Mr. Holland’s Opus

Read: Luke 12:16-21

One of my favorite movies is Mr. Holland’s Opus, starring Richard Dreyfuss. It tells the story of a talented young musician who dreams of creating a masterpiece, his magnum opus, his legacy of genius for history.

Unfortunately, his family needs food and a place to live while the masterwork is in progress, so Mr. Holland takes a job as a public school band director. He is good at the job, but often frustrated as he finds that its demands, and the needs of the young people in his classes, take so much time and energy that he has little left over for composing.

The movie follows Mr. Holland throughout the ups and downs of his adult life, until, at the end [spoiler alert], his dreams of composing fame never realized, he comes to understand that these people were his real opus. The students and family into whom he poured himself over the years were the lasting treasure, the mark of a successful life.

The story rings true for lawyers and, I’m sorry to say, law professors. Many of us dream of making partner, winning the record-breaking verdict, arguing the landmark case in the Supreme Court, being elected to high political office, or appointed as an appellate judge. We tend to assume that our legacy, our mark on history, is found in our achievements within the legal profession.

There’s nothing wrong with those things, but in terms of priority, Luke 12 tells a different story. Not only money, but all the achievements of this world are temporary. They will soon be forgotten by everyone. There is only one thing of permanent, eternal value into which we can invest ourselves: relationships, with God and with other people. Long after our office achievements have been forgotten, the people whom we impacted will be impacting others, who will impact others, and so on.

So the next time you are tempted to think that the “important work” of your day is being interrupted by the annoying client who calls for no real reason, or the secretary who requires way too much hand-holding, or the spouse whose needs are never met, or the children who just can’t understand that you’re too busy, or the waitress at your favorite diner who won’t shut up – take a moment to realize that those people are your important work for the day. God is much more interested in how you impact their lives than He is in one more rewrite of the brief or contract.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

Multiplying a Godly Heritage

For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born...that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. Psalm 78:5-7

One of the best ways to mirror God's image is through a line of godly descendants-our children-who will carry a reflection of His character to the next generation. God's original plan called for the home to be a sort of greenhouse-a nurture center where children grow up to learn character, values, and integrity. Psalm 78 instructs parents to teach their children to carry the message of who God is to the next generation. Through these lines of godly descendants, Satan's kingdom would be defeated.

Today, however, we can observe a problem with many Christian couples regarding child bearing and child rearing: They conform more to the world's standards than to God's. First, many families comply with the popular slogan "Two and no more." And many other couples opt for no children at all, even though they are perfectly capable of conceiving. All families need not be large. Nor is it wrong for a family to be small. But I do believe some Christians are becoming unduly worried about "overpopulating the world." The world needs Christians who are willing and ready to produce godly offspring. If Christians don't replicate a godly heritage to carry biblical values and Scriptural truths to the next generation, then other philosophies and religions will fill the vacuum.

Consider the kind of impact you want to have on the world through your children. Petition your heavenly Father to help you raise children who will grow up to love Jesus Christ with all their hearts and turn their world upside down for Christ!

~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

Running on Empty

Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink the water that I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
(John 4:13-14)

Whether we are talking about your stomach or the gas tank of your car, it is an uncomfortable feeling to be running on empty. The same is true with our spiritual comfort level. Are we living in the fullness of Christ's love, or are we running without fuel? Interestingly, the answer to this question can have little to do with your circumstances in life, your house, or your family, and everything to do with your relationship with Jesus Christ. We may be able to become "full" temporarily, but how long will we stay fulfilled?

That question is answered in a passage that has become a favorite for many Christians, the story of the Samaritan woman at the well. This woman meets Jesus Christ at the well when she is drawing water, and He makes her an offer that changes her life. And this passage provides a great illustration of the difference between satisfying ourselves with material things, like the well water in this story, or accepting Jesus' offer of eternal satisfaction, represented here by the offer of living water.

Many people today are just like the Samaritan woman; seeking temporary fullness, temporary satisfaction. Whether it's through entertainment, relationships, alcohol, your job, or through the pride of your accomplishments. Jesus offers us something much better. He promises us that we don't have to keep searching for satisfaction in the world. Our satisfaction results from keeping an eye on Him and His promises.

Lord, please inspire us to keep our eyes on you, and not become tempted by the things of the world. Let us remember that only you can make us full, and satisfied in this world. We ask that you show us that reality this day. In your name we pray.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Walk Humbly

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

Much can be learned about a person by observing his or her way of walking. Lawyers know that bearing is more than a matter of mechanics and posture. Each person's walk is expressive of the kind of person he or she is. Cheerfulness, decisiveness, even honesty, may be revealed by how the person walks.

Scripture often uses walking as a metaphor for one's way of life before God. At the dawn of human history, we read of godly Enoch, whose entire life was summarized in only a few words: "And Enoch walked with God, and was not; for God took him." (Gen. 5.22).

