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.

Remember As You Play....

...Throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. - Ephesians 4:22 (New Living Translation)

Poker players like to joke during tournaments about how "truthful" they are. The real truth is that sometimes, players resort to deceptive moves to win pots. We did something like that, with an all-in moment in our last tournament. A man did it several times to Phil Hellmuth at this year's World Series of Poker Main Event, leading to one of Hellmuth's most famous rants in years.

Does the verse we quoted mean poker players should end all that? Not necessarily. The New International Version translates the last part by saying, "Your old self.... is being corrupted by its deceitful desires." The desire is deceitful, more than the person or his actions - although the two certainly can combine:

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

What does your heart desire, when you play poker? If it's simply a good time with friends or an entertaining evening, that's one thing. But if you're hungry for money or fame, be careful....

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. - Ecclesiastes 5:10

Some things really are worth desiring - and they're things which require no deception at all. In fact, they depend on you being truthful.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. - Hebrews 13:18

That desirable life can lead to eternal life in God's kingdom - but it depends on having a "clear conscience." Have you checked yours lately? Are you really living a life that God would accept - in the poker room, as well as outside it?

Why Words

We asked in a recent post one of the most basic poker questions. It comes up after a lot of crazy hands - the question of why.

There are some standard answers about why poker players take the actions they do. We like to joke that the famous last words of some players is, "They were suited." And we'll confess in a couple of cases at this week's tournament, we chased hands with marginal cards simply because we had a hunch about them paying off. (In every case we recall, they didn't.)

When it comes to our lives, we pointed out previously that "why" matters - especially to God:

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts... - I Chronicles 28:9

This is advice from a departing King David to his son and successor. He doesn't stop there....

If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. - I Chronicles 28:9b

So it's better to seek God - and best to serve him in a wholehearted and willing way. That brings us to two critical four-letter words:

He [Jesus] replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." - Luke 11:28

It's important to obey. But let's be honest: you can obey every instruction from a poker dealer and Floor Manager, and still do it with a sour attitude and approach.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. - James 4:3

OK, so what's the right motive? It's that second four-letter word....

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34

If you love me, you will obey what I command. - John 14:15

Jesus said "love" and "obey" are words which go together. They're words we've mentioned often in this blog, as they apply to poker and life. Do a word search for them. Consider the verses we've found about them. And see if the "why" behind your actions becomes less muddled, and more honorable.

Gimme Some Kind of Sign

If poker was like a TV game show (and some TV game shows have been poker-based), the atmosphere would be much different. The players would look to the audience for advice. The crowd would shout "CALL!" or "FOLD!" And peppy band music would play when someone takes a big pot - or maybe buzzers sounding when someone acts out of turn.

But most poker rooms don't work that way. In fact, we can't think of any. Not even online. So players are on their own to make big decisions - and many look for every tiny bit of help they can find.

As we suggested in a recent post, let's consider how to get "messages from above" - in poker or elsewhere. At the table, veteran players try to "read" their opponent. They might ask questions, while looking for gestures from the face or body to give away what they're facing.

A former boss advised us when it came to making decisions on the job, our "gut" would tell us the right thing to do. We admittedly disagreed with that approach:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

Yet we also must admit we heard from that same boss many times about wrong decisions we made - even when we prayed for God's wisdom to guide us in the course of a work day. How could that happen? Perhaps the answer is in another part of the Bible:

As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. - Isaiah 55:9

The boss usually was thinking on an "earthy" level. God wants us to think higher - and look to Him.

So how do we do that in poker? Our years at the table have shown we don't always get reads right. (Then again, does anybody?) But in key moments, we've tried to listen for a prompting - one that no one may be able to hear.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." - Isaiah 30:21

Some say this verse really applies to the coming Kingdom of God which Jesus Christ will bring to Earth. But sometimes we think God has prompted us to make certain moves which have turned out for our good. And yes, we have Scripture to back up such an idea:

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. - I Kings 19:12

This chapter is about how God encouraged Elijah when he was fearful and on the run. God spoke with "a still small voice," as one Bible translation puts it. That's what we try to hear when we're playing poker.

Sometimes that voice comes through. Sometimes it doesn't. And if we hear it wrong, we do not blame God. We know better than that. We simply ask Him for wisdom to better understand the message next time.

So we end by asking: Are you listening for God's voice in your life - at all? He might have something important to tell you.

