Sunday Brunch- Eyes to See and Ears to Hear

Victoria Osteen, at the least, stuck her foot in her mouth big time with her most recent and public statements from the pulpit. Victoria is the co-pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas with her husband Joel Osteen.  Lakewood Chruch is a mega church touting a weekly attendance of more than 40,000 worshippers. Worshippers of what? I don't know.

The issue started with a video clip that was released of Victoria speaking to the congregation from the pulpit with Joel at her side saying the following:

“I just want to encourage everyone of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God – I mean, that’s one way to look at it – we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we’re happy.

“So I want you to know this morning: Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”

Don't believe me? See for yourself right here.  Disclaimer: I could not find the full length video that included this clip and am aware that statements can be misconstrued and manipulated when edited. I want to be as objective and Bible-based in my reporting on this topic as possible.


A little background..........
I have done my research and know that neither Joel or his wife Victoria are ordained by any reputable, Bible based, Christ-centered, Christian denomination in the world. Joel was "ordained" by his 6 member board at Lakewood in a private ceremony in 1992. Lakewood holds no national or international accreditation and is denominationally undefined. That's like me giving myself the "Best Blogger in the Universe Award" then asking everyone to recognize it's validity.

Lakewood is commonly know amongst Christian evangelical circles as a church that preachers Word of Faith or Prosperity Gospel- a type of teaching that abuses the Word of God by preaching messages that bolster and encourage the accumulation of material things and monetary wealth as a sign of good standing with God.

Back to Victoria..........
The words that came out of her mouth were in direct opposition to the Word of God:

God doesn't promise us happiness- he promises us joy and peace. 
(James 1:2-3, Phillippians 4:7)
The Word talks about joy and peace for followers of Christ but not happiness. Now, to be fair, happiness is mentioned in the Bible, but far less than "joy" and "peace". And, in a quick contextual search of the word "happy" in the Bible, it is used almost exclusively as an emotion of  circumstance. Happy is used to describe a fleeting emotion of God's people in varied circumstances that brought them temporary elevated emotions.

But joy and peace, often incorrectly interchanged with happy, on the other hand, is God breathed and permanent. It surpasses all understanding and prevails in the midst of trial, tribulation, persecution, and pain.

God is a Comforter but is not concerned with our comfort or happiness.
(2 Corinthians 1:4, The entire book of Job)
Job suffered greatly at the hands of the evil one. Job's suffering grieved God but He did not intervene, only telling the enemy he could not kill Job. Job, I would safely say, was unhappy and uncomfortable. The poor man was picking at the sores on his body and had lost everything. To God be the glory! The beauty of Job's testimony is that God restored Job in a way that Job couldn't have imagined. Job was proven to be a righteous man before the Lord; unfaltering in the midst of his pain and suffering. Easily he could've cursed God and died as advised by his wife, but Job chose to be faithful in the midst of a mighty storm.

God wants His glory, is jealous for it, and will share it with no one; not even ourselves!
(Nahum 1:2, Deuteronomy 4:24)
Every word, every story and prophecy point us to the glory of our Triune God- the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Word actually warns agains messing with God's glory or giving it to something or someone else.

When we come to church or gather in His Name, we do so for HIM. We DO NOT come for ourselves, we come to worship and glorify God. 
(Colossians 3:16, 1 Peter 2:9)

Gathering for God is the tenant that sets us apart from Humanists and New Age Spiritualists. Our focus is not on self. The Bible tells us that gathering together for God takes the focus off of us humans and puts it on God, where our attention is properly placed.

Victoria Osteen's Words are Dangerous.
They are dangerous because she is in a position of power. They are dangerous because she has a following of millions. They are dangerous because her teachings from the pulpit are in direct opposition to the Word of God. They are dangerous because a new believer or a believer weaker in their faith could misconstrue her words for Gospel truth, which it is not! (Romans 16:17-18, Colossians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:3-4)

What to do! What to do! Lawd! What to do! 
You have eyes to see and ears to hear (Isaiah 6:10). So please listen carefully to the words coming out of your pastor's mouth! If you've found yourself gravitating to the feel good messages brought forth by the Osteen Ministry, I urge you to be discerning about the leaders you follow. Not all that glitters is gold. A flashy smile, self-promoting witty sayings, and a multitude of other followers will only take you so far in your walk with Christ. One day you will have to stop drinking the nutrient-less milk the Osteens are peddling to the masses and eat some spiritual meat.

