Why Christians Shouldn’t Gamble
Why do you think a Christian shouldn’t gamble? What are the tests of whether you should do something or not, gambling or otherwise? Read on, and explore this vital subject with me.Here are some tests to help you determine what is right or wrong to do when it is not clear:Does it glorify God?The Bible tells us we are to glorify God in everything that we do. You may or may not agree with this, but that is what God wants from us. If you were an ambassador for America to another country, you would have to stand up for America and honor your country. The same is true if we call ourselves Christians. We can’t be that if we dishonor God in what we say and do. That is hypocrisy, and you know what the world thinks of that.Does it glorify God for you to spend the money God has allowed you to have on gambling? No. The Bible also says that God has given each of us the power to make money. But if we fritter our money away on gambling, that doesn’t show much wisdom on our part. Those machines or whatever you are doing at the casino or elsewhere are set up to make money for the people behind them. So you are basically throwing your money away by doing this.Does it hurt someone else?This reason for a Christian not gambling seems to stir up the most controversy. The Bible tells us in the book of Romans that we are to be mindful of others whenever we do something. The verses this lesson is in talk about eating food that is offered to idols but the overall lesson applies to anything we do. For instance, when my wife and I were first married, we knew a couple who didn’t believe in going to any restaurant that served alcoholic beverages. Even though neither of us drank, in their mind it was wrong to even go to a restaurant that served these things. So if we had insisted and taken them there anyway, the Bible would call that stumbling them, and possibly damaging their relationship with God. So we didn’t go to those kinds of restaurants when they were with us.Let’s say you are a strong Christian and you can handle gambling without it hurting you spiritually. But someone who is a weaker Christian sees you at the casino or wherever engaging in gambling.They are weaker in the faith and may have a problem keeping from going overboard in this area. So by your being there, it may prompt them to gamble and have some bad circumstances.Where is the money going?The money you spend at the casino doesn’t go to Christians, but to an Indian tribe, and other people who in all likelihood are not Christians or they would not be in that business. Basically, the money is going to the enemy, Satan, or someone who is not a believer. So by spending your money there in whatever manner, you are helping to perpetrate evil. You probably won’t go along with this comment because you want to gamble and you may think I am too narrow-minded. But if you truly think about this and pray about it, you will see the truth in it.Even if you go to the entertainment or out to eat or to a sporting event or concert at a casino or whatever you are still feeding the enemy your money God has given you. Certainly God wants us to enjoy ourselves, but not everything honors God in this world.Your witness.If you are telling your friends and family you are a Christian and then still go to gamble, how is that different from the world? The Bible says we are to be a light in the darkness for others to see God in us. If you go to gamble and the worldly person goes to gamble, what is the difference between you. You are giving a bad example. You can’t tell your friends and family not to do this if you are doing it. That is hypocrisy as well. Are you a true Christian or a hypocrite? This applies to anything, smoking etc. You can’t tell people not to do what you are doing. Then you are a bad example and your witness as a Christian is non-existent.Would Jesus do it?If you study the Bible you will see how Jesus conducted Himself. So that would give you a good idea if He would do the thing you are contemplating. Of course, you can say He would do it as an excuse for doing it anyway, but if you are truly sincere, you will search the scriptures and discern whether it is fitting to do what you have planned after much prayer.For instance, would Jesus get His own way in spite of whether it hurt others? No, because Jesus had humility and He put His Father’s will above His own. He didn’t come to hurt people but to help them by saving them from their sins. There is a good book about this subject called In His Steps, that will show you how to decide if Jesus would do a certain thing. You can find it at a Bible bookstore or online. Sometimes they have specials when you can get a copy for about five dollars or less.Pray about what you have read in this article and listen for what God tells you about it. Ultimately, you are responsible to God for what you do and say. None of us knows when Jesus is coming back, but He is coming, so do you want to be gambling when He does come? Talk about embarrassing to say the least. Remember the world is watching everything you do and say to see what God really means to you and whether they want to have what you have. What example are you showing to them?
