ElderCare

The classic words of Doyle Brunson were part of the opening of every Poker After Dark program on NBC: "We don't quit playing because we get old; we get old because we quit playing."

A large number of "older people" (we'd guess age 50 or higher) play in our poker circles. Some of them have played for a long time, so they deserve being treated with caution. To borrow an old phrase, you should "respect your elders" at the table.

But we've been asking in several posts about another group of elders. These apparently are in heaven....

Surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. - Revelation 4:4

Who are these people? Well, believe it or not, we don't think they are people. Verse 2 indicates they're in heaven. And Someone who came down from heaven once said....

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. - John 3:13

So if they aren't humans who were "taken to heaven," who (or what) are they? The Bible admittedly doesn't offer much guidance about them. But we're led to conclude they're angels - perhaps a special high rank of angels. Look at what they get to do:

And the 24 elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God.... - Revelation 11:16

If this sounds dull and boring to you, consider this. They're at the throne of God - the One who created heaven and earth, and who is preparing a place for those who will believe in Jesus Christ!

In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. - John 14:2-3

The Bible indicates Jesus will come back to the area of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4) - stopping all rebellion and setting up the Kingdom of God on Earth. If that still doesn't interest you, consider this warning....

...That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:10-11

The Bible shows the worship of Jesus Christ will happen. Whether you like it or not. Wouldn't it be better to respect the "elder brother" and begin worshipping Him now?

Brunson Sets Things Straight

We mentioned recently the first-ever "Global Poker Awards." They were presented in Las Vegas this weekend - with one going to a true legend of the game.

Doyle Brunson received an "Award for Lifetime Achievement." But in the process, he clarified reports that he played his final World Series of Poker event in 2018 - something which earned him a different award nomination, for "Moment of the Year." (Are people that happy to see him go?)

Brunson explained in texts to the awards show that he's simply spending more time "at home with my wife of 59 years." He added, "I'll retire when they throw dirt in my face." The audience remembered his classic line in the opening credits of Poker After Dark - "We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing."

Brunson's Twitter profile notes that he's a poker player, of course. It says he's 82 years old, although other websites dispute that. But it also adds, "Christian." In fact, a February tweet from Brunson says this....

I can stand the "jargon" and the f word but chills run up and down my spine when I hear the Lord's name taken in vain.

Does this describe you? That last part is one of the Ten Commandments, you know:

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. - Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

Sit at a poker table long enough, and you're liable to hear someone do exactly that. It could be a statement of disbelief over a river card, or a vent of frustration after a string of big losses. But it's something people should not do.

The New International Version quotes this verse saying you shouldn't "misuse the name" of God. That expands the meaning quite a bit - because there are many ways to misuse God's name, besides swearing.

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 7:21

These words of Jesus indicate you can declare Him "Lord" all day long - but if you're not doing God's will, it will ultimately be worthless. You'll be kept out of God's Kingdom! Another Bible verse puts it this way:

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - James 2:26

Some ministers claim it's enough to simply "speak Christ" into your life. That's a good idea, but it's incomplete. A true Christian life is reflected not only in what you say, but the deeds you do.

So congratulations to "Texas Dolly" on his legendary poker career. May it keep going. May his Christian works keep going as well. And may you learn from his example.

From Hero to Zero

The Main Event of the World Series of Poker is in a two-part "Day Two" -- due to more than 6,000 entries. We're struck by how many former champions already are at the rail.

Doyle Brunson. Chris Moneymaker. Greg Raymer. Jerry Yang. All have won poker's biggest prize, yet all of them were eliminated on their first day of play in 2011.

It only shows how fleeting fame can be. As a wise king once put it:

There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. - Ecclesiastes 1:11

A couple of WSOP events this year actually did honor bracelet winners of old, with a "parade of champions." But some Main Event winners from decades ago don't even have pictures on the WSOP website. So can humans do anything which will have long-term value -- long after we're "dead and gone?"

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. -- Matthew 6:20

Open question: what do you think Jesus meant by that verse? Leave a comment with your thoughts; we'll offer ours in a future post.

Heads-Up Championship Week 3: Timing Patterns

Four "words of wisdom" were uttered during today's NBC Heads-Up Poker telecast. So said the opponent of poker legend Doyle Brunson. Brunson's statement: "Poker's all about timing."

Time your big bluff with 4-7 just right, and you might steal a pot with it. Push with J-J, and you might lose to an opponent with Q-Q (which Vanessa Selbst had in another match today).

But let's think bigger here -- isn't life all about timing? Whether it's buying a home, selling stock or waiting at an intersection as a drunk driver comes by? The Bible has plenty to say about it....

