Poker Night 280: Good Things Come in Pairs?

"I'm getting a divorce," the man to our left said tonight at Soho Bar and Grill.  That admission was unusual enough -- but he said it in response to our question about what he's thankful for.  Now there's a new way to slam the door on a conversation.

But that man may have been more focused on winning at the poker table.  A big crowd showed up to do that, perhaps because it was Thanksgiving Eve.  For us, it was a change because our usual Thursday night room will be closed for the holiday.  And we hoped to change our trend line, because our last trip to Soho in May ended with a tie for fifth place.  Let's see if it happened....

BLINDS: 500/1000

IN THE POCKET: 8h-8c

We won a modest early pot by making bottom pair and betting people away.  But otherwise, nice cards have fallen short for us -- such as K-K losing to two pair.  We're down to 2,500 chips, and this pocket pair may be our last good hope.  We go all in, and two other people at the table of six call.

ON THE FLOP: 9h-10s-6h

This gives us a straight draw and a longshot chance for a flush.  But when one of the other players bets 2,000, we don't feel good about this.  (The fact that the third player calls didn't change things much.)

ON THE TURN: 4d

So much for a flush.  The other players check.

ON THE RIVER: As

We miss the straight -- and the player who bet earlier now goes all-in for 13,000.  His opponent folds, and we fear the worst.  He shows 9-J!  That's not much, but his pair is enough to top our pair.  We head home as the second player eliminated at our table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We took a small card saying "Thank You" to the table, and tried to ask the players around us what made them thankful this holiday season.

"For life," the man to our right said.  "I don't have much to be thankful for."  At least that topped the man to our left.

"I'm thankful for life," we told that man after some thought.  "And I'm thankful for eternal life, through Jesus Christ."  We don't think either neighbor really heard us mention this.  But even if you're a pauper, the offer of eternal life is one you can claim.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

It's a "gift," yet an unusual one -- because Jesus indicated it depends on things you do while you're alive.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.... I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.... [Others] will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. - Matthew 25:35-36, 40, 46

So if you have to do some things to receive this gift, is it really a gift?  That's a deep Biblical topic - a classic clash between the grace of God and the works of humans.

We could liken it to fund-raising raffle tickets which are sold at some of the poker nights we attend.  Someone will have their name drawn at random to win a big prize -- let's say a TV set or a car.  But if you don't buy a ticket, you can't receive that gift.  In the same way, God's gift of eternal life appears to be offered based on our participation in acts of kindness toward others.  Do you agree, or have a different view?  Either way, please leave a comment with your thoughts.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 102 final tables in 280 nights (36.4%) - 16 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 175 point wins in 769 games (22.8%), 60 final tables, seven cashes.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $68,252, down $315.