What specifically are we to understand concerning this matter of walking humbly with God? We do not have far to look. The Lord Jesus Christ taught and lived humility. In His humility we see a holy boldness, a sure-footedness that eludes those whose vision is dulled by self-absorption. Andrew Murray describes our Lord's walk this way:

It is in this, above and before everything, in which the conformity to Jesus consists: being and doing nothing of ourselves, that God may be all. Here we have the root and nature of humility. It is because this is not understood or sought after, that our humility is so superficial and so feeble. We must learn of Jesus, how He is meek and lowly of heart. He teaches us where true humility takes its rise and finds its strength - in the knowledge that it is God who worketh all in all, that our place is to yield to Him in perfect resignation and dependence, in full consent to be and to do nothing in ourselves. This is the life Christ came to reveal and to impart - a life to God that came through death to sin and self. If we feel that this life is too high for us and beyond our reach, it must but the more urge us seek it in Him; it is the indwelling Christ who will live in us this life. (see, Murray, Humility, Chapt. 3)

Where will we walk today? Let us consider the consciousness-raising thought that we, the body of Christ, are the means by which Jesus walks our streets, our courtrooms and schools. He wants to be more than an example to us - He is to be our very life (Col. 3:4). The One who said of Himself "I am meek and lowly of heart" indwells and empowers us to live His life as we look to Him in faith.

Lord Jesus Christ, it is from considering Your life that I begin to grasp my own need of humility. Humility is altogether foreign to my human nature. Yet, I sense that the very last thing I need is to be absorbed with myself, even with my own lack in this area. Today, I will look away from my need to Your sufficiency. Live in me this day, that I may be a medium through which You express Yourself in my sphere of influence. Teach me to live the "not-I-but-Christ life."

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

A Quiet Heart

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: In returning and rest ye shall be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

We lawyers are a talkative bunch. In our interactions with others, the urge to lend a thought to the conversation, to share an analogy or observation, or to propose a suggestion for a fix, is almost irresistible. And there is nothing wrong with speaking up for the good of others around us, whether in church or in our practices. Our training and experience often equip us to provide needed insights, leadership and know-how.

But on a more personal level, let us ask ourselves whether we have also learned to be quiet inwardly before God. Let the peace of God rule [be referee] in your heart (Col.3:15). In the midst of an active, competitive practice, let us learn to allow the divine referee to rule in our hearts. The role of a referee is often to throw a flag. Inwardly, the Holy Spirit throws a flag when we have lost our peace, when we have ceased to rest in the Lord.

Does a situation or a person cause you to lose your peace? Perhaps your peace is lost just thinking about a pending event. Waste no time in self-recrimination ("I know I shouldn't let this cause me anxiety"). The Lord understands: He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust (Ps. 103:14). Only consider that the Lord stands ready to provide the poise and the confidence we need. The trial or event that you are thinking of is an opportunity to trust Him more and better, even in the midst of the fray. His promise holds sure: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee. (Isaiah 26:3). Staying our mind on Him is not a quick fix, but an area of learning and growth. Read the biography of any prominent Christian whose life you admire - you will find that he or she learned through deep trials and costly struggles to trust in the Lord and to rest in His provision. This did not lead to passivity and ineffectiveness, but to a life of power and usefulness.

It is good to keep in mind that the victory is not ours but His. He will provide the wherewithal to trust Him, if only we ask, and He is sufficient for any infirmity we have. F. B. Meyer answered the question "How do I overcome?" this way:

There is only one way by which the Tempter can be met. He laughs at our good resolutions and ridicules the pledges with which we fortify ourselves. There is only One whom he fears; One who in the hour of greatest weakness conquered him; and who has been raised far above all principality and power, that He may succor and deliver all frail and tempted souls. He conquered the prince of this world in the days of His flesh; and He is prepared to do as much again, in each one of us, if only we will truly surrender ourselves to His gracious and mighty indwelling.

Lord, teach me to live in Your presence with a quiet heart. It is not so much the power and poise of a quiet heart that I seek, but Yourself. Give me eyes to see Your hand in the events of today, and the grace to leave outcomes with You. I ask this not only for myself, but for the encouragement of the believers around me. In quietness and confidence will be our strength.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Keep Your Eye on the Prize

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:12-14)

If any of you have felt discouraged, unfocused, or weary in your journey, this verse is for you. We are encouraged and inspired to stay in the race and keep our eyes on Jesus as we strive forward, not letting our past drag us down, while at the same time, realizing soberly that we have not yet arrived . . .

