Learn it, live it. More info and supporting Scripture are at Staying on Top of Conflict on the Peacemaker Ministries website.

Question: How do you resolve conflict?

Instead of getting tough on dealers, Arizona prosecutors are going after pealers.

It doesn’t ring true, but it is. Here’s the video report from Alliance Defense Fund:

ADF is representing the bellringing Bishop in an appeal hearing of his criminal conviction and, in a separate civil case, is challenging the application of local noise ordinances to church bells.

Question: Has the freedom of your church been threatened by overzealous government regulation?

As a Christian lawyer, I can’t avoid hearing about the legal problems confronting my fellow believers. People confide in me not only at the law office, but at almost every gathering I attend, even Sunday morning services in my own church. And too often, it turns out the only counsel they’ve been getting is the destructive advice of some secular-minded lawyer.

But you don’t have to stand back and let the people you serve wander alone in the rough and tumble legal arena. You have an amazing opportunity to fill the spiritual void with the healing power of God’s counsel (and believe me, the Bible offers plenty of positive, redemptive legal advice, some of which I humbly attempt to capture in my book, The Believer’s Guide to Legal Issues).

Based on my experience, here are the top legal issues facing the people in your church:

1) Divorce and family law

2) Bankruptcy and financial crisis

3) Injury and accidents

4) Employment and workplace problems

5) Criminal incidents

6) Tax problems

7) Elder law and estate planning

Healing, restoration, and forgiveness abound when people struggling with the weight of legal challenges discover the Bible’s rich, constructive (and often very much counter-cultural) advice. Give it to them!

Question: What legal issues confront the members of your church?

Attorney General Coakley, with all due respect to her office, is wrong. Her statement mischaracterizes the law and, if applied, would amount to unlawful religious discrimination. Religious freedom means much more than believers merely being free to voluntarily segregate themselves from certain professions (especially the caring professions which are so often reflective of the very essence of religious faith).

Under Title VII of the U.S. Civil Rights Act, employers are prohibited from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing and other terms and conditions of employment. This means employers cannot treat you any less favorably because of your religious beliefs or practices, nor can they force you to stop participating in religious activities as a condition of your employment. And this means emergency rooms cannot discriminate against practicing Catholics or others who hold religious values.

More: Good News on the Law: You Can Be a Christian at Work

Question: Have you experienced religious discrimination in the workplace?

So how do you find one?

And, most importantly, how do you find one who shares your Christian worldview?

While word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied clients are often your best resource, there are useful Christian lawyer referral services being (or soon to be) offered nationally in the U.S.

Christian Lawyer Connection provides “a way in which people who are seeking the guidance of a Christian attorney can gain easy access to multiple, self-professed, local Christian attorneys.” The service is free to consumers.

The Christian Legal Society is also in the process of setting up a Christian Lawyer Referral program, which is “under construction” as of the date of this post.

Inclusion of a lawyer on these referral lists doesn’t necessarily mean they’re a good lawyer or one who shares your worldview, so you still have to do your homework. The consumer rule of “buyer beware” certainly applies in hiring a lawyer. Once you’ve narrowed your choices, start by asking them these five questions, and then ask any other questions especially important to you.

Consumer tip: Don’t wait until a legal crisis is blowing up in your face to choose your lawyer. Start an attorney-client relationship now, while you have time to consider your options and carefully make your selection. Then, if and when a difficult situation emerges, you’ll know where to turn for help or a solid referral.

Question: How have you found a good Christian lawyer?

Here’s the top five examples of over-the-top legal insanity, in reverse order of ridiculousness:

5.  Neighbor sues woman for smoking in her own home

4.  Double-murderer sues to claim his victims’ classic Chevy pickup

3.  Holocaust denier sues Auschwitz survivor, alleging memoir contains “fantastical tales”

2.  Tourist sues hotel, claiming swimming pool got daughter pregnant

1.  Illegal immigrants sue rancher who stopped them on his land at gunpoint and turned them over to Border Patrol

The President of ILR rightly notes, “While ridiculous lawsuits may be easy fodder for late-night television hosts, they are no laughing matter for the defendants targeted.”

The ILR is exactly right. Stupid lawsuits hurt real people in real ways.

The pain inflicted by unnecessary litigation is financial, emotional, and sometimes even physical (stress-related illnesses).  And our society pays a heavy price too. For example, what happens when citizens are afraid to report criminals to the police for fear of being sued by the criminals!!!???

Question: Have you been victimized by a ridiculous lawsuit?

