Joel's 'The Power of I Am': the Good, the Bad, and the Funny

Like you, I have heard the arguments from both sides concerning Joel Osteen’s gospel. He has devoted fans on one side and harsh critics on the other. In the hope of seeing (and knowing by his fruits) for myself whether or not his message is biblical, I read his best seller The Power of I Am.
In the reading of his words I learned three interesting facts about Joel Osteen. One: he is a very optimistic man, the sort of person you'd enjoy being around—and he is even occasionally funny. Two: he is perhaps the cleverest self-help guru in the business today; he knows the fear and darkness that has gripped the heart of America, and he knows how to release people from this fear and turn them back towards a light. Three: throughout the entire text Osteen displays a profound familiarity with exactly one aspect of God’s nature.

To better examine his teachings at my leisure, I took copious notes during the reading of Osteen’s book; in the page link ‘The Power of I Am?’ to the right I delve into these notes in detail. Through them I address both the biblically useful teachings and the locations of the precise deviations of Osteen’s gospel from that of God’s Word.

As usual, I have attempted to keep my stupid opinions to a minimum and allow God's Word to speak for itself.