Sad About Chad

The World Series of Poker is still going -- but there may be heavy hearts among many players.  It was stunning to learn today that one of the more popular pros on tour had died, much too soon.

Chad Brown completed in some of the biggest poker tournaments.  Yet in many ways, he wasn't the stereotypical poker player.  He was well-built and handsome, not frumpy.  His background was in baseball and acting, not really as a "card shark."

And we remember him best for what a TV commentator said when he was eliminated from an event: "One of the nicest guys on tour."  Brown actually shook the hands of players who beat him.  Trust us to say not many players do that, at any level of poker.

A rare form of cancer took Chad Brown's life at age 52.  For the poker players who are missing him, we'd like to offer some words of comfort.

If a man dies, will he live again?  All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. - Job 14:14

The story of Job is that of a man who endured extensive trials, which God allowed Satan to bring on him.  The devil was not allowed to take Job's life (2:6) -- but even in the worst of times, Job looked ahead to a "renewal".  So did other Bible characters,

Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed -- in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. - I Corinthians 15:52

Death was like sleep, in the mind of the apostle Paul.  He also looked forward to a "change."  And as a believer in Jesus Christ (verse 57), Paul had faith about what that change would be....

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. - I Corinthians 15:53

We don't know the religious background of Chad Brown.  But believers in Jesus have hope that they'll receive eternal life, as Jesus did when He was resurrected from the grave (Romans 1:4).

May all poker players follow the sort of good example Chad Brown set at the table.  And may they be filled with a hope that goes beyond the table, beyond this life -- a hope of a life with Jesus which will never end.