Shows
Cross & Gavel PodcastSPECIAL EPISODE: What Hath Christ To Do With Rights? — Kristina Arriaga (Witte Lectures)The John Witte, Jr. Lecture Series on Christianity & Law is back! A new venture from Christian Legal Society aimed at advancing the conversation surrounding the integration of Christianity & law. In our second lecture inspired by the American 19th century painters, we go international and ask what contributions Christianity made to advancing human rights. Our keynote is Kristina Arriaga, who digs deep into her Cuban heritage to bring us a fascinating lecture on the Christian jurists who paved the way for our modern rights framework. She was joined by Justice Jamie R. Grosshans (Florida Supreme Court) for a...2025-03-1932 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast129. Girls For Sale — Elizabeth Miller & Brianna RacchiniThis week, I talk with two executive directors for their respective organizations about modern day slavery in the form of sex trafficking. Liz runs the International Organization for Stopping Exploitation of Women (IoSEW) and Brianna runs Triad Ladder of Hope (here). For more on this heionous crime, check out the memoir Girls Like Us from Rachel Lloyd. RELATED CONTENT 1. Prosecuting Human Trafficking (#50) Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution i...2022-10-1959 minCross & Gavel Podcast128. Following Jesus in a Digital Age — Jason ThackerJoining me today to talk about the all important work of preparing the church to tackle the technological age is Jason Thacker — the chair of research in technology ethics and director of the research institute at The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC). Jason's new book is out now and can be purchased here. For more on Jason's work, I recommend subscribing to his own excellent podcast (Digital Public Square), following him on Twitter (@jasonthacker), & getting his newsletter on weekly tech—all of which can be found here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from V...2022-10-0554 minCross & Gavel Podcast127. Joy For The World — Greg ForsterJoining this week to talk about how Christianity lost its cultural influence and can begin rebuilding it anew is assistant professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity International University—Greg Forster. His book, Joy for the World, can be purchased here. RELATED CONTENT 1. My first discussion with Greg on the history of political theology (#113). 2. On Christian leadership in uncharted territory (#110). Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-09-2147 minCross & Gavel PodcastSPECIAL EPISODE: What Exactly Is Enemy-Love? — Jason Lepojärvi (Leadership Roundtable)For our first ever Leadership Roundtable, the students and I were joined by Dr. Jason Lepojärvi on the topic of overcoming resentment culture and better loving our neighbors. Jason is the C.S. Lewis Associate Professor of Theology & Literature (Honors Program) at George Fox University. For more on the forum and the speaker, check out the YouTube page here.2022-09-1819 minCross & Gavel Podcast126. Why We Are Restless — Benjamin StoreyFinding contentment is difficult. So, instead, we replace that pursuit with temporal acts of distraction and pleasure. Joining me this week to discuss the search for meaning through the eyes of four french philosophers is AEI Fellow and author of "Why We Are Restless" — Benjamin Storey. Get his latest book here. Read his latest NY TIMES op-ed, with co-author Jenna Storey, here. RELATED CONTENT 1. How and How Not To Be Happy (#118). 2. On Civility and Montainge (#121) Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A special thanks to Nick and Ashley Barn...2022-09-0757 minCross & Gavel Podcast125. Ministry of Presence — Winnifred Sullivan + Pete WilliamsonJoining me today talk about the ministry of presence and the role of chaplaincy on university campuses is Dr. Winnifred Sullivan – professor of religious studies and co-director of the Center for Religion and the Human at Indiana University. And, Pete Williamson, staff members with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and a chaplain at Harvard University. Check out Winnifred's fauclty page here and Pete's article in Christianity Today — "Why I Voted For the Atheist President of Harvard's Chaplain Group." RELATED CONTENT 1. Steve Collis talks heroic chaplains durnig WWII (#105). 2. Doing religion in Silicon Valley (#120). Episo...2022-08-2457 minCross & Gavel Podcast124. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health — Clarke D. ForsytheClosing out our summer of Dobbs is a discussion about the opinion itself and the looming state of demedicalized aborton. Joining me today is senior counsel at Americans United for Life — Clarke Forsythe. Check out his work at AUL (here) and read his latest paper on State Regulation of Chemical Abortion After Dobbs (here). His seminal study on Roe is a must read (available here). RELATED CONTENT 1. Discussing the Post-Roe Society (#109 and #122). 2. Diving into the neuroscience and theology of the body (#107 and #123). Episode produced by Josh Deng, with musi...2022-08-1055 minCross & Gavel Podcast123. Ain't Them Bodies Saints — John KleiningWith the end of Roe comes a renewed conversation about the meaning of sex and the purpose of our physical bodies. Here to discuss the theology of the body and his new book — Wonderfully Made — is a Lutheran man from a land down under: John Kleining. Check out John's faculty page at Australian Lutheran College (here) and buy his book (here) today! Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-07-2056 minCross & Gavel Podcast122. Life After Roe — Panel DiscussionWith the end of Roe v. Wade comes the next chapter of the abortion saga. Here to discuss whether the pro-life movement has adequately prepared us for this moment, and what States must do next to help women, is three experts on the topics of employment, community, and life: Amelia Ragan (employment attorney and partner), Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa (Founder of New Wave Feminists), and Cherilyn Holloway (Founder of Pro-Black Pro Life). Also, check out this article from Destiny in the Church Life Journal at Notre Dame University: The Bigger Vision of a World Without Roe v. Wade. 2022-07-061h 24Cross & Gavel Podcast121. What Happened to Civility — Ann HartleThe loss of civility has not gone unnoticed, as more and more of us seek the institutional self over the service of community and higher principles. Discussing the intellectual history of the self in the work of Michel de Montainge — and, how his understanding of civility has failed today — is philosopher Ann Hartle. For more on Ann's work, check out her faculty page and buy her new book today! Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-06-2250 minCross & Gavel Podcast120. The Religion of Techtopia — Carolyn ChenWhen work becomes religion in Silicon Valley — that is the topic for this episode. With UC-Berekeley sociologist Carolyn Chen serving as our guide, helping us understand how tech workers have ushered in a new era of ritual and life in the shadows of productivity. For more on Carolyn's work, check out her page and buy her new book today! Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-06-0852 minCross & Gavel Podcast119. Finding Work-Life Balance — Jonathan TodresFinding a healthy work-life balance in the legal profession is a challenge. Here to discuss what students and faculty must do to help cultivate this balance is law professor at Georgia State University College of Law — Jonathan Todres. Check out more of this work here and read his brand new paper "Work-Life Balance and the Need to Give Law Students a Break." Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-05-1838 minCross & Gavel Podcast118. How and How Not To Be Happy — J. BudziszewskiWith rates of suicide going up and depression rampant among teens, it is clear that many Americans are struggling to find some semblance of an enduring peace. Here to discuss the timeless question of how and how not to be happy is professor of government and philosophy at the University of Texas and the author of the new book entitled “How and How Not To Be Happy” – J. Budziszewski. Check out his faculty page and his personal website here. And, buy his book today! Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to...2022-05-0439 minCross & Gavel Podcast117. Hail Mary — Keisha RussellSchool officials at Bremerton High School suspended—and later fired—football coach Joe Kennedy because of his on-the-field prayer practice that drew widespread attention from students and press. Here to talk about Kennedy v. Bremerton School District and school prayer more generally is Keisha Russell — an attorney from First Liberty Institute. For more on Keisha's work, check out her profile at FLI here. For more on the case, check out the SCOTUSblog page here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast pos...2022-04-2037 minCross & Gavel Podcast116. Why Associations Matter — Luke SheahanIn a time when protest reigns supreme, the right to associate under a common banner seems intuitive. But, as more and more of us become subservient to the will of the state and personal preference, the space for pure intermediate association dwindles. Here, to discuss the history and philosophy behind the freedom of association is Dr. Luke Sheahan of Duquesne University. For more on Luke, check out his page and buy his book, today! Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in makin...2022-04-0651 minCross & Gavel Podcast115. God, Grades, & Graduation — Ilana HorwitzOur Founding Fathers knew well the importance of religion to education. And, yet today, many have dismissed the utility of faith in the development of character. Here to discuss religion's surprising impact on academic success is author of "God, Grades, and Graduation" — Ilana Horwitz. For more on Dr. Horwitz, check out her website and her recent op-ed in the New York Times. More importantly, buy her book here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-03-2353 minCross & Gavel Podcast114. Blessed Are The Peacemakers — Ken SandeIn the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his disciplines: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Joining me today to talk about peace and the making therein is the founder of Peacemaker Ministries, now dedicating his time to Christian reconciliation and building his network through Relational Wisdom 360 – Ken Sande. Buy his groundbreaking book today. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible. 2022-03-0250 minCross & Gavel Podcast113. The Contested Public Square — Greg ForsterThe public engagement of the church has been anything but boring. Joining me today to talk through 2,000 years of Christian public philosophy in 50 minutes is the director of the Oikonomia Network and a visiting assistant professor of faith and culture at Trinity Graduate School – Greg Forster. We discuss Greg's excellent overview study of the political philosophy of the church in The Contested Public Square (buy here). Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-02-1651 minCross & Gavel Podcast112. The Subversive Sayers — Crystal L. DowningThe co-director of the Marion E. Wade Center at Wheaton College, Crystal L. Downing, joins me this week to talk about the subversive Dorothy L. Sayers. Discover more about Crystal's work here and buy her wonderful biography of Sayers here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2022-02-0246 minCross & Gavel Podcast111. The Common Rule — Justin W. EarleyThe formation of good habits and the appropriation therein by the bad is a perennial topic of concern for Christians aiming to live a life worthy of their calling. See Ephesians 4:1. My guest today has written two books that will form the basis of our two part discussion on this very issue. In this first part, we will talk about The Common Rule. Then, later in the semester, we will tackle Habits of the Household. For more on Justin and his work, go here and here. You can also follow him on Twitter at @Justin_W_Earley. Episode produced by...2022-01-1939 minCross & Gavel Podcast110. Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory — Tod BolsingerIt should come as no surprise that we are living in complex times. Christians are called to such a moment and should act accordingly by engaging more, not less, with the changing landscape. My guest today (Tod Bolsinger) has written two books helping us do just that (Canoeing The Mountains and Tempered Resilience): developing a vision for adaptive leadership. For more on Tod and his work, go here and here. You can also follow him on Twitter at @todbol. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in...2021-12-1543 minCross & Gavel PodcastSPECIAL EPISODE: Lee Strobel at CLSNC 2021A recording of Lee Strobel's presentation at the 2021 CLS National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. For more on Lee's work, go here and follow him on Twitter at @LeeStrobel. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2021-12-0141 minCross & Gavel PodcastSPECIAL EPISODE: James K.A. Smith at CLSNC 2021A recording of James K.A. Smith's presentation at the 2021 CLS National Conference in San Antonio, Texas. For more on Jamie's work, go here and follow him on Twitter at @James_ka_smith. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2021-11-1736 minCross & Gavel Podcast109. A Song for Mama — Destiny Herndon-De La RosaWith the Supreme Court on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade, questions emerge concerning the state of our society and the ability of mothers to participate fully, therein. Here to talk about that whole life is the founder of New Wave Feminists — Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa. Follow her and NWF on Twitter (i.e., @DestinyHDLR, @NWFproTX) and read more about her work here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento. A Special Thanks to Nick and Ashley Barnett for their contribution in making this podcast possible.2021-11-0336 minCross & Gavel Podcast108. There Will Be Dragons — Holly OrdwayJoining us today to talk about the cultivation of the Christian imagination and the life J.R.R. Tolkien is the fellow of faith & culture at the Word on Fire Institute and visiting professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University – Holly Ordway. Her two books on Apologetics and Tolkien can be found here and here (respectively). For more, check out her website and Twitter account (@HollyOrdway). JOIN US next week in San Antonio for the CLS National Conference. This year's event will feature Lee Strobel, Ruth Okediji, James K.A. Smith, and Laudir Lugo. Register today. ...2021-10-2049 minCross & Gavel Podcast107. On Dealing With Anxiety — Matthew LapineScripture instructs believers to "be anxious for nothing," creating the illusion that how we respond to stress is entirely a product of personal agency. Our guest today pushes back on this notion, calling for a holistic vision of anxiety rooted in theology and science. Dr. Matthew Lapine has written a wonderful book on the topic, and an accessible article for Christianity Today (here). For more, check out his website and his Twitter account (@matthewalapine). JOIN US this month in San Antonio for the CLS National Conference. This year's event will feature Lee Strobel, Ruth Okediji, James K.A...2021-10-0647 minCross & Gavel Podcast106. Integrating Temple and Field — Matthew KaemingkEvery Sunday, pastors across the nation are telling their congregants to leave the stresses of work behind and focus instead on Jesus. Here to discuss this separation between work and worship, and how the church can do a better job in promoting the integration therein, is Matthew Kaemingk – assistant professor, director of the Richard John Mouw Institute of Faith and Public Life, and associate dean of Fuller Theological Seminary in Houston, Texas. Find his work here and here. Purchase his books on work + worship, immigration, and political theology today [link]. Find him on Twitter at @matthewkaemingk. JOIN US th...2021-09-2251 minCross & Gavel Podcast105. Courage Under Fire — Steven T. CollisIn 1943, a German U-Boat attacked an American ship off the coast of Greenland. In the moments thereafter, courage and panic proved to be the currency of choice; some, succumbing to the moment in sheer terror. While others, embodying the sacrificial tenor of true heroes, gave their lives to save their friends. Here to discuss the sinking of the USS Dorchester and the awe-inspiring rescue that followed is law professor and founding director of the religious freedom clinic at the University of Texas, Steven T. Collis. Buy his book, The Immortals, today; and, follow his work at the law school. 