We have not yet arrived. The first thing Paul points out is something most of us are painfully aware of every day: that we have not yet arrived. Does anyone feel like they have arrived? Most likely, none of you feel that way. And you are in good company. Because remember in this verse, who is talking? This is the apostle Paul talking about becoming like Christ. And as devoted as Paul was to spreading the gospel- sometimes at almost any cost, here he is admitting that even he hasn't arrived. And if Paul in all of his devotion and dedication to spreading the gospel hasn't arrived, what does that say about the rest of us? It is important that we not get discouraged about not having arrived. Especially when the going gets tough.

Our Goal. And regarding our goal, what does it say in verse 12: "but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." This is important to remember. Why are we doing all that we are doing in our lives? To fulfill the purpose for which Christ has taken hold of us. We aren't here by accident, and we aren't here to accomplish random acts. God isn't surprised that we are right where we are in life, because His plan is perfect. We are encouraged in this passage to take hold of that for which Christ took hold of us. Even when things don't seem to be going our way, we have the promise that everything will work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Forgetting what is behind. Verses 13-14 tell us to forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, "pressing on toward our goal to win the prize." This doesn't mean forget the past, and it doesn't mean don't learn from the past, it just means don't live in the past. Don't let the past be an anchor that weighs you down. The enemy would like to remind you of every bad thing you ever did. Don't fall for that! Your sins are forgiven and forgotten now that you have accepted Christ. Conversely don't rest on past accomplishments, but strive to look forward to continue to grow, and as this verse says, strain towards what is ahead.

Be patient and don't get discouraged. None of us have arrived but what we all have in common, is that Christ has taken a hold of us and inspired us to have faith and look forward to what is ahead. Let us all work toward this common goal, together.

Lord, help me to focus on you, and not get bogged down by my past or by the challenges of my current circumstances. Instill in me the faith to trust that you have great plans for me. When I put my trust in you I allow myself to persevere in the great race of life, motivated by your promise of eternal life in you at the finish line.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

The Bible and the Constitution

Read: 2 Timothy 3:14-16

As a Christian who is also a professor of constitutional law, I am struck by the parallels between the way Christians struggle over the authority of Scripture, and the way American lawyers, scholars, and judges struggle over the meaning of the United States Constitution.

In each case, you have a written text that, in theory, we accept as authoritative and definitive. Christians accept the Bible as God’s written word, totally true and trustworthy because it came from the mind of God Himself, who used human authors to put pen to paper (parchment, or whatever they used). 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”

The Constitution is authoritative NOT because it is God-breathed and infallible, but because it is the supreme law of the land. It is supposed to bind the hands of all branches of government, setting a firm parameter around legislative, executive and judicial power that can only be altered by its authors, “We the People of the United States.”

In each case, however, we see large numbers of people who want to ignore the written text and substitute their own judgment of the good. In constitutional law, this is called the “living Constitution” approach. If we can’t find our desired political outcome in the actual text of the document, we just say that the words must morph to comply with some vague, self-determined set of “constitutional principles.”

The same happens in churches that ignore God’s clear written word, replacing it with the “wisdom” of their leaders. (Cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.) For example, the Bible’s teaching on sexual morality is clear, but those whose who want to promote extra-marital sex or homosexuality ignore the text and say that they are following “biblical principles” like love and non-judgment.

Words require interpretation and application. Understanding the full meaning of a written text, whether it is the Bible, the Constitution, or something else, can be difficult and divisive. But we need to commit ourselves to that difficult task. If we claim to be followers of that text, we can’t just ignore the words and fall back on vague platitudes.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

A Tale of Two Lawyers

I recently heard accounts of two lawyers who fared very differently in our challenging economy. The first lawyer was a partner in a large firm in a major city who specialized in appellate practice, including successfully arguing several cases before the United States Supreme Court. Although this attorney was gifted and prominent, by nature his practice did not involve rainmaking. When his firm was hit hard by the recession, the lawyer’s partners decided to let him go. Tragically, this lawyer committed suicide in his office on his last day of work.

The second lawyer has also been significantly affected by the recession, but in a very different way. He is a partner in a small firm in a small city. Recently, another attorney in a large firm in a neighboring metropolitan area referred a case to him. The referring attorney complained about how hard his firm had been hit by the recession, and then asked the lawyer how his business had been. The lawyer replied honestly that he had more business than ever before, literally more than he could handle. Dumbfounded, the referring attorney asked his secret, and the lawyer explained that he viewed his practice as a ministry, took a personal interest in his clients, spent quality time with them, and tried to serve their personal needs rather than just dispense legal advice. This lawyer’s reputation has spread quickly, and clients are knocking his door down.

I don’t want to judge the first lawyer too harshly, if at all, but I do believe such a tragic end is far more likely if we view our work as our sole or primary purpose in life, rather than a calling to serve others. 1 John 2:15-17 (NIV) warns,

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

An example of someone who loved the things of the world too much was the rich young ruler who went away sad when Jesus challenged him to give everything he owned to the poor and then follow Him (see Matthew 19:16-22). This fellow rejected an exclusive offer to follow the Lord of the universe simply because he would not let go of his material possessions.

