God is in the details for Powerball winner

Washington Times | 12/27/02 | Gavin McCormick, AP

[kattracks]

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Andrew Jackson Whittaker Jr. thanks God that he picked the six numbers that won him the $314.9 million Christmas Day Powerball jackpot, and he's putting up the money to prove it.

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     "The very first thing I'm going to do is go home and make out three checks to three pastors," Mr. Whittaker said. Those checks, a tithe to the Church of God, will total $17 million.
     "Seventeen million in the state of West Virginia will really do good for the poor," he said, adding that the three pastors will control the money and perhaps establish a Christian school.
     The 55-year-old contractor, who won the largest single-winner lottery jackpot in history, opted to take a lump sum of $170 million before taxes, instead of 30 annual installments. The lump sum is worth more than $111 million after taxes, lottery spokeswoman Nancy Bulla said.
     "I just want to thank God for letting me pick the right numbers, or letting the machine pick the right numbers," said Mr. Whittaker, who claimed his winnings dressed in black and wearing a big, black cowboy hat.
     Mr. Whittaker lives in the small town of Scott Depot, about 20 miles west of Charleston, and is president of three construction companies that build sewage-treatment plants and other water projects.
     "I've had to work for everything in my life. This is the first thing that's ever been given to me," he said.
     Mr. Whittaker said he originally thought he had lost the jackpot because the numbers came up wrong on the televised drawing Christmas night. It wasn't until yesterday morning that he realized he won.
     His wife of 36 years said she plans to go to Israel.
     "I'd just go to go there. It's where Jesus walked," Jewell Whittaker said.
     The couple planned to travel to New York City last night.
     Mr. Whittaker said he would share the rest of his winnings with his family, and may expand his business. He has a daughter named Ginger and a 15-year-old granddaughter.
     Ginger McMahan said she had cancer twice and had not worked for about a year. "I was getting ready to go back to work, but I think I'm retired now," she said.
     Mr. Whittaker also said he wants to help "people who want to better themselves to have a better life."
     "I'm getting really excited because of the good works I can do with this money," he said.
     He said little about buying luxuries for himself — aside from a helicopter he said he had had his eye on for a while.
     "I have 25 people laid off right now at Christmas, and I want more work so I can put them back to work," he said. He now employs 117 persons.
     He told Miss Bulla he was not a regular lottery player but he bought $100 in tickets because the jackpot was so high. He plays when it reaches $100 million.
     The ticket was purchased at the C&L Super Serve in Hurricane, 25 miles west of Charleston.
     Mr. Whittaker went back to the store yesterday morning to fill up on gas and buy some biscuits, as he does each day. The clerk was the one who sold him the ticket. He told her he won, but "she said, 'No, you didn't, you're not excited enough to win the lottery.' And she just pushed me out the door," he said.
     "It's so just that the poorest state in America wins the biggest Powerball in history," said Bob O'Dell, a 51-year-old resident of the town that's pronounced herr' ah cun. (West Virginia's per-capita income actually was second-lowest to Mississippi's in 2000.)
     The Super Serve's owner, Larry Trogdon, will get $100,000 for selling the winning ticket.
     "I have a daughter getting married this summer," he told NBC.
     "I guess we're honeymooning in Hawaii," said his daughter, Amy, who manages the Super Serve and is getting married next summer to a clerk at the store.
     "Heck, if you're going to Hawaii, I'm coming with you," Mr. Trogdon answered, laughing.
     The jackpot was the largest ever for a single winning ticket, Miss Bulla said. It also was the third-largest jackpot in U.S. history.
     An unexpected Christmas Day run on Powerball tickets pushed the already whopping $280 million jackpot to $314.9 million just before numbers were drawn, making it the Powerball's largest prize ever.
     The winning numbers were 5-14-16-29-53 and the Powerball was 7.
     Mr. Whittaker had the option of taking a cash payout of $170 million before taxes or collecting the entire jackpot in 30 payments over 29 years. He took the lump sum and Gov. Bob Wise presented him with an initial check of $10 million.
     Powerball, the nation's largest lottery game, is sold in 23 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
     Before the Christmas 2002 prize, the largest Powerball jackpot was $295.7 million in July 1998.
     The biggest lottery jackpot in U.S. history was a Big Game prize of $363 million, won in May 2000 by ticketholders in Michigan and Illinois. The second was a $331 million Big Game jackpot split between three tickets in April.
     Spain's annual Christmas lottery known as El Gordo — "the Fat One" — is billed as the world's richest. This year's $1.7 billion jackpot spreads wealth among millions of people. About 10,000 numbers win some kind of prize, from $20 to $200,000.

