An Apology from "Jesus"

The online poker crackdown happened seven years ago. An explanation about it from a poker legend took less than 45 seconds - and may raise more questions than it answers.

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson posted a very short video this week about the "Black Friday" federal intervention. Ferguson reportedly was Chairman of the Board of Full Tilt Poker when it happened. He may have paid millions to the government to settle a civil case while repaying people with frozen bankrolls.

The transcript of Ferguson's video, posted by CardPlayer.com, includes this:

I deeply regret not being able to prevent Black Friday from happening. After Black Friday, I worked relentlessly to ensure that all players got paid back. And, I sincerely apologize that it took as long as it did.

That's not enough for some poker players, including Daniel Negreanu who mockingly called it "so heartfelt." Others are left wondering why Ferguson brought out the apology now - whether it has anything to do with the renewed hopes for state-run poker websites.

We're not going to judge Ferguson's motives. Instead, we're thinking about the real Jesus - the One who was sinless, and never had to apologize to anyone for anything....

So watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. - Luke 17:3

There are three parts to Jesus's instruction in this verse. We need to watch ourselves and our conduct, especially as events move toward Jesus's return:

Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man. - Luke 21:36

Second: rebuke a "brother" who sins. We were challenged by a preacher last weekend to dare to say the word "sin" again, as many think it's improper now. But we should start with close friends (in church or outside) who may be wandering from a godly way:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. - Galatians 6:1

Third: forgive the brother who repents - even if you have to do it over and over:

If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, "I repent," forgive him. - Luke 17:4

We'd note Ferguson did not use the word "repent" - a word that implies admitting doing something wrong, and turning in the opposite direction from it. Time will tell if he actually does that; he'd probably have to return to poker site management to have that opportunity.

Follow the poker "Jesus," and you may run into some regrets. Follow the Jesus of the Bible, and you never will.

Flops of All Sorts?

Could big-money flops in online poker increase, because of people gambling on basketball players taking flops on the court?

Some people are seeing a potential connection, in the wake of last week's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on sports betting. The court essentially called gambling on sports a state-by-state matter, with Congress barred from passing laws limiting it to Nevada.

The reasoning for the connection is understandable: sports betting in casinos will bleed into sports betting online, and that will encourage the development of other kinds of online betting. But are some people forgetting a major lesson of "Black Friday" years ago - that online gambling sites can shut down without notice, leaving the financial accounts of players in limbo?

We tend to be on the side of caution at poker tables, and we'd advise the same approach here....

...For you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. - Ecclesiastes 11:6

Yet our NIV Study Bible has this comment on verse 1: "Be adventurous, like this who accept the risks and reap the benefits of seaborne trade. Do not always play it safe...."

So how can this be - an "adventurous" approach, yet with caution? We think it means not going overboard when you take chances, if you can help it. That's true during a poker tournament, as well as with investing in a poker website. Put another way....

A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps. - Proverbs 14:15

We suspect several new online gambling sites (poker and otherwise) are on the way because of the court's ruling. But we're reminded of what Jesus Christ told His disciples about launching out on their own:

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16

Plug Here, Unplug There

Some people hope Scott Blumstein's win of the World Series of Poker Main Event will lead to more legal online gambling on poker in the U.S. But in other places, the exact opposite is occurring.

Australia's Senate voted this week for what some news sources call a "ban" on playing "online poker legally." But one article quoted an email from PokerStars in April, that explains what's really going on:

It’s with great sadness that we have to say that if this bill is passed it means we will have to halt real money poker play for you and all other Australian players,” the email read.

We think this is about "real money" poker play - as in online cash games. That's because there are plenty of sites in the U.S. where you can play poker, and even win prizes. But they're free to enter.

Australian officials made it clear their concern is about stopping "problem gambling" - as in addictive behavior. Our dictionary defines "addict" as "to have or give (oneself) habitually or compulsively." Based on that, religious anti-gambling groups can sound like they're encouraging a swap of one "addiction" for another:

Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. - Psalm 119:97

All day?!?! Does that mean a believer in God should lock himself in a room and only read the Bible (especially the first five books) from sunrise to sunset? Well....

Rejoice always; pray without ceasing.... - I Thessalonians 5:16-17 (NASB)

So are we supposed to only speak to God all day as well?!

Those seem like very extreme views to us. And the Bible tries to balance out that thinking....