How often do we do likewise, by elevating our personal or professional pursuits above Jesus’ command to meet the needs of the least among us? By contrast, the second lawyer described above is living out Christ’s calling to die to self and to be his body – literally, his hands and feet – serving a hurting world. Compelled by Christ’s love, this lawyer understands that he is not just an attorney, but a minister of reconciliation, serving the Gospel in furtherance of God’s plan to reconcile the world to himself and heal a hurting world (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). May we all see our vocation as an outgrowth and essential part of this ministry of reconciliation, rather than an end in itself.

~ Professor Michael V. Hernandez, Regent University School of Law

As 2010 Begins . . . (Con't)

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope the Lord is. (Jer. 17:7)

It is in defeat that we often have the greatest opportunity to give glory to God. When the chips are down, the world watches with special interest to see if our faith is real, if it has substance.

Such was the case on Thursday night, January 8 in Pasadena. The 2009-10 BCS Championship college football game had concluded and it was late. The Longhorns of Texas had been defeated by the Alabama Crimson Tide and Colt McCoy, the starting quarterback of the University of Texas, approached the television cameras on the sidelines. After the 2008 season, in which he had been an All-American and runner-up for the prestigious Heisman Trophy, McCoy had decided against entering the pro draft and instead returned to Texas to complete his senior year, determined to lead his team to a national championship. But in what seemed a cruel irony, McCoy, within sight of his goal, had been forced to leave the game in the first quarter. A hit received on an otherwise routine tackle left his throwing arm numb and McCoy spent the rest of the game receiving treatment and encouraging his teammates from the sidelines. Despite the heroic efforts of the untried freshman quarterback who replaced him, McCoy and his team failed to reach the goal they had worked so hard to attain.

As McCoy came alongside the post-game interviewer, the concern and disappointment among his many supporters was palpable. The dream of a national championship had vanished, and his yet unevaluated injury left a question mark hanging over his future prospects as a football player.

However, there was no question mark hanging over McCoy's Christian faith. Asked to tell the television audience what it was like to watch his team play for the national title from the sidelines, McCoy gave the following memorable answer:

I'd have given . . . I'd have given everything I had to be out there with my team. ....But I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know, if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

It is easy for us to praise God when life is going our way - when the jury finds for our client or our daughter is named high school valedictorian. But when setbacks come, let us not disdain to take a page from Colt McCoy's playbook. Our misfortune may afford us the opportunity of demonstrating costly faith to a watching world.

Lord, as another year begins, You are my Audience of One. Teach me to see an opportunity in every event, whether it seems "good" or "bad." I want to be one who trusts You in all the times of life, especially when praising You costs something. Like Colt McCoy, I know that if nothing else, I stand on the Rock.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Relationships and Priorities: Master, Mate, Mission

When Christ reminded the expert in the law with “the greatest commandment in the Law,” He was spelling out for us all how to live our lives.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22: 37

This passage lays out the priorities of life, or what I call Master, Mate, Mission. And a new year presents a perfect opportunity to readjust yours, if needed. Every day presents challenges in keeping the proper priorities in every area of our lives. For each of us, regardless of calling or position, the very first priority in our lives needs to be Christ, our Master. That means spending time with God as the priority above all others, keeping Him above all else, indeed, “loving Him will all your heart, all your soul, all your mind.”

The second part of the greatest commandment deals with the rest of our priorities: “loving your neighbor as yourself.” These could be characterized as the other relationships in your life. Included in these are those in your family (spouse, children, parents, siblings) and your mission (calling, vocation, church, etc.), or Mate and Mission.

The key to all of life is having your priorities in order. For lawyers who work from 6am to 11pm to meet billable hours, or to achieve the best outcome in the case, and for law students inspired by their calling, this warning should be taken all the more seriously.

If you are married, your order must be Master, Mate, Mission. This means God is first in your life, your spouse and children are next as your first neighbors, and your calling is your third – in that order. Too many lawyers and law students fall prey to being consumed by their mission, to the detriment of their master and mate. A married individual must keep this order of priorities, in obedience to Christ as the greatest commandments, and to thrive in life (I Corinthians 7:33-35). When children come along, the order is even more important – Master, then Mate, then children, then mission. As a woman and a lawyer I know how easy it is to put your children above your husband, a sure mistake in priorities, or to put work before family. Women are good at multitasking, but we must keep these priorities. It is equally if not more important that men guard these priorities, keeping certain that family, wife then children, come before work. Men and women know how easy it is to let mission crowd out master and mate. Guarding these priorities is the key to thriving.