One Down

The big poker crackdown in our city may be over. But there's still an aftershock, as one of the more familiar poker rooms in town indicated this past week it's closing for good.

"As i lock the door , all i can think is how the city of wichita has failed me and my family," reads the latest Facebook post from Nikki's Poker Room (copied as written). "We gave you 13 years of are life and you couldn't give us a fair shake ?" 

The question of fairness surrounds the owner's decision. A Facebook post one day earlier added: "We gave it our best , but feel was set up for failure by the law not being enforced all at once on every place at the same time by the city."

This seems to be aimed at Nilla's Poker Room - which seems to be conducting business as usual, and is even adding midday games. How can they do it, while others receive tough scrutiny?

We haven't been to either Nikki's or Nilla's in several weeks, so we're left to guess what the reason might be. But we know what the city and local prosecutors should do - and that's be fair to all:

Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right." - Acts 10:34-35

You might pay tithes and offerings to God. But if you don't live in a righteous way, that will not "buy Him off" when it comes to judging you.

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!... Your heart is not right before God." - Acts 8:20-21

Some may have wondered over the last several weeks if the operators of local poker rooms had their hearts right. But the going-away complaint from Nikki's leaves us asking: Do local law officers and prosecutors have their hearts right? Are they enforcing the rules in an evenhanded way?  Especially considering some of the things we've posted here about the crackdown?

Back in the Game

Well, that didn't take long. Look what was posted on Facebook today about the place where we had our last two poker tournaments:

10 hrs · 

We're not bluffing. We're re-opening our doors TODAY!

With our re-opening and with new city regulations, Nikki's will undergo a few changes.

As Nikki's is a family operated business, our mission is to always put our customers & staff first. Nikki's has and will continue to honor any card player's choice to play for free in our daily tournaments. Chair rentals are an optional charge to maximize a player's comfort during the tournament. As a courtesy to our players, we choose to donate the chair rental fees back to the players as a prize rather than keep the rental profit to our business. Our focus is our players.

Nikki's does not claim to be a gambling establishment. Our business focus is to serve our patrons beverages in a entertaining and safe environment.

Nikki's is currently in operation of scheduling upcoming tournament events.

As a family operated business, Nikki's would like genuinely thank those who showed support at our time of closing.

The "new city regulations" obviously are vague. The next time we visit Nikki's Poker Room, we plan to ask about that.

But based on what they're posting on social media, we're led to conclude people who want to "play for free" now will be allowed to do so. We somehow doubt those players will be eligible to win money; we've faced situations like that a few times in the past.

It all may boil down to what the motive of each player is.  Are you there simply for fun and fellowship? If so, let 'em play for free.  Are you there to build a "poker resume," getting ready to go after a WSOP bracelet? If so, that can be a different matter.

But keep one thing in mind: God in heaven knows your motives - and may well know them far better than you do:

And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts... - I Chronicles 28:9

We think God is far more likely to bless your efforts if you do them for the right reasons.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. - Colossians 3:22

This verse could apply to a poker player, abiding by the rules of the game. It could also apply to a poker room, trying to avoid another police raid. God wants us to develop an obedient heart - not only for those we serve around us, but for Him.

We should note Nikki's has another game people can play for free. A big checkerboard with giant checkers sits outside the main poker area. But we don't think even the lesser cable sports channels have reached the point where they're showing "Championship Checkers" - and side bets on a game might get the poker room in trouble as well.

Gut's Shot

We like to say poker hands sometimes teach life lessons.  Other poker players apparently agree - because one-time WSOP Main Event champion Joe Hachem is offering "eight poker tips" for "all walks of life."

His third point makes us squirm a little bit, because Hachem advises: "Trust your gut."

Sometimes the numbers lead in one direction but your gut is telling you something else. Personally, I find that if I listen to my gut – whether it’s in business, poker or life — I’m usually on the money.

Yet later at point seven, Hachem warns: "Emotions are the enemy"....

In poker, it’s important to stick with your principles and not let your emotions take over.

We're left to wonder what the difference is between the gut and the emotions.  In any case, our Bible advises this....

The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

The Bible doesn't have the word "gut" in it.  But we think the heart is about on that level -- and following it can lead you into bad situations.