[iconoclast]

And you wonder why I dont agree with the Catholics and some catholic church ideology when there is folks like you who flame anyone who criticizes it.

You leave one wondering many things about you, but why you're not Catholic is not one of them.

You made an absolutely shocking and despicable statement about my faith and you got back, if anything, less than you deserved (JR's moderator notwitstanding).

Your insulting post was the more surprising in that it should have been even more embarrassing to you, your wife, or her family than it was insulting to RC's.

[Revelation 911]

He gave us "free will". That's a pretty big risk, if not a gamble

the calvinist might argue the point (what are your thoughts RN?)

I pray for Mr. Whitaker be given strength and wisdom to walk in truth and not let the 'world' become his guide.

lovely sentiment - as do I

[Revelation 911]

Most of what I spend goes to the government treasury (which reduces the amount of taxes that have to be otherwise raised)

keep dreaming - it augments already confiscatory tax levels

and a little of it goes to the winner.

I'll agree there

[smith288]

You made an absolutely shocking and despicable statement about my faith and you got back, if anything, less than you deserved (JR's moderator notwitstanding).

Give me a break, you act like criticizing a particular religion, especially the RC is against the law. Im sorry you took offense to my comments but it isnt against the rules here a FR to have an opinion regarding a religion especially when I have had first hand experience with it. Its my perception, my opinion and my decision to reject RC doctrine. Deal with it.

Its ok to defend your beliefs, im all for you doing that but you have done is just call me ignorant, my wife ignorant and said im a liar because you disagree with me. Some debate. Come back when you decide to put up something better than what you have so far.

[Revelation 911]

This crap makes my blood boil. (Even made my heart show today. Did you see that?)

Im pretty confident we all did

LOL

[PleaseNoMore]

Um... I believe that you are failing to acknowledge the fact that the millions that this man won were God's in the first place ( yes, God owns it all buddy ).

We don't own anything here on this earth. We are stewards. Maybe if you considered that fact ( yes, it is scriptural )then you would not be so judgemental. The question you should be asking is would you be as good a steward with God's riches as this man intends on being??

[Revelation 911]

Um... I believe that you are failing to acknowledge the fact that the millions that this man won were God's in the first place ( yes, God owns it all buddy ).

and its necessary to use the term "buddy" in a derogatory manner why ?

see my #200

your barking at the wrong fence

Rev911: "I wouldnt have tithed that amount as I would have not gambled Gods money "

[Revelation 911]

....and my #199

rev911: "so gambling is now "stewardship"? LOL "

[PleaseNoMore]

Ok, I see that you are going to take everything one says to you and misconstrue it. The term "buddy" was in no way meant to be derogatory. Are you that sad of a person that no one has ever referred to you as "pal", "friend" or "buddy" in conversation?

I do not see one thing wrong with this man tithing ( as he is told to do in scripture ) off of his winnings nor do I see anything wrong with calling his windfall a blessing from heaven. As a matter of fact IF he has been tithing all of his life and especially since he became a self made millionaire via his own hard work and sweat then I see this as the fullfillment of the scriptures concerning reaping in his life. His obedience is being rewarded and thus he is able to continue to bless God's work.

[Revelation 911]

Ok, I see that you are going to take everything one says to you and misconstrue it. The term "buddy" was in no way meant to be derogatory. Are you that sad of a person that no one has ever referred to you as "pal", "friend" or "buddy" in conversation?

- I would enjoy calling you friend from this point forward

I do not see one thing wrong with this man tithing ( as he is told to do in scripture ) off of his winnings nor do I see anything wrong with calling his windfall a blessing from heaven.

your freedom to do so - I disagree and call it a deception

As a matter of fact IF he has been tithing all of his life and especially since he became a self made millionaire via his own hard work and sweat then I see this as the fullfillment of the scriptures concerning reaping in his life. His obedience is being rewarded and thus he is able to continue to bless God's work.

sorry - I just see it differently.

