Picture

This was way too cute not to publish!

From this website.

Awesome Website

I could do this for hours!

Drag your mouse across the screen. After you do that, left click!

http://www.jacksonpollock.org/

Zoom Zoom

An electric car that can burn rubber with the best gas guzzler's out there? Zoom Zoom baby!

Market Deja Vu and Accountability

This was posted on the Banking Law Prof Blog today:

It's the dot com bubble, it's the '80s s&l crisis, it's what happens when people don't follow prudent lending and investment principles.

What we're seeing now in the subprime market is the result of poor credit underwriting standards. Bankers know better. Regulators know better. Even borrowers know better (if they can decipher the fine print). But when the economy is good and there are more dollars chasing loans than there are prime loans to be made, it's "Let the good times roll!"

From the lenders' perspective: After all, these subprime loans yield a higher interest rate in a banking world experiencing ever narrower interest-rate margins (the difference between the interest rate lenders pay for deposits and other funding sources and the interest rate they receive on loans). In a low-interest rate environment, many borrowers can and do make the monthly payments. Lenders are looking for new markets -- and here's a big one.

From the borrowers' perspective: The American dream is owning your own home. And it looks so easy when lenders are aggressively seeking out borrowers with "less than perfect credit". Many borrowers have gambled that rising home prices and low interest rates will continue. Few really take to heart what will happen if the loan reprices in two to three years.

From the regulators' perspective: Providing "guidance" should suffice. No one likes a heavy-handed regulator -- and there is competition for charters and Congressional oversight to consider. There's no immediate problem to address. The free market will sort this out. Should there be isolated issues, informal non-public measures avoid creating a generalized atmosphere of panic and possible adverse business consequences for a given lender or for all lenders -- and may avoid the extreme case: "runs" on a financial institution.

I strongly agree with most of what Professor Graham says. The only thing I would comment on is the tone of the note on the regulators' perspective. It sounds like she would be in favor of a more "heavy-handed" approach. While I can understand in this environment that more regulation might seem good...I really disagree. I place the burden on the bankers and the borrowers. They are intelligent people. Bottom line is that, if you can't afford a monthly payment, don't borrow money. If you can't afford for someone to default on a high interest loan, don't lend them the money. People are ultimately responsible for their own actions. They need to recognize the affects on society as a whole...that is what being a responsible citizen is all about. But people do not need to be regulated into stupidity. Learn from your mistakes and move on.

My thoughts on Math

Saw this hilarious picture today on another blog. I just HAD TO post it!!

A thing, itself

From "Orinary People", by Roberto Rivera y Carlo:

This begs an obvious question: What's wrong with being ordinary? A lot, if you live in a culture like ours that has turned "ordinary" into an epithet, a synonym for "mediocre." Then, the fear of being (or appearing) "ordinary" exceeds the fear of possible humiliation or any other repercussions of inappropriate disclosure. [...]

Turning "ordinary" into an epithet requires forgetting (or denying) that "ordinary" is the stuff that real life is made of. "Ordinary" comes from the Latin ordinarius meaning "customary, regular, usual, orderly." How we handle the ordinary — and not how many people know who we are — is the standard against which we should measure our lives. It, and not some fleeting (or even not-so-fleeting) attention, is what gives our lives significance. (For the Christian, it's what Jesus meant when He said, "He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.") [...]

I have a better idea: We should strive to experience what G.K. Chesterton called "the ecstasy of being ordinary." While Chesterton admired extraordinary men like St. Francis of Assisi, he also gave the "social scruples and conventional conditions that are normal and even noble in ordinary men" that hold "decent societies together" their due. In fact, it was because he appreciated "ordinary men" that he could make sense of the extraordinary ones.

Likewise, "Chesterton could be made happy by the sudden yellowness of a dandelion." He took "fierce pleasure in things being themselves," whether it was the "wetness of water," "fieriness of fire" or the "steeliness of steel." As David Fagerberg of Notre Dame wrote, for Chesterton, "on every encounter, at every turn, with every person, there is cause for happiness.... We have been given a world crammed with a million means to beatitude."

In other words, our "ordinariness" contains everything that is necessary to be content. That's part of St. Paul meant when he wrote "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." He could see those "millions means of beatitude" and understood that on some days you inadvertently turn the world upside-down and on other days you make tents. Ultimately, what matters is to live admirably, not be admired.

Maxed Out

From the Banking Law Prof Blog -
Here's a documentary you need to see: "Maxed Out" - a look at America's consumer debt crisis. Check out the Washington Post review.

The Book on Amazon with description.

The Trailer on the Main Website.

PERSONAL NOTE: I receive absolutely NO profits from this. I just think it is a good thing for people to read about and understand...so that eventually, perhaps we can do something about it.

Engagement Pics

New Year!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! Ours was fantastic!

Happy New Year everyone!

Wedding, Christmas, and New Year pics coming soon!

Success and The Almighty

I ran across a nice little quote to sum up what my attitude should be during exam time: "...God isn't looking for successful people; He's looking for those who are faithful." - Steven James at the Glorieta Christian Writers Conference, posted by Suzanne Hadley here.


Well, trusting His guidance while studying for and taking my exams would certainly be more faithful than worrying and getting anxious!

A funny at finals time

So, I have been way busy studying for finals. But while surfing during a well-deserved study break after reviewing the Mergers and Acquisitions portion of my BE notes, I ran across this hilarious story.

Excerpt:

Court Reprimands New Delhi Over Monkeys

NEW DELHI - A top court reprimanded authorities in the Indian capital for failing to stop hundreds of monkeys from terrifying residents, news reports said Thursday. As forest cover around New Delhi has shrunk, the city has struggled with a growing simian population. Government buildings, temples and many residential neighborhoods are overrun by hundreds of Rhesus macaques. The animals will occasionally snatch food from unsuspecting passers-by and even bite them. "If you can't control the monkeys, what can you do?" the Delhi High Court acerbically asked representatives of the various municipal authorities in a ruling responding to a petition filed by the harassed residents of a posh residential neighborhood. The court asked authorities to explain "what measures were being formulated to find a permanent solution to the monkey menace in the capital."

City authorities weren't immediately available for comment.

Poems

I absolutely LOVE this poem. It is SO wonderful. It was in the most recent issue of the Bifocal Newsletter (one dealing with elder law). Enjoy!

Poems

By Sofia Memon

Poems are where you are not;
where I examine the light
in the leaves or
the Yogi teabag wisdom
to my heart’s content without
ever turning my attention
outward.

Poems are where alchemy is
unquestioned and love unrationed,
where the soldiers in wars started
by misers find themselves suddenly
in prayer shawls
ill-fitting or not,
over still muddy combat boots
feeling a sudden and surprising
calm spread over their faces,
involuntary and embarrassing
like incontinence.

Poems promise everything
you’ve grown out of will be
returned to you
washed out, dried on the line
scented in lavender
if only you’d give up and give in
give away even the
lint from your pockets and
start again and again
and again every morning.

Poems are fearless when they
can afford to be,
say everything we could not
make the elegant argument
that, lacking citation
and polemic
is nonetheless persuasive;
maybe because poems, like
mirrors demand that
we approach with hands folded
awareness that
we are asking for everything
we are not yet.

