Can you win? Honestly, not for long. The one-armed bandit is one cold-hearted programmed machine. Still, you can dream.

The more you play slot machines, the more you will lose. It's common wisdom, but still it bears repeating.

I wasn't three minutes into one of the slot tournaments that can be found throughout this city when I swear that the woman competing next to me had broken out in a sweat. Furiously pounding the "Spin Reels" button, hunched over the screen and chanting, "Come on, big numbers! Big numbers!"

I was doing pretty much the same, except I was embarrassed enough to keep my praying silent.

So let's get right to the point about America's favorite gambling devices. Slots should be played only for fun and entertainment and absolutely never with any expectation of winning. Anyone who tells you he has a system to beat the slots is on tilt. There are no systems. There is no such thing as a hot or cold machine. And there isn't a single machine among the 800,000 in the U.S. that is "due" to pay out in the next five minutes or even the next five days. And when one does erupt, it might do it again two minutes later. Or maybe not for two more years.

Which makes the notion of a slot machine tournament absurd but clearly illustrative. To stand in front of modified slot machines that accept no money and for a full 20 minutes furiously pound that spin button and hope that at the finish bell one has racked up the greatest number of jackpot credits takes no skill, no decisions, no strategy. Just heavy shoulder-and-wrist action.

The steely, unforgiving heart at the center of each machine is a micro-processor called an RNG, a "random number generator." It's precisely programmed to determine how much of the gross intake the machine will return to the players and what the frequency of those payoffs will be. Even while the machine isn't in play, it's coldly clicking through an astonishing 200 million numerical combinations per second. The instant you pull the handle or push the button on the machine, your fate is sealed.

Forget about luck or even about loose gears in the reels. The mechanical reels or video readouts on the machine are but visual presentations of the internal computer's predetermined outcome of the spin.

So the only real choice is how you most prefer to lose your money.

At the swank Mandalay Bay, I found a variety of machines that fell roughly into two categories.

There were tickle-and-trickle penny machines, including the Munsters, Rakin' It In, Free Spin Mania, Shake Your Booty and Reel 'Em In. I chose a traditional three-reel spinner, the classic Double Diamond, 25 cents a pull, up to three coins at a time and with meaty jackpots of $2,000 or more. Twenty-five bucks and about 15 minutes later, I had hit exactly zip.

There are two basic categories of slots: machines that pay off more or less frequently. And remember: A payoff doesn't mean coming out ahead. "Winning" often means less than your total bet.

Low-hit frequency machines the classic one-arm bandits with three reels and a single payout line are the ones that deliver the biggest jackpots, sometimes "life-changing" amounts from thousands to millions of dollars if they are tied into a large, mounting "progressive" pool of other machines.

By contrast, I wheeled over to the Orleans casino. Like most lower-end "locals" joints, the Orleans has slots on which the payback tends to run a tad higher than in the Strip's mega-tourist traps.

I swallowed all pride and went right for the bottom end, taking a seat at what must be the biggest slot machine in the world. The multiplayer circular 1-cent Wheel of Fortune contraption sits in the middle of the casino floor like a just-landed UFO.

Seating nine players around its 12-foot diameter, it towers about 10 feet in the air. At its center is a mammoth wheel of fortune. I took seat No. 5. I could have played it for a mere penny but wouldn't have qualified for the $1,813,415.65 jackpot. The retired schoolteacher next to me explained that I could play at $4 a spin, but 80 cents would qualify me for any big handout.

Then she cut her tutorial short when she saw three images of Pat Sajak and Vanna White align, and the wheel began to spin in front of us, eventually stopping on 700. I was impressed until I found that it was 700 credits, only $7. I shelled out 20 bucks. Then another 20. And a few minutes later, 10 more. When I was down to my last $1.70 of credits, I hit the wheel like the teacher. It kicked back $50. A gigantic win, I thought, having lost a total of less than $20. Clearly my life hadn't changed.

The higher-frequency payout machines, like Vanna's, tickle and trickle. With complicated video screens, sometimes dozens of pay lines, armies full of animated bunnies and carrots, dancing doughnuts and jumping fish, they joyously announce you're a "winner" on an alarmingly frequent basis. And although they're presented as ridiculously cheap penny slots, to get full payoffs, you have to play 200, 300, sometimes 450 credits per spin. That's between $2 and $4.50 (though you can play up to $12 a pull). And if you pull 600 times an hour which is the estimated amount of play that these machines can process that means you're cycling through as much as $2,700 per hour.

As a rule, it's also generally better to play higher- rather than lower-denomination machines. Casino Player magazine, which tracks slot payoffs, calculates that the return on the average $1 machine in Vegas is 96% to 98%, whereas 25-cent machines are programmed between 93% and 95%, and the high-hit-frequency penny grubbers come in closer to 90%.

To put those percentages into context: Playing a lowly 25-cent machine with a 90% payback, a player's estimated loss will be $12 an hour. Bump that play up to $3 a spin, and you're calculated to lose $144 every hour. Now you know why fish are such a common image on these machines.

I made it back to Main Street Station just in time for my 4 p.m. slot tournament playoff. I was up against 15 determined competitors. As soon as the timer went off, I smashed away at that spin button so hard I could feel the impact in my bones. My shame had evaporated; I wanted to crush my opponents.

I finished fourth. First prize was $180. Second place got $90. Third place gets $50. I got a small shoeshine kit. Once again, a winner.

From the April 11, 2007 edition of the Los Angeles Times.

NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is reproduced for non-profit educational purposes only. For more information go to:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

For Immediate Release April 13, 2007

Remarks by the President at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

Washington Hilton Hotel
Washington, D.C.

The President: Thank you all; please be seated. Good morning. Thank you. It's good to be with you. You know how to make a Methodist feel right at home. (Laughter) I noticed that this year's breakfast was the Friday after Lent -- (laughter) -- you can eat your bacon in good conscience. (Laughter) And the priests can relax. (Laughter)

I appreciate the opportunity to be with you, I really do. I thank you for having this prayer breakfast. Prayer breakfasts show the true strength of our nation. I am honored that people say to me and Laura, "We pray for you." It means a lot. A prayerful nation is a strong nation. A prayerful nation is a nation, the true strength of which lies in the hearts of the men and women of our nation.

Our Declaration of Independence states that our freedom rests on self-evident truths about the dignity of the human person. Throughout our nation's history, Catholic Americans have embraced, sustained, and given their lives to defend these truths. This morning, we give thanks for the blessings of freedom, and we ask Almighty God to guide us as we renew our founding promise of liberty and justice for all.

I'm sorry Laura couldn't be here. She is by far the best representative of our family. Thank you for praying for her.

I appreciate my friend, Leonard Leo, for inviting me. I thank the leaders of the National Catholic Prayer breakfast. I'm honored to be in the presence of Archbishop Donald Wuerl. I have known the Archbishop for quite a while. I appreciate his strong and firm dedication to making sure every child in America gets a good education. (Applause) I am proud to be here with Archbishop Sambi, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. I appreciate the members of the Catholic clergy. I am honored to be here with two members of our Supreme Court, the Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sam Alito. (Applause)

I thank the members of my administration who have joined us, particularly our Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Jim Nicholson, and Suzanne, thank you for joining us. (Applause)

I am in awe of people like Corporal Michael Blair, United States Marine Corps. (Applause) I thank the members of our Armed Services who are here today. I appreciate the members of Congress who have joined us. Thanks for letting me come by to say, hello. (Laughter and applause)

Of the 56 men who signed our Declaration of Independence, only one was a Catholic -- Charles Carroll. In 1776, Carroll was one of the wealthiest men in America. But because he was a Catholic, he could not vote or hold public office in his native Maryland. John Adams noted that Carroll's wealth and patriotism marked him for special vengeance if the Revolution were to fail. That is why when Carroll added his name to the Declaration, one bystander said: "There go a few million." (Laughter)

Carroll was willing to risk those millions because he knew that something far more precious was at stake: freedom. He believed that the self-evident truths of our Declaration would lead to religious as well as civil liberty. He knew that an America where people were free to worship God as they saw fit would be a land where Catholics would flourish and prosper. And he understood that whatever America's failings, our founding promise would always be a source of hope and renewal for our country. And at this breakfast, we commit ourselves to renewing that promise in our own time.

Renewing the promise of America begins with upholding the dignity of human life. (Applause) In our day, there is a temptation to manipulate life in ways that do not respect the humanity of the person. When that happens, the most vulnerable among us can be valued for their utility to others -- instead of their own inherent worth. We must continue to work for a culture of life -- where the strong protect the weak, and where we recognize in every human life the image of our Creator. (Applause)

Renewing the promise of America requires good citizens who look out for their neighbors. One of the reasons that I am such a strong believer in the power of our faith-based institutions is that they add something the government never can, and that is love. (Applause) Pope Benedict the 16th put it this way in his first letter as Pope: "There is no ordering of the state so just that it can eliminate the need for a service of love." In parishes and neighborhoods across our nation, Catholics take this call to heart -- and that is why we find so many of you leading America's armies of compassion. You are changing America one heart, one soul at a time, and I thank you. (Applause)

Renewing the promise of America also includes ensuring a sound education for every single child. America's Catholic schools play a vital role in our nation. The schools were built by poor immigrants, they were staffed by legions of dedicated nuns, brothers, and priests -- and they have given millions of Americans the knowledge and character they need to succeed in life. Today, these schools are also serving thousands of non-Catholic children in some of nation's poorest neighborhoods. I appreciate the tremendous sacrifices that many dioceses are making to keep their inner-city schools going. I am worried that too many of these schools are closing -- and our nation needs to do something about it. (Applause)

This afternoon I'll hold a meeting at the White House to discuss the difference America's parochial schools are making in the lives of some of our neediest children. We see that difference right here in the nation's capital. Pam Battle sat with Laura during my State of the Union address. She's a mom of two, Carlos and Calvin. A few years ago, these boys were in a public school that was not meeting Pam's expectations. We passed what's called the D.C. School Choice Incentive Act -- many of you in this room helped get that act passed. As a result of that act, her boys were able to transfer to Assumption Catholic School -- a parochial school that serves an almost entirely African-American student body.

Carlos became an A-student and president of his 8th grade class. He now attends high school at Georgetown Day. Calvin is a 5th-grader at Assumption -- I'm told he's running for "Student of the Month." (Laughter) Something I never achieved. (Laughter and applause)

Pam has a big smile on her face when she comes to talk about the education her boys are receiving. "The main benefit of this program is that I can drop off my sons at school with peace of mind. It's safe, and I know they are working up to their level." That's what Pam said. I believe every parent in America should have that same peace of mind -- and every school in America should ensure its students are working to their fullest of potentials. I applaud our nation's Catholic schools. I will continue to work to help these schools reach more children in need, so that our children have the skills they need to realize the full promise of the United States of America.

