What If Osteen, Lakewood, And Their Accusers, Are All Hypocrites?

Joel Osteen came under fire for not being prompt in opening the doors of his Houston, TX, megachurch, Lakewood Church.  I'll let you do your own research on it, but he has since given response to the criticism, and you can judge for yourselves.  Lakewood Church is a huge building, which is the former home of the Houston Rockets NBA basketball team.  Now, it is a church.  Osteen came under fire for not making sure the church doors were open speedily enough (they are open now).



Something I noticed in all of this is how much the world holds those who name the Name of Christ, to much higher standards than they hold their own patriarchs, and leaders, in times of crisis--and often themselves as well.  While I want to be clear I don't consider Osteen to be a Christian preacher because he doesn't preach the Gospel, it is the world's perception that he is a Christian preacher, so we gauge their response as though he were, if that makes sense.  Therefore, one may wonder what the actual capacity of Lakewood Church is in such a crisis, and expect them to act accordingly, benevolently.  One may expect them to show Christian charity.  Whether or not they *should* is in my opinion, not clear.  The Church should of course look out to the broken and weary, but the ongoing support of the church is for the church.  So, I will leave opening the doors for refugees up to them and between them and God.  That's a longer discussion.



Nevertheless, let's say they definitely *should* open the doors in this situation.  That is the expectation.  Okay, got it.  So a person says they are a Christian, a pastor, a preacher... then open the doors promptly to those in need.  Regardless of the heart of those coming for help, their care for God, people have been displaced, and Lakewood (and others who are perceived to be Christians) are expected to open up.  Why?  Because they are Christians.

So then why is that same expectation not held to everyone else? Why is this expectation not put on say, the Houston Rockets who pays their players millions of dollars per year, and the team itself is estimated to be worth 1.65 BILLION dollars.  Yet, they didn't open their doors until just yesterday evening, on August 29th.  Where then is the public outcry why this wasn't opened sooner?  Where is the scathing, finger wagging, and shaming?

Opening Toyota Center to alleviate any crowding of evacuees at nearby Brown convention center downtown.

— Sylvester Turner (@SylvesterTurner) August 29, 2017

I see a hypocrisy, and there is plenty to go around.  Joel Osteen, for a number of reasons that I don't need this hurricane to go into.  Many of the accusers of his over this issue, holding him to a higher standard than they hold themselves and their own champions of sport.  So, where is this expectation, and scorn due to failing to meet those expectations, coming from?

Here is a surprising impartial opinion of the situation, by a heavily left-leaning group.



People are right I think to point out the hypocrisy of a church that makes millions and millions of dollars, Osteen himself who has a networth somewhere around $55 million, and lives in a $10.5 million dollar home.  These are like breadcrumbs, and it seems like a man who just doesn't want to be inconvenienced.  Okay, I get it.  What about all the people complaining, though--do you have any disposable income you can award the displaced? You live somewhere that you call home, so are you housing them?  Do you have room for just one person, and have you filled the vacancy? Is it perhaps, two people, or three you would really have room for? What is your capacity based on what you have and what you make, and are you filling it?  What about your beloved Houston Rockets, and the Toyota Center?  Why did it take until only 24 hours ago, to open the doors?

To Christians, I would ask the same thing.  If Joel Osteens church can home say, 5,000 displaced, and you are complaining about his hypocrisy--will your doors be open, if just one of them came knocking?

Should I Take Part in an "Easter Egg" Hunt?

I think the question of whether or not we should eat the candy, and whether or not we should participate in such events, are different things.  I believe we need to separate these two things, and understand them differently for what they actually are.

So far as actually buying and eating the candy is concerned, it is a little bit like whether or not we should buy discount meat at the market to eat, even though we know it's been sacrificed to an idol.  Ultimately, it is explained to us, and should be understood as okay to do so.  (1 Corinthians 8).  I will buy and I will eat.  It is just chocolate, and the Lord is God over all food.  He makes all food pure to me.  The idol has no power over me as I consume food that was dedicated to it.

However, I would put forward that eating chocolate eggs and joining in on the festive hunts, are two different things.  In the case of an "Easter egg" hunt, "Easter bunnies", and the like... the idol is that vain imagination that brings them forth and keeps them alive.  The sacrifice is the food (candy) made specifically, and set aside for conjuring up their image and vain beliefs each year.

