Jaina

Here are some pictures of my god daughter Jaina. The first three pictures are her sucking her thumb, the last picture is her and her Godfather watching the movie Street Fighter the Legend of Chun Li intently.

Who is your Palace Guard?

While reading Philippians I came across the verse in chapter 1: verse 13 "as a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ."

After reading that a few times I tried meditating on why that is so significant to my life. And no it has nothing to do with the job God has blessed me with. I realized that we all have our own palace guard. People God has put in place to watch us in our suffering. People who aren't necesarrily saved but can see Christ in our actions. I was thinking for a while who my palace gaurd is. I think it can be anyone with close contact with me. Paul wrote specifically that the men assigned to guard him while he was imprisoned saw first hand that he was in chains for Christ which is a good thing.

There are a motley group of people in my life I would say are my palace guard, they are people from all walks of life who may not believe in Christ... yet, but see Him working through me. Unfortunately, I don't always make a very good witness to my palace guard.

I can just imagine the Imperial Guard from Star Wars guarding me in their long crimson (not red) robes watching my every move, curious that I am so peculiar. After all I am a chosen people a royal preisthood a Holy nation, and too a peculiar person. I hope with this entry you can think who your palace guard is, and what they would say about your faith. I only pray and hope my palace guard see Christ and not george.

The Story of Rahab

The last few weeks I've been struggling very hard with my choice in life and my assumptions of what my family think of me with my career choice. It's probably more me than anything else but I can get very super sensative. I was at some party a month ago and a little child came up to me and asked me "do you defend criminals?" so matter of factly. And I knew that I had to simplify it or he wouldn't understand, I said I help poor people. He further pressed me about "helping bad guys" and I told him that I in fact do help defend people who are charged with breaking the law. He then changed his demeanor and told me "then I don't like you." And he ran off. I ended up talking to him later about how we all fall short from the glory of God and how Jesus was sent to save us all from our sins, and maybe something about not being judgmental. I honestly don't even remember what I said, and I'm sure it fell on deaf ears.

I had a particularly tough week that next week when I had to deal with a larger than average amount of clients who call me a "dump truck" among other things I won't repeat here. I was ruminating alot to myself about not even being appreciated for my life choice and that always leads to light depression. Then the following week a couple family members came to see me in court deal with some cases and cross examine a particularly angry person. Angry with me because I made her angry on purpose. That was nice, but they didn't really talk about my being in court or their reactions to any of the cases, they concentrated more on what is going on in their lives. That left a bitter taste in my mouth after thinking about it for a while, but I just swallow it down and brush it off. My Mom always taught me to let it "roll off your back like water on a duck" that analogy was especially useful since I grew up next to a community center with a duck pond.

Then I went on vacation this past week and another kid tried telling me about how the job I do is "wrong". And I ended up snapping at her very harshly, which was wrong. It was the last straw for me really. I still feel bad for snapping, it's hard to explain this work to an "intelligent" adult.

I then turn to Joshua and read the Story of Rahab and the destruction of Jericho. To sum it up Rahab, a known prostitute, allowed Israelite spies to hide in her house. When the king of Jericho found out she was hiding spies he ordered her to turn them over, she lied and said she didn't know where they were. The Israelites guaranteed to her that she will be treated fairly when the Israelites take over the kingdom. So she fulfills her end of the bargain, and she is spared along with her family who live with her. The story hit me in so many ways.

1. Rahab was a prostitute and probably was not looked well upon by the people of Jericho, or the Israelite spies. Much like a criminal defense attorney.
2. Rahab used her profession to take care of her family. I do that.
3. Rahab was blessed when she did what she said she was going to do. I have been blessed so many times over by God and for things I know I don't deserve.
4. Rahab did lie. I do not lie in my job, it is a common misnomer that lawyers lie, the analogy breaks down a little bit there.

After reading this story I took my wife out to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary. A couple hours before this I posted a status update on my facebook page telling all of my friends that I am celebrating my 5 year wedding anniversary with my high school sweetheart and I got so many comments on that update, but one person e-mailed me.

The person that e-mailed me was my 6th/7th grade English teacher Mr. Lynn. He was a great teacher and I can devote a few blogs just to him but in short (no pun intended) he is 6ft 6 inches, a Cal Alum, and an all around great person. He sends me this e-mail right after I read about Rahab and while I am struggling with feeling sorry for myself.

Dan sent you a message.

Subject: Anniversary and Such

"First of all, Happy Anniversary! Is this first girlfriend a Del Rey student perhaps? I didn't see a name in your profile. Secondly, congratulations on getting into, and out of, Cal, my alma mater. It's socially acceptable to brag about the sports teams, but I've always taken great pride in my association with the Greatest University in the World (pivate schools need not apply). How the hell did you get in with a 2.7? Lastly, I remember you as a thoughtful, smart, kind, and caring kid. Your career choice seems to follow from those qualities. You have a great life from the way it looks from here. Good for you."

