amen, and Amen! Thank you, Jordan. Thank you, Mike. And now for several brief and seemingly disconnected observations: My wife was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer six months ago. Yes, I know Luciano Pavarotti just died of that. Thanks. “Blessed be your Name, when I’m found in the desert place, ‘though I walk through the wilderness, Blessed Be Your Name.” And I don’t know Joel Maners who commented earlier, but you really gave me something to think about. I appreciate you sharing that. Blessings.
My family has made me listen to Osteen books on tape during a very hard time in my life. I wanted to hurl repeatedly.
I have nothing against Joel Osteen and I love that he is so positive but truly, his words ring so hollow in times of suffering… and I have to remind myself that they are just that, Joel Osteen’s words. The promisses that my God is close to the broken hearted and while on earth he suffered and cried and was angry.. that is what rings true to me. Gob bless you Jordan. You will have a few more hits on your blog from now on and a ton more prayers going up to the Father in your name.
I really do not want to pile on Joel Osteen because I truly believe God is using him…but I remember flipping through the channels one night and he was talking about cancer and he seemed to imply that those that get Cancer have not prayed hard enough…for me, who has a Dad that has been suffering from infections and multiple hospital visits the last two years as a result of having colon cancer and has prayed intensely every night for the past two years that my Dad would get better…that is a tough pill to swallow.
Appreciate Jordan’s comments so much. She is the real thing. Thanks for posting her words, Mike.
I think Joel Osteen’s book is a bag of ass. But he who is with pure motive let him cast the 1st book.
Turn the damn channel, or lay down the book and burn it. Those are choices you know.
What a powerful message from Jordan. I just can’t comment on much else about Mr. O’Steen because I don’t want to sound trivial in light of Jordan’s struggle. I will say that I don’t think there’s a big jump from some, not all, of what Joel writes and The Secret, and I think The Secret is nothing more than a huge money-maker for the author(s). There are no Secrets to living a contented life. It saddens me that some Sunday School somewhere is using the Secret as their study guide rather than the Bible, trying to bend scripture to meet personal, temporary fulfillment.
I really don’t think we should judge the hearts of men. We need to remember Mike Cope is coming out with a book very soon. I am looking forward to purchasing it and reading it and perhaps using it as a study guide.
“In Search of Wonder” by Mike Cope and (bunch of his friends)
So, we have got alot of talent. We need not assume that writers and ministers are greedy and longing for money. There messages whether it be Mike Cope, Bobby Valentine, John Mark Hicks, Rick Atchley, Lynn Anderson, Joel Osteen, Max Lucado, each have a ministry that changes lives and makes a difference in the kingdom of God.
“What Would Jesus Do Today?” by Mike Cope & Rubel Shelly
“Righteousness Inside Out” by Mike Cope
“One Holy Hunger: When God Is All You Want” by Mike Cope is my favorite book I have ever read next to “Kingdom Come” by Bobby Valentine & John Mark Hicks
Amen on wanting to see the “African Edition”.
DU
When will we learn to create spaces in our worship for the suffering to express open and honest grief and lament, while being among a community that will grieve and lament with them?
When my wife and I lost our son Kenny, we were blessed to belong to a Christian community named Covenant Fellowship in Searcy, AR. They allowed us to openly and honestly express our faith. This was a very big blessing. From talking with others who have suffered, I have learned that being the recipiants of such a blessing means that my wife and I are part of a very small crowd.
There is little place, if any, for lament on the part of the suffering in the contemporary Christian community. Sadly, not much thought is given to the place of lament in Christian worship either. Just try and find a lament song in the church hymnal or among the list of songs being projected on the video screen. For those who have not experienced catastrophic suffering, listening to the stories of those who have will allow you to become part of their story. But sometimes I get the feeling that those whose lives have not been disrupted by affliction do not want to take the time to allow the stories of other sufferers to become part of their affliction. In the end, we have imposed an unwritten rule in Christian worship that says “Sufferers must contain their honest grief and pain, they will be given an opportunity to fill out a ‘prayer request card’ during the song of invitation, until then they must pretend to be full of praise while the rest of us give praise and thanks to God.”
Jordan is a member at our church, a well loved pre-K teacher, a huddle leader, bible class leader - all round incredible person. She is the real thing.
Watching her faith and doubt in the midst of a life of struggle is teaching all of us.
Mike you once asked me if I felt alone while going through my experience. At the time I had never felt closer to God. But as time continues to drag by there are time I feel very alone.
I believe it is because God has not given me what I so desperately desire. I wonder how many follow the crucified one in order to get what they want, whether it be life or death or even a parking spot. If truth be known we all believe blessings are things we want. Very seldom do we look at a suffering person and praise God.
