BALTIMORE, Md. — A struggling Baltimore parish received a surprising donation two Sundays ago, when a Maryland Lottery Cash Craze Crossword scratch-off ticket worth $30,000 arrived in the collection plate.
The ticket, which was already scratched revealing the win, was discovered by the church's pastor when tallying the day's contributions.
"I'm not too familiar with these tickets," said the pastor. "I asked somebody if it was a winner." The response was "It looks like it's a winner to me." With this affirmation, the 55-year-old church leader brought the ticket to Lottery Headquarters, where the largesse of an anonymous individual was confirmed.
"I have no idea who did this," the pastor declared. "I really have no clue."
The church, which has been experiencing financial difficulties, will use the money toward operating expenses, but the pastor also wishes to give some back to the people. "We have a lot of people in need," he said. "Hopefully, we can give some back, especially since this is the way we received it."
Although this unexpected windfall is much-appreciated, the church still faces financial challenges. With that in mind, the smiling pastor said that he intended to buy $5 worth of Mega Millions tickets for last Friday's drawing which had a jackpot of $312 million. He apparently did not win, as one ticket from New York scooped the massive grand prize.
The donated winning ticket was purchased at #1 Liberty Mart, located at 8625 Liberty Rd. in Randallstown.
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Im glad to read this. Now I want the Powerball or Mega Millions Jackpot to be hit in Maryland. I want to be the winner! Lol. I checked the 25 top MM and PB Winners and maryland has barely a presence on the list.
Our day is coming soon. Like tomorrow with me winning Powerball.
Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong, but, don't the majority of the churches preach that gambling is a sin and against the will of God? huummm well what do you know. (no. I'm not talking about the churches that encourages and plays bingo)
There's a sayings in the caribbean that goes like this: When times get hard even fowl haffe eat parch corn.
All in all May God bless the individual/persons for sowing a blessing, this is charity and that person will be blessed.
No, gambling is not a sin.
In fact, many churches have Bingo nights as fundraisers.
I call it "investing". the rate of return when done right is way more than the banks give you. I applaud the person for being so generous and doing it anonymously. My Dad always taught us this verse from the Bible.
"Cast your bread upon the waters and after many days it WILL return."
I was under that impression as well. Not sure If I thought churces considered it a "sin", but I did think that most were against it. I remember a while back a church-goer won big on the lottery and tried to donate a huge sum to his local church. They denied it and wouldnt take the money. I don't know much about different religions and their beliefs, but I do know that some of them are against gambling.
However, all churches are not shy about putting an offering plate in front of you =)
I know it's not a sin, but from my personal experiences from involvement in various denominations I have personally heard some of them preach that gambling to be a sin and as christians we should not participate in those things blah, blah, blah etc...etc...
I always say "From the moment you swing your foot out of bed you are taking a gamble" so I would never consider any form of gambling to be a sin.
I have a lot of friends that are regular church goers/members one of them does my taxes so I jokingly ask her if I could include my lottery losses she and her husband shouted "You gamble", and the preaching starts so I just tell them that the minute they open their front door to go out they just took the biggest gamble of their lives, and that shut them right up.
I agree with you 100% Todd, I love all games of chance and do not consider any of it to be a sin.
Thats the truth B$Rizzle, they pass that plate around like 3 times in some churches, I asked a preacher if I won millions from the lottery would he refuse my 10% donation and he just looked at me so I answered for him and he just smiled.
However you are right some would refuse it on those grounds if they know it came form the source of gambling and some are not shy they will rejoice for the donation, some would even continue to call you for more money.
God will bless that kind person ,Good for you .
I have been told by clergy that God can bless you any way he wants to. I have been in dire straights and was blessed with money that helped me to pay a bill due that very day or to help someone else who was in financial straights also. Prayer does change things and the person who gave the $30,000.00 believed it too.
Also, ask someone if they put money in the stock market. Is someone going to suggest the stock market is not gambling?
The bottom line is that gambling is a form of entertainment, and should be done in moderation, like anything in life.
I'm not sure why some churches/ministers/preachers/churchgoers feel that they need to treat gambling like a sin. You certainly can't point to a single passage in the Bible that indicates gambling is a sin.
Maybe it's like that Twilight Zone episode where they guy who rants and fumes about his wife wanting to play a slot machine is the one who is really weak, and they're ranting because they are trying to guard against their own personal weaknesses. Too bad the only way they can think to do that affects everyone else's freedom.
The stock market is not gambling. You are investing in a company with products and earning. Gone are the days of the bucket shops which were pretty much gambling.
May his giving hand never fail him.
Tell that to the millions of people who have lost their life savings and retirement on the stock market over the past decade.
Many of those investments were in "sure things". *chuckle*
Note that I'm not saying the stock market is a *bad* thing. Quite the opposite. But I do recognize it for what it is, and don't try to turn it into something it's not.
Thats what I call a plate of offerings. That was an unselfish deed on that individuals part, and he / she will be rewarded.
