Big Wins, Little Wins

We'd almost forgotten to check back on the World Series of Poker Main Event.  It's down to the "November Nine," including one man who made the final table for the second year in a row.  We should have plenty of time to talk about them in the weeks ahead.

But right now, we want to congratulate a smaller-scale champion in our old stomping ground.  Victor won the "Wednesday quarterly" title at Players, one of the bars in Georgia where we played from time to time.  But we wonder how many other people at Players know what he does for a living -- directing a faith-based charity which helps homeless families.

It's Victor's job to give and serve people who don't physically have much.  (He's even helped us a couple of times, when we had small needs.)  So we think it's only right that he was blessed with success in other things, such as poker.  He displays a Bible principle....

....For God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. - II Corinthians 9:7-8

Charities such as Victor's sometimes can have tight moments financially.  So can poker players.  But this section of the Bible has a promise for those who give:

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread or food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in Thanksgiving to God. - II Corinthians 9:10-11

We're tempted to say at this point: To Victor go the spoils.  But he'd probably tell you God has spoiled him -- and he's trying to pass on blessings to others.  May you realize how much God has given to you, and be ready to pass on gifts to those in need as you're able.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! - II Corinthians 9:15

Poker Night 358: The Perfect Escape

"The best place to see the dregs on Columbus society."  That's what a reviewer wrote this past summer about a restaurant/bar/game room called Players, on the north side of our city.  Sounds like the perfect place to do poker ministry, doesn't it?

We went to Players for the first of two weekly Sunday tournaments.  And for the first time in our city, we paid a buy.... oops; the proper wording under city regulations is cover charge.  The fee was small, at five dollars.  The potential payoff was large, as enough players showed up to fill six tables.

Unlike other local tournaments, everyone starts at Players with the same amount of chips: 5,000, with nothing extra for buying sandwiches or Jell-O shots.  The chances are even for all - and the drama maybe was a little higher....

BLINDS: 500/1,000

IN THE POCKET: A-9 of diamonds

Our game started with a slow decline -- losing several times to players hitting winning hands on the river.  But K-J turned into a timely pot with a winning pair of Jacks, so we reached the one-hour break at 5,050.  Now after a failed round of blinds, we have 4,000 and little margin for error.  We call; most of the table of seven gets in with no raises.

ON THE FLOP: Ax-8d-5x

That's top pair and a big moment.  When the table checks to us, we go all-in for our last 3,000.  We'd be happy to buy the pot right now, but a man across the table from us calls.  Everyone else folds.  He shows A-2, so we have a comfortable lead.

ON THE TURN: 10d

Good, good.  Let's dodge one more....

ON THE RIVER: 2d

"Noooooo!" we cry aloud.  Our opponent hit two pair on the river to take us....

"He wins," a woman next to him points out -- but gesturing toward us.  "He made a flush."

"Ahhhhhh!" we now declare.  We didn't notice three diamonds on the board.  We're glad she did.  Our opponent gained his second pair -- but in the only wrong way possible.

That restored us to 10,000 chips, but rising blinds and a couple of missed chances with promising cards were our downfall.  Forced to go all-in again in the Big Blind, we had a lowly 2-9.  It didn't pair for us, and a man with three 7's took another player out with us.

The scorekeeper at the door to the Players "poker room" noted we were the 28th player eliminated.  That means 28 points for us, if we want to press on toward a quarterly championship.  That number would sound great at other local venues -- but on this day, we barely missed the semifinal table by finishing (by our eyes) tied for 18th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We took our Lord's Supper card protector, which a woman sitting down to our left found interesting.

"Is Jesus your Savior?" we asked her.

She said yes - then explained one recent blessing.  "I had brain surgery recently."

You'd never know that from looking at her, except perhaps for a scar near her right forehead.  That woman apparently believes in a God with great power....

O Lord my God, I called to you for help and you healed me. - Psalm 30:2

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sin and heals all your diseases.... - Psalm 103:2-3

The medical profession can do wonderful things.  But ultimately, life and death are in the hands of God.  And even when difficulties occur in hospitals, such as the spread of dangerous infections, we can look to the Lord:

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. - Psalm 32:7

Has God ever performed a healing miracle in your life, or perhaps someone you know?  Leave a comment with your "testimony" if He has.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 124 final tables in 358 games (34.6%) - 19 cashes.