Well read this before you decide...
Nearly one-third of multi-million pound lottery winners become bankrupt in just a few short years of their big win, according to research conducted in America.
Here's the Top Ten!
10. Vivian Nicholson – won £152,300, lost five husbands
Vivian Nicholson famously claimed she would “spend, spend, spend” after winning £152,300 (worth about £3 million in today’s money) when playing the Castleford football pools in 1961. Since then she has been widowed, married five times, suffered from a stroke and been treated for alcoholism, deported from Malta, became a Jehovah’s Witnesses, tried to commit suicide and spent time in a mental institution. She spent her winnings on Harrods dresses, luxury cars and holidays and was the subject of the West End production of her life, aptly called “Spend, Spend, Spend”, with Barbara Dickenson playing her role. She is now living on £87 a week pension.
9. Willie Hurt – won $3,100,000, lost everything
Willie Hurt won $3.1 million in Michigan in 1989 but two years later, he had wasted it on divorce and cocaine and was charged with murder. Before his win, he was a happily married family man with an active social life, yet soon lost contact with his wife and custody of his children due to the problems his windfall brought him.
8. Evelyn Adams – won $5,400,000, lost all but her caravan
Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice (in 1985 and 1986). The odds of this happening are 17 trillion to one, yet this “American dream” was not all “it’s cracked up to be”. Her “mistakes” included gambling away the $5.4 million fortune. She now lives in a trailer.
7. Shefik Tallmadge – won $6,700,00, lost his Ferrari
Shefik Tallmadge, of Arizona, used his last $5 to buy a lottery ticket, despite not expecting a pay-check for another fortnight. He won a cool $6.7 million. After 18 years of touring Asia and Africa, buying expensive cars and real estate, giving in to pleas for money and investing in businesses, which subsequently failed, he filed for bankruptcy in 2006.
6. Michael Carroll – won £9,700,000, lost everything but his reputation
Former bin man, Michael Carroll, won £9.7 million aged just 19 years old in 2002. The self-named “King of Chavs” immediately bought four homes in the UK, a holiday villa in Spain, two BMWs, two Mercedes, and a stake in Glasgow Rangers Football Club. After committing petty crimes including breaching his ASBO and cocaine-possession, he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment in 2006 after he threatened teenagers with a baseball bat at a Christian Fellowship music event in Downham Market. He is now reported to be penniless once more.
5. Rhoda Toth – won $13,000,000, lost her disability claim
Rhoda Toth won $13 million in the Florida lottery in 1990. Her and her husband quickly spent the winnings and in 2006 were charged with tax evasion. They were living in poverty with electricity provided by a cord rigged to a car engine when arrested. While awaiting trial, her husband died forcing Rhoda to try avoiding jail-time by pretending to have multiple sclerosis. However, agents secretly taped her in order to prove that she did not need the crutches she had used in the courtroom. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment and ordered to pay $1.1 million to the IRS.
4. William Post – won $16,200,000, lost his family
William "Bud" Post III won $16.2 million in the Pennsylvania lottery in 1988. Unfortunately, his loved ones turned on him, when a former girlfriend sued him for a share of the winnings, his brother was arrested for hiring a hit man to kill him and his other siblings bullied him into investing in a car business and restaurant, which then failed miserably. Post even spent time in jail for firing a gun over the head of a bill collector and within a year, he was $1 million in debt. He eventually declared bankruptcy and lived quietly on $450 a month and food stamps, claiming "I'm tired…Lotteries don't mean [anything] to me". He died on Jan 15 2006 of respiratory failure aged 66.
3. Janite Lee – won $18,000,000, lost her money but bought a seat in heaven
Janite Lee from Missouri won $18 million in 1993 but generously gave to charity and in 2001 filed for bankruptcy with only $700 left in two bank accounts. She also had a reading room at Washington University named after her and dined with world leaders including then President, Bill Clinton. Originally from South Korea, this single-mum of three worked in a wig-shop before her big win, giving it up to give generously to the Church and those in need.
2. Billie Bob Harrell – won $31,000,000, lost his life
Billie Bob Harrell won $31 million in 1997 though soon had an estranged wife and letters from pleading strangers to deal with. He gave freely to the church, charities, family and even a new, younger girlfriend. Yet the pressure was too much and Harrell’s body was discovered two years later with an autopsy confirming suicide. However, Harrell’s parents refuse to accept this and their grandchildren were left trying to figure out how to pay the estate taxes owed due to their father’s death and where the rest of the winnings have mysteriously gone...
1. Jake Whittacker – won $315,000,000, lost his car insurance
In 2002, Jake Whittacker won a $315 million power jackpot and started out with good intentions by donating money to several church-based charities and setting up a foundation that provided food and clothing to the West Virginian poor. However, his luck soon changed: he was arrested for drink driving, spent more than $100,000 in a strip-club, had $545,000 in cash stolen from his car and then another $200,000 stolen again. He became the subject of many lawsuits (most of which were settled out of court) which include being sued for gambling debts by Atlantic City casino. His granddaughter died of a drug overdose, funded by the $2,100 a week allowance he gave her.
