Back to the Fifties

When the World Series of Poker began in June, we noted it was the 50th such event. But we noted that some people (and perhaps even the WSOP) called it the "50th anniversary" - which isn't mathematically right, because it's 49 years since the first one.

It reminded us of how some church groups sadly fight over how to count things. Take this one, which Jesus mentioned:

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40

Sounds simple, doesn't it? Jesus was buried for "three days and three nights" after His crucifixion.

Trouble is, many Christian denominations say Jesus was killed on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday morning. They parse at words and hours, trying to explain how "three days and three nights" somehow fit into about 48 hours. (Here's an article on that issue, if you'd like to look into it.)

We noted earlier this year that some church groups disagree on the number 50 as well, in computing when to keep the Christian festival of Pentecost. We promised to do our own study into it. After several weeks of complicated digging, it's ready. It's quite a mix of numerology, history and linguistics. Have your thinking cap and "good books" ready as you read it.

In poker tournaments, accurate chip counts matter. Shouldn't the counting of days and years matter as well - especially when it comes to events which shape all eternity?

Ensan Asylum

The biggest names in poker usually don't make the final table at the biggest game of all. The World Series of Poker Main Event has turned unknowns into stars for many years.

Courtesy WSOP.com

In 2019, that star is Hossein Ensan. He won it all this past week in Las Vegas, in only his second major final table. Only true poker junkies might know Ensan won three major tournaments in Europe in recent years, including a WSOP "international circuit" main event in the Czech Republic.

Ensan was born in Iran, but moved to Germany in 1990. We don't know why he moved, but he says he was "a simple painter" at the time. Living in Europe certainly allowed him the freedom to take up poker in the early 2000s, and develop winning skills from there.

But Ensan told WSOP.com during the tournament that he still considers himself a poker amateur. There's a lesson in that statement for all poker players - even if you consider yourself a big-time pro:

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. - Proverbs 11:2

The mere sight of pocket Aces might fill you with pride. Perhaps that's what did us in the other day (check our last post). But humility brings wisdom, because humble people are in more of a mood to learn. They know better than to assume they know it all.

...We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. - I Corinthians 8:1

A person once walked the Earth whom you'd think would have been the most puffed-up man ever. He came from heaven. He was the Son of God. But He didn't come to stump panels and win big awards.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.... being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross. - Philippians 2:4, 8

Why did Jesus do this? To display God's love for all of us - even for you:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

Jesus came in humility to lovingly pay the penalty for your sin. Will you humbly accept that sacrifice and make Jesus the Lord of your life? You may not develop the wisdom to win WSOP bracelets, but God will help you gain spiritual wisdom that can last for eternity.

The Old Numbers Game

A recent post presented one winning poker player's opinion about why children should be taught the game. But there's one positive aspect she didn't mention - that poker can teach young people math skills.

We found a column explaining why mathematics matters in a poker room. For grade-schoolers, there's the obvious truth that a 10 is (worth) more than a 6 and that three of a kind is better than two.

But the math gets more complicated from there. For instance, did you know (based on our link) that a pocket pair turns into "trips" on the flop about 11.5 percent of the time?

This column reminded us that some people aren't always logical with their math skills. One example occurred only a couple of weeks ago. Consider the words of Jesus....

For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. - Matthew 12:40

Jesus was answered demands from some people for a "miraculous sign" (verses 38-39). He took them back to a classic Old Testament tale....

But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. - Jonah 1:17

(The Bible never calls the fish a "whale," but that's not our point here.)

By comparison, Jesus was talking about His death. After three days and three nights, He would be resurrected (16:21) - and the Bible records that actually happened (Luke 24:21 and other verses).

The really big problem (to borrow from a math-centered show on public TV) is that many people think Jesus died on "Good Friday" and came back to life on "Easter Sunday." Even with common core, that's bad math. That timeline only allows for one full day and two full nights.

Some Bible scholars try to explain this by saying part of a day counts as a day. Yet they never seem to apply that principle to another moment in the Bible....

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. After fasting 40 days and 40 nights, he was hungry. - Matthew 4:1-2

We've never found a Christian preacher who claims this fast was shorter than that - say, 28 days and 27 nights. So why do they condense it when it comes to Jesus's death and resurrection?

The short answer is: tradition - and much like not all math figuring is good, so not all traditions are good. We think the right answer is to start a new tradition. One that's biblically sound and mathematically accurate.

If you have fuzzy math when it comes to this, here's a chart that may help.sort things out. Search the Scriptures carefully with it. As some ministries like to say, "Good science supports the Bible" - and we think good mathematics and traditions will as well.

Clever or Deceptive?

Sometimes the poker game starts well and gets better. But many times, the cards run dry and you're tempted to get creative to win pots. How far would you go to do that?

We've been analyzing an article on something many poker players would appreciate: deceit. It can be as subtle as making a big bet on the turn with three clubs showing - or as outlandish as going all in before the flop with 8-3 offsuit.

Trouble is, this article calls deceit a sin. That's because the history of that concept is not very good....

Then the Lord God asked the woman, "What have you done?" "The serpent deceived me," she replied. "That's why I ate it." - Genesis 3:13 (NLT)

This Bible verse comes from the garden of Eden, where the devil appeared as a serpent and persuaded Eve (the woman) to eat from a tree that God declared off-limits (verses 1-6). That brought sin to Earth, and it's spread from there.

Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God.... Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. - Romans 1:28-29 (NLT)

Deception (a similar word to deceit) follows from not acknowledging God. We each have to ask ourselves: is it "part of the game" in poker and "good fun" - or is it a sign of something deeper and more sinister in our lives?

