The Green Monster

Our last post examined a variation of Pai Gow poker, where you can put chips on a "Fortune" button. If someone at the table makes four of a kind, everyone with chips on that button earns an "envy bonus."

Sounds strange, doesn't it - a bonus for envy?! Many times, it works the other way around. Poker players envy the success of others, try to copy them.... and wind up crashing out of tournaments or going bust at a cash game. Others envy someone else's possessions so much that they steal the items for themselves.

We'll let you do your own color research into why people become "green with envy" (as opposed to red or blue). But it's not the sort of emotion God wants us to have....

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.... I Corinthians 13:4

Since the Bible tells us that "God is love" (I John 4:16), this shows envy is not one of His traits. In fact....

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery.... factions and envy.... those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. - Galatians 5:19-21

For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. - James 3:16

If envy is a personal problem for you, we recommend repenting before God - then starting a new habit. Be happy when others are successful:

Honor one another above yourselves.... Rejoice with those who rejoice.... - Romans 12:10, 15

We realize at some poker tables, you might look weird doing this. But it's far better than letting envy eat away at your peace of mind - and maybe even your bank account.

We heard a message the other day that went deep into the topic of envy. It may reveal other areas of your life where you're "going green" in a bad way, and need to make some changes.

Face: Up to It?

"That's why I don't play poker," a young man said at our regular job the other day.

His reason had nothing to do with money or ethics. "I don't have a poker face," he explained. He added he tends to let his expressions and feelings come forward - so if he's dealt pocket Aces, the rest of the table probably would know in an instant.

The "poker face" has become such a common cliché that Lady Gaga made a hit song with that title (albeit with questionable lyrics). We think some people who have trouble maintaining one in club games try to make up for it with big talk - boasting about winning hands they might or might not have.

Believe it or not, there are times in the Bible where people are told to have a "poker face" of sorts. One case occurred when a leader lost two sons due to their disobedience....

Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair become unkempt, and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will angry with the whole community..." - Leviticus 10:6

No obvious signs of grief were allowed, because the fire that killed the other sons had come from God (verses 1-2). The victims simply received what they deserved. Perhaps that carries over to some ministers today. To be honest, we've seen modern TV preachers with "poker faces" so grim that it's hard to believe they consider the gospel "good news".

So how do you develop and keep a good poker face? One idea we have is to think about the worst thing that could possibly happen, such as the Bible scene above. Or if you see two Aces on the flop and you have pocket Aces, pretend someone else is on a royal flush draw.

But when the hand is over and a pot is won, it's OK to show some emotion. That's true with any blessing God gives, too:

The Lord is my strength and my shield.... My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to him in song. - Psalm 28:7

A good "poker face" indeed takes some practice, but it can help make you a good poker player. We've offered our suggestion for developing one. If you have a better one, please leave a comment.

Remember As You Play....

Those who love pleasure become poor; those who love wine and luxury will never be rich. - Proverbs 21:17  (NLT)

A minister on radio recently told the story of a man who lost a lot of money from gambling. Not merely millions - but TENS of millions of dollars.

The speaker concluded from this that gambling is a vice and a sin. But hold on - what about the professional poker players who make money?

Our verse warns against three things. But are those things necessarily wrong - or is the LOVE of them wrong? For instance....

You should know, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.... They will be betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. - II Timothy 3:1, 4  (NLT)

The Bible says God is love (I John 4:8) - and He wants us to love Him in return. But He wants us to make God our first love. Not poker games, or other forms of gambling where you might find "pleasure" for a short time. True love for God can lead Him to give you His Holy Spirit....

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience.... - Galatians 5:22  (NLT)

Joy should result from having the Holy Spirit in you. So how do you obtain it?

Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away. - Acts  3:19 (NLT)

That can include the sin of putting other "loves" ahead of love for God. You could save millions of dollars in losses - and gain eternal life in the process.

Safe at Home?

The shutdown of poker rooms in our city this year probably has NOT ended poker games completely. They've simply moved to quieter, more private places.

One website offers to connect poker players with home games. In our city, someone is trying to organize games once or twice a week. If they're kept secluded, they can become a habit. But the key word is if - because if real money is being used in cash games, we'd think police would raid them for being every bit as illegal as what the poker rooms did.

Secret law-breaking is still law-breaking. That's true with the laws of God, as well as the laws of man....

His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide..... He [God] punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them. - Job 34:21-22, 26

You can try to run from God. But ultimately, it won't work. You might get away with illegal card games now, but God promises a day of judgment:

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. - Ecclesiastes 12:14

You may think your private home game is a good time. But if it's against the law in your city or county, we think God will consider it evil - and subject to judgment someday.

Are we being killjoys? Some might say so. But we're trying to say the joys of life should be legal ones - with the laws of man and God. Keep it clean, and you should have no reason to hide.

But You Lost

We've been rather successful in live poker since moving to our new city.  But we haven't been perfect -- as in 100-percent final tables.  If anyone really is perfect (especially in professional poker), we'd like to meet them.

