Realistically, it’s the longest of the long shots that the Magic could re-sign Turkoglu when the free agency signing period officially starts at midnight tonight. The Magic reportedly have already offered Turkoglu a low-ball four-year, $35 million deal that Turkoglu declined before opting out of his final season with the Magic. That’s when the Magic went out and made the blockbuster trade for Vince Carter, who still has $34 million and two years left on his contract. It’s highly unlikely the Magic will come up with an offer that’s even close to the five-year, $50 million deal Turkoglu is reportedly seeking. According to Turkoglu he’s just ‘looking out for his family’s future’. Really??? Like only a mere piss in the pot thirty-five million dollars to play basketball for a living isn‘t enough to be set? Is one man, even if he’s incredibly talented ala Michael Jordan, truly worth that kind of salary?
But it brings up an interesting point: How much is enough? How much is he or anyone really worth for the high-profile job that they do. Pastors are a big conundrum salary-wise. They live off of the scrapings of little old ladies writing checks for God instead of food for themselves. They take God’s money from others and do whatever they wish with those funds, mostly without others (even the U.S. Government) even knowing. Then they turn around and get tax-exempt status on it. Prophets for profits is a great business to be in. As the saying goes, ‘there’s a sucker born every minute’, and he wants to be he’s making a difference so start writing out the check…
On 6 November 2007, United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of several ministries by the United States Senate Committee on Finance. Grassley asked for financial information (Grassley’s letter) to the committee to determine whether Dollar made any personal profit from financial donations and requested that Dollar’s ministry make the information available by December 6, 2007. The investigation also asked for information from five other televangelists: Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Eddie L. Long, Joyce Meyer, and Paula White.
On Mar 16, 2009, Grassley, now only an individual Senator on the committee, stated “My staff and I continue to review the information we’ve received from the ministries that cooperated, and we continue to weigh our options for the ministries that have not cooperated,” noting that two of the ministries gave full financial disclosure. Dollar has contested the probe, arguing that the proper governmental entity to examine religious groups is the IRS, not the Committee on Finance.
Here’s some of the more prominent pastors with questionable fiscal responsibility with your funds:
In March 2005, Ministry Watch, an independent evangelical organization which reviews Christian ministries for financial transparency and efficiency and advises potential donors accordingly, issued a Donor Alert stating that “the reported exorbitant spending of the Benny Hinn family reveals that BHM has far more money than it needs to carry out its ministry” and advising Christians to “prayerfully consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn” while praying for his restoration and repentance. Benny Hinn Ministries is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.
Pastor Joyce Meyer, owns several expensive homes and travels in a private jet (currently a Gulfstream IV), has been criticized by some of her peers for living an excessive lifestyle. She claims that she doesn’t have to defend her spending habits because “there’s no need for us to apologize for being blessed.” Meyer also alludes to a double standard in the criticism of her lifestyle, saying, “You can be a businessman here in St. Louis, and people think the more you have, the more wonderful it is…but if you’re a preacher, then all of a sudden it becomes a problem.”
Pastor Eddie L. Long
On August 28, 2005 the Atlanta Journal-Constitution printed a front page spread accusing Long of mishandling funds that were funneled through a charity started by Long. The article reports that from 1997-2000, the non-profit charity, Bishop Eddie Long Ministries Inc., provided him with at least $3.07 million in salary, benefits and the use of property. Long contended that the charity did not solicit donations from members but instead gained its income from royalties, speaking fees and several large donations.
Pastor Paula White
In August 2007, Paula purchased a 3,300-square-foot (310 m2) home in Coveny Ranch, a master-planned community in the San Antonio metropolitan area, appraised at close to $700,000. The residence rests on 3.7 acres (15,000 m2) and includes a pool, guest house and three-car garage.
The Tampa Tribune reported on March 5, 2008 that Without Walls has put its 4,500–seat Tampa church up for sale, along with its 13.3-acre (5 ha) grounds and 94,000-square-foot (8,733 m2) offices and television studio, asking $30 million. Without Walls International Church is now facing foreclosure.
Paula White has received criticism from some Christians for promoting a prosperity gospel. Paula White’s ministries took in $39.9 million in 2006. Paula White used about $28.6 million to help promote her church’s programs, conferences and outreach efforts, the audit said. A former staff member for Without Walls International Church named Hector Gomez said, “Mansions, big planes, money, fame. That’s what it’s all about now; there are prophets for God, and there are prophets for profit. That’s the category they fit in.” and that he has received “more manipulation than inspiration” from them. Larry DeLaRosa, who left the church in 2000, stated that “They’ve [Randy and Paula White] built an empire and used it to gain their own financial wealth.”
Kenneth Copeland:
The Kenneth Copeland Airport is a private airport established by Kenneth Copeland Ministries to serve the area and was named after the main user, Kenneth Copeland, in Fort Worth. It is near Copeland’s ministry and home, providing base to Copeland’s seven aircraft.
In 2007 Copeland was accused of using his $20 million Cessna Citation X jet for personal vacations and friends. In January John Copeland, son of Kenneth, published a video on the KCM website in which he stated the Citation X jet owned by the ministry was used for personal travel ten percent of the time in 2007, and the ratio for ten percent of the time for personal travel on a 20 million dollar jet would be equal to two million dollars. The KCM board of directors made the decision that Kenneth and Gloria would never again have to travel on public airlines. Kenneth Copeland has claimed that they have used the Citation X for personal use but they pay for every cent of it. The Copeland’s financial records are not publicly available and a list of the Board of Directors is not accessible as these details are protected and known confidentially by the Internal Revenues. Responding to media questions, Copeland pointed to an accounting firm’s declaration that all jet travel complies with federal tax laws.
In December 2008, Copeland’s 1998 Cessna Bravo 550, his second jet, valued at $3.6 million was denied tax-exemption after Copeland refused to submit to disclosure laws for the state of Texas.
Creflo Dollar
is known for his controversial teachings of Prosperity theology. He calls himself “Dr. Creflo Dollar,” but his doctoral degree is merely honorary. Dollar started his ministry in 1986 with eight people and in 2007 was said to have a congregation of 30,000 with $69 million in revenue (gross cash collections) for 2006.
How much is enough? 69 MILLION? That seems like a good number…to start with. I’m surprised there’s not more pastors on TV with the profits they rake in. Sure, yer leading people away from God and there’s a ’special’ place in Hell waiting for you for that, but what do you care anyway yer living it up big time in this world. Mansions, bling and private jets tend to do just that.
The ‘cost’ will come later…