In Fruitless Pursuit

I know the law is supposed to be about following the rules "to the letter". Presumably, any deviation is malpractice. But thinking beyond the books, the horribly boring lectures, the bleeding papers, I am reminded of another group of people who were supposed to follow the law, and reminded still of how far they fell short.

The nation of Israel was "under the law", and repeatedly was unable to follow God's commandments. "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify."..."for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." (Romans 3:21-23).

Ok, now, I am not trying to call my professors apostates or hypocrites, or those that should be called "least" in LegalLand. My point here is that it is pointless (fruitless if you will, per the blog title) to try to get everything right. NoONE is perfect, noTHING is perfect.

So what, then, is the purpose of grading assignments using a rubric that takes off for a misplaced space after a comma? Why do professor's insist on being so anal? Perhaps it is that they are scared of what they will find if they "chill" a bit. What I posit they will find is this: the "law" isn't everything, law school is not life, and their law journal articles, speeches, and whatnot are not as important as they think they might be.

So, law isn't life. It is a part of life, smoothing over life's rough patches. And yet, to see the forest despite the trees, dogmatic adherence to rigid ideals should be left out in the cold, in favor of a greater understanding of what our legal system is all about. That would be people, which includes law students (who knew!). Going back to beginning, that is what it is all about. From Adam and Eve, to Moses, to Christ, from Aristotle, to Martin Luther, to Locke, laws and government are only here to help people to accomplish what they were created to do: worship an almighty God.

Heart-felt fidelity

I ran across a fantastic article and felt the need to post it. Here it is!

"But Ruth replied 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.'"

In some blessed relationships, fidelity isn't an issue that even enters a conversation. In the case of my parents, and for many of my friends, I know that they have relationships where the temptation of unfaithfulness doesn't enter their home. And for my own part, I'm lucky enough to be one of those people who -- when I'm in a relationship with someone -- sees no appeal in any other member of the opposite sex.

Yet I've learned over the years that I am one of the lucky ones. Many single men and women of faith don't have it that easy, even in the context of a serious and responsible dating relationship. In the modern office of expansive social atmospheres and younger workforces, the likelihood is extremely high that you will eventually work with or deal with someone on a regular basis who you find appealing. You may even end up spending more time with that person, due to the demands of work, than you do with your girlfriend or boyfriend or fiancee -- the person you love and intend to marry.

This can lead to bad situations. Oftentimes, the person on the outside doesn't know about this growing office relationship, and for many single people, it's easy to give in to the temptation to cross the line into flirtation and more. The excuses: It's just talking at work, it's just drinks afterward, it's just fun, after all.

Except that it isn't a game; it's playing with wildfire. Before long, you may find yourself in a situation where, without ever making a conscious decision, you've slipped into infidelity. You've been unfaithful to the person you are dating or courting, in thought or in deed. In selfishness, intentional or not, you've hurt and possibly destroyed a loving relationship.

I've been on the other side of this kind of relationship, and felt the painful ramifications more than once. I've never been shellshocked, but the overwhelming hurt, nausea, and directionless feelings must come close.

When secular advisors talk about relationships, everything comes down to "feelings." How does the person make you feel? Do you feel happy? Does flirting or carrying on with someone else make you feel happier? You should be honest about your feelings.

There's an element of truth to that -- honesty is a good thing -- but it misses the big picture. Love isn't just about moment-by-moment feelings. If it was, our human love would be as fickle as a middle school crush.

Ruth's pledge of fidelity to Naomi, often used by brides and grooms in pledging fidelity to one another during wedding ceremonies, is one of consequence. Did Ruth really intend to love her husband every moment of every day, without ever being unhappy with him? Of course not -- she committed herself to loving him, and being faithful to him, even when he forgot to take out the trash or hogged the remote, even when the Senior VP started asking her out to long lunches at nice restaurants. She committed to love with the entirety of herself -- promising that not just her heart, but her mind, her lips, and her very being would remain faithful.

True faithfulness endures in spite of temptation. True faithfulness exercises self-control, to the point of avoiding an area of danger as a recovering alcoholic avoids a bar. True faithfulness, in the context of Christ and the Church, is loving and sacrificial -- even to the point of death.

Be careful how you act toward members of the opposite sex. Don't let yourself fall into temptation. And if you do, be honest about it -- repent, ask forgiveness, and flee from sin. And if you are on the other side of this: don't let yourself become bitter. Christ loved the Church even when there was nothing intrinsic about the Church to inspire such boundless love, and we are called to do no less.

Abandoned and discontent

When I saw the headline to the story "500 Student riot at Cali highschool", I was shocked. It is impossible not to blame people for their own actions, and that certainly includes kids after a certain age. But that age isn't 16, it is more like 3-4...if that. But there is a greater problem here, one that starts at the heart of it all: in the United States, our families are falling apart.

We are turning into a weak nation. People simply do not want to fight anymore, for anything. They want to maintain the status quo, to remain under the radar, and just get by. Lost in consumerism, materialism, and myriad other "isms", we have simply lost sight of what is important.

Last year, when another relationship of mine came to an end, I questioned every ethic, every standard, every paradigm I had learned. I learned that I had no idea what it meant to be a Godly woman, or what I should look for in a Godly man. Then I read "Getting Serious about Getting Married." And while I learned a lot about really dating someone, I learned a lot more about what it means to start a family, and the power and significance the institution of the family really has on the individual and society.

I'll speak from my own experience on this point: I went to a high school where disrespect for authority was rampant. I was as much a part of it as anyone, though perhaps not as much as some. I come from a broken home and have felt the anxiety, self-doubt, and fear that comes from that. Even so, I'm taking time in preparation for marriage to relearn how I behave so that I can be a Godly wife and mother.

Those students are only partially to blame in the big picture. While they are wholly accountable for their actions, their parents and our society are too. If my generation does not start taking family more seriously than it does, does not stop serial dating in lieu of something much more fulfilling, then things will never change.

Brandon came down from Boulder (where he is for this semester on internship) for the weekend. We went to our first "nearly-wed/newly-wed" bible study. The bible study leader, Brett, said that confidence starts from within the marriage, not from anything outside. I can't rely on job performance, grades, or anything else to give me that. I must rely first on my God and then on my spouse. Likewise, children learn their behaviors from their families, from their parents. But how can they do that if their parents are never home, are always fighting, or are divorced? Abandoned and discontent, they are left to wander the roads of life practically alone. To change this, we must strengthen our marriages and families to give them the support structure they need.

Fractals

I'm not sure at all how we transitioned into the topic of fractals today in my Business Entitites class, but we did.

In colloquial usage, a fractal is a shape that is recursively constructed or self-similar, that is, a shape that appears similar at all scales of magnification and is therefore often referred to as "infinitely complex."

Alas, upon reading the Wikipedia entry, I was reminded of those dreaded days of Geometry way back in high school, most of which I slept through! Nonetheless, here is what I picked-up: a very cool graphic! The explanation behind it aside, all I have to say is "oooooo, coooool!"

The surface of a mountain can be modeled on a computer by using a fractal: Start with a triangle in 3D space and connect the central points of each side by line segments, resulting in 4 triangles. The central points are then randomly moved up or down, within a defined range. The procedure is repeated, decreasing at each iteration the range by half. The recursive nature of the algorithm guarantees that the whole is statistically similar to each detail.

