----------------------------------- PokerGuru 18.03.2009, 13:36 March Gamblers 'n' Dogs CONTEST - WINNER ANNOUNCED! ----------------------------------- Good morning, dear PCers! I don't think I have ever known a poker player who didn't like dogs! And an amazing number of them HAVE dogs! Maybe that is why there are so many paintings and novelties of poker-playing dogs. Anyway, it got me to thinking of how some players have been off their game for months when a beloved pet dies, especially if they have spent many years together. Not everybody understands poker players, as I'm sure you have found out, probably rather rudely! But a player's dog? That is another story! I think they can take one look into your eyes following a game and know immediately if you have won or lost! Either way, they understand how you feel - and they find some way to let you know it! This contest may seem kind of far out, but at least it will cause you to think, always good exercise for a poker player's brain. We cannot let our minds and memories slow down as we get older. That is a luxury OTHER people have. Not us! So open your mind to think of this question in as many ways as possible. Then post your answer below and - PLEASE - to win, you MUST tell us WHY you believe the way you do about this question! ARE THERE PETS IN HEAVEN? RULES: You must have 3000 earned PC points to redeem for a $30 cash prize. If you come up short, you will receive 3000 PC points instead of cash, so you will have them next time! You must have informed us of how you wish to be paid, by filling out the form titled "My Payment Method", found at the top of every page. Winner(s) will be determined by the use of a blind drawing box, into which names of participants will be placed. The box has a built-in stirrer which mixes the names and a built-in propellant which shoots out the name(s) of the winner(s). Yes. I, Guru, am the architect of this super-fair contraption, which I call The Winners Box. Unless you post your entry below, you must post that you are an entrant in the contest. Deadline is the last day of the month at midnight. Most importantly, enjoy the contest and try to learn something new while having fun! Your dog-loving Guru ----------------------------------- crzynana2001 18.03.2009, 15:52 ----------------------------------- I have very often enjoyed the sensation of a cat jumping up behind me on the bed and either walking up to sit behind my head, or it walking to my feet and laying down. upon looking, though, neither of our cats are on the bed!!!! Our beloved Tigger was very fond of doing both of these, so, YES, I would say our pets precede us to heaven AND make visits back to us!!! We also had a lab named Bentley who I strongly believe comes to us in times of emotional trouble and lays on our feet as he did in life. He was a very special animal. Loved us all deeply and would allow anyone into the house, but would not let a stranger leave without one of walking them to the door!!!! If we were not near the door, even when a person who was a frequent vistor arrived, he would not let them in!!!!!!!That sounds contradictory, but as I was washing dishes in the rear of the house, I heard him suddenly attacking something(one?) and rushed to the front to find my brother-in-law quaking on the sidewalk. He had just left 15 minutes prior to this event and was returning. I miss that dog sooooooooo much. He died quietly of cancer 17 years ago. We had him for all but 2 years of his life, as he was a take in when his owners had to move. The dog we have now, Dakota, is still a pup and yet knows when to be rambuncious or when to be quiet. She reminds me a lot of Bentley. ----------------------------------- PUZTIME 18.03.2009, 17:43 ----------------------------------- I Definitely Believe That We Will See Our Beloved Pets In Heaven Over the years a pet has been sent into my life.. Even when I was not looking to have a pet I think a Beloved Pet is a gift that God sends us I know many pets are Super Smart and Offer Us Love .. No Strings Attached I am sure that our beloved pets will be with us in heaven as they are Gods Blessings Lena ----------------------------------- broxi 19.03.2009, 00:38 ----------------------------------- ok i wasnt going to post here as i dont want to step out of line or cause offence....but i believe everyone is entitled to believe in whatever they want but personally i am not a religious person and dont believe in heaven and an afterlife so i would have to say that no i dont believe in pets in heaven ----------------------------------- crzynana2001 19.03.2009, 01:20 ----------------------------------- Thank you Broxi for your honest and considerate response. All responses are taken in consideration and thought. ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 19.03.2009, 03:46 ----------------------------------- Broxi. your entry is as welcome and as valid as anyone else's! Remember, we accept one another at this forum UNCONDITIONALLY. And hopefully, there are none among us with any kind of predjudices toward any kind of other people! My own position is that the more open a person's mind is, the wider the door for more knowledge to get in! Your Guru ----------------------------------- crzynana2001 19.03.2009, 04:24 ----------------------------------- Do pets have souls? I believe that all living things that procreate have souls. We are all God's creatures and therefore have our place in heaven when we die. All that being said, I am a contradiction, for I also believe in reincarnation. For the souls who have not quite prepared for an eternity in heaven, I believe are returned to learn more about God and his residence. The catholics that I have spoken to, have a way-station to heaven called purgatory. I do not fully understand this concept. If someone would care to post about it, it would be greatly apreciated. My daughter is pagan, and believes in the many gods of the old times. She believes in angels but not in heaven or hell. I simply live a live that God would be pleased with,( I hope), and try to show her the way to the truth. She believed once, and hopefully this will return. I know she grieves deeply when one of her animal friends pass over to the other side. any suggestioons??? ----------------------------------- Sisters 19.03.2009, 07:03 ----------------------------------- Hi, I'm a firm believer that there is life after death and we are re-united with all our loved ones even our beloved pets...every living thing has a soul and a purpose here on earth and after we pass....just my opinion :wink: Good Luck, sisters :) ----------------------------------- ojisplayin 19.03.2009, 17:19 ----------------------------------- YES!! I believe the "eyes" are a window to your soul. Just like people, I don't think they'll just have a FREE PASS in...... I believe they can feel remorse or guilt. Be selfless or selfish. Sad or excited; happy. AND *EVIL* too. All in the EYES! ----------------------------------- broxi 19.03.2009, 17:27 ----------------------------------- and what happens if someone has lost their eyes ojis??? ----------------------------------- crzynana2001 19.03.2009, 21:18 ----------------------------------- thought provoking answer broxi!!!!!!!!!!! and I for one, am thinking about it!!!!!!!! Will get back to you when something gels....lol ----------------------------------- char1984 20.03.2009, 01:44 ----------------------------------- :D :D I hope that animals meet us in the afterlife as I have lost some that were so very dear to me. ----------------------------------- Lori212 20.03.2009, 19:49 ----------------------------------- yes i believe there is!!!! or i hope so i would love to see all my pets i have lost!!!! ----------------------------------- valeria 20.03.2009, 22:30 ----------------------------------- Well we have a "Paradise" waiting for us and peace. How would it be a paradise if no animals were there? I can't imagine the thought! The hardest part is believing if a pet or any other animal has a soul. If it breathes air and procreates just like us you would think they would. All animals think and observe just like we humans we just have more intelligence. (Though at times I wonder about even that lol) How do you define whether animals have souls or not. And the bibles say we will lay down with the sheep and the lions etc so doesn't that imply they will be there when we pass? I think so. Whether you believe in God or a higher being or not, it is a comforting thought. ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 20.03.2009, 23:44 ----------------------------------- Thank you so much, Valeria, for reminding me of the sheep and lions. I had forgotten. Those two species are pretty darn close to dogs and cats! And what about "His eye is on the sparrow"? I'm still not real sure where my mind draws the line, but I do think it sounds reasonable that all His creatures, great and small, down to and including the birds, will be in Heaven. Life forms lower than the birds? Like worms and insects, for example, I have a hard time believing. I sure wish He would give us more clues than He has. Or maybe He has and our brains are just too small to recognize them????? Feeling like your know-nothing Guru ----------------------------------- char1984 21.03.2009, 03:33 ----------------------------------- :D :D Boy Val you do keep my mind busy on that one and kinda even more reinsured :D ----------------------------------- allight 21.03.2009, 16:16 ----------------------------------- Yes I am sure there are pets in heaven. Dogs sticking their heads out of clouds to feel the wind on their faces....cats using the gates of heaven for scratching posts...and gerbils using planet's rings as a racing circle. ----------------------------------- rainbow1 23.03.2009, 16:07 ----------------------------------- of course there are pets in heaven....why would god tell noah to build an ark with 2 of every animal if he didn't love them & want them with him for eternity..........i know that may sound kinda short & sweet but it's the truth :) i don't have any pets, after my cat died (that i loved more than anything) i decided i'm just getting too old to hurt that bad ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 24.03.2009, 21:56 ----------------------------------- Allight -- Some may laugh at your post. Personally, I rate it as ...... a beautiful thought expressed beautifully. Your Guru ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 24.03.2009, 