A single person, by contrast, is not (yet) weighed down with family concerns (again I Corinthians 7:32-35), and can keep a different order: Master, Mission, Mate. This means that as you keep your Master first, you are free to make your neighbor the mission. And, as you are carrying out your mission, if God desires He will bring along your mate in the process of your mission, in His perfect time, as part of His perfect plan for you. This means that as a single you are free to thrive in your mission, not needing to “look for” that mate, knowing God will choose a mate for you, if it is His will, in His perfect timing, as you are carrying out that second commandment, “loving your neighbor as yourself.” This is the secret to thriving in obedience to Christ.

Relationships and priorities: Master, Mate, Mission or Master, Mission, Mate. The key to all of life is having your priorities in order, the Greatest Commandments.

~ Professor Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law

Are We Christians, or Herodians?

Read: Matthew 2

Jesus was born in the sleepy little town of Bethlehem, located almost in the shadow of the Herodium, the magnificent fortress/palace constructed by King Herod the Great. The contrast between Herod’s luxurious palace and the humble stable of Jesus couldn’t be any more dramatic.

When Herod heard that a new “king of the Jews” was to be born, he was terrified of losing his power and wealth (if not his life). He was willing to take any measures to eliminate this contender to his throne:

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. Matthew 2:16

It didn’t work, because God took Joseph, Mary and Jesus to safety in Egypt. And the slaughter of all those little Jewish boys was so senseless, so unnecessary. Herod didn’t realize that this Jesus would grow up to say, “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” and “My Kingdom is not of this world.” Jesus came not to claim political or military power, or to promote insurrection against the governing authorities, but to bring people to God and reign in their hearts. Herod could never have understood this; to him, the only kind of rule that mattered was physical rule with all its trappings.

Do you live like a follower of Christ, or of Herod? Sometimes we who claim the name of Jesus seem so focused on implementing our legal and public policy goals that it’s not clear which kingdom we are serving. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t work for god-honoring laws and support political candidates with good values – but since the Kingdom of Heaven is within us, our first priority must always be to share the Good News of the Gospel with a world full of people who desperately need to hear it. Everything else is secondary.

At this Christmas season, may we keep our focus on the filthy stable, not the magnificent palace, and proclaim the internal, life-changing Kingdom of Jesus above all else.

~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

Trading Your Life

Lay not up for yourself treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do no break through or steal.
(Matthew 6:19-20)

For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and shall lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(Matthew 6:26)


The Walt Disney classic children's reader Goofy-on the Hillside begins "There once was a simple fellow named Goofy who lived on the side of a hill. He was called Goofy-on-the Hillside." We are told that his only neighbor was a "kind farmer named Mrs. Hay." They had a fine relationship. "'A good friend is worth more than a bag of gold', Mrs. Hay always said." One day Mrs. Hay, needing some money, asked Goofy to take her cow to town and sell it for her.

Having never read up on the law of bailments, Goofy began to trade along the way. His trades were unfortunate and by the time he reached town he had only two eggs. Being famished, he decided to get some bread at the bakery. After telling the baker the story, the baker was incredulous: "You traded a cow for two eggs?" cried the baker." "Of course not", said Goofy. "I traded the cow for a horse, the horse for a pig, the pig for a goat, the goat for a hen, and the hen for some eggs, but most of them broke."

Goofy assures the baker that because he and Mrs. Hay are friends, she will not be angry. The baker decides to accompany Goofy back to the farm: "I would like to see a friend as good as that!" said the baker.

On their arrival at the farm, Goofy relates the story to his neighbor. Mrs. Hay is at first dismayed "'A loaf of bread?' she cried." "'Yes', said Goofy 'I was hungry.'" To which the kind Mrs. Hay replied "Well, if you were hungry, I'm glad you could eat." This leaves, however, a practical problem, "But now I cannot fix up my farm," said Mrs. Hay. "I have no money." Goofy says he will fix up the farm for her and the baker agrees to help. The story ends with the three of them on the front porch of the newly renovated farmhouse eating a cake that the baker prepared. Mrs. Hay thanks them for their help, to which the baker replies, "That is what friends are for." The narrator gives Goofy the last word, "And you know," said Goofy, "a good friend is worth more than a bag of gold."

If you have read this far, you may have noticed that this is not just a story for children. We are all trading away our lives, whether we want to or not. As the hands of the clock make their twice a day journey, there is no pause button. We literally are spending our time, trading our lives for something. What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? asks the Savior.

Before we leave our story, let us take note of Goofy's response to the baker's question, "You traded a cow for two eggs?" Goofy's reply seems measured, even patient, "Of course not", says Goofy, as though to assure the baker that he wasn't a fool - no sensible person would trade a cow for two eggs, would they? As Goofy saw it, the net result of his efforts (two eggs) was the result of a series of trades, each of which seemed reasonable at the time.

