A Deal With the "Gods"

A recent post remembered a poker player we knew in the Southeast U.S. who went by the name "Buddha." Now in an unusual twist (we don't dare it "karma"), a real Buddhist has hit it big in a major poker tournament.

Canadian Scott Wellenbach finished in third place at a recent PokerStars event in the Bahamas. That earned him more than $670,000 - and he says he'll give it all to charity. In fact, he did it before. Wellenbach donated a $72,000 prize from a tournament in Spain to a Buddhist version of a convent.

Why is he doing this? Wellenbach says he made a deal with "the poker gods."

Uh-oh. That's where we feel compelled to come in. Not because he gave away all his prize money. Giving is a good thing....

...Freely you have received, freely give. - Matthew 10:8

No, it's the "poker gods" part that raised a red flag with us. You see, our quote about giving comes from Jesus Christ - and He's the "one God" who came to Earth in the flesh.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. - John 1:1, 14

Some Christian preachers explain this as "two gods." The Bible indicates that's misleading:

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. - Deuteronomy 6:4

Is this a Bible contradiction? No, because Jesus clarified it:

I and my Father are one. - John 10:30

My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. - John 17:20-21

Jesus was God on Earth. He said He was One with God the Father. Would Scott Wellenbach say Jesus is God? We won't put words in his mouth, but traditional Buddhism doesn't have such a belief. And "the Lord" of the Bible warns:

You shall have no other gods before me. - Deuteronomy 5:7

In the end, each of us must choose which god we serve - or if we serve any at all. We choose the God of the Bible and Christianity because it provides us hope beyond this life. It's a hope of eternal life with no sin, because God can forgive our sins through the blood of Jesus.

What do you think of this? Your comments are always welcome, and we might reply to them.

Memories of "Buddha"

We saw this on Facebook Saturday night, from the place where our poker-playing began....

Goodbye to a great guy and sometime a obnoxious one but he had a heart of Gold..RIP Buddha

He went by "Buddha," (center) but we never were sure of his real name. (As we recall, he hid that for legal reasons.) He was a true larger-than-life poker character - so large that he somewhat resembled a Buddha statue, and sat almost sideways at makeshift poker tables in the Columbus, Georgia area.

He also had another nickname - one we ironically remembered a few weeks ago when we quoted his mic-drop line, "I flopped it" during a poker tournament. After winning some big pots (and he eliminated us more than once), he would announce in a loud voice: "That's why they call me BIG DADDY!!!"

(By the way, that last link includes an example of why the Facebook announcement called him "sometime... obnoxious".)

We interviewed "Big Daddy" for an unusual Father's Day post on our old news-and-humor blog (the blog which led to this one). He talked there about competing in the U.S. Sumo Wrestling Championships. But we don't know if he ever did. Someone with a pro wrestling troupe might have made an interesting discovery.

If Buddha had played in Las Vegas, he could have become a regular on TV poker nights. His size and personality would have made him, well, a "character" - not unlike some pro wrestlers. And let's face it: interesting characters always make TV more interesting. It's true in poker; think about Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson's personalities, which have made them famous.

But after a lengthy illness, Buddha died at approximately age 38. If he was really Buddhist, he never said so. But we shared our faith with him a few times at poker tables, and concluded he was simply not a religious person. If that describes you, consider a verse we mentioned here recently....

And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment.... - Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

No matter what you believe - or even if you don't - death is inevitable. The big question is what happens after that. Buddhists believe they'll enter "nirvana" or be reincarnated. But the Christian Bible says there will be judgment. How will that happen?

...When the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don't know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. - II Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NLT)

The judgment won't happen until Jesus returns - and it won't be immediate. Buddha will rest for quite a while....

The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.... I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne... And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. - Revelation 20:5, 12 (NLT)

Jesus is coming to judge - a judgment that includes a "lake of fire" (verse 15). But as we say in poker, you have an "out"....

...People escape from the wickedness of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... - II Peter 2:20 (NLT)

We quoted the "good news" part of that verse; there's a warning in the rest of it for people who don't really make the effort to escape.

So our sympathies go to Buddha's family and poker friends. May they turn to Christ, not that better-known Buddha - and be able to sing what another "Big Daddy" recorded several years ago.