Fitness Retreats – Making Right Choices For All The Right Reasons
Fitness retreats are becoming more and more popular than ever and not just for the privileged few. The word “retreat” describes the purpose. To retreat from your usual surroundings, responsibilities, and concerns to get away from the distractions that keep you on that proverbial treadmill in life.When you get away from it all, you are able to put your life and health priorities in proper perspective. You are able to get outside of your usual environment to review where you are going and where you have been. A fitness retreat is a great way to rededicate oneself to health management. If you need to lose weight, a retreat will help you to get on track recognizing the things you need to adopt into your daily lifestyle.However, that seems to be the problem with many retreats. Participants look at the retreat as a time to catch up or store up what they have been neglecting to do. Instead, a retreat should be time to add focus and maintain diligence upon returning home.Fitness retreats can work either way. Some are structured in such a way that they cannot possibly be duplicated on your own at home. An effective retreat setting must simulate a real life environment, which can translate later into your home life routine.For example, if you attend a retreat where a nutrition chef prepares and serves your food to you then that does not translate into your home life. However, if you engage in cooking lessons then you have something to take home with you that can become a part of your life. New routines can develop from a few building blocks with exercise and nutrition.When choosing a fitness retreat, make sure that the fun factor is extremely high. Make sure that the activities and outings planned sound exciting to you so that you enjoy the anticipation as well as the trip itself. Places where you can be near the water or the mountains usually are ideal places to go for retreats.A favorite destination resort where you can find water, mountains, and major tourist attractions would be Las Vegas. Hiking around Lake Mead and Hoover Dam, plus trekking the world famous Las Vegas strip, offers plenty of opportunity both indoors and outdoors.Should cost be a determining factor, then you may want to consider that your accommodations will vary the price. Find out if you will be put up in dormitory type housing or if you are actually paying for your own beachfront condo. The least expensive option without giving up all personal privacy, would be a bed and breakfast type residence where fitness is the theme. I currently know of only one fitness retreat advertised on the Internet where you are actually charged for the services only. The accommodations are pretty much “on the house” when you factor in the cost of personal training, food, and outings.Too much privacy can be a problem when you are housed in a separate facility, condos, or apartments. I once attended a week long retreat where we stayed in shared townhouses. Many of the participants “defected” during personal break times to leave the property and forage for fast food and drink. That pretty much defeats the purpose of the retreat if discipline and accountability are what you are paying for.When shopping for fitness retreats, compare costs, accommodations, locations, and services. Then make an appointment either by phone or in person and have a list of questions you want to ask. Most busy retreat operators will appreciate a prospective client who has done the homework of at least reviewing the frequently asked questions on the website FAQ page. That way, they will take you seriously and give your call proper consideration. Good luck in making the right choice and no matter where you go for your fitness retreat, make sure that you have fun.
One, Two, Three – Build Wealth
I have been creating wealth for many people all through money making ideas such as opening a business, creating a weekend business, and even making money online. All the people that I have taught make money and create wealth have started from nothing and built it up to a fortune.You don’t need to start out being wealthy to create more wealth, all you need is patience and motivation. If you are motivated you can truly do anything you put your mind to. Motivation is the key to everything in this great world. So what is the best way to create wealth you ask? By starting a new daily income.If you are already keeping up with your bills and you have a little bit of money left over then you are the perfect candidate for wealth building. All you need now is an idea of how to make money, there are millions of ideas out there that can help you create wealth, some online and some at home. Or you can be like most people and get another job. It is all up to you what you decide, but that is the great thing, it is up to you.The best part about wealth building is that there is no norm, it is all about what you want and when you want it. If your goal is to have a huge sum of money in a year or so and you are starting at zero then you will have your work cut out for you, but it isn’t impossible.
The Importance and Value of Daily Affirmations
Daily affirmations are the positive statements that we say to ourselves to emphasize on a positive idea. These thoughts may seem like simple statements but they can really help you change your entire outlook and attitude towards life. When you repeat these positive affirmations, it will be easy for you to replace your old, ineffective and unhealthy thoughts with new and empowering ones.Negative thoughts most often bring about negative situations in your life. Have you ever wondered why the “sad” people will always seem “sad” and the “happy” people always seem happy? The fact is when you are negative, it may be difficult for you to take on some challenges or even opportunities. The fact that you miss these opportunities may make you even more depressed. This becomes a cycle which may lead to so many negative results in your life.It is therefore important to reinforce your negative thoughts by replacing them with positive affirmations. Your attitude will contribute a significant percentage to your success. Daily affirmations will help you to daily work on having a winner’s attitude. It will easily bring about a string of successes which will contribute more to your positive attitude.Daily affirmations will help you to keep stress at bay. We mostly get stressed when things do not go our way. If you have a mantra that says “Today will be a great day, I will celebrate my successes and learn from my failures”, you’ll start taking on failures as challenges. Despite the fact that you’ll be stressed when something bad happens, the level of stress will be significantly less as compared to the times when you don’t affirm yourself daily.In life it is always important to look at the bigger picture. Whatever happens to you today is connected to the success that you may have in future. Being left by a partner or losing a job may help you end up with the right partner or job. Therefore, daily affirmations can serve as a constant reminder that you shouldn’t just look at what’s happening now. They will help you look at past challenges that you have overcome and make you encouraged by the fact that you can overcome whatever comes your way and even make the most from it.When thinking about these affirmations, think about your goals in life in relation to where you are. Make some goals and write down some affirmations that will help you achieve your goal no matter what. Remember that a positive attitude can speed up your success and a negative attitude can mess it up.Daily affirmations will help you to always stay focused on the end result. The best way to use affirmations to achieve specific goals is simply using affirmations that state your specific goal. For example, today I will write five more chapters.