Classic country music abounded from the Lil Kim's Cove jukebox tonight, with the notable exception of Kenny Rogers's song with a poker theme. You know, The Gambler -- with the chorus, "You've got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em." One key hand tested how much we knew....
BLINDS: 100/200
IN THE POCKET: 8-7 offsuit
We hear players in live tournaments rave about playing these connected mid-range cards. So we do, and no one raises.
ON THE FLOP: 6-9-10
This actually is the second time in three hands that we've flopped a straight! The first time was with 5-4 -- and we split a big pot with a woman who also had 5-4. In that case, we raised to 1,000 on the flop. This time when a player to our right bets 200, we raise to 1,000 again.
"You have 8-7?!" a man across the table correctly concludes based on our pattern. But we say nothing, as the table folds. The man next to us calls.
ON THE TURN: K
There's no flush threat here, but our opponent leads for 1,000 again. We don't want to run him off if he's betting that much, so we call.
ON THE RIVER: 10
With a pair now on the board, our opponent goes all-in for about 2,100 -- and we sense big trouble. If he has 10-K or even 10-6, he tops us with a full house. We started this hand with about 8,100, so a call would be a substantial loss. After pondering for a moment, we decide to be safe.
"I'm going to give you credit for a big hand, and I'll fold." We show our straight. He shows a 10, all right -- but NOT a full house. Our read was wrong, and he ran us off a huge pot.
That mistake left us wounded for a while, and we crawled to the one-hour break at 3,750. But immediately after the break, we won from both the big and small blinds to improve to 11,500. Good cards ran out after that, though; a desperation all-in bet from the small blind with Q-J didn't bring a pair, and a man who paired an 8 knocked us out. Another final table missed -- as we finish in 12th.
MINISTRY MOMENT: A man sitting at the bar with crutches motioned us over during the one-hour break. "You gonna play the jukebox?" he asked.
"I never have here," we admitted.
The man offered us two dollars for the jukebox, which admittedly made us uncomfortable. "I don't know what songs you want," we said after an awkward moment.
"Play something country," he said. So with that guidance, we took the two dollars to the jukebox and.... well, let's stop right there.
If you wanted to send a Christian message with country music at a jukebox, what songs would you select? We'll tell you what we chose in a future post.
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 98 final tables in 259 nights (37.8%) - 15 cashes. Four missed final tables in a row have dropped us to our lowest percentage since we started this blog.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 155 point wins in 703 games (22.0%), 54 final tables, 7 cashes. We owe you a monthly championship report; it's coming Friday.
POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $50,643, up $800. We stayed above "50-K" at last, with some action last weekend.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Ace of Heart
When was the last time a poker story put an emotional lump in your throat? A story from this week's World Series of Poker action did for us -- and we think it deserves attention far outside Las Vegas.
A veteran of the conflict in Iraq and a rank-amateur poker player bought a $1,000 seat at a WSOP tournament. Then Ken Griffin proceeded to win it all, taking home more than $450,000.
If that's not enough, Griffin plans to use at least some of the prize money to help his aging mother pay for chemotherapy.
But don't stop there. The tournament update shows Griffin won the final hand in a dream-come-true way -- when his opponent pushed all-in pre-flop, before he looked at pocket Aces.
If Disney Productions ever wanted to write a poker movie script, they've found it. It's a touching tale all around. And may God bless Ken Griffin, along with his mom.
A veteran of the conflict in Iraq and a rank-amateur poker player bought a $1,000 seat at a WSOP tournament. Then Ken Griffin proceeded to win it all, taking home more than $450,000.
If that's not enough, Griffin plans to use at least some of the prize money to help his aging mother pay for chemotherapy.
But don't stop there. The tournament update shows Griffin won the final hand in a dream-come-true way -- when his opponent pushed all-in pre-flop, before he looked at pocket Aces.
If Disney Productions ever wanted to write a poker movie script, they've found it. It's a touching tale all around. And may God bless Ken Griffin, along with his mom.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
June Senior Championship: The Runner Stumbles
It's a busy week for us, and not only in terms of a 40-hour-per-week project. Before the project started, we qualified for two monthly championships at National League of Poker. Tuesday night was Senior Night, with 858 players on the guest list.
:03 IN: We have 6-6 in the Big Blind. The flop is Q-5-9. The turn is K -- and since no one's betting, we offer the minimum 30. The table folds, and we win $105.