Wednesday, 16 December 2009
Sunday, 13 December 2009
Inheriting the blessing of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!
Times have been testing. For some the crisis is looming in the horizon and they have been struggling to stay afloat, others have given up and there are a few, who have got their breakthrough. But i want to encourage you, as men and women working in your secular jobs, with the following thoughts.
We always claim the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the adopted Israel but what is it in their lives that made them so prosperous?
1. Genesis 14:22,23 - Conduct your business with complete trust in God, so that no man can tell they made you rich. How does that translate to daily business dealings? Don't give commission to anyone to get any project or job. Don't compromise on truth and integrity to get work, Then God promises Abraham in Genesis 15:1 that He shall be his shield and great reward.
2. Genesis 26:18-28 - Be persistent in digging wellsprings of Life. All the prosperity and riches during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were measured mainly by the lifestock they possessed. What sustained this prosperity was the well of water they dug from which their livestock received nourishment to grow. Which is the well that we need to dig into to sustain our life today? John 4:10 says, Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water"!
We need to be persistent in digging into God's word and increasing our knowledge of who He is. In Hebrews, we learn that we should believe that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Isaac uncovered the wells his father had dug. We will have to go back into the scriptures handed over to us by our spiritual fathers and start uncovering the hidden mysteries of God. Isaac did not just uncover his Fathers wells, He dug new ones. Our success depends on us receiving fresh revelation for ourselves from God.
The passage also says that Isaac faced trouble from his neighbours when water was found. But he silently moves on and continues to dig. When we are out there whether in work or ministry, many will come against us and take away from us what we have laboured and worked hard for. But God honoured Isaac because he did not go to fight with them, but moved away and continued to do what he had started. It took a while but we see after some time, his persecutors comes in fear before him and asks him to make a covenant of peace with them because they realised how much ever they tried to rob things from Isaac, God was with him and they could never pull him down
3. Finally, in Genesis 30:31-43 - Be honest and claim by faith what is rightfully yours. Even if the devil tries to cheat you, he will not succeed. The branches that Jacob placed in the trough did not have supernatural power but we see that God honoured what he claimed by faith. When he placed the branches in the trough in front of the strong ones, he was claiming them for himself. It took some time and process. The goats did not mate and deliver the next day. From the time Jacob claims his prosperity, it took 5 months before he was able to possess or hold the result of his constant faith action. He did not stop after the first day, he kept going at it, because a goat does not give 20 offsprings at one time A goat can give birth to one kid or two at the most. So he had to keep going on claiming for a considerable season before he "came to own large flocks"
We always claim the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the adopted Israel but what is it in their lives that made them so prosperous?
1. Genesis 14:22,23 - Conduct your business with complete trust in God, so that no man can tell they made you rich. How does that translate to daily business dealings? Don't give commission to anyone to get any project or job. Don't compromise on truth and integrity to get work, Then God promises Abraham in Genesis 15:1 that He shall be his shield and great reward.
2. Genesis 26:18-28 - Be persistent in digging wellsprings of Life. All the prosperity and riches during the time of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were measured mainly by the lifestock they possessed. What sustained this prosperity was the well of water they dug from which their livestock received nourishment to grow. Which is the well that we need to dig into to sustain our life today? John 4:10 says, Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water"!
We need to be persistent in digging into God's word and increasing our knowledge of who He is. In Hebrews, we learn that we should believe that God exists and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Isaac uncovered the wells his father had dug. We will have to go back into the scriptures handed over to us by our spiritual fathers and start uncovering the hidden mysteries of God. Isaac did not just uncover his Fathers wells, He dug new ones. Our success depends on us receiving fresh revelation for ourselves from God.
The passage also says that Isaac faced trouble from his neighbours when water was found. But he silently moves on and continues to dig. When we are out there whether in work or ministry, many will come against us and take away from us what we have laboured and worked hard for. But God honoured Isaac because he did not go to fight with them, but moved away and continued to do what he had started. It took a while but we see after some time, his persecutors comes in fear before him and asks him to make a covenant of peace with them because they realised how much ever they tried to rob things from Isaac, God was with him and they could never pull him down
3. Finally, in Genesis 30:31-43 - Be honest and claim by faith what is rightfully yours. Even if the devil tries to cheat you, he will not succeed. The branches that Jacob placed in the trough did not have supernatural power but we see that God honoured what he claimed by faith. When he placed the branches in the trough in front of the strong ones, he was claiming them for himself. It took some time and process. The goats did not mate and deliver the next day. From the time Jacob claims his prosperity, it took 5 months before he was able to possess or hold the result of his constant faith action. He did not stop after the first day, he kept going at it, because a goat does not give 20 offsprings at one time A goat can give birth to one kid or two at the most. So he had to keep going on claiming for a considerable season before he "came to own large flocks"
SHALOM!
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
A Teaching on the Lord's Prayer
And so Jesus taught His disciples to pray in this manner:
Our Father in heaven,
When you pray, call on God according to your relationship with Him. If your relationship is far from God, then He is just God but as you know Him more closely, He becomes King, master and then as you love Him more, He adds you to His family and becomes your Father.
Hallowed be Your name.