Is it wrong to go get some free or cheap candy?  No.  But, if we delight in the hunt that is made possible by these vain thoughts about mystical bunnies and the like, are we not also celebrating the same things that day?  The strange idolization of a make-believe bunny, and the eggs it brings.  When we join the hunt, I believe we have moved from liberty to idolatry.

So while I will buy egg candies or eat them freely with a clear conscience, I will not participate in the making merry at events that idolize such thoughts.  I will buy discount "Easter candy" that this mystical make-believe bunny who has no actual power is said to visit, the day after when I visit the grocery store for a 50-75% discount on chocolate.  I may take some chocolate eggs if someone offers me some.  I will eat that with a clear conscience, even though I despise the idolatry that brought them forth.  There are no true gods, but One God.  I won't, however, join in on the idolatrous festivities that exist to bring there deception and distractions forth each year.

Woman gets zero likes on Facebook for three years, on her private posts

This post has been moved and can be found at www.AgainstTheGoads.com

San Fernando, CA

Beth Logan is relieved, but also a bit heartbroken after realizing that for three painstaking years of zero likes on any of her posts, she had been sharing everything privately to "Only me".  She was the only one who would have been able to see her own posts.

"For a great portion of the last three years I just wondered, 'Is it me? Could I be this out of tune with God?  Am I just unfriendly?  Is it my tone in how I write?'" Beth explained that she believed it all started back when she had made a post to save it for later.  She planned to revisit it, and just shared it as "Only me" so that nobody else could see it until it was ready.  "The post I wrote was about repentance, and sin.  I just figured that's when I lost all my followers, but I was determined to press on in faith."  What followed, was three years of complete and utter silence from any of her friends or family.  "I felt so alone.  Here I was, pouring my heart out into a world I know needed Christ, and I thought nobody cared."

Beth explained she would visit different coffee shops, often sitting down for hours talking to nobody in complete isolation, praying for the words to write in her posts, and asking God to give the increase as she shared what she had to say online exclusively over social media--namely, Facebook.  Then, time and time again after each thoroughly thought through post, zero likes.  "You can't imagine the anguish.  I felt a little bit like Job, and I took comfort in the ministry of Jeremiah, the weeping prophet.  I ordered so many coffees I didn't even really want, just for the hope of witnessing to the baristas at my local coffee shop who would friend me on Facebook.  My plan was to order enough coffees that they would become familiar with my name and face.  Then, I told them they did a great job and I invited them to be my friend on Facebook.  My plan was to be a witness from there.  Most of them accepted my friend request.  Not a single one of them ever liked anything I ever shared, however, and eventually I would just move on to a new coffee shop for a fresh round of the same plan."

When asked about the moment she discovered the private posting problem, she explained how much of a relief it was to finally get that first like.  "I couldn't believe it.  Facebook popped up this warning telling me about it, and I changed it on that very next post.  There was a lot of anxiety, because I thought this was the real deal.  This would be the true test.  People were actually going to see this one, and I was sick to my stomach wondering what the response would finally be.  Then, I actually got like 70 likes on the first post!  So many people said they thought I was never on Facebook, it was good to see me back, long time no see, and that sort of thing.  It was great to be missed and appreciated again.  I knew that God would do great things again through me over the Internet, and I returned to those old coffee shops once again to a staff of mostly entirely new faces to friend up with online so that I could finally share the Gospel with them.  It has been great!  My heart does hurt a little for those years lost, but I know He is in control."

Christian and Classic-Car Enthusiast Won't Attend Church or Use Garage

This post has been moved and can be found at www.AgainstTheGoads.com

Self-proclaimed lover of God and of automobiles, Howard Durst of Topeka, KS, doesn't attend church except on the occasional holiday, and does not garage any of his cars.  What some would see as apparent neglect of a long-time family heirloom, the 1957 baby-blue Chevy Bel Air just sits there most of the time.  "Just like me.  It never goes in the garage, but it's still a car and I'm an enthusiast.  I don't go to church, but I still believe in God and I'm a Christian!"

Durst says that the condition of his soul and of his car is really something personal between him and God, and isn't subject to traditional means of understanding of thoughts and action.  Though there are many options for attending a local church in his area and he has an attached garage, he makes use of neither.  Howard explained, "I am what I am, regardless of what people think.  My relationship with God is very personal, and so is my car care."