For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." - II Thessalonians 3:10

Time by ourselves with God is good. He established a Sabbath day for that (among other reasons). But people who cloister themselves non-stop and don't do anything else might be surprised when "manna from heaven" stops.

People can become addicted to all sorts of things, from poker games to religious cults. We think the key is to have a balanced approach in life - and add God to that balance, if He is missing. That's where we think many people go astray:

"For in him we live and move and have our being." As some of your own poets have said, "We are his offspring." - Acts 17:28

Without God, you wouldn't have life - much less a brain to make decisions at a poker table. Plug Him in to your life agenda, even if it means tossing a few things away.

The End of an Era

Tomorrow will be a historic day in the U.S., as a new President takes office. We wonder how many poker players will be rooting for him to undo what the outgoing one did.

Poker players with long memories will remember Barack Obama's administration for the "black Friday" crackdown on internet games in 2011. Many regular players lost a lot of money. Several famous names even were affected.

Yet at the end of 2011, the Obama Justice Department ruled states can set up their own Internet poker games. So far, hardly any have.

And did you know President Obama probably is the first U.S. leader to have his own poker website? Thus far, you can't play him there. In fact, you can't play at all. But the site explains his personal history of playing poker, his actions concerning online poker, and the claims that President George W. Bush was even more against online poker.

But it's inevitable in our society that leadership changes. It could be good, or....

Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power in Egypt. - Exodus 1:8

Joseph was a Biblical hero, who was given vast power to help several countries through a time of great famine. He helped the Israelites relocate in Egypt - but a change in pharaohs made things worse for them instead of better.

They made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor the Egyptians used them ruthlessly. - Exodus 1:14

Any leader in any walk of life has the capability to do this to us. It could be a king, a President, a supervisor on your job - and even a different tournament director at your poker room.

So how should poker players respond? Very few probably will follow this advice, but it's hard to top....

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior... - I Timothy  2:1-3

As we mentioned after the U.S. election, we should pray for all leaders. Even the ones you don't necessarily like. After all, God could turn their hearts around and make them leaders you do like.

The First Trump - and the Last

As a new U.S. President prepares to take office, the speculation keeps swirling about what his policies might be - even when it comes to poker.

One website has been "fair and balanced" in recent days by offering two views of what Donald Trump might do to online poker. Optimists point out he wanted to invest in online gambling five years ago. Pessimists say Congressional leaders will block any effort to legalize it.

Overriding all that, however, is the outright fear many U.S. residents are expressing about a Trump administration. While they may not be loading moving trucks and buying Canadian road maps, they're concerned the next President will end a lot of what they consider "American values."

A few "religious" folks even think Trump will fulfill Bible prophecies (if he hasn't done it already). And maybe we're beating all the religious scholars with this discovery....

Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.... - I Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV)

Aha - a mention of "trump" in the Bible! But hold on. Let's be logical here, and keep reading to see who or what this "trump" is:

...for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. - I Corinthians 15:52b (KJV)

It's not a person, it's a noise-making instrument. (The Greek root word for "trump" and "trumpet" are the same.) And that "last trump" is going to bring something amazing.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. - I Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV)

We seriously doubt Donald Trump has ever "raised" a dead person. (If we're wrong, he'll probably let us know on Twitter.) But "the trump of God" will bring a resurrection of all those who have died in Christ!

After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to met the Lord in the air.... - I Thessalonians 4:17

The apostle Paul wrote these words to believers in a church (I Thessalonians 1:1). So church members will join the "dead in Christ" in the first resurrection, when Jesus Christ comes down from heaven. Talk about a "raise!"

But you may be wondering why there's a "last trump" at all. Does that mean there's more than one? Yes, there will be....

The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." - Revelation 11:15

You can read about those "trumps" beginning in Revelation 8. Some frightening things are forecast to happen on this earth - but in the end, God's kingdom will prevail.

So to be honest, Donald Trump is not the "trump" we've personally been waiting for. There's another one - and no, not Ivanka or Tiffany. It's "the trump of God." Is it your hope these days?

The First Trump

We used to write jokes for a living (well, at least we tried). So we offer this riddle:

Q: Why are Democrats switching their card games from poker to bridge?

A: In bridge, you can bid "no-Trump!"

But seriously, a lot of people who made wrong predictions about Donald Trump winning the U.S. presidential election now are making predictions about what he'll do as President. And the guessing game even extends to poker.