In prior posts, we mentioned we pray before going into tournaments -- and among other things, we pray for success at the table.  But what if it doesn't come?  What if we go bust in a couple of hands?  Does that make God a failure?

No -- it only proves we are a failure.  There could be many explanations for why success doesn't come.  We'll offer a few here; you might be able to scan the Bible and find others:

1) OVERCONFIDENCE IN SELF.  A little success can build a big ego.  Yet we're reminded:

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. - Romans 12:3

We can think we faithfully follow God to the best of our ability -- but if we give ourselves too much credit for it, God can deflate our big head in a hurry.

2) A TIME OF TESTING.  The Biblical character Job faced this, probably without his knowledge -- tested by the devil (as allowed by God) to see how loyal he'd be to God.  At one point Job said:

To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.  What he tears down cannot be rebuilt; the man he imprisons cannot be released. - Job 12:13-14

Can we keep honoring and glorifying God, even when Satan throws challenges in our way?

3) THE ANSWER IS NO.  Contrary to what some might preach, God is not Mr. Rubber-Stamp - always giving believers everything they request.  The apostle Paul knew about this:

To keep me from becoming conceited.... there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. - II Corinthians 12:7-8

But read on and you'll see God turned down Paul's plea -- so God's power could become more evident in Paul's life.

That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong. - II Corinthians 12:10

Delighting in such things admittedly is very hard to do.  But it's what Paul says believers should do -- so when successes come, Jesus and God get the glory and honor for them.

If you're in a losing streak, whether in poker or life, we invite you to consider our Bible study on failure.  We've personally been through it.  Perhaps you can learn from it.

The 18-Million Dollar Man

The Main Event is starting this weekend at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.  But for a change, it is not the biggest tournament in the game -- at least not in terms of prize money.

Antonio Esfandiari won $18.3 million dollars this past week, in a new WSOP tournament called "The Big One for One Drop."  The buy-in was a whopping one million dollars.  (Which is why we're playing local free tournaments instead -- we do what we can afford.)

We were struck as much by the champion's interview as the grand prize.  Esfandiari comes across on television as one of the more mild-mannered, ego-condensed poker players.  Some of his quotes reflect that personality:

"You know, my style is to talk and have a good time at the poker table, I might as well enjoy my life, instead of sitting there and being bored. Because poker, as we all know, is boring sometimes. So, I was just trying to have a good time...."


We get picked on during online tournaments for being talkative, too (as in chat comments).  It's as if some players consider a poker room like an ancient cathedral, where you simply must be silent.  But if you don't enjoy what you're doing, will there really be joy in your moments of success?

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15

These words come from the wealthiest man of his time, King Solomon of Israel. He encouraged joyful living -- but where do find real joy?  Listen to Esfandiari again:


 I did some self-awareness work, and just kind of took things into perspective; you know, what was and what wasn’t important. And going out and partying at the end of the day, it really didn’t make me that happy. I loved it, don’t get me wrong. I kind of grew out of it. I’m 33 now and so I just decided to live a better life....

The older people get, the more their priorities can change.  Seek pleasure night after night from alcohol or drugs, and you're likely to discover eventually how those things ultimately are unfulfilling.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path.  Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. - Proverbs 23:19-21

But we hope Esfandiari realizes even an 18-million dollar payday can't buy real happiness....

For riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. - Proverbs 27:24

True joy comes from having God's Holy Spirit inside you (Galatians 5:22).  And that leads us to one more eyebrow-raising quote:

If you fade this flush draw, you win the biggest tournament in history of the world. And that’s it. This is the moment. It’s here, right now. I was like please Jesus, this one time. And I’m pretty sure I used up all my one-times on this tournament, but I’m okay with that. 

Did you notice?  Esfandiari looked to Jesus at the biggest moment in his poker career.  So many people do that -- looking to God for help only at the most critical times.  It's better to develop a right relationship with God and Jesus, and have that at all times.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. - II Peter 3:18

So congratulations to "The Magician" -- and may you learn lessons from him, about life as well as poker.

Be Fruitful and Multiply

A recent post mentioned the false gods some people can create. The game of poker can bring some of them out -- such as money (especially if you're playing a cash game), success or even trees.

We noted from Galatians 6 the importance of developing the spiritual things, as opposed to things which are sinful. What kinds of things are we talking about? The apostle Paul answers that question one chapter back....

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23

Is it really possible to display these traits at a poker table? After thinking it over, we'd say yes. We've seen other players do it. And we've tried to do it.

Consider how some of these traits work together. If you control your human self's temptation to bet at a lot of pots, you'll automatically develop a patience approach to the game. You'll have peace and comfort in knowing some of the impulsive bets you might have made would have been big losers. And when a big hand comes, you'll have the joy of maximizing your chip stack!

The church group we attend is in a season of self-examination. We'd invite you to do the same thing. Consider the fruit Paul mentioned, and whether they're growing in your life -- including the time you spend in poker.

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you -- unless of course, you fail the test? - II Corinthians 13:5