$$$ What would you do if you won the lottery? $$$

[Danus]

A "crazy" thing? I take it outside of the "spiritually" correct answers?!

I like the question, if for anything but to dream crazy for a moment! HAHA

Now I have dual residency (Las Vegas, NV and Tucson, Az) so when I think of the lottery (or mega-bucks) I think of multi-million dollars! (it's my dream, I can make it as big as I want! HAHA)

I would take my entire family downline (wife, 5 kids, 4 spouses, 10 grandchildren, and a partridge in a pear tree!) on a luxury, all-inclusive, 2+ week cruise.

I would then inform them that we (all) are multi-millionaires yet can't spend a dime of it because we are stuck in the middle of an ocean somewhere!!

Not crazy enough? Try telling that to my kids and grandkids! HAHA


Be blessed, Stay blessed, and be Bold!

.... Well I know you can spend as much as you want on a cruse.


These are fun questions. This one in particular came up in my office on a particular slow day recently.

I don't play the lottery, but I have form time to time in office pools and such. Someone brought it up and then someone else started in with their crazy money dream.

I'm usually the last to partake in these types of questions, but when it was my turn and everyone looked at me for what I might say, I just told them that I would not show up for work.

This did not set well because everyone else included others in the office with their winnings. You know, buy everyone a car or something. Then I twisted the knife and said that on that day I would have a surprise for them. I would rent a clown to stop by around lunch time and bring pizza for everyone. Then when they where done I'd have the clown sing a little song abut me winning the lottery and wishing them all well in their lives.

But seriously my wife and I have entertained this thought as well after watching this show on TLC called "The lottery changed my life." Ever seen it? It's an interesting reality show.

I said to my wife; "Why isn't there a show called "Jesus Changed My life"?" Hummmm....no one would watch.

 

[HisSheep]

I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses to this. It’s fun.

Well, first of all, I never ever, EVER actually PLAY the lottery.

Ever.

It’s not just a religious thing either, though I recognize gambling can be sinful. Still, I will put a dollar in an office pool or what not… But there is a money-grubbing greediness in casinos and the lottery that makes me nauseated to watch. All the lotto-junkies at the counters in the convenience stores just seem sin-sick. It has a repellant effect on me.

But, if I were to FIND a lottery ticket and it turned out to be a WINNER, I would use the proceeds to buy a parcel of wooded New England land that included a lake or pond, and open a modest Christian family campground and establish a trust to support it until the Lord’s return. I would quit my job and dedicate myself to the camp. It would have cabins and tent and trailer sites for rent, communal dinners periodically. Church twice a day; morning and evening – a weekly rotation of pastors stay in a cabin for free.

As a boy, I loved just such a campground. I grew up there, but it is now closed; sold to the town of Plymouth, MA. Now it is open to the public as a recreation area. That’s better than turning it into condominiums, but still, I can’t bear to go back there yet.

I’d open a camp like that. Though it may seem altruistic, it's actually self-indulgent!

Thanks for inducing this fantasy!

-HisSheep

 

[Classik]

I said to my wife; "Why isn't there a show called "Jesus Changed My life"?" Hummmm....no one would watch.

No one would watch . Just a limited number could...and some would keep sighing and slowly sneak away! .

then call it 'Jesus will change your life life through a trillion dollar lottery' and you would have millions Trampled underfoot! No venue would just do! Try Camp Nou as a venue - and you'd have 50X the number of contestants inside staying outside!
Jesus lottery :D

 

[Lewis]

I would hire a hit man to kill everybody that I don't like. Just kidding, just kidding.
I would take care of certain family members, but I would give 10% to God first. I would invest so that the money could multiply. And I would go to Africa and help people who don't have anything. And if I won like some of these people here in Pennsylvania 90 to 100 million I would have housing built for the poor in Africa.
But here is the big kicker, Christians are discouraged from playing the lottery, because we are told that, we are not supposed to get our blessings playing games of chance. But millions of Christians don't pay this any attention at all, and I mean no attention at all. My pastor said that he runs into our members playing the lottery and they try to hide from him if they can. And here is a question that I always had. If a Christian wins the lottery, is it right to give 10% to God being that we are not supposed to play the lottery ? Would it be criminal to God, to offer Him tainted money. Because if it is forbidden by Him, that is just what it will be, tainted money. So is discouragement from playing the lottery Biblical or not Biblical ?

 

[Sparkey]

In a 6-from-49 lotto, a player chooses six numbers from 1 to 49 (no duplicates are allowed). If all six numbers on the player's ticket match those produced in the official drawing, then the player is a jackpot winner. This is true regardless of the order in which the numbers are drawn. For such a lottery, the chance of being a jackpot winner is 1 in 13,983,816 (note that most lotteries have much worse odds). The derivation of this result (and other winning odds) is shown in the Lottery mathematics article. To put these odds in perspective, suppose a person buys one lottery ticket per week. In a quarter-million years of play, the person would be expected to win the jackpot only once (13,983,816 weeks is roughly 269,000 years). Or if one bought a ticket every other second for one year, he would probably win the jackpot just once.