The good news is that God sent Someone to overcome Satan's deceits....

Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. - Hebrews 2:17 (NLT)

Jesus Christ not only offered the sacrifice. He was the sacrifice - dying so that His blood would cover and remove our sins. He even gave His bruised and abused body that we might be healed (Luke 22:19-20).

Many believers will symbolically take Jesus's "blood" and "body" this week, at a ceremony which has several names. The Bible calls it Passover, the Lord's Supper or "communion." Whatever name you use, it shows a commitment to what Jesus has done. If you're not familiar with it, this article explains it. Will you accept what Jesus has done for you - and live a deception-free life?

Poker Day 569: Ace is Enough?

On this Presidents' Day, we hoped to set a personal precedent. We've never made the money in a tournament on this holiday - although we did on a Sunday of the holiday weekend in 2014. With an extra-high buy-in of $90, we drove to Hollywood Casino Indiana and gave it a try....

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: A-6 offsuit

We won a couple of small early pots, and still stand around the starting line of 15,000 chips. No one at the full table raises, so we call. About six players are involved.

ON THE FLOP: 8-A-8

Two pair looks good - and perhaps looks obvious, if we bet. But when the play checks to us, we offer 300. That chases all but one man away; he calls to put us heads-up. We're admittedly a bit concerned about our 6 kicker.

ON THE TURN: Q

Now we're not - because that Queen becomes the kicker. Our opponent checks, and we bet 300 again. He calls again. Hmmm - is he hiding a third 8?

ON THE RIVER: Q.

Now it gets interesting. Two pair are on the board, with the best possible kicker as well. But a full house is very possible. Our opponent checks, and we carefully do the same.

"Three pair," we declare as we show. Our opponent.... discards without showing! We win a healthy pot, and guess he might have had a different pocket pair (maybe 10-10?!).

We hit a high of 15,175 chips with that win. But it all dissolved away in the next 20 minutes. A-K came our way three times, and it never worked for us. The last straw came with a flop of Ks-Jc-9c. Our King was a club, but a 1,200 bet was greeted with a raise to 4,200. A third club on the turn led the raiser to bet 7,000 - nearly everything we had.

After thinking it over, we called with conceivably a lot of outs for a flush. But our opponent turned over A-A - including the Ace of clubs, which topped ours. Our only hope was a King on the river, and it didn't come. We headed home early, out first at our table with a stinging loss.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The table talk turned at one point to Sunday's Daytona 500 stock car race.

"Joe Gibbs Racing finished 1-2-3," a man across the table pointed out.

"And that website on the car probably crashed minutes later," we said humorously. A sticker on the car referred to a tribute to the son of team owner Joe Gibbs, who died in January.

"He obviously was a person of faith, based on the cross on the logo," we added. "And we all should be people of faith."

J.D. Gibbs made a commitment of faith as a teenager, through a ministry called Young Life. If you're a youth or young adult reading this, we recommend giving your "young life" to God.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them." - Ecclesiastes 12:1

You may think matters of faith and religion are simply for old, retired people. But they're not. In fact, Jesus started His ministry as a young adult....

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry.... - Luke 3:23

The Lord died about three years later - crucified before turning 35. Given that Biblical truth, why should you wait for gray hair to appear before committing yourself to a relationship with Him? That day might never come.

But perhaps you're on the opposite side - old and filled with gray hair. It's not too late for you to become a "person of faith."

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job 12:12

You may have seen enough of this life to know how ugly and sinful it can be. The wise course is to turn to a better way - a godly way.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.... - Acts 3:19

As long as you have life, you can turn to God. Is there really a better place to put your faith?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 216 final tables in 569 games (38.0%) - 46 cashes.

Words of Praise

As we won some make-or-break hands at the final table during our last poker outing, a brief "praise party" broke out.

"Praise the Lord," we said as we gathered in chips.

"Praise the Lord!" a man with a beard across from us said.

"Yes. Hallelujah!" we replied.

We meant what we said. As for the other man - well, Jesus Christ will be His judge. But we have our doubts, considering he'd used that name as a curse moments earlier.

Let's make it clear first: It's good to praise God. And you can do it anytime, at any place....

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises. - Psalm 34:1 (NLT)

We're admittedly not "Pentecostal" or "holy roller" in our beliefs. We quietly gave God thanks in the early parts of the tournament. But we also think big moments call for bigger praise. Take the time Jesus entered Jerusalem....

Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting, "Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" - Mark 11:9 (NLT)

It was a crowd of people (verse 8) - but we're left to wonder how many really meant it. Only five days later, another crowd called for Jesus to be crucified (Mark 15:12-14). Could some people have attended both those moments?

The lesson we conclude from this (and that other man at the final table) is that speaking words of praise is fine - but God wants more than that:

Jesus replied, "You hypocrites!.... 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.' For you ignore God's law and substitute your own tradition." - Mark 7:6-8 (NLT)

A heart that's close to God should be speaking godly words all the time - not turning the switch on and off as the moment seems right.

A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart.... What you say flows from what is in your heart. - Luke 6:45 (NLT)

So before you start popping off at a poker table, check your heart first. Is it right before God? Is it close to God? If so, your praise will be more authentic  - and the life you live will be as well.

Poker Day 565: Six-Packed

The gambling this week actually began on Monday morning - simply by getting in the car. We decided to take advantage of a partial government shutdown by traveling west to see relatives. But we knew if a shutdown was announced at any point, we'd have to turn around immediately and hurry back to our regular job.

