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Surviving Hard Times Through Faith

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    Famed pastor Joel Osteen on 'Huckabee'

  • Duration 6:27
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Pastor of one of America's largest churches 161000.

Folks show up and fill the Lakewood church in Houston every Sunday.

And -- ministry reaches over seven million viewers all over the world.

He's the author of a new book every day a Friday I visited Jolo -- in his church and I asked him how in these tough tough economic times.

-- someone who -- out of work and struggling to pay the bills how can they be optimistic.

At least as optimistic as the message in his book.

-- think it's so important governor that you get up every day and find something that you can be grateful for.

When you may not have a job -- -- -- had hail to live in a good country and in America I mean I think that if you found something to be grateful for.

You can still be content on the inside -- gives you peace you don't let yourself get negative and bitter start complaining.

Com gives you this going to make it through those hard times but there are hard times that.

-- Pretty -- person diagnosed with cancer they've lost their job they don't have health insurance.

-- tell that person.

Here's why he ought to be optimistic I mean it.

That's tough sell it and it is it's tough and we deal with -- all the time people that are in medical issues people going through a divorce.

I do think you have to come back to your fate to that place of peace to say god this is not a surprise to you you've got me in the palm of your hand.

-- of the apostle Paul said not learn how to be content in good times and the tough times doesn't take much faith to be happy when everything's going your way.

So I believe faith is about what.

Economy's not -- and I got these problems -- put a smile laugh I wanna be good to somebody that that's an -- of things.

The country is going through some very painful moments economically.

We're divided politically and I've never.

I don't think seen things.

So completely polarize.

Is there a sense in which that's a set up for a spiritual.

Renewal in this country do you think it's.

Perhaps that we are gonna get so desperate.

We have no where else to go.

You know I think that -- you know it definitely could be of course I see people turning to their faith in these difficult times and we see the auditory and filling them more and more and so.

I do think that when you know it's just a fact of life when people.

Hit bottom a lot of time to turn to their faith but a lot of people today that are.

-- -- are believers and they are strong.

I think that faith is at an all time high in America we go to these Arenas and these baseball stadiums and see these all these thousands coming out mean.

I'm going up the church -- the house and was a big deal you know yeah I mean now we see this place in system is just a new day so.

Is you know the scripture says the darker it gets in the world abroad it's gonna get for God's people -- think we're seeing now.

Which is pretty amazing and in 161000 seats you fill this thing up every Sunday.

People -- hungry that's that's clear that there's ice spiritual hunger are people wouldn't.

Walk as far as they have to walk in the parking lot to get one of these seats way up here in the nose bleed section but they do it week after week but here's the question.

When you have for a church that is his largest like.

How do you have personal connection are -- the critics who say well that's great but you know you really -- have that.

Close intimate -- ministry with people so what do you do to make it.

So that -- connection yet it's a it's a great point it's something that we all face and I think is important to realize to -- we started with many people back in 1915 and before I was born so.

We never set -- -- hey let's have a big -- aegis group.

But that's one thing we have to face in the way we do it isn't every service we have about.

A couple of thousand -- -- people that will stand up at the front of their section and asked if you need prayer come on -- -- and play with someone individual.

That the thing to governors and we pray with a lot of people as well but after every service hotel accommodation I'd love to meet you you have -- -- in the -- We try to.

We try to make it what you know it is being you have to do your best to make this.

President Obama in the course of his presidential election three years ago.

Spoke of his faith.

But once in office has not exactly.

Overwhelmed and a church with his presence.

Does that trouble you just as as a pastor that the leader of the country.

Maybe -- set of an example of saying.

-- worship every Sunday and and show that.

You know I think it would be great you know I'm probably.

Two full immerse him and say you know maybe -- -- all the things that come with the presidency is the security now that maybe that plays into it but believe he's you know believe he loves the -- thing but.

Things but I just I don't know I mean and -- ideal world yes now.

Do you.

Ever have any contact with President Obama have you been able to encourage him -- reach out to he has reached out to us and we've done some of the.

Leadership things -- the white house with him and enable them to pray with them just simple things like that and it's been very kind and friendly to -- ministry.

You've not been very.

Outspoken politically a lot of other pastors in the country.

And got very involved.

Sometimes with a lot of criticism with that.

You've chosen not to to be overtly involved tell -- one.

Well I feel like my calling is to through a wide wide net of hope that there to get people that didn't go off like any interest in god and and saint.

To think they -- -- -- relative in my life maybe god is for me.

But I believe the minute you start seeing them.

This or that you divide the audience here that I'm trying to reach and again I have friends that are really involved and -- celebrate them but just don't think it's my calling.

Don't want to alienate people that I'm trying to reach with whole -- with Chrysler.

-- sometimes those pastor friends say hey.

Ian need to get in little more outspoken I mean do you get that kind of -- back from other pastors or even from members of your own congregation is yeah.

It was more early owned him and people would say they have legitimate you know that's it -- we've got a big platform -- to speak for all of us but again.

I do think you have to stay focused on your home call and I don't -- I don't think you know when a wake up in the morning that sort my heart I don't feel like that's what I'm called to do so.

I think that's what had some success and I'm just myself to stay focused when -- got called me today.

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