At the beginning of my first year in seminary, the school computer matched me with another single student as my roommate. We soon discovered a major problem: we did not trust one another.

Oh, this wasn't verbalized, but our differences surfaced early. I was a strong Calvinist. He repeatedly blasted my logic with intense Arminianism. I was the emotional mystic. He epitomized the down-to-earth intellectual. In addition, he offered me much unsolicited advice about girls, churches, and school classes because he was a second-year student and knew the ropes.

I mentally labeled it all "Bunk," and proceeded to do the reverse of any of his advice. This did not advance our relationship. Tension developed, and our words became concise, crisp, and cold. There was only one biblical way out for us: develop trust or bust.

Clarence Francis said, "You can buy a man's time, his physical presence, a measured number of his skilled muscular motions; but you cannot buy his enthusiasm, initiative, and loyalty. ...