Joel Osteen

One of the most moving writers I have had the pleasure of reading is
Joel Osteen, a pastor who focuses his message on the goodness,
salvation, and forgiveness of God. Considering himself a sort of life
coach, Osteen teaches Biblical values through simple stories that convey
the power of love and positivity. Osteen serves as the pastor of
Lakewood Church, and his sermons are broadcast to over 100 countries
worldwide. Recently, Osteen has been traveling around the United States,
as well as a few international destinations, with members of his
congregation, presenting “A Night of Hope,” which includes music,
worship, testimonies, and a sermon from Osteen. In 2006, Osteen was
featured on ABC News as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People. In the
same year, The Church Report named Osteen the Most Influential Christian
in America.

Osteen has published a number of books, the first of which is Your Best
Life Now. Published in 2004, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at
Your Full Potential recounts the seven principles that Osteen himself
used to overcome adversity and realize success. At the heart of Osteen’s
message is the belief that we must stop our incessant concern about the
past and the future. Instead, we must focus on the present moment and
use our amazing God-given gifts to work toward our goals. Only by
concentrating all of our energy on the attainment of these goals will
they come within our reach. The seven steps Osteen outlines are
enlarging your vision, developing a healthy self-image, discovering the
power of thoughts and words, accepting the past, finding strength in
adversity, living to give, and choosing to be happy. Osteen describes
the seven steps in detail using Biblical passages to illustrate his
real-life examples and personal experiences. Although the book is
written from a Christian perspective, Osteen clearly wishes to make his
message available to all those who are seeking to improve their lives.
Another notable book published by Osteen is Become a Better You: 7 Keys
to Improving Your Life Every Day.