Only the beginning

Rather than "the end", getting married is only "the beginning" of a great adventure. And yet, modern culture says otherwise. In her brief review of the movie, Suzanne Hadley discusses the recent movie "The Last Kiss" in Marry Her? But What About that Girl over There?

Television and movies compound the problem [lack of motivation to get married by The Twenty Somethings], portraying marriage as boring, enslaving, difficult and dreary. No wonder our generation is marriage-resistant. When Michael realizes marrying his girlfriend and establishing a home with her is inevitable, he says, "This is it. This is the end." Media fairly screams: "Marriage isn't worth it. Why bother?"

However, from her point and view and my own, marriage is something to strive for and be proud of. It is far, far from being culturally insignificant, and even in the toughest time, it represents some of the best things God has given us.

Here are some excerpted ideas about marriage from Hadley’s article:

"It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gen. 2:18). Not only is this a statement uttered by God at the inauguration of humanity, but it is something I feel daily on a personal level. God did not create humans to live in isolation. He designed us to long for and experience companionship and love. And marriage was the first context — apart from Adam's relationship with God Himself — the Lord established to relieve loneliness.

"I will make a helper suitable for him" (Gen. 2:18). As a remedy to Adam's loneliness, God created Eve. God designed her to be Adam's helper. At a women's prayer group, I recently heard a single woman pray, "Lord, you created us to be helpmates." I was stunned by this reminder. My desires to nurture, encourage and assist were instilled by God for the purpose of being a companion and helper and are best exercised within the context of marriage.

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24). Because God created woman for man, marriage is the next natural step upon leaving one's family of origin. In fact, this verse seems to indicate that a man should ideally create his own family shortly after leaving his family of origin. This is rare in today's society, where the average marrying age is over 25. But waiting 10 to 15 years opens up an unnatural window where a single is not supported by his family and does not have a companion. This limbo fosters sexual temptation, loneliness and confusion.

"Children are a gift of the LORD" (Psalm 127:3). This phrase is thrown around a lot and seems to have lost its impact. With a tolerance for abortion and a prejudice against women who choose family over career, society seems to place value only on children who are wanted and who don't impede personal success. And yet, of all the blessings God wishes to bestow on His followers, children are at the top of the list. Their value is mentioned repeatedly throughout Scripture. They bless their mothers. They are a delight to their fathers. The kingdom of God belongs to them.

No Meeting of the Minds

Interesting story on the Property Prof Blog. I must ask, rhetorically perhaps, what does this say about the attempts to define and shape a "global community"?

The Blog:

The New York Times has an article (entitled "A Banned Book Challenges a Saintly Image of Thai King") on Paul Handley's book The King Never Smiles (Yale University Press, 2006), about King Bhumibol Adulyade of Thailand. According to the article, one of Handley's central points is that the king--who has enjoyed very favorable press--has been more concerned with order than democracy.

What particularly interested me were the efforts made by the Thai government to suppress the book, including sending representatives to meet with President George Bush, with Yale University's president, and (apparently) with the director of Yale University Press. Extraordinary, particularly for a book from a university press. The press did push back the publication date (so that it would not coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of the monarch's ascension) and also permitted, apparently, Thai officials to comment on the manuscript before it was published. Both reasonable, though I should imagine, unusal concessions. (Also, I should emphasize that I am in no position at all to evaluate the merits of Handley's thesis.)

Not surprisingly, the publicity surrounding the attempt to supress its publication (and its banning in Thailand) has led to a lot of sales. This afternoon it was ranked #259 on Amazon--an astonishingly good performance for a university press book. Exciting times at YUP, no doubt, even if the king is not smiling....

My Engagement Ring!!! Wedding Date: 8/11/2007.

Going to the Sunbelt Minority Job Fair

Going Global

...the most important of these is love.

The approach most often employed when valuing an asset is its fair market value. It seems everything has a fair market value too, property, labor, education, even life.

Though I've never seen a FMV for grace and sympathy, I expect that one day there will be, and it will be drastically underrated. Nevertheless, I've found that loving thy neighbor, actually employing some grace and sympathy in how we treat others is like the Hope Diamond...rare and priceless.

Reading my Immigration Law textbook today, I was thinking about how my attitude towards immigrants has been shaped, and how it will have to evolve over the next several years. Though I do not now and most likely will never advocate a policy of "open borders", I think perhaps a little love, grace, and sympathy could be employed when dealing with immigrants. There is a lot of focus placed on what an illegal immigrant is doing (namely, "invading" a country as some would term it), but there is very little attention placed on why a person seeks shelter in a country illegally. Of course there are those with malicious intentions, but what about those people who, albeit self-seeking, have relatively innocent intentions, such as earning a living to support a family?

Without engaging in a cost-benefit analysis, and assuming a benefit by cooperation versus isolation, I think laws based on policies that support international cooperation versus isolation are more prudent in the long-run. Isolation, as all hermits know, begets isolation. It is not good for man to be alone....and it would appear the same rule goes for nations.

Alone in a Crowd

There I was, surrounded by people in a bustling Barnes & Noble. There I was having just hung up the phone with a friend, about to skim what I hoped would be a good book. There I was, feeling completely alone.

Taking note of my feelings, I "googled" about the topic. (I mean, it is 2006 after all..). After a brief search, I came across this site. Quote: "Emotions are a good tool, but a poor master. Instead, we can trust God."

I know it seems like a simple idea, but it was a truly profound thought to me. Too often I let my current set of circumstances affect my outlook on life. Instead of letting my emotions make me feel lonely and abandoned in a room full of people, I should use this to effect change in my life. What change, I'm not sure...that will come through prayer...but change nonetheless.

A cool link

Here is a cool website, Google Trends. It allows people to see the world's interest in various search terms. For example, searches for "tax" peak around April 15...go figure!

The Importance of Focus

The following is an excerpt from “Dealing with Depression”. This particular post I find personally relevant, but the other four on the website are equally as good.

Here is the excerpt:

Raining Inside

Just four months ago, I was able to purchase my first solo home at the ripe age of 29. The first two months were great; I spent most of my time unpacking and setting the house up the way I wanted it. But I eventually finished unpacking and there was nothing left to do but be there … alone.

Then my only sister and I got into an argument, and she quit speaking to me. This led to a fallout with my parents, and I was left with no one to talk to. As the depression started to sink in, I decided to drive to my parents' house to talk things over—only to discover they'd invited the family over for dinner but had failed to invite me.

That night, I drove all over the city, crying my eyes out and letting the depression set in deeper. When I got home, I didn't want to leave. The next Sunday, I didn't even set my alarm so I'd get up for church. The following week, all I did was come home from work, sit on my bed, and cry. Soon after, I couldn't even get out of bed. It seemed no one cared about me.

Then a line from an old Amy Grant song popped into my head: "I'm raining on the inside." That's what I was doing. I hadn't heard that song in more than 15 years, but God brought every word to mind. As I lay in bed singing this song out loud, the Lord met me. He reminded me I'm his child, and that if I looked to him, he would take care of me. I got out of bed and was able to make things right with my sister and parents. And I attended church the next morning. I promised God I'd never again let anything get in the way of honoring him.

In the days following my return to church, I heard from a friend I hadn't talked with in a long time. She needed some part-time work done and wanted to know if I was interested in helping her. She had no idea what I'd been through the previous weeks, but God did. He knew I'd probably face loneliness again, but he sent her to rescue me.

