Poker Night 145: Fear Factor

"Scared money never wins," a man across the table from us said at Lil Kim's Cove tonight. We think he was advising against small hesitant betting. Sometimes we don't mind that approach -- but sometimes we have little choice but to bet big:

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: 9-8 of clubs

We're content to call our way into this hand, but a man to our left raises to 200. Then a man across the way raises to 700. We're not comfortable with this -- but big-time poker players on TV go big with suited connectors, so we call. The first raiser does as well.

ON THE FLOP: K-9-10 (10 is a club)

We're first in line to act, and check. The man to our left bets 800, chasing away the man who re-raised a moment before. It's bottom pair and we're asking for trouble, but we call.

ON THE TURN: 8

Hmmmm -- so much for the flush. But now we have two pair. We check in the hope our opponent will fire again. He doesn't, checking along with us.

ON THE RIVER: Q

Uh-oh. Now a Jack makes a straight, and our hopes are more cautious. We check again, and quietly are delighted when our opponent does the same.

"WLS," we declare in honor of one of our favorite radio stations growing up. "Eight-y nines." The old "rock of Chicago" is too much for our opponent, who concedes without showing his hand.

We won a couple of other hands as well -- but lost a couple of chases, including a hand with A-10 which led to two pair, but cost us 3,000 to a man with three of a kind. Our last stand with A-J fell short to two smaller pair, and we finished in 19th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Two players across the table from us were talking about a hand. One said to play what he had, "I've have to be f***ing God."

"I don't think God would do that," we responded.

The man who made the comment said nothing more about it -- but we felt compelled to say something. So many people seem to attach God's name to foul language.

"You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God," warns Deuteronomy 5:11, "for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name." The Contemporary English Version says God will punish anyone who misuses His name.

But earlier in the day, we were reminded in Bible study of this surprising guidance from Jesus: "And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man shall be forgiven...." (Luke 12:10)

It's the time of year for thinking carefully about the forgiveness Jesus offers. "Father, forgive them," the Savior pleaded as He died, "for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Are you grateful for Jesus's sacrifice for your sins? Or have you spoken against Him carelessly in the last year, perhaps without giving it a second thought? There's still time to ask God to forgive you for wrong words from your mouth -- and for the Holy Spirit's help in speaking better.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 59 final tables in 145 nights (40.7%) - 11 cashes. If all goes well, we might be able to resume online poker play next week.