Sorry the darn fool is in Texas. At least he’s in Houston. David Block [email protected]
> On Jul 1, 2015, at 1:41 PM, BILROJ via Centroids: The Center of the Radical > Centrist Community <[email protected]> wrote: > > Hey, not bad as an excuse. > > See, it isn't all that difficult; you, too, can make excuses like a famous > preacher! > And its fun, too!!! > > Give it a try. > > Your name can be included on a list of excuse makers, right up there > with the names of famous 'Christians.' > > Its your Big Chance! Don't get left out. > > > BR > > ---------------------------------------------------- > > > Joel Osteen on Why He Avoids Political, Social Issues: 'It's Not What I'm > Called to Do;' Says Message Is 'Lifting People Up' > > > By Leonardo Blair <http://www.christianpost.com/author/leonardo-blair/> , > Christian Post Reporter > July 1, 2015|1:48 pm > > Joel Osteen, the popular 52-year-old leader of America's largest protestant > church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, bluntly revealed that the reason > why he avoids speaking out on hot button social and political issues, such as > same-sex marriage, is because he believes that's not what he's called to do > as a pastor. > > In a recent interview on WBUR's "Here & Now" radio program > <http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2015/06/22/pastor-joel-osteen-houston> Osteen, > who was asked if he felt these hot button social and political issues are > important, said: "I think they are important but I think everybody has their > own calling." > > > He further explained that "It's not what I'm called to do." > > "I have friends who are very political. They're pastors and that's what their > thing is. But I think sometimes, that the church world, we can take one issue > and make it really, really big and it can turn people off where there are > many bigger issues. That's why I don't like to be defined by one thing," said > Osteen last Monday. > > "You know, our message is about lifting people up, helping them fulfill their > destiny, helping them to forgive in a tough time, how to make it through this > life when life tries to push you down," he added. > > Osteen emphasized that the biggest issues facing people he ministers to are > concentrated in the marital, relationship and health arenas. One of the > reasons that his church continues to grow while others lose members, he said, > is because he focuses on the everyday issues affecting people rather than > focusing on the controversial ones. > > In a 2013 interview > <http://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-talks-preaching-sin-materialism-and-coming-out-in-support-of-gay-marriage-111212/> > Osteen gave a similar response to Katie Couric on why he focuses on > "everyday life issues" instead of controversial ones. > > "I want them to know that God's good, that they can move forward, that they > can break an addiction, that they can become who God's created them to be," > he said. > > > When asked about the "prosperity gospel" > <http://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-joel-osteen-on-life-tragedy-and-why-he-shuns-prosperity-gospel-label-94355/>that > he preaches, Osteen said he didn't like the term."What it connotates is that > you just talk about money," he said. "I don't do that, I don't do that on > purpose because so many people are skeptical of TV preachers to begin with." > > He added: "Prosperity is having good relationships, having peace in your > mind, being able to sleep at night. But I do believe God wants you to be > blessed. He wants you to excel in your career. He wants you to go further > than your parents. There's a tradition that says you're supposed to take a > vow of poverty if you're going to be a Christian, but I don't believe that." > > > Read more at > http://www.christianpost.com/news/joel-osteen-on-why-he-avoids-political-social-issues-its-not-what-im-called-to-do-says-message-is-lifting-people-up-141058/#TUyLtLQJhuI747Dm.99 > > -- > -- > Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community > <[email protected]> > Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism > <http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism> > Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org > <http://radicalcentrism.org/> > > --- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]>. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout > <https://groups.google.com/d/optout>. -- -- Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community <[email protected]> Google Group: http://groups.google.com/group/RadicalCentrism Radical Centrism website and blog: http://RadicalCentrism.org --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community" group. 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