Fake News

For perhaps the first time, we took a lugnut for a car tire to a poker room this past Sunday. It was our "card protector" and conversation starter - and on December 24, we had an extra line ready.

"I'm just nutty enough to think Jesus was not born on December 25."

Does that surprise you? The Christmas holiday has built layer upon layer of tradition and celebration onto the presumed birth date of Jesus. But if we make the Bible our guide, we find a lot of that is what Heartland Poker Tour announcers call "running without the ball."

While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keep watch over their flocks at night. - Luke 2:6-8

The key issue here is the timing of the shepherds' watch. The NIV Study Bible claims, "Flocks reserved for temple sacrifice were kept in the fields near Bethlehem throughout the year." But other ministers realize late December was the cold, rainy season in that area - so shepherds who really cared about their sheep would not be out then.

Those ministers also note the birth date of Jesus was borrowed from pagan Roman tradition. And did Jesus or His disciples tell the early church to keep that day, or command them to say "Merry Christmas?" The Bible shows no sign of it. Instead....

Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. - John 10:22

Some Bible commentaries (and even a few translations) note this was the Hanukkah festival - an event some Jews mark to this day.

If this also surprises you, consider this: Jesus was not born a "Christian." That term developed after the church was founded (Acts 11:26). But Jesus had a Jewish heritage....

Now Jesus himself was about 30 years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.... the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah.... - Luke 3:23, 33

It's sad to admit, but a lot of Christians have mixed what we call "fake news" with the story of Jesus Christ. It's thus no wonder that some people dismiss Christianity and the Bible completely.

But instead of doing that, we challenge you to read the Bible "without spin." See what it says about Jesus, His life and actions without the "peer pressure" of ministries and preachers. Then act on what you read. Hopefully it will be much closer to "the truth" - which is what Jesus claims to be (John 14:6).

A Place of Your Own

We introduced you in a recent post to a poker player who called himself a "generic Christian." He doesn't go by a list of beliefs from denominations. Instead, he says he does what the Bible says.

Yet that same man admitted he had only attended a church occasionally in recent weeks. There's a big problem with that - as the Bible indicates you should:

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

Believers in Christ are expected to meet. They do that weekly, and sometimes more often, in groups large and small. It could happen in big buildings or in small homes. But the meetings are supposed to be for encouragement toward "love and good deeds."

If you attend a church group, does it do that? And if you don't attend one, how can you find a place that does?

We think it starts with determining which group really loves God and Jesus Christ. Many say they do, of course. But how many live up to the Bible standard?

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him. - John 14:21

Jesus emphasized keeping his "commands." We recommend searching the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to learn what He commanded when He walked the earth. Among other things, you'll find this....

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:34-35

Love indeed matters - toward God in obedience, then toward other people. If you need help in finding a church group truly doing that, leave a comment and we'll help you as we can.

Poker Night 512: Brave Hearts

Some poker hands are considered better than others before the flop. But any two cards have a chance of succeeding, once the flop comes. If only some hands ended there. You'll see what we mean, in this review of tonight's freeroll tournament at Five Star Billiards.

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 6-3 of hearts

It's the very first hand of the night, at a table of six players. We're in the Small Blind, and no one has raised. Of course we'll play suited cards. About four players are in.

ON THE FLOP: 2h-Jh-8h

A perfect flop for us! But then the humility moment strikes. Our hearts to make the flush are small. Someone might be sitting on bigger ones. So in lead position, we bet 500 to take the temperature of the table. Several players fold, but the dealer does not. He calls.

ON THE TURN: Kh

A fourth heart makes our cards suddenly look a whole lot smaller. Is this what the dealer was waiting for? We check to see.

"I'll bet 1,000," he says. Yup, that's what we feared.

"I liked these cards for awhile," we respond - but we fold, expecting the worst. Sure enough, the dealer shows us the Ace of hearts. He had a draw for the "nut flush," and received it.

That loss was relatively small, but we won a few pots which were modestly big. From a starting 10,000, we reached 11,200 at the first break. We won a few more in the second hour, helped at one point by pocket Aces. Despite a  big loss with A-J at the end, we reached the final table at the two-hour break with 12,000.

A couple of wins and splits there lifted us to a high of 25,000 - but at that point, the blinds had reached 5,000/10,000. A desperation push with A-9 led to a 9 on the board, but a man to our left had Q-Q to eliminate us. We wound up matching Friday's tournament in Tulsa, with a sixth-place finish out of about 25 players.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I'm a generic Christian," a man across the table told us before the night began. No, we didn't bring up religion; a talkative older man next to him did.

But what did he mean by generic? "I go by what Jesus did, not by what some religion says." That may sound strange, but it actually follows the Bible's advice....

