Ryan's Hope

The final able draws near at the World Series of Poker Main Event. As we write this on Thursday evening (U.S. time), Australian champion Daniel Hachem has bowed out in 79th place. Iranian native Antonio "the Magician" Esfandiari left in 82nd.

But of course, we want to focus on the man who finished 738th. Ryan Von Bevern is married to one of our nieces, after all - and on his third try at the Main Event, he made the money. The scoreboard (which has misled us at times) shows he won a bit more than $20,200.

This is how Ryan knows where he finished. He was given a card with his ranking. The WSOP staff has to keep things organized, with so many tables going at once and the prize money increasing with every few eliminations.

ESPN even mentioned Ryan's sorta-kinda presidential campaign on its livestream of the tournament. A $20,000 payday won't buy him a big media blitz to promote his candidacy. But he achieved one thing he hoped to accomplish - and in doing that, he experienced this:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. - Proverbs 13:12

Are you hoping for a big poker payday? Perhaps your own WSOP bracelet? It might take a lot of games and a lot of patience. It took us 13 tries before we won our first tournament at a Georgia bar. But we kept the hope going. And even better, we did this....

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. - I Timothy 6:17

We took our hope of success to God, praying for His will to be done. Success in poker has come in small ways over the years. But our main reason for entering poker rooms is to share a better hope....

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13

Galatians 5 shows joy and peace are two "fruit" of God's Holy Spirit. And beyond that....

...A faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. - Titus 1:2

It's the only real hope we have beyond this life, you know. And we suspect the blessing of eternal life in the Kingdom of God will be far better than any trip to a cashier's window.

The 18-Million Dollar Man

The Main Event is starting this weekend at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.  But for a change, it is not the biggest tournament in the game -- at least not in terms of prize money.

Antonio Esfandiari won $18.3 million dollars this past week, in a new WSOP tournament called "The Big One for One Drop."  The buy-in was a whopping one million dollars.  (Which is why we're playing local free tournaments instead -- we do what we can afford.)

We were struck as much by the champion's interview as the grand prize.  Esfandiari comes across on television as one of the more mild-mannered, ego-condensed poker players.  Some of his quotes reflect that personality:

"You know, my style is to talk and have a good time at the poker table, I might as well enjoy my life, instead of sitting there and being bored. Because poker, as we all know, is boring sometimes. So, I was just trying to have a good time...."


We get picked on during online tournaments for being talkative, too (as in chat comments).  It's as if some players consider a poker room like an ancient cathedral, where you simply must be silent.  But if you don't enjoy what you're doing, will there really be joy in your moments of success?

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15

These words come from the wealthiest man of his time, King Solomon of Israel. He encouraged joyful living -- but where do find real joy?  Listen to Esfandiari again:


 I did some self-awareness work, and just kind of took things into perspective; you know, what was and what wasn’t important. And going out and partying at the end of the day, it really didn’t make me that happy. I loved it, don’t get me wrong. I kind of grew out of it. I’m 33 now and so I just decided to live a better life....

The older people get, the more their priorities can change.  Seek pleasure night after night from alcohol or drugs, and you're likely to discover eventually how those things ultimately are unfulfilling.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. - Proverbs 23:19-21

But we hope Esfandiari realizes even an 18-million dollar payday can't buy real happiness....

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24

True joy comes from having God's Holy Spirit inside you (Galatians 5:22).  And that leads us to one more eyebrow-raising quote:

If you fade this flush draw, you win the biggest tournament in history of the world. And that’s it. This is the moment. It’s here, right now. I was like please Jesus, this one time. And I’m pretty sure I used up all my one-times on this tournament, but I’m okay with that. 

Did you notice?  Esfandiari looked to Jesus at the biggest moment in his poker career.  So many people do that -- looking to God for help only at the most critical times.  It's better to develop a right relationship with God and Jesus, and have that at all times.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - II Peter 3:18

So congratulations to "The Magician" -- and may you learn lessons from him, about life as well as poker.