Blackstone Deadline Reminder

For my law student friends who are applying for the Blackstone-don't forget, the deadline is January 22. Good luck-it is an amazing experience.

Summer of 2006, pt. 12

Now for the final post of the summer (now fall) of 2006:

- It wouldn't do justice to my experiences this summer to describe the changes I have undergone in a single post. I will just talk about them briefly:

1) Social: I know now that I am not alone. One of the biggest problems that we Christians face as law students is social isolation, to varying degrees depending on the school and the kind of environment in which we are placed. One way in which the Blackstone really helped me was to make me see that there are scores, hundreds of other law students out there, across the country, who feel as passionately as I do about the future of this country, and preserving traditional values for our grandchildren. This has given me a renewed sense of strength as I move into my second year.
2) Professional: I intend to try and expand my reading list to include books outside the regular curriculum, such as those by Blackstone, Coke, and others. It will help to sharpen my mind by introducing me to the philosophy behind the law I am studying, and will ultimately make me a more effective advocate.
3) Spiritual: This summer was a time of spiritual revival for me; as I said earlier, it has taken coming to the desert to get me out of the desert in which I had been wandering at times throughout college. I experienced some of the deepest and most meaningful times of worship while in Phoenix, and during Phase II. I intend to keep going what I acquired this summer-an even deeper and more abiding love for the Lord, that will carry over to my law school studies.

These are probably some of the biggest ways the Blackstone affected me. Not an exhaustive list by any means, but a few things to think about.

Summer of 2006, pt. 10

Now back in Phoenix for Phase III:

- I showed my devotion to country music today. We had a talent show tonight, the Fellowship Follies, that had just about everything. The highlights for me were a tuxedo-clad harmonica player, a performance of the "who's on first" routine by Abbott and Costello, and a hilarious video some of the interns put together about their experience in Dallas, a parody of "The Real World." But first prize goes to my rendition of Toby Keith's "How Do You Like Me Now" that definitely brought down the house.

I sing loudly. I couldn't find the karaoke tape in Phoenix, so I just bought the CD and sang over it. At least one person told me afterwards that they never heard the vocals from the CD. That means I still have it-the booming bass from high school choir and madrigals.

It seems like the older I get, the less I listen to new music. Some of it I like (the exceptions to this rule are Christian and country), but most of it just isn't as good. I started out with Tears For Fears and Modern English from the 80's, and now I listen to classic country, 70's, and Motown. Eventually I am going to be listening to those old hand-cranked record players (Victrollas maybe, but I'm not sure what they're called) and tape recording a bard.

- Reading wise, I just started reading "The Pilgrim's Progress" by John Bunyan yesterday. It might take a week or two to get through it, but I will have a post on it soon. The books in the reading queue now are, in this order: "The Myth of a Christian America" by Rev. Gregory Boyd (not agreeing, but I will read it to address the arguments made by the other side). Ron Chernow's biography on Alexander Hamilton, and then I plan to begin reading Blackstone's "Commentaries." Instead of reviewing Blackstone, I will try to weave summaries into my general posts.

- Journal orientation began today, 1,800 miles from where I am now. I read the style guide today to get caught up on the editing work we will be doing this year, so I know a little more about the gargantuan editing assignment (and gargantuan to-do list) that will be waiting for me when I get back to Columbus.

- We haven't gotten into the lecture portion of Phase III yet, but it's supposed to be fantastic, with many prominent members of the legal community coming in to present for us. Many of the presentations will involve building personal and professional relationships-how to get a clerkship, how to become a Blackstone Fellow, and so on. More as the week unfolds.

Summer of 2006, pt. 9

I need to get better at coming up with titles for these posts...

- I have almost come to the end of my stint in the Queen City. My last day at the office is Thursday, and then I will be heading home to see my family for the first time in about a month.

On Sunday, I visited the Taft Museum of Art, not far from the riverfront and the Great American Ballpark. I will have pictures on here soon-it's a beautiful old house, and each room contains a separate exhibit, and is decorated according to period styles. I wasn't able to take pictures inside, but the decor was amazing-there was a mural painted on the wall in the "historic wing" of the building, complete with Roman-like busts of the two members of the Taft family for whom the museum was named. Also, the collection contained a variety of types of artwork, everything from the Italian Renaissance to more recent English paintings of the nineteenth century. The rooms also had historic furniture, beautifully restored-coffee tables from 1810, sofas from 1815, and others.