Let your praise arise to Him. God is enthroned in our praises. He is worthy of all glory. Let your heart be filled with adoration and awe before His name.
Your kingdom come.
The Kingdom of God is anyplace where God rules as Sovereign King. So as we enter into prayer, let us ask for God’s Kingdom to be established in our midst, that our gathering will be a place where God rules in His glory
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Humble yourself to allow the Glory of God to come in your midst. As the Bible says in 2 Chronicles; If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. Then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins and heal their land. Our prayer should be about seeking and praying according to God’s will. This is why Paul teaches us in Corinthians that we should pray in the Spirit as we do not know God’s will on what we should pray for but the Spirit who knows the heart of God will guide us. Our model and example is Jesus and we see Him praying in the Garden of Gethsamane to the Father saying,”Not my will but Yours be done”!
Give us this day our daily bread.
The Lord understands that we have physical needs and not just the spiritual. So as we finish establishing our relationship with God, praising Him and humbling ourselves before His throne, we are now ready to petition him for our need. The bible teaches that our Lord knows all our needs, even before we say a asingle word. But God likes us to be vocal about our faith and trust in Him. Therefore, He asks the blind man whether he would like to see and the paralysed man, if he would like to be healed and Martha, if she believes her brother will come back to life. He knew that these are things they longed for but he needed to hear from them their words of faith and trust.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
This is big. Even as we have prayed so far, we are still in the outer court experience. Jesus teaches us that we should not come to pray unless we have forgiven our brother and sister. Before we can go into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, we need to receive forgiveness from God. This is the Holy place experience. At this place, instead of a physical sacrifice, we invoke the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Hebrews teaches us that we enter the presence of God in boldness because we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, .that takes our sins away and clothes us with righteousness.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This is the place of jubilation. This is where we enter into the Holy of Holies, in the very presence of God. Most of us think, this is where our prayer ends. But this is the beginning of a conversation with God. As you enter the Holy of Holies, God starts to speak and you begin to listen. The model prayer by Jesus is just the preparation or an introduction to a longer conversation with your Father in heaven and does not finish at Amen. We enter this place with a heart full of worship and adoration.
Friends, Jesus said when you pray, pray in this manner to his disciples who did not know how to pray and who had not received the Holy Spirit. But we, having the Holy Spirit as our counselor and guide to the truths of the scripture, are no longer bound to a specific format of prayer but are now led by the Spirit, in freedom, to a life of constant prayer.
Our Father in heaven,
When you pray, call on God according to your relationship with Him. If your relationship is far from God, then He is just God but as you know Him more closely, He becomes King, master and then as you love Him more, He adds you to His family and becomes your Father.
Hallowed be Your name.
Let your praise arise to Him. God is enthroned in our praises. He is worthy of all glory. Let your heart be filled with adoration and awe before His name.
Your kingdom come.
The Kingdom of God is anyplace where God rules as Sovereign King. So as we enter into prayer, let us ask for God’s Kingdom to be established in our midst, that our gathering will be a place where God rules in His glory
Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven.
Humble yourself to allow the Glory of God to come in your midst. As the Bible says in 2 Chronicles; If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray. Then I will hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins and heal their land. Our prayer should be about seeking and praying according to God’s will. This is why Paul teaches us in Corinthians that we should pray in the Spirit as we do not know God’s will on what we should pray for but the Spirit who knows the heart of God will guide us. Our model and example is Jesus and we see Him praying in the Garden of Gethsamane to the Father saying,”Not my will but Yours be done”!
Give us this day our daily bread.
The Lord understands that we have physical needs and not just the spiritual. So as we finish establishing our relationship with God, praising Him and humbling ourselves before His throne, we are now ready to petition him for our need. The bible teaches that our Lord knows all our needs, even before we say a asingle word. But God likes us to be vocal about our faith and trust in Him. Therefore, He asks the blind man whether he would like to see and the paralysed man, if he would like to be healed and Martha, if she believes her brother will come back to life. He knew that these are things they longed for but he needed to hear from them their words of faith and trust.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
This is big. Even as we have prayed so far, we are still in the outer court experience. Jesus teaches us that we should not come to pray unless we have forgiven our brother and sister. Before we can go into the Holy of Holies, into the very presence of God, we need to receive forgiveness from God. This is the Holy place experience. At this place, instead of a physical sacrifice, we invoke the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Hebrews teaches us that we enter the presence of God in boldness because we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, .that takes our sins away and clothes us with righteousness.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
This is the place of jubilation. This is where we enter into the Holy of Holies, in the very presence of God. Most of us think, this is where our prayer ends. But this is the beginning of a conversation with God. As you enter the Holy of Holies, God starts to speak and you begin to listen. The model prayer by Jesus is just the preparation or an introduction to a longer conversation with your Father in heaven and does not finish at Amen. We enter this place with a heart full of worship and adoration.
Friends, Jesus said when you pray, pray in this manner to his disciples who did not know how to pray and who had not received the Holy Spirit. But we, having the Holy Spirit as our counselor and guide to the truths of the scripture, are no longer bound to a specific format of prayer but are now led by the Spirit, in freedom, to a life of constant prayer.
SHALOM!
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