Slot, Pop and Play

Casinos are filled with them. We tend to walk right by them. But this evening, we were challenged to be successful at them - for two minutes.

Jack Casino invited us to its August "Birthday Bash". (Now you know our birthday month.) The main event was a free-entry slot tournament, with $2,500 in free play at stake. All we had to do was post one of the five highest scores in a two-hour span.

Our game time was 6:20 p.m. We stood behind the early leader, who racked up more than 100,000 points at 6:05. Doris's strategy was simple: pound the "play" button on the slot machine as quickly as you could, and watch the screen to touch balloons that occasionally appeared for thousands of bonus points.

"May the best button-pusher win," we said to a man next to us when our turn came.

Our tongue was only partly in-cheek. This tournament reminded us of why we avoid slots and prefer playing poker. Slot machines tend to be mindless, with no real skill involved. If you think religion is that way as well.... well, it really shouldn't be. Consider what Jesus told one man:

He answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'....." "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live." - Luke 10:27-28

Jesus was talking about how to obtain eternal life (verse 25). It's an "all-in" process - and that includes loving God with "all your mind." Does that mean turning your brain off at the church door? We believe it's exactly the opposite....

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. - Philippians 4:8

For instance, it means thinking over whether poker players are telling "true stories" in the way they play their hands. It also means thinking carefully about what God really expects of your life....

...But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. - I Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)

Sometimes the "gospel truth" well-intentioned people bring you is really "fake news." You can prove fact from fiction by comparing those comments with the Bible. If you're not a Bible reader, we recommend doing it daily to understand God properly.

But we digress....

The countdown went to zero, and our "two-minute drill" was on! We pressed the slot machine's "play" button with our right hand about six times a second, while saving our left hand for balloons to pop. We saw "second place" on our screen at one point early, and noticed we were above 60,000 points at the one-minute mark (everyone starts with 10,000).

"We want balloons!" we said to the machine several times, changing hands for the "play" button to avoid slowing down. To our knowledge, we didn't miss any balloons. But were we strong enough to win?

"You beat me!" we said to the man on our right after the clock reached zero. Our final score: 82,035 points. He was above 88,000. Based on the early results, 100,000 or more probably would be required to "make the money" - and we were only sixth in our group.

With our daily exercise (as we called it) completed, we walked over to the birthday party area. Jack's email promised cupcakes, but Jack topped that (for a change) with a full two-flavor cake, cookies and punch.

"If I had eaten the cake before the game, I might have done better," we joked to people around us. Perhaps a "sugar rush" would have made us press buttons faster. Instead, we settled for a consolation prize of a small win at a blackjack table.

In contrast to this, Hollywood Casino Indiana awarded us $15 in "birthday comps" on our card - good for a couple of free meals at one of the restaurants. Which deal do you think was better? Use your mind to comment - and even to worship the God who makes these moments possible.

Remember As You Play....

...Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. - Ephesians 4:22 (New Living Translation)

Poker players like to joke during tournaments about how "truthful" they are. The real truth is that sometimes, players resort to deceptive moves to win pots. We did something like that, with an all-in moment in our last tournament. A man did it several times to Phil Hellmuth at this year's World Series of Poker Main Event, leading to one of Hellmuth's most famous rants in years.

Does the verse we quoted mean poker players should end all that? Not necessarily. The New International Version translates the last part by saying, "Your old self.... is being corrupted by its deceitful desires." The desire is deceitful, more than the person or his actions - although the two certainly can combine:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

What does your heart desire, when you play poker? If it's simply a good time with friends or an entertaining evening, that's one thing. But if you're hungry for money or fame, be careful....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Some things really are worth desiring - and they're things which require no deception at all. In fact, they depend on you being truthful.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. - Hebrews 13:18

That desirable life can lead to eternal life in God's kingdom - but it depends on having a "clear conscience." Have you checked yours lately? Are you really living a life that God would accept - in the poker room, as well as outside it?

The Selfie-Driven Life

Ask a table full of players why they play poker, and you might get a wide range of answers. Some do it to make money, or make a living. Some do it to be around their friends. Regular blog readers should know why we do it.

But let's rephrase the question. For whom do you play poker?