Since a king's word is supreme.... Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a man's misery weighs heavily upon him. - Ecclesiastes 8:4-6

This comes from a book which shows "time" relates to choices we make (3:1-8). The ultimate "king" for a believer is Jesus. We should pray for the wisdom to know the right time and way to act. That's as true about a major investment or career change as it is a pocket pair.

We write this only days after devastating tornadoes killed hundreds of people in the U.S. South, and left damage not far from our home. Survivors understandably might wonder if they were in the right (or wrong) place at the wrong time. We can take comfort in the promise that when the time is right, God will intervene -- for good.

At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and the all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. -- Matthew 24:29-30

Ministers like to say God's always on time, and never late. If you're reading this, it's not too late for you to turn to God and seek His wisdom to have perfect timing in your life.

Poker night 134: Moments of Truth

We don't watch Poker After Dark very often these days, but the opening used to have these words of wisdom from Doyle Brunson: "When luck shuts the door, you've got to come in through the window." Examples of this came our way on back-to-back hands tonight at Lil Kim's Cove.

Early losses and bad cards had us playing tight, so with about 4,400 chips we took a chance on Q-8 of diamonds. A Queen on the flop allowed to bet, and chase all but one other player away. An Ace on the turn led us to check, and our opponent did as well. A third Queen hit the river, and our opponent cursed loudly when we went all in.

"I knew I should have gone all in on that Ace!" he said showing a second Ace. Would we have folded? Hmmmm -- hard to say. But he folded to our big bet, to help us recover about 2,000 chips. Then came the next challenge:

BLINDS: 200/400

IN THE POCKET: King of spades - 9 of hearts

We're in the small blind, and no one raises around us. We call to give it a try.

ON THE FLOP: Kh-8c-2c

Top pair looks good, so we lead off with a bet of 600. About three other players call.

ON THE TURN: 9c

Now we have two pair, so turn up the heat and bet 1,200. A man across from us calls.

"I'm all-in," another player across from us then announces. Uh-oh. Only at that moment do we realize three clubs are showing. This man has a huge stack of chips, so he could take us out. We stop and ponder this for a moment.

"I can't go there," we say -- folding in fear of a flush. The man who called our earlier bet calls again.

"Good call," the big pusher says. Oh no -- have we been duped?

ON THE RIVER: Qh.

"I have two pair," the pusher announces. He has 9-8 -- but no clubs.

"Owwwww!" we say out loud. No one had a club flush. The all-in bet merely represented a flush. We folded a higher two-pair.

Yet that big bettor wound up pushing one time too many, and left the tournament well before we did. Waiting for timely hands paid off for us again, as we reached the final table and finished fourth! We walked home disappointed with how our night ended: a 4-9 in the big blind, then an all-in push with a 10-9-6 flop. A woman simply holding a 10 had us topped -- and we felt like we gave up too soon.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Early in the evening, a woman holding a 6 took a pot with three of a kind. You know: 6-6-6.

"You had a beast," we said jokingly to the woman -- borrowing a line our regular tournament director likes to use.

The woman's husband next to her responded: "Those are just numbers. They don't mean anything." He explained some people consider them superstitious -- for instance, refusing to accept $6.66 in change.

"Someday they're going to mean something," we said. Why did we say that? Because the numbers come right out of the Bible.

"Here is wisdom," Revelation 13:18 says in the New American Standard Bible. "Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man, and his number is six hundred and sixty-six."

A lot of people claim they have the wisdom to explain what that number means. A simple web search for 666 will prove that. If you'd like to offer your theory about it, leave a comment and we'll consider it.

But we agree with the man in a way -- that some people are superstitious about the number 666. We contend that number by itself can't hurt you. And that's not what you should ultimately fear.

"Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." Jesus issued that warning in Luke 12:5 (NIV) -- and John 5:22 shows God the Father has given the power of "all judgment" to Jesus the Son. So what do you fear most? A flush on the turn? A set of numbers? Or the coming King of Kings?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 54 final tables in 134 nights (40.3%) - 10 cashes. It's nice to climb back above the 40-percent mark again! Five top-ten finishes in the last six nights have done it.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 9 final tables in 139 games (6.5%), no cashes. We came close earlier in the day, coming in 12th out 239 players.

POKERSTARS.NET TOTAL: One-table sit-n-goes: 1-1-0-1-1-4-0-0-1. (We finally won one Sunday!) Cash games: $10,362, down $330. (The sit-n-go win is included in the total, the loss was actually in cash games.)

Poker on Fox

Tuned in to the "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" on Fox, after a football game today.

Playboy playmates -- playing an "ordinary person" with a coach?

Daniel Negreanu -- in an isolation booth??

Two words: game show. (And that's not a compliment.)

No wonder Doyle Brunson isn't thrilled by it. It didn't thrill us, either.

(Well, except for that "dome of silence" Chris Moneymaker ordered. Sometimes with Negreanu, that would be a good thing.)

What did you think?