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - I Corinthians 11:1

The apostle Paul wrote this to a church group that was showing signs of division:

What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ". - I Corinthians 1:12

The Christian movement has had a lot of splits over the years. Protestants marked a major one a couple of weeks ago, with the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's action sparking the Reformation. Yet what did the apostle say long ago about this?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? - I Corinthians 1:13

His point in this letter and others was that every believer ultimately should follow Jesus Christ.

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. - Ephesians 5:23

So the man across the table was perceptive. But we had a question for him. "Didn't Jesus say He came to build a church?" Indeed He did....

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. - Matthew 16:18

The man admitted he'd only attended a church service a few times in recent months. Yet as divided as Christianity is, we're expected to attend one as we're able. We'll go deeper into that in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 187 final tables in 512 games (36.5%) - 36 cashes. Since crossing the 500-game mark, we've made four final tables in 12 tries.

Gambling Town?

With a title like that, you might think we're going to comment on Las Vegas. Or Atlantic City. Or maybe Monte Carlo. But we're not.

We heard a radio preacher say this morning that Antioch was a place where people "loved to gamble." Antioch was a major city in the Roman Empire as the early Church developed.

Yet when we did an online search for "Antioch gambling," we didn't find a New Testament place - we found a town in northern California with a casino. When we added "Bible" to the search, ancient Antioch came up. But Bible resources didn't mention anything about the city's gambling history. And the preacher didn't give a source for his statement - simply "historians."

So maybe ancient Antioch isn't famous for gambling after all. But it became famous for other things:

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. - Acts 11:20-21

Perhaps some people were persuaded to give up gambling and start serving God. The Bible doesn't say. If they did, they made a good choice. But it may not have been easy....

...Persecutions, sufferings - what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. - II Timothy 3:11

A church group developed in that city, with this Biblical note....

The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. - Acts 11:26

This may explain why many church groups today have "Antioch" in their names. Skeptics may have thought the believers took a wild chance with their lives. But the Christian way is the path which leads to eternal life - a grand prize, if ever there was one.

Poker Day 499: Good or Bad?

"As far as I'm concerned, they're all good." We borrowed a "Good Friday" line we heard years ago on an Atlanta radio station as we sat down to play poker at Kansas Star Casino. It was our first live poker tournament in about two months, due to a busy schedule. But three recent top-100 finishes in online events with more than 1,000 players gave us some hope....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: Q-Q

The game got off to a good start for us, as A-K allowed us to win a big pot with a pair of Kings over a couple of chasers. We were above 5,300 at that point. But then the cards went dry, and hopeful pairs hit bad flops.

We now come back from the first break with 3,400 chips. Sitting two seats from the button at a table of nine, we see these cards and raise to 600. The man in the dealer's seat calls. So does one of the blinds. Everyone else says no.

ON THE FLOP: J-9-5

The man in the blind checks, so we can have a bit of fun. "I'm making a classic continuation bet," we say. It's 700.

"I'm all-in," the button man says in response.

The blind folds. Yet we don't feel very worried. We bluff-bet this opponent out of a hand to win a modest pot when we had the button two hands earlier. And this is a table where some people have been betting big with relatively little all day. So we quickly conclude this man hit Jack-something - maybe Jack-Ace. And we have him topped.

"I have to call," we say. After all, 1,300 of our 3,400 already is committed.

Then it happens. Our "dealer" turns over J-J! He hit the Jack-pot on the flop. "I need some help," we admit.

ON THE TURN: 8

"A 10 would be good," we say hopefully. A straight would be quite an escape.

ON THE RIVER: 4

No escape. Only a trip to the rail, finishing 54th out of 89 players. Perhaps we were overconfident?!

MINISTRY MOMENT: Noting what day it was, we took our "Lord's Supper" card protector and showed it to a man who called himself a poker rookie. (He lasted longer than we did.)

"What do you think of Jesus?" we asked him. He clearly did not expect that sort of question in a poker room.

"You mean Chris Ferguson?!" he answered, straining for some humor.

No.... not the poker champ who's been given the nickname "Jesus" because some people think he looks like the Savior (at least the way He's been depicted since the Renaissance). The real Jesus.

"I grew up in a town full of Catholics," the man admitted. In fact, we checked and found that small town of around 600 people was founded by a Catholic priest. But the man at the table said little more than that about our question.

Here's the good news for him, and even for you. You don't have to be Roman Catholic to be a Christian. In fact, the word "Catholic" isn't in the Bible at all. Here's a bit of how it really works....

Peter and the other apostles replied, "We must obey God rather than men!.... We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." - Acts 5:29, 32

There's obedience involved in being a Christian - and some simply some nebulous "god."

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth.... - John 14:15-17

These are words of Jesus Christ. While countless churches might give you differing set of rules about how to serve God, the real Jesus said you should obey what He commands. That means reading the Bible carefully, beginning with the four "gospels" which begin the New Testament. Among them....

