Vocal Accords

In recent posts, we've introduced you to a man at a poker room who admitted he wasn't sure about his ultimate destiny. When we tried to talk with him about that, he gave a surprising response: "My wife is a choir director and a church organist."

We don't know exactly what his wife is saying and doing. But if she's trying to persuade him on a path toward conversion, even by her example, she has our support....

For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband.... How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? - I Corinthians 7:14, 16

The studio audiences on some TV game shows love to tell contestants what to do. The only time that seems to happen in poker is when celebrities gather on cable TV. Yet one of our goals is to give poker players some advice they probably aren't expecting.

Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that accompanied it. - Mark 16:20

We happen to belong to a church association where "evangelism" is considered a corporate thing more than an individual effort. Yet we believe if the Holy Spirit is involved, the right word at the right time can have a righteous result....

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent?... - Romans 10:14-15

We should note we do not resort to "preaching" in poker rooms - not in terms of standing up and giving a testimony or sermonette. Our approach is more subtle, one-to-one or in casual conversation at the table:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - Proverbs 15:1

Has someone been trying to tell you it's time to make a major change in your life - that it's time to turn to God and Jesus Christ? If so, maybe this is the supporting word you need. Repent of your sins. Believe in God and His Son, who came to save you. No, it's not easy to do - but it's the best "all in" move you'll ever make.

Poker Night 512: Brave Hearts

Some poker hands are considered better than others before the flop. But any two cards have a chance of succeeding, once the flop comes. If only some hands ended there. You'll see what we mean, in this review of tonight's freeroll tournament at Five Star Billiards.

BLINDS: 100/200

IN THE POCKET: 6-3 of hearts

It's the very first hand of the night, at a table of six players. We're in the Small Blind, and no one has raised. Of course we'll play suited cards. About four players are in.

ON THE FLOP: 2h-Jh-8h

A perfect flop for us! But then the humility moment strikes. Our hearts to make the flush are small. Someone might be sitting on bigger ones. So in lead position, we bet 500 to take the temperature of the table. Several players fold, but the dealer does not. He calls.

ON THE TURN: Kh

A fourth heart makes our cards suddenly look a whole lot smaller. Is this what the dealer was waiting for? We check to see.

"I'll bet 1,000," he says. Yup, that's what we feared.

"I liked these cards for awhile," we respond - but we fold, expecting the worst. Sure enough, the dealer shows us the Ace of hearts. He had a draw for the "nut flush," and received it.

That loss was relatively small, but we won a few pots which were modestly big. From a starting 10,000, we reached 11,200 at the first break. We won a few more in the second hour, helped at one point by pocket Aces. Despite a  big loss with A-J at the end, we reached the final table at the two-hour break with 12,000.

A couple of wins and splits there lifted us to a high of 25,000 - but at that point, the blinds had reached 5,000/10,000. A desperation push with A-9 led to a 9 on the board, but a man to our left had Q-Q to eliminate us. We wound up matching Friday's tournament in Tulsa, with a sixth-place finish out of about 25 players.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I'm a generic Christian," a man across the table told us before the night began. No, we didn't bring up religion; a talkative older man next to him did.

But what did he mean by generic? "I go by what Jesus did, not by what some religion says." That may sound strange, but it actually follows the Bible's advice....

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. - I Corinthians 11:1

The apostle Paul wrote this to a church group that was showing signs of division:

What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas"; still another, "I follow Christ". - I Corinthians 1:12

The Christian movement has had a lot of splits over the years. Protestants marked a major one a couple of weeks ago, with the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's action sparking the Reformation. Yet what did the apostle say long ago about this?

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? - I Corinthians 1:13

His point in this letter and others was that every believer ultimately should follow Jesus Christ.

For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. - Ephesians 5:23

So the man across the table was perceptive. But we had a question for him. "Didn't Jesus say He came to build a church?" Indeed He did....

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. - Matthew 16:18

The man admitted he'd only attended a church service a few times in recent months. Yet as divided as Christianity is, we're expected to attend one as we're able. We'll go deeper into that in an upcoming post.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 187 final tables in 512 games (36.5%) - 36 cashes. Since crossing the 500-game mark, we've made four final tables in 12 tries.