One analysis posted Wednesday night says the President-elect may face competing ideas from Republicans. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who's leading the government transition team, supports online poker. But Nevada billionaire Sheldon Adelson does not.

Of course, Mr. Trump has a history when it comes to gambling. He owned the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City - except it shut down four weeks before the election. It led to one of the most famous questions of the 2016 campaigns, as opponent Hillary Clinton asked how a casino can go bankrupt.

In fact, one religious magazine cited Mr. Trump's bankruptcies as a sign that he "fall[s] short of biblical character standards...." The implication is that if you file for bankruptcy, you've committed some kind of sin. Since the article doesn't give any Bible verses to support that implication, we'll take a guess....

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost, whether he has sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. - Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)

These words of Jesus contain a classic Biblical principle - "counting the cost." But read on, and you'll find the principle extends to something far bigger than building a "Trump tower"....

In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. - Luke 14:33

Now hold on here. Jesus said to be His disciple, you have to "give up everything" you have. Doesn't that sound a bit like declaring bankruptcy? At least to the things of this world?  Jesus was consistent on that point....

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - Luke 18:22

A ruler who heard this and had "great wealth" was saddened by this advice (verses 18, 23). Other Bible accounts indicate he went away from Jesus (Mark 10:22).

In poker, "going bust" is a bad thing. In a tournament, you're out of chips and out of the running. But in spiritual terms, giving away the "stack" can be a good thing:

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way.... - II Corinthians 9:10-11

Be willing to give up your seat at the table - whether in a poker room or otherwise - and God may bless you with much more than you ever dreamed. We'll talk more about Donald Trump in a future post.

What Price Freedom?

The end of this week will mark a major anniversary for some people -- and not because it's the traditional U.S. "Tax Day."

Next Friday will be five years since "Black Friday," when the U.S. Justice Department shut down several leading online poker sites. They were shut down in essence for the same reason several poker rooms in our city closed earlier this year - requiring money to play cash games or tournaments.

Some people are led to greatly exaggerate what happened. We found one columnist who declared:

Tens of thousands of Americans lost a basic freedom that day – while others lost their livelihoods.

We agree that some people lost a lot of money, when their online bankrolls fell into government hands.  But really now -- did people "lose a basic freedom"?  Absolutely not.  There are still plenty of websites where people can play poker.  They can do it for free, and even win money doing it - although admittedly the stakes usually are much smaller.

We're going to guess the lost "freedom" referred to by the writer is the ability to gamble online. While we've entered live tournaments and won some money for nearly nine years, we would ask: do you really need to gamble?

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

We believe God created everything, so He ultimately owns it all.  And we believe God is loving enough to supply people's needs. But do you have enough faith to believe God will do that without gambling money on it?

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land.... - Isaiah 58:11

Some poker players might interpret this verse to mean a big-money tournament in Las Vegas.  But seriously: God is willing to provide for you. But it may require taking the biggest risk of all - even bigger than going all-in with pocket 3's. It could mean giving God control over all aspects of your life.  We'll dig deeper into that in our next post.

Watching Out for You

Set up a game - whether it be poker, football or something else - and someone inevitably will try to cheat at that game to gain an advantage.

The latest case of poker cheating comes from an online security website.  "Odlanor" malware can take a look at your cards at a website such as PokerStars, and instantly let your opponents know what you have.  It can enter your computer through poker helps, such as calculators or player databases.

For those of us who play online primarily, this is irritating but no big deal.  But for those who play online for money, it's a very big deal -- as cheaters could take advantage and rob players of winnings.

You probably can delete the malware programs to solve the problem. But that doesn't solve the core issue: Why do some people cheat at poker? Why do they feel compelled to break the rules, be unethical and attempt to sneak their way to victory?

As odd as it may sound, we think the problem is spiritual. At the root of a malware infection is a sin infection....

I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. - Romans 7:18

The man writing these words was the apostle Paul. Yes, one of Jesus's apostles admitted he had a sinful nature.  If he does, we suspect deep-down all of us do.

For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. - Romans 7:19-20

The wording here can seem confusing.  But Paul is saying a sinful nature inside him can lead him to do bad things -- such as cheating.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God - through Jesus Christ our Lord! - Romans 7:24-25

Jesus came in part to provide people a new nature - a nature that is holy, godly and righteous.  In other words, one that doesn't want to cheat.