In fact, that started a run of four pots in a row which nearly doubled our starting chip count.
:09 IN: After that run, we have 10-Q. The flop is 10-J-J, and we call a minimum bet of 40. The turn is J, giving us a full house. When our opponent bets 40 again, we raise to 150 and get called. The river is 4, and we bet 200. The opponent calls -- and has a 10 like we do. We split a $1,170 pot.
:21 IN: We have 9-10. The flop is 2-A-9. We try a bet of 150 and get called. The turn is 3. Everyone checks. The river is another 3. We bet 150 - and win at the showdown with two pair, gaining $810.
:22 IN: The next hand brings us A-3. The flop is 10-7-4. The turn is J; the river is 9. No one's betting, so we toss out 160 - and the table folds. A gain of $310.
We reach the half-hour break at $1,795 -- good enough for 125th place, with 388 still in the running.
:34 IN: Right after the break, we have Q-9 of spades on the button. The flop is 8x-5s-9x. An opponent bets 375, and we call with top pair. The turn is 2 (not a spade). The opponent bets 750, and we call sensing a bluff. The river is 6. He checks. So do we. But it's no bluff - he shows 9-8, and we lose $1,080 in one hand.
:51 IN: With our stack dropping, we go all-in under the gun with A-Q. The flop is 9-10-3 - but the turn is Q! The river is 9, and we "quadruple up" to $1,080.
:52 IN: The next hand finds us in the big blind with a lowly 3-2 of clubs -- but the table folds! "Bless you," we write as we pick up $75.
:58 IN: With blinds rising, we go all in with Q-A and 930 left. We top opponents with A-J and K-J! The board is nice and low: 2-7-7-8-6, giving us a big boost to $3,240.
1:03 IN: We have 9-A in the big blind, ready to defend - but a second walk comes, gaining us $400 in blinds and antes.
That brings us to the second break with $3,240. We're right in the middle of the pack - #71, with 142 left.
1:08 IN: Right after this break, we have Q-3 in the small blind. The flop is 8-2-6. The turn is 5. The river is Q -- and with no one betting, our 300 bet with top pair takes the pot to gain $1,750.
But we lost the next hand with A-Q, when an opponent with pocket Jacks caught a third on the river. A couple more modest losses hurt as well, until....
1:14 IN: We have 7-A with rising blinds and antes. We're forced to call with 805 left. But the flop brings 9-9-5, and an opponent with a 9 winds up with a winning full house.
Final outcome: 83rd place -- a "top ten percent" finish which would earn us a small profit in a casino. That big loss at :34 was the big lesson for us. Calling big bets against our mid-range top pair simply asks for trouble.
:03 IN: We have 6-6 in the Big Blind. The flop is Q-5-9. The turn is K -- and since no one's betting, we offer the minimum 30. The table folds, and we win $105.
In fact, that started a run of four pots in a row which nearly doubled our starting chip count.
:09 IN: After that run, we have 10-Q. The flop is 10-J-J, and we call a minimum bet of 40. The turn is J, giving us a full house. When our opponent bets 40 again, we raise to 150 and get called. The river is 4, and we bet 200. The opponent calls -- and has a 10 like we do. We split a $1,170 pot.
:21 IN: We have 9-10. The flop is 2-A-9. We try a bet of 150 and get called. The turn is 3. Everyone checks. The river is another 3. We bet 150 - and win at the showdown with two pair, gaining $810.
:22 IN: The next hand brings us A-3. The flop is 10-7-4. The turn is J; the river is 9. No one's betting, so we toss out 160 - and the table folds. A gain of $310.
We reach the half-hour break at $1,795 -- good enough for 125th place, with 388 still in the running.
:34 IN: Right after the break, we have Q-9 of spades on the button. The flop is 8x-5s-9x. An opponent bets 375, and we call with top pair. The turn is 2 (not a spade). The opponent bets 750, and we call sensing a bluff. The river is 6. He checks. So do we. But it's no bluff - he shows 9-8, and we lose $1,080 in one hand.
:51 IN: With our stack dropping, we go all-in under the gun with A-Q. The flop is 9-10-3 - but the turn is Q! The river is 9, and we "quadruple up" to $1,080.
:52 IN: The next hand finds us in the big blind with a lowly 3-2 of clubs -- but the table folds! "Bless you," we write as we pick up $75.