So what is the difference between wanting, I mean praying, for healing or a parking spot. The only thing that matters is God glorified. Whether I live or die or find a parking spot, I do it to the glory of God.
I pray that Jordan will glorify God in all her suffering (I know that is not easy) and when Brad and Eli and Phoebe look at the love of their life, they will see Jesus in all of his splendor.
these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love, the greatest of these is love.
I spent much of the day behind the wheel so I thought way too much for such meager results. Still, I blogged my thoughts (kind of). Then I read this and decided Jordan and I were sharing a brain today but she used hers much more effectively. I’m not going to pile on Osteen because I almost find that situation to be rather sad. Still, my heart goes out to Jordan even more. Good post, Mike.
On my blog I have a post on good pain. I would love for anyone to check it out if you are dealing with any pain in your life. I hope you get a fresh perspective on what pain is and does for us as Christians. God bless and thank you Mike for this wonderful post brother.
At the risk of offending both those who like Osteen and those who like a certain Broadway musical:
“This man is nothing.
“This course is nothing.
“If you want something, go find a better class.”
Jordan’s writings reminded me of a dear friend that suffers extreme bipolar disorder, falling most often on the depressive side. Her writings are raw, transparent, in a ‘just stating the facts’ mode.
Tragedy eventually hits us all; as we go farther down the road to the grave it joins us more often. It wounds us, but as we grow closer and closer to God, we find it easier to rely on Him for strength, though ours may be waning. I’m so thankful for Jordan and my friend - that they allow us an opportunity to share with them, to grieve with them; that through them we learn we aren’t alone in this too often painful life.
As far as Osteen is concerned and his blinking, if I remember correctly, he has had several surgeries in an attempt to correct a severe vision abnormality.
Here is an excellent audio compilation that pits the prosperity “gospel” vrs Christs call to forsake our lives, our greed (and other sin) to love, serve and preach the whole council of God to the least of these my brethren.
http://www.freecdtracts.com/comps/carter_conlin_vs_joyce_meyer.mp3
but also hear this short compilation my emergent friends who would also pick and choose from the other group of Christs commands.
http://jim.bethany.googlepages.com/CounterfitChristianity.wma
Either way, may this women be lifted up in prayer to the God of heaven.
In Him - Jim
Is Joel Osteen a false teacher? Don’t know. Is most of what he teaches false? Yep.
When a teacher starts from such faulty premises, it’s impossible to get things right.
That certain of his statements ring true does not vindicate his message. A dead clock tells the right time twice a day.
Whatever one might think about Osteen personally, his preaching is a matter of public record, and as such, it deserves to be evaluated against the gospel that Christ preached and that the church has amplified through the centuries. Of course, as some have observed, it is not necessary or beneficial to smear Osteen personally for this or that.
If the Gospel According to Joel does not compare favorably to Christ’s gospel - and Jordan’s post helps us to understand how deficient it is in some crucial respects - we need to know that, and we need to deal straightforwardly with it. The Joel Gospel does not accommodate well, and it hence does not equip us to confront, the most prominent, pervasive, central, inexorable quality of the human experience: relentless suffering. Anything Osteen has done to minister to our individual circumstances is in spite of a deficient gospel, not because of it. (That’s true of our “accomplishments,” too, now that qb thinks of it.)
qb
This is powerful stuff that reveals the emptiness of focusing too much on the trivialities of the here and now. God’s true gospel meets the much greater needs of forgivenesss, redemption and eternal life. It is the only thing that can give us hope when wrestling with the real enemy. Though not so popular with the masses, it is what we must preach!
I hate cancer, it is a horrible disease. Jordan, you’ve been in my thoughts and prayers since reading these words yesterday.
I wonder if Joel Osteen would go with me and preach his feel good message to places where I’ve been and go: Beslan, Russia, where hundreds of school children were slaughtered; central India, where poverty is the worst I’ve ever seen; or even the streets of Havana, Cuba, where children don’t drink milk after the age of 7 and where simple vitamins cannot be found. If you go with me, Joel, leave your pomade and cuff links at home.
I have not read Osteen’s book and am not familiar with his thoughts about suffering and belief. I have read another book that addresses aspects of the subject with the words, “I believe; help my unbelief”
Tremendous post, and entries… I think the comment made in the beginning from “Jim and Casper go to Church” (a must read for any congregation) really should ask us all what we are trying to say and asking the people to do when they leave. If we are not walking alongside individuals throughout the week, then our Sunday morning show/words/rituals/songs/etc. fall just as short as the smiles and blinks from any televised or paperback version of Christianity…
My heart goes out to Jordan and her family. It is at times like these that I am thankful that my son has “only” autism.