I've since finished the part-time work, but I'm not lonely or depressed. I know I might get depressed again in the future, but I also know God is right beside me no matter what.

-Becky

How music moves us...

I love music, as anyone might guess by my posting lyrics to many different songs on here.

I think this is an awesome story about how powerful music is...and most importantly, how powerfully the Holy Spirit can use it to move us in our lives.

Thanks to Johan Jordaan for sharing this very personal experience with the rest of us.

Me and Brandon, with the Des Moines skyline in the back!

This is the Des Moines, Capitol Library, the most awesome library I've ever seen.

Fireflies and Starlight

For Brandon

Waiting again for it to be over,
I knew it wouldn't last.
They never did.

I could hear it down the hall,
In my room, in my head.
I learned well how to pick up the pieces.

Like fireflies at twilight,
Burning bright, hot and true.
Then fading as quickly as they came.

I learned to leave before they went out,
It was safer that way.
I wouldn't have to see them die.

But fireflies are distracting,
To little girls captivated by their surroundings.
They don't learn to look up, to the stars above.

You came saying you wouldn't leave,
But I wanted to run.
I didn't want to have to pick up your pieces too.

With playful bouts of love,
You brought joy to a little girl,
Who thought it was only for fairy tales.

And now she is learning to look up,
To tell the difference between them and you,
Between fireflies and starlight.

Purposeful Devotion

Tell me it hurts you to hurt me,
Why do I have to threaten to leave,
Before you'll make me stay?

I want to know everyday how you cherish me,
So that a lifetime can accumulate,
And every ounce of it is filled with love.

It isn't easy to value someone,
It is easier to put it off when stressed,
But devotion isn't a matter of convenience.

Pondering meaning and purpose can be interesting,
But it doesn't get down to the realities of living.
Let's do that together, you and me, intent on one another.

Only Money can deter Conscious Indifference

As far as I can remember, I've be an ardent opponent of tort reform. I think it hurts society in ways that doctors and big business will never let you know.

That said, it is hard to help people really understand why astronomially high jury verdicts are actually good for law and justice. I can understand that...it certainly isn't intuitive.

The State Bar of Texas, in its 2006 Short Story Competition, awarded John Walton Brookman first place for his submission, "Final Judgment." Some snippets are blow to give you a feel for the story. I highly recommend reading it in its entirety...it is only 6 pages.

Plaintiff's Counsel:
...I’d already finished recounting the testimony the jury’d heard during the
previous two weeks of trial about Lupita Chavolla’s last trip to the swimming pool. Lupita was five getting ready to turn six when she sat down in the wading pool at the Cross Arbors Swimming Association. The jury had listened to the testimony of the witnesses who had heard her shrieks as the drain on the pool trapped Lupita in place and her mother unsuccessfully attempted to lift her out of the water. They’d heard the engineers testify how the suction had increased exponentially and the doctors testify how this amount of force had disemboweled
Lupita, leaving her, her intestines and her mother thrashing around in a hellish miasma of chlorine, blood and tears....

Defense Counsel's Rebuttal:
“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we all feel sorry for what happened here. Nobody has more sympathy for little Lupita than the fine people at Tranquil Pools. But we all assume risk when we enter the water. And certainly when we take our children to a swimming pool we have a duty to adequately supervise them.”

“Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that’s what it boils down to: Money. M-O-N-E-Y. They want you to award millions of dollars. Well, let me tell you something, no amount of money is going to bring Lupita Chavolla back. A stack of money as tall as this building won’t bring her back.”

Plaintiff's Powerful Rebuttal:
"...The Chavollas don’t want your sympathy. And they darn sure don’t want the sympathy of those fine people at Tranquil Pools, Incorporated.

“Let’s talk about those fine people of Tranquil Pools, Incorporated. Let’s
talk about this corporation that is informed of tragedy upon tragedy upon tragedy just like this one. This fine corporation that puts profits over the safety and wellbeing of the Lupita Chavollas of this world.”

“As far as the reason we are here today, well I think you know why. We are here to right a wrong. We are here to achieve justice so what happened to Lupita won’t happen to some other child. To ensure corporations won’t shred incriminating documents. We are here to punish a corporation that disregards the safety and well-being of the most defenseless members of our society: Our children.”

“But only money will deter this corporation’s conscious indifference to the welfare of our families in the future. Money is the only language this fine corporation comprehends. Based on their net worth, it’s obvious that it will take a pile of money as tall as this building to get their attention. Because, you see, partial justice is no justice at all. If you are as horrified at these facts as I know you must be, then let your voice be heard through your deliberate and reasoned verdict.

Praise You in this Storm

What follows are the lyrics to Casting Crown's "Praise You in this Storm", a great song for people going through tough times. I did not put the lyrics in order...because this way it conveys the message better.

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

Chorus:
I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

A Favor

For the next several weeks, my professor will be out of town. I'm writing and compiling entries for his blog. If anyone who stops by here would go by a give my entries a hit, I'd be much obliged!

Romance

Relationships are quirky things, especially romantic relationships. Probably the biggest problem in my relatively limited life experience is that romantic relationships die without, you guessed it, romance. That is to say, courtship must involve romance and that romance must continue into marriage. This has nothing to do with love. Love is based on more than feelings. But if you have two couples, each married 50 years, the happier couple will be the one that has kept romance alive. Both couples can love one another, but it is just different with romance.

I came across an article on askmen.com about romancing women. Some of the suggestions were rather tacky I though since the end result was sex. While I understand that can be a very strong driving force, men, let me tell you this: if you want to make love to your wife, make the end result of your gesture her happiness, and the rest will follow...I promise.

The best suggestions I saw were:
1. Scavenger hunt
2. Tell her she is beautiful unexpectedly (via email, a phone call, a written note)
3. Actually write her a note, leaving it in her purse, on her car, or some other place she will find it. (How sweet!)
4. Cook her favorite meal
5. Take her on an "offical" date (for couples together after a long time)
6. Buy her a random, token present...something small just to show you were thinking about her.
7. Dance with her (fantastic idea!)
8. Randomly buy her flowers

Synthetically Yours,

Life is funny sometimes...often...almost always. We spend our lives being sold, at least here in the states and rapidly so in India and China. We are told how we need all these things that are foreign to our nature and our bodies. Plastic surgery is the most obvious example I can think of. Others would include steroids and diet pills and crazy anti-aging techniques (as if it isn't perfectly natural to age!)

Recently, I decided to start taking birth control. It is supposed to help with things like cramps, which I have struggled with forever, figuratively speaking. Well, to be quite blunt, these little synthetic hormones have wreaked absolute havoc on my body and soul. Heart flutters, anxiety attacks, nausea, mood swings, etc, have been the norm for me the past month and a half. And for what? What is the price I paid for being sold? We are always called to count the cost.

This brought to mind questions of reality. I discovered there is nothing in the world more real than a caring, merciful heart. I found that in my mother, who has spent hours talking me through my problems and finally convincing me that the birth control wasn't worth the price I was paying. That is real. Of course, parental love knows no limits. Even so, her gracious and loving spirit was a gift from Heaven when I most needed it; she has been there for me when no one else would or could be. I used to say, when I was young, that I sat in Heaven and picked her out to be my mom. There is absolute truth in that childhood statement.