The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. - Ecclesiastes 9:3b

These are tough words.  But the Bible also says there's hope for our hearts, if we ask for it:

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

A pure heart is one guided by God's Holy Spirit.  It's a voice you can hear (Psalm 95:7) - but it starts by "listening" to God by receiving guidance from His word, the Bible.  Remember it, and heed it.  Then you'll be following another of Joe Hachem's points for success - to "know your game plan."

Poker Day 415: One Card Too Many?

Even though the name has changed, the first Sunday of every month remains the "Big Sunday" at River City Poker Room -- with a $50 buy-in, and a shot at a $1,000 top prize.  Still stinging over our big casino loss, we wondered if this might be a "third chance" to refill our envelope.  Tests would come early, even though blinds were lengthy and small at first:

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: Q-5 of clubs (suit may not be precise)

The tables are full, but the action at ours has been relatively tight so far.  We've tried to be active and play sensible hands, but our starting start of 20,000 has dropped by about 3,000.  Our notes don't show the suit of these cards -- but we assume they were suited, because we'd like to get in for the minimum in the Dealer position.  Except a woman in the Big Blind raises to 700.

"You realize it's only 200," we jokingly suggest.

"She wants your 200," the man in the Small Blind answers in her behalf.  Clearly.  So we call, and about half the table is in.

"Now she wants your 700," Mr. Small Blind notes.

ON THE FLOP: Q-5-3

She may want it, but this flop could make it hard to get it.  We have top two pair.  The table checks, but we don't.

"All right, then, we say - and bet 1,000.  The woman folds -- but then comes a surprise from a man across the table.  He raises all the way to 5,000.  This gives us a pause.  But we conclude he only has one pair - certainly not something like 3-3.  We call.  Everyone else steps aside.

ON THE TURN: 4

There's no flush threat showing.  But our opponent now fires again, betting 5,000 more.  Now we're concluding he has pocket Aces.  But if he does, we're still ahead.  It's a "lump in your throat" moment, but we call this big bet again.

ON THE RIVER: 2

This is absolutely the last thing we want to see.  If our opponent has an Ace, he just hit a straight -- and if he bets big again, we might face an early all-in moment of truth.

He thinks for a moment, then does something which happily surprises us.  He checks.  We check as well.

"Two pair," he says -- showing 2-4.  He made running pairs, but misses the open-ended straight draw.  We show our Q-5, and are thankful!  The lack of an Ace wins us a huge pot -- and we're well above the starting line, at 28,100 chips.

Our day went up and down that way -- a few good pot wins, a few losses.  The wins outnumbered the losses to the point that we reached a high of 52,000 chips.  But rising blinds and shrinking tables eventually did us in.  After a couple of all-in escapes, we tried again with A-10 -- but ran into Q-Q.  The board didn't save us, and we finished close to the semifinal table in 18th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: A-K in the Big Blind brought us a "double-up" late in the tournament, which kept us around a few extra minutes.

"PTL!  I'd write if I was online right now," we said to the table.

"What does PTL mean?" the dealer asked.  We're glad she asked.

"Praise the Lord," we said.

Look through the Psalms of the Bible, and you'll find all sorts of reasons to praise God.  For instance:

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. - Psalm 16:7

Uh-oh -- we have to treat this verse with care.  God can provide counsel, if we study His Word and listen carefully to people who preach and teach it.  But what about David's heart in this case?

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)

We think Jeremiah is speaking in general terms here about the human condition.  So should David have followed the instruction of his heart?  Not always -- because at times he committed serious sinful mistakes, such as lusting after another man's wife and having that man killed to claim her as his own (II Samuel 11).

So how do you know when your heart is talking, as opposed to the counsel of God?  This can matter at poker tables, as well as other places.  Offer a comment if you'd like; we'll look at this more deeply in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 145 final tables in 415 games (34.9%) - 24 cashes.

The 40-Dollar Man

"I'll donate to you."  That's a common, cliched line some poker players use when someone else at the table goes all-in.  But what we encountered at a recent local tournament was something else.

"I need 40 dollars," a man said loudly toward our table while standing behind us.  This occasional player needed that much to tide himself over until.... well, until exactly when was unclear.  At one moment he mentioned taking a job next week paying more than $100 an hour; in the next moment he talked about moving across the country to be with his children.

It's a rare day when we carry 20 dollars to a poker tournament, or anywhere else -- a practice we've had for years, after discovering beggars can stop you and ask for cash when you least expect it.  And since we're between jobs ourselves, we certainly didn't have 40 dollars in our wallet to offer this man.