Unless you enter some kind of a charity tournament, the answer well could be, "Me." That's much more likely to be the case if players are in a cash game. But we found a word of warning the other day about that....

But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. - Romans 2:8 (NLT)

We're in an age where "selfies" are popular - taking pictures of yourself to post on social media. But these Bible words are tough, soul-searching ones for people who turn their entire lives into "selfies". God gets upset with several groups of people here - firstly people who only lives for their own pleasure.

If this describes you at the poker table, what should you do? Fold your game completely? Well, maybe not. Maybe what you need is a change of focus:

He will give eternal life to those who go on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. - Romans 2:7 (NLT)

Yes, that means even seeking God as you play poker. Give Him praise if things go well. And give a tithe to Him if you win money. Offerings to church groups can be used for "doing good" in many ways.

Verse 8 also instructs us to "obey the truth." That means following Biblical instructions.As Jesus put it....

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. - John 17:17 (NLT)

"Truth" in the Bible also is defined as Jesus Himself (John 14:6) and God's Holy Spirit (I John 5:6). There's one aspect of that truth that many believers will be doing this coming week. Can you guess what it is? Watch for our next post, to find out.

In the Presence of a Princess

We don't watch poker movies - to be honest, we scarcely watch any movies - but word came today that another one is on the way.



Courtesy JustJared.com

The trailer was released for Molly's Game, the story of an Olympic skier who becomes a "poker princess." She develops a private poker game with a star-studded clientele of players. The first reviews indicate it's a true story. And the back story is a bit lurid - with one Hollywood star reportedly offering her $1,000 to "bark like a seal."

Would you ask someone from a real royal family to do something like that? Somehow, we doubt it. But what if we said you're walking in front of royalty all the time - every day?

For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. - Psalm 47:7

Ace may be the high card in poker, but God is the highest King of all. And He's paying attention to all of us, whether you want Him to do it or not.

From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth.... - Psalm 33:13-14

An old song said, "God is watching us from a distance." But it won't be that way forever - because God plans to send a King named Jesus who will get close. Too close for comfort, some might say....

"So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud the laborers of their wage, who oppress the widows and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear me," says the Lord Almighty. - Malachi 3:5

If those traits describe you - perhaps committing "perjury" with your poker hand, or something worse - it's time to "fear God." Here's how you do it, for starters....

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.- Ecclesiastes 12:13

And so we'll conclude our own matter here. Obey God. He's watching. He's planning to testify against your sins. And living as if you're in front of royalty can be a noble thing to do.

Aaron Sells-Out

At our last live poker tournament, the name "Aaron" came up - and we noted that's a famous name from the Bible. We meet him first in Exodus 4, as the older brother of Moses and a spokesman for both of them.

Aaron accompanied Moses in several showdowns with Egypt's Pharaoh. They ended with Israel coming out of Egyptian slavery - and the support was more than vocal:

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amaliekites were winning. When Moses's hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other.... - Exodus 17:11-12

How many "poker wives" support their spouses quietly and loyally - whether in big tournaments or small? They may not literally hold the cards up so the players can see them, but they can give moral support and encouragement in many ways. It's easy to overlook them, but we shouldn't.

God set up a line of priests through Aaron (Exodus 28:1/Leviticus 8:21-30) - but then he made a big mistake:

Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.".... He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it into a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf.... - Exodus 32:3-5

It's one thing to win a gold bracelet, at an event such as the World Series of Poker. It's another thing to idolize it - making it a god and presuming it's like the God of heaven. Even though God was displaying His power in amazing ways to Israel, Aaron defaulted to something Egypt had done. And then....

"They said to me, Make us gods who will go before us'.... Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" - Exodus 32:23-24

Really.... really?! Aaron lied by denying he'd "fashioned" the gold, and claiming it looked like a false god by sheer coincidence. It's easy for us to say it now, but Aaron should have stood his moral ground and pointed the people to the God who was talking with Moses on Mount Sinai.

If poker consumes a lot of your time, either in person or online, you might have turned the game into your god - and you have a false god. You might need to do what Moses did for Israel....

So Moses went back to the Lord and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin...." - Exodus 32:31-32

Seek God's forgiveness, and make Him the true God of your life. After all, He was around long before poker - and He offers the gift of eternal life, to last far beyond it.