I read that message from my phone when my wife excused herself to use her cell phone while we were at dinner. My wife came back to sit down and I was a little teary eyed. She asked me what was wrong, and I told her "God is good, and his love is forever."

My Mission from God

Sometimes when things get weird in my life I think that I am on some mission from God and that God is testing me. Today is one of those days, and yes it's been a while since I've blogged mainly because I'm busy with work or with the high school ministry or just enjoying time with the wife. But today was so crazy I just had to share.

I went to the DMV in Vallejo to get my car registration sticker. My sticker had not been mailed to me yet so I thought I could go in and get the sticker. As I sat down, I realized that I had forgotten my Bible so I opened up a case file I needed to be familiar with. I quickly read the file and then opened my Star Wars novel I'm reading slowly. I open it up and I was isntantly surrounded by a 4 and 6 year old brother and sister. The sister told her brother matter of factly that I was readign a Star Wars book, and he got very excited, and she started humming the theme song. I was going to talk to them about it but their parent/guardian wasn't around so to avoid looking like a creep I didn't engage them in conversation. As soon as the parent sat down next to them my phone goes off and I am talking to a criminal forensic lab manager regarding the cost of finger printing a handgun and testifying costs etc...

The children have a conversation so lost in translation it made me laugh and also made me put the book away because it was obviously causing problems. The boy asked his dad which Star Wars movie was his favorite and the father said "I liked the first one the best". His son (I'm assuming) said "oooh that's my favorite too, when Anakin is a little boy." And the father said, no I like the first one, Star Wars. (Now Star Wars Episode 4 is obviously what he is referring to. But it was renamed in 1980 to Star Wars: A New Hope, in order to clarify and ambiguity with the 2 sequels and 3 prequels. So the father was not incorrect, he just wasn't speaking specifically enough. The young boy is confused and during this entire drama that started getting a little heated, the little girl no older than 3 or 4 is still humming the Star Wars theme song but the more heated the argument gets between father and son, the louder she gets with her humming. Finally the father tells his son his favorite is "the one where they blow up the death star" which confuses the son as well because the death star is blown up in episode 4 and 6, two different ones of course, the latter being far more powerful as the first... NOW...

Finally he tells his son to be quiet and the number before mine is called so I think I'm about to be called next. I'm cursing myself for forgetting my Bible because I'd take that out to read, and I don't dare take out the Star Wars book for fear another heated argument will spawn. So there I am, at the DMV for an additional 35 minutes waiting for the next number to be called (my number) and I'm sitting there in the most awkward silence I've been in, in many weeks. And I just have to laugh because I think God is testing me for some grand plan he has for me. As if I'm going to do something prolific in my life and as I'm driving back to work it hits me like a ton of bricks. God has chosen me for something prolific, he has chosen me for life and predestined me for grace. And each test I'm put through is a chance for me to pass with flying colors or fail only to be tested again. I really don't know if I passed or not, I never lost my cool at the DMV, I didn't over step my bounds in engaging the children in conversation, but I did forget my Bible, maybe that's why I flunked this time.

I do have to say the last few weeks have been amazing. God has been appearing to me in so many ways. You all that know me, know that one of my favroite animals is a hummingbird. I think they are the most fascinating creatures and they really do make me very happy whenever they appear. Well, on a particularly tough day of work as I was walking into the court house I walked by some trees planted on the side of the court house and a hummingbird appeared. I stopped (as I always do) and looked at it for as long as I could until it flew off. This isn't the first time a hummingbird has appeared around me when I'm down, or just not looking forward to a tough day. So I watch the bird fly around and then fly into one of the trees, and I had to squint a little but I actually saw it fly into a tiny little nest! So for the last few weeks it's been my little secret that I know where a hummingbird nest is and every day before work I walk by it and see it there probably sitting on a egg. It really helps lately, work is getting tougher and tougher. I see things like that I wonder how people don'w believe in God.

30 Before 30

The list is titled "30 before 30" what thirty things did you want accomplished before you turn thirty? Honestly I never really put time limits on my goals, but I do have plans for my life I only share with my wife. But I'll give a run down of what my list of thirty things are I want to finish before August 8th this year.


1. Finish junior college.
2. Transfer into a good four year university.
3. Kill a bear with my cell phone.
4. Marry my high school sweet heart.
5. Start a blog.
6. Read every single Star Wars novel.
7. Not buy a car that is reliable.
8. Become a Godfather.
9. Go to law school.
10. Finish law school.
11. Pass the California Bar Exam on the first try.
12. Save a bus full of penguins.
13. Leave a room in an explosion of fire on the wings of a phoenix, (as seen in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
14. Buy a victorian house in Alameda, Ca.
15. Achieve my dream job of being a stay at home parent.
16. Becomming a parent.
17. Juggle a soccer ball for over 6 hours.
18. Memorize the words to a Dr. Dre song, and an NWA song.
19. Write a list of 30 things I want to do before I turn 30.
20. Write a novel.
21. Buy a new car.
22. Finish my business plan so I can open up my own shop.
23. Finish reading the Bible.
24. Master my pyrokinesis.
25. Take apart a staple remover and successfully put it back together.
26. Paint the kitchen, hallway, and front room.
27. Buy airline tickets to Egypt and Peru, yes both.
28. Fight a kangeroo to the death.
29. Mock a bluejay while it makes a nest in a nearby lemon tree.
30. Live to see my 30th birthday.

