Two Sides of the Same Jackpot!: Part I: The Dream Comes True Part II: The Real Deal!

By Stanley G. Buford

This book was introduced because of the authors teaching a principle of math: Probability. Probability theory is the mathematical framework for analyzing and quantifying chance events and uncertainty. It uses a set of axioms and concepts like sample spaces, rand

• Language: English
• Publisher: TriDreams Production Inc.
• Release date: Oct 13, 2025
• ISBN: 9798349617713

Book preview

Part 1

The Time Machine and the Lottery Miscue

About the Author

Stanley G. Buford is a noted educator and integrated practitioner who has consulted widely in business and industry. In addition to being the President of TERKAT CONSULTANTS, INC., he is the Chief Executive Officer and is known to exercise multidisciplinary forms of leadership within the organization and the industry. An author on faith, miracles, and personal growth, he writes with a blend of practical and spiritual insight.

His previous jobs include Director of the School Partnership Program at DePaul University, Manager of Personnel Development, and an instructor. The Heartbeat of America, along with other areas and the classroom, enables him to connect with many different audiences professionally, living. Their approach to managing a career path as distinct as it may be rests on principles of growth, honesty, and faith.

Contemporary issues taught by him at the University of Illinois and Northwestern contribute to the multifaceted nature of his career as invaluable learning experiences for students. Several dimensions of Stanley's life are significantly shaped by his education and experience, and these add credibility to him. He has served as an adjunct faculty member teaching Organizational Management at Concordia University, and so he surely has been active in their leadership development and mentoring efforts. Through his writings, Stanley's wonders continue to challenge people to see and accept miracles by regarding daily life intersections with faith. He is known as the bestselling author of The Bible Said That?

The modern audience is often deprived of hope, practical guidance, and unfiltered spiritual advice, which drove him to author biblical teachings. Outside work, Stanley G. Buford serves as a man of faith; he dedicates his service as an Associate Director of Children’s Church at the Monument of Faith Church in Chicago, exemplifying spiritual nurturance to children. His relatability transcends demographics, as everyone can appreciate the miracles and special gifts of life that can be granted to them. He incorporates age-old tales, practical monthly insights, and teachings from the bible to address today’s issues.

To achieve this aim, he wants to assist as many individuals as he can to accept their capabilities and live a life that is purposeful, intentional, and with profound faith. Public speaking, writing, and consulting are three areas through which Stanley plans to expand his ministry. He also hopes to inspire everyone to begin to appreciate the many miracles one comes across every day and embrace a life full of faith, extraordinary potential, and boundless opportunities. By blending extreme motivation with an unparalleled vision of transforming the world approach, he aims to shift people’s attitudes toward hope, elevating enduring miracles, and nurturing global spiritual growth.

Introduction

Every lottery player knows that pulse-quickening moment, when anything—a fortune, a new life—feels just a number away. But what if the rules weren't limits at all? Not cheating. Not bending. Just finding a way to make time work for you. Building on that rush of anticipation, The Time Machine and the Lottery Miscue follows Josh Winchester as he dares to challenge chance.

In this story, curiosity, invention, and a healthy dose of what if explore whether fortune can be engineered. Along the way, Josh finds that winning is only the beginning—the real questions emerge afterward. Then comes the other side of the coin.

Mega Million Lottery Facts: What Officials Don’t Tell You! takes readers from the thrill of possibility into the hard math of reality. Here, the odds are not just stacked against you. They are explained, stripped down to their smallest pieces, so anyone can see why the big win is such a rare event.

Together, these two works offer a complete perspective on the lottery: The Time Machine and the Lottery Miscue explore the imaginative possibilities of outsmarting chance, while Mega Million Lottery Facts: What Officials Don’t Tell You! reveals the statistical truths behind the odds. Reading both, you will be entertained by fantasy and grounded by reality—and may never see the lottery the same way again.

The Time Machine and the Lottery Miscue

Figure 1

It was a rainy Monday afternoon. Josh Winchester was strolling through a second-hand shop. He had a little time to waste between meetings. He hoped that he might find the perfect gift for his mother’s birthday, which was coming up in a few weeks. His mom was extremely hard to buy for because she wasn’t a materialistic person. She was a charitable woman who spent most of her time volunteering instead of doing or buying things for herself.

Josh saw an interesting lamp with a multi-colored shade. It reminded him of a rainbow or a field of flowers. Both of these were something that brought his mother pleasure, and so he decided to purchase them for her. He got the lamp home and was using a damp cloth to dust it off when he noticed a little drawer in the lamp’s pewter base. This intrigued him as he’d never seen a lamp with a secret hiding place in it before. He opened it up and found a lottery ticket inside. Since he had a lottery app on his phone, he pulled it out and scanned the ticket. It was a winning ticket with a reward of seventeen million dollars.