To them God has chosen to make know among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. - Galatians 1:27

Once Jesus enters a person through the Holy Spirit, everything should start changing. But we need to focus on living a godly way, not the cheating way.  Look for ways to win that are clean and above reproach - not ways that can get you tracked down like a cyber-criminal and put in jail.

The Big Harry Deal, Part 2

We're still reflecting on the news about Georgia poker player Harry Brooks -- and finding about his death 11 months after it happened.  What other lessons can we learn from this?

2. Don't get too busy for your friends.  That's the surest way to lose them - as relationships fade away.

Sites such as Facebook are supposed to prevent that from happening, but we noted in our last post how unfriendly that site's timeline really can be.  The Bible has one good example of friends staying close:

After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.... And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. - I Samuel 18:1, 3

In 2015, some groups have taken this "love" relationship to mean something very different than what  we think the Bible describes.  Keep reading for the real story....

Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the Lord...." - I Samuel 20:42

Their friendship became separated by family drama, but we think David and Jonathan stayed together as long as they safely could. And David honored Jonathan after his death; see II Samuel 9 for how King David did it.

3. Talk with your friends about the greatest friend of all.  Who could this be?

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. - Proverbs 18:24

We're convinced that "friend" can be none other than Jesus Christ....

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.... I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. - John 15:13-15

In a way, we're trying to make friends at poker tables - while introducing people to Jesus, who gave His life for friends.  If Jesus is your friend, stay close to Him.  And also to the people around you, whom you consider friends in this life.

The Wild Life

So what has Martin Jacobson done since winning the World Series of Poker Main Event?  What - you don't know?  To be honest, we're not sure, either.

But another "poker pro" has made a lot of headlines - for the wrong reasons.  Dan Bilzerian was arrested this past week on charges of having materials to make a bomb.  That follows a case where he reportedly threw a naked actress into a swimming pool.

We don't follow the social media of poker players very much, but a news article on Bilzerian's arrest said this:

Bilzerian's popular Instagram account is consistently filled with photos of a playboy lifestyle: private jets, scantily clad women, piles of cash, guns, and Bilzerian shooting those guns in the desert.

And oh yes -- he does movie roles, too.

He sounds like every poker player stereotype come to life.  Yet check his poker record, and Bilzerian shows only one time when he placed in the money at a World Series of Poker event.

We don't know if Bilzerian is guilty of the bomb-making charge or not. But we think he's guilty of one thing -- a lifestyle that emphasizes material possessions.  And yes, we think that's something worth the title "guilty."

Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity. - Ecclesiastes 1:2 (KJV)

This "Preacher" was King Solomon of Israel.  He had more possessions and money than even modern-day millionaires (see I Kings 10 for a partial list).  Yet at the end of his life, he realized how vain it all was.

I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner.... - Ecclesiastes 5:13

Solomon admits being able to enjoy wealth and possessions is a "gift of God" (verse 19).  But how many people realize that, and give God thanks for it?  Even Solomon eventually caved in to sinful actions (I Kings 11).  That's why he concluded:

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. - Ecclesiastes 12:13

 May we all learn to do that "whole duty" better.  Better to fear God than be a playboy fearing arrest by the long arm of the law.

Paid Off At Last

Almost three years after the poker world's "Black Friday," some people who lost money when online sites were seized by the U.S. government finally are getting repaid.

The first distribution ordered by a judge involves more than 27,000 "customers" (interesting wording) of Full Tilt Poker.  We did the math, and found the average payout to them is about $2,764.  But apparently others who had money in Full Tilt's till still have not received refunds.

This struck us from the beginning as a questionable arrangement, in terms of legality.  The 2011 crackdown came when we were almost tempted to invest some money in it.  But it's always better to remember Biblical advice....

Abstain from all appearance of evil. - I Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV)

This is why we avoid cash games for real money, outside casinos.  We think most law enforcement agencies would consider them illegal -- and given a choice, we'd rather not go to jail.

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. - Matthew 10:16

Jesus went on to warn His disciples some people would plot to punish them, or even have them arrested (verses 17-22).  Arrests happened more than once after Jesus went to heaven -- but not for sinful conduct.

The disciples were punished essentially for preaching Jesus was the Christ (Acts 5:42).  May that be the only blemish on your record.

Syria, Scandal and Sin

The big news in the poker world this past week came from an unlikely place -- a U.S. Senate hearing, which wasn't even about poker.

