What to Dump

It had been a long time since we watched poker on television. But a short road trip this week allowed us to catch a bit of the World Poker Tour "Ladies' Night" tournament on cable.

Vanessa Rousso was the biggest name at the all-female table, and she had the biggest chip stack throughout the time we watched. (We'll let you go elsewhere online, to look up whether she won.)  But what struck us was how many times players gave up what seemed to be very playable pre-flop hands.  A couple of players folded A-10, even when the raises ahead of them were relatively small.

Every poker player has boundaries, we suppose -- hands they wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole unless they sit in the Big Blind and all they have to do is check.  And as we walk through life, there are some things we should throw away....

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. - Philippians 3:7

This was written by the apostle Paul, who had a lot going for him as a young man.  Verses 4-6 show he had a great religious pedigree -- at least in the established religion of his day.  But when Paul encountered Jesus Christ, his entire perspective changed.

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.... - Philippians 3:8

Some players get a reputation for playing only "quality hands."  Beyond pocket Aces, the definition of that phrase can be subjective.  In a similar way, Paul tossed aside a lot, for the knowledge of Jesus.  What makes that so much better?

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. - Philippians 3:10-11

Paul wanted to be resurrected to "a new life," as he calls it in Romans 6:4 -- an eternal life with Jesus.  Are you willing to throw away things which are "rags" by comparison, to have that new life?

And while we're at it -- what's the biggest hand you ever threw away at a poker table?  And did you wind up making the right decision when you did it?

On the Clock

Basketball has them.  Football has them.  Even chess tournaments have them.  But should poker have them?

We're talking about "play clocks" -- with a deadline to make a play, or face a penalty.  The issue has come up in recent days on the World Poker Tour, and a wide majority of players think a "shot clock" is a good idea.  The question is in how to do it, and when it would be appropriate.

Most of the tournaments we've played over the years don't have this problem.  Players seldom go "into the tank" for minutes at a time to make a big decision.  But then again, the stakes in our tournaments are relatively small -- and many players are in it simply for fun, not a bankroll or championship points.

We'd like to know what you think about adding clocks to poker; please leave a comment.  We can see the benefits of it, especially to move televised tournaments along.  But we'd like to ask a deeper question -- aren't we all "on the clock?"  The clock of life?

The length of our days is 70 years - or 80, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. - Psalm 90:10

Yes, we know -- this verse seems awfully depressing.  In the words of an old Bonnie Raitt song, we're all "scared we'll run out of time."  And the truth of life is that we all do run out of time.  But the Bible offers hope of an overtime period:

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 6:23

Jesus makes it possible for you to have "eternal life."  As they say on basketball broadcasts, the shot clock would be turned off -- and you can emerge from "the tank" of death victorious.

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. - I Thessalonians 4:14

Verses 16-17 of this chapter show Jesus will come down from heaven, with believers rising to meet Him in the air.

But did you notice the key phrase in all this?  You have to be "in Christ Jesus" - "in him."  Are you living in Jesus, having made Him your Savior and following His godly example?  If you aren't, we strongly recommend it -- before Someone greater than your fellow poker player calls for "the clock" on you.