BLINDS: 3,000/6,000
IN THE POCKET: A-Q offsuit
The blinds are high and the number of players is small. After a sizable loss with these very same cards in the first hand of the night, we've clawed uphill to get a bit above the starting 10,000-chip mark. But we start this hand with 9,000 - and with ten players remaining (two tables of five), we're desperate for a big gain.
"All of it," we say as the 9,000 goes out. The Big Blind decides to risk 3,000 more to take us on. But she doesn't have much - a mere 5-7. Good for us, right?
ON THE FLOP: 5-A-5
Well, no. She has three of a kind, to top our two pair. An Ace could save us....
ON THE TURN: 5
But no - that other card comes! We have a full house - but we also have a bad beat. The woman scores the best hand of the tournament night, with quad 5's. The last card doesn't matter, and we fall short of the final table with a ninth-place finish. (A player at the other table bowed out seconds before we did.)
MINISTRY MOMENT: We dealt one hand where a woman was all in, but in big trouble. She had a 6, to make a straight on the turn - but another woman had 6-9 for a higher straight. The first woman's only hope was to make a flush on the river.
"You need a diamond?!" we said to confirm. Two diamonds were on the board. And then we dealt....
ON THE RIVER: Kd
Woman #1 was thrilled. Others at the table were amazed. "Is that all you have to do?" one player wondered. "Simply ask for a card?"
"Ask and ye shall receive," we smiled in response. "I read that in a book once."
Then we added a bit more to a man at our left, hoping to drive home the point. "I think the Person who said that has more power than I do."
You may recognize the quote, but do you understand what we meant by it?
Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. - John 16:24
Jesus said these words on the night before He was crucified. He made other statements which seem to make clear His point involved prayer:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives.... - Matthew 7:7-8
Talk about a promise! Asking God for things in prayer is good. But Jesus explained asking in His name is the New Testament way to do it.
...I tell you the truth, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. - John 16:23b
But we fear some Christians (including some preachers) have taken this promise to an extreme - suggesting that with the right amount of faith, God will give you anything in any amount at any time. Yet think about this logically. If eight God-fearing poker players asked for God's help in winning at a final table, wouldn't someone still have to lose?
Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:15
That's a major key to a successful life in Jesus Christ - accepting God's will for your life, whether he honors your asking for success or allows you to endure failure. That's why the model prayer of Jesus for us to follow includes the phrase, "Your will be done...." (Matthew 6:10)
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 179 final tables in 483 games (37.1%) - 34 cashes. Our final table record at Yvie's this year is a rather skimpy two-for-eight.
No comments:
Post a Comment