Poetry in lyrics

I love how metaphorical this part of Julie Roberts' "Break Down Here" is:

I'd sure hate to break down here
Nothin up ahead or in the rearview mirror

Out in the middle of nowhere knowin
I'm in trouble if these wheels stop rollin

So God help me keep me movin somehow
Dont let me start wishin I was with him now

I made it this far without cryin a single tear
And I'd sure hate to break down
Its too late to turn around
I'd sure hate to break down here

Mountain of God

Mountain of God - Third Day

Even though the journey's long
And I know the road is hard
Well, the One who's gone before me
He will help me carry on
After all that I've been through
Now I realize the truth
That I must go through the valley
To stand upon the mountain of God

As I travel on the road
That You have lead me down
You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me
I have need for nothing more
Oh, now that I have found
That You are here with me
Yes, You are here with me

I confess from time to time
I lose my way
But You are always there
To bring me back again

Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me
With what's in front of me

Welcome Home

I love Brian Littrell (yes, of Backstreet Boys fame...lol). From everything I've seen, he is a committed father and husband and is serving the Lord through his music. His first single was "In Christ Alone". His latest song is fantastic, and I'm reproducing the lyrics below.


Welcome Home - May 2006.

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"
But I laid it all down, gave everything
In my head rang the words that my father said

You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face.

When I look at you holding my heart
I will give to you all that I have
Son I know there'll be times
You will feel all alone
I will share with you the words my father said

You're never far
I will be where you are
and when you come to me
You can bet I will open my arms

Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face

Said I've been waiting for that day
Just to feel your warm embrace
Your love has shown
I will never be alone
You will welcome me home

I'll forever be
You will say to me
Welcome Home, you
I know you by name
How do you do?
I shine because of you today
So come and sit down
Tell me how you are
I know son, it's good just to see your face

When I left home to be who I am
Some people said "No Way"

Thoughts worth more thoughts

For You

It’s hard to read a life in a moment,
Yet so many people try.
But judgment without revelation,
Is a blind substitute for truth.

So many people rant against conformity
And then live by it.
I’ve formed a strengthened character outside their box
Can’t you see it, or do you crave their world?

Death breeds perfection and idols,
Other losses, much the same.
I never claimed to tread the skies with the angels,
But I’ll give you the world inside my heart.

It’s hard to do the right thing,
When the thing that saved you before was wrong.
It is the fear of all that could be that makes us run,
Because we know exactly what we could loose.

So now I’ll face that pain I knew before,
But this time I’ll stay.
Not because I’m stronger or better in anyway,
But for you.

My goodness

A quick blog from work....

You gotta love it when you open a file to investigate and you run into "Pleadings: Volume 1 of 5".

End the pain now...!!

Atlanta Road Trip

Cassandra, Me, and Brandon

I'm being attakced!

I'm laughing my butt off at Cass

Amy and Dave, the cuties!

Penguins!

Big fat shark, Jaws 4

The Monster from Beneath!

Nemo at the Atlanta Aquarium

What are you looking at?

Fountain at the Horseshoe Casino, Shreveport LA

Atlanta Skyline

My Daddy's Homestate!

The Mighty Miss...

Now he works out!

Time Value

A last word from my Tax Prof, the Great Hatfield,

"You only have a certain amount of time. And when it is over, you are dead. Don't try to be the best at everything. It really isn't that important."

Pastoral Advice

In one of his daily emails, my pastor was discussing Acts 1:8. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

He goes on to say: Being a witness sharing Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spiritis the supreme service of every child of God. It is not only a mark of spiritual maturity, but it is also a means of developing that spiritual and Christian maturity. In Mark 1:17, Jesus said, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." If you're following, you should be fishing!

He ended the email saying that if you are following Christ, then you should be fishing for men.

Apologizing in advance for the sarcasm, I must say...Dude, what do you think women have been doing for centuries?? Fishing! For men! I think it is about time we re-stocked the lake since I've taken the only good fish in there! ;)

Say what? Line 48 conspiracy

The sticky-smiled politicians have another card up their sleves. You know all those tax cuts way back when in 2001? I suppose it was a great election bargaining chip at some point, but tax payers are starting to notice something called The Alternative Minimum Tax.

The Alternative Minimum Tax is an alternative to the income tax…and it is to ensure that every single tax payer pays something. No one who gets an ecnonoic benefit gets to skip out, not the super-rich, not the burger flippers.

Every tax payer is obligated by law to compute their income tax liability and their alternative tax liability and pay the greater of the two. Just see line 48 on the 1040 form! The AMT is covering more and more people because it is not indexed for inflation, and people are paying less and less in income tax because of tax cuts. The AMT was designed to account for the super-rich, but more and more people who aren't super-rich are paying this. By 2010, about 30 million tax payers will be paying this. Most married couples who make over 100k will pay this today.

You know, every single congressman who voted for the tax cuts knew about the AMT. The government has to be funded somehow, right? It would be nice if our elected representatives were a little more forthright about what they are actually doing! Then again, what kind of politician is upfront? None that I know of!

For more information on the Alternative Minimum Tax, click here.

Daddy, may I?

So, the dean of Baylor Law School thought it would be a good idea to close off the library during finals for his son's prom date. Say what? You have to wonder how the son begged and whined.

Link Here

Easter Pics

Brian the Drunkard...look at the size of that drink!


Brad and Crystal


Brandon and I, after church at Brian's place


After church at Brian's place


Me and B, on our way to church


My awesome friend Jen!


Doh! Weggie!

Eternal Games

I love C.S. Lewis. His brilliant prose have inspired me in so many ways. There is an article called The Screwtape Emails that continues the dialogue from The Screwtape Letters. Here are a couple of paragraph that hit very close to home for me.

"You have a solid foundation to work with: Her concept of Father is completely whacked. With the various vermin known as motherÂ’s boyfriends, and the long absences between them, and then that odd relationship with her biological father, there is hardly a chance of her finding any comfort in that despicable metaphor of our Enemy as a loving Father."

"Why don’t you hook up your subject with a nice intellectual, moral fellow? He'll give her all the attention she desires, and he'’ll agree with most of those dogmas she hears in class. Keep her focused on the goodness of his actions, and assist her in noticing the constant failure of Christians to live up to their own ideals. Soon you will have her believing that the old mores are unnecessarily restrictive, and she will do even those things she now thinks she'’ll never do. (What a glorious day that shall be!)"

"Well done! In record time, you have made your subject almost certainly ours! You talked her right out of that nonsense about her body being the temple of the Holy Ghost; you even led her away from thinking that her identity is more than her corpus. You numbed her mind with ambivalence until she experienced herself only as a center of physical pleasures and pains; after that it was a snap to lure her into her first sexual experience. She walked right into your net, her soul completely cut off from its origins."

"If she does start to show remorse, pile on the guilt to create secrecy, spin secrecy to create paranoia, and use the paranoia to cause her to interpret every smile as a sign that the Christians around her must be judging her, and the next thing you know, she will be avoiding church altogether and finding comfort in the company of people closer to Hell than herself."

Of course, as per my immediately previous post, God's forgiveness is boundless. Sin is a part of life for everyone; unfortunately, repentance isn't. Faith is of course the key. Perhaps the truest test of our heart's desire is how we respond when the Holy Spirit moves us to make a choice we would rather not make, i.e., ending the sin. This is the third time in my life I've had to make such a choice, but at least this time I have someone to make the choice with me.

