From Hero to Zero

The Main Event of the World Series of Poker is in a two-part "Day Two" -- due to more than 6,000 entries. We're struck by how many former champions already are at the rail.

Doyle Brunson. Chris Moneymaker. Greg Raymer. Jerry Yang. All have won poker's biggest prize, yet all of them were eliminated on their first day of play in 2011.

It only shows how fleeting fame can be. As a wise king once put it:

There is no remembrance of men of old, and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. - Ecclesiastes 1:11

A couple of WSOP events this year actually did honor bracelet winners of old, with a "parade of champions." But some Main Event winners from decades ago don't even have pictures on the WSOP website. So can humans do anything which will have long-term value -- long after we're "dead and gone?"

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. -- Matthew 6:20

Open question: what do you think Jesus meant by that verse? Leave a comment with your thoughts; we'll offer ours in a future post.

National Heads-Up Week 6: Meeting of the Minds

The outcome actually was settled in March, but NBC showed the finals of the National Heads-Up Poker Championship today. Erik Seidel swept Chris Moneymaker for the title -- and in the process had to overcome Moneymaker's coach. Not simply any coach, but a "Mindset Coach."

Sam Chauhan explained he helps Moneymaker remain focused at the table. "There are things in life you can control and things you can't control," he said. "I help him to focus on the things you can control."

Chauhan's correct in describing not only poker, but what we face in life every day. But do you need to hire a Mindset Coach to help you focus? Moneymaker did, and we suppose a lot of athletes do. But rank-and-file poker players don't have that privilege. Thankfully, there's a valuable book available to help the rest of us. And it says....

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 2:5 (KJV)

For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. - I Corinthians 2:16 (KJV)

Yes, we know - some of you may be scoffing, and think Christians are out of their minds. You may point to the "Bible guarantee" a radio preacher made about this weekend, which turned out to be as empty as going all-in with 5-2. But many believers are thinking, rational people -- and they try to talk some sense into people prone to going out of a limb (even in the body of Christ).

Christ's mind was filled with the things of His Father. You can develop that mind by seeking God to provide His Holy Spirit.

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. - II Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

To be fair, there are plenty of people who can help you develop a godly mind. They're called ministers, pastors or elders, serving at congregations large and small. Listen carefully to their words -- but always verify what they say by studying the Bible for yourself. Focusing on God can help you control the temptations to sin.

P.S. If you watched carefully, did you notice Chauhan's shirt? It had the Full Tilt Poker logo Seidel wore -- NOT the Poker Stars logo of Moneymaker! Who wants to explain that one?

Poker on Fox

Tuned in to the "PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge" on Fox, after a football game today.

Playboy playmates -- playing an "ordinary person" with a coach?

Daniel Negreanu -- in an isolation booth??

Two words: game show. (And that's not a compliment.)

No wonder Doyle Brunson isn't thrilled by it. It didn't thrill us, either.

(Well, except for that "dome of silence" Chris Moneymaker ordered. Sometimes with Negreanu, that would be a good thing.)

What did you think?