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." - Mark 16:15

That's what we try to do in poker rooms. We start small, simply by bringing up Jesus and God the Father. Where it goes from there is up to God. Just as big things can happen in a poker tournament, we believe God can make big things happen in your life. Will you obey the real Jesus, to open the door for it?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 182 final tables in 499 games (36.5%) - 36 cashes. We're not sure yet when tournament #500 will happen.

Poker Night 498: Expecting the Unexpected

One phone call truly can change everything. A call we received Monday morning changed our work schedule so much that we spotted an opportunity to play Monday night "free" poker (we paid for a soda) at Yvie's Bar and Grill. We hadn't been there since mid-August. Could God have opened this window to keep alive our chances of making 37-percent final tables at 500 games? We went in faith to find out....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: A-5 offsuit

We folded the first two hands, then got moved to a fourth outer table away from the main room. We won the draw for dealer with a Queen, and now have dealt ourselves these opening cards. We call, and the entire table of six jumps in.

ON THE FLOP: 6h-7h-4d

Maybe we know how to deal cards after all. We have an open-ended straight draw. A young man to our right bets 600. We call, as does an older man to our left.

ON THE TURN: 3h

Yes sir - that's the jack.... well, wait a second. We've made a straight, all right. But three hearts are showing (we don't have any), and the man to our left wants to bet 1,600. The man to our right wants to call him!

We feel like there's something on the order of two pair to our left, and he's trying to chase people off - while the player to our right may have hit the same straight we have. So we call, thinking a split is coming.

ON THE RIVER: Js

Did that discourage flush-seeking "river rats" away? Not at all. The man to our left tosses out 1,600 more. The man to our right calls. Suddenly we have bad feelings about this - but we've committed so much to the pot, we feel forced to call.

"Do you have a 5?" we ask the man to the left as we show our straight.

"I've got a flush," he answers. Ouch - Q-10 of hearts! Our jackpot card was his as well. The man to the right doesn't even bother showing what he had. We both take a big loss.

It was that sort of night for us.... not a very good one. We won one pot with three 5's, but other attempts to succeed fell flat, such as Q-Q falling to a straight on the river. We finally had to push with A-4, but missed another straight draw. Our "500-game blessing" theory was dead wrong, as we were the first out at our table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The main poker-playing area at Yvie's is crowded, with three round tables of eight players. The woman who sat down to our left made sure we didn't encroach. "This is my space," she said jokingly.

"Narrow is the way," we responded. "The way that leads to life. I read that in a book once."

The reference seems to go over the woman's head. But regular readers know at least which book we mean....

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it. - Matthew 7:14 (KJV)

Have you met religious people who come across as "narrow-minded?" They could be acting on these words - and they're the words of Jesus Christ.

Many people think one of Jesus's missions was to put strict-thinking Pharisees in their place. Indeed, He did that. But He also introduced his own narrow path to follow....

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6

This is what set Christianity apart from other world religions. You can't have Christianity without "Christ". You also cannot have something else without Him:

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:12

If you're seeking salvation and a life beyond this one, that's good. But if you think you can achieve that by ignoring "Jesus Christ of Nazareth" (verse 10), the Bible says you're off-target. If you're willing to follow the narrow path that leads to Jesus and eternal life, leave a comment and we'll be happy to help you on that road.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 182 final tables in 498 games (36.5%) - 36 cashes. Even if we make the next two final tables, our percentage will only climb to 36.8%.

Poker Night 481: Unsynchronized Betting

"I'm going on only three hours' sleep," we said to the man at our left tonight. "So if I fall asleep during a hand, give me a nudge."

The man could relate - telling of sleeping four hours or so, then driving for eight. Truly for some of us, it was survival of the fittest at Yvie's Bar and Grill. A one-time change in the work schedule had us working a lot for two days, then having a Monday night off for the first time in weeks. Would that mean success - or tiredness?

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: 9-10 of spades

Not many good cards have come so far, and our stack has dipped as a result. Feeler bets have failed, and we have about 7,000 of a starting 10,000. But by and large, our table of seven is playing tight. So with suited connections, we feel our way out again - and are happy when no one calls. About five players are in.

ON THE FLOP: 10h-10c-Qc (suit of first 10 not precise)

Three (of a kind) to get ready! But we're not quite set to go for the jackpot yet. We're late in the betting order - so when the play checks to us, we check along. We'd like someone else to stab at the pot first.

ON THE TURN: 2c

Uh-oh. The appearance of a third club means the waiting game is over, since a couple of flushes already have been made. A man across from us offers 600. Then we do something that puzzles some people at the table.

"Raise - 1,600," we say.

"That's unusual," an older woman two seats to our left responds. In a way, that's good. You might call this a separation raise - separating the chasers from the real contenders. (That woman already had folded.) Other players fold, but the original bettor calls. Part of us wonders if he already has it.

ON THE RIVER: 2d

If he did, it's worthless now! Two pair on the board means we have a full house. The man who bet before now checks, and it's time to go for it. We're down to a single yellow chip, worth 5,000.

