From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, North America’s largest and fastest growing church averaging more than 42,000 attendees at weekly services.

Joel Osteen is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Your Best Life Now, and his television ministry is the most watched inspirational program in America.

Joel Osteen attended Oral Roberts University in Oklahoma for a semester, but he chose to return home to continue working at the church. After 17 years with his father producing the church’s television program, Joel Osteen succeeded his father on October 3, 1999 as pastor of Lakewood Church. Ironically, Joel Osteen had only preached once in his life, the week before his father’s death. Today, Lakewood Church services, led by Pastor Joel Osteen are seen in over 100 nations around the world.

Joel Osteen first book, Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps to Living at Your Full Potential, was released in October 2004. Soon after publication, it was ranked at the top of the New York Times Bestseller’s list and continues to be among the top 10 best selling books (as of May 28, 2006).

In December 2006, Joel Osteen was named one of the year’s “Ten Most Fascinating People” by Barbara Walters.

Editorial Reviews extracted from Amazon.com (Joel Osteen)

Houston televangelist Joel Osteen is well qualified to write this book, having used the seven principles he shares to achieve his own “rags-to-riches” story.

At the heart of Osteen’s message is that achieving a successful, prosperous life of fulfillment can only occur when we stop worrying about the past or future to make the most of each present moment by using our God-given strengths and talents to achieve our goals.

The key to doing so are the seven steps Osteen outlines: Enlarge Your Vision, Develop a Healthy Self-Image, Discover the Power of Your Thoughts and Words, Let go of the Past, Find Strength Through Adversity, Live to Give, and Choose to Be Happy. Mixing biblical teachings with his own personal experiences, Osteen explains each of these seven steps in an encouraging, optimistic manner that makes them accessible to anyone interested in principles of personal growth.

Although written with a Christian slant, the seven steps Osteen shares will have value to anyone wanting to know more about practical steps of self-betterment, regardless of their denomination.