Tuesday, December 27, 2005
The Shining Light of Christianity (#4)
Victoria Osteen wishes Christmas blessings for all people...unless you're a certain flight attendant. (KPRC photo)
As the Christmas season is now behind us, let's take a look at what some people have done in the name of Christ. It's part of an occasional series on this blog.
Victoria Osteen, wife of Joel Osteen, was recently kicked off an airplane as the family was set to leave for their Christmas vacation to Vail, Colorado. The Osteens say they left voluntarily. The FBI says they were asked to leave. People on the plane said it all had to do with water spilled on Mrs. Osteen's first class seat. She apparently was not satisfied with how that situation was handled. The words "abusive" and "altercation" have been used to describe Mrs. Osteen's behavior.
Mr. Osteen is the pastor of Houston's Lakewood Church, one of the area's so-called megachurches. It's such a megachurch that it recently bought the former Compaq Center in Houston (a really big building where some of the city's professional sports teams used to play). He and his "ministry" have made millions of dollars.
Meanwhile, another Houston-area megachurch has found a surefire way to fill the seats. They'll bribe potential worshipgoers. As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the Abundant Life Christian Center in LaMarque, Texas, is giving away a house. All you have to do is show up to morning services and enter your name into a random drawing. If you're lucky, you'll be chosen to participate in a game-show-style spectacle. If you're really lucky, the key you're handed during the spectacle will open a special door. Balloons will drop, buzzers will sound, and you'll receive one massive earthly blessing. Your spiritual health, on the other hand, is a whole other matter entirely.