Getting the Message

We had a good discussion about matters of faith at a recent poker tournament. One topic involved the Holy Spirit. A man admitted he's sometimes not sure if the Spirit is speaking to him, or something else.

We've written before about waiting for the Spirit's guidance when we play. But as at least one preacher has put it, how do you know it's the Spirit talking and not last night's dinner? Let's see what Jesus said about that....

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. - John 14:26

We think the "remind" part means the Holy Spirit's messages are verifiable. They should at least replicate what Jesus said. The Lord continues:

But when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.... - John 16:13

Jesus called Himself "the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6), and also referred to the Scriptures as the "Word of truth" (John 17:17).

..He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. - John 16:13b

So there may be a message about what is ahead. But any tip from the Holy Spirit should be based on what God the Father and Jesus the Son already have revealed.

But maybe we've forgotten a key point here. Just as you can't play in a poker tournament without chips, you can't understand spiritual things without the Holy Spirit being present in you. What can you do so "the Spirit of truth comes" in the first place?

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of the you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." - Acts  2:38

It all starts with repentance - admitting your ways are wrong, seeking God's forgiveness for them and turning to walk in a holy way. Some people will talk about doing this, with the "Lenten season" beginning tomorrow. But you can do it right now, without any human-set partying deadlines.

Turn your life over to God, to start hearing clearly from Him. You may not be told how to play pocket Kings, but the overall quality of your life is bound to improve.

Right or Wrong? Part 3

We continue our meditations from a radio ministry's sermon on gambling.

3. The vast majority of gamblers lose.

We haven't done research on this, but we suspect it's true. That's how casinos make a profit, after all. We've wondered in recent years why several casinos in Atlantic City have closed. Have more people realized they're losing, so they don't play anymore?  Or are people actually getting better at the games?

But here's our issue with that point. The minister tried to make comparisons with investing in business - yet statistics show most start-up businesses fail as well. They fail at a slower rate than gamblers (ten years vs. a ten-day junket), but 71 percent eventually fail.

But our link had an amazing note about which kind of business has the "best rate of success after [the] fifth year." It's religious organizations. In other words, doing things for God pays off!

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. - I Corinthians 3:6-7

The apostle Paul is referring here to church growth, with new people becoming converted. But there's a principle here that religious organizations should understand better than anyone - that it's only by God's grace and mercy that anything grows. If that's true with church membership, why shouldn't it be true with a business? Or even success at a poker table, for those who believe God?

4. Gambling transgresses honesty. The preacher called it thievery "by mutual consent."

This may be true in back-alley dice-rolling and basement poker nights.  But many poker rooms and casinos take pains to ensure everything is on the up-and-up - like the day we had to take a one-blind penalty for acting too soon in a tournament.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. - Proverbs 12:17

This point really comes to your personal ethics. Are you honest with your words and actions at a poker table? Or do you lie (if that's too harsh, "shade the truth" a bit) to get your way?

It's our policy always to be truthful during poker tournaments. Sometimes that means saying nothing, when an opponent asks probing questions about our hand.

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. - Ecclesiastes 5:2

We think it's better to say nothing and protect your reputation than tell a lie and risk ruining it.

(NOTE: This is a series of posts; keep checking here for the next part.)

Getting on the Winning Side

You never know who you'll meet playing online poker.  Awhile back "flopblogger" (our web handle) had this chat with a player named "silkNsatan":

Me:　I hope you're more silk than Satan. :-)
silkNsatan:　hope u more flop than blog [...]
Me:　But I'm admittedly more into the things of God than Satan.
icandothis:　glad to hear it
silkNsatan:　same thing probleyjus differnt name
silkNsatan:　buddhist here
silkNsatan:　buddhist here
silkNsatan:　try anyways
Dealer:　LTDUSARET wins Main Pot ($2320)
Me:　Aha
Me:　I believe many people worship Satan, without realizing it.

It had been a long time since we reviewed exactly what Buddhists believe, especially when it comes to Satan.