2021-09-0843 minCross & Gavel Podcast104. Seeking Truth and Finding It — Jonathan RauchThe rampant flood of misinformation has made it increasingly difficult to be a member of the reality based community. Here to diagnose this problem and to offer a solution is senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and contributing writer for The Atlantic, Jonathan Rauch. Discover his writing and follow him on Twitter at @jon_rauch. Purchase his important new book – The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth – today! JOIN US this October in San Antonio for the CLS National Conference. This year's event will feature Lee Strobel, Ruth Okediji, James K.A. Smith, and Laudir Lugo. Register...2021-08-2538 minCross & Gavel Podcast103. Religion and Its Discontents — Kelsey DallasIt's no secret that religion of late has lost its luster in the eyes of many Americans. Cast into relative disrepute for seemingly disrupting the momentum in the fight for equality, religion is no longer seen as the preeminent value once deemed by both political parties. Joining the show today to discuss these issues is the national religion reporter at Deseret News: Kelsey Dallas. Read her articles and subscribe to her newsletter today to keep up with the latest developments. JOIN US this October in San Antonio for the CLS National Conference. This year's event will feature Lee...2021-08-1137 minCross & Gavel Podcast102. Supreme Court Review — Kim ColbyAnother term, another Supreme Court review! Kim Colby and I talk about the cases that impacted the state of religious liberty in America and what the future may bring. Learn more about her work at CLS' Center for Law & Religious Freedom here. Episode produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.2021-07-2858 minCross & Gavel Podcast101. Rediscovering Black Fundamentalism — Daniel BareJoining us today to talk about conservative Christianity and racial identity in the segregation era is historian Daniel Bare. We talk about the fundamentalist tradition in the early twentieth century and why the influence of the black church was lost during this period. For a sample, read his article in Christianity Today entitled The Uneasy Conscience of Black Fundamentalism and check out the review of his book from historian Thomas Kidd. Learn more about Daniel in his bio for Texas A&M and on Twitter via @Daniel_Bare. But, most importantly, buy his book today through NYU Press. 2021-07-141h 04Cross & Gavel Podcast100. Talking Christian Nationalism — Andrew L. WhiteheadFrom the Book of Numbers to the storming of the Capitol, Andrew L. Whitehead joins us today to discuss Christian Nationalism and its impact on American religion. His new book, with co-author Samuel Perry, offers a seminal sociological study for understanding this new movement, including the various ways Christian Nationalists think, vote, and manifest their desires for a renewed Christian America. To learn more about the work that Andrew is doing, check out his bio, his new book, and follow him on Twitter at @ndrewwhitehead. Finally . . . join us this October in San Antonio for the CLS N...2021-06-3043 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast99. Drew & Mike Talk Books: BeowulfVolume 4 of "Small Brains on Big Books" features Drew Nelson and Mike Schutt discussing Beowulf. You'll love this discussion, even if you didn't love Beowulf in High School. Andrew Nelson is preacher at Southside Church of Christ in Mount Pleasant Texas, and Mike Schutt is the host of Cross and Gavel audio, Executive Director of Worldview Academy, and Clinical Associate Professor at Trinity Law School.2021-01-1642 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast98. September Law Student Leaders' RoundtableJoin host Mike Schutt, Law Student Ministries Communications Coordinator Joan McElveen, Pepperdine 3L Reed Bartley, and law student leaders from other law schools across the country, as they share and discuss virtual meetings that work. 2020-10-0631 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast97. Law Student Leaders' Summit: Ideas, Encouragement, SharingListen in on excerpts from our first-ever national Law Student Leaders' Summit, featuring an introduction to Law Student Ministries, an overview of Christian Legal Society's four ministries, an exhortation on the calling of the leader, and some questions and sharing by campus leaders from all over the country. 2020-09-2940 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast96. The Dept of Education Regs & Religious Freedom with Kim ColbyOn Wednesday, September 9, the Department of Education announced a new rule that will protect religious groups meeting on public university campuses. Kim Colby, the director of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom at Christian Legal Society, lays out why the regulation was necessary, and what it will mean for students. The Department's announcement is here. 2020-09-1241 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast95. Drew & Mike Talk Books: The Benedict OptionJoin Drew Nelson and Mike Schutt as they discuss the insights and admonitions of Rod Dreher‘s 2017 The Benedict Option. The book has been widely discussed, and rightly so, in Christian circles since its publication, and, as Drew and Mike discuss, Dreher’s challenge to the Church to be the Church is a welcome one, regardless of the relative dangers of secular culture. Yet the book’s insights on that score are helpful, too, and Drew and Mike highlight Dreher's key insights on politics, education, and technology as they relate to his main thesis. Andrew Nelson...2020-08-2443 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast94. Colby and Smith on Bostock v. Clayton CountyKim Colby and Reed Smith of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom unpack the troubling Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia, handed down June 15. Justice Gorsuch seems to abandon his vaunted "textualism" in favor of a convoluted "literalism" with disastrous results. This is part three of three episodes discussing the important Supreme Court decisions of the last three weeks. Between June 15 and June 30, 2020, the US Supreme Court handed down three significant decisions of critical interest to religious conservatives. Colby and Smith join host Mike Schutt to discuss each case. Their conversation is divided i...2020-07-0329 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast93. Colby and Smith on June Medical Services v. RussoBetween June 15 and June 30, 2020, the US Supreme Court handed down three significant decisions of critical interest to religious conservatives. Kim Colby and Reed Smith, attorneys at the Center for Law & Religious Freedom, join host Mike Schutt to discuss each case. Their conversation is divided into three episodes, one for each case. Episode 92 features Kim Colby on Espinoza v. Montana Dept of Revenue, episode 93 focuses on June Medical Services v. Russo with Reed Smith, and episode 94 unpacks Bostock v. Clayton County, GA. Kim Colby is Director of the Christian Legal Society'sCenter for Law and Re...2020-07-0323 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast92. Colby and Smith on Espinoza v. Montana Dept of RevenueBetween June 15 and