So what did we do?  Let's first ask the question: what should you do?  Jesus made a suggestion which we think many people find hard to swallow....

Sell your possessions and give to the poor.  Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out. a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Luke 12:33-34

Does that mean simply handing out 40 dollars to any stranger who asks for it?  We didn't see anyone do it on that poker night.  And we think Jesus understands if we give to others with care and wisdom.  After all, scams and schemers abound in our society -- from street-corner addicts to nice-sounding fake online charities.

Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.  But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues.... - Matthew 10:16-17 (NASB)

To borrow from the fantasy game "Dungeons and Dragons": always check first for traps.  But God wants believers to have a heart that's willing to give, when it's prudent and possible.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.  If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.... if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously.... if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. - Romans 12:6-8

We went to that loud man quietly during a break, and told him of our financial situation.  He understood.  Then we offered to pray for him.

"I've already got priests praying for me," he said.  That's OK -- but every added prayer for other people can't hurt.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

The man's name is Eddie.  Will you "donate" some time, and pray for God to turn his life around?

Never Having To Say You're Sorry

Our last post brought up the subject of "courtesy" at the poker table.  It had been on our mind before that, because of this online chat earlier in the week:

Dealer:  flopblogger wins Main Pot ($2,580) with Two pair, nines and sevens
Me:  Sorry Friends
Nebrguy1957:  lol @ sorry
Nebrguy1957:  what utter ***
Me:  Trying to be polite
Nebrguy1957:  try to be honest
readingu:  thank u
Nebrguy1957:  it means more

These words of correction made us stop and "examine ourselves," to borrow from II Corinthians 13:5.  There are some online players who trash-talk the opponents they eliminate.  We say "sorry" to express the opposite of that.  And the Bible recommends:

Finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous.... - I Peter 3:8 (KJV)

The New International Version substitutes "sympathetic" for "compassion" and "humble" for "courteous." That's the feeling we're trying to convey - realizing not everyone can win in a poker tournament.

On the other hand, some players have told us there's "no sorry in poker."  They'd point out in a tournament, eliminating other players is what you have to do to win.  So the players in our chat concluded we were not really sorry at all.

We have mixed emotions as we ponder this issue.  Here's what we wrote in the chat, after taking a moment to think things over:

Me:  OK I'm convicted.

Dealer:  Nebrguy1957 wins Main Pot ($1,240)

Me:  Please forgive me.

But no one accepted our offer of forgiveness.  And the more we think about this, the more we think it comes down to what sort of heart you have.  Is it selfish and competitive, striving for victory at all costs?  Or has it been changed by God into something different?

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. - I Timothy 1:5

The other players may have assumed our heart was like theirs.  But by God's grace, we're trying to let Him....

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

So if the word "sorry" causes a stir in online poker, what else should we say when we eliminate a player?  Maybe Peter had a right answer all along....

Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. - I Peter 3:9

That's something we'll be working on in upcoming games.  In the meantime, what do you say when you eliminate an opponent -- if anything?

Skill Sets

We've been meaning to discuss an interesting court ruling about poker in New York.  It was mentioned Wednesday night on the public radio business-news program Marketplace -- where a federal judge recently ruled poker is a game of skill, more than luck or chance.

To quote from the ruling: "Expert poker players draw on an array of talents, including facility with numbers, knowledge of human psychology, and powers of observation and deception.... Players can use these skills to win, even if chance has not dealt them the better hand."

We didn't realize there's actually research to back up this judicial opinion.  Players considered "highly skilled" tend to make more money at the World Series of Poker than off-the-street amateurs.  Without paying for the research paper, we think this happens in part because skilled poker players know the mathematical odds for success with certain hands.

But what about those other two talents the judge mentioned?  A book ignored by many people has helpful advice about those.  For instance....

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

This Old Testament verse suggests to us it's good to be wary of what your opponents at a poker table might have.  In fact, you might learn a trick or two from how they handle a hand.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be you therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16 (KJV)

Jesus might put it this way today: Be smart in what you do -- but not so smart that you hurt others in the process.  Enjoy playing poker, but be sensitive enough toward opponents that you don't cause damage to them in some way (for example, with needless trash-talking).