One website we consulted says Buddhism has a devil character named "Mara" - one considered wicked, evil, "the Murderer, the Tempter." That's not far away from what Christians think about Satan.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44

In fact, Satan sometimes can appear "silky smooth" to people:

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. - II Corinthians  11:14

And that's why we think "people worship Satan, without realizing it." They accept lies and deception that they think is a reflection of God, but really is not.  That's why the Bible warns:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm n the faith.... - I Peter 5:8-9

But how can you tell whether you're following God and Jesus, as opposed to Satan and demonism? We recommend taking time each day reading carefully through the book of truth (John 17:17), the Bible.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11

Just as some poker players stage big bluffs to get you away from winning pots, Satan can come up with ideas and reasoning to steer you away from God and Jesus Christ. Check people's thinking against what the Bible says - and let the Bible be your guide, no matter how others might "spin" it.

How Can You Tell?

We asked in a recent post when it's a proper time to speak up during a poker hand, and when it's not.

For us, a lot depends on the mood of the table.  If we're surrounded by quiet workmanlike players, we tend to wait for a good moment to say something to the group.  In a sense, it's like poker strategy -- only in when to be relational, instead of when to make a big chip move.

If the table is more talkative, it's easier for us to join in.  And it's usually easier for us to bring up topics related to faith and God....

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. - Ephesians 4:15

There are two parts to the instruction here.  First, speaking the truth.  We avoid lying -- either about our cards or our faith.

....Better to be poor than a liar. - Proverbs 19:22b

If someone figures out our hand and asks what we have, we have creative truthful non-responses ready.  We might talk about the weather.  We might say we have "something" - which could mean we have anything.

The second part is speaking in love.  Some preachers talk tough about the need for people to repent of their sin, and we can understand that approach.  At the poker table, we tend to define "in love" as easing our way up to a point.  Jesus used both methods at times:

"I have no husband," she replied.  Jesus said to her, "You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband.  What you have just said is quite true." - John 4:17-18

Jesus "sprung the trap" on this woman's background after making three other comments to her. He didn't walk up with a pointed finger and immediately call a foul on her history.  The Lord waited for the right moment to make the convicting point.

However you communicate with fellow poker players, may you do so in a truthful and loving way.  We think that's the way which best reflects the example of Jesus Christ.

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).

The Pursuit of Real Happiness

Today is U.S. Independence Day -- a day which can mean many different things to different people.

We've been thinking a lot this week about the concept of freedom.  There's a serious effort right now to start online poker cash games (along with other kinds of gambling) in some states.  You'd be free to play -- but to be honest, the amount of freedom you'd have would depend on how much time you have, and especially how much money you could invest in the games.

Some people seem to have more freedom than others, when it comes to poker.  A car dealer in our new city has become the local poker king.  Brandon Steven won more than $600,000 last week at the World Series of Poker.  His job allows the freedom to compete for weeks in Las Vegas (he's actually cashed twice at the WSOP this year) - and to pay the $111,000 entry fee for the "One Drop" tournament where he made the final table.

For those of us who can only play free tournaments in bars, it can seem like we have hardly any freedom at all compared to Steven.  But perhaps we need a different perspective:

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - II Corinthians 3:17

What kind of freedom is this?  Scoffers might say there's very little -- especially if they think Christianity and church are all about restrictive laws.  Yet consider what Jesus said:

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. - John 8:32

Jesus called Himself "the truth" (14:6), and indicated the Scriptures are truth in writing (17:17).  This combination can give you freedom -- but how?

....Because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. - Romans 8:2

The "law" of our lives says we all sin (3:23), and we'll all die as a result (6:23).  But those who accept Jesus Christ and have the Holy Spirit in them have been freed from such discomforting thoughts -- because they have the hope of eternal life in Christ, beyond the grave.

That sort of freedom doesn't depend on your income level, or how high you rise on the WSOP Player of the Year ladder.  It's available to everyone.  Do you have that freedom now?  Are you happily thanking God for it, if you do -- not simply on Independence Day, but every day?

Why We Do What We Do

Regular readers probably have guessed we keep a lot of statistics about our poker playing.  One such stat sparked a conversation Sunday during a National League of Poker tournament....