Second, earnestly pray for Victoria, her husband Joel, the Lakewood staff, and congregation. Pray that she and her husband Joel have a true encounter with Jesus Christ. Revenue focused Ministries like Joel and Victoria Osteen's take the focus off Christ and unrighteously redirects it to themselves, their material possessions, and the material possessions of their congregants. Often, congregants of these types of churches are relieved of a lot of their money by buying things like New York Times Bestsellers written by their Pastor, that won't get them nearer or gain them entrance into the Kingdom of God! It's not a sin to be rich, but it becomes a lot trickier to be righteous before the Lord when you are (Mark 10:25, 1 Timothy 6:17-19, 1 Timothy 6:9-12).

"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive."

-Romans 16:17-18

Sunday Brunch happens every Sunday as a spiritual encouragement for readers of the Fiery Wife blog. Come back next week and see what God is serving up for you to eat. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Ps. 34:8)"



Websites Referenced:
http://www.who2.com/bio/joel-osteen
http://gnli.christianpost.com/video/victoria-osteen-do-good-for-your-own-self-not-for-god-33544
http://www.christianpost.com/news/victoria-osteen-ripped-for-telling-church-just-do-good-for-your-own-self-worship-is-not-for-god-youre-doing-it-for-yourself-125636/
http://www.wnd.com/2014/08/joel-osteens-wife-accused-of-blasphemous-remarks/
http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/does-the-bible-promise-happiness/
https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=happy&qs_version=ESV
http://carm.org/new-age-what

Why T-25 Takes More than 25 Minutes

If you haven't heard, T-25 (which to me, sounds like a Terminator sequel) is all the newest at home workout craze. I thought to myself........"Hmmmm. I need to lose some weight. This might be good. It only takes 25 minutes. I can do this." So I obtained a copy of the program (by means which I will not speak of because this is definitely NOT a paid review of this product). I popped it into my DVD player PUMPED because I knew within a few short weeks, all my weight woes will be over! I would finally lose this 7 year old baby weight. I could once again strut my stuff without fear of my muffin top spilling over to my knees. I would be able to see my girlfriend with a quick glance down once again.

This will be awesome! I can take out all the clothes in my "hope chest" and wear them again.  You probably have a "hope chest" and don't even know it! You know, that set of clothes you have nestled in the back of your closet that one day you have the hope of fitting into once again because you know if you donate them or burn them in your bath tub that you will be admitting weight defeat. You will have lost the "battle of the bulge" and "war on cottage cheesy cellulite" and the "fight for fit" and a thousand other different weight loss campaigns you've embarked upon! Well, that's why the clothes sit in the back of my closet at least.

Anyway.......T-25 was going to solve all of these problems and give me whiter teeth and clearer skin. I popped the DVD in with great anticipation. I completed the 25 worst minutes of my life! It really wasn't that bad I'm just out of shape. I sweat like a lady in white on her period. Shaun T, is a fine instructor. Sometimes his semi-lisp can get annoying but he was direct and to the point. But it was Tania "The Machine" Baron that taunted me the whole time. In Shaun T's workout series Insanity, Tania was cut up! She had a 6 pack and a whole bunch of other muscles I could only dream of having and she did each and every exercise to the MAX! In T-25, after having a kid (or two or six, I don't know), Shaun put her in charge of the "modified" exercises, I'm assuming as an encouragement for all the mommies out there but she didn't break a sweat the whole time. Her contented face taunted me as I had to stare at her for my "modified" instructions, never saying a word but saying everything with her not-so-quite-cut-up-but-still-ridiculously-in-shape-after-birth body!

T-25 took more than 25 minutes. After the workout, I lay on my living room floor unable to move for about 15 minutes. My husband thought it funny if he took a picture of me which I have shared for you enjoyment. Then I had to get up from the floor. That took about another 5 minutes. Then I had to move my rickety joints around the living room for another 5 minutes to loosen them up just so I could make it to my bathroom to wash the sweat and discouragement off my body. The shower took another 25 minutes (I call it S-25 because I moved so slowly in there). After my shower, I looked in the mirror and stared (another 5 minutes). Just stared......Then I dried myself off (2 minutes) and went back to the mirror to stare again for another 5 minutes. While staring, I began to after-shower-sweat. Which sucks because it almost makes you feel like taking another shower. But I fought the urge and moved on to making my way to the bed (2.5 minutes). Now imagine if you worked a 9-5 and had to get ready for work! Ahhhhhh! T-25 took me 89.5 minutes!!!!!! What?!? Yeah.

If you have any workout disasters, let me know them in the comments below. I want to laugh and cry with someone else about this.

Sunday Brunch- When You're at Your Wit's End.....