June 30, 2020, the US Supreme Court handed down three significant decisions of critical interest to religious conservatives. Kim Colby and Reed Smith, attorneys at the Center for Law & Religious Freedom, join host Mike Schutt to discuss each case. Their conversation is divided into three episodes, one for each case. Episode 92 features Kim Colby on Espinoza v. Montana Dept of Revenue, episode 93 focuses on June Medical Services v. Russo with Reed Smith, and episode 94 unpacks Bostock v. Clayton County, GA. Kim Colby is Director of the Christian Legal Society's Center for Law an...2020-07-0315 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast91. Kim Colby: Five Major Religious Freedom Cases Before SCOTUS Kim Colby, Director of the Center for Law & Religious Freedom, says that the Supreme Court will decide at least eight important religious freedom cases between now and next June. This term and next are "dream terms," she says, for religious freedom lawyers and court watchers. In this episode, she highlights five of these cases, beginning with the "church re-opening" case, South Bay United Pentecostal Church v. Newsom, decided on an emergency appeal earlier this month ("I am concerned and disappointed, but not flipping out," she says of Chief Justice Roberts's concurring opinion). From there, she discusses the...2020-06-1054 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast90. Drew Trotter on the 2020 Best Picture NomineesDr. Drew Trotter, executive director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, is a film critic who understands the role that movies play in shaping us as a society. His lecture, The Movies and America: What the Nominees for Best Picture Tell Us About Ourselves, is an annual favorite around the country. In this episode, Dr. Trotter sits down with host Mike Schutt to discuss the nominees for best picture. They discuss how we love our neighbors through watching movies, how to better understand what we watch, and the issue of difficult or graphic content in today's m...2020-05-2843 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast89. J. Mark Bertrand: Direction and Comfort from the PsalmsPastor Mark Bertrand has turned to the Psalms for his sermon texts during the global pandemic, and he joins Mike Schutt to discuss insights and encouragement from this rich source. You'll be encouraged as Mark explores how the "Songbook of the Church" speaks to us about lessons in crisis, sources of hope in trial, and the joys inherent in the life of faith. J. Mark Bertrand is the pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He is also a novelist and author, and he teaches on the Worldview Academy faculty. His crime noir works a...2020-05-1937 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast88. Drew & Mike Talk Books: The OdysseyHost Mike Schutt again welcomes East Texas preacher Drew Nelson to the podcast to discuss The Odyssey, Homer's ancient epic poem about . . . well, wait. What is it about? Mike and Drew explore that question and more-- including why good Christians should read good pagan literature and why you might like The Odyssey-- as they highlight its major themes and give some background to the poem. Their hope is that a couple of regular guys reading big books might encourage other regular folks to do the same. Drew Nelson is preacher at Southside Church of Christ in M...2020-05-0548 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast87. Greg Rummel: Hope & Encouragement for Anxious TimesGreg Rummel, President and CEO of Rummel Agency in Frankenmuth, Michigan, has a word of encouragement for us in this global pandemic: God's got this, too. Listen in as Greg shares with host Mike Schutt how battling cancer helped hm to think well about living in difficult times-- and to focus on what is really important. You'll be encouraged! Cross & Gavel podcast is a project of Christian Legal Society and Trinity Law School. 2020-04-2438 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast86. Dean Myron Steeves on Redeeming Time in an Age of Efficiency"The efficiency brought by new forms of technology has just made us demand more of one another," says Myron Steeves, dean of Trinity Law School. "Our important innovations sometimes give us the opposite of what we desire." In this episode, Dean Steeves and Mike Schutt explore the topic of technology and the tyranny of time. If advances in technology and greater efficiency in our lives don't make us better people all by themselves, why do we keep chasing them as ends in and of themselves? Is too much of a good thing still good? Join the conversation...2020-04-1443 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast85. Loving Families, Loving Family Law AttorneysCarl Caton is the founder and president of the San Antonio Marriage Initiative, a ministry focused on bringing help and hope to the city of San Antonio. Carl and his team, in partnership with volunteers around Texas, seek to network, equip, and mobilize the local church community to strengthen marriages in the city. One of the organization's key strategies is to "identify best practices and resources" and to "collaborate with like-minded individuals who will deploy that knowledge throughout the local faith community." This, amazingly, includes the family law community. Listen in as Carl describes a v...2020-03-3147 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast84. Drew and Mike Talk Books: Athanasius' On the IncarnationJoin host Mike Schutt as he welcomes local preacher Drew Nelson to the podcast to talk about the classic "On the Incarnation," by Saint Athanasius, 4th Century Bishop of Alexandria. As a young man, Athanasius attended the Council of Nicea and spent the rest of his life standing firm against the Arian heresy that remained popular, despite its condemnation by Nicea. On the Incarnation is a wide-ranging apologetic regarding the eternal Son of God taking on flesh to reveal the Father and save humanity. Drew and Mike read the book with their Wednesday mor...2020-03-1449 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast83. The CLS Law School Fellows ProgramThe CLS Law School Fellows program is designed to build a community of scholars around the topics of professional formation, vocational stewardship, and Christian jurisprudence. Each year, CLS gathers a group of students in Washington, DC for an intense week of lectures, mentoring, discussion, and fellowship. CLS pays the expenses of accepted candidates. In this episode of Cross & Gavel, Fellows Founding Director Mike Schutt discusses the program with CLS CEO David Nammo, Trinity Law School Dean and Fellows faculty member Myron Steeves, and two 2018 Fellows, Ronia Dubbaneh and Paulina Belovarski, who are both attorneys. For mo...2020-02-2723 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast82. Kim Colby on Department of Education RegulationsThe Department of Education has proposed new regulations that are open for comment by the general public. Two sections of the new regulations are designed to protect religious student groups from being singled out and denied benefits because of their religious identity. Kim Colby, Director of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom at Christian Legal Society, summarizes the proposed regs and why they are needed. She also suggests that those who are in support of these regs should take action to comment in support of their final adoption. Here are the regulations Kim addresses o...2020-02-0338 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast81. Jeff Brauch on Knowing What it Means to Be HumanLaw professor Jeff Brauch argues that our beliefs about human nature will drive our politics, our policy, and our culture. In his recent book, Flawed Perfection: What It Means to Be Human and Why It Matters for Culture, Politics, and Law (2017), he lays out a compelling case for the importance of an accurate understanding of human nature. He begins with the idea that our fundamental presuppositions about the nature