Josh sat down on the floor of his apartment. It was a lot to process all at once. He thought about all the things that he could do with that much money. He could help out so many charities and even make a better life for himself and his girlfriend, Lindsay. She was always working at least two jobs at a time, and the money would certainly help him spend more time with her. However, the ticket wasn’t really his. Sure, he’d bought the lamp, but he hadn’t done it for the lottery ticket. He hadn’t even known about it until after he’d gotten home.

Is it my money to spend? Wondered Josh. Or will I feel terrible by keeping it, even though I wouldn’t be spending it on myself? I would be helping others with it. What if the ticket could make a world of difference for the person who bought it?

Maybe they forgot that they put the ticket into the lamp and had to sell it to the second-hand shop because it was the only way they’d get money to finish making their rent, or to be able to buy some food for themselves or their kids.

Numerous scenarios ran through Josh’s mind. The ticket would expire in less than a week, and therefore, immediate action was required. Otherwise, no one would get the money. Josh decided to take the ticket back to the store where it had been purchased. The name was stamped on the back. Josh had never seen that on a ticket before, but he supposed there was a reason, or perhaps just some extra promotion that the store was doing with their lottery tickets. It was only a twenty-minute drive to get to the store.

I’m sure that I can figure out who bought this by going through the security videos, said the store owner. It’s a nice thing you’re doing, turning the ticket in like this instead of just taking the money. I hope that whoever it is really needs it and even rewards you. With the amount that he or she’ll get, I’m sure they could spare a little to make it worth your while."

That would be nice, admitted Josh. There is a lot that I’d do if I had just a little of that money. But that isn’t why I’m turning it back in. I can’t, with a good conscience, keep the ticket. It’s like stealing someone else’s money.

Not really, said the storekeeper. The owner of the ticket didn’t even sign their name, and you didn’t take it from them; instead, you found it.

It’s not the way I look at it, said Josh. I don’t want to have any regrets later on. Life is much too short for that. He knew that he would just have to work hard for the things he wanted in life, including a chance to ask Lindsay to marry him and hopefully have his children one day.

When he was a father, he didn’t want her to have to worry so many hours; he wanted them to have a really happy family with time for their kids.

Two days later, the storekeeper called Josh up and asked him to meet him at the store. The owner of the mysterious lottery ticket had been found. Josh said he didn’t have to be there, but the storekeeper insisted.

So, Josh did as he was asked and went to the store. Introductions were made, and Josh met Liam Grenwhile, the owner of the ticket. He was a man who appeared to be in his forties with an unagreeable personality. He didn’t thank Josh for bringing in the ticket or offer him anything. He didn’t even offer a handshake.

Josh left the store feeling disheartened and disappointed. He didn’t know if it was because the man was driving an expensive car and appeared to have couture clothing that turned him off, since he had really been hoping that the money would go to someone in need, or it was the man’s abrasive nature. Josh decided to take a walk to clear his head.

After strolling around town for a bit and stopping at the park for a few minutes to watch the boats sail by on the lake, he decided that he wouldn’t let Liam’s demeanor bother him anymore. Josh knew that he'd done what he’d felt was right. There was nothing that he could do to change the situation, so the best thing to do was to move on and try to find his own peace and happiness in his life.

He decided to go to the grocery store and get a bouquet, a bottle of wine, and something that he could grill for supper. It wasn’t a special occasion, but it was going to be a rare evening when Lindsay wasn’t working, and Josh wanted to celebrate his amazing girlfriend.

Slowly, the days faded into weeks and the weeks into months and then years. Josh almost completely forgot about the lottery ticket that he’d found inside the lamp that he’d purchased for his mother. His mother had loved her gift and kept it on the desk in her home office. It was one room in his mother’s house that Josh wasn’t frequently in, as she liked to keep business and pleasure separate. Therefore, when he was at her house for meals, they were usually on the patio or in the kitchen and living area.

Josh worked hard at his job as a software engineer. He began to work his way up the ladder, and with each promotion came more money, allowing him to finally ask Lindsay to marry him. They were planning their wedding, and she was looking to change careers so that she could hopefully manage with one job that gave her a more flexible schedule, so that she could enjoy day-to-day life.

One day, Josh hit the jackpot. His years of hard work had finally paid off. He had invented the most amazing machine. It was able to help transport people in time and space. It wasn’t geared to go into the future, but it could turn back the clock. Josh’s bosses had been amazed, but he said he wasn’t ready for anyone to use it yet. He wanted to do some trials on it first.

In addition to working on software, Josh liked to tinker around with his hands. He loved to build things and had even considered becoming a carpenter at one point.

However, his abilities with technologies and computers had pushed him to his current career. He felt that it was meant to be because if he had decided to become a carpenter, he wouldn’t have attended university, and that was where he’d met Lindsay.

The idea for the machine had happened away from his computer. Sometimes Josh would get restless and would fiddle around with miscellaneous parts, hammers, and screwdrivers to try and come up with something interesting. He hadn’t set out to try and