But by midday today, there was no settlement. So we drove to Harrah's Casino in North Kansas City, where the midday "Fat Stack" poker tournament costs $60 - a bargain, compared to our home area. Would the successful risks continue?

BLINDS: 600/1,200

IN THE POCKET: 6-6

We made good early gains, advancing from a starting 12,000 chips to about 20,500 at one point. We reached the first break at 16,400. Now we're at level 7, still above "sea level" at about 14,500 chips. Sitting one off the button at a table of seven, we limp in with a medium-small pocket pair. A couple of people call.

ON THE FLOP: K-K-6

WOW! We hit it big, with the underside of a full house. The opponents check to us. But we'll wait on them to jump offsides, and check as well.

ON THE TURN: 6

DOUBLE WOW!! Now we have quads! But a man to our right bets 1,200. For a moment, we realize he could be slow-playing pocket Kings. That would be an awfully bad beat. But we see absolutely no reason to fold.

"I can do 12," we say matter-of-factly with a nod. We soft-sell a call, putting us heads-up.

ON THE RIVER: 4

A worthless card for a moment like this. It all depends now on what our opponent does. Will he bet bigger, perhaps to attempt to scare us away?

No.... he simply checks. So now it depends on us. How much can be bet to encourage a call and maximize our gains?

"How about..... 2,300?" we ask as we bet.

If our opponent really had pocket Kings, he'd bet them now. Instead, he thinks things over for about a minute. Then he softly folds.

"Very good decision," we tell him - and show the quads we had. It's actually the second quads hand at the table today, and others are impressed.

"You could do 12," a man to our right says in an imitation of our line.

"I really could," we say with a big nod. It's still a good and much-needed win, getting to 18,400.

But then came level 8 - and when a man across the table pushed, we saw A-K and took him on. His pocket 5's won the race, and threw us onto the ropes. A couple of all-in wins on our part brought a recovery to 10,000 at the second break.

With added antes and higher blinds in Hour 3, we dropped to 2,600. "Final table" was called as we looked at Big Blind cards of A-10. We decided they were too good to wait. We pushed into two callers. But the board didn't pair for us, and a man with K-9 hit a King on the river. We finished tenth out of 24 players, but missed the final table because we never played a hand there.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The pre-game talk turned to the partial government shutdown, which today reached Day 19.

"The problem is that both sides think they're God," one man said.

"That's why I'm praying to God," we replied, "that He'll show both sides the right end to this."

There's been a lot of debate about the main issue in the shutdown. But we haven't heard anyone call for the country to appeal to God about it through prayer. Perhaps that's because many people want "their side" to prevail. Yet shouldn't we do this?

This, then, is how you should pray: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." -Matthew 6:9-10

We've heard some preachers combine verse 10 into one phrase - asking for God's Kingdom to come to Earth. That's a proper thing to seek in prayer. But the NIV puts a comma after "come", making the part about God's will a separate thought.

Maybe that's what scares some people. They don't really want God's will in their lives, because it might require making some major changes. Yet Jesus took the concept all the way to the end of His life...

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:39

Jesus repeated that prayer twice, in the moments before His arrest (verses 42-44). Yet God the Father did not intervene. It was His will that Jesus endure mocking, torture and crucifixion.

This leads us to ask a hard question. Are you willing to accept God's will for your life - even if that will is not what you want? If, perhaps, He doesn't want you to play poker anymore? Dare to pray it, then trust God for whatever answer He provides.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 213 final tables in 565 games (37.7%) - 45 cashes.

Poker Night 542: What's Your Sign?

We asked God in prayer during the day if we should play poker tonight at Jack Casino, or do something else. Then during the day, something happened that.... well, let's jump to the moment in the tournament where we were able to share it with everyone:

BLINDS: 1,500/3,000

IN THE POCKET: 8-8

It's been a big night for us, in terms of hitting big hands. Pocket Aces in the Big Blind led to one win. We hit full houses at least twice, with one of them gaining 7,000 chips on the river. With little trouble, we made it to the final table with about 52,700 chips!

Now nine players remain, with six officially getting money. We have about 51,100 chips. And when we see this pocket pair in second position, we smile - then slow-play them by calling. The man sitting next to us then goes all-in. The rest of the table folds.

"There's a story behind my decision," we then explain.

"Is it a long story?" a man out of the hand asks.

"I'll keep it short. I was looking for a sign about whether I should play here tonight. And then at work, I saw a number pass my desk - LOTS of this number. So...."

"Was it A-K?" people around the table ask. "Sixes?"

"So I'm calling.... with eights."

"Then I feel better," the man who pushed says. He turns over.... pocket 10's. This is an expensive play for us; it's 29,900 to call.

ON THE FLOP: 2-4-7

Not looking good here. We need a third 8 - but we've made full houses on the turn and river already tonight.

ON THE TURN: 5

OK - now a 6 could rescue us with a straight.

"Did you have some sort of premonition about this?" a scoffer asks. "Did you see snowmen?"

ON THE RIVER: 4

The 10's win, and we take a crippling loss. But we've put the table in an uproar, by explaining we considered all those eights we saw at work a sign from God. More on that in a moment.

Back at the tournament, we were left with about 18,000 chips. We feared we might miss the money again. But then other players with much more pushed - only to be eliminated. Within minutes, only seven players were left!

The group then agreed to pay the "bubble boy" - a poker phrase for the player who misses the prize pool by one spot. We join the other six men in contributing $10 cash. As it happens, we were in the Big Blind - and saw A-Q!

"No story. Just pushing," we said. Our last 16,200 went in. The man who beat us minutes earlier called us again - and was pained to see our cards, because he had A-J.

