ElderCare

The classic words of Doyle Brunson were part of the opening of every Poker After Dark program on NBC: "We don't quit playing because we get old; we get old because we quit playing."

A large number of "older people" (we'd guess age 50 or higher) play in our poker circles. Some of them have played for a long time, so they deserve being treated with caution. To borrow an old phrase, you should "respect your elders" at the table.

But we've been asking in several posts about another group of elders. These apparently are in heaven....

Surrounding the throne were 24 other thrones, and seated on them were 24 elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. - Revelation 4:4

Who are these people? Well, believe it or not, we don't think they are people. Verse 2 indicates they're in heaven. And Someone who came down from heaven once said....

No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven - the Son of Man. - John 3:13

So if they aren't humans who were "taken to heaven," who (or what) are they? The Bible admittedly doesn't offer much guidance about them. But we're led to conclude they're angels - perhaps a special high rank of angels. Look at what they get to do:

And the 24 elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God.... - Revelation 11:16

If this sounds dull and boring to you, consider this. They're at the throne of God - the One who created heaven and earth, and who is preparing a place for those who will believe in Jesus Christ!

In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. - John 14:2-3

The Bible indicates Jesus will come back to the area of Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:4) - stopping all rebellion and setting up the Kingdom of God on Earth. If that still doesn't interest you, consider this warning....

...That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:10-11

The Bible shows the worship of Jesus Christ will happen. Whether you like it or not. Wouldn't it be better to respect the "elder brother" and begin worshipping Him now?

Brunson Sets Things Straight

We mentioned recently the first-ever "Global Poker Awards." They were presented in Las Vegas this weekend - with one going to a true legend of the game.

Doyle Brunson received an "Award for Lifetime Achievement." But in the process, he clarified reports that he played his final World Series of Poker event in 2018 - something which earned him a different award nomination, for "Moment of the Year." (Are people that happy to see him go?)

Brunson explained in texts to the awards show that he's simply spending more time "at home with my wife of 59 years." He added, "I'll retire when they throw dirt in my face." The audience remembered his classic line in the opening credits of Poker After Dark - "We don't stop playing because we get old; we get old because we stop playing."

Brunson's Twitter profile notes that he's a poker player, of course. It says he's 82 years old, although other websites dispute that. But it also adds, "Christian." In fact, a February tweet from Brunson says this....

I can stand the "jargon" and the f word but chills run up and down my spine when I hear the Lord's name taken in vain.

Does this describe you? That last part is one of the Ten Commandments, you know:

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. - Exodus 20:7 (KJV)

Sit at a poker table long enough, and you're liable to hear someone do exactly that. It could be a statement of disbelief over a river card, or a vent of frustration after a string of big losses. But it's something people should not do.

The New International Version quotes this verse saying you shouldn't "misuse the name" of God. That expands the meaning quite a bit - because there are many ways to misuse God's name, besides swearing.

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 7:21

These words of Jesus indicate you can declare Him "Lord" all day long - but if you're not doing God's will, it will ultimately be worthless. You'll be kept out of God's Kingdom! Another Bible verse puts it this way:

As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. - James 2:26

Some ministers claim it's enough to simply "speak Christ" into your life. That's a good idea, but it's incomplete. A true Christian life is reflected not only in what you say, but the deeds you do.

So congratulations to "Texas Dolly" on his legendary poker career. May it keep going. May his Christian works keep going as well. And may you learn from his example.

Poker Day 569: Ace is Enough?

On this Presidents' Day, we hoped to set a personal precedent. We've never made the money in a tournament on this holiday - although we did on a Sunday of the holiday weekend in 2014. With an extra-high buy-in of $90, we drove to Hollywood Casino Indiana and gave it a try....

BLINDS: 75/150

IN THE POCKET: A-6 offsuit

We won a couple of small early pots, and still stand around the starting line of 15,000 chips. No one at the full table raises, so we call. About six players are involved.