Some poker players hope this federal ruling will open a door for some kind of federal law to legalize full-fledged online tournaments -- the games sites such as Full Tilt Poker ran before last year's Justice Department crackdown.  We personally think any change will depend on which party controls Congress after the November election.

Whatever happens in government, and wherever you happen to play poker, remember this: God someday will have a "payoff" based on the skills you have.  Read Matthew 25 for the details, told in parable form.  And if you have skills which help you at the table, use them well -- but use them honorably.

Poker Night 337: Hearts and Letters

Have you ever played poker against someone who seems to be weak, yet keeps winning pots?  The sort of player you want to get in a big hand when the right moment comes, so you can score a huge gain?  That situation faced us tonight at The Red Barn.  A man who said he "plays poker, but not Hold 'em" seemed unsure about what he was doing, yet kept building his stack.  Then came this....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: A-K offsuit

We've had mostly marginal cards all evening, and haven't won a pot yet.  A starting stack of 7,000 chips (helped by a soda purchase) has slowly dropped to about 5,500.

Now we're in the Big Blind at a table of six with our best hand of the night -- and the man with the big stack is two seats to our left.  The table calls to us, and we raise 500.  That man calls; in fact, most of the table does.

ON THE FLOP: 4-5-K

Top pair, top kicker -- top-notch for us!  When the Small Blind checks, we put in a continuation bet of 500.  But to our disappointment, Mr. Big Stack folds -- which surprises one player enough to point it out.  Only the Small Blind accepts our challenge and calls.

ON THE TURN: 7h

This puts two hearts on the board -- but all we're really noticing is the top King.  Our opponent checks, and now we bet 1,000.  She folds, and we win the hand.

"Can I see the last card?" a woman across from us (who also seems new) asks.

ON THE RIVER: 10h

"F**kin' A," she says.  We apparently chased her off a flush.  Good (giggle).  We recover to 8,100 total chips -- but this is a "Big Blind Special" we really hoped would be more profitable.  Should we have waited on that confident man to bet first?

We had little reason to be confident after that, because we didn't win any more pots.  We lasted well into the second hour, but finally went all-in with A-4 and failed to match the board.  A woman with two pair eliminated another player with us, and we finished tied for 18th.

But look at what happened to us online, earlier in the day!  A suited King-Queen in the Small Blind turned into a "diamond jubilee," as we made a royal flush on the river.

"Ralph" across the table made his own straight on the flop, but didn't make big bets to run us off.  The river card prompted the player at our left to go all-in with two pair.  Then Ralph made a big raise, to around 1,300.  We doubled that bet -- and wound up stunning the table.

That big win gave us enough cushion to reach the final table of this qualifying tournament, and finish fifth overall out of 63 players.  So we'll be back in the National League of Poker Senior Championship at the end of August.

MINISTRY MOMENT: Back at the Barn, a flop of 7-7-K prompted the man with the big stack of chips to have a moment of praise.  "How did you know, Lord?" he said in a loud voice.  "How did you know?!?"

"Because God knows everything," we answered him.  "He knows it all."

Yes, we realize that man probably was joking.  But he didn't comment on our serious response.  The Bible reveals a God of brilliance....

Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? - Job 21:22

Besides, God made the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).  Have you seen any humans do that lately?  And God knows more than the big things of creation -- He knows you.  Personally.

Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart.  Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry...." - Acts 1:24-25

When God looks at your heart, what does He see?  A life filled with vices, and corrupted by sin?  Or a heart you're trying to clean up, with His help?

Create in a me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. - Psalm 51:10

King David knew he needed to ask God for help, in cleaning up His life.  And God knows how to do that -- if you'll ask Him for help.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 120 final tables in 337 nights (35.6%) - 19 cashes.

Poker Night 327: Hey, Big Spender

A trek to the final table at Lil Kim's Cove is much more challenging these days, compared to five years ago -- especially for players like us, who don't spend much to gain extra chips.  It can be an uphill climb against mountains of stacks.  But tonight, great cards came our way -- not once, but several times.  We won one big pot when pocket Kings held up.  Then J-J brought a third Jack on the flop, to give us another big win.  But how long can a big roll go?

BLINDS: 1,000/2,000

IN THE POCKET: 10-10

Those huge wins have inflated our stack from 12,000 chips at the one-hour break to more than 120,000.  Three tables remain in action, and now we see another pocket pair in the Big Blind.  No one raises ahead of us, making it tempting to raise -- but we choose to check and watch.