Mega Millions is a very popular multi-state lottery in the United States which is known for jackpots that grow very large from time to time. This attractive feature is made possible simply by designing the game to be extremely difficult to win: 1 chance in 175,711,536. That's over twelve times higher than the example above.

What would the odds of a windfall ticket (literally a ticket blown by the wind) coming into my hands and winning? Surely not that much higher. What if I were fishing and found a ticket in the mouth of the dog-fish or other trash-fish I caught? Personally I think the winnings would be wasted on me. Yes, I'd be thankful and yes, I've thought about what I'd do if so blessed but when it comes down to it, I've got nothing specific in mind. I'd probably consult an attorney and a CPA to figure out how to protect myself from taxes. Do things like donate my furniture to charity before replacing it so that I could deduct, stuff like that. Like I said, boring and probably wasted.

 

[stovebolts]

Now I know many of you want to post some glorious deeds in here. How you would wisely spend this money. How you would be good stewards and all, but none of that! Unless or until you first tell of the crazy thing you would do.

Me? when I was a kid I loved playing with Tonka Trucks. I had them all, and every day I'd be working on my on going construction site in the back yard. If I won the lottery, I'd have myself a real one. 10 acres or so of dirt. Bull-dowsers, diggers and dump trucks. I have a blast.

You?

I would buy the 140 acres next to me and like you, I'd own my own bull dowsers and diggers. Not sure about the dump truck.... But I'd have one awesome dirt bike track for me and my son... and any friends that wanted to come over and ride!~

And of course, dare I say... I'd build a bigger "barn" to store a new CTS and ZR1 :D

Now that I have your requirements for posting in this topic out of the way, I'd seriously buy these two big buildings. One is in Flint Mi and the other is in Spokane Wa. Both have been empty for some years in the heart of distressed neighborhoods. I'd gut both buildings and turn them into centers to help out other people. I'd try to get all the local churches involved both from a volenteer pov and a financial commitment.

I'd try to have temporary shelter, maybe a jobs skill area in the field of automotive and welding and of course computers or any area I could get teachers for. I'd also have a GED program and grants for college as well as career and family counseling.

I'd put tight stipulations on the programs to where I would be helping other people help themselves by creating relationships amongst the helpers and the ones being helped and not simply people being shuttled down a process. Everyone is useful, so it would be finding a persons area of usefullness and growing it.

 

[stovebolts]

I enjoyed reading everyone’s responses to this. It’s fun.

Well, first of all, I never ever, EVER actually PLAY the lottery.

Ever.

It’s not just a religious thing either, though I recognize gambling can be sinful. Still, I will put a dollar in an office pool or what not… But there is a money-grubbing greediness in casinos and the lottery that makes me nauseated to watch. All the lotto-junkies at the counters in the convenience stores just seem sin-sick. It has a repellant effect on me.

But, if I were to FIND a lottery ticket and it turned out to be a WINNER, I would use the proceeds to buy a parcel of wooded New England land that included a lake or pond, and open a modest Christian family campground and establish a trust to support it until the Lord’s return. I would quit my job and dedicate myself to the camp. It would have cabins and tent and trailer sites for rent, communal dinners periodically. Church twice a day; morning and evening – a weekly rotation of pastors stay in a cabin for free.

As a boy, I loved just such a campground. I grew up there, but it is now closed; sold to the town of Plymouth, MA. Now it is open to the public as a recreation area. That’s better than turning it into condominiums, but still, I can’t bear to go back there yet.

I’d open a camp like that. Though it may seem altruistic, it's actually self-indulgent!

Thanks for inducing this fantasy!

-HisSheep

If your ever interested in coming to Michigan let me know

mcyc.org

 

[stovebolts]

I can plow up some ground brother.
Here is a secret about ol'Danus. I drove an 18 wheeler in my younger days for 3 years all over God's country, and some in that place they call CANADA where they sell special beacon that is actually just ham.

Before that I worked at a place stacking flatbed trailers for shipping using a huge Hyster fork lift. I paid for my beer and tuition doing that. Loved it.

Awesome! I drove for 11 years! I've seen every state within the contiguous US, plus three Providences in Canada! Last outfit I drove for was Martin Transport out of Mondovi Wi. Also ran for Bayliner Marine before they were Marine Express.