Finally, to realize the promise of America, we must have comprehensive immigration reform that enforces our laws and upholds the dignity of every single person in the United States. (Applause) And now is the time for the United States Congress to get a bill to my desk that I can sign. (Applause)

I thank you for your fine tradition. I applaud you for the love of neighbor you show through your organizations and your churches. I ask that you pray for our soldiers and their families in harm's way. And I ask that you pray that in a troubled world, America may always remain a beacon of hope and of freedom.

May God bless you all. (Applause)

One way that Jesus makes Christianity unique is that He is both fully God and fully human. He is unconventional. He tells us who He is. He came to die for us. He rose again. It would be convenient if Jesus fit neatly into the kind of categories we construct for people and things so that we can be comfortable. But He doen't and that is one of the things that makes Him unique.

I. The Unique Jesus. (John 14:6)

For centuries people have been confused about Jesus. How could He be both man and God? In the first few centuries of Christianity, some Christian groups tried to explain this in simplified terms. They taught that Jesus was the adopted Son of God, not fully divine as God is. The adoption took place when the voice from heaven came at Jesus baptism, proclaiming, "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). This teaching came out of the passage which is known to the Jews as Shema. It has become the Jewish creed of faith. In Deuteronomy 6:4, it says, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one." They understood that God is one, therefore, they could not see how Jesus could be divine. As far as they were concerned, to say Jesus was God was to contradict the Old Testament affirmation that God is one. Eventually this view of Jesus adoption died out.

Another group tried to resolve the problem by arguing that Jesus was truly God, but He only appeared to be human. He was actually a spirit disguised as a person with a human body. He had all the power and knowledge but chose not to reveal them except in a limited way, in order to fit in with society and the culture of His time. Again this idea was rejected by the early church.

Most scholars say that 1 John was written to combat this way of thinking. John wrote, "This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world" (1 Jn. 4:2-3). John also declares, "In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God" (Jn 1:1). A little later we read, "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (Jn 1:14).

If we abandon the divine nature of Jesus, we end up rejecting the idea that God has come to us in the person of Jesus Christ; therefore, He remains remote and we cannot know Him in a personal and intimate way.

On the other hand, if we abandon the humanity of Jesus, we deny the incarnation. When we make Jesus all divine but not human, He would be far removed from where we live, far from our trials and temptations, far from our pain and suffering, far from our finite existence. We could excuse our sinfulness by saying that the reason Jesus was able to live a holy life was because He was God. We might ask, How can I be holy when I'm only human? Hebrews 4:15 reminds us, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet was without sin."

Jesus got tired, thirsty, and hungry. John tells us He had normal limitations and emotions on His human body. He wept at the tomb of Lazarus. He enjoyed eating. He experienced anger. He was bound by time and space. He lived at a particular time in history and lived according to the customs of that time. Even historians, such as Josephus of first-century Palestine, confirm that Jesus lived then.

Jesus spoke more about the kingdom of God than about Himself, He did speak clearly about who He is. In the Gospel of John He makes several I am statements: "I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (Jn 14:6). "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn 14:9b). "I and the Father are one" (Jn 10:30). In Luke we read of Him saying, "All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him" (Lk 10:22).

II. The Unconventional Jesus. (Rom. 6:6)

Jesus dying on the cross does not make Him unique. Thousands of Jews were crucified. His willingness to die does not make Him unique either. History is filled with tales of self-sacrifice. So what is it that makes Jesus unique? How would we help someone understand the importance of a crucifixion that took place over 2, 000 years ago? Paul tells us, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Cor. 3b-4). Mark quotes Jesus as saying, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mk 10:45).

Although Jesus was the Son of God, He was very aware of His limitations as a finite human being. He was also aware of His need for God's presence and provision in His life through prayer. His prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane prove that He had no desire to die. If there could be another way He was more than willing to let that happen. There was no other way to usher in the Kingdom of God. Jesus death was both agonizing and humiliating. From the cross He was crying out to His father, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me" (Mk 15:34)? God was not abandoning Jesus. Jesus was not doubting God in His final moments. Jesus was fulfilling prophecy in His final moments. This fulfillment of prophecy led into fulfillment of still more prophecy in how His Crucifixion would impact the world: "Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unbornfor he has done it" (Ps. 22:30-31).

Jesus was not some disillusioned fool. He went willingly to the Cross believing that His death would be the difference. Jesus died believing that His death was not the end but only the beginning. He believed that His death was the only way the Kingdom of God could come. Jesus death wasn't the end of His story, it was the beginning of the greatest event in history.

III. The Resurrected Jesus. (Rom. 6:11)

The single most important fact about the Resurrection is the fact that Jesus was raised by God the Father. This is something God did Himself. It didn't just occur. Jesus didn't just arise. It was God who reversed the death. God demonstrated His power when He raised His Son from the dead, and offered us grace and salvation. All this after we, sinful man, had done everything in our power to send Jesus to His death. Jesus death and resurrection are both demonstrations of God's love and grace for us. John writes, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10).

There are no shortages of opinions on the Resurrection. One says His body was resuscitated in the coolness of the tomb because of the trauma of Crucifixion. They say it because some people are found still alive when they are delivered to the morgue or mortician.

Christ's resurrection can in no way be compared to this. It was a dramatic demonstration of God's power over sin and death. The end of life here on earth is not the end of life.