On the flip side then - "Gods work" by your measure would mean that God intentionally deprived the tithing "Christian" welfare mom who lost the ability to pay the electric bill this month, even though she has been just as faithful (and would have also tithed) - why then not multiple winners?-

Think about it - she was just as faithful - yet there were no fruits for her faith in your paradigm

Revelation 21:8 "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."

ask yourself if this man in his desire for more money has become an "idolater" of same - IMO he has as the millions he already had were not enough

[Revelation 911]

Some additional thoughts - sorry to trouble you with my ramblings

I do not see one thing wrong with this man tithing ( as he is told to do in scripture ) off of his winnings nor do I see anything wrong with calling his windfall a blessing from heaven. As a matter of fact IF he has been tithing all of his life and especially since he became a self made millionaire via his own hard work and sweat then I see this as the fullfillment of the scriptures concerning reaping in his life. His obedience is being rewarded and thus he is able to continue to bless God's work.

1 Timothy 6

Love of Money

3If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,

4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions

5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.

8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

I respectfully disagree that this is his reward for being obedient.

aside, tell me about yourself friend

[Revelation 911]

Your insulting post was the more surprising in that it should have been even more embarrassing to you, your wife, or her family than it was insulting to RC's.

then again - a number of us read your "cradle" comment (#135) as accurate and truthful (albeit passionately)- (fyi - I am former RC)

[RightOnline]

You own stocks?

You make any money from them?

Guess what......................

[PleaseNoMore]

Yes, I agree that the welfare mom is just as faithful and obedient. But your question begs another along the same line of thinking. Why are some faithful Christians healed of diseases while others who are just as faithful or even more so not healed?

In the scripture that you quoted from the book of Revelation, I do not see one thing that says "lottery ticket buyers" will not inherit the Kingdom of God. I don't know what you were trying to infer by posting that as it does not mention one who wagers or gambles.

Now, here is a question to you...You say that you do not gamble...I say that you do. See, we are not promised tomorrow. If you make preparations for your future you are gambling with something so much more important than money. Everytime you share the highways with other drivers, you gamble. When you leave your home you gamble its security. When you say goodbye to your children as they leave for school you gamble. Unless you know specifically the day, hour and minute that you are going to leave this world nothing is a "sure bet" other than your salvation. Gambling is taking a risk. Life is full of risks my friend.

As for this man having millions, it appears that he worked hard ( 90 hours a week is a long week ) and we don't know what his business nets after expenses. I still believe that God can and will use any means He chooses to bless His people.

[Revelation 911]

You own stocks? You make any money from them? Guess what......................

actually no - I thought I had mentioned that in an earlier post - I abstain from 401k as well - preferring the profits from my labor and the sweat of my brow to suffice and provide

[PleaseNoMore]

1 Timothy 6 deals with the love or the seeking of money, I agree. However, money is not in itself evil. It is the love of it that is evil. When I love money more than God or when it becomes my idol I am in sin. Simply having it in any amount is not a sin. When we see God as a meal ticket it is wrong. When you give to get it is wrong. When you base your "righteousness" on your portfolio it is wrong.

8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Yes, we are to be content or satisfied that our basic needs are met. God has promised that He will provide those needs. I also believe that God desires that His people to be prosperous ( even as their soul prospers ). God is not poor and I do not believe that His desire is for His people to live in lack. I do not believe that God desires for you to sell your car, your television, your home, and anything else, other than food and clothing, that you have worked to accumulate in your life.

[Revelation 911]

PNM: Now, here is a question to you...You say that you do not gamble...I say that you do. See, we are not promised tomorrow. If you make preparations for your future you are gambling with something so much more important than money. Everytime you share the highways with other drivers, you gamble. When you leave your home you gamble its security. When you say goodbye to your children as they leave for school you gamble. Unless you know specifically the day, hour and minute that you are going to leave this world nothing is a "sure bet" other than your salvation. Gambling is taking a risk. Life is full of risks my friend.

____________________________

The nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.

... A. W. Pink (1886-1952)

[Revelation 911]

for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.

....sorry....I meant to highlight that as well

[Revelation 911]

God is not poor and I do not believe that His desire is for His people to live in lack. I do not believe that God desires for you to sell your car, your television, your home, and anything else, other than food and clothing, that you have worked to accumulate in your life.

You and I differ in this regard, as I prefer a Mennonite model. There is much to be said for humility and self denial - in much the same way fasting and prayerful times are practiced. Can it be pushed to legalism - sure, there are extremes in everything.

Let me ask you several serious questions.

Why are vows of poverty taken in the Church?

Why does society hold a rich/wealthy preacher in less regard than one that has humbled himself before the Lord?

[Revelation 911]

I would appreciate your input on the two questions in #219