 

[Lewis]

Lewis Wrote
But here is the big kicker, Christians are discouraged from playing the lottery, because we are told that, we are not supposed to get our blessings playing games of chance. But millions of Christians don't pay this any attention at all, and I mean no attention at all. My pastor said that he runs into our members playing the lottery and they try to hide from him if they can. And here is a question that I always had. If a Christian wins the lottery, is it right to give 10% to God being that we are not supposed to play the lottery ? Would it be criminal to God, to offer Him tainted money. Because if it is forbidden by Him, that is just what it will be, tainted money. So is discouragement from playing the lottery Biblical or not Biblical ?

How come nobody will answer this, from my above post ?

 

[stovebolts]

How come nobody will answer this, from my above post ?

Because we are having too much fun talking about the fun things we'd do if we won the lottery.... ;)

 

[Lewis]

Because we are having too much fun talking about the fun things we'd do if we won the lottery.... ;)

That is great, I had fun with it too. But that question needs an answer because if it is wrong, we should not do it. Now if it is not looked down upon by the Bible, I am going to go and get me some tickets within thee hour.:yes

So I will post the question below again, brothers & sisters.

Lewis Wrote
But here is the big kicker, Christians are discouraged from playing the lottery, because we are told that, we are not supposed to get our blessings playing games of chance. But millions of Christians don't pay this any attention at all, and I mean no attention at all. My pastor said that he runs into our members playing the lottery and they try to hide from him if they can. And here is a question that I always had. If a Christian wins the lottery, is it right to give 10% to God being that we are not supposed to play the lottery ? Would it be criminal to God, to offer Him tainted money. Because if it is forbidden by Him, that is just what it will be, tainted money. So is discouragement from playing the lottery Biblical or not Biblical ?

 

[stovebolts]

That is great, I had fun with it too. But that question needs an answer because if it is wrong, we should not do it. Now if it is looked down upon by the Bible, I am going to go and get me some tickets within thee hour.:yes

Lewis Brother,

The bible doesn't say, "Don't play the lottery".

If this really bothers you, start a new thread brother. Don't crash the party dude

 

[Lewis]

<table align="center" border="0" width="97%"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="90%">Should a Christian gamble or play the lotteries?
Author: Mike Scott

</td> <td align="center" width="10%">
</td> </tr></tbody></table> <hr size="1" width="100%"> First, we should differentiate gambling from other risks and ventures. Legally, gambling is the taking of unnecessary and unproductive risk in which one agrees that on the outcome of an uncertain event he may gain or lose. Webster says, "to play games of chance for money or other stake, to take a risk in order to gain some advantage." Our courts have rarely had any trouble deciding whether an activity is gambling or not.

Many activities involving uncertainties do not fall within the legal definition of gambling. For example, farming, commerce, investments which are "productive" risks. Travel and other daily activities which involve necessary risks are not considered "gambling." Insurance is designed to spread the risk of loss, reducing the possible injury to any one insured. Promotional "giveaways" are a legal form of advertising in which the merchant received attention in return for the "chance to win" with no purchase required.
Betting, playing the lotto, buying lottery tickets, playing games for money, or for merchandise, and similar activities are gambling.

In the Bible "casting lots" had the form, but not always the substance of gambling. The Roman soldier's method of gambling for the robe of Jesus was used in selecting Judas's successor (Luke 23:34; John 19:23-25; Acts 1:26). In the Old Testament, God intervened to remove the element of chance when "casting lots" was used to determine His will (i.e. 1 Sam. 14:41-42).
Because the Bible does not explicitly say, "thou shall not gamble,"defenders of gambling sometimes say that gambling is not condemned. The Bible does not specifically condemn the snorting of cocaine either!

But that does not make it right, or acceptable to God.
The word "rape" is not found in the Bible, yet it is almost universally considered as sinful. The Bible is a book of principles. If everything that could be mentioned were mentioned by name, the Bible would be so massive that we could not live long enough to read it all. What makes gambling sinful? It violates a number of New Testament principles.

For example, gambling violates the New Testament principle of stewardship. Christians are to be "faithful and sensible" stewards of the things entrusted to them by God (Luke 12:42). Someday we must give an account of our stewardship (Luke 16:1-2). The Bible teaches that God is the owner of the world and all things (Psalm 24:1; Exodus 18:4; Psalm 50:10-12). All belong to the Lord. Therefore no one has the right to foolishly involve himself in taking a risk in gambling away that which belongs to God. The probability of any one person's winning is so low and uncertain that gamblers risk and waste their Master's goods. The faithful and wise steward will conserve his resources, invest them profitably and use them for good (see

Matthew chapter 25).
Gambling is sinful because it violates the law of love. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF,"(Matt. 22:39). In Matthew 7:12 he said, ""In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you." 1 Cor. 10:24 says, "Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor." The gambler seeks to gain at the expense of one or many others. In Christian business transactions, all parties gain something of value, Col. 3:17 - "

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Gambling is sinful because the fruit of gambling is evil. Christians are to "abhor what is evil," (Romans 12:9). Christians are to produce good fruit according to Matthew 7:17-18, not evil. Gambling is accompanied by greed, crime, corruption. It frequently robs children of food and clothing. It destroys homes. Today many states have legalized gambling, however this does not make it acceptable in the eyes of God. When New Jersey legalized gambling in 1978, according to F.B.I. crime statistics, the crime rate jumped 92%!