:58 IN: With blinds rising, we go all in with Q-A and 930 left. We top opponents with A-J and K-J! The board is nice and low: 2-7-7-8-6, giving us a big boost to $3,240.
1:03 IN: We have 9-A in the big blind, ready to defend - but a second walk comes, gaining us $400 in blinds and antes.
That brings us to the second break with $3,240. We're right in the middle of the pack - #71, with 142 left.
1:08 IN: Right after this break, we have Q-3 in the small blind. The flop is 8-2-6. The turn is 5. The river is Q -- and with no one betting, our 300 bet with top pair takes the pot to gain $1,750.
But we lost the next hand with A-Q, when an opponent with pocket Jacks caught a third on the river. A couple more modest losses hurt as well, until....
1:14 IN: We have 7-A with rising blinds and antes. We're forced to call with 805 left. But the flop brings 9-9-5, and an opponent with a 9 winds up with a winning full house.
Final outcome: 83rd place -- a "top ten percent" finish which would earn us a small profit in a casino. That big loss at :34 was the big lesson for us. Calling big bets against our mid-range top pair simply asks for trouble.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Reconciling Things
Sometimes even a neighborhood poker game can have its tense moments -- for instance, when a big pot or first place is at stake. In children's games, the result can be everything from yelling to hurt feelings and bruised relationships. (Yes, we know this; ask some of our relatives.) But adults ought to be able to put those moments behind them -- "burying the hatchet" and letting bygones be bygones.
The dictionary defines such a grown-up approach as being reconciled to each other. And in a recent post, we noted how believers need to be reconciled to God. Why is that necessary?
God wants to develop a glorious relationship with us. But God is perfect (Matthew 5:48) -- and while humans are told to be perfect, we all fall far short. So we need that reconciliation. And thankfully, God provided a way for that....
When you accept Jesus as your Savior, your sins are applied to Him. They're covered in Christ's shed blood, as our perfect sacrifice (Romans 4:7-8). And after that happens....
That's the message we're bringing here. Be reconciled to your fellow poker players, even if they bluff you out of a small fortune. And even more importantly, become reconciled to God -- to build a glorious relationship which can last for eternity.
The dictionary defines such a grown-up approach as being reconciled to each other. And in a recent post, we noted how believers need to be reconciled to God. Why is that necessary?
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -- Romans 3:23
God wants to develop a glorious relationship with us. But God is perfect (Matthew 5:48) -- and while humans are told to be perfect, we all fall far short. So we need that reconciliation. And thankfully, God provided a way for that....
That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. -- II Corinthians 5:19
When you accept Jesus as your Savior, your sins are applied to Him. They're covered in Christ's shed blood, as our perfect sacrifice (Romans 4:7-8). And after that happens....
....And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. -- 5:19b
That's the message we're bringing here. Be reconciled to your fellow poker players, even if they bluff you out of a small fortune. And even more importantly, become reconciled to God -- to build a glorious relationship which can last for eternity.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Going for Dough in Ocala
We took a two-day job-related road trip to Florida this week. And of course, any road trip there includes checking maps for ways to save money -- and even make money along the way at poker rooms.
Ocala Poker was practically right on the way to our destination. It's only three miles off Interstate 75, between Gainesville and Ocala. Even on a Tuesday afternoon, it was a busy place with several tables full and a waiting list for a few players.
The woman at the counter suggested the least expensive buy-ins would be for $1/$1 no-limit and $1/$2 limit. We chose the latter, and after a few minutes walked to the table with the minimum $20 to play.
Things didn't go well at first. Flush chases didn't work -- and even a 7-7 pocket pair with a 2-7-2 flop turned into a "bad beat" loser, as our full house was topped by a man with 9-9 who saw 2 on the turn for a "better boat."
We lost $20 in less than 30 minutes -- but we budgeted to spend $40. With that second $20 bill, things started happening....
BLINDS: $1 (only one blind)
IN THE POCKET: 5-5
A fairly good start for us. But the peril of small-stakes pot limit is that it's cheap and easy for anyone to play, even with wimpy hands. So most of the table jumps in.
ON THE FLOP: 5-7-8 (all diamonds, as we recall)
"Trips" on our trip give us hope -- but note there's flush and straight potential here. "River chasers" are more likely to get rewarded in this format, as you can't scare them off with huge bets. But we plunk down the minimum $1 bet, and a few players fold.