Getting on the Winning Side

You never know who you'll meet playing online poker.  Awhile back "flopblogger" (our web handle) had this chat with a player named "silkNsatan":

Me:　I hope you're more silk than Satan. :-)
silkNsatan:　hope u more flop than blog [...]
Me:　But I'm admittedly more into the things of God than Satan.
icandothis:　glad to hear it
silkNsatan:　same thing probleyjus differnt name
silkNsatan:　buddhist here
silkNsatan:　buddhist here
silkNsatan:　try anyways
Dealer:　LTDUSARET wins Main Pot ($2320)
Me:　Aha
Me:　I believe many people worship Satan, without realizing it.

It had been a long time since we reviewed exactly what Buddhists believe, especially when it comes to Satan.

One website we consulted says Buddhism has a devil character named "Mara" - one considered wicked, evil, "the Murderer, the Tempter." That's not far away from what Christians think about Satan.

You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44

In fact, Satan sometimes can appear "silky smooth" to people:

And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. - II Corinthians  11:14

And that's why we think "people worship Satan, without realizing it." They accept lies and deception that they think is a reflection of God, but really is not.  That's why the Bible warns:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm n the faith.... - I Peter 5:8-9

But how can you tell whether you're following God and Jesus, as opposed to Satan and demonism? We recommend taking time each day reading carefully through the book of truth (John 17:17), the Bible.

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. - Acts 17:11

Just as some poker players stage big bluffs to get you away from winning pots, Satan can come up with ideas and reasoning to steer you away from God and Jesus Christ. Check people's thinking against what the Bible says - and let the Bible be your guide, no matter how others might "spin" it.

Poker Day 437: Bounty Picker-Uppers

The "freeroll period" at local poker rooms seems to have passed.  It cost the managers too much money.  Instead, we're now in a  "bounty period" on Sunday afternoons at Arrowhead Poker.  The tournament has a bounty section attached: $25 chair rental + $25 bounty chip + $10 extras = $60 entry fee.  But if you eliminate a player, his/her bounty chip is worth $25 at the end of the day.

Our game today didn't offer any moments to take players out.  But we won a few nice pots, and hoped to win one more here....

BLINDS: 5,000/10,000

IN THE POCKET: Ah-Qd

It's a two-table tournament, and seven players remain at ours.  We start the hand with 35,000, but we're in the Big Blind.  So we're substantially committed, and see no reason to hold back when our turn comes.

"All in, 35,000" we say - putting the white bounty chip in, along with everything else.

Only two others were interested in this hand.  One man folds.  The other, a manager at another card room, thinks it over out loud.

"I'm probably going to chip you up," he says -- but he goes ahead and calls.

"Al-Qaeda," we say as we show.  He shows a meager 4-5 of hearts.  This looks very promising.

ON THE FLOP: 5-8-Q (8 is a heart)

Wow - we both pair the board.  But our Queen leads.

ON THE TURN: 6h

Uh-oh - now this is potential trouble.  He has four hearts, for a flush draw -- in fact a straight flush draw, and a straight flush was hit at this table only a couple of hands before.  By our count, he has 13 outs.

ON THE RIVER: 4s

....and he hits the more unlikely one!  Two pair stun him, and leave us shaking both our head and his hand.  We leave the contest in 13th place, and he gets our $25 bounty chip.

MINISTRY MOMENT: There was no "Christmas music" playing in the poker room; they call up classic hits from the late 20th century during the afternoon games.  One of them was George Harrison's My Sweet Lord.

"That's a curious song," we said to several people (none of whom responded).  "Jesus is my Lord - but he turns it into a song about something else."

We've mentioned this song here before.  Have you noticed the last part of the song refers to "hare krishna" - as in Hinduism?  Harrison apparently wanted to cut through religious divisions.  But there's a problem with that:

...Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.... Salvation is found in no one else, for there s no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. - Acts 4:10, 12

The Bible never mentions Buddha once.  It mentions Jesus often -- and it dares to say Jesus is the only name by which you can receive salvation.

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.... - I Timothy 2:5

Perhaps it's little wonder that some people call Bible-believing Christians intolerant.  It's because the God who inspired the Bible demands a choice: accept Jesus as your Savior or else.  What choice will you make?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 155 final tables in 37 games (35.5%) - 25 cashes.

Poker Day 425: Grade A-Plus

"King-anything" was one man's announced strategy today at Winners Cardroom.  Any King pre-flop would get him in a hand,  On the other hand, we played a little bit tighter.-- which sometimes worked, and sometimes didn't....

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: A-10 offsuit

We had a slight early loss, and start this hand with the Dealer button and about 10,500 chips.  These are nice high starter cards, but we don't want to rush into anything.  So we call, and about half of the full table is in.

ON THE FLOP: A-K-5

It's top pair and good "button" position.  A man to our immediate right bets 1,100.  We see no harm in calling that.  Everyone else vacates.