ON THE FLOP: 10-8-6

These "three ten-ors" are ready to perform for us.  And remembering what happened online the night before with Q-Q, we don't hesitate to use our big stack.  It's a privilege we haven't had often lately at Lil Kim's, so we bet 20,000.  A man across from us calls; everyone else folds.

ON THE TURN: 5

With the blinds getting high, we doubt this card helped our opponent.  So we don't slow down; we bet 20,000 more.

"He's making it tough for me," our opponent admits.  Yet he calls, which makes us wonder why.  Players at this table have been chasing straights and flushes with large bets all night, but our guess at this point is that our challenger has an "overpair" -- maybe pocket Queens?!

"Nine!" our opponent calls as the card before the river is burned....

ON THE RIVER: 7

Aha!  He must have been on a straight draw, and missed it.  Or maybe.... well, what maybe?  We're not sure, so we check.

"I'm all in," our opponent says quietly -- counting out 39,500 chips.  He's talked a bit about "going home" during the game, and then he called for a card which didn't come.  We conclude this is an "I dare you" bluff.  OK, we'll dare....

"Since you didn't get a 9, I'll call."

"I've got a big straight," he reveals.  Our opponent has 9-6.  He had the 9!  "I lied," he confesses.

"I could have told you he does that," a player out of the hand confirms.  A misleading word combines with our opponent's stubbornness to gain him more than 80,000 chips -- and in one hand, we lose about two-thirds of our huge stack.

We played cautiously with our remaining 45,000 chips after that.  And as other players pushed in vain, we advanced to the final table.  Once there, we pushed on the flop with a low pair -- but it persuaded the table to fold, giving us a nice rebound to the 70,000 range.  With four players to go, we folded 9-9 when a man went all-in on the flop.  He was eliminated by the chip leader -- but in the process, a 9 came on the turn which would have brought us a big win.

That left three players in the tournament -- and the chip leader had another man and we incredibly dominated.  That other man proposed a split of the prizes.  After a moment of thought, the leader graciously accepted it!  He won $50 and the "bucket of beers" coupon awarded for second place; we took away $20 along with the third player.

So we played two live tournaments this week, and cashed in both of them!  Our records show that's only happened once before -- two years ago this week.  That's a summer "heat wave" we don't mind at all.

MINISTRY MOMENT: We donated blood earlier in the day -- and won a drawing for a prize there, too!  (We haven't claimed it yet, so it's still a mystery.)  We mentioned this to the chip leader at the final table, and noted it recalled Jesus shedding His blood in our behalf long ago.

"I have Jesus in my heart," the man quietly said -- indicating he preferred to leave the discussion at that.  But it wound up being mentioned around the table moments later.

The phrase "Christ in your heart" is the stuff of hymns, and sometimes can sound like a church cliche.  You may be surprised to learn that exact phrase is not in the King James Bible.  But the concept is there....

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.... - Ephesians 3:16-17 (NIV)

Did you notice there are two "outside influences" which can come into you?  There's not only Jesus, but the Holy Spirit of God.  If you'd like to know more about bringing these blessings of God into your being and life, leave a comment with an e-mail address and we'll explain more to you.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 117 final tables in 327 nights (35.8%) - 19 cashes.  By the way, tonight marked our first final table at Lil Kim's since 1 March.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 242 point wins in 1,016 games (23.8%), 77 final tables, 7 cashes plus 2 other wins. No-River Hold 'em - 6 point wins in 35 games (17.1%), 5 final tables, 1 win.

We nearly scored a win at NLOP this week, too -- finishing second out of 63 players in a Wednesday qualifying tournament.

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games -- $79,444, up $870.

Perfectly Suited?

A Facebook friend posted this explanation of what the four suits in playing cards mean for women:


A Heart to love him,
A Diamond to marry him,
A Club to smash his head in, and
A Spade to bury the jerk.

We assume this was meant as a joke.  But we prefer a much more Biblical approach.  For instance....

Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." - Galatians 4:6

So the Bible speaks of hearts -- dozens of times, in fact.  What can you find about the other suits?

Feelings and Felt

Poker Player B had made a bet Player A didn't anticipate.  And when Player A's turn came again, he needed to be told what happened.

"You disrupted my karma, man," Player A said.

We happened to sit next to Player A, so we couldn't resist asking: "You have karma?"

