Nguyen As In Win

The World Series of Poker's Main Event is not a "turbo" sprint. It's a marathon. And the final night proved it.

Qui Nguyen captured the title, the bracelet and about $8 million - but not before Gordon Vayo tested his will and endurance. The two played heads-up poker for eight hours, with Nguyen not prevailing until 3:20 this morning Las Vegas time - close to sunrise on the U.S. east coast.

Nguyen lives in the U.S., but immigrated from Vietnam in 2001. He admitted to ESPN while he won money in poker rooms in recent years, he lost a lot of money playing baccarat. "I decided myself to stop gambling," Nguyen said before the final table. "I will only play Baccarat for fun now ... small amounts and go home.”

That's a lesson many people who go to casinos should learn. Stay too long in a poker room or playing some other game, and odds are you'll lose a lot of money. There's a spiritual parallel to that....

Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?... - Isaiah 55:2

We've heard preachers over the years turn this into a nutrition commentary - for whole wheat bread, and against "Wonder Bread." But we think there's a deeper point. There's more to life than the labors of work, or the indulgences of nice food:

...Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. - Isaiah 55:2b

What should we be eating for our souls? This may seem weird to some, but....

I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.... Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever. - John 6:51, 58

Jesus Christ said those words - and many people had trouble with them (verses 52, 60). While it can refer to a communion or "Lord's Supper" celebration, it also can refer to feasting on the things of God every day - through reading and studying the Bible, for example. After all, many people pray....

Give us each day our daily bread. - Luke 11:3

Jesus called Himself "the bread of life" (John 6:35). Living by His example can lead to eternal life - something far more fulfilling than games of baccarat, or even a WSOP bracelet. We hope Qui Nguyen comes to see his need for that bread of life - and that you will, too.

Right Back At-Ya?

First came the lawsuit. An Atlantic City casino accused poker champ Phil Ivey of cheating at baccarat tables to win millions of dollars - something a British casino also has contended.

Now comes the counter-suit. Ivey and another man are suing the New Jersey casino, claiming it knew about defective baccarat cards but did nothing to stop them.

We could get into the pros and cons of "edge sorting" and "symmetrical card backs" here - but that's admittedly too wonky for us to consider. Instead, let's ask a more basic question. Should Ivey file a counter-suit in the first place?

There are many reasons why people file lawsuits -- and it's not simply poker players. Even "religious" people go to court about all sorts of issues. But the Bible has some surprising advice, that we think many people overlook:

The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? - I Corinthians 6:7

The apostle Paul wrote this to a church group which had members suing each other (verse 1). That's not exactly the best example of Christian unity.  But what about lawsuits "outside the family"? Isn't that different?

You have heard that it was said, "Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth". But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. - Matthew 5:38-39

We've heard even ministers try to spin this advice of Jesus Christ into a different meaning. But if Jesus meant it as simply as He said it, and people really applied it as He said it, the number of "sue-ers" (as the late Paul Harvey called them) would go way down.


Consider it this way: if anyone had cause to file suit and take action against mistreatment, it was Jesus  He was a Lord without sin. And yet when Jesus was arrested, he said....

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scripture be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way? - Matthew 26:53-54

Instead of suing and delaying a trial for years, Jesus was submissive - and sacrificed His life within 24 hours of His arrest, to redeem the rest of us from our sins.  Which example do you think should we follow?

By Any Means Necessary?

One of professional poker's biggest stars is defending his actions in a British courtroom right now.  Phil Ivey is being denied more than 12 million U.S. dollars by a casino, which claims he played a form of baccarat unfairly.

Ivey, as you might guess, denies he is a cheater.  Instead, he is an "advantage player" -- looking for anything that might give him an advantage over the house.  To quote a statement he made in court: "As a professional gambler, my job is to seek to lawfully reverse or reduce the perceived house edge...."

Isn't playing poker a bit like that -- especially when you're in a bad situation?  You might miss a straight or flush draw.  But you can still win a hand through "lawfully reversing" the situation -- perhaps with a big bluff bet, after everyone else checks.

We also think life is a good bit like that.  Whether you realize it or not, the "house" of this world tries to get an edge on all of us.

In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God., should shine unto them. - II Corinthians 4:4 (KJV)

Who is "the god of this world"?  This verse indicates it is not God the Father or Jesus Christ.  It must be someone or something else.  Note what Jesus said it is:

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

Those are tough words -- but they're the words of our Lord.  He came to "lawfully reverse" that edge, by keeping the Law of God perfectly and giving His life for our sins.

.Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.... He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. - Galatians 3:13-14

To borrow from a radio sermon we once heard, God turned the tables.  You get an advantage over Satan by claiming Jesus as your Savior -- especially at the ultimate showdown, which we call death:

"Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting?'.... But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - I Corinthians 15:55, 57

Try as you might, you can't defeat Satan and the devil's tactics on your own.  You need Jesus to claim the greatest win of all -- eternal life.  Will you put your faith in Him, to get the win?

Seeking an Edge

If you're looking for ways to cheat at poker and win - sorry, you've come to the wrong website.  But it's noteworthy to us when even top-level poker players are accused of cheating.

That's what an Atlantic City casino is accusing Phil Ivey of doing.  Not at poker, but another card game.  He's accused of closely watching the edges of playing cards in baccarat for flaws, and using that knowledge to win millions of dollars.

We admit we've never played baccarat; we might have confused that word with a legendary composer of music.  We'd also never heard of "edge sorting" - but we're amazed at the things some people might use to gain, well, an edge at a card table.

Some people think they need to cheat to get an edge in life.  They might cut corners on their job, or even do deceptive things at church to "get ahead" with God at the expense of other members.  But God is too smart to be fooled by that....

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. - Proverbs 15:3

That "knows if you've been bad or good" stuff.... well, God was doing that long before anyone thought of a Santa Claus.  And beyond that....

All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.... This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. - Romans 2:12, 16

When judgment day comes, Jesus could remember things about you that you've forgotten (or maybe wished you had).  But there's a way to escape that "true confessions" moment:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. - I John 1:9

God already has seen your cheating -- whether it's at the poker table, or other places in your life. Isn't it better to admit it to Him now, receive forgiveness and turn to a more ethical way of life?  Or would you rather dare to go "all in" against Jesus, and lose?