 "Scandal!" Sen. John McCain of Arizona tweeted after the Washington Post took a camera behind the hearing desk and found he was playing video poker.  He admitted in the same Twitter message he lost.

The confession has brought a wide range of reactions.  Some people say he should have been paying attention to the topic of the hearing -- a possible U.S. military strike against Syria, which could have life-or-death ramifications throughout the Middle East.  On the other hand, McCain's mind seems made up on the issue; he wants military action, and little at the hearing might have changed that view.

We don't think McCain lost real money at the Senate hearing.  The company which makes the poker app calls it "simulated gambling."  And by the way, it reports downloads have increased 30 percent since the McCain picture went public.

Yet there's a possibly overlooked issue here.  McCain got caught playing video games on the job.  He tried to hide it well, behind a Capitol Hill desk.  But could you get away with playing online poker at your workplace -- or even old-fashioned FreeCell?

The Bible has some things to say about that....

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. - Colossians 3:22

Paul wrote this in an era when slave ownership was common.  But we think the same principle applies to modern employer-employee relations.

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

We'll all have to answer to Jesus for our actions someday -- even our actions or inaction on the job.

We should make a confession here: we had a job during college which had a lot of "down time" between tasks.  Our first experience with poker was playing against a computer at work, on an early-model Commodore (before there were Internet hookups).  The supervisors didn't mind, because they knew the nature of our job gave us plenty of time to spare.


In more recent jobs, we've realized we can't play online games and do our work properly.  (In one case, there's no time to play computer games at all.)  So we err on the side of doing the work -- realizing another Biblical principle:

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor. - Proverbs 12:24

We'll have more to say on this in a future post -- but for now, we leave these two questions for your thoughts and comments:

1.  What's the strangest place where you've ever played poker (even stranger than a Congressional hearing room)?

2. There's a time to work, and there's a time to play poker.  Unless you're a poker pro, ask yourself: do those two paths really cross?
 

Opening the Portals

It's an announcement many U.S. poker players have waited to see.  Plans have been announced to bring back "legal" online cash games and tournaments - the kind of games which brought two crackdowns by the Justice Department in recent years.

For now, the website is only accessible to adults living in Nevada.  But the obvious goal is to expand to other states.  For those who play poker well, it's an opportunity to win money without going to a standing casino.  For those who don't....

Well, the news of the week also has included a game player at the other end of the spectrum.  He went to a carnival to win an X-Box for his children, and wound up losing what he called his "life savings" of $2,600.  (At least the carnival promoters gave him a $600 refund.)

Our point?  If you don't know what you're doing, poker can be a money-losing proposition.  We've played enough cash games in poker rooms to experience both nice gains and quick busts.  As the Bible reminds us:

Labor not to be rich.... for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. - Proverbs 23:4-5 (KJV)

The New International Version adds a noteworthy phrase to verse 4: "have the wisdom to show restraint."  The man at the carnival did not; he reportedly lost $300 at his game, then went back home for $2,300 more.

....But a wise man keeps himself under control. - Proverbs 29:11b

Or as one brewery's ads used to advise, "Know when to say when."  That's a wise tip when it comes to money in poker, every bit as much as alcohol.

So if you dare to play online cash games, we suggest having a personal "limit down" (to borrow a commodity market phrase) -- an amount of loss which you never cross.  If you hit it, you quit.  But look on the bright side -- if you win, the sky can be your limit.

I've Got a Secret?

"Thanks for giving me your house key," we said to our older brother as we stayed with him for a day during our recent vacation.

His response threw us for a moment.  "Did you win?"

No, we didn't win at the poker room we visited.  But he won the discussion, by knowing one of our locations without our even bringing it up.

Our brother might have guessed at the visit based on this blog, or our recent habits.  But it turns out he had to review his computer's online browsing history for some kind of Internet activity -- and he noticed we'd called up a couple of casinos in the area, looking for a place to play.

There's a lesson for all of us to gain from this -- especially if you're "sneaking out" to play poker without telling your family or friends.  Does someone close to you oppose your poker habit, perhaps because you're gambling away vital money?  An ancient leader named Moses warned....

But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. - Numbers 32:23 (emphasis ours)

How does it "find you out"?  Smart people (like our brother) can track down your online habits, to see if they're for your good or harm.  And suspicious minds can follow you around in other ways (check TV series such as Cheaters for proof).  Whether or not you're good at hiding your trail, keep in mind:

The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. - I Timothy 5:24

That "place of judgment" ultimately is the judgment seat of Jesus Christ, where everyone will stand someday (II Corinthians 5:10).  We think it's best to follow the advice of a hymn, and "live transparently" -- with your activities open before God and man.  And even better....