Bart Shooting

So I have stayed very quiet about this for a very long time. I make a point to not really blog about currect events. It's more of a guideline than anything else. But I am getting a little tired of this case already. If you have been living under water, or in suspended animation to recap a BART police officer was filmed by cell phone shooting a suspect in the back while he was being detained for a fight. The victim was not in the fight but was being detained by the police so they could figure out what was going on. So now there is outgrage that a police officer killed a guy. Honestly my question I will answer is "why hasn't there been more outrage these past few years?". I will answer that in a moment. Lately on TV there has been tons and tons of press regarding this preliminary hearing. People for the most part haven't the slightest clue what this hearing is.

What I tell my own clients is that a preliminary hearing is a hearing before the judge only where the judge listens to the evidence and decides whether there is a more than likely chance you may have committed this crime. The burden of proof is very low, and the prosecution can use hearsay from qualified police officers to make there case at the prelim. If the judge decides there is enough evidence against you, then he will hold you to answer for the felony and will shcedule an arraignment for a formal arraignment on the information (felony complaint).

Now... these people marching for the victim don't seem to understand what is going on because they were livid when the prelim was continued and were on pins and needles when the case was being heard at the prelim. If I had one thing to tell them (and no I wouldn't tell this to the victim's family because that's just wrong) I would tell these rowdy spectators to be patient, this is going to be a long ride. The defense is entitled to all the information the prosecution has. To over simplify, if the defense is not thorough in their advocacy, the case can be successfully appealed and the defense lawyer disbarred. If any of you were charged with a crime as awful as this, you would thank God every day for these sets of rules. Now as to the family, my prayers are with you when ever I hear about the case on the news, which means I've been holding you up in prayer alot.

Onto why I know the outrage (which is more than justifiable) has not been more prevalent in our society today. In my field I see things I don't want to see. I talk to people I wouldn't ordinarily talk to and my eyes have been pushed wide open. Just by logic police officers are human, humans are not infallible which means police officers are not immune to infallibility. Police officers make mistakes, police agencies make poor hiring decisions and the public are the victim's, in this case literally. Until I worked for a police agency I had the rose colored glasses on thinking police were untouchable when it came to veracity and integrity. This is a LIE. And now we are outraged and I can parallel this if you would follow me on this one...

The civil rights movement from the 1960's began with the southern black community and a bunch of left wing "radicals" and no, I know there were conservatives in it as well, but not many. And at the start of the movement there wasn't much main stream support for it until one very brutal church bombing which killed 3 little girls. When that hit the media, and the media back then was not as vicious as it obviously is now. But when that hit the media a popular wave of criticism for Jim Crow spread like wildfire. Rodney King didn't inspire the support of a more mainstream audience regarding police violence becuase 1) it was the LAPD what do you expect and 2) Rodney King has a laundry list rap sheet. But here we have a video of a man laying on the ground with officers around him securing him, and out of no where a police officer pulls his firearm, points it at the victim, and pulls the trigger. Are you outraged yet? If you aren't, then are your eyes even open yet? They're people, not gods, they make mistakes on their best days and at their worst days they do the mistakes on purpose.

My advice: let the justice system do it's job. For the most part it usually gets it right in the end thanks to qualified lawyers on both sides of the table and a qualified judge. Pray for the victim's family and the defendant's family, and for every police encounter in your area why? Because they still need to do their job, and they are entitled to the same safety as any other human being.

Working on the house: Milgard Windows

It was a grueling weekend only because we had to work throughout. We had a problem with the color of the window frames early on. We thought we ordered them ion sandstone but there was a miscommunication and they were ordered in white. It was very hard because we wanted them in the color we thought we ordered them in but we decided that we would go with the white. It was a very tough decision but we were close to losing our cool with the contractor. The contractor told us he just wanted to make us happy and said he would get whatever we wanted and apologized even though we knew it was our fault for not being more clear with him. So we decided that a Christian would have them complete the job we signed for a month ago. It was a real humbling experience and I hope our witness with the workers was not compromised during the ordeal.

Here are some before and after photos of our windows we had replaced this weekend.

The Kitchen




The Small Dining Room Window




The Bathroom






Large Dining Room Window: it doesn't look large in the pictures, but this was the largest you can order from Milgard.