An Apology from "Jesus"

The online poker crackdown happened seven years ago. An explanation about it from a poker legend took less than 45 seconds - and may raise more questions than it answers.

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson posted a very short video this week about the "Black Friday" federal intervention. Ferguson reportedly was Chairman of the Board of Full Tilt Poker when it happened. He may have paid millions to the government to settle a civil case while repaying people with frozen bankrolls.

The transcript of Ferguson's video, posted by CardPlayer.com, includes this:

I deeply regret not being able to prevent Black Friday from happening. After Black Friday, I worked relentlessly to ensure that all players got paid back. And, I sincerely apologize that it took as long as it did.

That's not enough for some poker players, including Daniel Negreanu who mockingly called it "so heartfelt." Others are left wondering why Ferguson brought out the apology now - whether it has anything to do with the renewed hopes for state-run poker websites.

We're not going to judge Ferguson's motives. Instead, we're thinking about the real Jesus - the One who was sinless, and never had to apologize to anyone for anything....

So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. - Luke 17:3

There are three parts to Jesus's instruction in this verse. We need to watch ourselves and our conduct, especially as events move toward Jesus's return:

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21:36

Second: rebuke a "brother" who sins. We were challenged by a preacher last weekend to dare to say the word "sin" again, as many think it's improper now. But we should start with close friends (in church or outside) who may be wandering from a godly way:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

Third: forgive the brother who repents - even if you have to do it over and over:

If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him. - Luke 17:4

We'd note Ferguson did not use the word "repent" - a word that implies admitting doing something wrong, and turning in the opposite direction from it. Time will tell if he actually does that; he'd probably have to return to poker site management to have that opportunity.

Follow the poker "Jesus," and you may run into some regrets. Follow the Jesus of the Bible, and you never will.

A League of Their Own

You might think of poker as an individualistic game. But if bowling can have teams and summer leagues, why not poker?

We read today about the new Poker Sports League in India, where teams battled for prize money and had a five-day final showdown. But while bowlers might form their own teams from co-workers or neighborhood buddies, the poker teams were more haphazard:

...12 teams, consisting of a mentor, two local pros, two live qualifiers, two online qualifiers, and two wild card entries, battled it out....

We've heard of local poker leagues in places where we've played. We suppose they can promote friendship and good competition. But we think there's a better "team" to be on....

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage each other... - Hebrews 10:24-25

What sort of "team" is this? The Bible is talking about a group of "brethren" (verse 19, NASB). We think that refers to a church group. Members meet, show love toward each other and encourage each other to do good deeds. But why?

..To prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.... - Ephesians 4:12-13

Just as a national congress or parliament is a "legislative body," the church is Jesus Christ's body. One main goal is to grow in the knowledge of God - and as Hebrews shows, it should be expressed in "love and good deeds"....

...and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:25b

The New International Version has "Day" capitalized. We think this refers to the day when Jesus comes back. The church should go increasingly "all in" - for each other.

Some groups will take time this coming weekend to mark the anniversary of the founding of the New Testament Church. It's known in the Bible as Pentecost. This link explains the day in more detail. We encourage you to take time to mark the anniversary - and go farther, by becoming part of a "league" that's working for a godly purpose.

Give and Keep

No, we're not playing that longtime game from The Price is Right today.  We're going back to a post from last week, where we asked you to think about what it means to be "your brother's keeper."

Big-time poker establishments used to be "smoke-filled rooms."  But during the last decade, that changed in Las Vegas.  Now the World Series of Poker is smoke-free -- but when local bars host poker nights, smoke can rise almost as quickly as the beer levels go down.

So we asked about a poker player who asked another player if he could "borrow" a cigarette.  What would we have done?  We'll give this a two-part answer:

1. If we smoked and had cigarettes to spare, we'd probably hand one over.  After all....

....Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." - Acts 20:35b

It's interesting to note you won't find this quote from Jesus in the four gospels.  But it was uttered by Paul, who became an apostle after Christ's resurrection.  Perhaps other disciples passed along the statement, after Paul (then called Saul) became converted (Acts 9:19).