The Resurrection empowers us to stop living in sin. Evangelist Reuben Welch was preaching an outdoor Easter service in San Diego, CA, he said in his message, "The story of Jesus dying and God raising Him from the dead is not just a tragic story that has a happy ending. It is a story that shows how God provided a way for the human race to break out of its cycle of sinning." He went on to say that humanity was in a downward spiral. It took Jesus resurrection to break that downward spiral. This was The Way that was provided for us to begin an upward spiral in a new life with Jesus. Jesus gave us more than hope when He went to the Cross and conquered sin and death. He gave us the life changing power of God available to whosoever.

Christianity is unique because Jesus is unique, being both fully God and fully man.

Christianity is unique because Jesus is unconventional, being an ever living founder who offers hope beyond the grave.

Christianity is unique because Jesus was resurrected, He loved humanity so much that He demonstrated His love by giving His life for you and I.

CHRISTIANITY IS NOT JUST ANOTHER RELIGION!

How many Christians do you know that think Christianity is just another religion?

Some believe, concerning Christianity, that:

It has a god like all the other religions.

It has a code of conduct and expectations like all other religions.

It promises an afterlife like other religions.

Many ask the question: is there any difference between Christianity and all other religions?

Well, for starters, Christianity is the only faith where the One worshipped loves us so much He was willing to pay the penalty of sin and die for us so we can be acceptable to Him.

All religions including Christianity have a code or a law spelling out to their adherents what is expected of them. Everyone has failed when it comes to satisfying the requirements of their religion. This is where the big difference comes in.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER CONCERNING SELECTING THE RIGHT RELIGION:

Did Buddha or Confucius or Allah do anything to bring their followers back into a right relationship with them? The answer is a resounding NO!

Christianity is unique in that the One worshipped did something unbelievable for His followers:

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Only Christianity has a means by which its disobedient followers can be welcomed back into the presence of God.

What does that mean? God died for us so justice would be satisfied, but He also imputed His righteous to us so that we would be acceptable to Him.

NKJ Corinthians 5:21 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

NLB 2 Corinthians 5:21 "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ."

No other religion has a god like our God who loved us this way.
The Gospel is the good news of mercy to the undeserving and that is why the symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not a set of scales - John R. W. Stott

In the comic strip B.C. two women are sitting on a small hill. One is reading the Bible and says, "my goodness. . . Says here. . . Jesus descended into hell"! The other is shocked and says, "You're kidding"! Then the woman with the Bible says, "no. . . Not to stay! He just dropped in to cancel our reservations"!

No other religion has a God who went to hell to cancel our reservation

2. Christianity is the only faith that makes it possible for its followers to live up to the expectations of its God

All religions including Christianity have a code or a law spelling out to their adherents what is expected of them.

No one has ever lived up to the expectations of any law regardless of its origin whether it be Gods or mans.That's why most religions include a system of penance for when the law is broken having to bring an offering or perform some ritual in order to appease the wrath of the gods.Even the Mosaic Law had a sacrificial system for disobedience.

Christianity, too, requires a sacrifice, but that sacrifice is Jesus, which is the only one acceptable to God. So we are accepted, but now He requires us to live like the son of God.

We do we do that by being Born Again, by being birthed spiritually.
This is the discussion Jesus had with Nicodemus in John Chapter 3.
• He gives us a new heart, His heart, the heart of God comes and lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."

1 Peter 1:22-23 "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever."

3. Christianity is the only faith that provides living proof of life after death.

There is plenty of evidence to prove that Jesus rose from the dead: the 500 eyewitnesses, the fact that a bunch of fisherman put their lives on the line and would not have done so for a fraud. But the greatest proof of all that Jesus is alive today is that He lives in our hearts.

Changed lives are proof of His resurrection. Also, we have experienced His guiding hand in our lives. We sense His presence with us.

1. Christianity is the only faith where the One worshipped loves us so much He was willing to pay the penalty of sin, death, for us so we can be acceptable to Him.

2. Christianity is the only faith that makes it possible for its followers to live up to the expectations of its God.

3. Christianity is the only faith that provides living proof of life after death.

Global warming? Do the math
National Post
Mon 09 Apr 2007
Page: A13
Section: Issues
Byline: Lorne Gunter

"UN Report Proves Canada Must Act Now On Climate Change," trumpeted the headline of a Liberal party press release on Friday, timed to correspond with the release of yet another alarmist UN summary on climate change.

"Canada must act aggressively now to avert the destructive consequences of climate change," the Liberals insisted.

"Canada must be ready for a carbon-constrained future," said party leader Stephane Dion. "Human beings can't continue to use the atmosphere as an unlimited and free dump¦ It is within our power to prevent the worst of the effects of climate change."

This, of course, marks the second alarmist release by the UN this year, both coming before its own scientific report on global warming is even out.

Just why would the UN release these teaser summaries before its actual scientific findings are available? It could it be that the science is becoming less alarming as scientists learn more, so the UN wants to maximize the public hysteria before its catastrophic forecasts for the future can be checked against the more moderate scientific truth.

We already know that the coming report -- the fourth by the UN in 15 years -- will say that maximum projected temperatures over the next century will not be nearly as high as projected in the last report in 2001; that man has contributed less to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than originally thought; and that sea level rise will be only a few inches, rather than the several feet once thought.

Yet the so-called "summaries for policy makers" are becoming more shrill each time: Species will be wiped out, crime will rise, starvation will kill hundreds of millions, disease will become rampant, islands will disappear beneath the waves, deserts will consume entire continents.

