Not wrote by me, but I thought it would a bit of fun to post with a decent message aswell

Poker and God: Jesus Boosts My Winrate

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. – Proverbs 1:7

As I gamble for my living wages, I have often been asked how I reconcile my profession with my Christian faith. I want to write this out so all know where I am coming from on the subject. I’m not going to debate if playing online poker is sinful. To some folks it will be and to others it won’t be. Honestly, many of the Christians who will talk about what is and isn’t sinful forget that everything we do is sinful. We do not live a split second without “living in sin.”

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. – Psalms 51:5

There are many professions that take money from “live ones,” some worse than others. I am not here to judge anyone’s profession. We are all living in a sinful world and all need salvation. Some view playing for penny stakes as being “a little sinful” and playing for house payment stakes as “more sinful,” judging the sinfulness from one stake to another. Such triviality.

You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. – Romans 14:10

The above words are taken from Paul’s letter to the early Christians in Rome. In it, Paul addresses what are called adiaphora – matters which Scripture neither commands nor forbids. (Recreational and professional gambling certainly falls into this category – online poker just wasn’t around in 33 A.D.) In the times immediately following Christ’s death, new Christians were left wondering which of the adiaphora were sinful and which were not. Paul’s point is that by focusing on these trivial matters, the early Christians were failing to uphold Jesus’s most important teaching, love, (Mark 12:28-29) instead passing spite and judgment down on each other.

Uber-Christians may point their fingers every which way, but forget the simplest and truest teaching:

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

And so my point with this article is not to dispute the degree of sinfulness of my profession, but to exclaim that my faith in God has made me the caliber of poker player that I am. Quite simply, my faith in God increases my winrate.

“Really?” you’re asking, “Jesus boosts your winrate by x PTBB/100?”

Yeah. Here’s how:

1. Scripture has taught me the wisdom to seek knowledge.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. – Proverbs 18:15

“The Bible” as modern society knows it is a collection of record-keeping, letters, and accounts. There have been many times in my life where I have questioned why I believe one thing or another. The book of Proverbs will tell you: a fool loves to hear himself talk, and a wise person will seek instruction. It was only by turning to the Bible (and sometimes auxiliary texts) that I was able to solidify my faith and understand my beliefs. (So many people will argue for or against the Judeo-Christian faith without even a rudimentary knowledge of the text!)<I think he wrote that for you Low And later in life, when I discovered the joy of shoving all in, I took the same approach toward solidifying my poker game. (So many people will argue the merits of a certain play in poker without even a rudimentary knowledge of the game – and no desire to learn as much!) I turned to the Bible to strengthen my faith and in turn, I learned to look to the writing of experts and poker coaching websites to strengthen my poker game.

2. Scripture has taught me discipline.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. – Proverbs 12:1

The discipline Solomon refers to in this writing is correctional in nature – like a parent would discipline a child. He goes on to speak of being disciplined for straying from “the path” and how a wise (meaning prudent, not necessarily intelligent or high I.Q.) person loves to be corrected and disciplined – for then they learn and have knowledge. In a poker sense, we all know we have to “put in the hands” for our game to improve. But are we disciplining ourselves to meet our goals?

I learned discipline from the example that it takes in another form in Biblical times: fasting. Those seeking discipline would not eat for periods of time. They would do this as an act of faith and a point of control – suppressing their bodily urges. In fact, among early Judeo-Christian hypocrites, it would become a point of fashion and many would put on make-up and discolor their faces – making themselves appear ill and unfed – to show the world how fastidiously pious they were.

Jesus had this to say about it:

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:16-18

So the words of Jesus taught me this about discipline: Do what is difficult for you but do not boast about it or do it for the point of boasting. I’ve said in the past that winning poker is a solitary game. You determine your success or failure. I’ve learned the true meaning of discipline from these examples in scripture, and in applying it to my poker game I’ve learned that it is a quiet, lonely, and unpopular road.

3. I am at peace and do not worry.

As Dusty “leatherass” Schmidt can attest to, winning poker is unpopular – regular winners show up on the poker scene and railbirds love to cut them down. Thankfully, I have a strong core built on faith in Christ. So I won’t let negative banter distract me. I won’t let a poor performance or poor results or things I can’t control (variance, looking at you!) get me down. This is probably the biggest boost to my win rate that my faith gives. For those seeking this same peace, I would suggest looking toward the gospel:

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” – Matthew 6:25-27

Prayer is powerful and meditative and even if I don’t know the right words to say, by taking my requests to God and trusting that he will provide for me, I am given a great peace that will guard and watch over me.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. – Romans 8:26

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Through Scripture I have learned wisdom, discipline, and peace and have been blessed to be able to apply them to my poker game. This is how “Jesus boosts my winrate.”

Poker: A Game of Faith

In my humble experience, winning poker is a game of faith. It takes faith to suffer through a long break-even stretch or downswing – faith to know that the results don’t matter if the process is sound. In me, my Christian faith inspires hope in times of trial. And poker can certainly be trying.

We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. – Romans 5:2-4

Hope in a reward given to us is a very powerful idea. It can make grinding bearable. My faith keeps me alert in the long grind.

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. – 1 Peter 5:8-9

And faith in good to come as well as perseverance in tough times I have learned in Scripture and can apply to my poker game. I have an everlasting hope, an unwavering optimism.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

So as part of offering free poker instruction on this website, I’m sharing with you how I believe my faith has had a profound impact on my win rate. Please don’t be turned off by all the finger-pointing hypocrite Christians that are out there, but be drawn to the Scripture by the peace, love and understanding that is calling for you.

Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gates leading into the city,
at the entrances, she cries aloud:

“To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.

- Proverbs 8:1-6


Next bit is from the 'Bitch Forum' thread, an idea incase anyone wants to vent/whatever.



Instead of chatting in the chat box or on the forum or why don't we take over this MUD (Multi-User Domain) and leave it running in the background for any conflicts that may arise...



I used to play this about 10ish years ago, its basically a glorified chat engine, most people who play have kids and what not...

I've browsed it again the last couple of days out of pure curiosity and there aren't many users on anymore so we would pretty much have the run of the game, you can do as little or as much as you like on it

Why don't we DTVers join up then we can seamlessly chat about conspiracy's (or whatever) and generally have a mess around at the same time...

Don't think just do it be spontaneous lol you can alway press the X at the top of the screen

Click To Download Realms Of Kaos Only 18.2mb

You start underneath the tavern press the little stairs symbol on the map and you will see me (TheDuck)...(you need to create an account and a player which takes 2 mins)

There must be some people willing to give it a go for the Duckster

let us know here if you need a hand.

Yes you can attack each other if needed (only outside city though which is good)

Mep Vs Pindz sounds good to me

Comments on the MuD idea would be appreciated and as I don't mince words too much

@Concrete nah I'm cool, should be moving house in a couple of weeks so that should be good, apart from all the packing and stress lol(I have a lot of stuff, like wayyy too much, I think I'm a semi-horder )

How've you been man?

did you read the article etc...?

Here's some funny's (I always have to put randomness in my threads, can't help myself)

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.


If you’re a Thanksgiving dinner, but you don’t like the stuffing or the cranberry sauce or anything else, just pretend like you’re eating it, but instead, put it all in your lap and form it into a big mushy ball. Then, later, when you’re out back having cigars with the boys, let out a big fake cough and throw the ball to the ground. Then say, “Boy, these are good cigars!”
Once while walking through the mall a guy came up to me and said “Hey, hows it going?”. So I grabbed his arm and twisted it up behind his head and said “Now whose asking the questions?”


As I bit into the nectarine, it had a crisp juiciness about it that was very pleasurable – until I realized it wasn’t a nectarine at all, but A HUMAN HEAD!!


If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, forget em’, cause, man, they’re gone.


To me, it’s a good idea to always carry two sacks of something when you walk around. That way, if anybody says, “Hey, can you give me a hand?” you can say, “Sorry, got these sacks.”


Contrary to what most people say, the most dangerous animal in the world is not the lion or the tiger or even the elephant. It’s a shark riding on an elephant’s back, just trampling and eating everything they see.


One thing kids like is to be tricked. For instance, I was going to take my little nephew to Disneyland, but instead I drove him to an old burned-out warehouse. “Oh, no,” I said, “Disneyland burned down.” He cried and cried, but I think that deep down he thought it was a pretty good joke. I started to drive over to the real Disneyland, but it was getting pretty late.

I do play pokeronline,does that means I go to hell??

YES!

By joining up to play Realms of Kaos with The Duck you may be saved

When you’re riding in a time machine way far into the future, don’t stick your elbow out the window, or it’ll turn into a fossil.


If I lived back in the wild west days, instead of carrying a six-gun in my holster, I’d carry a soldering iron. That way, if some smart-aleck cowboy said something like “Hey, look. He’s carrying a soldering iron!” and started laughing, and everybody else started laughing, I could just say, “That’s right, it’s a soldering iron. The soldering iron of justice.” Then everybody would get real quiet and ashamed, because they had made fun of the soldering iron of justice, and I could probably hit them up for a free drink.


Is there anything more beautiful than a beautiful, beautiful flamingo, flying across in front of a beautiful sunset? And he’s carrying a beautiful rose in his beak, and also he’s carrying a very beautiful painting with his feet. And also, you’re drunk.


I bet when the Neanderthal kids would make a snowman, someone would always end up saying, “Don’t forget the thick, heavy brows.” Then they would all get embarrassed because they remembered they had the big hunky brows too, and they’d get mad and eat the snowman.


Anytime I see something screech across a room and latch onto someone’s neck, and the guy screams and tries to get it off, I have to laugh, because what is that thing.


I can still recall old Mister Barnslow getting out every morning and nailing a fresh load of tadpoles to the old board of his. Then he’d spin it round and round, like a wheel of fortune, and no matter where it stopped he’d yell out, “Tadpoles! Tadpoles is a winner!” We all thought he was crazy. But then we had some growing up to do.


Better not take a dog on the space shuttle, because if he sticks his head out when you’re coming home his face might burn up.

Guess no-ones willing to try out Realms Of Kaos then

On a mac...so....


BUT...we do have the chatroll chat room..
The address in in PrincessLeiahs sig.

There have been groups in there chatting
every once in a while..

This has a bit of killing involved too though

We could have taken over the realms, in numbers anyway...there are 10 people on at the moment and the game area is HUGE so you don't really see many people at the moment, everyone is waiting for the update I rekon...

So games don't work on Mac then?

its only 2d...

have only seen a Mac in person once...

I lol'd halfway that sentence

I prefer situations to be simple.. and final...
Unlike the situations where you drop something, realise it's broken, but won't accept it and spend days trying to repair it... only to come to the conclusion it was and still is broken.. and then putting it in a box, because "you might be able to fix it later" or "there might be some parts I could use for one of my future projects"... then finding the box a few years later... throwing it out instantly, while laughing at yourself, thinking "why the hell did I save this crap anyway ?"

Might be a "man" thing, though

BTW duck, I use my avatar and user name on Pokerstars. If I ever meet you on a table, I'll let you keep half your stack