ON THE TURN: 10

Two pair make things even better.  Now our opponent bets 1,500.  If he's trying to scare us away, this won't do it.  We call again.

ON THE RIVER: 6

Probably a harmless card.  Yet our opponent fires a third barrel, with a bet of 2,000.  This is a case of what poker players call being "pot-committed."  We can't run now after betting so much, so we call in hope.

"Kings and 5's," our opponent says.  Whew -- no A-K!

Our two pair beat his.  He led at the flop, but we won the race at the turn and jump to more than 20,000 chips.

We stayed comfortable with chips most of the day -- especially helped when Q-J of hearts turned into a winning flush when we went all-in.  We made the final table on a day with about 22 players, then mostly watched as others fell away.

With four players remaining, we were dealt 9-9.  This worked for us last Monday at Hollywood Casino - and with blinds of 20,000/40,000 and only 60,000 left, we had little choice but to go all-in.  A man to our left called with K-9.  He gained a helpful Q-J on the flop -- and then a 10 on the river to make a winning straight.  A good run for us ended with a fourth-place finish, and only first paying in the Sunday freeroll.

MINISTRY MOMENT: An oldies radio station played in the background during our tournament - and at one point, we noticed the George Harrison tune My Sweet Lord playing.

"That's such a mixed-up song," we said to the man next to us.  "It starts out singing about God, but then turns into Hare Krishna.  God isn't supposed to be combined with Hare Krishna.  He's supposed to be combined with Jesus Christ."

The man nodded, hopefully understanding what we said.  But he would ask: have you ever stopped to listen carefully to songs like that?

Not every song which sounds "godly" really is.  It's something we think Jesus recognized:

To what can I compare this generation?  They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn." - Matthew 11:16-17

Does this mean God and Jesus are against dancing?  We don't think so, since other Bible verses show there's "a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4).  We suspect Jesus realized the people claiming to do things in His name really were not doing that.

They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.  You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men. - Mark 7:7-8

Have you "let go" of God's commands, thinking that's what modern-day Christians are supposed to do? The Bible actually shows there are still commands to be followed and rules to be kept.

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. - I John 2:3-4

If you haven't opened a Bible in a while, we suggest going through the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and noting what Jesus actually says and teaches.  Don't believe what preachers say, or even what popular songs say.  They could equally be wrong.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 151 final tables in 425 games (35.5%) - 25 cashes.  We've now entered eight live tournaments this year, with six final table finishes and three "top fives."

Whose Luck Is It, Anyway?

Today is a day when many people think about Ireland.  Poker rooms could have green far beyond the felt on the tables -- and players might talk about having the "luck of the Irish."

But if you think about it, how lucky are the Irish?  Consider some examples:

• The Notre Dame "Fighting Irish" men's basketball team lost in the Big East Conference semifinals Friday night.  The football team went undefeated last season, but was trampled in the title tilt.
• Basketball's Boston Celtics (with the little man and the shamrock on their logo) won a lot of titles years ago - but only one since 1986.
• The country of Ireland had devastating and deadly famines during the 18th and 19th centuries.

We don't cite all this to demean Ireland or people of Irish ancestry.  Our point is that "luck" really has nothing to do with where you live, or who your ancestors were.

An article we found online analyzes the idea of luck, as it relates to Saint Patrick's Day.  It's a concept we've mentioned here several times, in considering the factors involved in winning at poker.  But that article includes a Bible passage we hadn't noticed before:

What will I, the Lord, do if any of you reject me and my holy mountain?  What will happen to you for offering food and wine to the gods you call "Good Luck" and "Fate"? - Isaiah 65:11 (CEV)

Luck isn't simply a Western concept, you know.  Perhaps you've eaten at restaurants with names such as "Lucky Buddha" -- as Chinese culture includes a god of luck.  But what does the Bible say will happen, if you present offerings to such things?

Your luck will end!  I will see to it that you are slaughtered with swords.... you did what I hated, knowing it was wrong. - Isaiah 65:12 (CEV)

God wants the people He created to look to Him for their needs, not false gods.

I, the Lord God, will give food and drink to my servants, and they will celebrate.... My servants will laugh and sing, but you will be sad and cry out in pain. - Isaiah 65:13-14 (CEV)

The last part of this chapter indicates these words will be fulfilled when Jesus comes back, to create "new heavens and a new earth" (verse 17).  Put your trust in the real God and follow the Bible's instructions, and you'll be there.  The alternative sounds more blood red than "emerald isle" green.