ON THE TURN: As
That seems harmless for us. The minimum bet is now $2, and we bet it. One man calls; the rest of the table gets out of the way.
ON THE RIVER: 5
Wow!!!! Now we quietly try to remember the rules at the Ocala Poker website. Is this a bonus that could pay for our entire trip? We confidently bet $2. A man across the table doesn't hesitate, raising to $4. But any full house he has is worthless, so we raise to $6. He raises to $8.
"I'll raise to ten," we say.
"You can't do that," veterans of this table say to Mr. Newby. Too bad - we have to settle for a call. (Of all the times to long for NO-limit play.)
"How much do quads pay here?" we ask.
"Nothing," someone grumbles.
"Because I have quads," we announce. We'll gain at least $14 for winning the pot, though -- as well as compliments for a nice hand.
"He had a straight flush draw," someone points out. Our opponent had a mid-range diamond (didn't see exactly which one). Had his straight flush come along with our 5 -- and it wouldn't have been the first time for us -- we would have split the room's building "Bad Beat Jackpot" which stood at more than $33,000. Now THAT would have paid for the trip, and a whole lot more!
Several pots came our way after that -- and we left Ocala Poker to go back on the road with $78. We gained 95 percent on our $40 investment, and whistled the hymn "Thank You, Lord" as we walked out the door.
If only we had quit there. We decided to squeeze in one more "lightning round" stop the next day, as we drove home from our destination.
We had to wait longer at dinnertime, and would up at a $1/$1 no-limit table. We didn't grasp that difference, and bet small right away with K-K. The board brought a pair of 5's, and two other players pushed us all in for our small $20 investment. They both had 5's, and a man looking like the twin brother of CNBC's Jim Cramer on the big screen in front of us took a big pot with an Ace kicker.
We lost $20 in one hand -- but quit then and there, settling for an $18 gain (45 percent) over two days. It didn't cover the entire cost of the trip (not even one tank of gas), but it was relatively satisfying.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We made sure to bring the "Jesus as Your Savior" coin for this moment. We showed it to the man who topped our full house on Day 1.
"Absolutely true. Absolutely true," he said of the message. He's a retired schoolteacher, who hopefully spends time being taught by the true Master.
Ocala Poker was practically right on the way to our destination. It's only three miles off Interstate 75, between Gainesville and Ocala. Even on a Tuesday afternoon, it was a busy place with several tables full and a waiting list for a few players.
The woman at the counter suggested the least expensive buy-ins would be for $1/$1 no-limit and $1/$2 limit. We chose the latter, and after a few minutes walked to the table with the minimum $20 to play.
Things didn't go well at first. Flush chases didn't work -- and even a 7-7 pocket pair with a 2-7-2 flop turned into a "bad beat" loser, as our full house was topped by a man with 9-9 who saw 2 on the turn for a "better boat."
We lost $20 in less than 30 minutes -- but we budgeted to spend $40. With that second $20 bill, things started happening....
BLINDS: $1 (only one blind)
IN THE POCKET: 5-5
A fairly good start for us. But the peril of small-stakes pot limit is that it's cheap and easy for anyone to play, even with wimpy hands. So most of the table jumps in.
ON THE FLOP: 5-7-8 (all diamonds, as we recall)
"Trips" on our trip give us hope -- but note there's flush and straight potential here. "River chasers" are more likely to get rewarded in this format, as you can't scare them off with huge bets. But we plunk down the minimum $1 bet, and a few players fold.
ON THE TURN: As
That seems harmless for us. The minimum bet is now $2, and we bet it. One man calls; the rest of the table gets out of the way.
ON THE RIVER: 5
Wow!!!! Now we quietly try to remember the rules at the Ocala Poker website. Is this a bonus that could pay for our entire trip? We confidently bet $2. A man across the table doesn't hesitate, raising to $4. But any full house he has is worthless, so we raise to $6. He raises to $8.
"I'll raise to ten," we say.
"You can't do that," veterans of this table say to Mr. Newby. Too bad - we have to settle for a call. (Of all the times to long for NO-limit play.)
"How much do quads pay here?" we ask.
"Nothing," someone grumbles.
"Because I have quads," we announce. We'll gain at least $14 for winning the pot, though -- as well as compliments for a nice hand.
