04/04/20—Further adventures in Reno, NV. Some of my meetings were held on the second floor of a casino. My two traveling companions talked excitedly about how much fun it was to gamble there. In preparation for my “night on the town,” I put all my money and valuables in the hotel’s safe in the lobby, except for $3.00 (though this was more than 30 years ago, that still wasn’t much). I went with them as they each bought $100 in chips. I looked over their shoulders as they lost nearly all of it.

Along the way I had a great steak dinner for $1.00 (apparently the casino did NOT want its customers to leave the place to grab a bite to eat)! On a whim, I decided to try a nickel-slot machine. It ate up my first ten cents. But on my 3rd nickel, a loud siren sounded, lights flashed and $20.00 (400 nickels!) poured out onto the floor (I didn’t know you were supposed to put a “Dixie-cup” under the chute)! I quickly picked up as many as I could.

At evening’s end, they decided to compare notes. They each commented on what a great night and how much fun they had experienced. And neither of them had lost his entire $100, so it was “cheap entertainment.” When I emptied my right front pocket and counted all my loot, I had around $17.00—I actually made about $14.00! They mocked me—how could I expect to have any fun at all since I was so “cheap?”

Proverbs 1:7 (CSB) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 10:2 (CSB) Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death.