Science goes down, UN hysteria goes up. Curious, isn't it, how that plays into the UN's desire to be at the centre of a global effort to plan human activity?

But let's look at just what the global-warming theory implies and at Mr. Dion's charge that humans, Canadians included, are dumping massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Think of the atmosphere as 100 cases of 24 one-litre bottles of water -- 2,400 litres in all.

According to the global warming theory, rising levels of human-produced carbon dioxide are trapping more of the sun's reflected heat in the atmosphere and dangerously warming the planet.

But 99 of our cases would be nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), neither of which are greenhouse gases. Only one case -- just 24 bottles out of 2,400 -- would contain greenhouse gases.

Of the bottles in the greenhouse gas case, 23 would be water vapour.

Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas, yet scientists will admit they understand very little about its impact on global warming. (It may actually help cool the planet: As the earth heats up, water vapour may form into more clouds and reflect solar radiation before it reaches the surface. Maybe. We don't know.)

The very last bottle in that very last case would be carbon dioxide, one bottle out of 2,400.

Carbon dioxide makes up just 0.04% of the entire atmosphere, and most of that -- at least 95% -- is naturally occurring (decaying plants, forest fires, volcanoes, releases from the oceans).

At most, 5% of the carbon dioxide in the air comes from human sources such as power plants, cars, oilsands, etc.

So in our single bottle of carbon dioxide, just 50 ml is man-made carbon dioxide. Out of our model atmosphere of 2,400 litres of water, just about a shot glassful is carbon dioxide put there by humans. And of that miniscule amount, Canada's contribution is just 2% --about 1 ml.

If, as Mr. Dion demands, we honoured our Kyoto commitments and reduced our current CO2 emissions by one-third -- which would involve shutting down all the coal-fired power generating plants in Canada (and living with constant brownouts and blackouts); or taking all the cars or all the commercial vehicles off the roads; or shutting down the oilsands; or some combination of all these -- we would be saving one-third of 1 ml-- the tip of an eyedropper.

And somehow, that is supposed to save the planet from warming; the tip of one eyedropper out of 2,400 bottles of water.

That might be true if carbon dioxide were the most toxic substance ever discovered by man. But it is not. We each expel it every time we exhale.

It's hard to imagine how such a tiny amount of a benign substance could cause the end of the planet. Maybe Mr. Dion could explain that in his next press release.
____________________
Lorne Gunter
Columnist/Editorial Writer,
National Post
Columnist, Edmonton Journal
Tele: (780) 916-0719
E-mail: lgunter@shaw.ca
Fax: (780) 481-4735
Address: 132 Quesnell Cres NW
Edmonton AB T5R 5P2

_____________________
NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is reproduced for non-profit educational purposes only. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml

It is the right as well as the duty of all men in society, publicly and at stated seasons, to worship the Supreme Being, the great Creator and Preserver of the universe. And no subject shall be hurt, molested, or restrained in his person, liberty, or estate, for worshipping God in the manner and season most agreeable to the dictates of his own conscience... Massachusetts Bill of Rights

Separation of church and state is one thing. Separation of faith from home, family or work is quite another. After the Admiral soundly cursed everything and everyone within earshot... including me...I smilingly asked, "Admiral, may I ask you a question?"

"Well, what the blankety-blank is your question, you blankety-blank Marine?"

"Sir, do you believe in freedom of speech?"

"Freedom of speech? You better blankety-blank-blank know I believe in freedom of speech!"

Whereupon I raised both arms in the air, and shouted at the top of my Marine Corps lungs, "Praise the sweet lovely name of Jesus my Redeemer! Alleluia!", then politely assured the Admiral that in future I would have least ten public "Praise the Lords" for every one of his public blankety-blanks.

For a businessman, a working man, any man, to have a Biblical worldview, it stands to reason that the man must have read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation at least once. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the majority of Christian men; less than 10% have read the Bible through even once. Consequently, 90% of Christian business/working men (and, of course, 100% of non-Christian business/working men) have a worldview at variance with a Biblical worldview.

There is to be no separation of faith and work; faith in God is to permeate work, family, worship, all that we do in word or in deed. (Col 3:17, 22, 23)

Standards and measures are to be consistent. It's eight hours of labor for an eight hour pay check, it's also 16 oz. of meat per pound charged. (Prov 20:23)

A non-religious English butcher, out of curiosity, went to a Billy Graham crusade in London. His wife began to be concerned -- they lived on the 2nd floor over the shop -- when 11 p.m. came, and the husband had not returned. At last she heard the front door unlock, but instead of coming directly upstairs, the husband bustled around the butcher shop below. At last he came trudging up the stairs with a dazed look. "Where have you been all this time?"

"At the Graham meeting."

"Well, what did Mr. Graham say?"

"I'm not really sure."

"You look strange, what happened to you?"

"I don't really know."

"Well for heaven's sake, man, what have you been doing in the shop just now?"

"I put the honest weights back on the scales."

The Ten Commandments give instruction regarding relationship/duty/worship toward God; for relationships and duty toward parents and family; and duty towards fellow men in the work place. The problem: most Christian men cannot write down the Ten Commandments. They do not remember them, if they ever read them. Christ told the rich merchant that only reading Moses (Ten Commandments) and the Prophets would increase the faith of his five rich brothers...not miracles. (Luke 16:28-31)

And there's the problem again: neither the rich merchant burning in Hell nor his five alive rich brothers, all sons of Abraham, none of them read/studied/ remembered Scripture.