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As for the stock market, anytime you invest, whether to win or lose it's gambling....!
I completely agree.
The selfness of some people makes me know this world still has hope and that the greedy politicians and the wallstreet crowd are just the exception.
suprised the pastor just didn't throw it out not knowing what it was. donator took a real chance putting it in collection plate. someone elese could have easily gotten to it first. i know i would have grabbed it if give the chance.
i know i would have grabbed it if give the chance.
NOW Faber98 your statement should be considered a SIN. (stealing from the church...tut, tut, tut).
A thief.
Your parents must be so proud.
Praise the lord and pass the offering plate. Pfft...hypocrisy at it greatest!!
Well is anyone talking or giving draws on pick 3 or 4 tonight
I need some winning numbers for the texas picks, thank: swamper1
"Offering" is the operative word.
You obviously prefer "mandatory confiscation" by the government.
You're talking hypocrisy at it's greatest? Pffffffffft!
wow! that is a lotta of dough,
I guess the church needed it or someone
was paying there titche's offering.... swamper1
You might wanna mouse over Forums and mash down on the Pick 3 or Pick 4 Forum, swamper.
You'll find it there.
Good luck!
Sorry....should have said praise the lord and pass the bottle. Perhaps that would have been more clear. As hypocricy only of course.
I was trying to winnow out the point in your post - not knowing if it was in some way esoteric or just plain dumb when it struck me that you may be postulating that I am religious and trying to convey a backhanded insult.
Well, I'm not.
So you didn't.
You may now resume your assault on Christianity.
It's very trendy right now.
And what's more important than being trendy and repeating what all the trendy people say, right?
Brings a tear to tiggs eyes..God Bless you ridge...sniff sniff...
I knew there was a heart in there somewhere under that polyester bowling shirt!
And to think I had just said I have hope for the country....wow man stealing is just wrong. If nobody ever taught you that then learn now.
Polyester!!!........slick real slick!!!.........any patches (bowling) on it???
I think it said something like "Larry's Video and Chiropractic Shoppe" or something like that.
Wow that was a real nice thing for a person to do, They will be able to help a lot of needy people.
ha.....ha......
I agree sully.......and hope many people will be blessed from this..........beaudad..
I fully agree with you!
Congrats to the church......such a great thing for someoneto help for such a good cause.
I guess miracles do happen.
Those who always preach about lotteries being a waste of money seem to gravitate towards those folks they know who've won lotteries forever begging for 'donations'.
I still stand firm on playing responsibly !
IT is a sin.Everything is his,so that includes money.If your kid takes money out of your wallet and gives it away,would you give him more if he asked for it?That would be theft,and that is a sin.One of the ten itself.It's called stewardship in the bible.We are supposed to be good stewards of God's stuff.If we aren't,He might take it away.Thats why Christians tithe.It's for the local church to keep functioning and help others.Not for pastors to buy fancy cars and waste as do alot of churches today.As long as the person gives for the right reason,their safe.GOD sees there heart.What they do with it after that is on them and wouldn't decide wether or not God blesses the giver.That why christians call it a sin.I'm not bashing anyone with the bible so please don't take it as such.I had the same question myself and looked it up.I'm just giving you the answer that was researched and found true.I don't guess an answer.It's not worth wasting your time reading to read it.
JOHNNYGUNZ ON FIRE!!!!!!!
What's a sin, playing the lottery?
"Here's an idea to get rid of some counterfeit money. Put it in the collection plate at church. See how often the simple solution will elude us." George Carlin
And what purpose would that serve?
According to the bible,gambling shows God that people aren't trusting that He will provide for whoever is playing,instead they are relying on chance because the person gambling feels what God hasn't given him or her enough to be satisfied with.LUKE chapter 3,verse 14 tells us to be content with our wages.
I don't know how you construe John the Baptist telling soldiers to be content with their wages with God not wanting anyone to gamble but it makes me wonder why you've come to the Lottery Post if you indeed think gambling is a sin.
The difference between reading the Bible and quoting what someone says the Bible says involves reading the actual text while considering the possible meanings within the context. Most people who've ever taken the trouble to read the scriptures aren't able to find anywhere it says gambling is a sin.
On the off chance you've ever read parts of it and come to the conclusion it does, congratulations on having found one interpretation of the words printed there.
I have been studying it for the past 12 years because some christians told me I was going to hell.So if I took them at their word,that would make me a fool if I didn't research it for myself.I'm not knocking anyone anyone for gambling,I play and was checking the #s and looked around and here I am.Gambling,stealing,using Gods name in vain is still sin in His eyes.It's all the same to Him=SIN.I just asked the same question b4 and what I found is what I shared in the first post. Sorry if I offended anyone.Thats not what I meant to do.
JOHNNYGUNZ!!!!!!!!!!!
Welcome to Lottery Post johnnygunz.
Best of luck to ya!