Aaron Sells-Out

At our last live poker tournament, the name "Aaron" came up - and we noted that's a famous name from the Bible. We meet him first in Exodus 4, as the older brother of Moses and a spokesman for both of them.

Aaron accompanied Moses in several showdowns with Egypt's Pharaoh. They ended with Israel coming out of Egyptian slavery - and the support was more than vocal:

As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amaliekites were winning. When Moses's hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up - one on one side, one on the other.... - Exodus 17:11-12

How many "poker wives" support their spouses quietly and loyally - whether in big tournaments or small? They may not literally hold the cards up so the players can see them, but they can give moral support and encouragement in many ways. It's easy to overlook them, but we shouldn't.

God set up a line of priests through Aaron (Exodus 28:1/Leviticus 8:21-30) - but then he made a big mistake:

Aaron answered them, "Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.".... He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it into a tool. Then they said, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf.... - Exodus 32:3-5

It's one thing to win a gold bracelet, at an event such as the World Series of Poker. It's another thing to idolize it - making it a god and presuming it's like the God of heaven. Even though God was displaying His power in amazing ways to Israel, Aaron defaulted to something Egypt had done. And then....

"They said to me, Make us gods who will go before us'.... Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!" - Exodus 32:23-24

Really.... really?! Aaron lied by denying he'd "fashioned" the gold, and claiming it looked like a false god by sheer coincidence. It's easy for us to say it now, but Aaron should have stood his moral ground and pointed the people to the God who was talking with Moses on Mount Sinai.

If poker consumes a lot of your time, either in person or online, you might have turned the game into your god - and you have a false god. You might need to do what Moses did for Israel....

So Moses went back to the Lord and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin...." - Exodus 32:31-32

Seek God's forgiveness, and make Him the true God of your life. After all, He was around long before poker - and He offers the gift of eternal life, to last far beyond it.

King-Queen Winners?

Can someone play poker and have a happy marriage at the same time? Some of the stories that make the news can make you wonder.

Courtesy FTVLive.com

The latest comes from New York, where poker pro Beth Shak has filed for divorce. She's been married to cable TV news reporter Rick Leventhal only ten months. But an attorney says "irreconcilable differences" have developed.

We're struck by what Shak said about meeting Leventhal:

"I’ve never been lucky in love, but meeting in him proved that my luck has changed...."

Disclaimer: We've never been married, so we won't pretend to be experts at this. But we'll go to a great guidebook on the topic, and ask: is love a matter of "luck" - or something more?

He who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord. - Proverbs 18:22 (NLT)

Both Shak and Leventhal will be ending their second marriages. Assuming "she who finds a husband" also receives favor from God, both of them found it twice. But we think finding it is one thing, while maintaining it is something else....

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.... - Ephesians 5:25

We don't know what sort of "differences" Leventhal and Shak have. But this verse says love is about giving - in this case, a husband going "all in" for his wife. How far did God and Jesus Christ go with that?

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

It's about going all in, even if the other party is sinning and doesn't deserve a thing. At a human level, that can take a lot of work and resolve - but that's what God's love is, and that's the example we're supposed to follow.

(In a few days, some Christians will recall that giving sacrifice by taking part in "Lord's Supper" services. Some call them Passover or communion services. This article may help you understand that better.)

Giving isn't something players at a poker table are supposed to do. Tournaments are won by collecting the most chips. But to show love in a marriage, somebody's got to give. It's even better if both do. May all married couples learn to do that - even to have a "love Shak."

Gad or God?

There probably aren't many poker players who watch or listen to religious programs. That's one reason why we do what we do.

It's almost inevitable that those programs sooner or later bring up the topic of gambling. We heard one recently on radio from a deceased Southern Baptist pastor, that admittedly made us do some serious thinking. We've linked to it for you to hear and consider, and we may analyze it here in a future post.

But here's one point from that message that was eye-opening for us:

But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget my holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny.... - Isaiah 65:11

Some people go to the poker table or casino hoping for the perfect cards to make a big gain. They hope to have "good fortune."  Or as the Contemporary English Version translates verse 11, they offer food and wine "to the gods you call 'Good Luck' and 'Fate'".