Me: 　Attendance today 969
Me: 　up 88 from last Sunday
rmwats: 　I thought u meant at church
Dealer: 　PrimeMatador wins Main Pot ($1,050) with One pair, threes
Me: 　No. Here
Me: 　I normally go to church on Saturday
The "attendance" was the number of players in the field.  The day we worship might be surprising -- but it's the day Jesus kept when He was on Earth....

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues.... - Luke 13:10

Jesus met with Jews on the seventh-day Sabbath, since that was His lineage.  He declared the launch of a "church" (Matthew 16:18), but that didn't get going until after the Lord ascended to heaven (Acts 2).  But the chat continues....

Me: 　but tonight is a special Lord's Supper
Me: 　service.
rmwats: 　i see  
Me: 　New Testament Passover
rmwats: 　7 day adventis
Me: 　No. United Church of God
Several small Christian groups held their annual "communion" services Sunday night -- following the traditional Jewish calendar, as opposed to "Holy Week" of mainstream Christianity.  That's not all they do:

Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast -- as you really are.  For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth. - I Corinthians 5:7-8

What sort of "Festival" is this?  The answer is found in several scattered parts of the Old Testament.

Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days eat bread made without yeast, as I commanded you.... - Exodus 23:15

Long before the Atkins Diet and "gluten-free" menus, worshipers of God went one week a year without leavened bread.  The rest of verse 15 shows it originally was a commemoration of the exodus from Egypt (as in the movie The Ten Commandments).  But in New Testament times, Paul revealed it indicates a switch from sinful behavior (malice and wickedness) to "truth" -- as in....

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

Would you like to know more -- and perhaps try this "one-week diet" for yourself?  This article goes into the Spring Festival in more detail.  We're away from the poker tables in part because of that festival.  But anytime is a good time to put sin out of your life, and draw close to God's truth -- even if your poker style is bluffing.

Thanks for Nothing?

Since today is U.S. Thanksgiving Day, we took this small "thank you" card to our live poker tournament this week -- provided to us by a bank.  We've found one sure way to make people stop in their tracks and think is to ask: "What are you thankful for this year?"

But this week, a man at one of our tables had a quick answer for that question -- an answer we never expected to hear.  "Not a G** d**n thing."

The man went on to explain his goal was to move away from our area this year.  "That prayer wasn't answered," he said.

Some people might have stopped right there and condemned the man for his words.  And they'd have good Biblical support for it....

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy....  - II Timothy 3:1-2 (KJV)

Many ministers probably have preached in recent days about how an "attitude of ingratitude" has swept over too many people -- and perhaps even over some believers in God.  Paul went on to warn people in such a condition are "never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" of God (verse 7).

But in the case of the man at our poker table, we focused on his claim that God didn't answer his prayer.  Have you concluded if God doesn't give you what you want, He must not exist at all?  A dramatic example from the life of Jesus may change your thinking:

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you.  Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will." - Mark 14:35-36

This occurred on the night Jesus was arrested, leading to the crucifixion less than 24 hours later.  Jesus, who was sent by God from heaven to Earth, prayed for relief from the torture.  BUT He trusted God the Father, putting the outcome of the matter in the Father's hands.  God answered the prayer, all right -- by telling His firstborn Son no.

Are you surprised by God turning down Christ's request?  Then maybe we shouldn't be surprised if our human-based requests sometimes get turned down by God as well.

You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. - James 4:2-3

Do we trust God enough to accept His answer to prayer as the right answer -- even if it's not our desired answer?

We'll get back to that man's allegedly "unanswered" prayer in our next post.  In the meantime, consider this online poker chat which developed Wednesday night after we wished the table a happy Thanksgiving eve:


uPeaKn: anyone have an extra pecan pie
Me: Don't even have one. :-(
sissysmurf won Main pot 1,315
uPeaKn: hummmmm not sure what 2 think
uPeaKn: no pecan pie no ThanksGiving
Me: Well, no.
Me: I can give thanks without it.
Me: Thank God for free poker. :-)

A lot of traditions (food and otherwise) are associated with Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.  But we've followed a contentious debate within church circles over the last couple of weeks, over whether all those things make the day "pagan" - something Christians actually should avoid.

After studying our Bible on the issue, we concluded giving thanks can include food -- and it did in Old Testament times (Leviticus 7:11-15).  But far more importantly, it should be directed toward God.  And that gets back to the aspect of prayer....