Of course he did.  "Everybody has karma," he told us.

Hmmmm -- then do we?  Do you?

The online dictionary notes karma is a Hindu and Buddhist concept.  While U.S. residents tend to throw that word around in many ways, we think Player A was using the word to refer to feelings we have about someone or something.  Others might talk about "having bad vibes" or a "premonition" about something.

Plenty of poker players have made choices this way -- only instead of karma, they talk about "going with your gut" or acting on "your first instinct."  Sometimes that works, but sometimes it can prove disastrous.

In all of this, it seems to us the emphasis is on feelings.  We've heard Christian ministers say that's the wrong way to base your life -- that you should focus on thinking: the head above the heart.  Why?

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

Not even modern translations of the Bible contain the word "karma."  Those translations also don't talk about "feelings" very much.  But the most traditional translation reminds us of a Savior who can relate to them....

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.... For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:14-15, KJV

Jesus was moved by the emotions of people He encountered on Earth 2,000 years ago -- and this section of Scripture indicates He still can be moved today, sitting at God the Father's side.  So it's worth pouring out words to heaven in prayer, even if they sometimes can be emotional.

But back to karma: the main definition of that word involves getting rewarded or punished based on your actions.  That's not simply Buddhist and Hindu - it's downright Biblical.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. - Revelation 20:12

A time of judgment is coming for everyone -- and this is a case of resurrection, not reincarnation.  Since no one is promised life beyond today, are you prepared for that time of judgment?  If not, search the Bible for words such as "saved" and "salvation."  They'll lead you to the right answer - the man Christ Jesus.

My Weekly (At Least) Reader

We heard a sermon recently in which the pastor brought up something that's a key factor in many poker games -- reading.

 

"Jesus read them like a book," the pastor said.  He used this quote from the human life of Christ as an illustration:

"Has not Moses given you the law?  Yet not one of you keeps the law.  Why are you trying to kill me?" - John 7:19

Verse 1 of this chapter indicates Jesus knew about a plot against His life by people in Judea.  It could be easy to dismiss this as a matter of the Lord's disciples passing along information and warnings they'd heard.  But let's go deeper....

 

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, "Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?" - Matthew 9:4

 

How did Jesus know what some of the scribes were thinking?  We've heard several explanations of this, even from ministers.  Some say the Lord simply had good intuition -- and that may well be true.  But we prefer to think something more was at work in this special Someone from heaven....

But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.  He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man. - John 2:24-25

(If you really want to know what's "in a man," check Jeremiah 17:9-10.  You may not like what you read.)

You see, other ministers consider this "knowledge" a proof that Jesus was and is God -- because the knowledge was provided by the Holy Spirit at work in Him.

 

He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts...." - Luke 16:15

Reading an opponent at the poker table admittedly isn't quite on this level.  But for starters, we recommend praying for wisdom to "judge righteous judgment," as John 7:24 puts it.  What other tips would you offer for reading someone else's hand -- keeping in mind God and Jesus Christ reads all of us much more accurately?

Words of a "LoSer" II

Our last post mentioned an online opponent named "LoSerUr2" who clearly brought an attitude with him to the poker table - an attitude challenging our faith. The chat about our Sabbath-keeping went on, as the play continued:

LoSerUr2: you go to church one day to ask for forgiveness of the sins ya do the other six days

This skeptic actually raises a very good point. Some people look at Chriatianity as simply "doing your duty" to God in a weekly worship service, then living any way they please the rest of the week. It becomes custom and tradition -- when God wants much more than that.

You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." - Matthew 15:7-9

These are tough words from Jesus -- and they should be thought-provoking words, even for long-time believers. Could you and I worship Jesus in vain? If rules are followed simply because they're the "rules of the house" like at a poker tournament, the Lord says yes. Instead....

Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - II Timothy 2:22

Ask God to purify your heart to fully please and serve Him. Then pursue a lifestyle that reflects a godly example -- toward other people as well as Him. Back at the chat....

Me: I seek God's forgiveness most every day.
LoSerUr2: i forgive my my fellow poker player

Why, thank you. That's the spirit we all should have:

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:13

We've found poker players in live tournaments practice this far more than you might think. Not always. Not perfectly. But it happens on a regular basis. Can you say that, as you walk with God?

It's Hard to be Humble

Again this week, a busy personal schedule prevents us from playing live poker on Thursday nights. It appears that will change next week; we'll see. In the meantime, we offer a comment about poker players who prefer no comments at all.

