The Star of Our Show

When some people enter a poker room or tournament, to borrow a pro wrestling cliché, their reputation precedes them. Think of famous names such as Ferguson, Hellmuth or Negreanu.

When we walk into a poker room, it's usually the opposite. Unless other players read this blog or have seen us before, they don't know a thing about us. In a way, that can be a good thing - putting the element of surprise and uncertainty into our play.

We play online from time to time at PokerStars - but we do not claim to be one personally. As a follow-up to our last post about "lucky stars" in casinos, here's the "star" we really hope to represent....

I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony to the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. - Revelation 22:16

Jesus has many titles, and only a few of them are mentioned here (see verse 13 for more). Why would He call Himself a star? A hint to the answer is hidden in the Old Testament....

I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the sons of Sheth. - Numbers 24:17

Believers looked for that "star" for a long time. Then came an amazing time....

...Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, "Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." - Matthew 2:1-2

Bible experts believe the "Magi" (called "wise men" by some) knew astrology/astronomy well. A miraculous star led them to the baby Jesus (verses 8-10). And the Bible indicates Jesus shines like a star now:

...Among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.... His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. - Revelation 1:13, 16

This "Morning Star" will return at the darkest moment of human history, with Earth on the brink of extinction. Several chapters of Revelation describe how that will occur.

So Jesus is the "Star" we follow - the One we try to reflect. And thanks to a current hit Christian song, we have an answer for people who might think we have "lucky stars" to thank for any success in poker. No, it's not that. We're simply thankful for God's love.

Poker and Stars

Some people think poker is all about luck - catching the right cards at the right time. In fact, some casinos make that idea a marketing tool.

During our years playing poker at a Kansas casino, this was our "membership card." Kansas Star Casino has a "Lucky Star" system, where players can gain points for food discounts or enter giveaways. But really now - how lucky are stars, anyway?

You may have heard about people thanking "their lucky stars" for success at poker or other things. One online dictionary indicates the phrase has been in common English use for at least 100 years. Its origins may be in astrology of the middle ages, or from ancient China or Japan.

But the Bible encourages looking beyond the stars - to the One who made them:

God made two great lights - the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. - Genesis 1:16

There's one "star" in particular which covets our attention. But it's not really a star anymore....

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! - Isaiah 14:12

The Latin version of the Old Testament translates "morning star" as "Lucifer." As in the devil. Many church groups consider Lucifer a fallen archangel, who tried to take over the throne of God and failed (verses 13-15). Yet Lucifer/Satan still desires our worship today - even tempting Jesus about it:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me." - Matthew 4:8-9

Jesus refused to give in to that temptation, replying that God alone should be worshiped and served (verse 10).

In contrast to all of that, the Bible speaks of a better "star" which deserves attention - and even our praise. And no, it's not a "PokerStar". We'll explain that one in an upcoming post.

Slots or Not

Not all "casinos" are created equal.  We learned this on our vacation, when we stopped at a small one along a U.S. highway in western Oklahoma.

The casino consisted of several rows of slot machines -- and little more.  We looked around, walked right back to the car and drove away.

But the next day, we cashed in a "birthday bonus" at a casino near our home.  We were awarded five dollars in free slot play.  We picked a machine somewhat at random -- and in only a couple of minutes, our five-dollar gift went away with winnings of only 95 cents.  That was enough for us.

Maybe we're wrong, but slot machines strike us as pure gambling.  It's all luck, with no skill or thinking involved.  We agree with the preachers who openly mourn the older people who drop dollar after dollar in this way.

Table games such as poker have a degree of luck, to be sure.  But many times, you have to think a little and consider your chances.  Exercising a bit of skill moves slightly toward fulfilling a proverb:

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished, but he that gathers by labor shall increase. - Proverbs 13:11 (KJV)

A different Bible translation puts the last part of the verse this way: "Money earned little by little will grow and grow."

That actually happened to us after our slot machine test.  We sat down at an Ultimate Texas Hold 'Em table, won three hands in a row and gained $35.  Then this happened:

BLINDS: $5/$5

IN THE POCKET: 4-6 offsuit

That doesn't look promising.  But as some poker players like to say, any two cards can win.  There's no penalty in checking, so we do.

ON THE FLOP: A-A-5

Not too thrilling for us.  Maybe a longshot straight or full house will come.  But we know better than to bet two times our blind on that.  We check again.

ON THE TURN/RIVER: A-3

A man to our right suddenly is excited.  Three Aces are on the table.  If we had plunked down five more dollars on the "trips" option, that would have earned us $15 -- enough to break even.  But we don't normally play trips at live tables (only online with pretend money), so we miss out.  We fold.

When that man's turn comes to show his cards, he displays a fourth Ace!  "Quads," the dealer announces to the pit boss.

That man truly has a reason to be excited.  Quads pays 30 to 1 on the "trips" button, and 10 to 1 on the blind.  He wins something in the neighborhood of $500.  We sat one seat away from a jackpot.

At that point, we have to leave to go home and run errands.  "Be sure to tithe on all that money," we tell the big winner.  He nods a bit as he smiles -- leaving us to wonder if he knows what that word means.

You people are robbing me, your God.  And, here you are, asking, "How are we robbing you?"  You are robbing me of the offerings and of the ten percent that belongs to me. - Malachi 3:8 (CEV)

A "tithe" is ten percent.  God has required that of believers since the days of ancient Israel.

I am the Lord All-Powerful, and I challenge you to put me to the test.  Bring the entire ten percent into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house.  Then I will open the windows of heaven and flood you with blessing after blessing. - Malachi 3:10 (CEV)

The "ice bucket challenge" is a fad of the moment.  God dares you to take the "ten percent challenge."  We give God a tenth of our poker winnings, through the church we attend.  Will you do the same, and claim His promise of abundant blessings?