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. - Philippians 4:6

It's thanksgiving without a capital T, without a formal holiday and Presidential proclamations.  May you be thankful every day for what God provides -- even if you only finish in the money at poker tournaments a couple of times a year.

Poker Night 310: K-9 Corpse

We now have two choices for live poker on Monday nights.  For now, we're opting for The Red Barn in Phenix City over The Suite in Columbus.  The Suite is a more attractive place, but The Red Barn is a little closer, the soft drinks are less expensive ($1.50 vs. $2.25) and our income is limited at the moment.

The Red Barn also has one quirky "house rule," which can turn a game upside-down.  It came into play for us tonight....

BLINDS: 500/1000

IN THE POCKET: K-9

We have been dealt "The Rodney," named after the Tournament Director.  If you win a pot with this hand, you earn a 5,000-chip bonus -- and if the cards are suited, the bonus doubles to 10,000.  Our K-9 is not, but it certainly has our attention at a semifinal table of six.  We start with 11,500 chips and are ready to call.  Then another player raises to 3,000, and we still join in.

ON THE FLOP: K-8-7

Top pair increases our hopes for a big hand.  We're in lead position, but decide to check and let the raiser to our left do the work.  That man bets 2,000; a woman across the table raises to 5,000.  We call, making a huge commitment to this pot.

ON THE TURN: 4 (as best we recall)

We have 3,500 left, and are ready to push if need be.  But we check again -- and are a bit relieved when the two other players in the hand check.

ON THE RIVER: 7

This gives us two pair, and we decide it's time to be forceful.  "I'm all-in," we announce -- dropping down our last 3,500, in the hope our opponents will surrender and fold.  Trouble is, they both have bigger chip stacks.

The man to our left didn't want to see that move.  "I've got to pay to see it," he decides.  He calls.  The woman across from us agrees, and calls as well.

"I have The Rodney," we say as we turn over our cards.  We feel confident, as the man to our left shows a 10 as if he missed a draw.

"King-Queen."  Noooooo!  The woman has a bigger kicker, wins the pot and eliminates us.  No wonder she raised on the flop (a detail we'd forgotten).

We leave the table in 12th place -- then walk over to Rodney the Tournament Director.  We explain what happened, and pretend to cry on his shoulder.

"I'm thinking about adding a 'bad beat' prize for The Rodney," he admits.  But we didn't have that tonight.  And come to think of it, we should have suggested making K-9 "wild" to trump everything else.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "Today is National Honesty Day," we said to both tables where we played tonight.  We're not being dishonest and making that up.  We spotted it as a trending topic on Twitter during the day; it's the idea of an author in Maryland.

"It's a day all poker players can appreciate," we said both in person and online.  That made a couple of people smile, seeing the irony in our comment.  After all, bluffing is part of the game in poker -- and even a little misleading "trash talk" at times.  But in life....

Do not use dishonest standards when measuring length, weight or quantity.  Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin.  I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. - Leviticus 19:35-36

The margin of our Bible indicates the "ephah" and "hin" were dry and liquid measures in Old Testament times.  In modern terms, wouldn't you be upset if a gallon jug of milk only contained three-fourths of a gallon?  God would be upset as well -- and that also applies to the things we say.

A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.... Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. - Proverbs 12:17, 19

You might be tempted to challenge the last part of that Scripture.  History is filled with famous false statements -- such as U.S. President Richard Nixon declaring, "I am not a crook," or President Bill Clinton emphasizing, "I did not sexual relations with that woman."

We like the way the Moffatt paraphrase puts verse 19: "Truth told endures; a lie lasts only for a little while."  And think of it another way: Jesus Christ who called Himself "the truth" (John 14:6) is ruling alongside God the Father eternally, while Revelation 22:15 warns someone who "loves and practices falsehood" eventually will be outside God's Kingdom.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 109 final tables in 310 games (35.2%) - 17 cashes.

The Original True Blood

Our last local poker night brought up the TV series True Blood -- and when we heard title, we thought of Jesus the Savior.

Sound strange?  We don't mean Jesus Christ was a vampire.  What we mean begins with this verse....