"Did you see anything with the name Jack in it today?" he asked. We couldn't think of anything. But the flop brought a Jack, to give him a winning pair. We finished in seventh place, out of 37 entries.

Someone paid one dollar too little to the "bubble boy" fund, so we wound up with $69. That didn't cover our $80 buy-in - but we're calling it a "cash", anyway. We're thankful to God for little wins. And you know.... that "sign of the eights" may have been right after all.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "You mean God told you to play poker?!?!" one man across the table exclaimed as we told our story.

"God doesn't care about a poker game," said another.

"But God made the greatest gamble of all, by sending His Son," we responded. "How'd that turn out?"

Only one man wanted to comment on that. "They rolled dice for His clothes." And that's true....

When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares.... "Let's not tear it," they said to one another. "Let's decide by lot who will get it." This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said: "They divided my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing," So this is what the soldiers did. - John 19:23-24

Some Bible translations openly call this "gambling" - but did you notice it fulfilled a prophecy about Jesus? That moment was predicted in Psalm 22:18!

But our point was more about how the first coming of Jesus to Earth actually had a happy ending, beyond the crucifixion. Well, "had" and "will have"....

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.... And so we will be with the Lord forever. - I Thessalonians 4:14, 17

Your Bible says Jesus Christ will come again, to resurrect believers and give them eternal life. This won't be a gamble - it will be guaranteed. Are you ready for that moment, whenever it might come?

(As for numbers and signs - we'll dig deeper into that in a future post.)

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 199 final tables in 542 games (36.7%) - 41 cashes. Tonight was our second cash of 2018. And our remarkable final table run in our new area is now seven out of nine!

The Biggest All-In Ever

A poker tournament can be filled with dramatic moments. The only way to win, after all, is to accumulate everyone else's chips. So players have to go "all in" and risk everything they have, to get everything they want.

But nearly 2,000 years ago, the biggest all-in moment in recorded history occurred. The drama involved far more than poker chips. It involved your life - and the lives of all people, whether they realize it or not.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. - Romans 5:8 (NLT)

God the Father sent Jesus Christ the Son. They had been together in heaven for as long as anyone can envision. But Jesus came down to Earth and lived a perfect, sinless life to save us from eternal death.

This is real love - not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. - I John 4:10 (NLT)

Jesus went all the way to a hill called Calvary or Golgotha, sacrificing Himself. He had faith God would restore Him to life - and three days later, that resurrection happened. The "all in" bet worked.

The blood of Jesus can cover your sins, and bring you close to God where you might now be far away (Ephesians 2:13). Many believers in Jesus will recall that blood Thursday night, at a special worship service.

And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, "Each of you drink from it, for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many." - Matthew 26:27-28

Jesus also shared bread with His disciples, in a ceremony that's come to have many names. Some call it communion. Some say "Lord's supper." Others recall the Old Testament, and describe it as a "Christian Passover."

Whatever the name, it should be a meaningful event. To read much more about it, click here. If you'd rather play poker than keep a Passover, please read it with care and an open mind. You might find there's more to this life than a series of all-in bets.

The Proper Answer

Is there a "right way" and a "wrong way" to play poker?

Lots of people have different approaches. But we ask this in the wake of Monday night's tournament, when a man suggested we don't know how to play. We'd bet on the flop, after a man went all-in pre-flop and a sidepot developed for three other players.

We'll let you comment on whether our approach was correct. But as that man grumbled, we chose to say nothing in response. And we think that "answer" was the proper one....

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 5:39

These are famous words of Jesus Christ - but it's very hard advice to follow. Some poker players love to engage in trash talk, perhaps to throw others off their game. It's only natural to join the, uh,  discussion. And to be honest, Jesus sometimes did:

..."We are not illegitimate children," they protested. "The only Father we have is God himself." Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me.... You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire"... - John 8:41-44

Calling someone a child of the devil doesn't seem very nice, does it? Yet Jesus did it to "Jews who had believed him" (verse 31) - and by the time the conversation ended, that group wanted to stone Him (verse 59).

But at the end of His earthly life, Jesus practiced the advice of Matthew 5 - and in the process, fulfilled an Old Testament prophecy:

...He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. - Acts 8:32

Perhaps better put, to borrow from an old hymn, "He never said a mumblin' word."

Jesus set an amazing example of humility in His death, as he submitted to the torture of His accusers. May we all try to follow that example - in a poker room, and in all walks of life.

Poker Day 521: A-Plus?

Our current point in life requires us to report wages every week to a state agency. We count money made in poker as wages - and in tournaments like the one today at Kansas Star Casino, the rate per-hour can be impressive. The problem is that dozens of other people were trying to earn "wages" as well....

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: King-Queen of clubs

We won a big pot in the middle of the first hour with a King, which led to two pair. Then we lost a good bit to a man with three 9's. We start this hand a bit below the 3,500-chip starting point. These cards are good - and when someone raises to 300, we naturally call. As we remember it, three players are in.

ON THE FLOP: A-A-K

A high-powered flop in any game - and an uneasy one for us. We have two pair, but anyone who holds an Ace is in the lead. An older woman across the table bets 250. Call us stubborn, but we call. We're now heads-up.

ON THE TURN: 8

We doubt that helped anyone. Our opponent didn't jump on it, because she checked. So do we.

ON THE RIVER: A

Now we have the best possible full house - but still some uneasiness. The woman brings out another 250. If she has the missing Ace for quads, she isn't saying it very loudly - but maybe she's trying to test us.

We decide to test her back, with a raise to 500. If she has quads, now is the moment to scream. But instead, she calls.

