In the Eye of the Storm

Many poker games are friendly and good-natured - an evening for buddies to get together and have a good time. Many of our tournaments have been that way, even at casinos.

But what we saw in our first tournament at JACK Casino Cincinnati was different. Several of the players were dead serious - barking at each other and accusing them of committing violations worthy of penalties. It was a bit like WWE Monday Night Raw (even though that was not on any of the TV screens in the room).

In fact, a man to our right at the start of the evening seemed ready to draw us into the fuss. When we eliminated a player who went all-in, he bumped our chair with delight - the closest thing he could do to hugging us after a hockey goal. Apparently we'd knocked out one of his main rivals.

What do you do when it feels like you're surrounded by Phil Hellmuths having bad days? We picked up on the mood right away, so here's part of what we did....

1. FOCUS ON THE GAME. Instead of getting caught up in the circus around us, we played our cards (with perhaps one exception) as we normally would. There's a Biblical reminder along those lines....

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" - Matthew 14:28-30

Peter did something miraculous when he stepped out in faith and looked toward Jesus. When he saw stormy circumstances, trouble happened.

Many people pick on Peter for losing that focus - but consider this. Where were Jesus's other disciples at that moment? They "were terrified" and never left the boat (verse 26). Refusing to play poker until a stormy table calms down could cost you a big opportunity.

2. NOTE VIOLATIONS PEACEFULLY. At least twice during the tournament, a man to our left acted on his cards before we played ours.

"Uhhhhhhh....." we said loudly when it happened. That's all we needed to say; the dealer and others at the table got the message and responded accordingly. And we didn't rub it in to the other man. He had to skip some hands, and that was sufficient.

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath.... - Romans 12:18-19

And along those lines....

3. BE SPORTSMANLIKE. When we finally lost at the final table, we walked around the table and shook the hand of the man who eliminated us. We didn't notice many others people doing that, but it's something we've always done.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. - I Thessalonians 5:15

Take those small steps at a poker table - whether the mood is sunny or stormy - and you're likely to stand out as different from the crowd. But it probably will be in a respectful way.

Right or Wrong? Part 4

We continue our meditations from a radio ministry's sermon on gambling.

5. Gambling transgresses love. Hoping to win money by causing pain or loss to others is NOT love, the preacher said - because you wind up "victimizing" your neighbor.

The pastor quoted the "two great commands" of Jesus to back this statement (Matthew 22:37-40) - but we thought of a scripture he never quoted, which might apply to his point better:

Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. - Romans 13:10

Perhaps we should learn a lesson from other poker players here. If they have a huge hand (or at least want to pretend they do), they warn their opponents. They might say, "Don't waste your money! You're asking for trouble!" or similar phrases, before the showdown comes. They might be offering a "loving warning" so their opponent doesn't take a big loss.

But wait, you might be saying - doesn't a "loving God" sometimes allow hurt and harm to come to His children?  The answer is yes. And there's a purpose behind it:

...My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son. - Hebrews 12:5-6

Yet we think the Bible makes a distinction. God might use other poker players to carry out discipline - but that does NOT mean we should intentionally try to carry it out FOR Him. That can be presumptive.

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19

That chapter goes on to recommend treating "enemies" with a good and giving spirit (verses 20-21) - waiting for God to do whatever He wants to do, in His good timing.

(NOTE: This is a series of posts; keep checking here for the next part.)

Right Back At-Ya?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

The Great Equalizer

In a post earlier this week, we mentioned a man at our table who became angry because a "friend" knocked over his big stack of chips.  We tried to counsel him a bit.

"Vengeance is not the answer," we said.

"I'm gonna get vengeance, all right," the man responded -- then swore a little about what he might do.

Virtually all poker players who have lost a big pot in poker have plotted ways to regain their chips.  A good betting strategy and timely cards can accomplish that goal; we went from 200 chips to more than 15,000 in an online tournament late Wednesday night, and finished in the top 20 out of about 400 players.

But sometimes losing players go "on tilt" -- becoming so desperate that they go all-in with virtually nothing.  It only takes one courageous player with good cards to send the "tilts" to the rail.  At times like that, we'd all do well to remember these words....

Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. - Romans 12:19

That quote from the apostle Paul goes all the way back to Moses, shortly before Israel entered the promised land (Deuteronomy 32:35).  So when someone pulls a fast one on you in a poker room, what should you do?  The answer may shock you....

On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.  In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." - Romans 12:20 (from Proverbs 25:21-22)

The chapter concludes with another point we mentioned in a post this week: "Overcome evil with good."  Yes, we know - that goes very contrary to our human nature.  But the Bible shows we need to "fold" that very nature, and replace it:

....The sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. - Romans 8:7-8

As we've put it here before: let your chips do your talking.  If other people want to "mess with you" at the table, let them -- and even look for ways to be nice in response.  You may not change their habits right away, but you might give them something to think about.  And that something might lead them to a new life in Jesus Christ.