Is This Crazy or What?

The public address announcer in the poker room announced someone had a seat waiting for "pineapple." At our tournament table, that led to a question.

"What's the difference between 'pineapple' and 'crazy pineapple'?"

Our table decided there was none - that it was P.A. shorthand. But a check online reveals they're actually two different games. Both involve being dealt three cards. "Pineapple poker" requires you to dump one card before the flop; "crazy pineapple" lets you wait until after the flop.

So in poker slang, something becomes "crazy" if you have time to wait before making a decision. Of course, some people think it's downright crazy to play poker at all - especially people like us, who claim faith in God.

But some people said the same sort of thing about Jesus Christ long ago. In fact....

Then said the Jews to him, "Now we know that you have a devil...." - John 8:52 (KJV)

How could Jesus, the Son of God, possibly be demon-possessed? The skeptics didn't think He was the Son of God - and they certainly didn't understand some of the things He said. Such as....

Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am now here. I have not come on my own, but he sent me." - John 8:42

Jesus the Son came from the Father's throne in heaven. This was a first - one the critics simply could not grasp. And that appearance had a great purpose:

For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. - I Peter 1:18-20

Jesus was designated to redeem us from our sins, that we might have hope of eternal life. And God the Father planned it all out before our Earth came into being! That may sound "crazy" - but a supernatural God made it happen.

Believing that requires faith - a crazy kind of faith to some. But let's be honest: what other hope do you have of living beyond this life? Isn't the promise of living forever with Jesus worth taking a "chance" on Him?