It is tempting to say that in this regard, Osteen actually did miss his calling. One likely issue of concern to readers is that while Osteen is a pastor, if his name and references to his church were removed from the books, one could easily take him to be not a pastor, but a Christian motivational speaker, after the manner of Zig Ziglar. As I have said of other authors, he is gifted in the area of saying in 5000 words what could have as easily been said in 500! The “downside” to his presentation format is that, in an effort to hammer home ideas, Osteen frequently becomes repetitive. He is clearly gifted in the area of drawing illustrative analogies, and in presenting his ideas in a format that any reader can understand. There is much to be said positively about Osteen as a communicator. How the questions I address are answered may change as I further evaluate Osteen’s work in other venues (such as television broadcasts) and later, after my own readings are complete, criticisms of Osteen by others. My evaluation in this issue concerns only his two books: Your Best Life Now(YBL) and Become a Better You (BBY).īecause this is my first examination of Osteen’s work, I will advise the reader that my conclusions this round are based solely on these books. We start with Joel Osteen – pastor of Houston’s Lakewood Church.

Thus I hope to produce evaluations of these leaders that are as free from preconceived notions as possible. I am well aware that many denigrate these leaders by name – but I know little more than that about them. For that reason, our consideration of these leaders within this new e-zine will involve something of a fresh, objective approach.

Live your best life now joel osteen