The eight winners of the Powerball Lottery pose with their individual checks in Lincoln, Neb., Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2006. Clockwise from top left: Robert Stewart, Alain Maboussou, Dung Tran, Eric Zornes, David Gehle, Michael Terpstra, Quang Dao and Chasity Rutjens. (AP)
MEAT WORKERS SHARE $365 MILLION FILET MIGNON
(CBS/AP) Eight workers at a Nebraska meat processing plant claimed the record $365 million Powerball jackpot Wednesday, giving each about $15.5 million after taxes.
The seven men and one woman all work at a ConAgra ham processing plant near the U-Stop convenience store where they bought the winning ticket last week for Saturday's lottery.
They ended up with the biggest jackpot in U.S. lottery history.
"I didn't know what to think," said Robert Stewart, 30, who said he was a maintenance supervisor before the win. "I still don't know what to think."
The previous U.S. lottery jackpot record was $363 million for the Big Game, the forerunner of Mega Millions. Powerball's previous record jackpot, $340 million, was won by an Oregon family in October.
At least three of the winners Wednesday are immigrants.
photo & story courtesy AP & cbsnews.com, 02/22/06
16For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles.Ephesians 2:4-7 - (NLT)
4But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, 5that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) 6For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms--all because we are one with Christ Jesus. 7And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.
WHY DOES IT SEEM THAT THE APOSTLE PAUL COULD HARDLY WAIT TO ANNOUNCE THE GOOD NEWS?
Paul knew exactly what to do with the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. He would tell others about it. He was not ashamed to tell everyone, because it is only the POWER OF GOD that can forgive sins and make a person right before God.
I saw the television news conference where the record-breaking powerball winners announced their "good news". They talked about their fear of telling others because they knew that they would have lots of people asking them for money. One of them said, "I know this will change my life forever".
I wonder if that guy knows that only Christ can change your life forever? There's no luck involved in being forgiven and going to Heaven. We have been given a gift that is beyond winning every lottery ever held! Through Christ, we receive the riches of God's mercy and the wealth of His grace which will continue forever and ever.
Are you willing to have your idenitity as a follower of Christ revealed to your world? Do you want others to ask you about the best thing that's ever happened to you?
Nobody has to gamble their eternal soul. The POWER OF GOD always wins!
- Every time you hear the Powerball reports on the news, do something the next day that will communicate the love of Christ to someone who needs to understand that Heaven is not for the lucky, but for the forgiven.
- Memorize Romans 1:16.
- Do an extra Bible study by using a Concordance to look up 10 scripture passages that focus on the "power" of God.
Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.
Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.