The Greatest Ghost We Know

west59:  f*rtblogger you stink

Oh, what encouragement and kindness in an online poker chat.  We faced that from another player recently -- but then another came to our defense.

Toddlar:  another fan

Me:  What?!?!!?

Toddlar:  hes popular

Me:  You can visit my poker blog later: ontheflop.blogspot.com .

Toddlar:  hope u have a ghostwriter

Toddlar:  cause it looks like poker wisdom aint ur thang

Dealer:  WesK wins Main Pot ($700)

Me:  No.  Sorry.

Toddlar:  lol

Me:  A Spirit yes, a ghost no.

Let's make some sense of this discussion.  We do all the writing at this blog (at least to this point).  But we pray the Holy Spirit will guide us in writing helpful things for you.  That was the apostle Paul's hope for a congregation long ago....

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. - Ephesians 1:17

We all need to know God better, so that we can follow Him better and do His will.

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. - Colossians 1:9

Wisdom to know God's will ultimately is better than "poker wisdom," anyway - because it can lead to eternal life.

Let's address one other thing here.  We indicated we have a Spirit, but not a ghost -- and that really was misleading.  The King James Version of the Bible tends to use those words interchangeably in referring to God's Spirit.  For instance:

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. - II Corinthians 13:14 (KJV)

The New International Version has "Holy Spirit" in that verse, as do several other translations.

We've heard one radio preacher suggest the "Holy Ghost" and "Holy Spirit" are two different things.  But in practically every case where the phrases occur in the New Testament, the Greek root word for "ghost" and "spirit" are the same.  So you can call it either one -- but Jesus warns you'd better use the phrase with care:

But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. - Mark 3:29

Seek the Spirit's wisdom.  Draw closer to God.  And you may be surprised by the blessings which come -- even at a poker table.