"Two-thousand," we say as we plunk it down. A nice-sized bet - but too much for our opponent. He folds, and we win a big pot to return to about our starting level.

"You had an Ace, didn't you?" that older woman asks us a moment later.

"Well..... I had something," we answer playing dodgeball.

"I'll bet you had an Ace," she says. Always keep 'em guessing....

Our stack went up and down much of the evening - winning at one point with a well-timed bluff bet that chased away the table, losing at another point when our top two pair fell to the same "triple deuce" hand we saw last time out in North Kansas City.

At the first break, we had 7,000 chips with 12 players left from a starting 18. But with 11 to go, rising blinds forced us to push with K-J. The board brought three Queens. But a man to our left had an Ace, while the man we took on earlier had a 4 which happened to make a full house. We bowed out in 11th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "He was off by about half-an-inch," one man at our table said as he watched the poker room TV. No, card games were not on tonight. People were watching Olympic synchronized diving from Brazil.

Our seat was turned away from the screen, so we settled for the analysis of other players. But as the diving unfolded, we said to a man at our left, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?"

It's a famous quote fitting for the TV competition. In fact, it might sound Biblical to you - and for a change, this one actually is:

Can two walk together, except they be agreed? - Amos 3:3 (KJV)

Those eight simple words can pack a lot of punch. We offended a co-worker at a job years ago when we said them as a question. That woman was going through a divorce. Even though we never mentioned the source of the quote, she apparently knew the source - and she declared us judgmental.

But a TV viewer at our table tonight noted how some synchronized divers actually walked alike, along the edge of the diving pool. To win an Olympic medal, they must act (and probably think) exactly the same way. So how often do you do that?

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you.... - John 17:20-21  (KJV)

Jesus Christ succeeded in living a perfect sinless life because he was "one" with the Father. In fact, the Father was in Jesus and vice versa - something we think the Holy Spirit made possible. And the God-Family wants that in us as well....

I in them, and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. - John 17:23

Christian groups might disagree on all sorts of things - from what foods to eat to what Bible translation to read. But they should be united in their belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

In all our years of poker, we can't recall anyone saying the word ":synchronicity" before tonight (not even the old rock song with that title). But a man said it while watching Olympic diving. So we ask it of you. Are you in synchronicity with God and Jesus? If not, maybe it's time to get in line:

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 178 final tables in 481 games (37.0%) - 34 cashes.

Right or Wrong?

Several weeks ago we referred to a radio message by a deceased Baptist pastor on whether gambling is right or wrong. (A link at the earlier post may call up that message, so you can listen to it.)

It's really the ultimate question for some people, when it comes to playing poker. If God doesn't gamble, believers should not. If He does.... well, we don't hear that many "religious people" dare to say that.

We've now used that Adrian Rogers message for several days of careful Bible study. He tried to make several points against gambling - and probably by extension, against playing poker in casinos. We invite you to meditate with us on some of them, over the next few posts.

1. Gambling is different from risk-taking.  The pastor noted all things we do in life have risks - and that's true. Even a walk down a flight of stairs can be disastrous, if you're not careful.

Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. - Ecclesiastes 11:4

The minister referred to farming with this verse. Many a farmer has planted a crop, only to see it ruined by drought or flooding rain.

So where does "risk-taking" end and "gambling" begin? The minister indicated the difference lies in what the effort produces. A farmer can bring in a crop, while "nothing is produced" by gambling and the vast majority of players lose.

We agree that a lot of people lose when they gamble. That's why we say if you're not doing well at it, you should probably cut your losses and stop.  In the Internet age, plenty of free online sites let you test your capability at no charge. (Compare that with, well, maybe Farmville on Facebook.)

But we'd also say the same thing about farming, or any other business career. If you're not succeeding, why keep trying something which will lead to a dead end? Consider....

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. - Acts 5:38-39

This advice was given to the Sanhedrin, which was trying to shut down the first Christian apostles. The group accepted that advice, let the apostles go (verse 40) - and Christianity spread rapidly from there. The Sanhedrin's work seemed proper to them, but God had other ideas.

Like it or not, plenty of poker pros make an income and a living at the game. Whether it's "God's will" for them is not really for us to judge. But whether they realize it or not, they practice a Bible principle:

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again. - Ecclesiastes 11:1

Not everyone eventually finds it, but some do. That's every bit as true on farms as in casinos.

(NOTE: This will be a series of posts, so keep checking here for the next part.)

Star Search

This year's "November Nine" was set early today in Las Vegas - the final table for the World Series of Poker Main Event.  And it came tantalizingly close to including one of poker's most famous names.

Daniel Negreanu was walking a tightrope toward the final table, sitting low on the leaderboard.  Then his pair of Aces on the flop crashed out against a straight.  Negreanu finished in 11th place, and apparently in a bit of anguish.

