A year ago, I moved from Nevada from California, and the first time I walked into a grocery store, I was taken aback. Slot machines at a supermarket? I come in to grab milk and yogurt, and I could leave play a couple spins on the way out. It felt jarring.

Now that I’ve lived here a while, I’m less shocked by slot machines in gas stations and grocery stores, but it still feels strange, the ease of access to gambling woven into everyday life. But then I started wondering: what’s the difference between a slot machine in a supermarket and platforms like Kalshi or Polymarket that I can access instantly on my smartphone?

When the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting, I don’t think anyone imagined we’d arrive here. Today, you can bet on almost anything, sports, politics, cultural moments. What will a guest talk about on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert? Who will win tonight’s NBA game? You can even predict the outcome of our current wars in Venezuela and Iran. Everything becomes a market. Everything becomes a wager.

Last month, I was in Minnesota. I’m part of a fantasy league for Survivor, and I caught myself thinking about how easy it would be to sway the group if I had information others didn’t. Even without money at stake, the temptation was there, to leverage knowledge, to influence outcomes, to gain an edge on who would be voted out.

That’s what struck me most: gambling isn’t just about money anymore. It’s about access, information, and influence. It seeps into how we think, how we relate, how we trust one another.

In his recent piece Sucker: My Year a Life in Gambling, McKay Coppins explores not just the systems of gambling, but the culture surrounding it, the normalization, the quiet pull, the ways it reshapes our habits and even our moral boundaries.

And maybe that’s what feels most unsettling. It’s not just that gambling is everywhere, it’s that it’s becoming invisible. Ordinary. Expected.

So the question isn’t just where we gamble anymore. It’s how gambling is shaping us.

Because the danger today isn’t just losing money. It’s:

• Trust being replaced by strategy
• Community being replaced by competition
• Relationships being filtered through advantage

When everything becomes a wager, people can start to become… means to an outcome. And that cuts directly against the Gospel.

Because in Christ, people are not bets to be leveraged. They are neighbors to be loved.

Here is a resource from ELCA Witness and Society for congregations to use regarding gambling.

Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) is deeply concerned about the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education to withhold $350 million in federal funds from minority-serving colleges and universities (MSIs). This funding, approved by Congress, supports institutions that provide critical access to higher education for historically underserved communities.

In Nevada, the impact is significant. The Nevada System of Higher Education received nearly $18 million this year from these now-canceled grants. Among the institutions affected is the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution and Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Other colleges, including Western Nevada College, the College of Southern Nevada, and Nevada State College, also face potential funding losses.

These grants support programs that advance equity, student success, and opportunity for students from marginalized communities. Withholding this funding threatens not only educational access but also the long-term stability and growth of institutions committed to serving diverse populations.

LEAN affirms our commitment to educational justice and equity. We call on policymakers to restore these funds and to ensure that all students—regardless of race, ethnicity, or background—have access to the resources they need to thrive in higher education.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been around for a long time, but in the past five years they have become nearly ubiquitous, thanks to faster computer chips and greater interest in their potential. There are potential benefits of AI, some of which we are already experiencing without even realizing we are being served by AI. There are also many concerns and worrying events that dictate caution and oversight. Learn more about benefits, risks and reasons for caution.

Let LEAN help you plan for our churchwide day of service and advocacy! Send us a note with GWOH in the subject line. 

This day is an opportunity to celebrate who we are as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — one church, freed in Christ to serve and love our neighbor.

Service activities offer an opportunity for us to explore one of our most basic convictions as Lutherans: that all of life in Jesus Christ – every act of service, in every daily calling, in every corner of life — flows freely from a living, daring confidence in God’s grace.

More information and resources will be available from the ELCA closer to the event date.

Registration is now open for Leadership in Difficult Times, a guided certificate cohort from Faith+Lead, designed to equip leaders to serve faithfully amid division, uncertainty, and rapid societal change. The cohort runs April 28–July 28, 2026, and includes four live online sessions in a supportive learning community.

This live learning experience is rooted in Lutheran theology and practical ministry wisdom, helping participants move beyond theory into faithful, grounded practice. Participants will develop skills for leading through polarization, deepen their spiritual foundation for hope, and apply what they learn directly in their ministry contexts—work that aims to heal, connect, and strengthen communities.

PROGRAM DETAILS AT A GLANCE

• Dates: April 28–July 28, 2026
• Format: Four live Zoom sessions (6 total contact hours)
• Schedule: Fourth Tuesday of each month, Noon–1:30 p.m. CST
• Cost: $499 (payment plans available)
• Scholarships: Available upon request

The cohort is guided by Dawn Alitz, a seasoned coach and leader with more than 30 years of experience in congregational ministry, adult faith formation, and adaptive leadership across ELCA and ecumenical settings. Participants will benefit from both her coaching and the collective wisdom of peers navigating similar leadership challenges.

This certificate is intentionally accessible. You do not need to be a rostered minister—or feel fully confident in your leadership—to participate. The program is well suited for anyone who:

• Feels called to lead with hope, purpose, and resilience
• Wants tools for addressing painful or divisive topics faithfully
• Seeks spiritual grounding while navigating cultural and congregational complexity
• Values learning within a trusted, supportive community

In a season when many leaders feel stretched thin, Leadership in Difficult Times offers space to reflect, practice, and grow—grounded in the gospel and oriented toward healing and unity.

Learn more, enroll, or apply for a scholarship:

faithlead.org/learning-communities/leadership-in-difficult-times/