The Hebrew word for "fortune" in that verse is gad.  Veteran Bible students know that's also the name of one of Israel's 12 tribes....

Leah's servant Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, "What good fortune!" So she named him Gad. - Genesis 30:10-11

The problem with this child was that Jacob should have been receiving children from his wife.  (In fact, Leah was one of his two wives, but that's not our issue here.)  What Leah considered "really lucky" (CEV) actually was outside the will of God (Genesis 2:24).

So if you're putting your hopes simply on having good luck in a poker room, you're leaning on "gad" -- when you really should put your hope in God.  Because God says this of "gad"....

Your luck will end! I will see to it that you are slaughtered with swords. You refused to answer when I called out; you paid no attention to my instructions. Instead, you did what I hated, knowing it was wrong. - Isaiah 65:12 (CEV)

Does this verse describe you? Are you hoping for a lucky streak to turn around your life? God warns from the Bible that's the wrong approach - and he can punish it severely. It's better to lean on God. We'll explain how to do that in our next post.

Future Tens

As the poker world moves past the "perfect 10's" of this year's World Series of Poker Main Event champion, we asked about the number ten in the Bible.  We noted there are the Ten Commandments - and we asked where other combinations might be found.

Courtesy tenplay.com.au
 

Jesus mentioned one group of ten in a parable -- then He divided them in two:

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lambs and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not have any oil in them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. - Matthew 25:1-4

What's Jesus driving at here?  Is this a message to "preppers" about a coming apocalypse?  Well, in a way it is. Keep reading....

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. - Matthew 25:10

Let's apply this moment to the poker room.  We don't think it's good to show up "fashionably late" to a tournament.  You'll probably have to start with higher blinds, which means less room to maneuver - and you'll probably have to square off against players with larger chip stacks from earlier action.


But Jesus really was talking about something else - His own return to Earth. Check what happened to the five people had to go buy oil for their lamps:

..."Sir! Sir!" they said. "Open the door for us!" But he replied, "I tell you the truth, I don't know you." Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. - Matthew 25:11-13

If you're not ready for the return of Jesus, you might miss out on something - the greatest wedding in history:

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. - Revelation 19:7

The Bible shows believers (God's church) will be wed to Jesus, and be joined with Him forever.  It pays to be ready for that moment.  Stay close to God in prayer and Bible study to keep your "oil supply" well stocked.

We did some more Bible number-crunching, and put the results in one of our newest articles.  We welcome your thoughts about it.

Poker Night 393: Hook Me Up

Readers with long memories might remember when we played poker at a downtown lounge called Hookahmeup.  The play there didn't last long, due in part to a dispute about the prize money.  But "hooks" can happen at any poker table, anytime.  At a place named Lil Kim's Cove tonight, they seemed a bit appropriate....

BLINDS: 25/50

IN THE POCKET: J-J

The game is young, we're under the gun (first to act) -- and a high pocket pair shows up.  Would you attack right away with them?  Before you answer, we'd note this is a "bounty tournament."  The man across the table from us is the bounty.  Eliminate him, reach the final table and you'll get a 20,000-chip bonus.

Only a couple of players at our table of six have raised pre-flop so far.  So we limp in to see if any will jump with a big bet.  But no one does.

ON THE FLOP: J-6-4

A third "hook" comes for tripping opponents -- and even better, it's the top card showing.  When the play checks to us, we offer 400.  That runs off several players, but a young man to our immediate right calls.

ON THE TURN: 8

That man now tests our mettle by betting 500.  Somehow we doubt he has 5-7 for a straight.  But we choose to play along, and simply call.

ON THE RIVER: 2

Now our opponent checks.  But we simply cannot, and bet 1,000.  That's too much for him; he folds, and we win the pot.

"I was chasing a straight," we recall him saying.  We don't say what we had -- well, until here and now.

We won a couple more pots in the first hour -- but then took a big loss when a man made bets in the 5,000 range with every card.  We had A-Q and a Queen came on the flop, but we decided at the river he had us topped.  Sure enough -- another player called him, and he showed pocket Kings.

We never recovered from that loss, and finally went all-in with K-J of clubs.  But not enough clubs showed up for us, nor did a pair.  A man who made a pair of 9's eliminated us in 14th place.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "That thing's worth about 20 dollars," the young man at our right said when he saw our card protector -- the gold coin with a depiction of the Lord's Supper on one side, and an artist's rendering of Jesus on the other.