Negreanu wins more than $500,000 - but was the game of poker a loser?  After all, "Kid Poker" has one of the most familiar faces in promotions.  And he wrote on Twitter during the Main Event it's "good for poker" when Phil Hellmuth makes a deep run - even though Negreanu eliminated him.

Ultimately, we think poker is bigger than that. At least, it should be.  Just as spiritual matters should be.

What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; another, "I follow Christ." - I Corinthians 1:12

The apostle Paul wrote these words - not because he was trying to win a church popularity contest, but to point a church group toward the right choice. Which of these four options would you choose?

What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. - I Corinthians 3:5

His title may have been "apostle," yet Paul took a humble approach to himself.

So then, no more boasting about men! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future - all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God. - I Corinthians 3:21-23

For him, it all boiled down to God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.

You might have a favorite poker player or TV preacher - but don't make them the focal point of everything you do and believe, When it comes to walking with God, put the focus on the Father and Jesus His Son. And when it comes to poker, develop your own tactics and strategy. After all, Negreanu admits he folded A-K pre-flop during this tournament. Could you do that?

Push Or Be Pushed?

Some poker players can come across as bullies.  They'll raise early.  They'll bet often.  They'll try to force opponents into tough decisions which test their backbones.  When you come across that sort of player, how should you respond?

We found an article from California on one of the 2013 World Series of Poker tournaments.  Chad Holloway responded to an all-in bet by calling, scored a big win and went on to capture a bracelet.

Holloway offers this noteworthy advice:

Amateur poker players have a tendency to put opponents on stronger hands than they actually have, but it's important not to be a pushover.... don't back down in the face of adversity.

Start talking about the things of God at a poker table, and other players might conclude you are a pushover.  They might conclude that based on some verse they might vaguely recall Jesus once saying....

But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:39

Our NIV Study Bible notes indicate this "strike" is "more of an insult than an act of violence."  But it's easy to overlook something else Jesus said in this same chapter....

You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth." - Matthew 5:38

This quote recalls a principle established by God way back in the Old Testament:

If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth.  As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. - Leviticus 24:19-20

This is "fair and balanced" justice. It's leveling the amount of damage.  If someone "pushes" you in a poker hand, you can push back in kind -- as long as you don't go overboard and take vengeance.

Sometimes in poker, that "second cheek" might be a trap you set to get your chips back -- even with interest.  That's the nature of the game.  But away from the table, it shouldn't be that way.

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8

 Play humbly, for that matter -- but be ready when the moment is right to show you have a "strong hand" at your disposal:

The Lord gives strength to his people.... - Psalm 29:11

What's Your Identity?

It's almost "World Series" season in the poker world - but today, some players may have been thrown a curve.

The World Series of Poker announced via Twitter people coming from outside the U.S. will need two forms of identification.  A passport will not be enough.  The second ID with a current address is supposed to guard against "money laundering."

That explanation is a little scary to consider.  Money laundering?! Are some top poker players dealing with drug cartels, and not telling anyone?

But we're more interested in the identity part of this.  How do you identify yourself to others at a poker table?  Are you a professional poker player?  An "amateur," who works five days a week somewhere else and hits the table merely for fun?

For several years, we've taken a "poker identity" which seems strange to many people.  But it's the identity we truly try to have -- as a Christian.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3

Sound strange?  The apostle Paul explains elsewhere what he means.

Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world.... - Colossians 2:20

This world's "principles" often aren't really rooted in ethical principle.  Take poker -- a game about getting and grabbing all the chips you can, as opposed to giving and sharing them with others.

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death.... - Romans 6:3-4

Jesus died - and baptism is part of the process for accepting Him as your Savior.  But the good news is that Jesus rose again:

....Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. - Romans 6:4b

It's supposed to be a godly life, walking as Jesus walked.

When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. - Colossians 3:4

The "new life" for a believer should actually be Christ's life, being lived in us.  We have the same human name - but a new way of living.

May your "ID badge" be that of a Christian - shown not with a passport, but with a new outlook on life:

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35

The Real Deal

Tim Giardina is off the hook -- a little, at least.  Prosecutors in Iowa have decided against filing state charges against him, for allegedly playing poker at a casino with counterfeit chips.

But Giardina isn't completely in the clear.  He's the man we mentioned in our last post: still a Vice-Admiral in the U.S. military, a top officer in the Strategic Command -- and his alleged "vices" could get him demoted or fired.  He could face federal charges, for using bogus chips.

We've never tried to play poker with counterfeit chips.  We've assumed the places where we play are smart enough to know the difference between the genuine chips they hand out and the fakes.

But this case raises a bigger question to us.  Are you trying to live a counterfeit life? 

"This is the only life I have," you might say.  OK, but are you living it in a counterfeit way?  Many people do....

You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.  Selah.  You love every harmful word, O you deceitful tongue! - Psalm 52:3-4

Counterfeit words at a poker table can throw other players off the track about a hand.  Counterfeit words away from the table can ruin relationships -- for instance, telling family members you aren't gambling with their savings when you really are.