In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden. - I Timothy 5:25

If you're hiding a bad gambling habit, work on developing a good one in its place -- one that's a lot less expensive, and maybe others will appreciate.

Double Your Fun?

This time it was NLOP's fault.  The poker site's computer had some kind of hiccup during a tournament, and everyone was locked out.  National League of Poker suspended play for about 30 minutes, then resumed where things stopped - an Internet poker version of a "rain delay."

But when we returned to the action, suddenly we faced more action than we expected.  Somehow we were entered into not one sit-n-go table, but three - and a separate "point play tournament" on top of that.  We left one game, and came back to about five!

We decided to forgo the sit-n-goes, but kept trying in the two tournaments.  That meant we were at multiple tables simultaneously, which we never had tried before.  This is nothing for some online poker pros, who have computers set up for four or five games at once.  But that would be an easy day for some chess masters; we've read about exhibitions where they go from table to table, taking on 20 opponents or more at a time.

There's a reason why we've tried to avoid MPD - what we jokingly might call Multiple Poker Disorder.  Believe it or not, it's found in Scripture....

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. - James 1:8 (KJV)

 No servant can serve two masters,.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.... - Luke 16:13

It's better to stay focused on one thing at a time, if at all possible.  That may sound old-fashioned in an era when "multi-tasking" is common and almost expected, but it's what the Bible recommends.  But the verses we quoted actually go far beyond that.  To finish the words of Jesus:

....You cannot serve both God and Money.... What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight. - Luke 16:13b, 15

Some poker games include "straddling," where players post double the big blind before the flop -- often without looking at their cards.  It might make pots more interesting, but it's an approach God will not allow when it comes to spiritual matters.  We can't straddle the fence; we must come down on one side or the other.

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom, you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living.  But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. - Joshua 24:15

Joshua came down on the side of "Jehovah," the Lord who led Israel out of Egypt.  That's the side we recommend as well -- because when the day of judgment comes, there still will be no straddlers.

All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. - Matthew 25:32-33

Read on through the end of chapter 25 to see what a difference it makes to be a "sheep" or a "goat."  The difference is enormous.

So how did we do on our two-tourney night?  Better than we expected, actually.  The point play tournament had 83 players, and we almost won points by finishing 12th.  But our top priority was the game for money we originally entered -- and a couple of Tuesday nights ago, we went all the way to second place out of 398 players to win cash!

So yes, we could engage in a little MPD and be successful at it.  But it's not what we recommend, and not what the Bible seems to recommend.  Besides, what if the games have different break times and you need to use the restroom?

Modems and the Master

Last Sunday night we entered the National League of Poker's weekly championship.  But after the first half-hour where we lost about 20 percent of our stack, the system froze.  It apparently was the fault of NLOP's server; the game was suspended and resumed later in the evening.

We won several big pots after the resumption, climbing to more than 37,000 chips in 90 minutes.  With about 300 players remaining, we were 55th -- and money now is paid to the top 52 players in the weekly tournament.  But then our screen froze again.  We feared it was one of those stifling McAfee updates -- but after a restart of our computer, our Internet connection refused to work!

While thankfully the "automatic disqualification" rule was suspended for this tournament, the outage cost us half-an-hour of play.  We had another web freeze after returning, went all-in with 8-8 in desperation and lost to a straight.  We finished 96th out of 1,147 players -- but again wondering what might have been.

Another Internet slowdown and outage occurred for us later in the week, deep in a tournament.  Finally we called our Internet provider's tech support line, and it concluded our modem was fading out and dying.  The device lasted five years, which apparently was very good since the usual life of a modem is three to four.

But these frustrations remind us how in this life, nothing lasts forever and few things truly are reliable.  Your best-laid plans can be ruined when things break down, or people let you down.  At those points we're reminded:

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. - Psalm 20:7

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel, or seek help from the Lord. - Isaiah 31:1

You may count on a fellow poker player to act in a certain way which benefits you -- only to find he or she makes a very different decision.  You may even be looking for help and success from a candidate, in this U.S. election year.  But the more reliable place to turn is God -- as even Jesus pointed out:

I have much to say in judgment of you.  But he who sent me is reliable, and what I have heard from him I tell the world. - John 8:26

Jesus was sent by God the Father 2,000 years ago -- and He'll be sent again to rescue this world from destruction, and bring eternal life to those who accept His salvation (Matthew 24:30-31).  Do you trust God to provide the greatest victory of all?