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

If Jesus is the truth, it logically follows that His words are true.  And since John 1:1, 14 indicates Jesus was (and still is) God, we can apply these words....

See how I love your precepts; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your love.  All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. - Psalm 119:159-160

And the blood of "the truth" is filled with importance for humans, even today....

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.... In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.... - Ephesians 1:3, 7

Have you accepted the blood of Jesus as your redemption price, to have your sins forgiven?  Any attempt to use someone else will be.... well, false blood.

Poker Night 278: The Gun Clubs

There was an old-fashioned "stick-up" on the avenue near our home the other day -- as a man was robbed of his wallet, and apparently slugged in the process.  At the other side of the avenue tonight, we carried some weapons of our own from time to time.  It was poker night at Lil Kim's Cove -- and sometimes cards are referred to as "rockets" or "bullets."  But that wasn't what we had....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: J-9 of clubs

We're "under the gun" -- which in poker slang means we're first to act pre-flop, sitting to the left of the big blind.  We haven't won a hand yet, and hold about 4,000 chips.  But something tells us to give this suited medium-high combination a try, so we call.  Several players get in, with no one raising.

ON THE FLOP: Qs-9s-8c

We have middle pair and a draw, so we're not in a mood to stick our neck out yet.  We check; so does the entire table.

ON THE TURN: 10c

That's the right draw for a straight -- and it sets up a potential perfect river card, as we've developed an open-ended shot at a straight flush.  But we're more concerned about taking this pot than hitting that long shot.  When the play checks to us, we bet 1,000.  Several players do the math and fold; one person across from us calls.

ON THE RIVER: Kc

We didn't hit the jackpot, and three clubs are now showing.  But we don't really consider that chance of someone having the Ace of clubs for a "nut flush."  With our straight becoming a flush, we bet 1,000 again -- and our opponent fold, realizing we have something.

But all in all, the night was shaky for us.  We reached a high of 6,000 chips, then lost 3,100 of them in one hand when our pocket Jacks lost to a woman who turned a 3 in her hand into three of a kind on the turn.  Then we folded two low clubs which would have made another winning flush.

We finally pushed in the big blind with A-Q, but the board didn't pair for us and another woman made pocket jacks.  Final standing: a lowly 22nd.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The talk of the table turned to television tonight.  One woman asked an admitted fan of the Twilight movie series, "Do you watch True Blood?"

"No," the fan answered.  "I don't like scary stuff."

The title led us to turn to a man on our left and quietly say, "That title brings me back to this."  We tapped the "Jesus as your Savior" coin we'd shown him earlier in the evening.  The man smiled, and nodded a bit as if he understood.

That's nice -- but do you understand?  Why would True Blood make us think of Jesus the Savior?  Offer a comment if you'd like; we'll explain in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 102 final tables in 278 nights (36.7%), 16 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 172 point wins in 761 games (22.6%), 59 final tables, 7 cashes.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $67,582, up $5,925.  We scored gains in seven of eight sessions in the last seven days, including two with jumps of $2,000 or more.

He's Three of a Kind?

We asked you to find the place in the Bible which came up in last Thursday night's poker game -- where a player claimed he was "the truth," and was corrected for it.

The correct answer: the gospel of John:

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

Why did Jesus call Himself these things?  For starters, He's the "way" to a relationship with God the Father.  In fact, it's a two-way street:

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. - John 6:44

Jesus called Himself "the truth" because He spoke words of truth, given by His Father in heaven....

For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. - John 12:49 (see also Ephesians 4:21)

And Jesus declared Himself "the life" because He is the key to a life that never ends, beyond our physical bodies:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him. - John 3:36

A special Holy Day on the Biblical calendar this week looks ahead to when Jesus will return, and give eternal life to those who believe in Him.  Jews call it "Rosh Hashanah;" observant Christians call it the Feast of Trumpets.

Poker Night 260: The Jackson Four

"This is not my favorite hand," a player at our table said at Lil Kim's Cove tonight -- as he played pocket Kings. As we recall, they lost that hand. But we may have found a new personal favorite....

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: A-J offsuit

We're sitting "under the gun," first to act at a six-player table. The play has been tight (others like to say "friendly"), so we choose to limp. No one raises, and about four players are in.

