Pastor Joel Osteen realizes that deep within you is a voice that doubts your self-worth and does its best to destroy your dreams. For this reason, he is committed to helping you exchange your insecurities for a godly self-image and discover your personal strengths and abilities so that you can live Your Best Life Now. Through the ministry of Lakewood Church, Pastor Osteen has already helped millions of people advance down the road towards health, abundance, significance and success. Don't miss this opportunity to let him lead you down the road to Your Best Life Now.
In this remarkable New York Times bestseller, Joel Osteen offers unique insights and encouragement that will help readers overcome every obstacle in their lives.
Having started Lakewood's television outreach ministry, Joel Osteen worked side-by-side with his father, founding Pastor John Osteen for 17 years, and took Lakewood's positive message of hope to over 100 million households throughout the United States and 100 countries worldwide.
On October 3, 1999, Joel Osteen assumed the position of Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church. Under Osteen's leadership, Lakewood has grown in every area of ministry. Lakewood has added two additional worship services in order to accommodate its growth in an auditorium that seats 7,800. With nearly 30,000 adults in weekly attendance and over 2,500 children attending weekly children's programs, Lakewood has doubled in attendance in the last two years. In addition, Lakewood's weekly television program can now be seen in an additional 100 million households in the US and Canada.
Houston megachurch pastor and inspirational TV host Osteen offers an overblown and redundant self-help debut. Many Christian readers will undoubtedly be put off by the book's shallow name-it-and-claim-it theology; although the first chapter claims that we serve the God that created the universe, the book as a rule suggests the reverse: it's a treatise on how to get God to serve the demands of self-centered individuals. Osteen tells readers that God wants them to prosper, offering examples of obtaining an elegant mansion or a larger salary (don't ever get satisfied with where you are,he cautions). In seven parts, he details how readers should enlarge their vision, develop self-esteem, discover the power of thought, let go of the past, find strength through adversity, give back to others and choose to be happy. The section on giving comes as too little, too late. Osteen's message to remember others and get your mind off yourself flies in the face of the previous 200 pages. There are some good pockets of advice, such as letting go of past hurts and avoiding bitterness. Editorially, the book would have packed more of a punch if a third of its repetitive slogans and stories had been pruned. Theologically, its materialism and superficial portrayal of God as the granter of earthly wishes will alienate many Christian readers who can imagine a much bigger God. Copyright 2004 Publishers Weekly.
Average Rating: 3 out of 5 stars(3 out of 5 stars)
8 of 44 Reviews Showing:(View All Reviews)
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanie Morris (Boise, Idaho), July 19, 2009
Prosperity gospel. Joel Osteen glorifies man, not God! 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by rodney (birmingham, al.), August 26, 2008
Simply one of the best non-fiction books written in recent years. People will argue and fight over what the bible means until time erases us all, all claim to know the right way. Joel simply tells us that God loves us like a loving father and wants the best for us. I see truth, faith, and love in Joel's words, and I am thankful for his inspiration in my life. All of the negative reviews on this book remind me of the persecution Jesus faced when he preached the same love to an entrenched church of laws. Thanks Joel, your book is a great blessing.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Servant Leadership (NC), August 04, 2008
Listen to God's message in everything Osteen preaches and do not listen to non-faith based people who are mistakenly naive accusing him of ridiculous things. Osteen preaches how to live the Christian life based on the Bible.
0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Hilary (Alabama), March 20, 2008
Joel Osteen is a false prophet and false teacher. It's NOT ABOUT US! What do we not understand about this? It is ALL about God, it is NOT about "our dreams" or "OUR best life now", but its about dying to self.. Literally killing your own desires and dreams and taking up your cross and denying yourself in order to follow Christ. It's not about a Christianized version of the American Dream (which is leading people straight to hell) that is what Joel Osteen preaches and writes about. The "health and wealth" gospel is a false one and Osteen is apart of it. Beware this wolf in sheeps clothing....
4.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by pablo (Santa Barbara), December 04, 2007
I'm surprised at the several (minority) critic's total rejection of Joel Osteen's enthusiasm for living. Do these people live in caves and wear sack cloth? Do they not rely on the inventions of dreamers? How hypocritical to badmouth a motivational success story yet be unable to live day-to-day without modern conveniences designed by "sinners." Osteen doesn't pretend to be a biblical scholar, yet has brought me closer to God's teaching than any dozen self-righteous so-called Christians.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by kristie (nashville tn), November 05, 2007
Joel Osteen is an encourager that loves God and has a pure heart. We need more optimists in the world like him, lifting encouraging and motivating us to be our best and seek God's best for our life. God wants us to use our gifts. Joel's gift one that encourages us to see the positive side of obeying God's word. He wants to help change all the negative into positive. Although we have trials and tribulations he knows that when we choose to hope and believe in Gods word that the end result will be good. Anyone that seeks God's word is going to love those who represent God in such a beautiful light. He is full of JOY and CARE, not for himself but of Love for God and people. Love covers sin and finds good.. Love gives and Love lifts others and praises God. He is a motivational speaker that is a Christian. Joel is using his life how he should.
When you give so much honor to God by motivating others it has to come back. He is blessed and we all are if we choose to be so. Joel encourages you to live your best life now because God loves us... The world will fill you up with negativity, don't listen to them..listen to the ones who bring you closer to God. Pride comes before a fall but humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up. This is A WONDERFUL BOOK, full of encouragement and LOVE.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by melinda (kingsport), October 26, 2007
I love this book. It made me feel that God loved me and cared about the little details of my life. God loves us to think positive and do our best and appreciate Him for everything He does. This book really shows you how to have a better life and have a personal relationship with God. We love the Joel Osteen book at work and we copy his stuff to encourage each other all the time.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by E (Philly), October 26, 2007
I absolutely LOVE Joel Osteen's teachings! He is WISE in his approach. No wordly person wants to hear the hell and doom, even though it applies to them. You have to be separate from the world but also be wise in ministering to them,Joel does teach that simply through the Word. Jesus ministered to sinners, He said that he wasn't there to reach those that were already found, but those who where lose. And to my knowledge, to lost people, the Word is like another language. They start off on milk and in kindergarten. You have to speak simple language that they can understand and relate to, to encourage them to come put of what they are in, speak the Word to them and pray for them. Remember how you got saved? Come on saints! Stop bashing our own and let's start bashing the devil who is gaining more souls in hell while you are making negative comments.I want my best life now AND (better) in eternity. God promises me these things while I am her ON EARTH! Keep your mouths and comments off of this young man if you are not encouraging or lifting him up! (Just as you would want someone to do with you!).
Joel, I have your back in prayer!
View all 44 Reviews
Write a review of Your Best Life Now
Catalog Shopping
Membership