ON THE FLOP: 8-A-8

Two pair looks good - and perhaps looks obvious, if we bet. But when the play checks to us, we offer 300. That chases all but one man away; he calls to put us heads-up. We're admittedly a bit concerned about our 6 kicker.

ON THE TURN: Q

Now we're not - because that Queen becomes the kicker. Our opponent checks, and we bet 300 again. He calls again. Hmmm - is he hiding a third 8?

ON THE RIVER: Q.

Now it gets interesting. Two pair are on the board, with the best possible kicker as well. But a full house is very possible. Our opponent checks, and we carefully do the same.

"Three pair," we declare as we show. Our opponent.... discards without showing! We win a healthy pot, and guess he might have had a different pocket pair (maybe 10-10?!).

We hit a high of 15,175 chips with that win. But it all dissolved away in the next 20 minutes. A-K came our way three times, and it never worked for us. The last straw came with a flop of Ks-Jc-9c. Our King was a club, but a 1,200 bet was greeted with a raise to 4,200. A third club on the turn led the raiser to bet 7,000 - nearly everything we had.

After thinking it over, we called with conceivably a lot of outs for a flush. But our opponent turned over A-A - including the Ace of clubs, which topped ours. Our only hope was a King on the river, and it didn't come. We headed home early, out first at our table with a stinging loss.

MINISTRY MOMENT: The table talk turned at one point to Sunday's Daytona 500 stock car race.

"Joe Gibbs Racing finished 1-2-3," a man across the table pointed out.

"And that website on the car probably crashed minutes later," we said humorously. A sticker on the car referred to a tribute to the son of team owner Joe Gibbs, who died in January.

"He obviously was a person of faith, based on the cross on the logo," we added. "And we all should be people of faith."

J.D. Gibbs made a commitment of faith as a teenager, through a ministry called Young Life. If you're a youth or young adult reading this, we recommend giving your "young life" to God.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them." - Ecclesiastes 12:1

You may think matters of faith and religion are simply for old, retired people. But they're not. In fact, Jesus started His ministry as a young adult....

Now Jesus himself was about thirty years of age when he began his ministry.... - Luke 3:23

The Lord died about three years later - crucified before turning 35. Given that Biblical truth, why should you wait for gray hair to appear before committing yourself to a relationship with Him? That day might never come.

But perhaps you're on the opposite side - old and filled with gray hair. It's not too late for you to become a "person of faith."

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job 12:12

You may have seen enough of this life to know how ugly and sinful it can be. The wise course is to turn to a better way - a godly way.

Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.... - Acts 3:19

As long as you have life, you can turn to God. Is there really a better place to put your faith?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 216 final tables in 569 games (38.0%) - 46 cashes.

Wise Guys (and Gals)

The World Series of Poker seems to have something for everyone. There are tournaments in games most people probably have never played, such as Razz. And this year, there were two events for "seniors."

The Seniors Championship, for people 50 and older, had almost 5,400 entries. The "Super Seniors" contest was smaller, at 1,720 entries - but perhaps that was because you had to be 65 or older to play. It's interesting to compare those tournaments with the WSOP Main Event, where the final table tends to skew younger; it's a rare year anymore when someone in "senior" range is there.

It's easy to assume older poker players would be smarter and better than younger ones. As a famous book puts it:

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding? - Job  12:12

Of course, we should note that some people start playing poker in their "aged" years. So game experience matters as well. But in general, older people have seen and experienced more of life - so they can pass on their lessons to younger people.

And yet the Bible also says....

I thought, "Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom." But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. - Job 32:7-9

These words came from Elihu, who described himself as "young in years" (Job 32:6). Read the book of Job from beginning to end, and you'll discover his comments about Job's trials made more sense than the "counsel" of Job's older but close friends.

To be wise in playing poker, or in anything else, it's best to consult a God who was around before any of us:

For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. - Proverbs 2:6

Ask God for His wisdom, and it may come at times you don't expect it. Even in the midst of a poker game.