Drought Update

TV weather experts will tell you today marks the start of "meteorological fall," at least in terms of record-keeping. We hope it brings a "rainy season" for poker in our area, because a drought we first mentioned here in late July is continuing.

The latest poker room to shut its doors is 7 Clans First Council Casino, a mile or two south of the Kansas-Oklahoma line. We never played there, but several people at Kansas Star Casino told us they did.

The casino even had a visit in July from one-time Main Event champion Greg Raymer. He wrote that he liked the place, and he reportedly even entered a tournament the poker room had. But amazingly, that casino Wednesday night was promoting a "Kings and Queens of Karaoke" contest - with no traditional poker to be found.

What's going on here? Why are so many poker opportunities in our area shutting down? We asked players at one of our tables the other day, and didn't get a very good explanation. It's not like online poker is making a comeback in the Midwest, because it hasn't.

We're led to conclude some poker players have found other things to do, if not other ways to play. Wherever you stand in this situation, we offer this bit of advice:

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.... - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Being half-hearted about your pastimes or projects usually isn't the best approach. You're likely to get semi-impressive results. As another Bible writer put it:

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. - Colossians 3:23-24

Wait - what?! Should we play poker as if we're doing it for.... God?!?!

Well, why not? We're all going to have to answer to Jesus Christ for it, because....

...For in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning not knowledge nor wisdom. - Ecclesiastes 9:10b

We might as well take an "all-in" approach to life now, because you can't after you die.

Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.... - Hebrews 9:27

Judgment is coming, whether we like it or not. We think you'll do far better when that time comes if you consider yourself the servant of Jesus now, and act accordingly.

While "7 Clans" may operate that Oklahoma casino, God is ultimately building only one:

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. - Luke 6:35

Yes, you have the opportunity to become a son of the "Most High" God. Isn't that worth serving Him with everything you have to offer?