"He had a straight flush draw," someone points out. Our opponent had a mid-range diamond (didn't see exactly which one). Had his straight flush come along with our 5 -- and it wouldn't have been the first time for us -- we would have split the room's building "Bad Beat Jackpot" which stood at more than $33,000. Now THAT would have paid for the trip, and a whole lot more!
Several pots came our way after that -- and we left Ocala Poker to go back on the road with $78. We gained 95 percent on our $40 investment, and whistled the hymn "Thank You, Lord" as we walked out the door.
If only we had quit there. We decided to squeeze in one more "lightning round" stop the next day, as we drove home from our destination.
We had to wait longer at dinnertime, and would up at a $1/$1 no-limit table. We didn't grasp that difference, and bet small right away with K-K. The board brought a pair of 5's, and two other players pushed us all in for our small $20 investment. They both had 5's, and a man looking like the twin brother of CNBC's Jim Cramer on the big screen in front of us took a big pot with an Ace kicker.
We lost $20 in one hand -- but quit then and there, settling for an $18 gain (45 percent) over two days. It didn't cover the entire cost of the trip (not even one tank of gas), but it was relatively satisfying.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We made sure to bring the "Jesus as Your Savior" coin for this moment. We showed it to the man who topped our full house on Day 1.
"Absolutely true. Absolutely true," he said of the message. He's a retired schoolteacher, who hopefully spends time being taught by the true Master.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Poker Night 258: Eight It All Up
We did fairly well playing cash game poker for real money this week (watch this space for details) -- but cash winnings in our home area have been very hand to find. It's now 11 months since we made money in local tournaments. And the play at Lil Kim's Cove tonight left us wondering when that streak will end....
BLINDS: 25/50
IN THE POCKET: K-10 of clubs
We're under the gun early in the evening, and have lost a couple of promising hands because we missed the flop (including A-K). We get in small, and no one at the full table raises.
ON THE FLOP: 8c-8s-3c
A flush draw with "overcards" looks promising to us again. Except the woman in the small blind bets 400. We call in hope. One or two other players call as well.
ON THE TURN: As
Close, but not quite. The small blind bets 400 more. Feeling committed, we call in hope again. One other player call.
ON THE RIVER: 8h
The flush is missed, but there's still a little hope. With three 8's showing, our King would win the pot if no one paired. The small blind bets 200, suggesting to us she missed something -- perhaps a flush draw of her own.
"I've got to see," we say -- since 200 is a relatively cheap amount. The other player folds.
"I've got quads." Ouch!!! Our opponent shows the fourth 8 - and explains to other players she bet small "to keep everybody in." She certainly did in our case. We lose 1,000 chips, and she gains a 5,000-chip bonus.
That's a microcosm of how the night went for us, as opportunities kept falling short. We survived to the one-hour break at 1,750 chips -- but then we went all-in with 9-9 and won a pot to "triple up" to 6,000.
A second push minutes later with K-10 and a King showing on the flop didn't work, though. A man made two pair to knock us out. We were thankful simply to walk home with 13th place, making the semifinal table despite only winning one hand.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We jumped on an exclamatory moment at the one-hour break, when a man said (we assume in disbelief over something), "Jesus!"
We had to give our answer loudly three times before the man understand it: "He's my hope of salvation." Why do we say that?
You may have heard some Christians say we're saved by the "blood of Christ" or "by His sacrifice." Well, not exactly. The apostle Paul explains here we're reconciled to God by the death -- but actually saved by Jesus's life, as in the resurrection. So what does it mean to be reconciled? Your comments are welcome; we'll offer an answer in an upcoming post.
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 98 final tables in 258 nights (38.0%) - 15 cashes. This is our lowest final table percentage in a long time.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 154 point wins in 699 games (22.0%), 54 final tables, seven cashes. We went one-for-two in making points over the past seven days.
POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $49,843, up $2,765. We actually topped the $50,000 mark Sunday, by gaining $340 in our first "pot limit" Poker Stars game before falling back.
BLINDS: 25/50
IN THE POCKET: K-10 of clubs
We're under the gun early in the evening, and have lost a couple of promising hands because we missed the flop (including A-K). We get in small, and no one at the full table raises.
ON THE FLOP: 8c-8s-3c
A flush draw with "overcards" looks promising to us again. Except the woman in the small blind bets 400. We call in hope. One or two other players call as well.