For what will you and I trade our lives today? What is the next hour really worth? How will we spend the opportunities that come across our path? There will come a day when we will stand before a One Who is even kinder than Mrs. Hay, but Who will nevertheless require of us an accounting. Now if any man build upon this foundation [Christ] gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet as by fire. I Cor. 3:12-15

Lord, this is almost too convicting. If I am to make a right application of this lesson, you must turn up the intensity of Your life in me. Grant me to see with Your eyes the trades that I am making as I go through my day. Let me not miss the chance to multiply the talents that you have entrusted to me. Help me to see that doing a small thing for Your sake and with Your great love, can be gold, silver or precious stones.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Transitivity

The thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians is, of course, famous: The Love Chapter. It is often used at weddings, and it stands as a beautiful description of what love is. “Love is patient, love is kind, etc.” But think of it in a slightly different light. Here are verses four through seven, in the New International Version:

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Scripture tells us (I John 4) that God is Love. So we can (my wife, a mathematician, would call this transitivity) substitute “God” in these verses for “love.” Now this passage stands for the proposition that “God is patient, God is kind, etc.” And that gives us an incredible picture of who God is. Note especially verse 5: “God keeps no record of wrongs.” That is good news!

Now, one more wrinkle. We are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). We look like Him. Or we should. At least, we can. We are told to conform ourselves to the image of Christ. So I believe we have the capacity to be people who reflect the characteristics of God embodied in this passage (otherwise such a command would be cruel).

So now we can read, “I am patient, I am kind. I do not envy, etc.” Or perhaps, “As God fills me and enables me by His Spirit, on an ongoing basis, I am working toward being patient, kind, not arrogant, not easily angered, etc.” I think we can aspire to be I Corinthians 13 people. And by the way, lawyers and others who work in the legal profession need a good dose of this. Make it your prayer, and your aspiration, to be able to substitute your name into the verses in I Corinthians 13:4-7.

~ Dean Doug Cook, Regent University School of Law

Gold from God (Haggai 2:1-9)

Do you know Christians who always seem to be gloomy and depressed? Worse yet, are you such a Christian?

Life can be pretty discouraging sometimes – especially for lawyers. We find ourselves under constant pressure and enormous demands. Our clients are never satisfied; our partners always want more; our subordinates seem to always let us down. You may feel that you could take care of your own responsibilities okay, but the people around you are not handling theirs. Practicing lawyers joke about how great life would be without clients messing everything up; law professors use the same line about life without students.

Things can be tough at home, too. Your spouse and kids have needs that you can never seem to meet. You love them a lot, but they don’t really appreciate all that you do for them. You struggle to raise a family that loves God and is called to His service, but you don’t really know. Sometimes you worry that all the kids are turning into burglars, drug dealers, and prostitutes. It’s not usually that bad, but sometimes they really do end up living in ways that sadden your heart.

Perhaps worst of all, your service for the Kingdom of Christ can seem like a real waste of time, too. You can understand it when you fail because you have been disobedient – because you neglect your relationship with God, get your priorities messed up, and don’t take advantage of the ministry opportunities that He presents.

But sometimes, by God’s grace, we get it right. Sometimes we hear our Lord’s call, and even though it is not convenient and the timing is awful, we turn from our path to His. We join the Bible study group. We teach a Sunday School class. We witness to someone on an airplane. Instead of turning away from the drunken panhandle (or throwing him more booze money!), we take the time to buy him a meal and both show him and tell him about God’s love. Even when we get it right, however, sometimes the results seem pitiful.

On some occasions, it just seems that even our most sincere, best-intentioned efforts to serve and please God accomplish nothing. Our attempt to share the Gospel brings a response of ridicule. No one shows up for the well-organized Bible study. We try to minister to people with needs, but they reject the help.

The people of Jerusalem in Haggai’s day could relate to our frustration. After Haggai preached God’s word to them, they repented. They turned from their misplaced priorities and devoted their top energy to rebuilding the temple. They were obedient, and God was pleased. “I am with you,” declared the Lord.

Yet, as the people worked on the temple, they became depressed. They remembered the splendor of Solomon’s temple – the silver and gold, the tapestries, and acacia wood – and when they looked at the simple wooden structure that was the product of their faithful obedience it seemed worthless. It seemed so futile that some of them cried. God’s words of encouragement can minister to us as well:

“Be strong . . . and work, for I am with you . . . . The silver is mine and the gold is mine . . . . The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house.”

God was true to His word. The “present house” was later visited by God’s own Son, who brought glory far exceeding anything that ever appeared in Solomon’s temple. Similarly, God will work through sincere efforts in His service, bringing glorious results in His own time and His own way.

Never be discouraged if you can’t see the fruit of your ministry. Just obey with a faithful heart, and trust God to provide the “silver and the gold.”