The highlights for me were fivefold. First, my favorite area was a room dedicated to works from American history. There was a painting of George Washington, and a collection of small watercolor paintings on what looked like lockets, or watch chains. These were extremely detailed portraits of every president from Washington to Herbert Hoover. Also, it was impressive for me to see a painting by Rembrandt. It was of an everyday subject (a well-dressed gentleman), but looking at it was like listening to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or reading Shakespeare-you knew you were looking at a work of genius.

My two other favorites were the portrait of President Taft, and the current exhibit at the Taft Museum, art from medieval China (that is, China during the medieval period in Europe). The exhibit on Chinese art was interesting in how it showed the different patterns, and methods of production, used to produce tea bowls, cups, jugs, and other articles. One in particular used a special method of cooling glass, so that the surface of the bowl almost looked as though someone had poured glitter on it, for that "sparkling" texture.

The house itself was beautiful. I got to walk through the garden for a few minutes before I left, although I didn't stay there long on account of the heat. Next door was a nice garden, in Lytle Park-I walked over for a few minutes before I had to go cool off.

- The other aspect of Cincinnati culture I have tried this week is Skyline Chili. It's got a different flavor to it, almost kind of like maple. I have been to LaRosa's a few times, and had their pizza and pasta. I definitely recommend it, and Skyline if you like good chili.

- I hope the heat wave dies down soon. It has been searingly hot outside the last two weeks-today I was driving home from work, at 6:30 in the evening, and the temperature was still 96 degrees outside. And the humidity makes it even worse.

People in Ohio tend to joke about the weather in Arizona, because everyone here thinks it is the most extreme form of heat, like an outdoor oven. I tell them that even though it gets hot in Phoenix (highs of about 110 when I was there in June) Ohio is actually more uncomfortable when the temperature is 85 or 90 with 95% humidity. It's the moisture in the air that makes it miserable, not the number on the thermometer. In Phoenix, you hardly even notice that you're sweating, because your body has the dry air to cool off.

Here in Ohio, when the humidity goes up, it gets much harder to handle. I am actually looking forward to spending a few days in the dry heat; it will be a relief from the heat and humidity here. But you know what they say about Ohio weather-wait 5 minutes and it will change.

Summer of 2006, pt. 8

Two more weeks in Cincinnati, a week in Phoenix, and then back to Columbus:

- I got to do some sight-seeing today, and went to Newport-on-the-Levee on the Kentucky side of the river. It's a nice area, with a shopping mall, all kinds of restaurants and hangout spots, and a huge movie theater. I spent an hour or two just walking through the mall, and especially through the Barnes and Noble that was there. Probably the nicest part of the trip was just sitting on the balcony outside the bookstore, a cup of coffee in hand, watching the Ohio River go by. It was one of those lazy Sunday afternoon kind of moments you wish would last just a little bit longer.




I also went to the Newport Aquarium, which was really nice. I got to see all kinds of fish, including piranhas, jellyfish, and huge sharks. They also had other kinds of animals, including birds, baby alligators, and penguins. At one point, there was an exhibit where you could walk through an aviary with a cup of nectar, and birds would come down and drink right out of your hand. One bird landed on my arm and drank almost the whole cup. There were a lot of bird "accidents" though, including one right on my arm from a bird on a high branch.

Two of the best exhibits were near the end. One room was full of penguins, standing in the dark, probably asleep. The last room was called "Shark Central", and it had a tank where you could pet the sharks and rays that were swimming through, kind of like the exhibit at the Cleveland Zoo we went to a month or two ago. It's amazing how smooth the skin is on sharks, and especially on the ray-the closest thing I would compare it to is probably seaweed.

I also got to do a little bit of sightseeing outside the mall. Two places I got to see in the short time I was there were the birthplace of the inventor of the Thompson submachine gun, and the home of Captain Parker. I also got some nice pictures of the Cincinnati skyline from on the other side of the river.



Overall, a very nice trip to take for the afternoon, even though the place (and especially the aquarium) was crowded. I still have two more places to go see before I head for home a week from Thursday: the Cincinnati Zoo and the Taft Museum. Also, if I have time in the fall, I would like to go watch oral arguments at the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals here in town.

