Houston Pastor, Joel Osteen has been called the most watched inspirational figure in the country. Almost 50,000 people attend his Lakewood Church every weekend, and his sermons are broadcast to millions across the nation. The pastor offers a message about personal growth that appears to be more like a positive thinking seminar than a sermon. Perhaps that explains why he’s the leader of America’s largest congregation. Interviewed by Chris Wallace last week on Fox News Sunday, Osteen talked about lifting people up with his oratory, rather than pointing out the negatives in their lives. His books have become instant Best Sellers, indicating that his is a message people want to hear. He talks about everyday life in a way that everyone can relate to.

In addition, he tells people that they can improve their lives with a positive thinking formula. “There's a lot of negative things trying to pull people down, and I think people respond when you tell them that hey, there are good things up ahead,” he said. Osteen’s message is not new; Protestant preacher and author, Norman Vincent Peale helped a generation to improve their lives through “The power of positive thinking.” Pastor Osteen may be the modern version of Dr. Peale. If so, he has the power, through the Internet and other technological advances, to disseminate religious principles to an audience exceedingly more vast than his predecessor could ever dream of doing.