Remember Jim Bakker?  In the 1980s, he was arguably the world's most successful televangelist--not only did he bring in millions of dollars a year, but he had his own broadcasting satellite and built Heritage USA, an opulent Christian theme park and residential community. 

His empire fell, however, when the local paper exposed a major scandal:  Bakker's ministry was paying hush money to a church secretary he had pressured into sex.  External audits soon revealed a host of other financial irregularities, and Bakker went to jail. 

Upon his release, Bakker built a new ministry on the foundation of his personal repentance.  In prison, he said, God taught him not to focus on money and worldly things.  Now . . .

Well, as I saw this morning when I discovered The New Jim Bakker Show on cable, now he peddles Christian jewelry. 

With friends like these . . .