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Tiger's Great Example

Posted by GregB on Wednesday, December 02, 2009 3:43:56 PM
Can't keep my self from commenting on this matter.  Tiger Woods' problem is a perfect example of why values are so important and why it is best to live one's life morally accountable.  My wife use the phrase "the dark side of leadership" when a leader goes awry in their personal life.  It is a reference to Darth Vader's fall to the dark side.  Many years ago Richard Foster, an author and ethics professor within the Christian community, wrote a book on the three most influential issues that will ruin ones life.  One of his books dealt with the problems that sex, money and power could bring to a person who did not recognize how potentially destructive these motives were if not addressed and control adequately in the life of an individual.   Well I want to combine the saying of my wife with an observation of Foster's book.  I believe that Tiger has fallen to the dark side of money.  While we might look at Tiger's problem as one of sex, I don't believe that is the motivation behind his infidelity.  Here was a young man with so much money that he could buy and do anything he wanted.  He used his money to buy sex and to indulge  himself in his perceived pleasures for his life.  As a result, the dark side of money lured him into sexual infidelity. 
   Tiger's infidelity also illustrates the Biblical mandate of Numbers 32:23 ". . .and you may be sure that your sin will find your out." (NIV).  As a Family Law attorney it never ceases to amaze me how people somehow think that adultery does not have consequences even in the "enlightened" sexual society in which we live.   
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A prime example of what this blogis about

Posted by GregB on Monday, September 07, 2009 10:30:31 PM
Kathy and I had worked hard in you yard and garden today.  We had an impulsive desire  for KFC for dinner.  After bagging our food at the local KFC, we passed by the new Segerstrom Science Center at Azusa Pacific University.   The  building was just dedicated last week.  It took 2 years to build and it was costly but it was a significant building in that the building made a statement about APU's desire to be an academic leader in all the basic college disciplines  This building is a prime example of how a Christian institution can take its message into the market place without being intrusive and arrogant.  APU, as an intentional act to show its commitment to the intentional design theory of the scriptures, artfully placed scripture from Genesis 2 on the outside of the building.  It is subtle but within a few seconds one can clearly see  that  APU is committed to the marriage of science and the study of the Chief Designer of the Universe.  A couple of days ago, Kathy and I ran into APU's VP of Development who confirmed the intentionsof the school in scribing on its outside the scripture passages from Genesis.  We told him that this was the genius  of the project and we congratulated APU for doing just that. Way to go APU!
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It's Time To Watch This Guy

Posted by GregB on Sunday, September 06, 2009 9:59:16 PM
 At the start of the campaign, I wasn't really concerned about our Presidents connections to Rev.  Wright.  I wasn't that fearful that our President had friendshipwith an avowed  communist in the likes of Bill Ayers.  I had a concern that the President was connected, although a little remotely to ACORN, but he seemed to have distanced himself from that organization.  But, my concerns grew when our President thought that diplomacy was the potential solution to the Cuban political problem.  My concerns continued to grow when the President visited Venezuela and opened diplomatic relations with the open and  unabashed communist leader of that country, Hugo Chavez.  My concerns grew to the alarm stage, when the President came out and  backed the ousted President of Honduras who was also supported by Castro and Chavez.  At it turns out,the only leaders in the western hemisphere that has supporred the ousted leader of Honduras have been President Obama, Castro of  Cuba and Hugo  Chavez.  Now, this weekend,  the revelation that the President's staff included an avowed communist and racist, Van Jones,( http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/26797.html), I have grave concerns that this  President has an agenda that is truely designed to redefine the values and systems of this great country.  When we also throw into  the mix that this President didn't support faith based initiatives and he has been a proponent of abortion and partial birth  abortion, the cumulative effect of these makes me wonder about his professed faith and his core values.  The church needs  to watch carefully this President and  his policies  in the coming months.  If he continues on this  track, he will be no friend of the Christian community. 

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Thoughts on Senator Kennedy

Posted by GregB on Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:25:06 PM
An American legend died today.  There's no dispute as to the contributions that the late Senator Kennedy gave to our political and cultural fabric.  For an excellent homage to this great legend, I direct you to the commentary written by Bill Bennet at
 Bill Bennets commentary on Senator Kennedy at national review online.  It is good.   
 
But, I can't help but process the first thoughts that always come to mind when I think about the great senator.  That being a dark night in Hyannisport and a small bridge and an innocent personal by the name of Mary Jo Kopechne.  Ask anyone over 50 as to what comes to mind when you mention Senator Kennedy and this will be, if not the first thought, then at least in the top three of what people remember about him.   I am not trying to besmurch the reputation of Senator Kennedy, only to highlight how life's choices can influence our life and to tag our life, for years after an event has impressed the hurt and damage on the actors in that event.  It is well thought that this incident prevented the senator from running for President. 
 