2. But we don't smoke, and never have.  We don't even hand money over to beggars, if they tell us they're going to use the money to buy tobacco.  Another part of the Bible comes into play here:

So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God.... - I Corinthians 10:32

The focus is on considering "the good of others" above your own interests (verse 24).  That's what being "your brother's keeper" is all about.  And science has proven "good" lungs are free of smoke from tobacco.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. - Romans 15:2

Giving is good, if you have something good to give -- for instance, tipping the dealer if you make a big winning hand.  But if someone asks for something that's not good, that's different.  Keep what's best for other people in mind -- especially if it keeps them out of danger.

Playing for Keepers

The other night we asked a poker player if he was "his brother's keeper" -- and he said no. In the competitive nature of a poker game, that may be true. But what about the rest of life?

Did you recognize where that phrase originated? It's very early in the Bible....

Then the Lord said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" - Genesis 4:9

The Lord God might as well have asked Cain if he'd hit a flush on the river. Cain's answer was nothing short of a dodge -- since in the preceding verse, "Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him." Verses 10-12 indicate the Lord knew the right answer, and punished Cain for his sin.

But what about Cain's (and our) classic question? We think the clearest answer is found in the New Testament....

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2

From what we can tell, of course, Abel wasn't sinning when he was killed. But if you're caring about "brothers" in a tough situation, why wouldn't you care about them when times are good?

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

If you're not sure what a "brother" really is, check the Bible study we prepared on that several years ago. Then don't be afraid to care for brothers -- no matter where they are, or what their condition.

Poker Night #264: One Step Away

Today marked a birthday for us -- but we know some people who might take offense at birthday ceremonies for religious reasons. So we never brought it up at Lil Kim's Cove tonight. Maybe another player at the table would have shown more mercy on us if we had....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: K of clubs-Jack of diamonds

It's early, and this hand has high hopes to it. So we limp in, and no one raises at this full table.

ON THE FLOP: 2c-3c-6c

"I've got the Ace," a woman to our left says. But she says a lot of things at the poker table, not all of them accurate. That Ace would look great on the table right now -- but with a flush draw, we check. The table checks.

ON THE TURN: 8c

There's an "action card" for you. And we're ready to act when the table checks to us. We offer a somewhat cautious 300 bet, noting what the woman said and the fact that one big card can top our flush. Our hope is that the table will fold, and most do (including the woman) -- but a man across from us calls.

ON THE RIVER: 8h

There's now full house potential on the board, but we don't think that's what our opponent has. We choose to err on the side of caution and bet 600. Our opponent calls again.

"I've got the King," we declare.

"I've got the Ace," he declares. Sure enough -- the one better card is in his hand. We're thankful we played it safe.

After winning a pot with 2-8 of spades (yes, it can happen), that man across from us struck again. When he raised to 1,000 pre-flop, we called with A-J. When the flop was A-3-5 and he bet 5,000 with a promise to go all-in on the turn, we feared he had A-A. But we called anyway with only 1,950 chips left. They were followed by 8-8 -- and again he was one card better than us, showing A-Q. The big push didn't work, and we had a birthday bomb-out finishing seventh at our table.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "You're still my brother, right?" a Euro-American man sitting outside the table asked an African-American man tonight.

"You're my brother, of a different mother," the other man answered. This gave us an opportunity.

"But are you your brother's keeper?" we asked.

"Naaaah," he replied. "Got to let him learn things on his own way."

We brought up a famous Bible passage with our question. Can you name the book where it's located? And do you agree with the man's answer to that question? Offer a comment here; we'll offer ours in a future post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 100 final tables in 264 nights (37.8%) - 15 cashes. Uggh - our percentage keeps dropping like the stock market, again to its lowest level in years.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 158 point wins in 716 games (22.1%), 54 final tables, seven cashes.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $50,206, up $210.