I will be adding pictures from Newport soon.

- Reading wise, I am going to try and start adding fiction to my reading lists, probably starting with the Chronicles of Narnia coming this fall. Right now, I have almost finished reading "The Truth About Same-Sex Marriage" by Erwin Lutzer, and I also read "The Lamb and the Fuhrer" by Ravi Zacarias, a very thought-provoking book about what a conversation would look like between Jesus and Hitler. Both were very good books, especially Zacarias', because it gives an analysis of not only the magnitude of Hitler's evil, but also shows how we are all capable of the same sins as the most evil man in history-maybe not to where we would commit the same acts, but it shows that we are yet sinners in God's eyes nonetheless.

Next, I plan to read "Alexander Hamilton: American" by Richard Brookhiser. After that, I plan to read "Alexander Hamilton" by Ron Chernow, and then do sort of a double review, comparing both books in a sort of general post about Hamilton and his legacy. This might be my last non-fiction reading post for a while, though-I would like to read different kinds of books, so after that I may try and get to "The Chronicles of Narnia" for something more fun and easy to read.

Summer of 2006, pt. 7

So I am back from Boston now. I have to blog from the bookstore across the street, because I cannot access the Internet in my apartment. Some thoughts about the trip:

- Boston is very rich in history. I was only there for a few days, so I didn't have time to really tour the city, but I did get to see a few historical sites the day I left. My favorite was probably Boston Common, which I saw on the way to the Statehouse on Tuesday, walking up Beacon Hill. I also got to walk through Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, and I saw Paul Revere's house. The north end of Boston is a nice touristy area, full of narrow streets, shops, and restaurants. The Old North Church and the Revere house are in Little Italy-there were scores of Italian restaurants and coffee shops, so I will have to try one or two the next time I am there.

Here is the outside of Faneuil Hall, located right next to Quincy Market and near the old Boston Customs House.


- I am definitely going to visit Boston again. Probably the next chance I will have will be in October, during our fall break. My mom and dad might go with me, or I can try and get some friends together to go. Either way, I would like to consider going beyond Boston, maybe spending a day or two in the city, and then going through scenic areas of Connecticut, or maybe Vermont.

- On a more serious note, the will of the people was thwarted again by certain members of the Massachusetts legislature. By a narrow vote, the state constitutional convention voted to recess until November, thus killing any chance for a vote that would put an amendment on the ballot to define marriage as between a man and a woman. It is important to pray for the situation up there in the Commonwealth, that either the people are motivated to vote the obstructionists out of office, or that the current House and Senate members have a change of heart.


I was there for the convention, spending most of my time inside the Statehouse. I even got to sit in the Gallery for part of the proceedings. The legislature was debating non-same-sex marriage topics like universal health care and the state's rainy day fund, but it was still fascinating to me to see how a legislative session works. Sure, I have watched Congress on C-SPAN before, but like many things, the real experience is being physically present to watch how a session works-how votes are taken, how debate is conducted, and how the process works.

This is the Great Hall inside the Statehouse; on the walls are the flags of every city and town in Massachusetts.


Also, the Statehouse gallery in Boston is absolutely beautifully decorated-I wasn't allowed to take pictures inside, but the wall behind the podium contains a mural of "Milestones on the Road to Freedom in Massachusetts." The events chronicled include the receipt of the city's charter in 1630, Judge Sewall's public apology following the Salem witch trials, and John Hancock's proposal of the Bill of Rights during the 1787 Constitutional Convention.

In the Senate chamber, there is a banner over the podium reading "God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." The room is full of history-you can almost breathe it in when you enter inside. It contains historical artifacts, and busts of famous figures from American and Massachusetts history. The irony was not lost on me as I surveyed the room-surrounded by busts of Lincoln, Washington, and Ben Franklin, these men and women were debating whether to give homosexuals the right to marry. It is the strangest dichotomy-between the Christian Founding Fathers and the rich tapestry of history, and the godless liberalism that has taken over so many people in that state-that it emphasizes the tragedy of so many in our Republic losing their sense of Biblical values and right and wrong.

This obelisk was in the garden on the lawn behind the Statehouse; the eagle's wings represent the answered prayers of the Revolutionary generation.