Lessons from a sinner

The bible is the best script for our lives. Life is tough; it is full of tough choices and tougher consequences. Who better to learn from than one of my favs, King David. A man after God's own heart, David screwed up a number of times. I ran across a short compilation of verses on the net (yes, surfing when I should be studying)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;

He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

My President's Tax Return

Here is President Bush's tax return, presented for public scrutiny.

My Points of Funniness:

1. His address lists a P.O. box, even though the instructions say not to do that. The P.O. Box is in a state where he has never lived. Is it any secret that he lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave? Also, he chose a state that has a sales tax. Hello, why not just pick good ol' TX?

2. He did NOT donate to the Presidential Election Campaign fund!

3. See line 8b. That is where the interest earned on tax-exempt bonds (such as GOVERNMENT bonds) would be listed and excluded from income. Notice this line is blank! Let me think...the president of the United States doesn't invest in government bonds. Does he know something we don't??

4. The President had $50,000 in capital losses. Wow. Who is his investor?? Though he only got to deduct $3,000, he at least gets to spread these losses over the next several years. Hopefully he will fire the current guy and use these to offset some future gains maybe?

5. See Schedule A, line 15b. That is the place where you could exempt donations to Katrina victims. The line is EMPTY! Hmmmmmm. He did give $75,000 to other charities.

6. President Bush didn't even sign his tax return. Neither did the first lady. At least he got to put "President" as his occupation. That would be cool!

Political Note: This entry was not intended to be partisan in any way. I'm a conservative independent. These were just some funnies from tax class in Texas.

A Big Congrats!

I want to send out a HUGE congratulations to my very good friend Mrs. Amy Brown!! She got a job at the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) for the summer!!!

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Proverbs 13:20)

What an honor to have such a smart lady as my friend!

My Lord, My God

He Ain't The Leavin' Kind - Rascal Flatts

They tried their best to drag him out
of a courthouse down in montgomery
Now they want to kick him out of school
and take him off our money
They can take those words off of paper and stone
but he aint gone, no

He ain't the leavin' kind
He'd never walk away
Even from those who dont believe
and wanna leave him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

She stayed mad at him for a lot of years
for taking her husband
Started losing her faith and thinking that
her life meant nothin
but when she looks at those kids
she raised all by herself
she knows she had some help
yeah she knows

He ain't the leavin' kind
He'd never walk away
Even from those who don't believe
and wanna leave him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

No matter what you do
No matter where you go he's
always right there
With you

Even from those who don't believe
and wanna leave him behind
He ain't the leavin' kind

My Flowers.....

Mis Floras....aren't they beautiful??

Shout Out

So, apparently Katie Holmes, as goes the Scientology practice, is going to have to remain silent during the birth of her and Cruise's child. WHAT???? I repeat, WHAT????

"The couple — following the Scientology tradition of a silent birth — had the posters delivered to their Beverly Hills mansion. The 6ft placards will be placed so Katie can see them in labour. One reads: “Be silent and make all physical movements slow and understandable.‚” Story Here

From what little I can understand, this may have something to do with the idea of "impressions" scientologists believe we have on us. I guess they don't think it is such the good thing for a mom to be screamin' like a banshee when her baby boy/girl comes into the world.

All I can think to say now is, Absolutely Amazing.

Little Girls, Dreaming

Sneaking peeks at Christmas presents. Watching Shirley Temple movies with my dad. Watching my mom apply her makeup before work. Writing made-up newspaper stories and poems. The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Sneaking outside to feel the grass beneath my feet. Asking Santa to tell Jesus happy birthday on his fly-by. Shoes that tap and skirts that twirl.

For the ladies, Faith Hill's "Fireflies".

Before you met me I was a fairy princess
I caught frogs and called them prince
And made myself a queen
And before you knew me I'd traveled 'round the world
And I slept in castles
And fell in love
Because I was taught to dream

I found mayonnaise bottles and poked holes on top
To capture Tinker Bell
And they were just fireflies to the untrained eye
But I could always tell

Cause I believe in fairy tales
And dreamer's dreams
Like bedsheet sails
And I believe in Peter Pan
And miracles, anything I can to get by
And fireflies

Now before I grew up I saw you on a cloud
And I could bless myself in your name
And pat you on your wings
And before I grew up I heard you whisper so loud
Well life is hard and so is love
Child, believe in all these things

Double Take

All I have to say is, "Ummmmmmm...."



Thanks to the Pink Kitty Blog for the funny photo. Or as they called it, a "hat tip". Ha!

Hoping for Failure

Anyone else hoping Walmart's newest store will fail?

I know exactly where this store is...and I say, Come on Dallas, Richardson, and Plano! Leave the expensive stuff to Saks, Bestbuy, Brooks Brothers, Baby Gap, etc!

I'm just so sick of Walmart. Ugh. (And in case you are wondering, no, I do not shop there any longer).

Error Issues

If anyone actually reaches this blog over the next few days, here is the reason why it has been down.

Thoughts on Blogging

The New York Daily News published an article on potential employers and the growing prevalence of Google as an interview tool. Likewise, blogs are coming up. As would be expect, what people thought may be private or only read by their friends is, of course, available to anyone to read...including those potential employers.

Well...I'm not really sure what to say. As a non-anonymous blogger myself, I'm sure it wouldn't be very difficult for a law office I was applying at to see my blog. Would I be judged based on what I've written here? Would it be favorable or not?

For fear that I would not be judged on my merits (I'm in the top of my class and a VERY hard worker), I'm actually thinking of taking my profile down to make this a bit more anonymous. If anyone who comes by here has any thoughts, please let me know via e-mail or comments.

Getting Serious about Getting Married

I was going to write a review about Debbie Maken's Getting Serious about Getting Married, but a very good one has already been written - A Wistful Maiden's Ponderings: "Getting Serious about Getting Married" - book review

And here

Disagreeing with Maken (and see my comment): here

Am I ever delighted that this topic is hitting the blogosphere so quickly! Let's get the conversation started!

A Whole New World

I will attempt to keep this post from turning into a tirade against the fashion world.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I rarely follow entertainment or fashion news. Quite frankly, I find I have better things to do than read gossip about people I don't know and worry about whether the color of my t-shirt or my pants length is "in". I was completely and blissfully unaware that shoes have a season. I really had no clue!

To my chagrine, entering the professional world means paying some attention to the fashion world. My goal will of course be to get classic pieces. Why do I want something sitting in my closet that I am not "allowed" to wear? This "what not to wear" idea goes to the large social schematic of our society. Raised on consumerism, we focus on false and empty materialistic ideas. Nonetheless, I will have to play the game to some extent; I can no longer be the fashion bench warmer I naturally am. However, I will maintain some integrity. I will not buy the latest trend just because. If it is classic enough to last and comfortable, then I will purchase it.

A note on judgment: you know, a person's worth is certainly not determined by the clothes they wear. I've found many people judge others depending on whether those people are fashion conscious. If we form any opinion of a person, let it be based on their spirit...their spirit for giving, their capacity for loyalty, their strong faith. My handbag doesn't tell you a darn thing about who I am...only that I needed a purse that was big enough for all my stuff, black to match everything, and priced so that I could afford it, while it would last.

