I don’t have much time today—so I’ll make it quick.   I’m going to talk about Mothers, Graduates, and Money.  Oh, and gambling.  How’s that for covering all the bases?

In short…I’m for mothers.   Had one myself.   Loved her.   Miss her.   I’m married to another.  Think she’s just the greatest.

I’m also for graduates.   Kids getting recognized for learning something, for commencing onward and upward into all that life…that stuff…that awaits you and excites you.   Yep, I’ve fathered a graduate.  Host-fathered another.  I’ve got another well on her way to her graduation next year.

I’m for Money.  (I’ll bet some of you want to be very successful financially.   Can I get a show of hands?)  Our young graduates are fantasizing about all that money will do for them.   The cars it’ll buy them, the friends it’ll impress, the homes they’ll be oh so comfortable in.   The lifestyle it will provide.   But that’s not why I’m for money.   I’m for money because it is the best tool [our graduates] you will ever have in your possession to do the work of Christ.   Money spent on helping someone else is the best money [they will] you’ll spend.   And the most rewarding.   It make one feel better than any other money that one could ever have or let slip through their fingers.   Wesley, the fellow who founded the Methodist movement said this about money:  “Earn all you can.  Save all you can.  That you may give all you can.”   Wesley was for money.  Earned through honest labor, saved by living a simple lifestyle, and given in the generous spirit of living as a follower of Christ.”

Finally, Gambling.   You may think I’m against it.   Actually, I’m for it to.   IF….IF by gambling one means taking risk.   You should.   Take risks to do what others are NOT doing.   Take the risk of living your life less selfishly.   Take the risk of caring for your environment.  Take the risk of putting the needs of another person before your own.  Take the risk of being a parent.   Take the risk of saying no when everyone else is saying yes to something destructive.  Risk being unpopular.   And see if the Gamble pays off.   Risk living as a Christian…there’s the big one.   Risk being a follower of Jesus, even when that means taking up a cross.   See if the Gamble pays…I believe it will.   Maybe not in cash…but it will pay off in the reward of living a life that matters.

But there’s another side to money and gambling.   Paul recognized it.   That’s why he said the love of money is the root of all evil.   Hear it?   He didn’t say money was the root of all evil—no, no, no.   The love of money is the root of ALL evil.   You know why?   When you love money, and lust after it, and think that it solves all your problems, and you want more and more and more of it so that you can indulge every one of your desires and every one of your fantasies…well….that love of money will drag you farther and farther away from your faith and your principles and the way of right and wrong.  Paul said, it will pierce you.   Pierce you.  

We, unfortunately live in a state that is being seduced by the love of money.  In fact, in pursuit of more and more money that will surely solve all of our problems, we are now pursuing state-owned casinos as our answer.   We’ll get all the money we need if we build a casino, and hey…have you heard?   We can build one right here in Dodge City!

Well preacher, you are for gambling, so that must make you pretty happy!   No.  Not at all.  In fact it makes me sad….and a little bit scared.   And some angry, too.    I recognize and even celebrate the fact that not all of you sitting there agree with me on this issue.   But we can dialogue.   We can have conversation about this.  I’ll probably not change your mind, and you may not change my mind, but who knows?  There is room for growth so long as we are growing Christians, imperfect followers of Christ.   We can worship together, even when we do not agree.   But I’d ask you to hear me out.

Do you know the purpose of a state?   To govern.  To bring order and look after the well being of its citizens.   Especially the vulnerable and the poor.   That’s why we have laws that not only protect all of the state’s citizens, but in particular, those who are preyed upon by those with no scruples.   Con artists that target the elderly.   Child care workers who abuse children.   Uniformed soldiers who take advantage of a tornado-devastated town to line their pockets with free beer and cigarettes.  Ugh.   The state steps up to take care of the poor and the vulnerable.   Those who are disadvantaged.   That’s why the state and all the rest of the good people are helping in Greensburg right now.   It’s the special responsibility of the State to do so.

Now then, the casinos that are proposed for Kansas are going to be state-owned.   State-owned.   What’s wrong with that picture?    Well…how can the state be counted on to protect its citizenry, especially the poor and the downtrodden and the elderly, if at the same time, it preys upon them by seducing them into thinking that they will be able to get out of their dire situation if they can just hit the jackpot!

Why is the State doing this?  Because Gambling is fun?   No….not so much as because Gambling is profitable.   It makes money.   And the State is pursuing more money.   And it is that pursuit of more money that has dulled the sensibilities of otherwise sensible people.   People who want to build casinos in Dodge City have dollar signs in their eyes.   And it is causing them to forsake the basic role of government…to take care of its citizens, especially the poor and the vulnerable.

Governor Sibelius was quoted as saying, “The more Kansans gamble, the more money we will have to fight the effects of those who are addicted to gambling.”   That’s twisted logic.   It’s like saying, “the more Kansas who smoke, the more we’ll have to spend on providing medical care to those with emphysema and lung cancer.”   Or, “the more Kansans who drink, the more we’ll have to spend on treating alcoholism.”   Hear it?

We’re in this fix because of the love of money.  Paul was certain that the “love of money,” was a root of ALL kinds of evil.   I think he just might be right.   Don’t love money.   Don’t believe that Gambling will solve all of our money problems.   Do earn money through honest work.   Save it.  Give it.   And Gamble on the opportunities that life will provide you if you make the wise choices.  Take Paul’s advice: “pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life, to which you were called and for which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”    Oh…and be proud of your accomplishment in graduating.   And…love your mamas.