God and Cybergod

When we play poker, we want to win -- but we also want to have some fun, and perhaps start a conversation which leads to ministry.  In one online game the other day, that latter part clearly rubbed another player the wrong way.


Cybergodsig won Main pot 24,749 with Full house, nines full of tens
Me: very good
Me: But you're not God

Calling out a false "god" may seem harsh.  But it's what followers of the true God have done for thousands of years -- even in New Testament times.

And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia.  He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. - Acts 19:26

These were the words of a man who created silver shrines for another god (verse 24).  His business was at risk from Paul's preaching - and the man we played responded as if we'd threatened him the same way.

Cybergodsig: *** off

Me: Not my God, at least....

Really now -- would a true God answer a critic by using censored language?

And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. - Psalm 12:6

In contrast, our opponent moved toward pure trash talk:

Cybergodsig: you going bye bye

Cybergodsig: chump

"Chump?"  Both of us were sitting at a semifinal online table - out of a tournament with 577 players.  But then came a fun-sounding showdown between two other players....


Pokerpiz won Main pot 6,928 with Two pair, kings and sixes
THEWIZ is returned 6,152 extra chips from Side pot 1
Me: Wiz v. Piz
THEWIZ won Main pot 22,856 with Full house, tens full of sixes
Cybergodsig: shut it
Pokerpiz eliminated from the tournament (he/she has lost all his/her chips)
Me: very good
Cybergodsig: *** talker
THEWIZ: TY

What do you think of this?  Is it wrong or impolite to talk at a poker table at all -- even online?  Your comments are welcome; this topic will continue in a future post.

February Senior Championship: Thanks, But No Thanks

In January, we almost made the final table at the monthly National League of Poker Senior Championship.  Tuesday night brought another opportunity -- and things looked great for awhile....

:06 IN: After pocket 10's were overshadowed by an Ace on the flop and a Jack on the turn, we have 7-10 of spades.  A player doubles the blind, and we accept.  The flop is 6-A-A, the first two cards spades.  Everyone checks.  The turn is Qs, and we bet 150 with a flush.  One player calls.  The river is 8c.  We check to "defer," but our opponent checks as well.  He has A-Q!  Our flush wins $525.

:15 IN: We have K-K, limp in, then see two players go all-in for more than 800.  We hold our breath and call -- to find we face A-3 and 9-6!  The flop is 10-9-J.  The turn is 7.  The river is 3!  We dodge the stray rocket, eliminate one player and grab a $3,990 jackpot.

:19 IN: We have A-10 in the big blind -- and since no one raises, we go up 200 and attract a couple of callers.  The flop is 2-A-Q.  We make a power bet of 700, the table folds, and we win $880.

We miss a few flops after that, doing a little chasing -- but reach the half-hour break at a comfortable $2,705.  We sit in 58th place, with 342 players still competing.

:45 IN: We have Q-10.  The flop is 2-4-J, and offer a bluffer's bet of 200.  A couple of players call.  The turn is 3, and another player makes a big bet.  We fold -- and when the river is J, a man to our left shows J-J for quads.

:48 IN: We have 5-8 of diamonds in the big blind.  The flop is 7x-6d-Ax, giving us a two-way straight draw.  Everyone checks.  The turn is K.  An opponent bets 200, and we dare to call.  But the river is 3, and we bail out with a loss. (The winner has A-9.)

:49 IN: We have 7s-7c in the small blind  The flop is 6-8-5 -- all hearts!  An opponent bets about 200, and we dare to call.  The turn is 7h, and our three of a kind never looked more grim.  A player bets 200, and we fold.  Good thing - because amazingly, the man who hit quads four minutes before shows 4h, to make a straight flush!  Do any math experts know the odds against that?

:58 IN: We have J-8 of diamonds in the big blind.  The flop is 5d-Qx-Jx. An opponent goes all-in for 755.  What would you do with middle pair?  We take a chance and call -- and we're rewarded when the big bettor shows a mere 4-7!  The turn is 3, the river is 4, and we capture $2,470.

