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State
lotteries, Powerball, casinos ... so many people play these games daily.
Most of them either think that money will solve their problems, give
them security or give them more power than they think they have.
And some people gamble just for the fun of it. Gambling has been
found in almost every race and culture since 4,000 BC.
My dad was one of those who gambled
for the fun of it. I can remember as a child he would play cards
with his friends and others in the community. Not always did these
card games involve betting ... but often they did. I can remember
once when he played cards at the Paris Country Club (Paris, Missouri)
and won quite a sum of money. Now, my mother did not approve of
gambling, being a Baptist ... but he finally told her that he had won
the money and was going to buy her a gift with some of it ... but she
refused to accept it. Gambling was something that they did not
agree on.
I have mixed feelings about gambling even
though I have enjoyed some wonderful trips to Las Vegas prior to
studying for the ministry ... and I have even put a few dollars in slot
machines since. I think that many of us gamble on a lot of things
... new business ventures ... investments; etc. so I don't judge
gambling based on any moral opinion. I firmly believe that
gambling and spending are two things that we should only do if we have
the money ... gamble with the money that we are willing to lose ... and
spend only the money we have and don't use credit cards against money
that we do not have yet. Both are games of "chance" and
there is always the chance that we will come up short.
LAID-OFF FACTORY WORKER WINS
POWERBALL
INDIANAPOLIS - A man who was laid off last
week from his job at a tractor factory claimed a $89 million Powerball
prize Monday with the sole winning ticket.
Tim Rivers said he and his wife, Pam, plan to buy a
new house and move out of their mobile home in the town of Salem in
southern Indiana.
The couple, who are both 24 and have two young
children, opted for the cash option and will receive $49.9 million
before taxes, a Hoosier Lottery spokeswoman said.
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I read the news item above this past week.
At first glance it would look like this young couple got
"lucky." But, I don't think "luck" had
much to do with it. I believe it comes down to the difference
between "have" and "be." When the young man,
Tim Rivers, found that he had won the Powerball Lottery, the first thing
he did was call a financial planner. Both Tim and his wife, Pam,
want to further their education. Pam plans to study nursing.
In other words, they both want to "be" something more than
they were. Wanting to "be" more is more spiritually
powerful than wanting to "have" more. Even without
winning the Powerball Lottery, this young couple would have found a way
to further their education ... winning $49.9 million dollars ... just
opened up the way. Now that the "way" has opened up ...
it is still up to them to realize their goals. Some people would
not ... and most of us have read about people who win lotteries only to
realize greater problems in their lives. "Having" more
will never make us happy ... "Be-ing" what we want to
"Be" ... will. I believe that the strong desire to
"Be" more ... "Caused" this couple to win the
lottery. "Be-ing" more brings us closer to the Infinite.
The Infinite is always seeking to "Be" more through us ...
always seeking an expansion of our consciousness of Good, of Happiness,
Joy and Contentment.
When we
choose to "Be" more ... we can place our bets on God to see us
to our goals. We won't need luck or chance ... we won't have to
worry or cause injury to anyone ... we won't have to know all the
details of how we are going to "Be-come" that which we choose
to "Be" ... we can just toss the dice of faith and know that
God, Infinite Be-ing ... Is with us all the way!
And
So It Is!
Maximum Love,
Rev.
Hank Bates
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