Disclaimer

The funny thing about blogs is this: people read them! Some 1L here at Tech posted a comment about clothing at Board of Barrister competitions. (For the uninitiated, Board of Barristers is a competition for the highly motivated...which I am not!). Well, keeping in line with what I'll call "1L madness" (referring to the fact that 1Ls keep mass emailing all the other students), some other 1L thought he should forward a link to all the other students.

Somewhat of a Disclaimer: While I take full responsibility for all posts I make, if anyone gets the bright idea to forward a link to the entire law school from my blog, please do me a favor...correct any typos you find! I really cannot spell to save my life.

Somewhat of another Disclaimer: If I ever offend anyone, please know it is completely unintentional. I use this small spot of e-space only in the hopes that my random thoughts may someday coalesce into something more worthwhile when taken as a whole.

Waiting On God

"I don't mean just thinking. I mean thinking with a difference — trusting God to make things clear in His own time, thinking in a spirit of adoration, of dependency, of trust. That includes trust that He is, in fact, changing your mind."

"In Romans 12:2, Paul writes 'Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove' — that means 'discern' — 'that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.' Do you see what he's saying? He seems to think that the key to 'proving' or discerning the will of God isn't getting a certain kind of experience in the mind, but getting a certain kind of mind. Paul wants our minds to be 'renewed' through surrender to His will."

Not "God, my mind is all ready, so drop some thoughts into it..." "He made your mind to think, so don't let your mind just lie there — think. But think in His presence."


---From "The Lord Told Me (Part 1 of 2)", by J. Budziszewski, Boundless.org.

Tell it like it is...

"The [Massachusetts] state pharmacy board ordered Wal-Mart on Tuesday to stock emergency contraception pills at its stores in Massachusetts.

"Massachusetts becomes second state to require the world's largest retailer to carry the morning-after pill.

A Wal-Mart spokesman said... "Clearly women's health is a high priority for Wal-Mart," spokesman Dan Fogleman said. "We are actively thinking through the issue."

My Personal Thoughts: Since when has the morning after pill or any of its successors had much to do with women's health? A woman is not diseased if she is pregnant, though many feminists seem to think so. I understand, though I do not agree with, the argument about abortions for women who are raped or who might die during the birth process. However, if a woman has been raped or is facing pregnancy complications, she should be in a hospital getting proper medical attention, not in Wal-Mart buying drugs. Therefore, the only woman likely, I would think, to be the intended consumer of such a product would be the woman who thinks she might have messed up with her birth control and just wants to make sure...

But then again, maybe this is a health issue...a mental health issue. Women need to stop seeing their bodies as objects to use for their own satisfaction. Women who feel entitled to have sex out of wedlock and who feel justified in using various contraception methods and abortion if necessary to maintain some plastic notion of freedom...these women are simply insane.

Set aside the notion that there is some form of freedom in wordly views. Women are not free when they can kill their babies and have sex with men who are neither in love with nor committed to them. Freedom can only be found when you stop following the dictates of a blind society and start following the truth that is written in your heart.

V-day Philosophy

...speak of one who loved not wisely, but too well.

- Othello.

Lesson of The Day

It is better to be a seal than a penguin.

Facing Ghosts: more on courtship

The pain of heartbreak for me has been linear in nature: the more trust involved, the more pain felt. I think it is quite possible to trust someone more than you love them. The worst kind of heartbreak is the kind where love and trust are equal, and in great amounts...that pain can be almost unbearable.

I've been broken up with before...I've also been the one to do the breaking. It sucks, either way. The term "breaking up" is very apt. Whether or not you are physically involved, there is always an emotional "oneness" that is created during the dating process. Knowing what it means to give yourself to a person takes a lot of heart. In her article, "Why Breaking Up is Hard To Do", Sara Hinlicky wrote about a guy named James who was dumped by a girl named Cindy.

He is the one who really understood what was at stake in their romance. It wasn'’t an arrangement designed to be temporary or merely preparatory for something else. He saw, and felt in his heart of hearts, the profound spiritual implications of his intimacy with Cindy. It was a sacrifice of himself to her that required incredible trust. He willingly blended his identity with hers;

James was heartbroken when Cindy broke-up with him. She wasn't. She moved on. He struggled. I can't say how long any one person struggles or not with such a problem, but it is a tough road for the person who really knows what dating and courtship and emotional intimacy bring.

For the givers out there who give their hearts freely, with complete trust...be more discerning. I speak with experience over many years. I've had to face those ghosts too...the questions with no answers. "Why me? What is wrong with me? Why aren't I good enough? How do I lack...how can I fix it? Don't I have value?" The ghosts of the "exs". The ghosts of regret.

Toward the end of her article, Hinlicky says that perhaps we really aren't one until we are married to that person God has intended for us. Maybe she is right, I certainly do not profess any aptitude for maritial theology. What I do know is this: in marriage, we are one before God; as a married couple, we should build each other up, not tear each other down; my husband should complete me in ways that I am incapable of filling, and I should complete him in the say way.

Reason from Above

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord" Isaiah 1:18.

Many times, I've been chastised in my life for my faith, that faith is without reason. I quite disagree. Faith is the highest form of reason...requiring the utmost in mental commitment from the person in which it abides. And since our relationship with God is based on faith...in Christ..."[i]t is important to realize, [when talking with God], that one is having a discussion. Religious thought is not an abdication of reason or discussion; it is simply reasoning and discussion by other means." (Nate Olman on God and taxes).

It is a plain man indeed that finds solace in mere logic and philosophy.

In Memory

In memory of my Aunt Prissy, who passed away yesterday of cancer at 49 years old.

More on tax treaties

In this post on the Tax Prof blog, the issue of tax treaties comes up again. (See this previous post).

As a general note, I think I find the U.S. entering into treaties that submit the people of this nation to foreign power a bit unconstitutional. (Please add a note of sarcasm to the word "bit").

And you think taxes are bad now...

Can you imagine having taxes on global e-commerce? Ack! Tax Prof blog has a post here, and I have copied the abstract below, regard global taxation.

This paper assesses national and international responses to tax challenges presented by cross-border electronic commerce. Almost ten years after these challenges were first identified, a survey of national government reactions shows that many countries have not passed any significant tax legislation or administrative guidance with respect to the taxation of global e-commerce. This lack of action at the national level can be explained in large part by the leadership role taken by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in developing the guiding principles and, subsequently, the tax rules to confront the e-commerce tax challenges. The OECD’s general success with e-commerce tax reform demonstrates the potential of the OECD to act as a kind of informal (lower case) world tax organization, which emphasizes deliberation, consensus-building and the use of non-binding mechanisms such as the OECD model tax treaty. Moreover, the OECD’s success suggests that calls for a more formal (upper-case) World Tax Organization, which could impose binding tax rules on participating nations, may be misplaced.

The Coolness of Tax

The government will always get its own...

Take for instance this article on the Tax Prof blog.

"Having someone else pay your taxes can get tricky, since the government counts the amount that person pays as taxable income. "

Gary Allan - The One

No rush though I need your touch
I won't rush your heart
Until you feel on solid ground
Until your strength is found, girl

I'll fill those canyons in your soul
Like a river lead you home
And I'll walk a step behind
In the shadows so you shine
Just ask it will be done
And I will prove my love
Until you're sure that I'm "the one"

Somebody else was here before
He treated you unkind
And broken wings need time to heal
Before a heart can fly, girl

I'll fill those canyons in your soul
Like a river lead you home
And I'll walk a step behind
In the shadows so you shine
Just ask it will be done
And I will prove my love
Until you're sure that I'm "the one"

Trust in me and you'll find a heart so true
All I want to do is give the best of me to you
And stand beside you

Just ask it will be done
And I will prove my love
Until you're sure that I'm "the one"

Good Thought

“I WOULD RATHER TEMPORARILY FAIL WITH A CAUSE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY SUCCEED, THAN TO TEMPORARILY SUCCEED WITH A CAUSE THAT WILL ULTIMATELY FAIL.” –WOODROW WILSON

A funny...