Get solid answers to these five key questions before you make your legal hiring decision:

1) How much will you charge me? (not only nice to know, but professional ethics rules say lawyers must tell you - and, by the way, don’t be afraid to try negotiating the amount and payment terms)

2) What’s your expertise? (lawyers specialize, just like doctors - but watch out for lawyers straying into areas beyond their expertise, especially in tough economic times when they need more work)

3) How will we communicate? (the lawyer should have a plan to keep you informed - also find out the best way for you to contact the lawyer)

4) Have you been the subject of a disciplinary investigation? (not surprisingly, there are some bad apples in the legal barrel - beware of hiring a lawyer with a track record of ethics complaints)

5) How does your Christian faith speak to issues of the law? (your lawyer should be able to reconcile essential Christian beliefs and values with the practice of law - be sure they will integrate faith into the counsel they give)

If the notion of cross-examining a lawyer seems too intimidating (although it shouldn’t – after all, you’re about to embark on an important and expensive journey together, with potentially life-changing consequences), then just show them a copy of this post and ask, “What do you think?”

Question: What’s most important to you in hiring a lawyer?

The temporary restraining order cites a “substantial likelihood of irreparable atmospheric harm” arising from “high altitude carbon emissions” and bans further reindeer flights until full environmental impact studies can be completed, a process that could take up to five years.

Green leaders praised the ruling off the record, but few were willing to make public statements.

“We understand the potential backlash,” said one unnamed U.S. environmental official reached in Copenhagen, where he remained stranded by a blizzard after the recent climate conference, “It’s never popular to ruin a holiday for millions of children around the world - but it’s the right thing to do, given the unknowns and the potential that even modest quantities of deer carbon in the stratosphere could accelerate the pace of global warming.”

In a hastily called press conference, Santa’s lawyer, Herb Elf, promised a swift appeal. “Clearly, Santa is disappointed,” said Elf, “We’ve got piles of toys everywhere and no way to get them delivered.”

URGENT UPDATE - December 24, 2009 - 3:25 P.M. EST - Multiple officials are confirming that an emergency panel of the Polar Circuit Court of Appeals has just lifted the lower court’s injunction against reindeer flight. Other sources report Santa himself was seen leaving an appellate courtroom looking jolly and shouting, “Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!”

Father Tim Jones preached these words to his congregation at St. Lawrence Church in England yesterday, according to this article in the Daily Mail newspaper. And he wasn’t kidding.

Father Jones went on, teaching the poor how and when to steal: “I would ask that they do not steal from small family businesses, but from large national businesses, knowing that the costs are ultimately passed on to the rest of us in the form of higher prices. I would ask them not to take any more than they need, for any longer than they need.”

The Priest’s justification for his shocking counsel? “My advice does not contradict the Bible’s eighth commandment because God’s love for the poor and despised outweighs the property rights of the rich.” In other words, if you’re poor enough, go ahead and take what you want!

To me, this is all very odd and more than a bit disturbing. I don’t see exceptions or weasel words in the eighth commandment. In my Bible, Exodus 20:15 reads “You shall not steal.” The chapter then goes right into commandments nine and ten, warning us against lying and coveting our neighbor’s stuff.

And aside from the very real risk of getting arrested and sent to jail when you steal, Father Jones’ advice creates a whole new set of problems for the poor (and society).

Just who is entitled to steal? Exactly how poor to you have to be? Is simply having less than someone else enough to make stealing right, or is there an income threshold? Are we all free to keep stealing until everyone is reduced to economic equality?

If we’re allowed to take what we “need,” how much do we need and who decides when we don’t need any more?

And where’s the line between the small family businesses we should leave alone and the large national businesses we should hit? Maybe it’s okay to steal from Walmart but not Home Depot? Okay to steal from McDonalds but not the local burger joint?

I’m sticking with the basic “don’t steal” rule and I would humbly advise you to do the same. If times get tough, there’s plenty of help out there, often from your own church family. Give God a chance to bless you in your time of need, don’t shut him down by twisting his words to justify theft.

Question: Have your needs been supplied by God when you faithfully asked for help?

1. Bankruptcy for Christians Facing Financial Meltdown?

2. Google Gives Glimpse of Legal Struggles Christians Face

3. Good News on the Law: Can President Obama Change the Supreme Court?

4. The Litigation Trap and the Christian Conciliation Alternative: Christianity 9 to 5

5. Good News on the Law: You Can Be a Christian at Work

6. The Madoff Scandal and Three Essential Questions on Wealth

7. Christian Lawyer: Not an Oxymoron

8. Mortgage morality meltdown: Law prof says go ahead, stiff the bank!

9. The Medicaid-Planning Shell Game (full chapter from Believer’s Guide to Legal Issues)

10. Will She or Won’t She? The Prenuptial Blues

Question: Is there a post that blessed you this year?