"Do you believe in Jesus?  Is He your Savior?" we asked.  We might as well have put the man all-in pre-flop.

"Is Jesus my Savior?  Is He not my Savior?" he pondered aloud in a quiet ramble which was tough to hear.  "I believe He was a person.  He was a good person.  But I don't accept about half of the things He said."

The game moved along, and we never asked the man which half of Jesus's sayings he didn't accept.  So we'll turn the question in your direction.  Do you accept everything Jesus said?  Everything?  Here are a couple of quotes which might test your answer....

I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, and marries another woman commits adultery.... Do not commit adultery.... - Matthew 19:9, 18

Jesus upheld the Ten Commandments given to Moses.  (In fact, some ministers teach Jesus actually was the "God" who gave them to Moses, as "Lord of the Old Testament.")  That includes the command against adultery, which upholds the marriage vows.  If you're thinking about divorcing your spouse, ask yourself: is it right in Jesus's eyes?  And related to that....

"Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?" - Matthew 19:4-5

In spite of what modern society may support and politicians may contend, this is how Jesus defined a marriage.  A man is united with a woman.  Call Christ judgmental if you wish -- but keep in mind, He'll be exactly that way when He comes again:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. - II Corinthians 5:10

If you're resisting any of Jesus's commands and instructions, what do you expect His ruling on you will be?

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 136 final tables in 393 games (34.6%) - 20 cashes.

NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 283 point wins in 1,381 games (20.5%), 92 final tables, 10 wins, 12 cashes.  No-River Hold 'em - 27 point wins in 105 games (25.7%), 23 final tables, 1 win, 2 cashes.

Since we tend to play only cash freerolls where no points are awarded, it's probably time to change our standard in regular tournaments; watch for details about that.

But NLOP still awards points in most No-River Hold 'em games, and we had a strong week there: seventh place on Saturday night, second out of 93 players on Monday afternoon (sadly, only the winner earned money), then ninth in Wednesday's Bi-Weekly Championship (only six winning money, with no points).

POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $86,396, up $577.

At the Crossroads

Irving is NOT his real name, but that's what we're calling him to protect his identity.  We met him at a poker tournament the other night.  He seemed to be new at poker -- but he told us about a trial in his life that's far too commonplace.

Irving apparently went to the game to escape the pain of a marital break-up.  He's separated from his wife of more than 25 years.  We didn't press for details about who did what to whom.  It was a moment to be a listening ear, not an investigative reporter or busybody....

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave hem over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.... They are gossips, slanderers.... - Romans 1:28-30

Irving told us he's come to several crossroads, as he deals with this major change in his life -- much like the key decisions poker players face during a tournament.  But he said he's looked to God for help at all those points.  We were glad to hear that.  It's something everyone should do.

...Because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."  So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?" - Hebrews 13:5-6

We've faced our own personal challenges in recent years.  They truly can test your faith -- but we've realized ultimately, only God can provide the solutions.

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. - Psalm 121:1-2

Will you join us in praying for this man we're calling Irving?  Please pray that God will provide the comfort and wisdom he needs -- and help him learn whatever spiritual lessons God wants to teach him.

Poker Night 316: Jacks or Better?

One poker book recommends new Texas Hold 'em players only play 15 hands: pocket pairs, A-K and A-Q.  But veteran players will tell you not all pocket pairs are created equal.  In fact, there are some they'd rather avoid.  We faced a moment along those lines Monday night at The Red Barn....

BLINDS: 50/100

IN THE POCKET: J-J

We've been waiting patiently for this sort of hand to come along.  Early efforts with lesser cards have reduced our starting stack of 7,000 chips down to the 5,500 range.  A player ahead of us doubles the bet to 200, and we're willing to sneak behind that lead by calling.  Most of the table of six gets in.

ON THE FLOP: 6-6-8

We have an "overpair," and doubt anyone jumped into a raised pot with a 6.  The man who doubled ahead of us offers a meager-looking minimal bet of 100, which emboldens us.  "Raise to 400," we say.

"Re-raise," a man two seats to our left then says.  "Five thousand."