1:00 IN: The next hand brings us 6-6 in the small blind, and accept a doubling of the blind to 600.  The flop is 8-3-3.  An opponent bets 900, and we fold -- only to see 6 on the turn.  Our "triple six" would have beaten is winning "triple three."

We have $1,735 at the second break -- and that's when the trouble starts.  Our computer is noisy enough for us to hear a McAfee update approaching.  We'd moved our weekly McAfee scan time to Tuesday morning, to avoid any interruptions in the evening.  We paused the scan at the start of the game -- but we can't interrupt McAfee at update time.

The McAfee entry suffocates our browser, even before announcing its presence.  Google Chrome freezes, and NLOP tells us our log-in has been lost after eight minutes of lost playing time.  But the computer doesn't let us log in again for five more minutes -- and under NLOP rules, ten minutes of inactivity gets us eliminated!

McAfee didn't even announce on the screen its update was ready until 25 minutes after entry.  (The update itself took 64 minutes to complete, in part because we restarted the weekly scan along side it.)  So with all that waiting time, we had plenty to think about -- and we admittedly spent plenty of time stewing.  We had prayed before the tournament for God's blessing upon our actions and comments.  So why here?  Why now??

But the more we thought about it, the more we concluded we were to blame.  That pre-game prayer was in the car, before going inside a restaurant for dinner.  It was relatively short -- and we determined that was the problem.  Why?

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar.  He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. - Revelation 8:3

"Beat your prayers fine," we've heard ministers preach over the years.  They've claimed incense burns better when it's ground into tinier particles -- so therefore, God wants detailed prayers instead of broad generalizations.  Based on that reasoning: we did not specifically ask God to block McAfee interruptions; thus, God used that loophole to eliminate us from the tournament and teach us a lesson.

But here's the strange twist -- only as we wrote this post did we discover the claim about incense-burning may not be entirely accurate.  And we can think of a few short prayers in the Bible which wound up having a big impact.  Here's one; perhaps you can think of more....

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.  Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."  Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. - I Kings 18:36-37

Even at a slow pace, we read that prayer of Elijah aloud in 25 seconds.  Yet God heard it, answered it and gave the prophet victory in a dramatic showdown with Baal worshipers at Mount Carmel (people who pleaded conceivably for hours for Baal to show himself -- pleading in vain).

So did we beat ourselves up too much, for not "beating our prayers" enough?  We'll leave that open for your comments.  In the meantime, our finish at the poker tournament still wasn't that bad: 103rd out of 950 players.  But who knows what might have been?!?!


..

Characters Wanted?

Huh?  We thought poker was a more popular game than ever.  But none other than Daniel Negreanu declared recently it's in "big trouble.... heading in the wrong direction."

Why?  Apparently not because of the U.S. Justice Department crackdown.  Negreanu told an interviewer the problem is that too many online poker stars are.... well, dull.  They're so focused on Internet play that they come across as wonky, lacking in personality.  (And if anyone should know about being a "poker personality," it's Negreanu.)

There are two ways to look at these comments.  For one thing, there's nothing wrong with working hard at what you do -- whether you're a poker pro or a laborer on the construction site:

Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. - Proverbs 10:4

Negreanu even admitted in the interview he may have lost a bit of his game by becoming a "media face" of poker, as opposed to the "poker non-stop" approach of Phil Ivey.

But then again, working non-stop can burn you out and run you down.  An occasional break is good for you, in ways far beyond your physical health.  That's part of the reason why the Bible recommends....

But the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.  On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. - Exodus 20:10

In fact, it's not simply a recommendation -- it's one of God's Ten Commandments.  We also think gathering and fellowshipping with believers from other walks of life on the Sabbath can help build personality skills, while widening your perspective on things.

Live poker tournaments in our area can include plenty of interesting characters; we share their stories here from time to time.  Online players don't really expose such traits, outside of their avatars and chat comments.

So what do you think of Negreanu's comments?  Is poker (especially on TV) better with guys wearing "chicken suits"?  Or is it all about the game?

NLOP Clarification

A couple of weeks ago, we wrote National League of Poker no longer has its big-money weekly championship tournament on Sunday nights -- that it had been moved to Sunday afternoons U.S. ET.

While there is a weekly championship at stake then, there's still a "Sunday night special" tournament with $100 in prize money.  And instead of qualifying, anyone can enter -- if they pay a buy-in of 50,000 points.  Since we're only playing at NLOP part-time these days, we're waiting for the right time to try that.