DUIN: Osteen’s book again upbeat

Joel Osteen is unquestionably the 21st century’s Norman Vincent Peale, churning out book after book of homespun advice on how to set goals, conquer adversity and believe God for better times.

With millions of copies sold of “Your Best Life Now” and “Become a Better You,” his latest inspirational book is a mouthful. “It’s Your Time: Activate Your Faith, Achieve Your Dreams and Increase in God’s Favor” is his response to the country’s worst economic recession in 80 years.

“I felt compelled to write this now,” he told me Tuesday, the day the book launched. “With the economy being so bad and people’s spirits being so low, I wanted to write something to encourage people in their faith so they can believe they can go further and not put their hopes and dreams on hold.

“Even at the church, I’ve been speaking — more than ever — telling people God is in control. I tell them I don’t want you talked into having a down year but having a great year.”

America’s most-watched inspirational figure hasn’t done too badly himself in the 10 years it’s been since he took over Lakewood Church. Begun in 1959 in a drab corner of north Houston by his late father, John Osteen, Lakewood is now the country’s largest church. Some 71,000 people are listed as local donors on its rolls and about 42,000 worshippers attend five services a week in the 16,000-seat former Compaq Center.

The younger Osteen, now 46, said the church will make its $75 million budget this year even though it still owes $40 million for building renovations.

“I am still amazed at what has happened in a short amount of time,” he said. “I am amazed at the favor and influence God has given us. I believe we are positioned to get started with what God wants us to do.”

He’s got his eye on some film and TV projects based on inspirational stories from his books. Anyone can dream big, he said, even the children he recently visited at a Kenyan orphanage near where his older brother, Paul, operates a charity hospital.

“I told them God has a great plan and purpose for your life,” he said of his speech to hundreds of orphans, “and that you can be something great; you can be doctors and lawyers and that they are not an accident. I tried to build their confidence and self-esteem. You could see the sparkle in their eyes. You speak faith to somebody and they start thinking of what they can do.”

In his cosmology, God is waiting to shower us with blessings if we only believe they will come to pass. I noted phrases in his book like “speaking [God’s] favor over your checkbook” and asked if the solution to financial problems is as simple as refusing negative thoughts.

“A key part is trust - believing God is in control - and that he is directing your steps,” he said. “I pray every Sunday for a half dozen people who have cancer and I say ‘God has armed you for this battle, so get up each morning and make declarations of faith.’ When you do that, it allows God to work in your life.”

He added, “The country is so affected by the news media, which puts depression, discouragement and gloom on people. Seasons come and seasons go - the great corporations were built out of times of difficulty. It’s possible there are great days ahead for America. This is just a bump.”

• Julia Duin’s Stairway to Heaven column runs on Thursdays and Sundays. Contact her at jduin@washingtontimes.com.