Should we expect anything good to come from ventures designed to benefit one person at the expense of another. If a person who called himself a christian engages in a thing that causes strife and vanity, then his "christianity" is worthless.
Gambling is sinful because it is a form of materialism. Consider:

Matthew 6:19-24
19 ¶ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Colossians 3:1-2.
1 ¶ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.
3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Gambling is associated with the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). It is an expression of the love of the world (1 John 2:15-17). It is nothing more than greed and covetousness (Eph. 5:5; Col. 3:5). It is the worship of materialism.
It has no spiritually redeeming value.

Should a Christian gamble or play the lotteries?

 

[jasoncran]

How come nobody will answer this, from my above post ?

i dont play the lotto. complete waste of time. the odds are to great. i have gambled yes but not since my conversion. to me it a sin. i dont believe in legalised gambling do to the crime that has historically surrounded it. money begotten by manipulation is a sin.

 

[Mike]

I heard someone say the other day that the lottery is a tax people who aren't good at math. :rolling

Kinda like at sin tax, this is a "can't understand horrible odds" tax. :toofunny

(No offense to anyone. It's just a joke! )

 

[Danus]

Awesome! I drove for 11 years! I've seen every state within the contiguous US, plus three Providences in Canada! Last outfit I drove for was Martin Transport out of Mondovi Wi. Also ran for Bayliner Marine before they were Marine Express.

Good deal!
I know Martin Transport pretty well. I'm still in the freight business myself, but these days I broker freight; air, rail, ocean but mostly truck. Sometimes I still wish I could hop in a big rig again, and just take off, but it's been almost 20 years I'm not sure I can still shift one, but give me a day. I used to drop into gears with not a touch of clutch, other than to get'her moving . Something about the raw power of big machines. When you operate one, you become part of it. Or so it seems.

I heard someone say the other day that the lottery is a tax people who aren't good at math. :rolling

/B]

Exactly and the house always wins.

 

[stovebolts]

Good deal!
I know Martin Transport pretty well. I'm still in the freight business myself, but these days I broker freight; air, rail, ocean but mostly truck. Sometimes I still wish I could hop in a big rig again, and just take off, but it's been almost 20 years I'm not sure I can still shift one, but give me a day. I used to drop into gears with not a touch of clutch, other than to get'her moving . Something about the raw power of big machines. When you operate one, you become part of it. Or so it seems.



Exactly and the house always wins.

Small world Danus!

Martin was a good company and I had a really good dispatcher. Actually, my dispatcher was the son of the head of Safety at the time and he had a very low opinion of truck drivers Anyway, I always made my schedule and even saved his rear end a few times. I think the turning point for him was when I made it from Portland to Chicago in two days. I told him I would do it for him, but he would have to get me back to Mondovi and I wanted prime rib. It was some of the best prime rib I've had

The trucking industry has really changed in the past 20 years, and I can't see myself ever driving again. But I did love driving them! I cut my teeth on the West Coast driving the mountains and pulling 101k around them mountains with a 20' pup with a wee 235 cummins and a 540 rear end, you get pretty good at shifting. If I can brag a bit... my Dad taught me how to shift both up and down like an automatic when we drove team for Bayliner. No 'blipping' the throttle or jerking the drive shaft (you could rip them out then), no scrubbing the curb or you'd be out there washing the tire and you had to make sure you were no further than 6 inches from the curb when you turned.... that is, unless you were in Chicago

One thing I still love from my trucking days is the Radio. I got into SSB to reduce my phone bill and I still have a nice Icom 720 and an HR 2510 with a 250 watt palomar and a 2k watt Densen with a PDL 2 50' in the air. Was playing with it a little bit last night with my son and we were talking into Arizona and Southern Cal. Had Jamaka in there for a wee bit too.

Hey, ever been to the T/A in Ontario Ca? I've got some good stories from that place! And yes, I was an excellent backer! Cut my teeth on an 82 Pete (Centerpoint steering) with a 45" reefer in the L.A. produce market. Basically, it was an ally about 49 feet wide. You were jack knifed into the dock... it's the only way you could fit. I got really, really good at backing up.

 

[stovebolts]

I heard someone say the other day that the lottery is a tax people who aren't good at math. :rolling

Kinda like at sin tax, this is a "can't understand horrible odds" tax. :toofunny

(No offense to anyone. It's just a joke! )

Ha ha! And they told us that it was for the schools... bah ha!