We need to pray again, so that God will hear us and forgive our country's sin-not just the sins of the people on the "other side", but the lack of love and compassion we Christians have sometimes shown for those who are in the gay lifestyle, and for those who do not know the Lord.

- This is not directly related to Boston, but while I was there, I got some fantastic news-I will be a staff member on the Ohio State Law Journal next year. I'm not sure yet what I want to write my note on, but I plan to decide by next month. Suffice it to say that it will involve constitutional law, and an issue such as religious liberty or the sanctity of life-I am eager to expand my knowledge and scholastic credentials, and get to work.

Summer of 2006, pt. 6

Dispatches from Columbus, since I am staying at my apartment this weekend:

- Cincinnati is a nice city. I had only been through the city once before this summer, coming home from a trip to Florida, and I didn't get a chance to see it. This past week, I went downtown with the attorney I am working for to observe a deposition, and I got to see the area down by the river. Some of the landmarks I plan to visit: the Taft House and Museum, the Newport Aquarium, the Cincinnati Zoo, and of course go to a Reds game. There is an area on the Kentucky side of the river, called Newport-on-the-Levee, that has stores, restaurants, etc., kind of like Easton here in Columbus.

- I met with my treasurer today to discuss our plans for the Moritz chapter of the Christian Legal Society. We are planning to focus on reaching out and serving-the components of integrating our faith with our work as law students and, soon to come, lawyers.

Every other Thursday night throughout the semester, we will be having a Bible study, that is open to all students. We are still discussing topics, but my goal is to make all parts of Scripture relevant to our lives as Christians, not just as law students. I plan to cover topics that may have seemed “off limits” to Christians in the past. For example, what does the Bible have to say about our use of the Internet and modern technology? What does the Word say about what we should do in our spare time? There are countless ways to relate the Bible to everyday life, and I intend to use them as a way for us to relate to each other as Christians moving with confidence through law school, the trial of our faith.

We will also be looking for ways to serve others. For this, we have to find a way to get out of our comfort zones and address the needs of a world around us that is starving for the Gospel, and for the saving grace of Jesus Christ. More to be announced soon, but suffice it to say that where God leads us, we will follow.

One other point I plan to emphasize this year is that everyone, regardless of denomination, theological or political beliefs, or even whether believers or not, is welcome at Christian Legal Society. I want to emphasize this not to water down the message of Christ, but to show how relevant it is to everyone who walks through the door. Each of us is responsible, in our own way, for putting Christ on the cross, and we all need His forgiveness. My task, as president of the group, is not only to provide leadership and direction for our community of faith, but to create the conditions where the Holy Spirit can work in our hearts, and where everyone knows they are loved and being prayed for.

Look for more updates on Christian Legal Society coming this fall.

- Good news for the Cavs: LeBron James agreed to the contract extension today, which means he will be playing in Cleveland through the 2012-2013 season. This is some of the best news Cleveland sports fans like me can get right now, because I said earlier that as long as the Cavs can sign LeBron long-term, they will have an excellent shot at winning a championship, provided they keep a solid core of talent around him.

Now they need to re-sign Drew Gooden, and settle the situation at guard. The two new draft picks sound like they could be contributors next season, and they will need to find an impact player to replace Flip Murray, who will be leaving through free agency. Ultimately, though, the future looks promising, and I have a feeling the next great rivalry in the Eastern Conference will be between the LeBron-led Cavs and the Dwayne Wade-led Heat.

Summer of 2006, pt. 5

I’m back home now, after a busy two weeks.

On the 23rd, I flew back from Phase I. A lot of us had a layover in Memphis on the way to our Phase II destination, so I got to see the Mississippi River from the air. Not much time after landing, though-we got delayed in Phoenix, so I had to rush from one gate to another to take the flight home.

Last week was my first week at work in Cincinnati. It has been a great experience so far- my first job at a private law firm, after a couple of legal internships with UA’s Office of General Counsel and the local prosecutor’s office during my undergraduate years. I have only been on the job a few days so far, but the time spent is valuable because I am learning directly from the attorneys, who live the law day in and day out. There is no better way to learn “how to be a lawyer,” even with all the theory and substantive knowledge that textbooks can offer.