Scripture is written for believers, not unbelievers. (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Remembering Scripture is so important that Jesus promised He would send the Holy Spirit to cause believers to remember all things that He said to us. (John 14:26) It is rather difficult to remember Scripture one has not read.

God desires to be in partnership with farmers in all their labors; but in Georgia they say, " God don't plow; He's in charge of rain, lightning and sunshine."

There are three words for manin the Hebrew: adam, ish,and zechar. Interestingly, zechar has a second meaning: remember. The inference is, the true man remembers; he remembers what Scripture has to say regarding daily life in vows, work, commerce, duty, government. Solomon searched for the true man, couldn't find him. (Prov 20:6) Christ repeats the puzzle question of Solomon, and then answers the question in John 7:18 ...the true man seeks the Glory of Him Who sent him¦ If there is a true man, it follows there is also a false man. In fact, Scripture indicates that most men are false men. (Matt 7:13) The false man seeks his own glory (John 7:18), seeks his own profit ...... and does not/will not remember the Biblical worldview and way of life, family, commerce.

Psalm 15: "Blessed is the (true) man, who keeps (remembers it, does it) his word, even to his own hurt". Thank God, He remembered... and kept His Word, even in the market place, even to His own hurt...the Cross.

Myrl Allinder is married to the former Martha E. Smith of Augusta, GA since 1956. They rejoice in 4 children, and in 5 grandchildren. Myrl retired as a Colonel of Marines in 1986 after 29 years, 375 combat missions, and command of 3 squadrons. He served on the staff of the Secretary of Defense for 3 years, and as a Strategic Planner for the Department of the Navy at the Naval War College, Newport, RI for 4 years. His final job was Chief of Plans, Joint Deployment Agency, Joint Chiefs of Staff, developing Logistics War Plans for all Theaters, including the Middle East.

Upon retirement he served as a missionary in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America from 1987-2000. Today he volunteers in the Pinellas County Jail (4,000 prisoners, 1000 arrests per week), in the Suncoast Haven of Rest rescue mission (7,000 homeless); and as a Gideon distributes thousands of Bibles each year to students and foreigners in the Tampa Bay area. He is an usher at Bayside Church of God in Safety Harbor, FL, serving on the Missions Committee.

The following guest column ran in a December edition of the Portland Press Herald. It is authored by No Slots for Maine board member Steve Whiting.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a profusion of stories and editorials, appearing in both the press and the broadcast media, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the opening of Hollywood Slots in Bangor. Many of these stories have repeated the gambling interests' claims that the Hollywood Slots operation has made more money and spurred less crime than expected. Digging a little deeper shows otherwise.

First look at expected revenues. In April 2004, six months before the Bangor facility opened, it was projected by the developers that the total amount of money bet would reach $825 million per year, and that 90% of bets would be returned as winnings to the bettors. Thus the net gambling revenue (meaning the net losses by gamblers) that was expected by the developers prior to the operation of the facility was 10% of $825 million, or $82.5 million per year. That figure is fully consistent with betting behavior in other parts of the country.

The projected revenue of $82.5 million per year works out to $6.9 million per month. In the first twelve months, the net revenue of Hollywood Slots has risen to around $3.45 million per month, exactly half of the $6.9 million projected. Thus the first year's revenue experience at Bangor does not even come close to "beating expectations."

Similarly, the early crime data also comes as no surprise to those who follow this subject. Economists Earl Grinols and David Mustard, for example, have conducted an impressive study of the impact of casino construction on crime rates on a county-by-county basis throughout the country. They report there is no major impact on crime in the first year or two of operation.

However, after that initial quiet period, the situation deteriorates badly, with a steady rise observed, especially in property-related crimes. They found the rate of robberies in an average casino county rises from 100 robberies in a given time period before the opening of a casino up to 236 robberies in a corresponding time period five years after opening.

There are two main reasons for this delayed impact. First, the bettors themselves change with time. Psychologist Robert Breen has found that personality changes associated with the onset of gambling addiction take a year or more to fully develop. Secondly, most gamblers have access to a certain amount of wealth, such as retirement savings or the equity in their home. It would take even a truly dedicated gambler some time to lose, let's say, $150,000 at his favorite slot machine. It is only after an addicted gambler exhausts his own financial resources that he is likely to turn to crime to support his habit.

Over the next year or so of racino operation, full-blown gambling addiction will manifest itself in many of the racino's clients. Studies referenced on the No Slots for ME! web site have found that gambling addiction typically accounts for 40% of casino income. This means, for one thing, that we can expect to see further increases in monthly revenues, probably to a number very close to the $6.9 million projection.

But revenue gains coming from rising rates of addiction is a losing proposition for the people of Maine. Economists Grinols and Mustard have found that the financial cost of casino gambling to society just about matches, dollar for dollar, gambling revenues. Most of these costs originate in the out-of-control behavior of addicted gamblers, and the financial burden that this behavior places on their families, their employers, the police, the courts, and the penal system.

The first year's experience at Hollywood Slots does show us something, after all. What we have learned is that Mainers are just as vulnerable to the treacherous allure of slot machines as people in other parts of the county. All Mainers, including those who don't gamble, will get the bill for the large social costs that this vulnerability implies.

A story is told about a famous preacher long ago who pastored a church that was filled every Sunday by people who traveled miles on foot just to hear his messages. One day, as the church was emptying, a passerby asked one of the people in the church why this preacher's messages were so compelling. The person responded without hesitation, "This preacher will take you up to the mountain and down to the valley, he will bring you to laughter and to tears, he will have you jumping with joy and then falling to your knees - - - but - - - by the time he is finished, he will always have you at the foot of the cross."