22:04 ----------------------------------- Rainbow -- Thank you for reminding us of the Ark! I find it amazing what comes into the human mind when its doors are wide open! How much more intelligent would the world's human population be if all people's minds were open to receive and process all new information???? By the way, I understand perfectly how you felt or feel about the pain involved with loving so deeeply. We have to ask ourselves, I believe, how those experiences of love and hurt have influenced the kind of people we have become. In other words, is it worth it????? Your Guru, just thinking, like everyone else ----------------------------------- broxi 24.03.2009, 22:10 ----------------------------------- We have to ask ourselves, I believe, how those experiences of love and hurt have influenced the kind of people we have become. In other words, is it worth it????? just thought id add my opinion to the above quote.....i believe that everyones life is influenced by the love and pain that they endure throughout life and it either makes you a better person for it or it makes you worse...whatever way i truly believe the hurt we suffer is worth it as i believe in the saying that its better to have loved and lost someone or something than never to have loved at all ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 24.03.2009, 22:14 ----------------------------------- Bravo, Broxi! Just for continueing to think about it and for sharing your thoughts with us. Your Guru ----------------------------------- Bower50 24.03.2009, 23:13 ----------------------------------- Pets definitely have a place in Heaven.The love for them and from them is as strong as any feelings people have for each other.We are all God's creatures and His love his equal for all. ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 25.03.2009, 07:55 ----------------------------------- Bower, some people may doubt the beginning of your post. And some may doubt the ending of it. But no one , unless they are totally clueless, could possibly doubt your statement in the middle! Your Guru ----------------------------------- paulajardine 28.03.2009, 21:05 ----------------------------------- I believe there are pets in heaven and I believe they are waiting to greet us when we get there because they have souls too and personally I treat my pets just like I would treat any other person. Maybe even better sometimes :) I know there are already a few pets waiting to greet me when I get there :) ----------------------------------- PokerGuru 01.04.2009, 17:00 ----------------------------------- PCers, I really enjoyed all you had to say in your entries to this contest! I also must say that I am so very proud of the civilized way you discussed the topic with more than just a little touch of class. I am witnessing before my very eyes the developement of new and true intellectuals! And oh how the world needs them at this time in history! Important decisions by world leaders MUST be made by viewing them from all sides with a great deal of deep thought! Without further ado, I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Gamblers and Dogs contest was: For $30 cash .......... broxi Congratulations, Broxi! Continue your new way of thinkling -- about EVERYTHING. You will be doing your part to make the world a little better place for humanity. I found all your entries, PCers, to be fascinating reading! Your Guru ----------------------------------- ojisplayin 01.04.2009, 17:04 ----------------------------------- WTGoooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (((((Babes))))) Honesty will get yoyu everywhere in life! xxxxxxxxxxx ~Patti ----------------------------------- paulajardine 01.04.2009, 17:25 ----------------------------------- WTG Broxi :) ----------------------------------- char1984 01.04.2009, 19:32 ----------------------------------- :D :D Way to go Broxi :D ----------------------------------- Sisters 02.04.2009, 07:12 ----------------------------------- Hi, WTG Broxi/Paul on your win hun :) Hugs, Sarah :) ----------------------------------- broxi 02.04.2009, 07:24 ----------------------------------- not been near a pc for last few days hardly due to family problems(thats an understatement lol) but as usual ive bounced back lol.....anyway this is a pleasant surprise i never expected so ty guru and everyone...and ojis my friend honesty is indeed the best policy normally tho sometimes im too honest and it gets me in trouble lol but im working on that bit...have a nice day everyone ----------------------------------- kaykyl 02.04.2009, 15:48 ----------------------------------- WTG broxi ----------------------------------- valeria 02.04.2009, 16:54 ----------------------------------- WTG! I know what you mean!! This last week and a half I have hardly been able to peek at my email. Have had company and I wave at my computer as I go by over all the heads that are on it!!! ----------------------------------- rainbow1 02.04.2009, 17:12 ----------------------------------- WTG BROXI ----------------------------------- slotmom 11.04.2009, 13:24 ----------------------------------- WTG BROXI ----------------------------------- allight 11.04.2009, 14:16 ----------------------------------- wtg broxi