From BuffaloWings&Vodka, a funny thought.

Things your law professor is doing instead of grading your exam:

....Looking at the webcounter he's installed to see how many times you've checked your grades, and laughing....

All law student's know how true that seems!!

Spirit of the Law

Every law student knows about IRAC (or the newer CREAC). Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion. The crux of it, that which determines the top and bottom half of the class, comes from knowing the rule and applying it to the facts presented. That is what lawyers do...why they are paid so much sometimes. They have to use their minds to take a rule that can seem impersonal and distant on paper and apply it to a real scenario, involving real people.

It is application that makes those stale words in books come alive. More and more, I'm understanding that is what I need to do in my life as a Christian. In the song "Everything to me" by Avalon, the lyrics go like this:

I grew up in Sunday school
I memorized the Golden rule
And how Jesus came to set the sinner free
I know the story inside out
I can tell you all about
The path that led Him up to Calvary
But ask me why He loves me
And I don't know what to say
But I'll never be the same
Because he changed my life when He became...

Everything to me
He's more than a story
more than words on a page of history
He's the air that I breath
The water I thirst for
And the ground beneath my feet
He's everything, everything to me

Living in a modern world, it is sometimes hard to remember that Christ really did live those words written in the bible. He cast out demons, raised the dead, walked on water, and most important, took the sin of the world with him on the cross and conquered death for us. The significance of that is hard to grasp until you really dig into scripture and see how we are suppose to live. However, the first step is to realize that those stale words on the page won't mean anything to us individually until we apply them to our lives.

I Am, Part 2

In a previous post I talked about Nicole Nordeman's song, "I Am". I've been listening to the song so much lately because of hard times in my life, I'm publishing the song's lyrics in full below:

Pencil marks on a wall, I wasn't always this tall
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed.
You watched my team win, and watched my team lose
Watched when my bicycle went down again

When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call You by name
And I said Elbow Healer, Superhero, come if you can
You said, I Am

Only sixteen, life is so mean
What kind of curfew is at 10 pm?
You saw my mistakes and watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I'd never love again

When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call You by name
And I said Heartache Healer, Secret Keeper, be my best friend
You said, I Am

You saw me wear white by pale candlelight
I said 'forever' to what lies ahead
Two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream
Too much it might seem when it is 2 am.

When I was weak, unable to speak, still I could call You by name
Oh, Shepherd Savior, Pasture Maker, hold on to my hand
You said, I Am

The winds of change and circumstance
Blow in and all around us
So we find a foothold that's familiar
And bless the moments that we feel you nearer

When life had begun I was woven and spun
You let the angels dance around the throne
Who can say when, but they'll dance again
When I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak, still I will call You by name
Creator, Maker, Life Sustainer
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer
Lord and King, Beginning and the End
I Am, I Am

KLove Ministry

There is a radio station I listen to here in Lubbock. I'm not sure from where, but it is sydicated nationally and anyone can listen via the internet.

They are funded through pledge money from listeners, and they failed to reach their goal during the Fall Pledge Drive. Therefore, they are doing a year-end pledge drive.

One guy called in who said that while he and his wife cannot afford much, they both received the same message from God that they should give monthly to the KLove ministry. They are selling their house and some of their things so they can get financially back on track...but in the mean time, they are donating.

Relying on Malachi 3:10-11, the man said that God has all the money in the world; He doesn't need our money, he needs our trust, our faith.

I say, Amen.

KLove

A resolution worth keeping

From Dr. Jack Graham, Dallas TX:

You probably know the story of Simon Peter, a sometimes brash and confident fisherman, who denied Jesus just as the Lord predicted. When Peter realized his sin, he wept bitterly and went away into the darkness of misery. But that same Peter who had been outside the love of God and having denied Christ moved back into the arms of Christ because of forgiveness. He was renewed, restored, and recommissioned.

He went from that time of turmoil in his life to be ignited by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and become the greatest preacher and Apostle of the first century. Why? Because Jesus said he was going to build His church on people, just like Simon Peter, who are frail, fragile, and often fall, but that also desire to wholeheartedly love, follow, obey, and live for Him.

It may be that in the days of this past year, you’ve found yourself living in denial of your faith at certain times. Maybe you’ve walked away from the love of God or found yourself distracted and unfocused when it comes to your relationship with Christ. Pray that Christ would bring you back into a spirit-filled relationship with Him and that He would reignite your heart on fire for Him.

In the coming year, commit yourself to the spiritual exercise of your soul. Build yourself up in Christ through faith, ground yourself in Jesus growing into spiritual maturity, and live fully in the love of God. Do you want to stay in the love of God during this coming year and those after? Then stay in the Word of God!

YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION SHOULD BE TO BUILD YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE UP EVERY DAY THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST AND IN HIS HOLY WORD.

Guardianship

I'm taking a short course this next semester on Guardianships. I found the following blog post on my professor's website incredibly interesting and thought it was worth an entry on my own blog.

Here is the link

A list to think on

I took this list from another blog. I thought it sounded great...

1. Parents ... have wisdom of gold that is not taken until long after it is given.
2. My greatest ... fear is being left alone.
3. I secretly ... wish I had a room full of books that I could work through at my own pace.
4. The problem with ... problems is that they never go away.
5. My mother used to ... get up early in the morning to go to work, and I would sit in her bathroom door and watch her get ready.
6. Women ... love and feel things deeply.
7. Men ... smell great - sometimes!
8. I hate ... (am massively irritated by) slow drivers.
9. Long ... lines help me build by patience.
10. Being young ... is over-valued, because there is rarely much wisdom in youth.
11. Aging ... is under-valued, because there is quite often a lot of wisdom in age.
12. I love ... good coffee, chocolate, and sunrises.
13. People tend to ... refrain from speaking their minds.
14. My favorite ... thing to do is watch movies.
15. I'm getting better at ... learning to let my issues go.
16. I wish ... I could lie under a blanket of stars and try to count them.
17. Some things ... are of little consequence, despite the value we try to give them.
18. In a year ... I hope I will have found a job that I love.
19. Children ... have enough innocence to give them wisdom beyond their years.
20. I would like to be ... Christ-like in everything I do.

Back in the Saddle

So Christmas is over, and the New Year is right around the corner. Colorado was absolutely fantastic...pics coming soon. I'm back in The Big D visiting my family...but once I return to good ol' Lubbock, just wait! Regular posting will start once again (whereas they ended right before finals) and I'm doing a re-organization of the entire blog.

Hope everyone is having a great time of year! I'm off to Bath and Body to buy 5 Anti-bacterial soaps for $10...lol. Gotta keep those hands clean and smellin' good!

Merry, Merry Christmas!

I'm finally done with finals!!

Woooohoooo!!!!!!!

Now, off to Colorado and then Dallas. Awesome! Here I come oh snow!