Preacher praises poker
An American preacher from Calgary, Alberta unusually chose poker as the subject of praise for his weekly sermon.
John Van Sloten, pastor of New Hope Christian Reformed Church, extolled the virtues of the game to a full congregation.
Already known in the area for sermons that tie pop culture and religion, his most recent offering focussed on the heady delights of Texas Hold ‘em poker, according to online-pokernews.com.
A recreational player himself, the pastor with a penchant for poker sent out a message about how the game could be directed towards one’s faith as it brought an adrenaline rush in a highly energised game.
He went on to claim that God loves nothing more than having his creations feel abuzz about religious service and ritual.
However, the pastor was not urging his flock to play too much. He said that poker should only be played in moderation and for recreational purposes.