"I hope you don't have quads," we say as we show. She turns over.... J-J! We're relieved that our full house is better, and our chip count grows to 5,000.

We reached the first break at 4,850. Then we hit a couple of big hands in Hour 2, including a big decision to call a 2,000 bet on the turn with Ad-4d and a flush draw. The river brought a diamond. The bettor went all-in, and we put him out of the game with the nuts. Our stack at the second break stood at 17,000.

Rising blinds caused some tense moments - but we reached the final table with 15,500 chips. Then while we folded with weak cards, other players dared to push with much more. One by one they were picked off, until we made the money for the top seven out of 68! Then more players conked out, until we were in the final four at the third break!

The other three players were in no mood to split the remaining prize money, so we pressed on. But an all-in bet with Kc-Qc proved to be our demise. A man called with A-J, and he won the race when the board paired with something lower.

We left satisfied, with our third cash in a tournament this year. And if breaks are not included, $170 comes to about $57.33 per hour.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I wanted a spade there," a woman two seats to our left said to the dealer after losing a hand.

"You didn't ask for one," the dealer properly noted.

"You have not because you ask not," we responded.

"You ask and receive not, because you ask amiss," added a man sitting between that woman and us.

That man has become a friend of ours, because we can talk about faith matters with him. And in this case, he knew exactly what we meant:

You lust, and have not: you kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: you fight and war, yet you have not, because you ask not. You ask, and receive not, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts. - James 4:2-3 (KJV)

Poker tables can seem like war zones at times. TV commentators talk about players "firing a third barrel" to win a hand. We've played long enough to know games can have tense moments. Yet how many players ask for God's help in doing well when they play? We do....

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

You can request anything - but you should not assume God will always give you everything you want. After all, He turned down His own Son at one point:

"Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." - Mark 14:36

That should be our attitude as well, whether or not we're in a poker room. God the Father allowed Jesus Christ to endure an arrest, humiliating abuse and a death on the cross - all so our sins could be covered in His blood. His battle was to avoid sinning, and He succeeded. Whether or not you win in a tournament, trust God that His will for you ultimately is best.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 189 final tables in 521 games (36.3%) - 39 cashes. Experiment cost: Up $170 - a new high! Our schedule may allow for only one more tournament before 2017 concludes.

Clear Heads, Heads-Up

Thursday night was an amazing night for us in online poker. We survived at least eight all-in moments in a National League of Poker tournament - and out of 1,238 players, we finished 17th! Only the top five received prize money under NLOP's rules. But at a casino, we might have won six times our buy-in.

One player in the third hour suddenly decided to push a lot - but had an explanation. As best we recall the chat:

Friends are coming over.
Gonna have some beers.
Haven't seen them in a long time.

To which we responded: "The beers?! :-)"

We cut our teeth on live poker playing weekly bar and club circuits. But since moving to Kansas, we've noticed very few players in tournaments bring bottles of beer to the table. We think that's because serious players know what alcohol can do to their mind and judgment - and it's not good. That's really old news, of course....

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. - Proverbs 20:1

On this Sunday when a lot of people will drink while watching U.S. football, these are words to remember. Too much alcohol can make you look silly, and even get you in trouble with the law. But does that mean all alcohol is wrong?

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet." They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine.... - John  2:7-9

As much as some religious folks try to explain these verses away, your Bible shows Jesus Christ turned water into wine - and it was considered "the best" (verse 10). If all wine is wrong, why would He do such a thing?

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." - Matthew 26:27-28

Jesus spoke here at a Passover observance (verse 19). It was His "last supper" before shedding His blood for our sins - and under Jewish tradition, the cup would have had wine inside.

We doubt Jesus drank much that night, because He faced a high-pressure situation greater than any poker tournament: sacrificing His life for us as the pure "lamb of God." And by extension, we shouldn't drink so much that we become mocked and brawling.

Let your moderation be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. - Philippians 4:5 (KJV)

We think that's good advice for playing poker, as well as what you drink around the table.

Poker Day 494: Show and Tell

It always helps a poker player to know what his opponent has. But let's face it - how often does that happen? Well, check what we encountered Friday at Kansas Star Casino....

BLINDS: 300/600

IN THE POCKET: Q-5 offsuit

If the blinds are this high, we've done pretty well. It's level seven, and we've won some nice pots to reach a high for the day of 11,500 chips. We honestly don't remember how many we had at this point. And we don't recall anyone raising pre-flop. We recall three players entering the hand, out of seven or eight at the table.

ON THE FLOP: Q-10-3

At this point in the tournament, top pair on the flop is nice. Out notes indicate we checked, then a woman to our left bets 1,300. A man to the right folds, but we call.

"I want to go play cards," the woman says (she means at some other casino table) - and turns over K-10! The rest of the table wonders what she's doing, since she has plenty of chips left.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were all in," she says to us. No, far from it. We have several thousand chips left - and we suddenly have a huge advantage which goes beyond top vs. second pair.

"I'm going to have to call the Tournament Director," the dealer says. While that woman comes over, the play continues....

ON THE TURN: A

We have first position, and we're neither showing nor telling what we have. Instead we bet 1,200. The woman seems resigned to her fate, and calls. As we recall, a flush threat was on the board at this point....

ON THE RIVER: A

....But that card settled that. Now we know we've won the pot. So we pretend to do some math, and bet 1,200 more. She calls. We show our Queen. We won a big pot. And the Tournament Director now makes her ruling.

"You'll have to take a ten-minute penalty," she tells the woman we beat. That woman still has a good-sized stack of chips - and now has time to go play "craps," as she put it.