Don't give up. Get up! Keep running the race. 

Remember that post I wrote about critters in the attic (check it out here)? Well, they're back. This time there's squirrels in the attic! On top of that, our landlady came with some wonderfully disturbing news last Sunday. I am at my wit's end! This rental house has been a challenge to say the least. So this Sunday brunch is for me!

Don't Give Up

The Problem:
Our landlady came by last Sunday and told us that through a series of unforeseen events, she found out that her mortgage agreement has a "no renters" clause; meaning she is to be the sole occupant of the residence for the duration of the loan. She found this out because, through a correspondence she had with the bank about property taxes, she wrote her current address on the paperwork instead of our address. The bank then sent her a nice little letter saying she had essentially defaulted on her loan because she breeched the owner occupancy agreement and she had 30 days (mind you this was 15 days in to the 30 days) to occupy the residence, refinance, or be foreclosed upon. On top of that, the critters have come back this time in the form of squirrels!

My Feelings: 
This is my worst nightmare! All I want to do is stay in one place long enough to become familiar with it; to really get to know my neighbors......... I don't want to move again. I don't want to deal with critters again! I feel defeated.

What the Word Says: 
Isaiah 41:10
"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

My Response to the Word:
Ok God. I need your help with being ok with not knowing what's going to happen... I know you have my back even though I am discouraged.

Get Up

The Problem:
But I don't wanna deal with this!

My Feelings:
I want to crawl under a rock somewhere and not be seen or heard from until all the squirrels and raccoons shrivel up and die very far away from where I live! I want to be transported to a home that doesn't have holes in the ceiling, where all the outlets work, where I don't have to fight busted food disposals and leaky toilets where all of my family's belongings are unpacked and set up just how I like it. I don't want to have to find a new place for everything and familiarize myself with another residence!

What the Word Says:
John 5:1-9
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

My Response to the Word:
I am no better than the invalids- the paralytics, sightless, and lames who were hanging around the Bethesdan pool. But Jesus said to the paralytic "get up"! There was action that needed to be taken by the paralytic. Jesus could've healed him all day long but the paralytic wouldn't have know the healing took place unless he stood up to walk. I've been sitting, thinking about these critters for a couple of weeks now; paralyzed by the reality that I'll have to stalk my land lady again. Weeks! Who does that? Me. I don't want to feel this way but sometimes it's really hard (sometimes it seems dang near impossible) to get up; to start the stalker-ish calls to my landlady; to work my world around these critters schedule exterminators and everything else that accompanies these animals! But as long as I stay down, I won't be able to see the miracles that God is working in my family's life! Like maybe this snafu with the address and the threatened foreclosure is a blessing in disguise. Sometimes we stay paralyzed not because of Jesus' lack of healing; but because of our own lack of movement. Hmmm.

Keep Running the Race

The Problem:
I'm weary.

My Feelings:
I'm sick and tired of moving and having squatters living in the attic. They're not paying rent! We already have enough people and animals living in this house! I just want to be still. No more movement! No more packing and unpacking! I feel like snapping off on my landlady for not READING her agreement and putting us in this predicament.

What the Word Says: 
Hebrews 12:-2
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.…

My Response to the Word:
If Jesus carried a cross and died on that cross to atone for my sins, I need to shut up and keep it moving. There were many that came before me that fell harder and sinned worse; but they got up and finished the race. They didn't lay down and wither away, they ran harder! I am encouraged that my problems will not halt the rotation of the earth. My life is His so I must run toward Him;  my eyes fixed on His glory no matter what path he leads me down. It's not for me to question Him or try to figure this one out,(which I'm prone to do) but to simply be obedient. In my flesh, that sucks! But I know it's for the edification of my Spirit.

This one was tough. I have a lot to think and pray about.

Sunday Brunch happens every Sunday as a spiritual encouragement for readers of the Fiery Wife blog. Come back next week and see what God is serving up for you to eat. "Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! (Ps. 34:8)"

What happens in Vegas.........Never Stays in Vegas!!!!!!!! Pt. 1

Some of my family got together and went on a Vegas vacation this past week. Husband and I are trying to stack our money, not blow it so we opted out. Forever Mom, older sister and youngest sister all went. Forever Mom and Older Sister flew out of our city and Youngest Sister flew out from Chicago, where she still lives.

Now...... Forever Mom is overweight and has joint problems because of her weight. Husband, Youngest Sister and I all told her that this might not be the best vacation for her because all you do in Vegas is walk. I guess my mother "didn't think fat meat was greasy" (Forever Mom LOVES that saying) and went anyway. Did I also mention that Forever Mom is also deathly afraid of flying AND is claustrophobic? Oh this definitely made for a great vacation.