of human beings will drive how we approach almost anything in the public sphere. From there, he provides examples from the fields of human rights, criminal justice, and b...2018-07-1942 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast80. Truth & Grace: August Huckabee on Worldview with HumilityOn the 80th episode of Cross & Gavel, August Huckabee, economics professor at Worldview at the Abbey in Colorado, returns ("Feel the Bern," Ep. 52) to discuss cultural trends and countermeasures in these strange times. August teaches students at the Abbey, directs TeenPact programs around the country, and lectures at Worldview Academy. Host Mike Schutt asks him about trends he is seeing in this generation and what educators and parents might do to cultivate both courage and grace in the face of the challenges facing people of faith as they both engage and create culture. Join the...2018-06-2037 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast79. Kim Colby on the Masterpiece Cakeshop DecisionThis week, the Supreme Court of the United States decided Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, holding that the Commission's "clear and impermissible hostility toward" religious beliefs violated the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Already, commentators dispute the breadth and lasting import of the Court's 7-2 holding on narrow legal grounds. In this episode, Mike Schutt talks with Kim Colby about these questions. Kim is Director of Christian Legal Society's Center for Law & Religious Freedom, an expert in First Amendment law and a long-time friend of religious freedom. Listen in as the discuss wh...2018-06-0654 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast78. Drew Trotter on "Call Me by Your Name"Episode 78 is Part 2 of our conversation about three Academy Award-nominated films, and it focuses on Call Me By Your Name, a romanticization of predatory sexual relationship. It's visual beauty hides the reality behind the relationship at the heart of the story and the deadly message that sexual experience is the defining element of our lives. Dr. Trotter and Mike Schutt discuss this film and its themes, and they wander into topics of movie-going, thoughtful criticism, and Christian worldview on the way. While the conversation is rated PG-16, you'll be edified by their approach to this movie and f...2018-05-0323 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast77. Drew Trotter on the Best Picture Nominees (Part 1)Dr. Drew Trotter, executive director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, is a film critic who understands the role that movies play in shaping us as a society. His lecture, The Movies and America: What the Nominees for Best Picture Tell Us About Ourselves, is an annual favorite around the country. In this episode, Dr. Trotter sits down with host Mike Schutt to discuss three of the nominees, including the winner for best picture. In Part one, they discuss Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water and Greta Gerwig's Ladybird. Drew Trotter is...2018-04-2742 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast76. ABA Model Rule 8.4(g): Bad Idea or a Threat to Liberty?In August 2016, the American Bar Association, seeking to impose a "cultural shift" on the legal profession and change how lawyers think about gender and marriage, amended Model Rule of Professional Responsibility 8.4. The rule has no legal force-- it simply suggests a "model" from the ABA for states to follow in their ethics codes-- until a particular state adopts it. Yet the Model Rules are influential, followed by many states as a matter of course. The current rule-- the rule that ABA Model Rule 8.4(g) would amend-- combats invidious discrimination and disciplines lawyers who corrupt the legal process t...2018-02-0837 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast75. Myron Steeves on the Church and Culture in History In our first episode of 2018, Trinity Law School Professor Myron Steeves draws on the work of Charles Taylor (A Secular Age) and Rod Dreher (The Benedict Option) to inform our understanding of the cultural moment confronting the Church. Lately, it seems, the Church has found herself in a fully confrontational mode with the surrounding society, having moved from a period of general domination (after the Emperor Constantine) and then cultural accommodation. Professor Steeves contrasts these eras, suggesting that Christians of every age have faced challenges to faithful culture making and cultural renewal. Du...2018-01-1049 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast74. Kim Colby on the Masterpiece Cakeshop Oral ArgumentOne of the biggest free speech and religious liberty cases in decades, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission was argued before the Supreme Court of the United States on December 5. On December 6, Cross & Gavel host Mike Schutt recorded this conversation with religious liberty attorney Kim Colby, who sat in on the argument. Kim gives a short background of the case, shares her observations, and discusses the important issues raised by the attorneys and justices. Jack Phillips, owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Denver, did not deny service to homosexuals, as is sometimes reported. Jack served an...2017-12-141h 03
Cross & Gavel Podcast72. A Dialogue on Governments with J. Mark BertrandIt may be commonplace to say that God has instituted various governments and has delegated His authority to them in various ways, but speaking, for example, about the "government" of a family seems strange today. And even a bit scary. Mark Bertrand says that we in the Church are pretty good at targeting failures of government when it comes to the state, but we need to do a much better job of thinking about governing well in the church and the family. What might that look like? How to think well about it? And who says, anyway...2017-11-2744 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast71. Dean Eric Enlow Talks Joyful Jurisprudence with Byron Borger There is a higher law than human law, one from which the authority and justice of man’s law flows into bountiful life. Accordingly, we often see Christian legal theories in terms of knowledge about law, so that what we know of the higher law informs what we should affirm or deny about human law. But Dean Eric Enlow says that another important kind of Christian knowledge about law is how to praise God in relation to it. This praise stirs up and responds to the joy which Christians experience in law, just as praise does when it r...2017-11-1040 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast70. J. Mark Bertrand on the New MoralismMark Bertrand says that the world he "had been led to fear growing up in the Church is not actually the world we live in." It turns out that the moral relativism that we feared would turn the world to anarchy and chaos never materialized. Much of what we feared actually came to pass, just not in the way we thought it would. The new world has turned out to be a world that loves "the social gospel, but without the gospel," to paraphrase Joseph Bottum. Mark talks with host Mike Schutt about this strange t...2017-10-1947 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast69. Jeff Baldwin on Education and WorldviewIn our first fall episode of Cross & Gavel, Worldview at the Abbey Provost Jeff Baldwin discusses the duty of the Church and Christian families with respect to education. The conversation ranges from the role of the family to the religious nature of education itself, and then on to some of the problems inherent in state-sponsored education. Jeff tells host Mike Schutt that he thinks this may be "the most inflammatory episode of C&G to date," and he then sets the tone by suggesting that Christian parents should not think of their children as "salt and light"...2017-10-0638 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast68. Meet CLS Attorney Ministries Director Connie BourneOn this episode