The Kennedy family has suffered much tragedy and this year has been no less burdensome with the senator's passing and the passing of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.  We all need to ask God to remind them that the God of peace and comfort is available to them during their grief and loss. 
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Fiore and Jenkins - Good kids bad kids

Posted by GregB on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 11:11:15 PM
  By now we have been made aware of the tragedy that enveloped the lives of two seemingly young adults with everything going for them in life that they could possibly have.  The mother of Jasmine Fiore went public with her amazement and shock given the goodness of her daughter prior to this tragedy.  The father of  Ryan Jenkins stated his disbelief that his son, who  was such a good son, would do such an evil action, also pointing out that his son has a great job in his home town of Calgary.  But, as I've been listening to the reports, the facts just don't add up.  Now, as you read my thoughts don't misunderstand me on this.  No female deserves the  tragedy that happened to her.  But, as a father of a daughter and a person who  has uniquely observed life tragedies, good girls usually don't fall victim to this  kind of tragedy.  Didn't is sound unusual that such a "good" girl would  prostitute her body for money by being a "bikini" model?  It has also surfaced that this "good" girl would use her body for "painting" at parties in Las Vegas.  As far as the alleged killer, this act didn't come from the dark.  What narcisistic activities was he involved in prior to going  to Los Angeles and trying  to become  famous?  I guess what strikes me is that the "boring" life is probably the actual good life.  These two  adults were looking for"life' in all the wrong places.  The necessary values that would have protected Ms. Fiore were absent in her  life.  The necessary values thatwould have forced Mr.Jenkins to take stock of  what was  really valuable in his life were absent. Lets not shrink from the  task of selling society that the values of Christianity and faith are those that will provide the  real "good life" that  we all want. 

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Grace, Mercy and the Lockerbie Bomber

Posted by GregB on Thursday, August 20, 2009 3:39:39 PM
The news that Scotland was releasing the Lockerbie bomber, (Abdelbaset Ali Mohmet al-Megrahi),  to that he could return to his family in Lybia was profoundly disturbing.  What was even more distrubing was that he was being released because of the supposed necessity of showing mercy and grace to this person during his last days.  It is reported that the bomber was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has approximately 3 months to live. 
 
This decision is the best example as to what I believe is a misguded understanding on the meaning and application of mercy and grace.  The concept of mercy is applicable when the person to whom mercy is given is actually introspective and remorseful for what they have done.   The Lockerbie bomber (this is shorter then his name), has not shown or displayed any remorse.  Lybia has publicly admitted its support of the bomber's activity and there has been no communication from him that he regretted his part in this tragedy.  Thus, this person has no right to be afforded any acts of mercy.
 
Grace is an act that also follows forgiveness but grace is given as a means of lessening the guilt and the eternal effect of ones sins.  The application of grace does not necessarily mean that a person is now excused from the consequences of their wrongdoing.  Grace does not mitigate against a correct application of justice when it comes to offenses against innocent human beings.  In this case, the bomber unmercifully took the lives of 270 individuals including women, children and young adults.  Scotland law precluded the application of a death sentence after conviction and that by itself was probably the most grace-filled act that this criminal could have expected.  In its fullest sense justice would have required that this person give his life as payment for the act that he committed.  Additionally, grace and mercy had already been extended to this person by the fact that he had been given medical services during his imprisonment.  The fact that he was released to go to his homeland and dye was a slap in the face to all of those who lost their loved ones in this violent tragedy. 
 
Scotland's act, while appearing on its surface as an act of mercy and grace, was an injustice that was not merciful and grace-filled in relation to the victims of this violent act. 
Greg B. 
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Happy Sunday greetings

Posted by GregB on Sunday, August 16, 2009 8:42:30 PM
  This being Sunday, I will give my blog a rest but with one exception.  I apologize for  the inconvenient whitespace.  I  don't know how it happened but I will try to fiture it out and get it corrected.  I also apologize for the typos.  I haven't been wearing my glasses and my wife, the lovely and gracious Kathy,  reminded me that I need to wear them whenI blog.  The screen is a little fuzzy  without them so I will miss typos if I don't wear my glasses.   Have a great Sunday and a great week.  Hope you went to church today!    GregB 
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Healthcare reform and abortion

Posted by GregB on Saturday, August 15, 2009 11:17:08 PM
We've been inundated with coverage of the proposed legislation or talk about how health care delivery systems might change.  Christian and the church should be listening and participating.  But, there has more name calling on both sides of the debate.  The  name calling has obscured one of the most importatnt issues discussion that should be taking center stage. 
 