Huh?!?!?  This seems at first to us like a "go away" bet to run us off.  At this table, people have been sticking around pots with unlikely hands.  But then two other players call the 5,000 bet, before our turn comes around again.  This leaves us with a moment of decision, as calling the re-raise wouldn't leave us with many chips.

"I tend to get in trouble when I play this," we say after a moment, "so I'll fold."  But the hand continues with three remaining players....

ON THE TURN: 9

That seems to change nothing; everyone checks.

ON THE RIVER: K

This card could have topped our overpair.  But the three players check again.

"I've got a boat," the re-raiser announces.  He shows 6-8!  No wonder he bet big -- he made a full house on the flop.  No one else comes close, and our decision to fold a high pocket pair turns out to be wise.

We won a pot minutes later, to restore our stack a bit.  But with 4,000 chips left after the one-hour break, we needed a big comeback -- and thankfully, it came several times.  First A-K turned into a double-up flush .  We went all-in minutes later with King-Jack of diamonds, and made two pair to top a man's Q-Q.  After that came a push with A-Q, which prevailed when an Ace hit the board!

We took 10,000 chips (barely enough for a rising small blind) to the final table.  Forced to push in the Big Blind, we saw A-K -- and a pair of Aces kept us alive for about one more lap around the table, while other players pushed and fell short.  With six players left, we pushed again with Q-J of diamonds.  A player called with a trailing 10-9 -- but he caught a 10 while we didn't pair.  We drove home pleased with a sixth-place finish, and our third final table in the last five nights.

MINISTRY MOMENT: "I wake up thankful every morning," a player to our right told us during the one-hour break.

"How has God's Spirit been working in your life lately?" we asked him.

The man's answer was stunning.  "God gave me plenty of misery last year."

"What happened, if I might ask?"

"I lost my wife."

This left us speechless for a moment -- but thankfully, the man also was carrying on a conversation about poker with someone else.  Finally we were ready to respond.

"I didn't know your wife died, so I'm sorry about that.  But it's good to see you're still thankful, through it all."

How can someone be thankful through such a loss?  We're reminded of a king who lost his baby boy -- taken by God because of the king's sin:

Then David got up from the ground.  After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped.  Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. - II Samuel 12:20

King David did this after a week of fasting, while his son had a deadly illness (verses 15-17).  The king's servants feared he might "do something desperate" (verse 18) - but instead, David worshiped God.

He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept.  I thought, 'Who knows?  The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.'  But now that he is dead, why should I fast?  Can I bring him back again?  I will go to him, but he will not return to me." - II Samuel 12:22-23

Was the king referring to a reunion in heaven?  We don't think so, based on Peter's statement in Acts 2:34 -- along with some of David's other words:

Is not my house right with God?  Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?  Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire? - II Samuel 23:5

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. - Psalm 23:6 (KJV)

God's throne indeed is in heaven now -- but in the future, that location will change.

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God." - Revelation 21:2-3

We're led to conclude King David and his young son will reunite in a resurrection, eventually dwelling in what verse 1 calls "a new earth."  The poker player who lost his wife can have that opportunity as well.  May he remain thankful to God, and show that thankfulness in a godly daily walk.

UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 112 final tables in 316 nights (35.4%) - 17 cashes.

NLOP Weekly Championship 16: Leaps and Out of Bounds

Our last two Sunday night weekly championship runs at National League of Poker were very good -- top 70 finishes out of more than 1,390 players. Could we move up from a "fabulous 50" this week? We tried -- and had a fascinating chat with a player along the way:

:01 IN: We have A-8 of hearts, and double the blind. Two players call. The flop is 4-A-9. We bet 100. They fold. We quickly win $295.

We lost a hand with A-9 a few minutes later to someone with J-J. Then our timing went bad....

:13 IN: We have A-5. The flop is 7-Q-9, and we fold to a small bet. Sure enough - the turn is A, and it would have won.

:17 IN: We have 9-6, and fold pre-flop. Sure enough - the flop is 6-6-4.

One or two more pot losses left us with 525 chips at the half-hour break. We needed to look for a turnaround moment.