Sadly, there even can be counterfeit Christians.  Some people who are turned off by God see them as hypocrites.  But here's the refreshing thing -- Jesus Christ saw through such people, too.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.  I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. - Matthew 6:5

God doesn't want people who are counterfeits.  He wants real people, who really live a godly life:

...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. - I Samuel 16:7b

If you're trying to win at poker through counterfeiting or cheating, please stop it.  If a top military official could be caught in the act, do you really think you can keep getting away with it?  And if you're living a counterfeit life, admit your falsehood and fakery to God in prayer.  Repent of it -- then starting living by the truth, as Jesus is the truth (John 14:6).

Getting Ned-led

In years gone by, scoffers might have called a Christian a "holy Joe."  But in the 21st century, the name on the label has changed.

"Hey, it's Ned Flanders," a man said when he spotted us at a live poker tournament the other night.

Come to think of it, we look a little bit like that character from The Simpsons.  But we think that man called us by that name because of the character's attributes.  Ned Flanders is the "extremely religious next-door neighbor."  Perhaps that fits us, too -- as our longtime Pastor preached against The Simpsons within two weeks of its premiere, so we hardly ever watch it.

Considering a lot of local poker is played at bars and nightclubs, the thought of a Christian stepping inside and sitting at the table might seem odd to some people.  But we think part of the duty of a believer is to live your faith so that people can see it:

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. - Matthew 5:16

When Jesus said these words, He probably realized not everyone around Him would praise God for what He did.  In fact, the Lord wound up crucified -- and several early apostles were put to death for their faith as well.  (Review Acts 7 for one example.)  Yet the Bible advises....

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. - James 1:2-3

....But he who stands firm to the end will be saved. - Matthew 24:13

Compared to the torture some believers have faced over the last 2,000 years, we realize being called the name of a cartoon character is incredibly tame.  So we're dealing with it.  And we're ready to face even worse things, should they come.

But we'd close with this question: since the Bible warns even worse times are coming for the world as a whole, are you ready to face them?  Without God and Jesus Christ in your life, can you really count on clinging to anything?

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.... where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.  He has become a high priest forever.... - Hebrews 6:19-20

A Little Give and Take

It was "color-up" time at the poker tables.  After one hour of play, the blinds were going up and chips with small denominations were no longer needed.  The players put them in stacks of 500 for exchanging.  In our case, a stack of "leftovers" had only 50 - two chips worth 25 each.

"You're not going to need that," a man across from us said.  He reached for one of our two chips, and added it to his collection.  This gave him a new "small stack" of 25, which would be "colored up" to 500 by the Tournament Director.

"I'd give one to you," the man explained.  And at this location, it probably would happen; we've seen it done for others before -- even to our benefit at times.  But this man had his own huge stack of chips, and he was nowhere close to going bankrupt.  So his reaching for our 25 left us stupefied for a moment.

Finally we figured out a way to respond.  "I guess the Christian in me will have to say yes."

A woman sitting to our left laughed at our comment.  But this allowed us to explain to her the thoughts rushing through our mind.

Giving and generosity should be major characteristics of a Christian.  Jesus said so:

Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. - Luke 6:38

But the man across the table did something different.  He took that 25 chip, under the presumption that we wouldn't mind.  He had the expectation of a gift.  Jesus had something to say about that attitude as well....

Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.  When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"  Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." - John 6:24-26

This occurred a day or two after Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people (verses 5-13).  The Lord could see right through people's motives -- and He scolded members of the crowd who were "groupies" more than disciples, hoping to ride a "gravy train" of free food.

Let's be blunt here: to expect someone to give something to you is a rather selfish way of thinking.  From our own experience, we can compare it to beggars or panhandlers dreaming of a financial windfall by waiting outside a large Christian event.  We actually saw several people do that years ago outside a Billy Graham crusade.  We bought food for one -- but then we stopped.

(We have much more to say on this topic; look for that in a future post.)

Love Is a Choice

Let's head back to that discussion at The Red Barn from earlier this week.  One woman tried to change her language, because she realized we don't use profanity.  Other players at the table (including one who said he's a Christian) pointed out cursing is commonplace at bars.

So who set the best Christian example in all of this?  If you weren't watching the table, it wouldn't be fair to jump to conclusions.  But let's use a standard written into the Bible by the apostle Paul:

Love does no harm to its neighbor.  Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:10

We've heard ministers define love as an "outgoing concern" for others, away from self.  The woman who changed her language showed that way of thinking, even though she never called herself a Christian during the conversation.

On the other hand, the two players at the table who called themselves "Christians" used language during the evening which would have been censored from broadcast TV and radio years ago.  This brings to mind some more words of Paul....

Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. - I Corinthians 13:4-5

The language we use at the poker table (and in the rest of our daily lives) is primarily a matter of habit.  Certain words become so commonplace that you might have to make a special conscious effort to avoid saying them.  Yet that's what another New Testament book recommends:

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be. - James 3:9-10

We admit we've been guilty over the years of saying things which offended or upset people.  (In one workplace, all we did was quote one verse from the book of Amos -- not even saying its source.)  While attempting to avoid offense may seem like "political correctness" to some people, it's also a way to show you care about others and their feelings.

Poker Night 298: Approaching Royalty

Poker tournaments can be a bit like the children's game "King of the Mountain."  And at The Red Barn tonight, we played at a table which seemed that way -- with the felt board placed atop three uneven tables.  It was appropriate for our evening as well, because we had plenty of ups and downs.

BLINDS: 500/1,000

IN THE POCKET: Ace of spades - King of clubs

We won a couple of early pots, but lost a few as well.  After reaching the one-hour break at 5,100 chips, a failure with a pocket pair has dropped us to 2,500.  Now we're dealing at a table of six, and see no other option.  We go all in.  Three players call to take us on.  That's not exactly comforting for us.

ON THE FLOP: Ac-Qc-Jc

But that's a bit better -- top pair with top kicker.  Two players check, but a woman to our right bets 5,000.  That runs the other two away, and that 5,000 is hers to keep.

Then she shows K-7 -- not even a pair.  Then we realize we have not only the lead, but huge potential.  If the 10 of clubs comes, we'll hit a royal flush!

ON THE TURN: 8c

"Good enough," we say.  That's a nut flush, and we clinch the pot.  But a 5,000-chip bonus still is at stake....

ON THE RIVER: 6h

"I'll take it," we say.  But another player asks us to prowl through the deck for the jackpot card, just for fun. The 10 of clubs is near the bottom.  But that's OK; we're back in the action at about 11,500 chips.

We won another big pot minutes later when A-Q turned into a full house, and jumped to 27,000.  Then came a setback, including a big loss with A-2.  Then came another all-in win, which moved us to the semifinal table.  Then we had A-9, saw a flop of A-9-7 and went all-in for 11,000.  But an opponent holding A-10 caught a 10 on the turn, and that finally did us in.  He took out another player along with us, so we finished tied for 11th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A woman to our right said an expletive during the first hour, then quickly corrected herself.  Other players wondered why she did that -- and her explanation sparked an interesting discussion.

"He doesn't curse," the woman said while gesturing toward us.  "He's a Christian, so...."

"I'm a Christian," answered the man two seats to our left.

"I'm a Christian," echoed the woman to our left.

"But if you come to a bar, you can expect to hear swearing," the man added.

"That's true," we admitted.  "But you don't have to join in it."

The man agreed, but repeated his earlier point.  "If you walk into a bar, you should expect to hear swearing."

"It's like joining the Navy," another man said.  "You might be the only person who chooses not to curse, but you're going to hear cursing."

There's a lot wrapped into this discussion of about 90 seconds.  We'll start by pointing out the woman to our  right was correct: we don't use profanity at the poker table (or anywhere else, for that matter).  We follow the instructions of Jesus in this regard....

But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.  And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. - Matthew 5:34-37

The Hebrew word for "swear" here is more along the lines of taking an oath, perhaps to assume a political office or testify in court.  But swearing and cursing were combined in a dramatic moment of the New Testament:

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, "Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away."  Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, "I don't know the man!"  Immediately a rooster crowed. - Matthew 26:73-74

Jesus's loyal disciple Peter denied the One he earlier called "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (16:16) -- and he did it by invoking curses on himself.  We're not told exactly what Peter said, but the rest of chapter 26 indicates he felt utter humiliation moments later.

With all that said, we must add something else.  While we introduce matters of God and Jesus Christ in poker rooms, we do not make a point of bragging about how we don't use "blue language."  We don't think that sets a good Christian example, either.  So we simply say other words -- but we've noticed over the years if you don't curse or swear, some people pick up on it without you  making it an issue.

So what do you think of this discussion?  Which of the people at this table (excluding us) do you think acted most like a Christian?  We'll explore this much more in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 108 final tables in 298 nights (36.2%) - 17 cashes.

Way Too Good

Sometimes it's not difficult at all to do poker ministry online. All it takes are three simple letters. Take this recent example from a "play money" cash game at PokerStars.net....

Dealer: Game #57407410106: flopblogger wins pot (340) with a full house, Jacks full of Aces
flopblogger: (whew)
Sierra Dream: VNH
flopblogger: Thanks - PTL
Sierra Dream: AMEN
flopblogger: There's one caller. :-)

We write PTL to stand for "praise the Lord" -- shorthand many people came to know from a controversial TV ministry of three decades ago. But Sierra Dream shouldn't be the only one "calling" on the Lord:

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile -- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." -- Romans 10:12-13

The last part is in quotes because it borrows from Joel 2:32. When it comes to God, calling is good. The play continues....