ON THE FLOP: J-J-J

Enough hooks for a deep-sea fishing trip -- and quads for us! But remember the house rules: no 5,000-chip bonus is paid for quads until the river. So we wait and watch the players in front of us check. No gain yet.

ON THE TURN: 10

Now there's a little action, as the lead player in the small blind offers a modest 500. The big blind calls. Sure, we can call that. Everyone else is out.

ON THE RIVER: K

A straight flush is not in play, so we hope someone gets daring. But the tight play continues, with two checks in front of us.

"How about 3,000?" we ask. Nope, too much -- as they fold.

"Plus 5,000," we announce. Showing the "case Jack" earns us the bonus -- and we're up to around 22,000 chips.

We had 21,000 at the one-hour break, and played carefully after that with one exception. When a man went all-in at the semifinal table for about 8,000, we called with 9-9. He had A-Q, so our read was right -- but he hit an Ace on the river to escape with a big pot.

We held on from there to make the final table on a three-table night -- but our own A-Q there didn't work so well. We pushed with 5,000, but the board didn't pair for us. A pair of 6's prevailed, and we left in ninth place. But it was still our best finish in more than a month.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "Toss that one in there," a man said as he playfully threw our card protector into the middle of the table on the first hand of the night. It was our "Lord's Supper" protector -- the one with an artist's rendering of Jesus Christ on the back.

"I really don't think He looked like that," we said to the man. "I don't think He had long hair, based on what I read in the Bible."

"Maybe they didn't have scissors back then," the man speculated. Now there's an argument we'd never considered before. Trouble is, history indicates the Middle East probably did.

"We don't know the truth," the man went on to say. On that point, he may be right.

"That's why I choose to stick with the truth -- of Jesus," we answered. In fact....

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but through Me." -- John 14:6 (NASB)

If someone tells you the Bible is "the truth" -- well, there's truth to that. Jesus said "Thy word is truth" in John 17:17. But don't get so focused on the written word that you overlook the One who is "the Word.... made flesh," as in Jesus (1:1, 14). Worship a Savior and Lord, not a book about Him.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 99 final tables in 260 nights (38.1%) - 15 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 155 point wins in 705 games (22.0%), 54 final tables, 7 cashes. We also played one late-night ten-player sit-n-go, hoping to qualify for the Sunday night weekly championship -- but we finished sixth.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $50,343, down $300.

National Heads-Up Week 1: In Several Languages

A new season of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship began on NBC Sunday. (No, we didn't forget -- we simply were very busy.) We noticed several of the usual poker site advertisers were missing. Hmmm -- we wonder why?!

But admittedly, we were surprised by one moment when confessed Christian Daniel Negreanu was surprised by a hand he lost to Phil Laak. "What the h**l?" Negreanu asked aloud.

We're old enough to remember when the "H-word" was considered profanity. Times have changed so much that it's considered nothing now -- and we even hear church pastors toss the word around loosely during sermons. But a believer still has to watch his words, whether at the poker table or a worship service.

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. -- Matthew 12:36-37

When Harry Truman was U.S. President, he said he simply told the truth -- and others considered it, uh, not very heavenly. Such was the Laak-Negreanu hand, as Laak disguised three of a kind very well. (He went on to win the match.)

This moment actually ties together with a recent comment a player made at one of our local tournaments, about words and symbols. The symbol of Christ's crucifixion which we brought (a long nail) can have an impact. But unless we use words to explain the nail's purpose, the meaning can be missed. Which reminds us....

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. -- John 1:1, 14

Jesus is described in the New Testament in many symbolic ways. We'll let you think about those ways, and make a list of them -- but one of them simply is "The Word." The Lord spoke the words of His Father, and so should we.

Many words are being said about Jesus by ministers this week. May they be words of truth about "the Word" who called Himself "the truth" (John 14:6).

A song for the table

We were online playing Yahoo poker just now, when 103.7 FM "The Truth" played the Twila Paris classic Christian song "Days of Elijah." We put some new words on the chorus on the spur of the moment, and came up with....

Poker time! Poker time is here!
Grab your chips! Get cards in the air!
Lift your voice, to raise over the top....
And on the river will the payoff come!