~ Prof. Brad Jacob, Regent University School of Law

All Things?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:8)

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thess. 5:18)

Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph. 5:20)

Christianity stripped of the miraculous would be a pitiful thing. Yet it is easy to strip life of the miraculous by the unconscious assumption that God's hand works "out there" or only occasionally - we tend to dust off the doctrine of God's providence and use it when we are faced with a crisis of some type. But in the everyday, well, that's different.

Paul did not give us room to turn God's sovereignty on and off. What is it about "all things" that we don't understand? Beware of verse-drop - the phenomenon of verses dropping off the pages of one's Bible. Thomas Jefferson famously published his own version of the New Testament, with the miracles of Jesus removed. He felt that Jesus was a great teacher, but the miracles the Lord performed didn't fit with Jefferson's understanding of reality. So he simply dropped those verses from his edition of the Bible.

There is perhaps no more neglected doctrine in today's church than the doctrine of God's providence. Nor is there any subject with more potential to radically change the life of the individual believer. "Believer" - one who believes. Believes what? What would it mean to any of us if we could see God's hand in "all things?" Really see God's hand, that is?

For those whose vision is cleared, eternity has already begun. Maltbie Babcock was one of those. A baseball player of some renown, he became a minister of the gospel and penned the beloved hymn "This is My Father's World." The words of that hymn were part of his life message. It is said that he would sometimes depart from company with the words "Now I'm going out into my Father's world." Lawyers may especially appreciate the final stanza:

This is my Father's world / O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong /God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world / Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring / God reigns, let earth be glad.

Lord, give me eyes that I may see. I need the heavenly perspective. Lift me up this day from the mundane and the humdrum, or, better, let me see You in the midst of even the most inconsequential events. Teach me what Kingdom living is all about.

~ With thanks to Brent McBurney, Director of Attorney Ministries, Christian Legal Society

Abundant Life . . . In the Meantime

Several years ago, I attended a Sunday school class that was studying Waking the Dead by John Eldredge. In this book, Eldredge discusses the fullness of life God promises believers in Scripture. For instance, Eldredge references John 10:10 in which Jesus says “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (NIV), or have “it more abundantly” (KJV). Eldredge writes how this promise of life is much more than eternal life. He observes that focusing solely on how our life in Christ relates to eternal life overlooks an important part of what life in Christ means: “It’s like saying getting married means, ‘Because I’ve given you this ring, you will be taken care of in your retirement.’ And in the meantime? Isn’t there a whole lot more to the relationship in the meantime?” (page 11 (emphasis in original)). Indeed.

As many of us have heard, Christianity is not a religion; it is a relationship. And in that relationship, our life is much more than about getting the prize of eternal life. We are to cultivate, deepen, enjoy our relationship with God and others each day in order to experience the abundant life God promises us. I think that Christian law students are lawyers may struggle in focusing on the “now” in our walk with God more than other believers. Many of us are “task-oriented” who often worry about the things on our to-do list. We therefore find it difficult to stop and smell the roses because we are too busy to get to the next thing on our list. In some ways, we reflect the tendency of Martha to be preoccupied with the tasks before us, and we do not enjoy basking in the presence of the Lord (see Luke 10:38-42).

I know I have that tendency. This point was brought home to me the year after I graduated from law school. That year, I was working as a judicial clerk in my home state of South Carolina. I knew that I would only be in the town of my clerkship for a year as I had taken a position with a law firm in D.C. for the following year. When I met people at church or at other events, I would often let it be known that I was only in town for a year. One of my friends called me on that and reminded me that I was overlooking the relationships God was giving me at that time and instead was only focusing on what was to come. I needed to remember that God had plans for me each day; and in the end, during that year, the Lord blessed me with relationships with some amazing brothers and sisters in Christ.

We need to remember that in the meantime our lives should be “abundant,” and not simply focused on accomplishment or achievement. The Greek word translated as “to the full” or “abundantly” in John 10:10 is perissos, which can also be translated “superior, extraordinary, surpassing” (from A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament by Joseph Henry Thayer). I do not think Christians are known in the world as having “superior” lives, but that is what God promises us! We need to take time to enjoy the blessings of the Lord and not worry about tomorrow (see Matthew 6:25-34). Of course, God calls us to plan and be good stewards of the gifts he has given us. But we also should relish in the peace and joy of being a child of God. What an amazing thing it would be if we Christian law students and lawyers could model that peace and joy for the rest of the legal community.

~ Associate Dean Natt Gantt, Regent University School of Law

Summertime

Summer can be a great time for lawyers, law students, and law professors. Courts’ dockets slow down, clients go on vacation, and classes are not in session. I spent last week at Boy Scout summer camp with my wife, two of my four children, and assorted teenagers. Without newspapers, TV, computers, or cell phone coverage, I was forced to focus on the basics of life: eating, sleeping, not capsizing my canoe in the rapids. We also spent time each evening in worship and Bible study, focusing on the essentials in our spiritual life.