This is not to diminish the classroom, because law school in general, and the first year in particular, is where you get the “skeleton” of the law, and I have had some outstanding professors to guide me through the transition. But there is nothing like the satisfaction I get from an honest day’s work. No matter where I work, and no matter how my talents are employed next summer, and in 2008, I know that I labor for God.

Plus, I like knowing that learning through working, and through observation, is still part of the rite of passage of becoming a lawyer, and it feels good to be a part of that. It gives you a rush to know that when you learn on the job, by researching or observing, you are following in the footsteps of Coke, Blackstone, Jefferson, Marshall, Story, and you are becoming a part of America’s legal system. Every time I get frustrated with what I don’t yet understand, concerned with the vast amount which I do not know, I remember that even with as brilliant as they were, each of those jurists had to start somewhere.

With my Phase II placement in Cincinnati, I was able to drive home for the weekend. On Saturday, I got to sleep in, and then go play miniature golf with my brother and his wife, and my friend Rachel. Not much happening today-the rain put most of our plans on hold. I was supposed to go fishing with my dad and brother this morning, but we put it off until tomorrow because of a thunderstorm. Same thing with fireworks-a strong storm blew through the area about 9:00, so we will have to go tomorrow.

Summer of 2006, pt. 4

As I write tonight, my soul is at rest in the midst of a storm.

I am sitting by the pool in Phoenix. It is 10:00 at night here, and about 95 degrees and humid. It's not the heat that surprises me, it's the humidity. This is about the driest place on earth this side of the Sahara.

But regardless of the weather, I feel as though I have finally reached the intersection of my faith in the Lord and my decision to become a lawyer. I have been at Phase I of the Blackstone Fellowship for about a week now, and I have realized simply that this is where I was always meant to be-surrounded by fellowship with fellow Christians who care about God, who want to serve God, and who realize how much all of us, believers or not, are loved by God.

Take today. We had a church service this morning in the meeting room of the hotel. A pastor from the Alliance Defense Fund came in to speak, and two of the interns stepped up and did the music. It was so pure, such an expression of our love for God and God's enduring love for us. One intern played the piano, and one led the singing. We stumbled on the words, and probably the only song we did perfectly was "Amazing Grace." But my heart was in it, and I realized what it means when two or three are gathered in His name.

At the end, we sang a simple song-"Jesus Loves Me." It drove directly to the heart of the Gospel-regardless of our sins, regardless of what I got this semester in Constitutional Law or Property or Legislation, God will love me the same. Just realizing the enormity of what this means could take a lifetime. If you realize this truth, why worry about anything else?

This message could not have been more timely. After God had been working on my heart all week, helping me crack the exterior of selfishness, pride, and what I thought was self-sufficiency, Satan counter-attacked yesterday, blasting me to feel "concern" over my academic report from this past semester. "You can't control things anymore, Brian," he hissed at me. "If you come back with even one bad grade, in a 4-credit class like Property, it will shut the door on your success." Anxiety gripped my heart like a hand around my throat.

But I will have faith, and with God's help will fight off the Enemy's deception.

I cannot do a single thing to either affect my first-year grades, or to get onto a law journal next year. I will work with what I have, and do the best I can with the time and resources available to me.

But do you know what? It's not about me anymore.

It's not about landing the "right" job in some far-off metropolis where I drag in a big, fat paycheck to come home to some empty apartment and see my family twice a year. It's not about spending all these tears and treasure in school so that I make myself into a mercenary to build my own kingdom. So let the grades fall where they may. Because I have realized a simple but earth-shattering truth this week: God is not limited by my grades or achievements. He is only limited by my faith. And if God wants to open a door for me, no power of this world, or of Hell, can keep it closed. I do not say this out of arrogance, just a simple realization and acceptance that He is in control of my life-not myself.

Another example of my soul being at rest is tonight. I am writing this at a table on a patio overlooking the pool. Fellow believers are singing songs of praise in the background as we enjoy each other's company. Tonight I recognize and worship my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for bringing me to this place. He is the One who made this opportunity possible, that got me safely here, by airplane, van, and car, and is watching over the steps of my very existence. Why be afraid anymore? All I need is to stay this connected forever.

My soul is at rest just realizing the impact the last seven days have had upon me. It is mind-boggling. I realize that I can never return to the way things were before, even if I wanted them to. I was a prideful, self-righteous young man who was scared of having to keep up with his own expectations, and the myth of his own self-sufficiency. But I have realized I do not have to live that way anymore.