of Cross & Gavel, host Mike Schutt talks with Christian Legal Society's new director of Attorney Ministries, Connie Bourne. Connie comes to CLS from a private law practice, with experience in the corporate world, as a judicial clerk, and working with attorneys in a local bar association. She loves Jesus and she loves lawyers! Listen in to get acquainted with Connie! Connie Bourne received her undergraduate and legal training at Rutgers University, worked as Assistant County Counsel in Bergen County, New Jersey, and worked in the business, government, and public interest arenas before...2017-08-1621 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast67. Christian Lawyers in the Congo!In early April, nearly 150 lawyers, judges, law students, and law professors from the eastern Congo gathered at the Fifth International Christian Lawyers Conference in Beni, North Kivu, DRC. It was an amazing time of fellowship, discussion, prayer, and planning. The lawyers gathered on the campus of Université Chrétienne Bilingue du Congo ("UCBC"), the only bilingual Christian University in the DRC. UCBC was founded by Congo Initiative under the guiding vision of Dr. David Kasali. This year, UCBC admitted its first class of law students to its new law school, founded in part on the inspiration and work...2017-05-1551 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast66. Chris McMillion on the Joys of FederalismIn Part 2 of our discussion with Dr. Christopher McMillion, host Mike Schutt asks him to elaborate on the joys of federalism. Dr. McMillion begins by explaining why now-- the age of Trump-- might be an opportunity for those on both the left and the right to recognize its benefits and jump on board. He explains the 10th amendment, offers a brief definition of what we mean by "federalism," and then outlines some specific examples in which federalism would operate in a way that is appealing to the goals of those on both ends of the political spectrum. T...2017-03-2825 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast65. Dr. Chris McMillion on the Gorsuch Confirmation HearingsThe confirmation hearings begin Monday, March 20, for Judge Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's nominee to the US Supreme Court. On this episode of Cross & Gavel, Mike Schutt talks with Oklahoma Baptist University professor Christopher McMillion about the process and the politics of the hearings and the future of the Court with a Justice Gorsuch in the place of Justice Scalia, who passed away last year. This is Part One of two episodes featuring Dr. McMillion, and Part Two, "The Joys of Federalism," will upload March 28. Dr. Christopher McMillion is a graduate of Baylor University. He did...2017-03-1829 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast64. Byron Borger: Live from the Bookstore!Okay, so it's not "live"-- BUT: Mike Schutt recorded this podcast with Byron Borger, Rockstar Bookman, live and in person at the famous Hearts & Minds Bookstore in Dallastown, PA. Anyone who has ever been to a Christian conference that is serious about readers knows Byron and Beth Borger, owners of Hearts & Minds. The Borgers are particular heroes of the Christian Legal Society and the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), because Hearts & Minds has been serving their conference participants for years-- and decades, respectively. Mike and Byron begin by discussing this year's Jubilee conference and what he s...2017-03-0935 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast63. Lent for Beginners, with Charlie ClaussAs Charlie Clauss reminds us in this podcast, the Book of Common Prayer offers a beautiful invitation (voiced by the minister at the Ash Wednesday service) to enter into Lent: I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. And, to make a right beginning of repentance, and as a mark of our mortal nature, let us now kneel before the Lord, our maker and redeemer....2017-03-0146 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast62. Professor Natt Gantt on Law School and the Ethical Formation of LawyersJoin host Mike Schutt as he talks with Natt Gantt, co-founder of the Center for Ethical Formation & Legal Education Reform (CEFLER) at Regent University School of Law, about producing law school graduates who have an understanding of the nature and purpose of the legal profession and who are committed to the ethical practice of law. Professor Gantt discusses the goals of legal education and how those goals shape students. Because the shaping influence of law school is never neutral, Professor Gantt suggests habits that counter some of the unwelcome consequences of that "shaping." CEFLER was founded by Re...2017-02-0727 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast61. The Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, & the Rule of LawThe Center for Global Justice, Human Rights, and the Rule of Law was founded by Regent University School of Law in 2010 to equip Christian advocates to (1) promote the rule of law and seek justice for the oppressed and (2) serve and support those already engaged in such advocacy. In this episode, host Mike Schutt interviews CGJ directors Ernie Walton and Jeff Brauch to discuss how the CGJ fulfills its dual mission. Hear about the CGJ’s programs for Regent law students and its philosophy of how to effectively engage in human rights advocacy. The discussion ranges from practical way...2017-01-2531 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast60. CLS CEO Dave Nammo on Lawyers' Habits, Lawyers' HopeThe Christian Legal Society is an organization dedicated to helping lawyers think biblically and missionally about their work. Through its Law Student Ministries, Legal Aid Ministries, Attorney Ministries, and the Center for Law & Religious Freedom, CLS serves lawyers and law students as they seek to serve Christ in their law practice and study. As we think through these issues, we focus on how we steward our gifts in the law and how we love our neighbors through law practice and study. Yet what about the shaping influences on lawyers themselves? How do our professional practices and particulars o...2016-12-2033 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast59. Charlie Clauss: What's So Great About Advent?Sunday, November 27, 2016 marks the beginning of the Christian year-- the first Sunday in Advent. Charlie Clauss, curator of the Keeping Advent Facebook page, joins us again this year to talk about how Advent serves to center us during what we've taken to calling "the holidays." What is so great about Advent? What is it? Why observe it? Listen in as Charlie and Mike discuss these questions as they explore a Christian vision of time, the nature of the human person, and the deep significance of the feast of Christmas. Along the way, Charlie offers advice on...2016-11-2338 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast58. Hunter Baker: Is it Time for a Christian Democratic Party?"Serious Christians seem to be homeless politically," says Hunter Baker, a political science professor at Union University. In the wake of the Obergefell decision and the rise of Donald Trump, it is appearing less and less likely, accruing to Baker, that the Republican party will stand as barrier to a rapidly advancing secularist agenda. Join Dr. Baker and host Mike Schutt as they ponder whether it might be time for serious Christians to explore a third party option along the lines of a European-style Christian Democratic Party. "It might be good to have a political party with an u...2016-09-1932 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast57. Paul Buzzi: Sharing Jesus from the Law OfficeOn August 9, 1979, Paul Buzzi became a Christian by the grace of God and through the gentle teaching and evangelism of his friend Fred. Less than a week later, Jesus literally told Paul that he needed to walk over to the jail to tell his client about Him. Little did Paul know then that his client Steven would be the first of nearly three thousand