Some online players act like they're playing inside a funeral home -- without chatting, even though the words simply are written. A player scolded us for being talkative awhile back at National League of Poker. So when we encountered him again, we adjusted accordingly -- and after a few hands....

rocknelson: no commentary flopdork
Me: You showed up. I shut up. I'm learning. :-0
Dealer: Gatortail wins Main Pot ($1530)
rocknelson: thats right u do what i tell ya to
Me: That's what humility is, a pastor told me once.

To quote that minister exactly from a sermon: true humility means letting other people tell you what to do. That may seem stifling and domineering; we realize that because we've faced such situations. Yet it's what Jesus expects of us:

If you love me, keep my commandments.... He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me.... -- John 14:15, 21

Which commandments does Jesus expect us to keep? Some church groups insist they're the Ten Commandments listed in the Old Testament, and we can understand that reasoning. But the entire discussion seems to center on something else....

A new commandment I give to you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. -- John 13:34

Doing what others say not only displays humility -- it can also show love. Of course, that really boils down to your attitude behind the action. A good "poker face" might prevent other players from seeing it, but God looks on the heart (see Ephesians 6:6, among other verses).

There's more to this discussion; check our next post.

If I've Only Half a Heart

We mentioned last Thursday night how our body was at the poker tournament, but our mind and sentiments really were elsewhere. That probably explains why we made an early exit -- but events since then have led to some soul-searching about our approach.

The following day we read about what NASCAR driver Jennifer Jo Cobb did before a race in Tennessee. Her team owner told her to drive a few laps, park the car to save it for another race and take a small paycheck. Instead, Cobb quit -- walking away before the command to fire engines.

Cobb wanted to race for a win, and would settle for nothing less. Even though we primarily play poker these days for ministry more than money, we concluded that should have been our approach as well. Consider....

No one man serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. -- Matthew 6:24 (KJV)

Jesus said God wants all of your service -- not a half-hearted effort. He added to this in a message to a first-century church.

I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. -- Revelation 3:15-16 (KJV)

Warm water might get your permanent press clothing clean, but Jesus prefers you turn up the heat -- or perhaps better put, allow God to turn it up for you.

You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. -- Psalm 18:28

If you only drive halfway toward the goal in football, you'll wind up punting the ball away. We should be fully committed to serving God -- and beyond that, fully committed to success in all our endeavors. It's an attitude that's, well, all in.

Head, Heart and Hellmuth

Poker fans probably are still buzzing about Phil Hellmuth's latest televised disaster. If you haven't seen it, we don't want to give away too much. But in the second hand of this NBC Heads-Up Poker segment, Hellmuth thinks out loud about how to answer an all-in challenger -- and does it for so long that his opponent forces the issue.

"My heart is telling me I should ship it all in," Hellmuth tells Annette Obrestad more than once. Interesting words -- since believe it or not, the Bible seems to suggest you go against what your heart tells you to do.

"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?" says Jeremiah 17:9. Ecclesiastes 9:3 is even more blunt: "The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live...."

Hmmmm -- on second thought, maybe these verses are not about making decisions by "going with your gut." They're talking more about an overall attitude of life, with hearts producing all sorts of "evil thoughts" as Jesus said in Mark 7:21-22.

Bible writers put the thinking process and the heart together. That's why there are verses such as, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...." (Proverbs 23:7, KJV) Nowadays, most people refer to the heart as the center of emotion -- with the mind as the base of cognitive thinking.

As NBC's Craig Hummer pointed out, Hellmuth in this case should have put the two areas together. If Hellmuth had put the brain first (as he admits in a post-match interview), he would have folded easily and looked for a better opportunity.

But what all of us need (and this goes for Obrestad as much as Hellmuth) is a new heart. One with all the evils of a sin-filled life removed.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God," David prayed in Psalm 51:10. How does God make that happen? We'll suggest two ways -- by putting your faith in God (Acts 15:9), and allowing the positive example of other believers to refresh you (Philemon 20). Maybe you can come up with others.

Sometimes hearts win poker hands with a flush. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes listening to your "heart" can get you into a disastrous hand (yes, we know from experience). But may your goal be to have a completely changed heart -- as Galatians 4:6 says, changed by God sending "the Spirit of his Son" to dwell there.