ON THE TURN: As
Close, but not quite. The small blind bets 400 more. Feeling committed, we call in hope again. One other player call.
ON THE RIVER: 8h
The flush is missed, but there's still a little hope. With three 8's showing, our King would win the pot if no one paired. The small blind bets 200, suggesting to us she missed something -- perhaps a flush draw of her own.
"I've got to see," we say -- since 200 is a relatively cheap amount. The other player folds.
"I've got quads." Ouch!!! Our opponent shows the fourth 8 - and explains to other players she bet small "to keep everybody in." She certainly did in our case. We lose 1,000 chips, and she gains a 5,000-chip bonus.
That's a microcosm of how the night went for us, as opportunities kept falling short. We survived to the one-hour break at 1,750 chips -- but then we went all-in with 9-9 and won a pot to "triple up" to 6,000.
A second push minutes later with K-10 and a King showing on the flop didn't work, though. A man made two pair to knock us out. We were thankful simply to walk home with 13th place, making the semifinal table despite only winning one hand.
MINISTRY MOMENT: We jumped on an exclamatory moment at the one-hour break, when a man said (we assume in disbelief over something), "Jesus!"
We had to give our answer loudly three times before the man understand it: "He's my hope of salvation." Why do we say that?
For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - Romans 5:10
You may have heard some Christians say we're saved by the "blood of Christ" or "by His sacrifice." Well, not exactly. The apostle Paul explains here we're reconciled to God by the death -- but actually saved by Jesus's life, as in the resurrection. So what does it mean to be reconciled? Your comments are welcome; we'll offer an answer in an upcoming post.
UPDATED POKER SCOREBOARD: 98 final tables in 258 nights (38.0%) - 15 cashes. This is our lowest final table percentage in a long time.
NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POKER TOTAL: Full tournaments - 154 point wins in 699 games (22.0%), 54 final tables, seven cashes. We went one-for-two in making points over the past seven days.
POKER STARS.NET TOTAL: Pretend cash games - $49,843, up $2,765. We actually topped the $50,000 mark Sunday, by gaining $340 in our first "pot limit" Poker Stars game before falling back.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Words of a "LoSer" II
Our last post mentioned an online opponent named "LoSerUr2" who clearly brought an attitude with him to the poker table - an attitude challenging our faith. The chat about our Sabbath-keeping went on, as the play continued:
LoSerUr2: you go to church one day to ask for forgiveness of the sins ya do the other six days
This skeptic actually raises a very good point. Some people look at Chriatianity as simply "doing your duty" to God in a weekly worship service, then living any way they please the rest of the week. It becomes custom and tradition -- when God wants much more than that.
These are tough words from Jesus -- and they should be thought-provoking words, even for long-time believers. Could you and I worship Jesus in vain? If rules are followed simply because they're the "rules of the house" like at a poker tournament, the Lord says yes. Instead....
Ask God to purify your heart to fully please and serve Him. Then pursue a lifestyle that reflects a godly example -- toward other people as well as Him. Back at the chat....
Me: I seek God's forgiveness most every day.
LoSerUr2: i forgive my my fellow poker player
Why, thank you. That's the spirit we all should have:
We've found poker players in live tournaments practice this far more than you might think. Not always. Not perfectly. But it happens on a regular basis. Can you say that, as you walk with God?
LoSerUr2: you go to church one day to ask for forgiveness of the sins ya do the other six days
This skeptic actually raises a very good point. Some people look at Chriatianity as simply "doing your duty" to God in a weekly worship service, then living any way they please the rest of the week. It becomes custom and tradition -- when God wants much more than that.
You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men." - Matthew 15:7-9
These are tough words from Jesus -- and they should be thought-provoking words, even for long-time believers. Could you and I worship Jesus in vain? If rules are followed simply because they're the "rules of the house" like at a poker tournament, the Lord says yes. Instead....
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. - II Timothy 2:22
Ask God to purify your heart to fully please and serve Him. Then pursue a lifestyle that reflects a godly example -- toward other people as well as Him. Back at the chat....
Me: I seek God's forgiveness most every day.
LoSerUr2: i forgive my my fellow poker player
Why, thank you. That's the spirit we all should have:
Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. - Colossians 3:13
We've found poker players in live tournaments practice this far more than you might think. Not always. Not perfectly. But it happens on a regular basis. Can you say that, as you walk with God?
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