Most of my spiritual life, beginning not long after I accepted Christ, has been a game of trying to "escape" the life and the personal ministry to which I have been called, all out of laziness, shame, or another selfish motive. Instead of reading my Bible, I would eat another sandwich; instead of thinking about the calling He had placed upon my heart, I would immerse myself in Halo to the point of zombification.

Lord, let me hold tight to You forever. No more games. I will always run the race, but let me conquer my sinful hesitance to pursue Your Truth. I have just begun to do that; it took coming to the desert to get me to stop wandering in the desert. In this, in You, I will find my rest.

Summer of 2006, pt. 3

As I write this, I am in Phoenix, Arizona for the Blackstone Fellowship. I got in on Sunday, flying from Cleveland, and getting to the hotel around noon. Some dispatches about the experience so far:

1) In a nutshell, it has been fantastic, and everything that I had hoped it would be. Each day, we have about 2-3 speakers on various topics, usually one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Today, we had a professor come in and speak on America's Christian history, and the beliefs the Founding Fathers had about the Constitution, religion, and all the issues we deal with today. It was incredibly insightful-I learned things today that had not been revealed in 17 years of school, and I minored in history in college.

2) Phoenix is hot. Right now, it is about 9:10 P.M. here, and it is still probably over 90 degrees outside. The humidity is extremely low, less than 10% usually, so it is hot and dry. I guess I'm just not used to it yet, since I've only been here since Sunday. There is a shopping center across the street from the hotel, and even walking a block or so gives you some exercise and makes you sweaty from the heat. Tomorrow, the high is expected to be 113, and sunny.

3) It is truly amazing how God has brought all of us together for this internship. So far, I have only met 2-3 people from Ohio; we are from all over the country here. My roommate is from Maine, and my smaller group (we are divided into teams of about 10 interns each) has people from Hawaii, Georgia, Iowa, and other places. It is really a testament to God that He made this happen, and He made us get here safe so we could participate in what we are doing here.

4) I have not felt closer to God since high school in the time I have been here. It is a challenge at night to set aside a time for prayer and Bible study, since I am usually exhausted by 10:00 or so (we have to get up at 5:30 AM), but I try to at least read the Bible a little bit each night. Last night, I started on Acts, and then I will read Romans.

That's all I have for now. I will try and post some more as time (and Internet access) allows.

Cincinnati, Ohio

Before I talk about the reason behind the title, I owe anyone reading this an apology for taking down a post recently. It was about the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, in which I will be participating this summer. It was partly because I had been told that people were ridiculing what I had to say, and partly because I didn't want to seem like I was boasting. This will be the last time that anything is deleted from here because of rumors or hearsay. When you have a blog, you have to be honest with yourself.

The Blackstone Fellowship is offered through the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal defense organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It consists of three phases. During Phase I, I will be heading out to Arizona during the latter part of June for education and training, where we will learn about the Judeo-Christian foundations of our legal system. For Phase II, I will be working for an attorney in Cincinnati who works with the ADF on constitutional issues. Finally, for Phase III, I will be going back to Arizona for a week, for further training and education. The program is designed to give Christian law students a solid grounding in God's Truth as it applies to the intellectual foundations and practice of law, and to network with other students and legal professionals as we gain practical experience.

A side note to any entering or current law students-this is a great opportunity if you are interested in serving God through the practice of law. A good place to start is with your school's chapter of the Christian Legal Society. It is a huge blessing to have other Christians with whom I can share the law school experience. And Blackstone interns work all over the country, with various attorneys, policy organizations, etc., so there are lots of opportunities to get involved.

I am really excited about the opportunities coming up this summer, and I am eager to get started with the work that lies ahead. I am not quite sure yet what exactly I will be working on, but one of the lessons I have learned this first year of law school is that the expectancy is sometimes the best part of the journey. One of my spiritual weaknesses has always been that I am overly analytical and try too hard to do everything by the book, instead of by God's book.

As hard as it is to have unanswered questions, as difficult as it is to walk by faith, I am going to reach out more often, because God's will for my life is infinitely beyond anything I could bring to bear or conceive.

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, / Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21 KJV).