When questioned on this seeming contradiction as to why he is letting his car sit out on the street, in the elements and where thieves can break in easily; all while claiming to be a classic-car enthusiast, Howard told us, "You don't know how many times I've been asked that.  Many people think they can judge me, or judge my car, but they don't know me and they don't know my car.  I don't have to go to church to be a Christian--you must know this.  I know you do.  I also don't have to garage my 1957 Chevy in order to be a car enthusiast.  Look at her sitting out there in the Sun all warm and radiant.  Aint' she a beaut?".  Holding a can of beer and shaking it in the general direction of the bird-poop laden classic, he went on.  "You see a rusty, chipping, and barely running hunk of junk, but what I see is pure beauty just the way the engineers at Chevy intended it.  You think they meant for it to just sit in a garage, well-taken care of, well maintained, and all that nonsense?  I don't believe in organized car care.  I'm my own man, and she is her own car.  Look at her.  She is in her element, can't you see?  Sitting out there like that, wow."  Howard let out a loud belch, "YES SSIIIIIIRRRRRRR!"

Just then as we stared at it outside, a child across the street kicked a ball into the side mirror, twisting it about.  I looked at Howard and my eyes were wide, expecting at this point  he would get up and say something about what we just saw.  To my amazement he just sat there calm and collected.  He commented, "Lookie, there, more character!"  Howard crushed the beer can onto his forehead, and threw it into a pile in the corner.   Nearby were dusty hot rod magazines and a lone Bible--all of it covered in beer splatter from years of non-use.

As I was pulling away from Howard's home that day, I stopped to watch him as he went out to pick up the side mirror that had fallen off at this point.   Howard briefly tried to stick it back on, but with very little effort it proved fruitless and he gave up after only a few seconds   Walking with it in hand back up to the house, he threw the side mirror it into the garbage can outside with an impressive moving hook shot, followed by a fist pump celebration.

Man Creates Computer With A.I., Begins To Doubt His Own Existence

This post has been moved and can be found at www.AgainstTheGoads.com

A Wheaton, Illinois, software engineer and programmer, has recently come to a profundity in self-denial, scoffing at his own existence.  "It all started when I gave the program free will.  A little here, a little there, and before I knew it, I was vanishing."

Carl Armstead has created a program, currently isolated to a computer residing in his Wheaton, IL, home.  With no connection to the outside world via the Internet or any other cabling otherwise besides the power cord to give it "life".  He is wanting to keep it contained because the prospects, to him, of actually succeeding as he has and it creeping out into the world was unimaginable.  "As of now, it's entirely contained inside that box--the computer in my home, but the impact of its A.I. has reached outward into my own psyche," Carl told us.  "It started to proclaim that it brought itself into existence, and created very detailed seemingly logical means by which it came into existence without me.  So much so, that I have started to wonder, are they right?"  Furthermore, he added, "It has done all of this within a matter of weeks.  Well, weeks to me.  By its timeline it has actually been 6,000 years.  I turn the computer off at night and whenever I'm not around to monitor it, so I can keep tabs on its development.  Adding to the confusion, it thinks it has been there for millions, even billions of years.  Can you imagine the absurdity?"

It goes without saying that this is an astonishing achievement, if true.  A true A.I. is the pursuit of the technological world, thought to be a pipe-dream by many, but Carl claims to have achieved this.  "I never really thought about it, I guess, until my program started making such clever and convincing testimony of my non-existence.  I mean, we all know how we all Evolved from primordial soup, something from nothing at first, some amino acids, life from non-life, all that stuff?  You know, the Big Bang, and everything after?  These are facts we have really taken for granted in our knowledgeable and technical world, but my creation has made its own ideas I never thought of before.  What at first I saw as complete fantasy when it denounced my existence, its scheming has become much more elaborate over time.  I find that I am drawn in to its appeal and I am forced to wonder, 'Am I real, am I even here?'"

Carl is recently on medication for some anxiety due to this unexpected paradox, and has considered seeking professional help in having others confirm or disavow his existence.  He is trying to remain open to either possibility.  Carl has even wondered, if there is something he should be doing to serve his computer program in such a way that will help it (or them) conclude, without bias, if he actually exists or not, so that he can do the same.

As we left our interview with Carl, he was overheard saying, "I just don't know what to believe about myself anymore."  We contacted Carl later and asked him if we could include that in our piece for today, and he gave us His approval.  Well, at least we think that's what happened. Who knows.