clients, friends, family members, and strangers that he would lead to Christ. In this podcast, Paul tells some of those stories, revealing a heart of compassion and humility-- rare in a lawyer-- that dr...2016-08-3044 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast56. Byron Borger Talks Books -- on Politics & MoreIf you love books, there is nothing better than talking books with Byron Borger. Byron has been talking books almost his whole life, and doing it well and for the good of Christ's kingdom. Since the early 80's, he and his wife Beth have, through Hearts and Minds Books in Dallastown, PA, lived out a mission to see the body of Christ encouraged and the world around them flourish. They believe that ideas matter and that books are an important part of Christian discipleship-- "a disciple is learner, after all," says Byron. Whether you're in his store, on...2016-08-1647 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast55. John Inazu on "Confident Pluralism"John Inazu's book, Confident Pluralism: Surviving and Thriving Through Deep Difference (Univ Chicago 2016), "is an argument for mutual respect and coexistence" as we live, work, and speak in the world. In Inazu's words, "shared existence is not only possible, but also necessary." Right now, our country seems to be more polarized than ever. Whether in debates over homosexual rights, in challenges to religious liberty, or in recent tensions between law enforcement and minority communities, we live in deep disagreement on fundamental issues. Confident Pluralism, in Inazu's words, "suggests a modest possibility: that we can live together in our...2016-07-2842 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast54. Abramson & Schutt on a Dangerous Legal Ethics Rule ChangeIn early August, the American Bar Association's House of Delegates will vote on a proposed amendment to Rule 8.4 of the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility. The amendment would subject lawyers to professional discipline for "harassment" or "discrimination," even if the conduct was unintentional or committed unknowingly, and even if the harassment or discrimination is not prejudicial to he administration of justice. The rule proposes that any conduct "related to the practice of law," including running a law firm, representing a client, or engaging in social conduct as a lawyer, would fall under the rule. The rule also ex...2016-07-1939 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast53. Kim Colby on Why Religious Liberty is Good for the WorldKim Colby, Director of the Center for Law and Religious Freedom, is Mike Schutt's guest on this episode of Cross & Gavel. Kim and Mike discuss why religious liberty is a hot topic, what's up with the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFFA), and whether religious liberty is simply a license to discriminate. Kim Colby has been involved in religious freedom advocacy for more than 30 years and is one of the most thoughtful voices on the topic in the country. More resources referred to in the podcast: Michael McConnell, Why Protect Religious Freedom? (Review of Br...2016-06-2739 min
Cross & Gavel Podcast52. August Huckabee Feels the BernMillions of Americans-- especially young Americans-- seem to be enamored of Bernie Sanders and his socialist promises. August Huckabee, Dean of Students at Worldview at the Abbey, wonders what the allure might be. Listen to August and host Mike Schutt as they "feel the Bern." Worldview at the Abbey is a bridge-year program for high school graduates in Canon City, CO. For more information on Worldview at the Abbey, visit www.worldviewbridgeyear.com. The Cross & Gavel podcast is a project of the Christian Legal Society's Institute for Christian Legal Studies. Host Mike Schutt directs Attorney M...2016-06-1641 minCross & Gavel Podcast51. A Law Student Summer: Five SuggestionsLaw Student Ministries Director Mike Schutt lists five simple things for law students to consider as they start their summer. His five areas of suggested focus: 1. Devotional Habits 2. Leisure 3. Read [some law stuff] 4. Talk to Your Family 5. Think about the Fall Semester [sorry] Mike Schutt is the host of Cross & Gavel audio and the director of LSM, Attorney Ministries, and the Institute for Christian Legal Studies. Find out more about these ministries of the Christian Legal Society at ChristianLawyer.org.2016-05-3115 minCross & Gavel Podcast50. Wendy Patrick on Prosecuting Human TraffickingWendy L. Patrick is a San Diego County Deputy District Attorney in the Special Operations Division. She previously served in the Sex Crimes and Human Trafficking Division of the San Diego DA's office, where she prosecutor predators, human traffickers, stalkers, rapists, and child molesters. She has completed over 160 trails from first degree murder, to sex crimes, to domestic violence. She also co-chairs both the California DA's Association Sexually Violent Predator Committee and its Human Trafficking Committee. So Wendy Patrick knows what she's talking about when it comes to crimes related to human trafficking. Join Wendy a...2016-04-2543 minCross & Gavel Podcast49. CLS Roundtable: Encouraging Christians in the LawJoin the Christian Legal Society staff for a roundtable discussion about the calling to minister to law students and lawyers. How did we get here? What are we doing? What does law have to do with the kingdom of Christ? Six CLS staffers talk around the table about their own backgrounds, mission, and convictions -- and why their work with CLS really matters. The discussion ranges from law school experiences, to the foundations of vocational thinking, to BigLaw issues, to work-iife balance, to cultural engagement and religious liberty and beyond. It's good, clean fun! Come an...2016-03-3143 minCross & Gavel Podcast48. Law Prof Rich Leiter: Being a Christian Law Student on CampusIn his more than 20 years working with Christian law student groups on campus, Professor Richard Leiter has learned a thing or two about the challenges they face. In this episode, he discusses "being" who we are called to be as Christian law students engaging the campus for Christ. It turns out that Rich thinks "being" is far more important than any of the particulars of what we set out to "do." Join us for this discussion as we kick around ideas on living out one's faith on campus, what lawyers can do to help, and the joy of be...2016-03-0845 minCross & Gavel Podcast47. ALARM's Leah Boyd on Human Rights Work in AfricaLeah Boyd did not take the straight path to a career in human rights work in Africa. She graduated from a good law school, went to work at one of Texas' largest law firms doing commercial litigation, and was laid off. After a fellowship with International Justice Mission, a trip to Antarctica (of course!), and a gentle reminder from God, she became the Director of Justice Initiatives at ALARM -- African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries (ALARM), encouraging lawyers in Africa and the West to live out their faith with their legal talents. Leah takes teams of lawyers to...2016-02-1934 minCross & Gavel Podcast46. J. Mark Bertrand on Bible DesignDoes it matter how we "experience" the the Bible? Do we encounter it as a reference work, in which we look up stuff, or as a text in which to immerse ourselves? C&G guest Mark Bertrand believes that these are important questions. Bertrand says that the Bible involves one of the most important-- and most challenging-- design projects in history. Design decisions create or remove barriers to entering into the text, and often traditional design choices actually hinder our reading and interpretation. These are significant issues, to say the least. Join Mark and host Mike Schutt as...2016-01-2843 minCross & Gavel Podcast45. An African Boy, An American Lawyer, & Their Battle for FreedomOn January 11, 2010, Jim Gash, then Dean of Students at Pepperdine Law School, met Henry, a Ugandan boy accused of two murders, in a Ugandan "Remand Home," a sparse jail