When we win a big pot that way, we get the feeling it's going to be a good day for us. It wasn't easy, though, with a couple of all-in escapes from three tables down. But a big win with a pair of 6's allowed us to reach the final table with 13,500 chips!

Once we got there, a pursuit with A-8 lost. That forced us to push with A-5 - and while a 5 appeared on the board, another man made a pair of Kings to eliminate us. Out of 71 players, we finished in ninth place. That missed the money by two spots, but allowed us to match a final-table start to 2016 in live play.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We took our "Lord's Supper" card protector, which gained the attention of several people. One dealer figured out right away what it displayed.

"The church I attend will take that in about 11 weeks," we told him. "We only take it once a year."

That may come as a surprise to some people. In fact, we were in a congregation about a week earlier which takes communion at every worship service. Which approach is right?

We don't think the Bible gives a flat-out answer, but it offers some clues....

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, "This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.... Take care of them until the 14th day of the month...." - Exodus 12:1-2, 6

This was the mention of a Passover in the Bible (verse 11). A lamb was set aside and prepared for days, before the Israelites left Egypt. Many observant Jews still do something like this once a year, in the spring.

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover." - Luke 22:7-8

Jesus's physical heritage was Jewish, so He followed the ancient example.

And he said to them, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer." - Luke 22:15

Instead of departing Egypt, Jesus was able to enter about 18 hours of personal darkness - with an arrest, persecution and crucifixion. Yet He took the Passover (or communion or "Lord's Supper") first - following tradition, but adding new symbols (verses 19-21).

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. - I Corinthians 11:26

Jesus Christ died for us. The Bible leaves no doubt about that (I Thessalonians 4:14). "It's that big a deal," we told the dealer - something we don't think should be diminished by taking the Passover/Lord's Supper repeatedly. So we would ask: how big a deal is Jesus's sacrifice to you? And how big should it be?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 182 final tables in 494 games (36.8%), 36 cashes. We've finished 12th and ninth in our last two trips to Kansas Star, both in tournaments with 70-plus players.

Poker Day 484: High On the Scale

Some hands of poker are memorable for the cards you get and the hands you make. We recall others because of the personalities we face. One man left us with plenty of memories, when we entered the Friday tournament at Kansas Star Casino:

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: A-10 offsuit

We won one early pot, but have been paddling upstream most of the day. We start this hand with 2,175 chips and the dealer's button. No one raises ahead of us, and we see a chance to gain ground with the last hand before break time.

"I'll call - 350," we say. We set out 350 - but we're quickly corrected.

"You said call," the real dealer at the table points out. Oops. Indeed we did - so the bet is only 150. We admit having "two minds" about what to do. The blinds simply call in response. About half the table is playing.

ON THE FLOP: K-6-10

 We have second pair, a superior kicker - and possibly concerned opponents around the table. They all check to us. So let's get it right this time.

"OK, I will bet...." we say carefully, "350." Call it a sorta-kinda continuation bet.

But a man to our left apparently was waiting for that. He raises to 700. Everyone else folds, so it's our turn again. "700?!" we ponder aloud.

The man to our left has been in a talkative mood. "I like my cards."

"Really like them?" we ask. "Scale of 0 to 10 - how much do you like them?" Maybe he'll see a bit too much.

"Seven," our opponent decides.

Hmmm. We'd rate our hand about the same way - and decide if he had a King, he'd rate himself higher. "I can call a seven,." we conclude. So we do.

ON THE TURN: 3

Our opponent is first in line to bet, and now he brings out 1,500. Trouble is, we have only 1,325. "That's a bit more than I have," we explain to the man. He seems unconcerned about that. Nevertheless, we are - and we don't risk it. We fold. He never shows his cards.

The color-up at break time improved our lowly stack to 1,400. But then one of those "second-hour miracles" happened. It started with pocket Aces, and we doubled up on that talkative man (a topic for another post). Then we won with A-Q. We even won a race with J-10. The gains kept coming - and by the second break, we stood at 20,200 chips!

A challenging, bluffing opponent threw us off at top in the third period - but we held on to reach the final table! A gain or two came there as well, and we survived to the final five. But patient and high blinds combined to wear out our chip stack. We went all-in for 7,000 in the Big Blind, and lost a race when our opponent paired.

We still were thankful for a great rally - and finishing fifth out of 67 players earned us $117. It turns out our finish actually was one spot worse than the time before. Yet we've now made money at Kansas Star for two tournaments in a row - not an easy thing to do!

MINISTRY MOMENT: "Why did you bring the battery?" a woman next to us asked at the semifinal table.

"That's my card protector," we explained. "But it has another purpose. I bring it to remind me that I receive the power of God from the Holy Spirit."

That comment shut the woman up - but not everyone at the table. "Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?" we asked.

"Amen," an older man two seats to our left responded.

"Hoping everyone here believes in the Spirit," we continued.

"If they did, Jesus would already be here," the older man answered - and come to think of it, he's right.

Jesus Christ didn't come to a perfect world. In fact, He came because the world of that time was imperfect.

But go and learn what this means: "I desire mercy, not sacrifice." For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners. - Matthew 9:13

The "righteous" people during Jesus's time on Earth (or so they thought) were the Pharisees. Yet they didn't endorse what Jesus did; in fact, most of them couldn't stand Him and wanted Him dead. Jesus knew this, of course....

Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your forefathers who killed them.  So you testify that you approve of what your forefathers did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs. - Luke 11:47-48

Jesus spoke here to "experts in the law" (verse 46) - which we think He said in a tongue-in-cheek way. The Lord outsmarted them on interpretations of God's law over and over. And eventually, they killed Jesus just as their ancestors had. Yet without that death, a key part of God's salvation plan could not have happened:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth.... - John 14:16-17

God has lovingly given that Holy Spirit to believers who do what the Bible recommends. Have you repented of your sins yet, and submitted to baptism (Acts 2:38) - so you can receive God's marvelous gift?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 180 final tables in 484 games (37.2%) - 35 cashes. This makes three final tables in a row at casinos, while we've missed the last three final tables in the "free games" at Yvie's. Discuss.

Coming For You

"What would Jesus think about gambling?" a man asked at the poker table the other day, after we brought up our faith.

We have a quick answer for this question now. "Jesus was the ultimate 'all-in.'"

The man laughed out loud at our comparison - but we hope he got the point:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:6

We apologize if this steps on any toes, but "the ungodly" means you. And us. And everyone. Jesus Christ died for all of us - and for all of our sins, whether or not you think poker is sinful gambling.  But thankfully....

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. - I Corinthians 15:20

Jesus was resurrected from the grave - and the amazing promise of the Bible is that you can be, too:

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

Tonight some believers in Jesus will think about all this, by gathering for what some call the "Lord's Supper." Others call it a New Testament Passover, since Jesus marked that occasion with bread and wine so believers would remember Him.

For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. - I Corinthians 11:26

We're thankful for both Jesus's death and resurrection, so we plan to remember it tonight. Do you remember?

Multiple Main Events

For many poker players, today is one of the biggest days of the year. The World Series of Poker's "Main Event" begins in Las Vegas - the most prestigious tournament, with perhaps the biggest top prize at stake.

No, we're not entering the Main Event again this year. Our schedule does not allow us to play - not to mention the $10,000 buy-in, which is a bit over our budget.

Instead, we want to ask a question. What would you say are the biggest "Main Events" in history? Not in poker - but in general?

We don't think they're moments on a military battlefield, or from a court bench. We think they're bigger than that.  For starters....

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. - Genesis 1:1

Now this event was big. Without God creating these things, where could humans live?

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. - Genesis 1:27

Without that main event, you would not exist. And while there may be famous portraits of poker-playing dogs, we can't name any animals who actually play - much less write blogs about it.

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife, But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son And he gave him the name Jesus. - Matthew 1:24-25

The birth of Jesus was another main event - because God brought His Son Jesus into the world, that we might have eternal life (John 3:16).

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. - John 19:30

Jesus came, and then He died. Why is that a main event? Because of what happened shortly thereafter:

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - Romans 5:10

Jesus was resurrected from the dead (Romans 8:11), giving us hope of being resurrected as well. In fact, that's the next big main event - one that many believers long to see:

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. - I Thessalonians  4:16-17

The return of Jesus is the next "Main Event" of history - and it offers a reward for far more than the "top ten percent" of all players.

If you have doubts about any of these events, we invite you to review them carefully. Then ask yourself: are you looking forward to the main events that really matters?

A Miracle Now and Then

Final tables on the Heartland Poker Tour always seem to be good for a "bad beat."

We saw one case on a telecast today, where a man with 2-2 flopped 2-4-9 on the flop for three of a kind.  His opponent went all-in with 9 high, and appeared doomed.  The turn brought a 4, which paired the board and gave the leader a full house.  But the river was a 9, giving the bad bettor a winning superior full house to stay in the tournament!

Have you ever seen "miracle cards" like that come?  If you'd played poker for any length of time, you probably have.  But have you stopped to consider a larger miracle?

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst."  Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. - John 19:28-29  (KJV)

Jesus was moments away from death -- yet His simple request led to the fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy about the Messiah:

They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. - Psalm 69:21 (KJV)

That psalm was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Yet someone in the crowd outside Jerusalem just happened to have vinegar to give the Lord at His dying moment.

C'mon now -- "just happened"?  This is one of many "miraculous" events about the life of Jesus which were foretold in the Old Testament. hundreds of years in advance.  And we think the odds of the vinegar event coming true were a lot higher than catching a 4 or a 9 on the river.

Believers in Jesus are focusing right now on His life, death and resurrection. If you never have, we think you should.  Put the Bible to an accuracy test. The results might beat any strategy you have for your life - and the life beyond this one.

Game of the Weak

When you sit down at a poker table, what's the first thing you do?  Count your chips, to make sure they're accurate?  Say hello to friends you might know?  Or "size up" the other players, looking for an opponent to target? (A polite way of saying "pick on.")

We heard a minister on radio point out the other night that one successful strategy in sports is to go after an opponent's weakness.  It can happen in poker as well; newcomers or seemingly hesitant players who try to enter hands can be tested by veterans right away.

That preacher went on to say in a church situation, members should not pick on or exploit the weaknesses of others.  We understand what he means.  But over the next few days, the Christian world will focus on a Man who looked very weak for a short time -- yet really wasn't at all.

...Since you are demanding proof that Christ is speaking through me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. - II Corinthians 13:3-4

Before beginning His ministry, Jesus Christ worked as a carpenter (Mark 6:3).  We've never worked in such a job, it's apparently not a profession for wimpy-muscled people.  So artwork you might see of Jesus looking weak during His ministry probably are misleading.  But then came the crucifixion:

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who.... made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! - Philippians 2:5-8

Jesus was weakened by the torture He endured after being arrested - from flogging (Matthew 27:26) to being beaten with a staff (Mark 15:19) to carrying a wooden cross down a street (John 19:16-17).  He looked like the weakest human in town.  Yet the verse above notes Jesus "lives by God's power" - the power which raised the Lord from the dead.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. - Romans 6:4

You may not consider yourself the weakest poker player in town. In fact, you may consider "Christian poker players" to be the weakest people in the room. But they may have a secret "power" you don't have.