I don’t think we ARE comfortable with honesty in the fellowship. What would happen, when we took prayer requests, if instead of saying, “So and so is sick, please pray for them,” which is what we usually do, we would say, “Look, I’m having a very hard time dealing with such and such situation. I’m angry, bitter, and I don’t know if I even believe in God anymore.”
I blog a great deal about our son Matthew, who has autism. I blog a great deal about our circumstances. And there are days I don’t see a lot of blessings in what we have to deal with. Someone told me–after I had made a plea for someone to please help us with child care so that my husband and I could get counseling–to, “have a little faith, sister.” I nearly hit that person. I needed practical help and an admonition to “have a little faith” did NOT sit well with me at the moment.
We take food to people who are ill and maybe help them run errands every so often. Where is the ongoing, long-term help for people like Jordan and myself who often need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen while they rage against what they perceive to be “unfairness”? Do our Christian cliches, such as, “have faith,” “give it to God”, “let God handle it”, “let God do it”, etc. REALLY get to the heart of what people like us need?
Christianity is not supposed to be an ethereal, delicate, unreal version of the world. It is supposed to be raw, full of passion and LIFE. Jesus was born in a stable that STANK. He worked as a carpenter and got sawdust in his sandals. He spent three years with twelve people who just did not get it except for maybe a few flashes of brilliance.
The early church didn’t just run around and admonish people to have faith. They got their hands dirty by feeding people (see Acts 6). Where are the dirty hands today?
For the record,
I am quite critical of Joel Osteen’s teachings. As someone else stated so punctually, his teaching starts from a faulty premise. Having said that, I don’t know him personally and refuse to judge his character by what the media projects. Until I know differently, I assume his intentions are from a good motive and I have a suspicion that if he met someone suffering, he would be willing to help bear their burden through fellowship and prayer.
Mr. Osteen needs to meet one of my favorite authors Shane Claiborne, Go tell the homeless and hungry to think positive….doesn’t that remind you of the verse” Be ye warmed and filled.
Peace.
Victor,
Whether God has opened doors of opportunity for Joel in places such as you have been is largely irrelevant. God calls us to be faithful in going through the doors of opportunity and service he opens. I suspect Joel has been in places where you have not been called. As to your last sentence, it would have been better left unwritten.
We need to be cautious whether we are criquing his work or jeouleous over his successs. Even if we disagree with his methods have to understand that he is doing some good work in God’s name.
This is sounding more and more like a coC blog
mike i am awed at what this sweet heart wrote..mourn with those who mourn…its so important..i can’t help but think that she could write a book that could help this guy get through the suffering he feels at times when his head hits the pillow…
All the comments about Joel Osteen as to what he teaches needs to be said. When someone is twisting scripture and teaching false doctrine then the deceptive doctrine needs to be exposed. Doing so is not unloving and legalistic. It actually is expressing love in that a person is not deceived and spiritually damaged in the long run.
I love that blog!
“Jealous over his success?” Preacherman, qb loves ya, but that dog don’t hunt.
*chuckle*
The expo Texas Monthly did on Osteen a year or two ago made it clear that whatever he’s got, qb don’t want it. Looks like one of those levels Dante had in mind, only pre-mortem.
lol,
qb
Focusing on the teaching rather than minimizing the person, of course, is always fair game.
But we also have in Jesus an example of calling into question everything that a person might be thought to teach given his demonstrated predispositions. For example, “beware the leaven of the Pharisees,” Matthew 23 and other pertinent examples. If the tree is not good, then the fruit is, in general, poor.
It’s fair to say that ripping Osteen to shreds with ad hominems is out of bounds, but that does not mean that focusing on the person is wholly off limits. Where he begins just seems fundamentally deficient, as Jordan’s posts suggest.
qb
I live in Houston and have quite a few friends who attend Lakewood. My mom even attended for a while up until her death from liver cancer. I won’t even go into how “positive thinking” and believing in “God’s favor” really did not make a difference to either of us when she was suffering. She told me that he told his congregation that he considers his spiritual gift to be an “encourager,” not a “theologian” and this has stuck in my mind. I think about it often. What does that mean?
I’ve read Osteen’s books, watched him on TV and listened to his sermons on CD and while I have tried very hard to be thankful that so many people attend church there and hear his sermons I can’t overcome the belief that basically he is a leader of a self-help group with 30,000+ members that happens to meet on Sunday morning. I have friends who tell me that by listening to his message they have become believers. So, what can I say? Through prayerful consideration I have relied on these two scriptures:
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:18
and
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 hear what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. 2 Tim. 4:3-5
My conclusions may be right or wrong. I don’t know. I just pray that those who hear Osteen’s message don’t stop with just his word, but continue to seek the truth in God’s word. As for Jordan, for what it is worth, you are in my heart and prayers.