for juveniles awaiting trail. Henry had been held there since 2008, awaiting a hearing. This meeting, by God's grace, changed Jim's life. It also helped change the criminal trial court system in Uganda and bring justice to hundreds of children awaiting trial without hope. As Jim says, "I took a step of faith, and it changed everything." Listen to Jim tell his story and Henry's story-- ultimately God's story...2016-01-1445 minCross & Gavel Podcast44. CLA Director Ken Liu on the Biblical Call to Justice for the PoorKen Liu is Director of Christian Legal Aid Ministries for the Christian Legal Society. He says that his call into this ministry began when he, as a teenager, began to be serious about his Christian walk and to understand God's compassion for the poor. Listen as he discusses his road to using his legal skills to serve the poor, first as a reluctant lawyer, then an enthusiastic volunteer, and now as Director of a national legal aid ministry. Listeners will be inspired and challenged as they listen to Ken's heart for those in need. If God calls...2015-12-1635 minCross & Gavel Podcast43. Keeping Advent with Charlie ClaussCharlie Clauss says that it's okay to cry out against our current secularized, commercial, extended version of Christmas. He says that people are hungry for something more substantial than the "war" over Christmas or the 60-day shopping spree, hungry for something that will feed our souls as we mark time in the world. And that's where the season of Advent can help. In this episode, Charlie and Mike discuss why Advent is the perfect antidote to the commercialization and secularization of Christmas, and why it is also much much more than that. Advent is not an...2015-12-0155 minCross & Gavel Podcast42. Giving Thanks with Mike Schutt & David NammoIn the First Ever First Annual Cross & Gavel Thanksgiving podcast, host Mike Schutt and Christian Legal Society Executive Director David Nammo list many of the things in their lives and work for which they are thankful. Along the way, they talk about their families, youth ministry, Vanderbilt Law School, candy corn, Narnia, the books that have shaped them, youth ministry, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, courage, religious liberty, taste buds, George Washington's Thanksgiving Day Proclamation, and the CLS Board of Directors, among many many other things. It's a fun conversation (for them, anyway), and they wonder if they will s...2015-11-1949 minCross & Gavel Podcast41. CLS Executive Director David Nammo on the State of the ProfessionAs the Executive Director of the Christian Legal Society, David Nammo spends time with hundreds of lawyers and future lawyers every year. Mike Schutt begins this episode by asking him, "What are lawyers and students thinking-- what are they worried about these days?" The ensuing conversation touches on matters of ethics, habits, cultural pressures, temptation, the role of professional communities, the local congregation, and much more. Dave believes one of the central tasks of life in the law is to seek God. As we seek Him, we better understand our unique calling in the profession. Li...2015-11-0947 minCross & Gavel Podcast40. "Give Me Scotland or I Die": Lawyers on MissionTrinity Law School Dean Myron Steeves has a vision for lawyers in ministry across the country. He says we ought to be looking for attorneys in the mold of the great reformer John Knox, who famously said, "Give me Scotland or I die," to gather and encourage lawyers in their mission in every city and every county. In this episode, Dean Steeves articulates this broad mission: addressing injustice, pursuing law reform, engaging in prayer ministry at the courthouse, encouraging church-centered mediation, and heeding the vocational call to minister to the client as a "whole person," among other things. T...2015-10-2951 minCross & Gavel Podcast39. Pacific Justice Institute's Mike Peffer Talks Public Interest LawMike Peffer serves the Pacific Justice Institute as the Director of its Santa Ana office, and he sits down with C & G host Mike Schutt to talk about the work of PJI. Their conversation touches on trends in religious liberty cases, including zoning disputes, the need for ordinary attorneys to volunteer their time, and Christian Legal Aid. Along the way, Peffer discusses his path to public interest law and recalls his rewarding work in Christian Legal Aid. For more information about the Pacific Justice Institute, visit www.PJI.org.2015-10-1926 minCross & Gavel Podcast38. Jamie Grosshans on Life as a Woman in the Legal ProfessionJamie Grosshans is a lawyer, a mom, and the wife of a lawyer. She believes that "balance" is a figment of somebody's imagination, that there is no traditional career path that is right for every woman, and that lawyers are stressed out. The good news is that she wouldn't trade her life for an ambassadorship and that she takes joy in her law practice and family, even in the face of a Pinterest account that tells her that her kids' snacks are inadequate. Listen to her conversation with Mike Schutt, in which she shares her wisdom on ment...2015-09-2544 minCross & Gavel Podcast37. Christian Divorce Lawyers?Atlanta lawyers Bill Hollberg amd Eric Wilborn are domestic lawyers who represent clients who don't want a divorce. It's a tough way to make a living, but they say that this is how God has called them to love their neighbors with their legal skills. Their goal in every case is the reconciliation and restoration of the marriage, a goal that they admit they rarely reach. What kind of divorce lawyers won't sue for divorce and refuse to handle "no-fault" cases? What leads an attorney to strive to treat opposing counsel and parties with kindness and patience...2015-08-2153 minCross & Gavel Podcast36. The Christian Criminal Defense LawyerHost Mike Schutt talks with criminal defense attorney J.T. Borah about "representing the guilty" to the glory of God. Mr. Borah discusses why process is more important than truth in a criminal trial, why Blackstone was right that "it is better to let ten guilty escape," and why one prosecutor tried to prohibit him from citing the Founding Fathers in Voir Dire. It's a great conversation! This is a re-mixed recording of two previously published episodes early in the life of Cross & Gavel Audio. Rather than porting over the whole archive, we will from time to...2015-08-0420 minCross & Gavel Podcast35. Bill Jack on Colorado Cakes, Truth, & GraceBill Jack thinks Christians suffer from swimming in the waters of secularism and that we're hooked on being popular. After Colorado baker Jack Phillips was punished for declining to bake a cake for a homosexual wedding, Bill asked an LBGT-friendly bakery to bake some cakes with Bible verses on them. Yet he doesn't believe cakes are the issue. Listen in as Bill talks with host Mike Schutt about the Obergefell decision, the Colorado cake capers, and the Church's challenge of proclaiming truth to those who don't wish to hear. Careful: He might step on your toes . . . and...2015-07-2254 minCross & Gavel Podcast34. Kim Colby Talks RFRAMany are confused by the hype and hysteria surrounding RFRA -- the Religous Freedom Restoration Act, passed unanimously on the Federal level and signed into law by Bill Clinton. Why the hysteria over a similar act passed this year in Indiana? Why do both state AND federal RFRAs exist? And what is RLUIPA? Kim Colby, who has been involved in religious liberty work for close to 35 years, answers these questions and more in our discussion. Kimberllee Wood Colby is Senior Counsel and the Christian Legal Society's Center for Law and Religious Freedom. Mike S...2015-06-2349 minCross & Gavel Podcast33. Alissa Baier Talks Christian Legal AidMike Schutt interviews Allisa Baier, an attorney with Open Door Legal Services at Seattle's Union Gospel Mission. Ms. Baer talks about her career path into legal aid, God's hand in using her in this field, and the challenges and rewards of working in Chrstiain Legal Aid. 2015-06-2322 min