It is of course possible, in the busy tides of life, to lose our focus. The fourth and fifth chapters of the Book of Revelation can help us get centered again. John describes a scene of heavenly worship, where the twenty-four elders surround the throne in heaven. “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power,” they say, as they fall down and cast down their crowns (Rev. 4:10-11). On the throne, at the center of their continual worship, is “a Lamb standing, as if slain” (5:6). How incongruous! The focus of all heaven’s worship is a bloody (“as if slain”) baby sheep. He is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the Lamb of God, bloody because He sacrificed himself for us. He is at the same time “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” (5:5). So our focus and our worship are centered on the Great Paradox Himself, the Lion and the Lamb. Have a great summer.

~ Associate Dean Doug Cook, Regent University School of Law

Priorities (Haggai 1:1-11)

Priority setting and time management may be the most important issues in every lawyer’s life. Our money is often limited; but our time is not only limited but stretched beyond its breaking points. Our professional lives are enormously demanding – depending on one’s practice, 60, 70, or 80-hour work weeks may be commonplace. Some lawyers bill 2,500 or more hours per year, and when you add in nonbillable work responsibilities, that leaves only two possibilities:

(i) you are lying on your timesheets, or
(ii) you have no time left for normal human existence.

In addition to our professional lives, most lawyers have enormous responsibilities in the areas of church and community service. Our legal training gives us skills in analysis, planning, speaking, and leadership that are in high demand by most volunteer groups. There are probably few Christian lawyers who are not asked at some point in their lives to serve as an elder, deacon, or committee chair in their local church. We are constantly being called to serve on boards and task forces, to teach Sunday School classes, and to plan special events. Civic and community groups, ministries, and other nonprofit organizations also want to make full use of our skills.

Family relationships, although they can be among the most rewarding aspects of life, also create huge demands on our time and energy. A marriage, even the best marriage, requires lots of serious effort, planning, and communication. Children who are to be raised with a passionate love for God and a solid set of beliefs and values must have the time and attention of both Mom and Dad in abundant supply.

When you add all of this up, it is pretty overwhelming. Sometimes we feel that we must climb out of bed early in the morning and run through the day at frantic pace, extinguishing the most urgent fires until we collapse into bed again at night. What is often lost – not by deliberate choice, but just for lack of time – is any serious focus on our relationship with Christ.

The people of Jerusalem in the day of Haggai faced a somewhat similar situation. Their lives were overwhelming. They were returning from exile to a city and nation that had been completely destroyed. They had to rebuild, from the ground up, their homes, work places, public buildings, houses of worship, stores, walls – everything! If your professional responsibilities seem overwhelming try to imagine doing your work with your office, computer, and files all destroyed. Then, in your mind, level your home as well, and you may have some sense of what the exiles faced when they returned to Jerusalem.

From everything we can determine (primarily the Old Testament books of Ezra and Haggai), these were dedicated, hard working people. They were not plagued by the comfortable, lazy sins that can afflict cultures where life has become too easy and leisure too prevalent – sins like sloth, gluttony, and lust. It seems, instead, that they were working very hard to rebuild their homes and community. They had the “Protestant work ethic” down to a science.

And yet God was displeased. All of their hard work could not earn His pleasure, because the things they were working on were not His top priority. God wanted His temple to be rebuilt before the people finished their own homes. “Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?”

What about us? Are we living in paneled houses while God’s house, His priorities for our life, remains a ruin? If so, the excuse that we were “working hard” will hardly work.

A Fresh and Radical Newness in Family Law?

As part of a family law governing body with the Virginia State Bar I received an email last week from a judge which ended with this encouragement:

Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how HIS ways will really satisfy you. -------Romans 12:2

What great advice to any Christian attorney, law student or legal professional. The Apostle Paul’s admonition to the believers of Rome is just as vibrant and relevant today as it was two millennia ago. As a family lawyer and law professor whose worldview emanates from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, nearly everything I teach and counsel and publish is radical to our culture today. And in fact, that’s a very good thing.

Practicing law, and particularly family law, from a biblical perspective is a cutting edge uncompromising call. When governments flounder to discern the meaning and purpose of marriage, the call to believers is to “be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think.” In fact, the broken state of the family in culture opens up incredible opportunities for the body of Christ to offer new hope to a struggling world. That begins with our own lives, and our own families.


Romans 12:2 sheds light on an understanding of the desperate need for Christian lawyers and for those lawyers to be healers of human conflict. Scripture releases an understanding of what is happening with the breakdown of the family from a biblical and legal perspective, helping lawyers to discern what can be done, both personally and legally, to restore the family to that complete design God originally intended. Wherever you are, be a new and different person… experiencing how His ways will really satisfy you.

~ Prof. Lynne Marie Kohm, Regent University School of Law