On the Clock

Basketball has them.  Football has them.  Even chess tournaments have them.  But should poker have them?

We're talking about "play clocks" -- with a deadline to make a play, or face a penalty.  The issue has come up in recent days on the World Poker Tour, and a wide majority of players think a "shot clock" is a good idea.  The question is in how to do it, and when it would be appropriate.

Most of the tournaments we've played over the years don't have this problem.  Players seldom go "into the tank" for minutes at a time to make a big decision.  But then again, the stakes in our tournaments are relatively small -- and many players are in it simply for fun, not a bankroll or championship points.

We'd like to know what you think about adding clocks to poker; please leave a comment.  We can see the benefits of it, especially to move televised tournaments along.  But we'd like to ask a deeper question -- aren't we all "on the clock?"  The clock of life?

The length of our days is 70 years - or 80, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. - Psalm 90:10

Yes, we know -- this verse seems awfully depressing.  In the words of an old Bonnie Raitt song, we're all "scared we'll run out of time."  And the truth of life is that we all do run out of time.  But the Bible offers hope of an overtime period:

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

Jesus makes it possible for you to have "eternal life."  As they say on basketball broadcasts, the shot clock would be turned off -- and you can emerge from "the tank" of death victorious.

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. - I Thessalonians 4:14

Verses 16-17 of this chapter show Jesus will come down from heaven, with believers rising to meet Him in the air.

But did you notice the key phrase in all this?  You have to be "in Christ Jesus" - "in him."  Are you living in Jesus, having made Him your Savior and following His godly example?  If you aren't, we strongly recommend it -- before Someone greater than your fellow poker player calls for "the clock" on you.