Abortion and the potential that it will fundedthrough the proposals floated by congress should have our rapt attention.  But its been ignored more  than the a junior higher with bad complexion.  We've been more interested in name calling andin worrying about socialized medicine then the prospects that this health  care reform has probably been a ruse to fund abortions through our federal coffers. 
 
A few weeks ago, the President was asked one of the most important questions  in this debate.  He was asked if he would rule out the possibility that abortions would be funded under the proposed plans working through Congress.  The President stated that he could not.  But more importantly, he  didn't say that he would not support a plan that included federally funded abortions.  Remember, this President stated during the  campaign that he viewed abortion as an alternative if either  if his daughters "made a mistake".  While he had previously said that he though abortion should be the last option, he basically gave  it his  blessing with his personal referrence to his daughters. 
 
Whether Christian voted for Obama or  not, (I can't understand voting for a presidential  candidate who espoused more anti-Christian views and values then he did) it is time for Christians to take a stance and oppose this health care reform movement strictly on this basis alone.   While I oppose any kind of attempt to socialize our medical delivery system, it pales in comparison to the effect that this reform movement would have on the practice of abortions and its effect on the poor.    The real evil of what we are facing in this health care debate is the issue of  abortion.  As Christians we should be uniting on this issue alone and using this to rally against the proposed health care reforms supported by those in Congress who want this and supported by our President. 
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Dear Church: Time to get off the bench

Posted by GregB on Friday, August 14, 2009 12:50:24 AM
 
My wife, the  lovely and gracious Kathy, is the executive director of a non-profit faith based womesn shelter.  Its name is Stepping Stones for Women. (At this very moment she is meeting with a property procurement committee because she and the board perceive that they need to secure ownership of their own facility instead of renting their facility).    SSFW encounters women from all sectors and ethnic groups who are struggling with the demands of single motherhood.  For many of these women, they are  victims of a social structure but not victims as we might think.  These women are not much  different then some of the people that  I meet.  In short, both the  clients of SSFW and in some part, people that  I come into contact  with are  victims of a poor ethical system.They have not been taught a moral system that is foundational to making good life  decisions.  They have no concept of what a Christian value  system looks  like.  Having a child without benefit of marriage does not carry any stigma. 
 
Into this arena, the church has failed to travel.  When asking churches to support this type of mission, there is little interest  shown because this is not a mission project that is across the ocean.  Additionally, when we ask church goers to provide support, we end up  getting gifts of broken cribs, dilapidated furniture, dirty  cloths and other garbage.  
 
While we Christians decry the existence of abortion, when a ministry such as SSFW exists to offer support to  women who have chosen life  instead of abortion is not supported by the church as a viable alternative, I think that the church  has failed to enter the marketplace and show how Christianity can offer practical help and wage war against this scourage  of abortion.  Ioffer this as an example of the  fact that  the church needs to do more than complaining about  the conditions  of  society.  If  it wants to combat poverty, homelessness, unwanted pregnancies, etc, then it needs to get off the bench and offer support and  prograams that are tangible examples of how to solve these problems and evangelize those who need new life. 
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Introduction: This is why I am doing this blog

Posted by GregB on Thursday, August 13, 2009 1:06:28 AM
I titled this blog Intothemarketplace because it represents my core belief that the market place is the best arena to test the  claims of faith that prfoundly influence my thinking.  I firmly believe that Christianity is best tested and believed when it confronts the conditions of culture and it attempts to answer the great questions of our culture.  As a Family Law and Probate attorney I face ethical and moral  issues constantly as the play out in the individual crises that my clients are confronted with and as they grapple with saraching for the remedies to put  their lives together.  That is the  marketplace where faith meets culture to enlighten solutions to life's problems. 
 
I have  in my office a picture that is a replication of the focal  point of the grerat Michaelangelo's painting of the Cisten Chapel.  I use it to remind my clients, regardless of their faith perspectivbe, that I practice law to help them see that Christ's hand has been extended across the gulf between humanity and heaven to help them through their life crisis.  In the  crises that my clients face while in the marketplace,it is my hope that they find faith to be their greatest asset.  Those that rest on their faith, make it through succesfully.   Those that don't rest on their faith, usually do  not find satisfaction and security but end up with frustration and deeper anger then  when the came to me for help with their problem. 
 
It is my hope that this blog will spark deeper reflection on the integration of faith into life.  I hope to  spark thoughts on topics where faith, family and culture intersect and where  Christians might need to go to be more effective in our culture. 
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