Dealer: Sierra Dream has a straight, Seven to Jack
Dealer: Game #57407430793: Sierra Dream wins pot (2,425) with a straight, Seven to Jack
flopblogger: Straight is the way. :-)....
Sierra Dream: THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY
flopblogger: True....
Sierra Dream: .....He is the way, the truth & the life
flopblogger: The bright and morning star.

The "way" can refer to several things in the Bible. It can refer to the roads we travel in life....

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it. -- Matthew 7:14, KJV

Our "straight" was a deliberate play on words. The Biblical spelling appears as "small" in other translations. This verse means the road to eternal life isn't always easy. But thankfully, there's that other "way."

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -- John 14:6

Jesus Christ opened access to the Father by living a perfect life, then sacrificing it for our sins. This may explain why the early Christian movement was known as "the Way" (see verses such as Acts 9:2 and 19:23).

So are you on that way? Or are you wandering off the path, and heading toward trouble? Chasing a straight in poker can be risky. Following the strait way Jesus offers has a strong payoff at the end -- an eternal one.

The Seat of the Scoffer

"SATAN!" was the online chat/cry at a PokerStars.Net pretend cash game Tuesday. Someone responded to a flop of 6-6-6 -- and that opened the door for us to have a fascinating discussion with two other players.

flopblogger: That's from Rev. 13 of the Bible, you know. [NOTE: actually verse 18]
Dealer: atlas91, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
atlas91: who cares
flopblogger: Those of us who want to live forever care. :-)

Why should you care? Because a couple of chapters later, the apostle John writes these prophetic words:

And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God.... -- Revelation 15:2

Overcome that Satanic number (whatever it means, and that's admittedly open to question), and God will reward you with a harp -- and eternal life which goes with it. The conversation continued, with a third player joining in:

atlas91: good luck with that
Dealer: ibgoho, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
flopblogger: It's not luck. It's Who you know.
ibgoho: Whats "the bible"?
Dealer: ibgoho, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
atlas91: ya rgt.u people crack me up
flopblogger: The Christian Scriptures.
ibgoho: Who are these "christians"?....
flopblogger: Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior.

The apostle John put it in clear terms, in another book of the Bible:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.... -- I John 5:1

It then became clear that "Atlas" was a scoffer when it comes to God and Jesus, while "Ibgoho" was more of a mocker:

ibgoho: HA! Fools!
Dealer: atlas91, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
ibgoho: Jesus shaves?
flopblogger: That's Psalm 14:1.
Cardye: you having church at the poker table wow!!!
flopblogger: about fools.
flopblogger: Don't know if He shaved or not. :-)

We actually double-checked a Bible before writing that reference: "The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.' They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." Atlas apparently then lost it a bit, because he started writing like he was shouting:

atlas91: god was created bucuz somebodie knew man would do whatever with out consiqence.so fwlala GOD
Dealer: atlas91, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
ibgoho: Jesus approves of my winning ways
atlas91: THERE IS NO
Dealer: ibgoho, it's your turn. You have 8 seconds to act
atlas91: ELSE....
atlas91: I TRUST IN PEOPLE NOT SOME FIGMENT OF UR IMAGINATION
flopblogger: And that Bible says God created us.
flopblogger: But people let you down, don't they?

The discussion eventually turned into the "chicken or egg" argument -- did God create humans, or vice versa? To be sure, all sorts of people-made gods have been around for millennia. But Christians believe the words passed on to Moses long ago:

You shall have no other gods before me.... Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. -- Deuteronomy 5:7, 6:4

The God of Judeo-Christian history has stood the test of time -- mainly because He invented it.

Remember As You Play....

"The stew was poured out for the men, but as they began to eat it, they cried out, 'O man of God, there is death in the pot!' And they could not eat it." (II Kings 4:40)

Go ahead -- cry aloud, "There is death in the pot!" at your next poker game. See what sort of reaction you get. :-)

But seriously: When someone bets enough chips to put you all-in, there's "death in the pot" for you. That's when you have to take special care. It's time to do something Jesus recommends, in terms of becoming a disciple.

"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28, KJV)

In poker, going all-in usually is a choice -- and it could mean death to your chances of winning the tournament. Jesus goes on to indicate in the Christian walk, there's really no choice. "In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." (verse 33, NIV)

Yet here's the amazing thing: God promises if you go all-in for Christ, there's NO "death in the pot" after all!

Elisha found flour in II Kings 4:41, which somehow made the stew safe to eat. Jesus offers Himself as "the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world" (John 6:51).

Jesus paid a tremendous price to provide you eternal life. Will you count the cost to eat of the Lord's "living bread" -- to gain a reward better than any tower of poker chips?

On the Other Hand....

To read this sermon from a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor in southern California, we're in the wrong business. He's against Christians playing poker at all -- which means he'd probably be against a poker ministry as well.

We plan to use this message for Bible study in the coming days, and prepare a response to it. In the meantime, what do you think of it?