...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses.... For when I am weak, then I am strong. - II Corinthians 12:9-10

God gives power to seemingly weak believers through His Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

May you not take for granted the apparent weaknesses of other players.  After all, they can catch winning cards every bit as often as you. And may you not be deceived by believers in Jesus who seem weak in some way - because Jesus is now strong, resurrected and at the Father's right hand in heaven.

Follow the Leader

"Changing out 100!" announced the dealer at our Ultimate Texas Hold 'em table. The dealer apparently wore a well-hidden microphone, because a "pit boss" came within moments to verify the transaction.

The dealer explained to us he had to get approval for any chip exchange of $75 or more.

"So in other words," we noted, "you're one under authority."

The phrase stumped him for a moment, so we explained.  "You're under his authority.  I read that in a book once."  Moments later, we explained that book was the Bible....

The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.  But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.  For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me.  I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes.  I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." - Matthew 8:8-9

The phrase about being "under authority" actually was spoken to Jesus Christ, instead of by him.  Historical legend claims a Roman centurion was an officer over 100 soldiers (although the actual number may have been lower).

This man came to Jesus to have a servant healed of paralysis (verses 5-6).  And he was convinced the mere statement of healing by the Lord would do the job.

When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith." - Mathew 8:10

Faith in Christ paid off for that centurion and his servant, as the servant "was healed at that very hour" (verse 13).  So we would ask two questions from this:

1. Are you under authority in your life?

2.  If so, to whom?

Professional poker players may seem like free spirits.  But have you noticed how many of them wear sponsorship logos at the table?  Those endorsement deals provide a steady income, we suppose -- but players probably are obligated to do what the endorsers desire.  When they do, they're under the authority of those sponsors.

Even if you don't have a sponsor, you're "under authority" at a poker table.  A Tournament Director or dealer enforces the rules and settles disputes about hands -- whether you like the outcome or not.

In the classic words of a Bob Dylan song, we all "have to serve somebody."  Believe it or not, even Jesus Christ did while walking on Earth:

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will." - Matthew 26:39

Jesus offered this prayer at least twice, in the hours before He was crucified (verse 42) - and perhaps stunningly, God the Father told His perfect holy Son no.  It was God's will that Jesus suffer and die.  Jesus accepted that authority from His Father -- and was rewarded with a resurrection to the Father's right hand in heaven.

So what about you?  Are you under God's authority?  It's really for your good, because you can enjoy a future resurrection to eternal life as Jesus did.  Accept it by putting your faith in God and what Jesus has done on your behalf.  It will be change worth far more than $100 in chips.

Poker Night 404: One Step or Two

We're getting settled down in our new city, but find the schedule for local poker room tournaments doesn't fit with our current work schedule.  So on Mother's Day, we returned to Betty's Runway for an afternoon game -- and were surprised by how many women (even moms) showed up.  But it wasn't a mother who corrected our ways....

BLINDS: 400/800

IN THE POCKET: Ace of spades - 9 of spades

We won a couple of early pots with timely bets, but not the best of cards.  Now we're in the Big Blind with about 7,500 chips.  No one at the table of seven raises ahead of us.  It's tempting to raise right now with these fairly big cards and scare players away.  But we opt for caution and check.  About half the table is in.

ON THE FLOP: J-9-5 (no spades)

There's no Small Blind, because that player was eliminated on the prior hand.  So we're up first, with middle pair -- and we try to seize on it with a position bet of 1,000.

To our left sits a younger man in a wheelchair, who seems to have some sort of developmental disability.  He could call -- but instead he goes all-in!  The table folds, leaving it up to us.

"I have a feeling I jumped offside here," we say while hoping for a sign from our opponent.  He smiles a bit, but says nothing.

If that man has a Jack, he's ahead of us -- and he's already taken one pot from us with a better kicker on a pair of Kings.  After a moment, we opt for caution again.  "I'm going to fold."

He's then nice enough to turn over his cards: J-9.  He had us dominated, and we made the right decision.

Good cards didn't come for us after that until we were in the Big Blind with A-J.  A man doubled the blind ahead of us.  We responded by going all-in, and getting called.  That man had a pair of 7's.  Only low cards came on the board, giving him the win.

We had a short day, finishing in 20th place.  But at least we took home a piece of butterscotch candy as a consolation prize -- certainly the most unusual "pot sweetener" we've ever seen.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We defer on this day to the Tournament Director, who noted it was a special day.  He gave every women at the tables small boxes of chocolate, whether they were mothers or not.

"I plan to be here on Father's Day," we joked -- hoping to receive a matching gift.  But seriously, it's proper to do such things for the parents who give us life:

Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. - Exodus 20:12

Our study Bible lists four ways you can show honor: "Prize highly.... care for.... show respect for.... obey." If your mother is old and inform, the care can come in meeting her physical needs -- even when events in life intervene.

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."  From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. - John 19:26-27

Jesus said these words while He was crucified (verse 18).  The Son of God was giving His life for the sins of all mankind -- and yet He took a moment to think about His mother nearby.  (The disciple who took her in probably was John, who wrote this account.)

If Jesus cared this much for his human parent, even at such a momentous and excruciating time, how much should you care for your mother and father while they're still alive?  What act of honor and love could you show -- large or small?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 139 final tables in 404 games (34.4%) - 21 cashes.