The day of departure comes. I drop Forever Mom and Oldest Sister off at the airport and off they go into the sky. From Chicago, Youngest Sister is updating Facebook real time. Misspelling words all over the place and finally, she admits she's been drinking since 7am preparing to be drunk for her flight because she too, is deathly afraid of flying. Self medicating at its best. Oh Lawd! But everyone gets to Vegas safe and sound. Thank God!

According to Youngest Sister, Forever Mom comes out the plane complaining every excruciating pre-arthritic, obese step of the way. "It's hot. I can't walk. I can't breathe. I ain't trying to spend a whole bunch of money. Where's the buffet? The buffet's how much?!? Can't we do something in my hotel? Across the street? I can't walk that far. Once I get across the street I'm gonna have to walk another 30 minutes through the casino! I'm gonna take a taxi. Why won't they drop me off on the corner? They only will take me to a hotel? That doesn't make sense! I'm hot. I'm just gonna stay in the hotel room." Mom is stressing Youngest Sister.

I call Forever Mom and ask her how it's going. "Oh! We're having a wonderful time! The food is great. There is a good amount of walking but I'm holding up." I just laugh a little on the inside. That's mom. I check in with Youngest Sister and again she as a story. This time about Oldest Sister. Oldest Sister is also overweight. The overweight things is something that has plagued the women in our family for generations. We are beautiful women but at some point in time (usually after childbirth) we all gain weight. Some lose it, some fall somewhere in the middle of skinny and not so skinny (that's me) and some just go full throttle obese. But I digress. Oldest Sister wants to go to Victoria's Secret. But there's a problem. It's across the street too.

Youngest and Cousin from Cali (who also came with her mom, Forever Mom's sister, husband, and son) warned Oldest Sister it was a decent walk. Oldest says she can swing it. 5 minutes from the promised land of lacy underwear, padded bras, and seductively named fragrances, Oldest Sister gives up. "I can't f&%^$n' do this! It's too f#@&*n' far! What the f#@k! I need a mother f*#$%n' taxi cab" Youngest attempts to calm her down but there is no subduing the angry exhaustion beast that has emerged from the depths of my sister's raging and aching feet. Cousin from Cali is obviously uncomfortable with this outburst; not knowing that this is my oldest sister's baseline in life. Youngest sister tells Oldest Sister that the taxi cab hub is farther away than the secrets Victoria holds and sarcastically gives her turn by turn directions to the taxi hub. There's some more cursing and yelling and Oldest Sister is off. Sweet Cousin from Cali asks "You're going to make up before dinner right?" to which Youngest Sister answers "F*^% her!" Oh mi familia!

Everyone who went reported there were good times interspersed with the angry banter that knows my family all too well and sooner than not, their time in Vegas came to an end. No new millionaires. Forever Mom didn't even gamble. Every one checked out of their respective hotels with lighter pockets and fuller bellies.

But there were still the plane rides home.....

To Husband

Husband,

I love you! I love you! I love you! I cannot count the ways nor will a Shakespearean soliloquy of any sort, render the depth of my affection any justice. You are just what I needed. There is no one on this earth that could sufficiently measure up to the husband you've been to me. I am so glad that you have always encouraged me in my dreams and aspirations, spurring me to think bigger, dream wilder, and chase whatever God gave me license to chase.

You're better than a partner in crime; you're my partner in Christ. I so appreciate that you were the one to lead me to Jesus. I denied your request to come to church for 6 months of Sundays straight but you were persistent. God had a plan for me that overshadowed every single plan I fashioned for myself. I had to say yes to Jesus before I could say yes to you. It took me a moment to understand God's ordering was far better than mine but I wised up so Praise God! What goodness awaited me out of your Godly persistence to keep inviting. You were my agent of change! You are the Aaron to my Moses, holding my arms up when I want to give up. You are the Abraham to my Sarah, guiding me, having faith (sometimes for me) that God will do what He says He will do and not a minute too soon!

For the past eight years, we've laughed and cried together and CHOSEN to love each other deeply; even when it was not convenient to do so. We've ushered the presence of 2 amazing boys into this world and for you and the boys, it was well worth the weight, and the stretch marks :) I loved you before I had words to qualify what I felt. We were truly kids when we first became friends and I love that! I love that you were my friend before my lover. You are an exceptional man and amazing father. Forget what Maya Angelou, rest her soul, said about the phenomenal woman.  Phenomenal Husband, that's you!