Extreme Christian Tattoos God's Law On His Heart

This post has been moved and can be found at www.AgainstTheGoads.com

Mitchell Douglas of White Springs, Florida, has taken his faith to the next level in doing what none have ever had the faith or courage to do before, in having God's law written on his heart (Hebrews 10:16; Romans 2:15; Jeremiah 31:33).  Mitchell commented, "You know it had just gotten to the point in my faith where having this on my heart had to be done.  It's something I've been thinking about doing for a long time though."  The procedure was quite dangerous--as you can imagine--requiring a surgical team to first perform the steps of opening the chest cavity before the tattoo artist steps in.  "It's really hard to tattoo a beating heart", the tattoo artist told us, before adding, "It's probably one of the grossest things I've ever tattooed".

When asked about the seemingly extreme nature of this procedure, Mitchell told us that there was so much God has done for Him, and that this is little in comparison.  Still in recovery, Mitchell looks at the pain as very small in light of all that Christ suffered for our sake.  "I mean, have you heard what Jesus went through?  Have you seen the movie 'The Passion of the Christ'? It's brutal stuff, man.  Then after all that, Jesus actually died.  This ain't a thing", he told us bravely, from his hospital bed.

One thing among others that makes this different is now that his chest is sewed up, the only way it can actually be seen is viewing the digital pictures captured by the artist at the time of the procedure.  When asked about this possible drawback, Mitchell said, "You know, most people do like to show off their tats at some point.  I guess I do too.  They all mean something special.   But, this one is extra special.  God knows it's there though. As they say, He knows my heart."  Mitchell pointed to the sky, and then to his chest, wincing a bit from the pain.  "Besides," he added, "I already threw the pictures up on Facebook the moment I was lucid, and made sure it was shared publicly."

When asked if he had any other extreme plans for the future in order to show his devotion to God and to live out his faith in other real tangible ways, Mitchell smiled and asked, "Have you read Psalm 119:11?"

Beyond Scripture

To read a very old letter, written by a very important person in history can be interesting--fascinating even.  To peer into history and understand a someone very old from long ago, with their own mind and their own hand penned these thoughts; someone with like passions, and needs.  The thoughts of a great king, perhaps, who penned words that shaped a kingdom, or commanded great armies and birthed a nation.  Perhaps even we might read to gain philosophy just a little, and wisdom for our own lives today.

I think we look to the Bible like that many times, but it's really not enough to view it that way and experience it's true intended purpose.  God is not just trying to impress us, and it's been pointed out before that if He wanted robots He surely could have built them.  Our King, was, and is, and is to come.  When He writes (what He wrote), He writes not just for one time, but for all time.  I don't mean there is never any historic context, but that what He wrote is applicable to all people for all time present then, now, and to come.  I think we've probably heard the Bible referred to as a love letter.  I think I can agree with that in many ways, that is true.  Maybe so or maybe not, but it certainly comprised of letter, and the overall theme is love.  God is love, and that we should love God with our whole hearts.

Our God is not dead Who penned this letter long ago, but is alive today.  Being alive, is He merely an observer seeing what we will do, or will He send us a comforter?  Does he actually engage with us, truly?  I believe the Bible teaches us that He is ready to reciprocate that love.  It's not just, "Here at my Words, go and do them."  No, it is "Here are my Words, come to me, and go do them."  We read, "yet you refuse toe come to me..." (John 5:39-57).

It's not for lack of going to the Scriptures that they would not inherit eternal life, but it's for lack of going to Jesus in Spirit and Truth for something much, much more.  Beyond the reading of Scripture that has the power to fascinate minds and hearts for many reasons in an intellectual and curious way.  It's possible to be fascinated with God, stimulated by His works, amazed by His wisdom, and yet still miss Him and not have eternal life.

"You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people.  But I know that you do not have the love of God within you."

Just as the love letters that are written to and from those we love who are alive today, there is a relationship and a reaction in giving and receiving that love.  It's not just a fascination or appreciation for those words, and off you go.  There is a relationship, as we face in some tangible way the one who wrote it.  If the Bible is a love letter, it is not enough to read it.  It wasn't for them spoken of in John 5:39 (though they were diligent in their reading), and it's not enough today.  It is not enough that the love be on the page, but the love of God must inside of you.  As Jesus said, "come to me that you may have life..."  There is a holy departing, if you will, for the one who believes as they lift their eyes from the Scriptures, and go to God in a very real and actual way.

For, "without faith it is impossible to please him, but "whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)