In Steps Of Faith

Joel Osteen-Part One  “In Steps Of Faith.”

By Dean Kellio   May 14^th,2011

There are two kinds of people living in the world today, those who love Neil Diamond and those who don’t. It is similar to a black and white sketch with no shades of gray, tea lacking tepidness or having any middle ground to stand on. The same phenomenon holds true when it comes to America’s most popular Christian author and Pastor, Joel Osteen.

Yesterday, I had the rare pleasure of interviewing Pastor Joel Osteen. Our interview took place immediately following a book signing he was attending at the San Diego Naval Exchange.  There were all kinds of people attending. They had arrived early to secure a place in line as they waited their turn to meet Pastor Joel and his wife Victoria.

As the book signing came to a close, I was escorted to a security office where I was to wait for pastor Joel and his wife to finish signing books. As Pastor Joel entered the small room, he smiled, shook my hand and welcomed me and my father Wayne. I felt genuine warmth and sincerity flowing from his very firm hand shake and his friendly demeanor. As I began to ask Joel my first question, I noticed how his attention was totally focused; he was connecting with me even after completing an hour long session of signing hundreds of books for his fans.  So I asked, “Joel, when and how did you realize that God had a plan for your life? When was that moment?”

Pastor Joel responded in his usual Texan accent, “You know, as a little boy I grew up in a preacher’s home and I believe my father instilled in it as long as I remember that we are people of destiny; that God has something for each of us to do. I can remember as long as I’ve been alive.”

Joel Osteen’s life is living proof that God indeed has a perfect plan, a specific destiny for all of us to step into. Joel has planted his feet firmly and exactly where God wanted him to stand, pastoring the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He is a refreshing voice to America as well as the world at large, vocalizing that God truly loves each and every one of us. Together with his wife Victoria by his side, Joel is fulfilling his unique destiny by utilizing his God-given charisma and spiritual gifts. Even during my short visit with Joel, it was very apparent how naturally he uses his spiritual gift of encouragement.

I then asked “Joel, what is one thing that has stuck with you, some advice you remember your father imparting to you, something that you cling to?”  

Joel responded “You know, the one thing that my dad imparted in us was always be a person of integrity. Always take the high road. Be a person of your word. That is what he lived out by example, plus he imparted by his works”

Before the death of his father, Pastor John Osteen in 1999, Joel ran the production department for seventeen years at the Lakewood Church. After his father’s passing, while Joel was still undecided about being a preacher, he decided to trust God and took the reins of his father’s Lakewood Church. Joel first believed and then trusted that God would consecrate and empower him to succeed as a pastor. He took a step in faith and the rest is history.

Because the Lakewood team was preparing for that evenings presentation of a “Night of Hope” at the San Diego Sports Arena, Joel only had a limited amount of time to answer a few questions. I’m praying for “Big Things” and that in the future God  will grant me yet another, longer opportunity to interview Joel, so that we all can see a little deeper into this interesting, faith filled man, his mission and beliefs.

Here is the last question I was able to squeeze in: “Joel, Jesus commanded us to forgive and to love each other, so why is that such a hard thing to do?” 

Joel explains “You know sometimes I just think that when people hurt you, our nature is to hold on to it or to see the differences in people, to not love them but I think you have to train yourself, I’m going to let stuff go and see the best in people. Life is so much better when we live by those principals.”

Joel shook our hands once again, said his goodbyes, and disappeared into a waiting car leaving us with his special grin that even the Cheshire cat would be jealous of. You know, maybe I should give Neil Diamond another chance?