Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Another One Bites the Dust

Suddenly it seems like 2016 is the year when poker options are disappearing before our very eyes. The latest is the "place" where poker-playing began for us.

Yahoo will eliminate its games section in mid-May, as it shrinks down to top-producing and best-loved web offerings. The "Yahoo Poker" option we first used in 2007 already had disappeared a few years ago.

Yahoo Poker is where we first tried the game on a regular basis in April 2007 - playing 1/2 Limit Hold 'em. It's where we first hit quads with Queens (on the flop at that), to win a $119 pretend pot.  A starting allocation of $1,000 grew to more $13,000 in 2009, and an all-time high of $13,969 in late 2010 - admittedly helped by some side trips to Yahoo Blackjack along the way.

Yes, we kept records of all of this. We wanted to see if we "had the stuff" to play poker - and we think time has shown we do, as we moved on from Yahoo to other online and in-person poker venues. But Yahoo was where we had friendly chats about all sorts of topics, including faith topics. We also saw the bad attitudes some people can bring, even to online "lounge" settings.

The lesson of Yahoo Games is the lesson of us all - that in this life, nothing really lasts forever:
...For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24


We've heard radio preachers put it this way: You don't see hearses pulling U-Hauls behind them. Even in cyberspace, the principle is true....
All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. - Ecclesiastes 3:20


So what hope do we have beyond this life?  A lot of hope - if we put our hope and faith in the God who created us, and desires to save us.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone.... But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him.... with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. - Psalm 103:15-18


God loves us enough to offer a path out of death:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16


That eternal life is in Jesus Christ. Would you like to know more about that - a true reason to shout "Yahoo!"? If so, leave a comment and we'll be happy to help you.

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