First to Act

Let's head back to that pre-game discussion about God from the other night.  A man noted the challenge of attempting to believe in something you can't easily see.

"Besides," he added, "how do we know Buddha wasn't the first god?"

The answer to that can be found in history.  Researchers agree the ancient Buddha was alive and teaching about 2,500 years ago.  The roots of Judeo-Christian faith have been around much longer.  Take this example....

Because they had been unfaithful to the Lord, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. - II Chronicles 12:2

When was Shishak on the throne?  Archeologists who research these things (and know much more about it than we do) believe he was in charge around 925 B.C.  Rehoboam was the successor to King Solomon (I Kings 11:41-43) -- a leader who had several personal encounters with God (I Kings 9:1-2).  So this is a God who predates Buddha by hundreds of years.

But beyond the historical record, there's that matter of faith.  Faith that says....

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalm 90:2

How could God be around before there was a world?  Many have asked that question through the centuries.  It's a mystery waiting to be revealed after God sends His Son back to Earth.

My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. - Colossians 2:2-3

Isaiah 55:9 adds God's ways are "higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Are you prepared to have faith to trust God to reveal Himself -- at the time and schedule He considers best?

Feelings and Felt

Poker Player B had made a bet Player A didn't anticipate.  And when Player A's turn came again, he needed to be told what happened.

"You disrupted my karma, man," Player A said.

We happened to sit next to Player A, so we couldn't resist asking: "You have karma?"

Of course he did.  "Everybody has karma," he told us.

Hmmmm -- then do we?  Do you?

The online dictionary notes karma is a Hindu and Buddhist concept.  While U.S. residents tend to throw that word around in many ways, we think Player A was using the word to refer to feelings we have about someone or something.  Others might talk about "having bad vibes" or a "premonition" about something.

Plenty of poker players have made choices this way -- only instead of karma, they talk about "going with your gut" or acting on "your first instinct."  Sometimes that works, but sometimes it can prove disastrous.

In all of this, it seems to us the emphasis is on feelings.  We've heard Christian ministers say that's the wrong way to base your life -- that you should focus on thinking: the head above the heart.  Why?

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it? - Jeremiah 17:9

Not even modern translations of the Bible contain the word "karma."  Those translations also don't talk about "feelings" very much.  But the most traditional translation reminds us of a Savior who can relate to them....

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God.... For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. - Hebrews 4:14-15, KJV

Jesus was moved by the emotions of people He encountered on Earth 2,000 years ago -- and this section of Scripture indicates He still can be moved today, sitting at God the Father's side.  So it's worth pouring out words to heaven in prayer, even if they sometimes can be emotional.

But back to karma: the main definition of that word involves getting rewarded or punished based on your actions.  That's not simply Buddhist and Hindu - it's downright Biblical.

And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. - Revelation 20:12

A time of judgment is coming for everyone -- and this is a case of resurrection, not reincarnation.  Since no one is promised life beyond today, are you prepared for that time of judgment?  If not, search the Bible for words such as "saved" and "salvation."  They'll lead you to the right answer - the man Christ Jesus.

Mr. Big

Poker tables can be filled with interesting characters -- and not merely in Las Vegas or on televised tours. Our city has one player who, well, has a big persona.

He usually goes by the name Buddha -- but when he wins a major pot, he declares himself "Big Daddy." He says he makes some money from poker. But now he's in training to do something very different.

Read Buddha's story in today's entry at our other blog, The Blog of Columbus. And for a glimpse of what he thinks about matters of faith, click on the "Buddhism" tag below.

Sunday at the table

A busy schedule has restricted us to online play in the last few days. But we can sum things up this way:

1. Happiness is a full house on the flop. That happened to us just now at Yahoo -- with a 2-9 in the pocket, 9-2-9 showed up on the flop.

2. Online cash games can ebb and flow in a hurry. We were just in one where we fell $-124 for the session -- then rallied and won it all back in a couple of hands. We finally left with a gain of $60.

3. A player named Buddha admitted to us he/she is "into Wiccan and Buddhism." (Quite a combination.) We asked why he/she doesn't go to church, and had no response. Some people would rather play poker than face tougher questions.

4. Yahoo blackjack can be a fun distraction -- but also scary. Ten days ago we dared to bet $1000 maximums, and dropped $2000. But then we rallied with a double and a 3-2 payoff blackjack, and hurried away with a $1500 gain.

YAHOO POKER TOTAL: $5742 (Up $1281, but only + 21 in poker)