This week is such a week, where the mixture of emotions range from the exuberance of Palm Sunday with the crowds that must have followed not only Sunday, but Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday, through the streets of Jerusalem, to the intimacy of the Last Supper on Thursday and the anger of the announcement that one of His closest friends would betray Him, to the desperate prayers in Gethsemane's garden late Thursday night --- the final week of Jesus life on the earth with a full range of emotions and circumstances. All of it led to the foot of the cross on Friday --- to witness the sacrifice of a Savior for the sins of the whole world --- even your sins and mine.

There were probably more people shouting for Jesus and praising Him on Palm Sunday than there were any other day of His life. Yet Jesus knows that He will be dead before the week is over. It is true that when we are on the top, it's easy to get caught up in the praises of others and forget that this is not what life is all about. Praise can blind us to God's call upon our lives. A big head can make us think that life is all about us instead of God's will for our lives.

It is our human tendency to want to be liked and admired. What happens though when maintaining the praise of others forces us to wander away from the will of God for our lives? Being popular can lead to our persecution.

Jesus never let fame and popularity go to His head. The next day He comes back to Jerusalem to cleanse the temple and to teach the people. No matter how high we rise, like Jesus, our primary calling is to do the will of God which includes speaking unpopular things, at times.

As leaders in the Kingdom of God, each of us has been placed where we are in order to be a spokesperson or mouthpiece for God. We must be careful not to allow our popularity ratings cause us to be silent when God wants us to speak.

Jesus life is a warning to us that when God uses us to make a difference, the enemy is likely to attack. The Bible tells us, "all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." There is no way to be faithful to Christ without encountering some form of persecution in our lives. Sometimes it's the actual act of being faithful that causes us the problem.

Jesus expected trouble to erupt around Him. Before He made it to Jerusalem, Jesus told the disciples that the chief priests will arrest Him, and have Him killed. The disciples brushed it off by saying, "We will never let anything like this happen to you."

We often think, when things go wrong, while trying to do right, we have missed the will of God for our lives. The truth is; we may be more in the will of God than ever before.

Just a few days after Palm Sunday. Jesus washes the disciples feet. They eat the Last Supper together in the upper room. They cry together because Jesus says that one of them is going to betray Him. To make matters even worse, Jesus tells them, "All of you will deny me tonight." They all declare that He's mistaken and that they will stand by His side to the end. Peter even states that he's ready to die for Jesus. [We all know what happened.]

Then Jesus leads them out to the Mount of Olives. This is a garden area with trees. The disciples are encouraged to spend some time in prayer. Jesus goes a little further from them and has the greatest battle in prayer that He's known to date, while the disciples are sleeping. His mission is so great that angels come to minister to Him. He's under such stress as He prepares to die for us that, in praying, the sweat on his forehead falls like drops of blood to the ground.

Here is a question to ponder: Is there something in your life that needs to be disturbed? In other words, is there a long-accepted value of yours, or habit, or practice -- something in your life that Jesus would be displeased with if He were to walk through the gates of your existence today?

Not a pleasant thought, is it? Perhaps you woke up, today, remembering that it was Good Friday - - and now you're being asked to consider what thing in your life the Lord detests. It was for those very things that Jesus suffered and died. It really is Good Friday. 2,000 years ago, He did that for us. And since He did this for us, are we willing follow Him? Are we willing to take up our cross? Our walk of faith isn't just about having a bubbly feeling for Jesus¦ It's also about facing the harsh realities of our humanness.

Here is another question¦..Is there something in your life that is troubling to which Jesus can bring peace? In other words, if Jesus can bring calm to a colt never-ridden and its mother, then would He not have the power to bring peace to the chaotic parts of our lives?

A story is told of a pastor who made his monthly trip to an assisted living center to sing for the residents there. They enjoyed having him come because he sang songs that they grew up with. He began by singing a couple of "cross songs," being sensitive to the time of the year that it was.

There was a new man and his wife there¦ and the man spoke up after the first several songs and said, "I want to sing ˜Silent Night."

The visiting pastor kind of chuckled and said in a quick-witted playful voice, "I love that song but my guitar isn't able to play it between January 1 and December 1." and everyone laughed. He sang a couple more songs.

Then the man's wife spoke, this time a little louder and quite a bit more insistent, "WE WANT TO SING ˜SILENT NIGHT."

The pastor could see that neither of them was kidding and neither cared that it was in the middle of Lent and on the threshold of Holy Week, where Jesus wasn't just born but was over 30 years old by now! There was no getting around it¦they sang Silent Night.

There was another woman, there for the first time, who began to weep openly as they sang a song that obviously pulled her heart strings and brought tears of comfort to her troubled soul. It's great the Lord, whose birth brought peace to the chaos of Bethlehem, can do that all year round for every generation in every time and every place.

And the last question is this: What price are we really willing to pay to further the cause of Christ? Are we at all moved to action when people attack Jesus and His teachings? Do we desire to speak up for what's right or do we look into the darkness to run and hide with our silence?

I regret how often I betray Jesus with my silence only later to say to myself, "I should have said something." Do you know why we remain silent? I believe it has to do with the possibility that we prefer the approval of others over the persecution of standing with and for Christ.

If we are going to walk with Christ, then there is a certain amount of persecution and rejection we must be willing to endure. We should expect it. We should even consider it joy to be able to face it. Not everybody is going to like us if we are faithful to Him. Not everybody is going to like our message because it's truth. We must be willing to stand alone at times. We must recognize that there will be times when it is going to hurt to be a Christian. We all know that persecution never feels good.

