Viva Las Vegas

So what do you do in Vegas when you don't gamble??
Answer: not much.

You know what I noticed the first time I came to Vegas 2 years ago? I wanted to see what a casino looked like. I've heard they are beautiful (and they are). I went to a bunch of Casinos: MGM, Caesars, Venetian. I thought I'd be walking in to this huge party scene. Man, nodoby was really that happy. Honest. I walked through the casino floor, and all I noticed was that most people were pretty intense at the tables. Then it hit me as to why ... they're mostly losing their money. Would you be happy???

Did you know that 92% of all "gamers" are actually "up" at one point in their stay at Vegas - that is - they are ahead of the house - but only 17% actually leave with more money than they came with!!! (read that out of the little embassy suites fact sheet about Vegas, on my coffee table)

I'm here at the Shot Show. It's one of the largest hunting industry shows in the world. Literally. It's always held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. If you can shoot it, use it to shoot with, hunt with it, or wear it, it's all here. For many men who love hunting, this show is like crack cocaine. It's honestly pretty cool - I'll have to admit.

I'm meeting with our sponsors, making new ones, meetn' and greetn', trying to promote our outdoor ministry; all that keen stuff.

I'll tell you this: I'm now thrust into the world of non-believers. And it's so neat. As a pastor, I was surrounded by believers, and still am some, but nothing like I used to be. I think we get so big time insulated from the "real world" that we no longer have any idea how to even communicate on a deeper level with people who don't know Christ.

So here I am in Vegas, and when it's all said and done, I'm working for the cause of Christ at the Show . . . and everyone else is just waiting for the show to close each day so they can hit the tables!!!

I think I'll go watch Everybody Loves Raymond now.