:36 IN: We have K-K under the gun. There it is! We go all-in for 525, and someone calls with 10-Q. The flop is 8-Q-3, followed by 5-4. We escape and jump to $1,275.

:40 IN: We have Qc-Qh, and choose to limp in. The flop is 10-4-8, all hearts. We call a blind-sized bet of 150. The turn is 8d, and a couple of players push. We call a bet of 620 with an overpair, leaving only 130. The river is a 10, and we're challenged to call for our last 130. A player across from us has K-10, to make a full house.

We're gone in 626th place -- but don't leave yet. Before we were ousted, a curious chat occurred with someone with a curious handle.

Hornydevil: i hope all american commit suicide
Me: Something you'd expect someone named Devil to say.
Me: Should I ask why?

Satan the devil is the antithesis of Jesus Christ -- or if that's too big a word, the polar opposite:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. - John 10:10
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - I Peter 5:8

The devil wants you dead, just as it wanted Adam and Eve to die long ago. Jesus wants you to have life -- a joy-filled life, which leads to eternal life. The chat continues, as we go all-in with pocket Kings....

Hornydevil: im horny for your wife
RiverRatRich: gl flop
Me: Too bad. Not married.
Dealer: flopblogger wins Main Pot ($1275) with One pair, kings
Me: (whew)
Me: PTL

A moment of praising God (whether "Horn" realized it or not), following instruction from the apostle Paul.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. - Romans 12:21

Then the chat became personal, and a little extreme:

Hornydevil: flopblogger u r gay u r not married
Me: Thanks for leaping to conclusions.
Me: That's not true, either.
Dealer: aceatanc wins Main Pot ($525)
Me: True love waits.
Hornydevil: u r bisexual
Me: No.

If he's as bad with poker "reads" as he was with our lifestyle, he won't win many poker tournaments. Not everyone who is single is homosexual. For instance, what about the widow (which we're not, either)?

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. - I Corinthians 7:8-9

As we were eliminated, the chat became downright silly:

Hornydevil: all american are gay because of obama
Me: .... who's married and a father of 2?!?!
jimwolf666: well then big fella hello
jimwolf666: 666
jimwolf666: 666
jimwolf666: 666

....as in Revelation 13:18!

You truly meet all kinds of people at the poker table - especially online. May you be "prepared to give an answer" (as I Peter 3:15 says), no matter who and what you face.

If You Have a Queen (or a King)

We won our first match Saturday night in the heads-up poker tournament at The Red Barn. Then we lost two in a row -- the second stolen from us when an all-in opponent caught a flush on the river. But even before the games began, we saw something disturbing.

"It's your f***ing cards or your f***ing wife! Your cards or your f***ing old lady!"

The woman didn't look that old at all -- but she was angrily in a man's face, claiming he'd promised to stop coming to The Red Barn for poker nights. After a prolonged chewing-out, a bouncer stepped between them and persuaded the woman to leave.

"Would you want to go home to that?" the mostly-silent man then asked the room. Most of the men seemed to take his side.

"Did you promise her you wouldn't come here?" we asked the man.

"Yeah," he admitted. "But that was before she went out on her own all day long, doing her thing.... I stayed at home, spent nine hours cooking a Boston Butt, got drunk.... And then she comes home and says I have to spend all night with her?!"

We've never been married, so we don't claim any personal expertise in marital relations. But we know a good source of advice for couples, so we'll quote from it:

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.... In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. -- Ephesians 5:25, 28

The love Jesus showed was truly an "all-in" sort of love. And He did it despite the fact that we're far from perfect people.

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -- Romans 5:7-8

The love Jesus showed was sacrificial (a word worthy of another post). He put our need for salvation ahead of Himself -- being self-less as opposed to self-ish.

Card-playing actually might be one sign of a troubled marriage. We've known of husbands who play cards "with the boys" late into the night, while wives wait at home and internally churn over what's happening to their relationship. The men practice avoidance; the women seek loving attention.

In this case, we personally think the husband made the wrong choice. If he made a promise, he should stick to it -- even if it made him look like the official club wimp. After all....

The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. -- Psalm 145:13b

A happy "Queen" in the home is better than two Queens in the pocket anytime.

(If you dismissed all this after reading we've never been married, we encourage you to read this article by a man who's had a happy marriage for decades.)