Palm Sunday began with praises, but the week ended in persecution. Jesus died on the cross at Calvary for sins He did not commit. If Jesus had been content with the praises, we would still be lost today. Christ paid an unimaginable price because of His love for us. Are we willing to pay a price to love Him back?

The Christian Civic League of Maine has been fully engaged in this war of the clashing of worldviews for over a century now and has some experience at the battle. Churches, ministries and individuals who partner with the League are also engaging in this battle and helping to win it. Please consider supporting the League with regular contributions if you haven't already. Another very important blessing to the ministry of the League is prayer. Pray for Executive Director Michael Heath, the staff and Board of Directors. The League has a prayer partnership network that receives regular prayer updates. You can contact the League office to become part of the network.

I want to extend my sincere thanks to those churches and ministries that are joining the 500-50-5 project. Support of the League has never been more important with daily attacks on marriage and family being introduced in our legislature. We could do so much more if the resources were there. If you haven't become a partner, I urge you to do so today. Maine's future depends on it.

May we be found faithful and fully committed to the cause of Christ here in Maine. May we be willing to endure persecution as we stand unashamed for the truth of the Gospel of Jesus.

The League is committed to proclaim the truths of Jesus Christ. It is bringing its influence to the State House. We won on LD 779. After the response through the Citizen Action Center, one of the Judiciary committee members said "With the hundereds of emails we have received, the will of the people is abundantly clear."

Also keep your eyes open for a report in the RECORD of the hearing having to do with granting homosexual couples even more benefits. It is LD 375. You can express your opinion on this one too. It is even more important than LD 779. A church denominational representative lobbied at the hearing IN FAVOR of LD 375.

If you haven't checked out our Citizen Action Center on the internet, you need to do it. Go here. This is a very easy and quick way to communicate with your legislators and others who you select. It can be done from the comfort of your home or office. To further help you, a message has been prepared for you to use or, even better, you can write your own. An initial registration is required and then you can use it on a regular basis. You will see a list of issues the League is interested in bringing a Christian/Biblical influence to. Please pass on this information to others you regularly communicate with.

And finally, if you are not aware of it, Mike Heath regularly speaks on current issues of today, from a biblical perspective. He speaks at regional conferences and radio programs, and also speaks in churches across Maine bringing an update of the work of the League.

Please consider having Mike Heath speak at your church for a "League Sunday". He teaches adult/teen Sunday School classes, using multimedia and leading a discussion. Mike also preaches on the subject of Christian Citizenship, bringing a biblical sermon in morning and evening worship services. He is glad to provide pulpit supply for pastors.

You may contact Paulie Heath to schedule an event with Mike.
Email: paulie@paulieheath.com

Thank you for your support.

The University of Maine at Farmington is known nationally for its annual ranking among the best small liberal arts colleges in America, according to U.S. News and World Reports. UMF is known locally as a hotbed of radical homosexual activism, led by the college's homosexual Alliance student organization.

UMF will host the homosexual students group's annual Drag Show on campus on Thursday, April 26th at 9 pm with free admission for those who attend. The Alliance's co-chairman, Andrea Bechen, states in the March 26, 2007 edition of the campus Farmington Flyer newspaper, You will see men dressed as women and women dressed as men and other people dressed as genders you may not be certain of. There will be loud music. There will be dancing. There will be overt sexuality. And it is a (obscenity deleted) of a lot of fun. The Drag Show story rated front-page, above-the-fold treatment by the campus paper, written by Farmington Flyer staff writer Shannon Field.
Bechen, a self-described feminist, agnostic lesbian and rabid gay-rights activist, went on to explain in the story, "the Alliance accept(s) sexual minorities like gays, lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals, asexuals, transgendered individuals and others." Further, Bechen noted, "The Alliance has a pretty progressive political standpoint because queer politics unfortunately still fall on the 'liberal' side of the spectrum."

The story details the University administration's alleged attempt last year to have the radical homosexual group cease their activities during the "Family and Friends Fall Fest Weekend." Bechen states that the group's public radical homosexual activities would not have been well received by the parents of fellow UMF students and that the group is UMF's well-known queer secret.

UMF's Alliance student group was known as the Rainbow Educational Alliance of Diverse Individuals, or READI, until recently. In addition to the annual Drag Show, the group partnered with UMF's Department of Psychology last year to promote a so-called lesbian lunchbox which was a comprehensive program designed to provide workshop participants with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to make schools safer and more affirming places for lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students according to a UMF press release no longer available on the University's website.

From the University's website: "Does this sound like you? You're OK with people who have different ideas and values. Our student clubs are proof of that: GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning) Alliance, UMF Democrats, etc. Farmington students are open minded, tolerant and willing to listen to different ways of thinking."
The President of the University of Maine at Farmington is Dr. Theodora J. Kalikow, who insists on being referred to as Theo. Dr. Kalikow is actively engaged with the State Sub-Cabinet for Multicultural Affairs, and she chairs the University of Maine System's Diversity Committee, according to the University's website. She is not married. She can be reached at 778-7056 and by email at kalikow@maine.edu

The Vice President for Student and Community Services, Celeste Branham, states on the University's website. I, too, welcome your questions and the expression of concerns. I am always willing to talk with parents about their sons and daughters... She can be reached at 778-7087 and by email at cbranham@maine.edu